Museums are great spots to hit up on a road trip or vacation. But with so many places to visit so close, how are you supposed to choose? Just check out our list of the best museums in New York City.

Note: Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 crisis, please check official websites before visiting to check for restrictions or closures.

NYC Museums

 

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Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan is a landmark institution, showcasing works from the 20^th century and beyond. The iconic building was designed by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright. In addition to the vast collections of modern and contemporary art, the Guggenheim also hosts many special exhibitions and events. It’s not only one of the best museums in New York City – it’s one of the best museums in the world. Get $3 off admission with your AAA card.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the world’s most famous – and largest – museums, the Met is a favorite of both visitors and locals alike. Find yourself in the company of artworks from some of the world’s masters, spanning 5,000 years. If you’re a fan of medieval art, the Met Cloisters – which houses the museum’s medieval collection of art, manuscripts and tapestries, including the famed Unicorn Tapestries – is not to be missed.

American Museum of Natural History

Another one of the best museums in New York is the American Museum of Natural History. The museum has just about everything within its walls – and it should, considering it’s the largest natural history museum in the world at over 2 million square feet. The museum is a catalog of ecological history, animal species, human culture, architecture, geology and astronomy. Coming in February 2021, the all-new Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, promises a brilliant showcase of specimens, including some of the largest amethyst geodes on public display. The dinosaurs are also always a visitor favorite. It’s a great trip for the whole family.

Museum of Jewish Heritage

The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is dedicated to educating visitors about Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust. The museum houses recorded testimonies from Holocaust survivors, liberators, protectors and others, and hosts various programs, events and classes.

The Museum of Modern Art

MoMA is an unforgettable place where thought-provoking creativity and contemporary artwork is all around. Explore the galleries and collections, then head outside to enjoy the Rockefeller Sculpture Garden or grab a bite in one their outdoor restaurant spaces. Be sure to pick up something unique in the gift shop before you leave.

If you love modern art, you’ll also want to check out MoMA PS1 in Queens. A former abandoned public school building, it now features works from an ever-changing roster of diverse artists, often addressing current social, cultural and political issues.

New York Hall of Science

During a typical year, NYSCI welcomes droves of  students, teachers and families. With over 450 exhibits, events, and workshops for all ages,  the museum practices the “Design-Make-Play” method to educate visitors in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and math.

Although NYSCI hasn’t yet set a reopening date, it’s celebrating summer and a bygone slice of Americana with a special Queens Drive-In experience. It’s showing open-air movies outside its building in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, with guests appropriately socially distanced inside their cars. Vendors from the Queens Night Market will be on hand selling snacks, and guests can bring their own snacks and nonalcoholic beverages as well.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

Two memorial pools outside pay homage to the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and the six who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The museum holds more than 70,000 artifacts, as well news archives, video footage and first-person testimonies of the events of that day within its 110,000 square feet.

There are so many great museums in New York City! Which one do you think is the best museum in New York City? Will you be visiting any when they reopen? Let us know in the comments below.

Find AAA Discounts on museums and attractions throughout the Northeast.  

OK, the Hyundai Ioniq has an odd name. But even so, it’s one of the most environmentally friendly compact cars on the market.

There are actually three different Ioniq hatchbacks on offer, including a traditional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid like my test car and an all-electric battery-powered version. The Environmental Protection Agency’s MPG estimates for the regular hybrid “Blue” model (57 city, 59 highway) make the Ioniq the most fuel-efficient hybrid on sale today.

My plug-in hybrid version performed adequately, though power delivery from the 139-horsepower four-cylinder gasoline engine and hybrid system felt a little anemic. On the upside, 630-plus miles of total range means you can go a long time between fill-ups.

The Ioniq’s handling inspires confidence, though it’s admittedly no sports car. The suspension also delivers a ride quality that’s on the overly soft side.

Taken together, all this makes the Ioniq an appealing choice in spite of its quirky moniker.

Quick: What’s the best ice cream flavor? It’s a highly subjective question. Which brings to mind the Honda Clarity, a state-of-the-art sedan that may not be available in 31 flavors, but has enough different versions to satisfy a wide range of tastes.

This midsize four-door comes in three relatively uncommon varieties: a plug-in hybrid that will work for anyone, an all-electric battery version for the committed environmentalist, and a hydrogen-powered fuel cell version only offered in select markets with the requisite refueling infrastructure.

Of the three, the plug-in hybrid is the most practical for most people, with excellent 47-mile all-electric range and a 340-mile total range on a tank of gas. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor team up to produce 212 total horsepower, but still delivers leisurely acceleration.

Ultimately, while the Honda Clarity may not suit everyone’s tastes, there’s no denying there’s a lot to like here.

Looking for a new ride? Check out more car reviews at AAA.com/TestDrive.

If there’s one automotive feature drivers are willing to sound off about it’s the humble car horn. Some people use them, others use them far too liberally. But behind this debate is the fact that car horns are important safety features. They allow drivers to alert pedestrians and other motorists of their presence, hopefully avoiding any injury or damage.

For nearly as long as there have been automobiles, there have been car horns – and the tool’s simplicity means it hasn’t changed too much since. But that doesn’t preclude the history of the car horn from having its share of noteworthy developments.

The History of the Car Horn: Early Car Horns

Car horns were important features on early automobiles. In fact, the biggest change in the car horn since its inception isn’t the feature itself, but in how it’s used. While these days, excessive car honking is considered déclassé, it was polite to use one’s horn in the early 20th century.

“You were expected to honk your horn if you were coming up on pedestrians, to let them know you were bounding down the street,” Matt Anderson, curator for transportation at the Henry Ford museum, told Car and Driver magazine. “You’d be thought rude if you weren’t using your horn, which is the exact opposite of where we are today.”

The first car horns came in three different varieties. Air horns had a plastic bulb the driver could squeeze to emit a sound. Exhaust horns consisted of cuts made into exhaust pipes that elicited a sound similar to a steam engine. Finally, there were electric horns, which are most like what we have today.

The Klaxon Horn

One of the first pioneers of car horn manufacturing was Miller Reese Hutchison. In the early 1900s, the inventor became inspired to create an improved horn after nearly hitting a pedestrian while driving. Hutchison believed car horns should elicit a louder, harsher noise, which is precisely what his invention, the klaxon horn, did. If you’ve never heard of the klaxon horn you’ve almost certainly heard its famous “ahooga” sound.

The klaxon horn became almost immediately ubiquitous on roadways since it was affixed to most Model T’s. It remained the prominent horn of automobiles even as Ford transitioned to the Model A. Eventually, by the 1930s, the klaxon was replaced by electric horns.

Did You Know? Just a few years before the klaxon, Hutchison invented the first portable electrical hearing aids, called Acousticons. This led to none other than Mark Twain joking, “Hutchison invented the Klaxon horn to deafen people so they would have to buy Acousticons.”

How Car Horns Work

Truth be told, the car horn is one automotive feature that hasn’t evolved much over the decades. There have been some changes in look and sound, but the science has remained about the same.

When a driver pushes down on the horn, an electric current travels through a coil to an electromagnet, creating a magnetic field. This field causes a metal diaphragm to flex. Once in this flexed position, contact points disengage and the current flow stops, causing the diaphragm to return back to its flat position and the cycle is repeated. This process continues as long as the horn is being pressed. The vibrations made by the oscillating diaphragm produce the horn sound.

Did You Know? Most of today’s car horns emit a sound of approximately 100-110 decibels.

Modern Car Horns

While the science remains the same, automakers are making slight adjustments to the car horn in order to satisfy the ever-growing and ever-changing automobile market. For instance, GM makes its diaphragms out of tungsten instead of steel because the former lasts longer. This is particularly important in Asia, where drivers tend to honk more often and drive over more rough roads, two factors that can cause horns to wear out.

Some companies are also swapping out copper wires for aluminum, a lighter material that improves a vehicle’s all-important fuel efficiency.

How do you feel about car horns? Do drivers use them too much or maybe not enough? Let us know in the comments below.

Now that you know about the history of the car horn, learn the backstories of other automotive features at AAA.com.

It’s a shame that most people’s impressions of China tours come from things like animated movies or current happenings in foreign politics. The only way to truly understand this foreign nation for yourself is to participate in China tours and immerse yourself in the culture.

But a trip to China is distinctly different than a trip to places within the United States or a vacation to the very-Westernized Europe. China is anything but Westernized, with a focus on traditional values and a connection to their ancient roots.

As such, traveling through China can be a bit of a culture shock for those expecting or accustomed to being catered to. The following tips can help you properly prepare yourself for an upcoming trip, both in terms of required cultural adjustments, working around the “big brother” nature of the Chinese government, and anything else that may otherwise come as a surprise when you tour Asia.

