So, you've traveled comfortably and arrived at your destination. What steps can you take to have a great vacation?

• Spend some time before your trip researching your destination either through guidebooks or on the Internet. Pick a limited number of destinations (less than 10) that are absolute must-sees.
• Print out or purchase a good map of your destination and spend some time familiarizing yourself with the location of your hotel and getting a basic sense of the city's layout.
• If there are some things you really want to see, make reservations before you leave. DO NOT over schedule. You don't want to spend so much time running around that you are more exhausted when you get home than you were when you left.
• Leave time for just wandering about, enjoying your surroundings.
• Take at least a day to live like the locals. Maybe spend an afternoon at an outdoor café or walking through a park.
• Try to plan different types of activities: some physical activities like hikes or long walks — or take advantage of local athletic activities like zip-lining or boating; some cultural activities, like museums or concerts; some intellectual activities, like museums and historic sites; and, some fun, like local eateries and shopping.
• Have some basic plans, but stay flexible so that you can take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
• As you wander about, keep an eye out for posters and other announcements. You may find the most amazing opportunities.
• Have an option or two in your back pocket just in case the weather is bad.
• Carry a few cards with the name, address, and phone number of the place where you are staying. If you get lost, you can hand the card to a taxi driver. 
• Go a little bit outside your comfort zone. So you look silly? You'll never see these people again anyway. Why do you care what they think?