Typical New Year's resolutions last about as long as the last piece of holiday pie. But still, why not make some resolutions for 2002 that you'll be excited to keep? Out with the standard diet/exercise/no-more-calls-to-the-ex resolutions, and in with I'm-going-to-treat-myself-to-the-adventure-of-a-lifetime guarantee. Start with these five ideas:

1. Try Someplace New
It's tempting to go someplace you like over and over again. After all, if you had a great spring break in Daytona or a breathtaking summer vacation in Rome, why not go again to relive the magic? Well, after a while the magic wears off, and your friends start to complain because you've sent them the same postcard three years in a row.

Luckily, there are thousands of cities out there that are full of interesting people and sites to see. Spin a globe and plunk your finger down somewhere, or take recommendations from friends, but pick someplace you've never been, do a little research, and dive in.

2. Head Off the Beaten Path
Anyone can see the Eiffel Tower or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but there's more to travel than just hitting the tourist hotspots. Other travelers you meet are a great source of information. Stay in a youth hostel for a couple of nights and you'll get to meet all kinds of people who can give you ideas for side trips and detours that you would never hear about otherwise.

If you're not the kind of person who feels comfortable chatting with strangers, then your best bet is to do some web research. Visit message boards to get advice from people who have been there and done that already.

3. Learn As You Go
Come home speaking a new language! Even if you only have a week or two, you can sign up for language courses that will give you a taste of the local culture. You can live with a family or on your own. Don’t worry, sightseeing excursions are optional, so you won't be stuck hanging out with your teacher.

4. Travel Safe and Smart
You should be footloose and fancy free on a vacation, but not completely oblivious to what's going on around you. Before you take off, find out if the U.S. State Department has any travel warnings for where you're headed.

If you are a female traveling alone, take a self-defense class before you go. Many campuses offer them for free. Not only will you learn some kick-ass moves, but you will also learn how to carry yourself with confidence so that anyone looking for an easy victim will likely pass you by.

Also, check into local customs and practices, especially what the local laws are for drinking and... other things. More than 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad every year, many for narcotics charges. Nothing will ruin a vacation faster than a few days in jail. Rent Brokedown Palace or Midnight Express to see for yourself.

5. Get a Job
Traveling on a budget? No problem. With a work visa, you can spend weeks or even months traveling, earning money to finance your trip as you go. Ride horses on a ranch in Australia, bartend in Germany, or work the ski lifts in New Zealand. You'll meet great people, get to experience what life is really like in another country, and best of all, you won't come home to huge credit card bills.

Be creative. These are just a few resolution recommendations. Get out a pen and paper and jot down some of your own travel goals and ways to make them happen.