Looking to plan your next vacation? Be sure to consult a knowledgeable AAA travel agent to help guide you through the rapidly changing travel landscape.

1. You’ll need a visa for China tours

This is true even for a short-term trip. Traveling to China is not something you can do on a whim, perhaps because the government likes to feel like they’re in control of everything that goes on within their borders. If you opt into China tours led by a reputable tour group, they may be able to secure your visa on your behalf, but you can also take care of this at your nearby Chinese consulate general for a fee. Come prepared with your passport and documents detailing your itinerary and where you’ll be staying.

2. Don’t expect English to help you much

For the most part, when traveling the world, English will be sufficient to get around. Most people learn English as a second-language in school. And while this is true for some in China, attempts to converse with natives in English will mostly be met with a blank stare. Even your fluent tour guide may have a hard time with your accent.

So have fun getting lost and finding your way back home later. To make sure you don’t get too lost, grab a card from your hotel with a map to easily guide a taxi driver in a way they’ll understand.

3. Respect the local culture 

Just about everything you’re used to is different in China. An immature traveler might laugh at local customs, or make fun of them, but don’t be tempted to be an ugly American. Instead, show respect for the people and their traditions. If a local offers to teach you something about their culture, take them up on this with an open mind.

4. The food may not always agree with you

It’s not uncommon to feel bloated after eating a traditional Chinese meal. Chinese food tends to contain MSG, which improves the taste but can cause temporary bloating in some people. Don’t worry so much that you’re gaining weight — you’ll drop the bloat when you return to your usual diet.

China tours will likely take you to restaurants with Americanized ideas of Chinese food. But when you venture out on your own, expect some of the flavors to be a little more foreign to your stomach, and expect reactions to happen. Pack some Imodium just in case, especially if you get a bit adventurous with street food.

Another random tip for your trip to Asia destinations? Wear dark clothing to hide noodle slurping stains!

6. Don’t miss out on China’s ancient wonders

The Great Wall of China is one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, which takes into account monuments and other amazing spectacles that are still standing today. Depending on where your China tours take you, there’s a lot to see. A few wonders to try and fit in when possible are:

• Beijing: The Forbidden City
• Outside Beijing: The Great Wall of China
• Shanghai: Oriental Pearl Tower. Not ancient, but a must-see in this modern Chinese city.
• Xi’an: Terracotta Army

6. You can (and should) bargain

This won’t work in a luxury shop or restaurant, but is fair game in a market. Shopkeepers expect haggling, and most start with a price at 10 times the amount you should counteroffer. You’ll end up meeting somewhere in the middle, but don’t be afraid to start walking away to drive the negotiations in your favor.

Chinese markets are known for selling a number of counterfeit goods featuring your favorite brands, which make for some fun souvenirs.

7. Big Brother is always watching

Censorship is present in many aspects of daily life, though none so obvious as when it comes to internet use. Accept that you won’t have access to Facebook, Instagram, Google and other similarly blocked websites.

8. The toilets are different

If you’ve never seen a squat-style toilet before, prepare to be a bit surprised. Outside of your hotel, these are quite common, and are essentially a hole in the ground or porcelain bowl that you crouch over. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as many facilities don’t offer hygienic supplies.

9. Safety is practically a non-issue

Many worry that when traveling outside of the culture they know and understand, they’re unsafe. This mostly stems from a fear of the unknown, especially when it comes to traveling in China. Unlike the warnings you often hear when traveling to European cities, there isn’t as much anxiety about pickpockets in China. Violent crime is not as big of an issue in China’s big cities as it is in the U.S.

10. Err on the side of acting conservative

For instance, dress a bit more conservative than you would at home. Chinese people aren’t used to yoga pants and bikini tops in public. Additionally, tone down the PDA with your significant other to a light peck or handholding at most. Though these things might not correlate to your normal daily life, they’re important for respecting the culture of the place you’re visiting.

What are your best tips for things to know about traveling through China? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Plan and book your China vacation with AAA Travel.

This story was originally published in 2018 and has been updated.

From the Statue of Liberty to Plymouth Rock, the Northeast is home to hundreds of landmarks of cultural and historical significance.

This Photo Session, we asked you to share photos of your favorite nearby landmarks. Whether as iconic as the Empire State Building, as elegant as the Newport mansions or as inspiring as Walden Pond, all are reminders of what makes our region such a fascinating place to live and visit.

Flip through the slideshow below to see all of the photos submitted and be sure to check our social media channels, where we will be sharing some of our favorites. Select photos may also be featured in an upcoming issue of Your AAA magazine.

How to Photograph Northeast Landmarks

Find Them

Local landmarks can help you learn more about the history of where you live and can make for some interesting photo ops, but first you need to find them. Fortunately, seeking them out is part of the fun. Travel apps and website make it easy to find Northeast landmarks and plan your day.

Download the AAA mobile app to help plan your trip, get directions and find the cheapest gas wherever you are.

Capture the Story

Whenever I photograph a local landmark, I always try to include a photo of a descriptive sign or plaque that may be next to it. Having the visual narrative of the landmark will help you to remember the story and history behind it. I like to create a diptych collage using the sign and a photo of the landmark.

Just Add People

Gather the family and pose them by the landmark. Not only does it help show the scale of the landmark, it’s also a wonderful way to document the time spent together and the places you visited. Make sure to get yourself in the frame!

Bonus tip: Revisit the same landmark and take the same family photo every year. This is a fun way to see how everyone changes over the years. When you’re done, you can make a collage or photo book.

Time Your Shots

Daytime shots will make colors come to life in your photos. If you are photographing a landmark like a mural that is very colorful, daylight is going to give you the best chance at making those colors pop.

If you want to have warm, soft light hitting your landmark, then shoot for the golden hours – an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. This is also the best time to photograph people in front of your landmark. Harsh daytime light causes people to squint their eyes.

Check out past AAA Photo Sessions and stay tuned for the next one, coming soon. 

Beth Mancuso is a professional landscape and travel photographer.

Drive-in movie theaters are more than just another way to watch a film — they’re an experience. And for much of the 20th Century, the drive-in was an iconic part of the American soul, as ingrained in pop culture as any Elvis or Chuck Berry song.

But like jukeboxes and pinball machines, drive-in theaters are a vanishing breed. In 1958, more than 4,000 drive-ins packed them in (sometimes, with a stowaway or two in the trunk) across the nation. Today, only 305 such theaters are left in the United States — half as many as even just a decade ago, according to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association.

A state-by-state selection of drive-ins can be found at the end of this article.

Though a warm-weather enterprise, drive-ins continue to flourish in colder climes. Many in the Northeast don’t realize it, but there are more drive-in theaters in New York state (28) than in California, Arizona, Louisiana, South Carolina, New Mexico, Hawaii and Nevada — combined. Pennsylvania has the second-most in the nation, at 26.

And in an age when many of us converse via text or social media (while craving “authenticity”), the drive-in is returning to its roots as a fun and flirty communal hub.

The Gate

The origin of the drive-in theater is a matter of some dispute.

The accepted history is that the first drive-in opened in Pennsauken Township, N.J. in 1933. The theater was owned by local businessman Richard Hollingshead, Jr. who, a year earlier, nailed a giant screen to some trees in his backyard, placed a radio behind it and set a Kodak projector on the hood of his car. He perfected then patented the technology in 1933.

The theater’s slogan? “The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.”

While Hollingshead may have been visionary in some ways, he may have been short-sighted in others. After failing to make a profit, he sold the theater three years later, just as drive-ins began to catch on nationwide.

But was Hollingshead really the founding father? An outdoor theater in Las Cruces, New Mexico opened during the silent-film era, in April 1915, and another opened in Comanche, Texas in 1921. And long before Hollingshead’s patent, many small towns showed outdoor movies in the late 1910s and throughout the 1920s, as much a communal event as any town hall meeting or church picnic.

One such town was Schoharie, N.Y., about 40 miles west of Albany. In 1917, the small town started an outdoor movie series free to the public every Thursday night as a way to generate foot traffic for downtown merchants.

“It was so successful that this village with a population of 800 would get thousands, even nearly 10,000 people coming; a special bus would run from Schenectady every Thursday,” said Dwight Grimm who, together with his partner Leigh Van Swall, run the Greenville Drive-In in Greenville, N.Y. “All of the nearby farmers would come to socialize. Many of them weren’t watching, they just came to mingle.”

Concessions

Grimm recreated that first Schoharie event a century later, in 2017, complete with a fleet of Model T Fords (one of which had a hand-cranked projector atop). On the bill? A screening of the first silent film shown in Schoharie, “The Awakening of Helena Ritchie.”

Grimm’s focus on novelty is no accident. Today, the drive-in industry is divided between larger companies that show first-run Hollywood movies on digital projectors, and smaller theaters that survive through creativity and flair.

The cost of converting to digital equipment in the mid 2000’s was a blow for many owners/operators. The big studios won’t release a first-run movie to a venue unless it has the most modern equipment, and digital projectors can cost upwards of $100,000.

“The conversion to digital was a death knell for a lot of smaller operators,” said Josh Frank, who runs a boutique pop-up drive-in called The Blue Starlite, with locations in Austin, Texas and Vail Valley, Colorado.

For Frank, a film school graduate, the drive-in is a labor of love.

“A lot of the smaller mom-and-pop shops like me, they do it because they’re passionate,” he said. “They want to be creative; they’re in love with the idea, the romance of the drive-in.”

Now Showing

The Blue Starlite is as boutique as it gets, a mini-urban drive-in with space enough for just 30 cars, mostly featuring throwback classics such as “Grease,” “The Goonies,” and “Back to the Future.” While sodas and popcorn account for some of its income, the Blue Starlite specializes in add-ons, creative ways to heighten the experience that blend the old and new—one package deal, for instance, includes virtual reality goggles and car-hop service.

“We bought an RV and people can rent it for small groups, to party for the evening,” he said. “You can pick the movie you want to see, or even use the screen for karaoke or video games.”

Grimm, too, ups the ante through creativity. For the Greenville Drive-In’s 60th anniversary this year, he featured 1959’s top film, “Some Like it Hot” as a ‘ukulele party,’ where patrons could jam together or steal the spotlight at an ‘Open Mic’ before being treated to a concert by a professional musician an hour before the show.

It’s been a tough grind for Grimm ever since he resuscitated the drive-in in 2015. But today, the Greenville Drive-In is something of a community resource, much as the silent films shown in Schoharie were 100 years ago.

“If our goal was to financially enrich ourselves, reviving a drive-in is the most knuckleheaded idea you could come up with,” said Grimm. “But in terms of something with community value — a gathering that brings together a diverse local crowd — it’s awesome.”

A Selection of Northeast Drive-In Movie Theaters to Check Out

New Hampshire

• Milford Drive-In Theater, 531 Elm Street, Milford. milforddrivein.com
• Northfield Drive-In, 981 Northfield Road, Hinsdale. northfielddrivein.com
• Weirs Drive-In Theater, 76 Endicott Street North, Laconia. weirsdrivein.com

Connecticut

• Mansfield Drive-In Theatre & Marketplace, 228 Stafford Road, Mansfield Center. mansfielddrivein.com
• Pleasant Valley Drive-In Theater, 47 River Road, Barkhamsted. pleasantvalleydriveinmovies.com
• Southington Drive-In, 995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Southington. southingtondrive-in.org

New Jersey (last remaining in the state)

• Delsea Drive-in Theatre, 203 South Delsea Drive, Vineland. delseadrive-in.com

New York

• Four Brothers Drive-In, 4957 NY-22, Amenia. playeatdrink.com
• Midway Drive-In Theater, 2475 NY-48, Fulton. midwaydrivein.com
• Overlook Drive-In, 126 De Garmo Road, Poughkeepsie.  overlookdrivein.com
• Warwick Drive-In Theater, 5 Warwick Turnpike, Warwick. warwickdrivein.com

Massachusetts

• Leicester Triple Drive-In, Rte. 9, 1675 Main Street, Leicester. leicesterdrivein.net
• Mendon Twin Drive-In, 35 Milford Street, Mendon.  mendondrivein.com
• Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre, 51 State Highway, Route 6, Wellfleet. wellfleetcinemas.com

Rhode Island

• Rustic Tri Vue Drive-In, 146 Old Louisquisset Pike, North Smithfield. 401-769-7601; yourneighborhoodtheatre.com

What’s your favorite memory of going to a drive-in theater? Let us know in the comments below! 

There’s no denying that in the past year, interest in RV travel – whether in a deluxe 40-foot model, a converted van, a “Skoolie,” (a transformed school bus), or a tow-along trailer – has exploded. And why not? In a world that practically shut down last year, getting out in the great outdoors had enormous appeal, and still does.

RV shipments were up 39% in January 2021, compared to January 2020, according to a report by the RV Industry Association. Another interesting fact: 51% of RV owners are between 18-54 years old.

Anecdotally, I can attest to this trend, because I’m part of it. Last June, I bought a used travel trailer, having only seen it via video, almost on the spot. And I don’t regret it one bit. My little 13-foot 1981 Scamp has allowed me to travel during the pandemic in a way that makes me feel safe. Though tiny, it is mighty, with a sink, stovetop, heat, refrigerator, lights and room for three. Having purchased a privacy tent, a solar shower and a camp toilet setup, my family can be mobile and completely self-contained.

We aren’t new to camping; we’ve just used tents until now. Having a solid roof, a comfy o­ff-the-ground bed and an indoor stove, is pure luxury to us. We’ve camped in Plymouth, Mass., Cape Cod and the Berkshires so far, respecting state travel restrictions and learning as we go: how to hook up the water and electric, back up into a tight space, check the propane and more. Maybe my curtain-making skills aren’t that great, but they do the job. And my husband, our household chef, is thrilled to have a fridge. No more endless runs to buy ice.

Countless RV groups and YouTube videos have been enormously useful. That’s how I learned to make no-sew curtains and discovered a foolproof way to back up the Scamp called the “scoop.” It’s already been an adventure for us, and we’ve hardly gone anywhere. I can’t wait to explore further afield!

Prefer to Test the Waters?

If renting and driving an RV seems too daunting (let alone purchasing one!), there are creative ways to get a taste of an RV vacation. Outdoorsy is a company that works like Airbnb, but with RVs instead of rooms or houses. You can book one you like and even have it delivered to the campground of your choice. AutoCamp Cape Cod just opened this spring, with luxurious Airstreams, fancy tents and tiny houses all decked out. Many campgrounds also o­ffer RVs for rent. Sites like GoRVing, The Dyrt, Harvest Hosts and others are also great places to get advice and information.

AAA members can save at AAA.com/discounts.

There’s something magical about getting out on the water, especially on a beautiful day. Thankfully, the Northeast is home to rivers, lakes and other waterways perfect for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, boating and simply whiling away lazy summer days out on the water.

We’ll show you where to rent a boat, canoe or kayak in the Northeast and share some our favorite places for local boating trips.

Whether you’re marveling at the sights or traversing rapids, paddling can be a relaxing or thrilling activity. Head out on your own for some quiet time alone in nature or go with a partner or small group for a memorable day out.

Connecticut

The longest river in the New England region, the Connecticut River is over 400 miles long and stretches out across several states. It’s both wide and deep, making it suitable for boats of various speeds and styles. The Connecticut River also features many hidden creeks and coves great for small-boat exploration. There are hundreds of access points along the river, which can be found here.

Then there’s the Farmington River, which stretches diagonally from northwestern Connecticut until it joins the Connecticut River further southeast. This river is great for canoeing, kayaking and tubing.

If rivers aren’t your speed, Connecticut is home to plenty of lakes, like Lake McDonough and Mashapaug Lake, while also boasting plenty of coastal region.

Where to rent a boat: These state parks offer tons of great spots for canoeing and kayaking; however, only Burr Pond, Lake Waramaug and Sunrise Resort State Park offer rentals.

Massachusetts

The Concord River runs for about 11 miles and is great for canoeing, kayaking and rafting. You can travel the entire waterway by canoe or kayak, but it’s also conveniently broken into sections: Egg Rock to Carlisle-Bedford Bridge and Carlisle-Bedford Bridge to the Middlesex Canal.

There’s something for every kind of boating fan in Massachusetts. The Boston Harbor Islands offer great views of Boston’s skyline. The Massachusetts Office of Fishing and Boating Access maintains 290 access points on coastal waters, great ponds and rivers across the state. See which ramps are open for the season, here.

Where to rent a boat: Plum Island kayaking features tours and lessons as well as opportunities to see wild seals. Find more opportunities for local boat rentals, here.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is home to the the Fourth, Third, Second and First Connecticut lakes. The Ashuelot River, with its five boat landings, is great for both whitewater and leisure paddling, depending on your preference. Both small watercraft and motorboats are allowed in deeper waters while canoes and kayaks are appropriate for rapids.

More white waters can be found in the Contoocook River, though waters are calmer closer to Concord, N.H. Sea kayaking on the Great Bay is also exciting, along with kayaking and canoeing on Lake Umbagog and Squam Lake.

Animal lovers will enjoy Grafton Pond, a 300-acre lake that’s a popular nesting site for loons, along with New Hampshire’s other state parks perfect for boating and nature-gazing. The calm, swimmable waters of the Pemigewasset, or “Pemi,” River are also popular.

Where to rent a boat: There are tons of boat rentals and marinas in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.

New Jersey

Take a canoe, kayak, raft or tube down the Delaware River, a 300-plus mile waterway that stretches along the borders of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The Delaware features a mix of calmer and rougher waters as well as scenic views.

Lake Hopatcong, the state’s largest freshwater lake, is great for boating, kayaking and sailing. Hopatcong State Park is located at the southwest end of the lake, making it a great spot for nature-watching and swimming, too.

There are also plenty of ocean boating and sailing opportunities in New Jersey along the coastal side.

Where to rent a boat: Both canoe and kayak rentals are available along the Hackensack River, which begins in New York and stretches out across much of New Jersey. Make a difference on your trip by participating in a river cleanup.

New York

New York has access to many lakes, including the Finger Lakes and two Great Lakes. For busy bodies of water, look into Lake George or any one of the Essex Chain Lakes‘ 18 bodies of water. If you prefer calmer water, there’s Lake Champlain as well as the North-South Lake, where no motorized boats are allowed.

There are also great kayaking opportunities along the Hudson River and Saint Regis Canoe Area. For saltwater sailing and boating, there are plenty for opportunities on the Long Island Sound as well as on the Atlantic Ocean.

Where to rent a boat: Find local boat rentals for the Finger Lakes at Morgan Marine or Stivers Seneca Marine. For Lake George rentals, see here. Find more spots perfect for canoeing and kayaking here.

Rhode Island

For saltwater kayaking, there’s Ninigret Pond, a large coastal lagoon, or the scenic Napatree Point and its three small marinas. For calmer waters surrounded by foliage, head to the Upper and Lower Woods Rivers. Paddle route maps to these rivers can be found here.

Paddlers on the historic Blackstone River, which stretches across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, will pass farmlands, forests and the occasional watermill. You can even rent a kayak in downtown Providence and gain a stunning new vantage point of the city’s skyline.

Where to rent a boat: There are plenty of boating and sailing opportunities in the Newport area. Rhode Island is also home to state and local parks as well as plenty of boat ramps and kayak rentals.

Where is your favorite spot to boat, canoe or kayak? Tell us in the comments below!

Do you own a boat? AAA offers specialized insurance for boats and other recreational vehicles.

It’s time to start thinking about traveling again. It’s a moment we’ve all been anticipating. And we at AAA Northeast are ready to help.

If you need some great ideas, check out our story about family travel trends. I can’t wait to hit the road again with loved ones, and I’m sure many of you feel the same.

If you need help with planning your long-delayed getaways, turn to our trusted Travel advisors, who have years of experience and specialized training to help you get the most out of your travel plans.

Now more than ever, members are using AAA Northeast Travel advisors to triple-check itineraries, find member discounts and provide information on ever-changing COVID-19 regulations.

They are SmartDepart-certified, so they can counsel you on the best travel safety practices and help you comfortably navigate any new guidelines.

And if you have any travel credits from delayed plans, they can help with that, too.

With demand increasing, any available openings at resorts, theme parks and cruise lines will fill up fast. I encourage anyone who wants to travel to book now – and work with an agent to help secure your preferred timing and itineraries.

I look forward to seeing you on the road – and in the skies – soon.

Make an appointment with a Travel advisor today at AAA.com/TravelAdvisor

Aging may not be something we enjoy thinking about, but it is an inevitable and natural part of life. As we get older, so do the people around us, meaning now might be the right time to start learning more about caring for elderly parents.

No one wants to have to “parent” their parents, but a day may – and likely will – come when older family members can no longer live on their own.

Figuring out how to handle elder care can be daunting. It all starts with an awareness of your parents’ physical, mental and emotional well-being as well as their wishes for the future. Do they need help with simple, daily tasks or more specific, health-related care? What are their hopes when it comes to their final years? How has the pandemic affected them?

Knowing the right questions to ask and some preemptive steps to take can go a long way in lessening familial concerns. This guide about caregiving for elderly parents may help.

Adult Caregivers in America

“There are 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the United States,” according to data from the Pew Research Center. “Of that group, nine-in-ten are providing care for an aging relative, and a plurality is caring for a parent.”

Adults between the ages of 45 and 65 are the most likely to be caregivers. “About a quarter (23%) of adults ages 45 to 64 care for an aging adult,” according to Pew Research.

Most (58%) of these caretaking adults are helping their parents with daily tasks and home maintenance, like running errands, doing housework and making home repairs. While a majority (88%) of adults providing care for a 65+ parent find it rewarding, nearly one third of these adults (32%) also find it stressful.

Knowing How to Help

Many times, you’ll only know what others need by asking. Figuring out how to go about caring for elderly parents is a lot easier when everyone is on the same page.

Have a Talk

“92% of Americans think it’s important to discuss their end-of-life wishes,” according to a national survey by The Conversation Project. “Yet only 32% have actually shared their wishes.”

Ask your parents their preferences: How would they like to spend their older years, specifically when it comes to living situations and their wishes for medical care in the case of serious illness? Choosing a primary decision-maker and getting financial affairs and important documents in order can be harder topics to discuss, but are equally necessary.

It’s also important to understand how much care your parents need based on their cognitive health, physical mobility and quality of life, as well as their desire for a social life and proximity to family.

Assessing your parents’ ability to carry out activities of daily living, also known as ADLs, is important as they continue to age. ADLs include eating, getting dressed, functional mobility, bathing and other personal hygiene routines, according to Aging In Place. As ADLs become more difficult, additional assistance is likely necessary.

Offering Assistance

Once you know your parents’ wishes and how they’re doing when it comes to ADLs, you can start making a plan.

Create a list of daily, weekly and monthly to-do’s and assess how manageable they are. Your parents may still be completely capable of remembering to take medications and pay bills, but might need help with transportation to medical appointments and assistance with house and yardwork.

Companionship is another thing to consider. Try organizing visits with siblings, cousins and grandchildren – and even close friends and neighbors – to ensure elderly family members are never lonely.

If you’re having trouble getting family involved in elder care, see these tips from Daily Caring on how to ask family for help.

Know Your Boundaries and Limitations

Caring for elderly parents is not an easy job. It’s important not to forget self-care, especially when caring for others.

Take some time to self-reflect and consider how much care you can realistically give without hindering your own mental, emotional and physical well-being.

Your own schedule and responsibilities may keep you from visiting older relatives as often as you’d like or need. You may also not feel comfortable doing certain tasks. Bathing or helping others go to the bathroom may be out of your comfort zone, and that’s OK.

You may need the assistance of a home care provider. Also, certain diagnoses – like dementia and Alzheimer’s – may eventually require specialized care.

Special Services

There are a variety of services that offer in-home, supplemental assistance to make your parents’ lives easier.

Deliveries and Subscriptions

Start with a grocery or food delivery service to make sure your parents are eating well. Then, teach them how to shop online and set up reoccurring deliveries for frequently bought consumables like pet food, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products.

In-Home Caregiver

If your parents need help with daily tasks, an in-home caregiver is another option.

“Caregivers have found that in some instances the person receiving care can be more cooperative with someone other than the primary caregiver,” according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. “Engaging an attendant can help to preserve your relationship as daughter or partner, rather than always having to be the chore person or taskmaster.”

See tips on hiring in-home help from the FCA here.

Respite Care Services

If you’re providing frequent care for your parents, you might want to consider a respite care service.

“Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers,” according to the National Institute on Aging. “It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Care can be provided at home, in a health care facility or at an adult day center.”

Use this National Respite Locator to find a service near you.

Other Programs

Other services worth consideration are adult day programs. These programs offer social and recreational activities for seniors as a means of family support during the day. Find adult day programs near you here.

There are also volunteer senior companion programs, where volunteers visit seniors to offer companionship, conversation and activities like art, games and puzzles.

Looking for more ways to support your elderly parents? AAA members can save on Joy for All Companion Pets, robotic cats and dogs that bring comfort and companionship to those who are aging.

Housing Options

Your parents’ living situation can help dictate how much – and what form of – additional, long-term care they may need.

Staying Close to Family

For the time being, your parents might want to continue living independently. This could mean downsizing to a more manageable property or moving to a location closer to you or other relatives. Another option is moving in with family – whether that be with their kids, grandkids or a sibling – as long as it’s safe and beneficial for everyone involved.

Independent Living Communities

Independent living communities – also called retirement communities – let seniors rent or buy a home, apartment or mobile home and be part of a community of their peers. This kind of housing often includes amenities, like security, group meals and transportation options. Also, residents often won’t have to do yardwork and/or housekeeping.

Assisted Living Communities

Assisted living communities provide staff who help residents with certain daily tasks – like dressing, bathing and meals, along with transportation to medical appointments. While more care is offered here compared to independent living communities, seniors who need medical surveillance and/or more specialized caregiving may be better off in a nursing home.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes – or skilled nursing facilities – “typically include nursing care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day and assistance with everyday activities,” according to the National Institute on Aging. “Rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, are also available.”

Financial Concerns

Figuring out how to pay for long-term care can be a major source of stress, but there are many options to explore when it comes to affording elder care.

Tax Credits and Deductions

If you are a family caregiver, you can be eligible for federal tax credits and deductions.

Until 2025, the Internal Revenue Service allows family caregivers to claim certain individuals as “other dependents.” Your loved one must be a legal resident who lives with you while you pay 50% of their living expenses. Their income must also be below a certain amount to qualify.

Personal Finances

It’s best to start saving for elder care as soon as possible.

One option is purchasing long-term care insurance. This must be done prior to retirement age – so when you’re in your 40s and 50s. Other options are to save by investing in a 401(k), an IRA or a non-retirement investment account now, so you can pay for care later.

Now may also be the time to start thinking about your will and planning your estate.

Life Insurance

Again, purchasing a life insurance policy is cheaper when you’re young, but it’s never too late to invest in your – and your family’s – future. Policy holders can borrow money against their policy to help pay for post-retirement expenses.

Reverse Mortgages

Adults must be 62 years or older in order to qualify for reverse mortgages. Also known as a home equity conversion mortgage, a reverse mortgage allows senior homeowners to gain access to the equity built up in their home in the form of tax-free loan proceeds. Speak with a AAA reverse mortgage consultant today.

Government Programs

Medicare can pay for some medical costs for people ages 65 and older. This includes “inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care” (Medicare Part A/Hospital Insurance), “certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies and preventive services” (Medicare Part B/Medical Insurance) and “helps cover the cost of prescription drugs” (Medicare Part D), according to Medicare.gov.

Medicaid covers medical care and some types of long-term care for people with limited income.

“Medicaid pays for care for seven out of every 10 nursing home residents, but Medicare generally does not pay for nursing home care,” according to Aging in Place.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may provide long-term care or at-home care for some veterans. Other programs worth consideration are the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

For more information on government benefits/assistance, visit benefits.gov. For help finding a service, call the National Council on Aging at 571-527-3900.

Additional Elder Care Resources

Every person’s situation is different, meaning you may need more specialized resources.

If you’re finding broaching the topic of elder care difficult, check out these Conversation Starter Guides from The Conversation Project.

Support Groups

Support groups for adult children struggling with elder care can be found at the FCA, Alzheimer’s Association and Cancer Care websites.

Wives, husbands and partners of chronically ill or disabled people can find support through the Well Spouse Association and their nationwide listing of local support groups.

For more information on caring for elderly parents, visit LongTermCare.gov, the National Institute on Aging and its Benefits Checkup or the Area Agency on Aging.

Do you have tips on caring for elderly parents? Share them in the comments.

Yoga is a practice that incorporates a mix of stretches, physical postures, deep-breathing exercises and relaxation techniques as a way to help improve both physical fitness and mental wellness. If you’ve never tried it before, or are simply looking to brush-up, this intro to yoga will get you acquainted with the basics and benefits.

Intro to Yoga

The practice of yoga originated in India and was first introduced to the U.S. by a Hindu monk named Swami Vivekananda in 1893. This early form of yoga was more of a philosophy, including elements of psychology and self-improvement. Yoga would continue to spread around the world and take on many forms.

“While there are more than 100 different types, or schools, of yoga, most sessions typically include breathing exercises, meditation and assuming postures (sometimes called asana or poses) that stretch and flex various muscle groups,” according to the American Osteopathic Association.

The pose-based yoga we know today gained popularity in the early 20^th century. Modern forms of yoga often focus on improving mental and physical health, and some also include spiritual elements.

The Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga boasts many benefits, including improving physical fitness, mental health and emotional well-being, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Physical Benefits

Yoga helps improve your balance and flexibility all while toning and strengthening a variety of muscles. It can also help lessen chronic pain, including arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back pain and more.

“With continued practice comes a gradual loosening of the muscles and connective tissues surrounding the bones and joints; this is thought to be one reason that yoga is associated with reduced aches and pains,” according to a study by the International Journal of Yoga.

Yoga can also improve your cardio and circulatory health. Yoga involves a lot of deep breathing, leading to improved respiration and increased blood flow.

“Yoga also thins the blood,” according to the study, “which can decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke.”

Like many other forms of exercise, routinely practicing yoga can also help you maintain a balanced metabolism and help with weight loss.

Mental/Emotional Benefits

When it comes to emotional and mental benefits, yoga can help improve your concentration as well as promote feelings of calmness and general wellbeing.

Yoga can help you feel more energetic and improve your mood. “Yoga can produce an invigorating effect on mental and physical energy that improves fitness and reduces fatigue,” according to the International Journal of Yoga study.

Yoga has also been used as a tool for coping with mental health issues, helping people achieve a more balanced mental state.

“Yoga targets unmanaged stress, a main component of chronic disorders such as anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes and insomnia,” according to the American Psychological Association. “The practice enhances resilience and improves mind-body awareness, which can help people adjust their behaviors based on the feelings they’re experiencing in their bodies.”

Yoga can also help with stress management and alleviate some of the adverse effects stress has on the body.

“Practicing yoga and meditation as a means to manage and relieve both acute and chronic stress helps individuals overcome other co-morbidities associated with diseases and leads to increased quality of life,” according to the study. “It lowers breathing and heart rate, decreases blood pressure, lowers cortisol levels and increases blood flow to the intestines and vital organs.”

Yoga may also help you get better sleep. The same study by the International Journal of Yoga showed “regular practice of yoga resulted in a significant decrease in the time taken to fall asleep, an increase in the total number of hours slept and in the feeling of being rested in the morning.”

Types of Yoga

There are many different schools of yoga. Modern interpretations tend to place more emphasis on physical fitness, as opposed to spiritual enlightenment, but stress-relief and mindfulness are still important aspects in several forms of yoga.

To get you started on your intro to yoga, here’s a general breakdown of some of the most popular types.

• Yin/Meditative yoga – a slower paced form of yoga, where poses are held for longer.
• Vinyasa/Flow yoga – focuses on pairing breath with movement.
• Sivananda – focuses on general relaxation, using a mix of poses and breathing exercises.
• Restorative yoga – focuses on relaxing your body and mind, calming you down after a long day.
• Prenatal yoga – intended for pregnant women, helps prepare them for labor.
• Power yoga – a more physically active form of yoga, open to interpretation by individual teachers.
• Kundalini yoga – a mix of physical and spiritual wellness, focusing on unlocking energy (life force energy, prana or chi).
• Jivamukti yoga – a vinyasa-style yoga mixed with spiritual Hindu teachings, including connection to the Earth and vegetarianism.
• Iyengar yoga – focuses on alignment, often includes props (straps, blocks, chairs, etc.)
• Hot yoga – occurs in a hot, sauna-like room to help you sweat.
• Hatha yoga – focuses on balance, also an umbrella term for physical-based yoga practices.
• Ashtanga yoga – focuses on poses, where you work through a series of postures.
• Anusara yoga – focuses on the mind-body-heart connection.
• Aerial/gravity yoga – a newer practice that uses suspension/hammocks.
• Acro yoga – another new interpretation, this yoga form is done with a partner.

Trying Yoga

Yoga is accessible to beginners and experts alike, regardless of age.

When it comes to supplies, all you need is a yoga mat and comfortable clothes. If you’re new to yoga, or looking to get back into it, there are plenty of instructional videos and apps available online. Also, in-person yoga classes (especially outdoor varieties) for beginners are likely to return as more people get vaccinated. It’s helpful to learn from an in-person instructor if you’re a beginner, since they can help you with form and adjustments.

For more information about meditating , check out these meditation tips along with these meditation and mindfulness apps. Don’t have a lot of time to set aside for exercise? Try chair yoga as a way to destress at your desk.

What’s your favorite thing about yoga? Did you find this intro to yoga helpful? Tell us in the comments.

Ostia Antica once was Rome’s main seaport, a pivotal harbor for trade and warfare during the empire’s peak.

Today it just may be the best ancient attraction you’ve never heard of.

Like the celebrated ruins of Pompeii, much of Ostia Antica is still standing. But it wasn’t a volcano that sealed the city’s fate as a remarkably well-preserved site.

Ostia Antica was abandoned in 476 A.D. after the Roman Empire fell. In the centuries that followed, deposits of silt piled up until the entire city was buried (and then some). The once-waterfront locale is now 2 miles away from the sea.

The silt served as a Ziploc bag for Ostia Antica, preserving many of its buildings, roads, mosaics and frescos. And today, you can still sit in the stands of its amphitheater, climb the stairs of ancient apartment buildings, and breeze through restaurants, baths and workplaces that defined a way of life.

Maybe best of all, unlike Pompeii, there are barely any tourists around for most of the year.

Mid-Rise Antiquity

Between 75,000 and 100,000 people called Ostia Antica home during its peak in the second and third centuries AD. It was mainly a mercantile and working-class town filled with laborers, in contrast to Pompeii’s tony tone.

As such, some of Ostia’s most well-known ruins are housing. Most of its population lived in “insulae,” the world’s first apartment buildings. While these were built to house the majority of the city’s working class, some also include luxury apartments, complete with surprisingly modern floorplans, running water and kitchens.

You can still climb the narrow stairs of some of these buildings or check out the hollowed-out taverns located on the ground floor. In essence, Ostia was a city dominated by (what we’d call today) mixed-use, mixed-income, mid-rise commercial real estate.

Taken together, the city provides valuable insight into the everyday lives of the empire’s middle-class. Where Pompeii was a playground for the wealthy, Ostia was down to earth, a true bedroom community.

And true to its nature, there are few if any velvet ropes cordoning off the ruins. You can climb them, sit on them, interact with them in a way you can’t in most ancient sites.

Site Insight

It’s not just architectural style that gave the ruins their renown. There’s plenty of historical substance too.

The city is home to the oldest known synagogue in Europe, and one of the oldest in the world found outside of Israel. Unearthed in 1961, the Ostia Synagogue was built around 45 A.D. and actively served as a synagogue right up until the fifth century A.D.. And for Catholics, Ostia is notable for being part of St. Augustine’s journeys and also as the city where his mother,  St. Monica, died.

Ostia’s oldest structures date back to the third century B.C., including the ruins of a military camp. Over the years, it witnessed civil wars, pirate sackings, political kidnappings, was burnt down and rebuilt then torn down again.

The statesman/orator Marcus Tullius Cicero provided the city with protective walls. Tiberius built its first forum. Julius Caesar expanded the city’s port and canals to secure the transport of grain to Rome. Claudius built its harbor while Trajan built a bridge across it.

And obviously, much of it was built to last. The city’s 2,000 year-old amphitheater still hosts some cultural celebrations today.

Getting to Ostia Antica

The Rome – Lido railway is the main transportation to and from Ostia and the center of Rome, a ride that takes about 35 or 40 minutes. Once there, local busses will get you where you want to go.

You’ll want to avoid Ostia Antica during summer months as a lot of native Romans vacation at its beaches. Otherwise, you can stroll through the city’s original curbed pavement without too much competition.

Mainly, the best advice is to take comfortable footwear because if you want to see it all – and it can all be seen in one day – you’ll have to hoof it.

But in the future it may be impossible to see Ostia Antica all in one day. Archaeologists estimate nearly two-thirds of the town still hasn’t been excavated.

This city of ghosts may still have a few more secrets to tell hidden just below the surface.

Experiencing wanderlust? Visit AAA.com/Travel for plenty of Italian tour info and inspo!

Where’s your favorite “best-kept secret” spot? Tell us in the comments below!

Thank You for Participating!

Summer is in full bloom! You headed out into your backyards, parks and local botanical gardens, and sent us photos of the flowers that inspired you. Together, you created a beautiful garden, full of color and variety. Explore the gallery below to see all the pictures we received, and don’t forget to check our social media channels, where we will be sharing some of our favorites. Select photos may also be featured in an upcoming issue of Your AAA magazine.

Tips on Photographing Flowers

“The earth laughs in flowers.” I have to agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson on this. Flowers are one of Mother Nature’s most beautiful creations. There is nothing that brings me more joy than photographing a field of wildflowers.

There are so many things to consider when photographing flowers, from lens choice to lighting. Although you are starting out with a photogenic subject, there are still ways to elevate a quick snap to a thoughtful, vibrant and well-composed image that amplifies what nature provides. I am sharing my favorite flower photography tips below.

Lens Choice

You can use just about any lens for flower photos. Different apertures and focal lengths yield completely different results. For example, a macro lens will allow you to get really close and capture all the details, whereas a wide-angle lens will show more of the flower in its environment. I love using a macro lens and my 135mm f/1.8 lens. The 135mm gives beautiful blur and compression. I recommend playing with different lenses and focal lengths to see what you like best.

Lighting

If you are a novice, I highly recommend waiting for an overcast day or cloud cover to try out flower photography. Overcast days provide soft, evenly distributed light, which really makes for beautiful pictures. Full sun leaves you with bright spots and harsh shadows. If you find yourself stuck with a sunny day, you can use a diffuser to filter the harsh sun rays.

More experienced photographers should snap floral pics during the golden hours – the hour after sunrise and before sunset. Golden hour shots add in more lighting dimension and an overall sense of warmth.

Aperture Choice

When photographing flowers you need to consider your depth of field. Do you want to showcase just one flower and have the background be blurry? If so, then you will want to choose a large aperture – anywhere between f/1.8 -f/4. If you are trying to capture multiple flowers or a field of flowers you will want to choose a small aperture – anywhere between f/11-f/22.

Framing

Framing your flowers with other flowers or leaves makes for an interesting composition. You can look for plants that are already there or you can try cutting one and holding it near the flower or your lens.

Height and Angles

Vary your height and angles when shooting flowers. I like to take them from three different angles and heights. I start out at the flower’s height, move up slightly, and then take one shot straight down on the flower. I like to rotate 360 degrees around the flower too. Your lighting and background can be completely different with each turn.

Bonus Tip

Bring a water mister or spray bottle with you to spray the flowers with water. This will add some beautiful water droplets to your flowers.

Check out past AAA Photo Sessions and stay tuned for the next one, coming soon.

Beth Mancuso is a professional landscape and travel photographer.

Scoping out properties on real estate apps and websites has become something of a trend, especially in today’s white-hot housing market. Some of these sites are visited more than 100 million times each month. They’ve even pushed themselves into the pop culture lexicon.

Real estate websites can be great tools to narrow down the overwhelming number of homes that are for sale at any given time, ultimately leading you to your dream home. But as convenient as it is to peruse every available home in your area, these sites do have some potential pitfalls.

Here are some pros and cons of using real estate apps and websites.

Pros

A Large Database

The most significant advantage these websites have is the vast amount of listings in their database. Zillow, for example, has more than 110 million listings on its site at any given time (although this number also includes rental properties). This allows potential homebuyers to peruse any type of home in any region of the country with just a few simple clicks. Furthermore, most of the major sites have real estate apps on both Apple and Android platforms, allowing users to access all this information on their phone or tablet. Simply put, it’s never been easier to search for a new home.

Community Information

Realty apps and sites can provide useful snapshots of the community that would otherwise be difficult to ascertain if you’re new to an area. Some helpful neighborhood insights you may find listed include maps, information about nearby schools, local crime rates, transportation options and the value history of nearby homes.

Notifications and Saved Searches

Even with millions of listings, it’s possible the home you’re looking for simply isn’t available yet. If this is the case, real estate apps and websites have some helpful tools for you. First, is the saved search option. Let’s say you’re looking for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a pool for less than $800,000. You can apply all of those filters to your search results and save them, allowing you to view all the qualified properties with just one click the next time you visit. Even better, you can sign up to receive notifications that will alert you when a new property that meets your needs gets added to the site.

Tools and Calculators

Real estate websites use all the digital world has to offer with tools and features you can’t get in a brochure. These may include 3D home tours, virtual open houses, interactive maps and even a feature that allows users to take a photo of a home’s real estate sign and get details on the property right away. Many sites also have mortgage calculators to give users an idea on how much a particular home would cost each month.

Cons

Accuracy

One of the main issues with realty apps and websites is the accuracy of their listings. In some cases, sites will pull a property’s information from municipal tax databases and multiple listing services, but in others, a realtor or homeowner will manually input the information. In the latter scenario, some stats may be inaccurate or out of date.

Some companies have worked to improve accuracy by having information validated, but users should still confirm anything they see or read on a site. It’s a good idea to consult a professional real estate agent to help interpret what you find online.

Price

A number of sites have tools that give home price evaluations. However, because the sites don’t always have the correct info on a property, these estimates should be taken with a grain of salt. Take for example, Zillow, one of the most popular real estate listing websites.

Nationally, according to Zillow itself, the site’s price estimate is within 5% of the actual selling price roughly 85% of the time. But this number fluctuates from state to state and region to region. In all the states of the Northeast, for example, Zillow’s 5% accuracy is below the national average, bottoming out at New York’s 72.5%.

In Zillow’s defense, it states that this tool is not an appraisal and should simply be used as a “starting point” for determining a property’s value. But many users haven’t gotten that message, and people who say Zillow is misleading prospective homebuyers have sued the site.

Featured Listings

Just like search engines, most real estate apps and websites have featured or sponsored listings. These homes appear at or near the top of any search results within the site, even when you sort the results using a filter. Make sure to look out for a note on their listing that designates their “featured” status and take that into consideration when looking for your dream home.

Privacy

Most realty apps and websites are free to use, and you can peruse all the listings and pull pertinent information without providing anything. However, in most cases, if you want to access all of the site’s features, you’ll need to give up some of your personal info, such as your name, email address and other information.

For instance, if you find a property you’re interested in, you’ll likely need to create a profile or at least submit contact information to get more info on a property or schedule a tour. While you might be fine with being contacted regarding a specific home, providing your number and email address could open you up to a wave of sales calls and emails from outside companies. You can visit OptOutPrescreen.com ahead of time to avoid unsolicited offers or junk mail.

When you’re ready to purchase a home, AAA is here to help. To learn more our home loan services or to speak to a mortgage specialist now, visit AAA.com. For ways to save even more at home, go to AAA.com/HomeServices.

The Northeast offers some of the most beautiful roads in the country for your family road trip. Not only is the scenery stunning, there are plenty of activities to suit a range of interests, so everyone is happy at the end of the day. There’s also history to discover, with some roads tracing their origins back to early settlers.

Here are some of the best Northeast road trips for families to explore, whether your ultimate goal upon arrival is a group hike at a mountainside escape or lounging beside a seaside vista.

The Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

“The Kanc,” as the locals call it, is a scenic highway that’s stunning any time of year, but especially during the fall when the leaves change color. The Kanc is a section of Route 112 that runs between the towns of Conway and Lincoln – right through the White Mountain National Forest.

There are plenty of places to stop along the 34.5-mile route that takes you up to an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet. Scenic overlooks provide lots of opportunities to stretch you legs along with hiking trails suited to every skill level. Take time for a picnic lunch along the Swift River or plan a longer stay and spend the night at one of several campgrounds along the route.

Park Loop Road, Maine

Acadia National Park is the home of Park Loop Road, which starts at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and winds along the rocky Maine coastline for 27 miles. It’s slow-going in the summer when crowds are at their peak, but that simply gives you more time to relax and enjoy the fabulous view.

Started in 1922 and financed in part by John D. Rockefeller Jr., this stretch of road takes you all the way to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. If the family is up for an early start, it’s a breathtaking spot to catch the sunrise.

The Mohawk Trail, Massachusetts

The first scenic road in New England, The Mohawk Trail officially opened in 1914 with 63 miles of road and 50,000 acres of forest. It harks back to the days of the early settlers and runs from Williamstown to Athol in rustic western Massachusetts.

There are activities for the whole family along the Mohawk trail, making it the perfect place for a weekend family getaway. Explore hiking trails, book a campsite for an outdoor adventure or stop in a classic New England town where you can stay at an inn and enjoy browsing shops with antiques, clothes and one-of-a-kind crafts.

Lake Champlain, Vermont

There isn’t a seacoast in Vermont, but there’s still a waterfront thanks to Lake Champlain, one of America’s largest lakes. You can drive the coastline, but for something a little different try island-hoping through the Champlain Islands. This route takes you across bridges with panoramic views of the water you simply cannot get from the shoreline.

This drive takes you along U.S. Route 2 for roughly 37 miles with plenty to do and see along the way. There’s snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter, wondrous foliage in the fall and farms and trails to explore in the warmer months. Don’t miss Sand Bar State Park, a natural sandbar with beaches perfect for swimming with the kids.

Coastal Drive, Connecticut

The Northeast has endless forests to explore, but it also has a beautiful seacoast perfect for summer vacations. The Connecticut coast from Stonington to Greenwich runs more than 100 miles, lined with villages and a quaint New England vibe. That might seem like a long route, but this is one where you can pick and choose which parts to explore.

There are beaches where the kids can run off some energy along with shops and restaurants for when you’re ready to take a break and slow down. Wander through New Haven and check out the beautiful grounds at Yale University or stop at Five Mile Point Lighthouse in Lighthouse Point Park and challenge yourself to climb to the top.

Adirondack Trail, New York

This route winds for 188 miles and takes your from just south of the Canadian border, through Adirondack Park, to the town of Fonda. It’s a beautiful and rugged landscape that includes many historic stops along the way.

You will pass through Johnstown, the location of one of the final battles of the Revolutionary War, and get the chance to experience colonial history. There’s also Great Sacandaga Lake where the family can enjoy fishing and boating or just stop for a picnic to take in the scenery.

Old King’s Highway, Massachusetts

No trip to Massachusetts is complete without a visit to Cape Cod and Old King’s Highway is the perfect route. Also known as Route 6A, this stretch of highway gives you a chance to explore the Cape and get a taste of history at the same time.

Start your drive in Sandwich and enjoy the scenery from farmlands to salt marshes to cranberry bogs over the course of a 34-mile route. There’s plenty to see and do with myriad beaches, shops and restaurants. Take a break from the road and rent a bike to cycle one of the many bike paths, which are easily manageable even for the kids.

Green Mountain Byway, Vermont

Traveling the Green Mountain Byway allows for views of meadows, forests and farms. There are three state parks along the route so you can stop to hike and explore when it’s time for a break from the road.

The route starts in Waterbury and makes its way across the state to Stowe with plenty of small towns and recreational opportunities. The journey also includes Mount Mansfield, which is Vermont’s highest peak. It’s the most frequently visited mountain in the state and one of the few places in Vermont where you can find Arctic Tundra.

Plan your drive with maps and AAA-recommended lodging, food and activities. 

Need a ride? Learn about exclusive Hertz discounts for AAA members.

When my child first went off to college, I was so worried they’d starve that I chose the most expensive food plan. But my child – after a few weeks of sleeping in, skipping breakfast and getting tired of cafeteria food – started eating meals off campus.

Once I got over the worry of a starving child (and the issue of wasting money on meals that were never eaten), we smartened up. Next time, we bought a cheaper meal plan and I learned that the card used for meals was also accepted at off-campus restaurants.

A parent’s default setting is to worry about their kids. So if I asked you to worry less about your child, let alone one going off to college and leaving the house for the first time, you’d likely think, “impossible.” I know – I was (clearly) the same way.

Whether you’re ready for it or not, however, colleges treat students as adults. So you’ll also have to adapt. For example, privacy laws prevent parents from calling up schools to get information on their child, particularly if it involves their health or finances. You can counter this by signing up for campus alerts and having the student complete authorization forms.

But the best plan of all is to limit your worry and establish great communication with your student.

Funds Focus

As difficult as it may be, I would suggest devoting some your focus instead to finances. College is getting more expensive – and more difficult to pay for – every year. But there are numerous ways to save money on tuition.

For instance, colleges require students to be covered by health insurance and will sometimes automatically charge you for a plan. And these are not cheap plans – some can cost from $2,000 to $4,000. If your child is already covered, make sure to waive the school’s health plan and show proof that the student has valid insurance.

I also discovered I could get tax breaks to offset all of the expenses of paying for college. You can even deduct the interest you pay on student loans.

Just how beneficial, and important, steps like these prove to be will vary depending on your situation, but there are certain financial measures every parent of a college student should take, regardless of their circumstances. Most notably is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA).

What Is FAFSA?

Everyone should fill out the FASFA form, even those who believe they won’t qualify for aid because you make too much money. Low interest financial aid loans are available to everyone regardless of income level. Even if a student is not planning on using financial aid, many private scholarships want to see a student’s FAFSA results.

Scholarships outside of the college are another great way to save money. However, many families treat scholarship searching either as solely a freshman year activity or give up as the process leads to frustration and little to no results.

But never give up. Even if your child only wins a relatively small scholarship, that money will reduce any loan amount you have to borrow and, when you factor in interest charges and deferment expenses, could lead to significant savings in the long run.

The Flourish Line

You and your child can make it out of their college years in as sound a financial position as you began. Your child, however, will inevitably go through changes – and this is not a bad outcome. There’s a good chance the child you sent off to college will not be the same one that comes home.

I noticed all types of other changes – not just facial hair, becoming taller than you and putting on a few more pounds. They’re doing their own laundry, volunteering to do yard work and, my favorite so far, cooking their newly learned favorite recipes for family dinner. Even commonplace things such as conversations between us seemed to be more detailed and delved into topics I would never have dreamed my high school student would ever have interest in.

My lesson is this: trust that your child will flourish, act to keep your finances steady.

Donald Kerr is the senior manager of student lending at AAA Northeast.

A new study by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found New York City to have the worst traffic of any city in the United States. While this likely comes as little surprise to Northeast drivers, it marks a historic end for Los Angeles’ reign as the king of snarling roadways. For nearly three decades, the annual Urban Mobility Report listed the West coast city atop its traffic rankings.

The results were based on the total amount of hours drivers were delayed in 2020. Motorists in the New York-Newark region spent nearly 500,000 hours stuck in traffic, compared to the roughly 365,000 hours those in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim did.

The report also looked at the average time drivers spent in traffic, and again, New York reigned supreme. The average Big Apple motorist spent an average of 56 hours in traffic in 2020. Boston came in second with an average of 50 hours, followed by Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

As high as these numbers are, they represent a sharp decrease from years past. Nationwide, traffic totals dropped to some of the lowest levels seen in the last 30 years. From 2019 to 2020, the average number of hours motorists spent in traffic in most major cities was cut in half. This, of course, was mostly the result of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to work from home. “Flexible work hours and reliable internet connections allow employees to choose work schedules that are beneficial for meeting family needs and the needs of their jobs,” report co-author David Schrank said. “And it also reduces the demand for roadway space, which is beneficial for the rest of us.”

Visit AAA.com for more automotive news.

With mask mandates easing and the number of Americans getting vaccinated on the rise, many of our favorite live events are starting to return. But what will they look like?

Shakespeare in the Park

Shakespeare in the Park is a beloved New York City tradition, and in 2021 it returns to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. This year’s free show, produced by the Public Theater, is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” This reimagined play, titled “Merry Wives,” moves the beloved comedy’s setting to South Harlem. This year, all free tickets will be distributed via digital lottery. Recently, the Public Theater increased its capacity for “Merry Wives” to about 80%. There will be a full capacity section for those vaccinated, and a physically distanced section for those who are not. Proof of vaccination is not required. Masks are required for all audience members. “Merry Wives” runs July 6 through Sept. 18.

Newport Jazz Festival

The famous Newport Jazz Festival is back and ready to make some music. Reimagined as three days of intimate jazz concerts and surprise jam sessions, this year’s festival will be a little smaller than in years past. Tickets will be released in phases as organizers decide how many people can safely attend and which safety protocols will be followed. It runs July 30 through Aug. 1 in Fort Adams State Park, in Newport, R.I.

New York Renaissance Faire

The plague is ending, and it’s time to return to the New York Renaissance Faire. This sprawling Renaissance fair in Tuxedo is back in action, with period-accurate actors, merchants, performers, knights and even some magic. For the 2021 season, some experiences have been modified to reduce contact, social distancing between parties is encouraged, and vaccinated patrons don’t have to wear masks. The New York Renaissance Faire is held every weekend from Aug. 21 through Oct. 3.

King Richard’s Faire

King Richard’s Faire is the largest Renaissance fair in New England, and it’s ready to make its grand return. The event, which features games, rides, immersive storytelling, merchants and daring performances, is celebrating its 4oth season this year. It’s held weekends from Sept. 4 through Oct. 24, and on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 6) and Columbus Day (Monday, Oct. 11) in the woods of Carver, Mass. Organizers have yet to announce COVID-19 rules and restrictions.

The Governors Ball

In previous years, the Governors Ball music festival took place at the end of June. This year it will be held Sept. 24-26 in a new venue, Citi Field in Queens. Featured artists include Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers, Post Malone and more. The Governors Ball has not decided on their COVID-19 precautions yet, but are working closely with the city of New York to craft safety regulations.

Broadway

Broadway is not a single event, but it has been on hiatus ever since last March. In 2021, the curtain will rise once more in New York City. While “Springsteen on Broadway” returned in June and “Pass Over” begins in August, most Broadway shows will officially reopen in the fall. “Hadestown” returns from the underworld Sept. 2, while “Hamilton,” “Wicked,” “The Lion King” and “Chicago” will all make their comebacks Sept. 14. “Six,” a pop musical about the wives of Henry VIII, was originally supposed to open March 12, 2020, the night Broadway shut down. Its new opening night is now Oct. 3. Other notable returns include “Come From Away” on Sept. 21, “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Oct. 3, “The Phantom of the Opera” on Oct. 22 and “Dear Evan Hansen” on Dec. 11.

“The Book of Mormon,” which is set to return Nov. 5, is taking the opportunity to rewrite some dialogue and lyrics that many former and current cast members had concerns about.

Broadway houses are selling their tickets at 100% capacity, and it’s unclear what safety protocols will look like when audience members are allowed in. Currently, “Springsteen on Broadway” requires all audience members to be vaccinated.

When you’re ready to dive back in to all your favorite things, remember to save with AAA Tickets. Get savings of up to 40% at concerts, theme parks, virtual events, museums, attractions and more! Go to AAA.com/Tickets for exclusive tickets and savings.

What events are you looking forward to? What do you think about their safety procedures? Let us know in the comments below!

Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian or simply looking to cut back on the amount of meat you consume, there are a plethora of options when it comes to plant-forward eating. Check out this guide to plant-based meat alternatives and learn how you can get your daily protein requirement while keeping your health, the planet and animal welfare in mind.

How Important Is Protein?

Humans need protein; it helps build muscle tissue and strengthen bones. The amino acids in protein also make antibodies, blood, connective tissue, enzymes and hair. There are nine essential amino acids, which our bodies cannot produce and therefore must come from food.

The recommended dietary allowance for protein is a modest 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, according to the Harvard Health blog. To determine your daily protein intake, you can multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36.

You might need slightly more or less protein depending on how active or sedentary your lifestyle is.

Benefits of Eating Less Meat

Meat may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of protein, but it’s completely possible to get enough protein – and all nine essential amino acids – from plant-based meat alternatives.

Health Reasons

Cutting back on the amount of meat you eat can improve your health in many ways. Individuals who don’t eat meat generally consume fewer calories and weigh less, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Consuming less meat can also help lower your risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease, obesity, stroke, type 2 diabetes and various cancers, according to the American Heart Association.

Environmental Reasons

Eating more fruits, vegetables and other plants – especially organic varieties – is better for the planet, too.

Raising livestock takes up a lot of room and resources. “If we combine pastures used for grazing with land used to grow crops for animal feed, livestock accounts for 77% of global farming land,” according to Our World in Data.

Livestock also contributes to 14.5% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Animal agriculture pollution occurs when animals naturally produce methane and when their waste accidentally gets into waterways.

Moral Reasons

Some people choose to go vegan or vegetarian for moral reasons. Factory farming is a major concern when it comes to the welfare of both animals and factory employees.

99% of U.S. farmed animals are living in factory farms at present, according to the Sentience Institute.

There’s also a lot of room for interpretation when it comes to “cage-free,” “free-range” and “pasture-raised” claims. “Except for ‘certified organic,’ the U.S. government does not set definitions or requirements for egg carton labels,” according to the Humane Society.

“The huge amount of antibiotics that keep animals on these farms from getting sick is leading to an abundance of drug-resistant bacteria,” according to the Humane Society of the United States. “And factory farms’ very nature – full of stressed animals, with poor sanitation – creates ideal conditions for diseases to thrive, including viruses that can infect humans.”

Recent examples are the COVID-19 outbreaks that occurred in meat and poultry processing facilities.

High-Protein Plants

One way to get your daily amount of protein is to eat a variety of meatless and nondairy foods. These include grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables and other plants.

Legumes

Legumes include beans, lentils and peas. All provide a good amount of protein while being versatile – they can go into salads and soups or be prepared in a way that resembles meat.

Legumes are “loaded with protein, iron and zinc, as you might expect from other protein sources like meat,” according to NutritionFacts.org. “Legumes also contain nutrients that are concentrated in the vegetable kingdom, including fiber, folate and potassium.”

Half a cup of cooked beans has the same amount of protein – 8 grams – as a cup of milk, according to Harvard Health Publishing. “Beans are packed with fiber, folate and phytates, which may help reduce the risk of stroke, depression and colon cancer,” according to NutritionFacts.org.

Fresh, frozen, canned and dried peas and split peas are another option. Green pea protein powder can be added to smoothies or nondairy milk for a post-workout boost. European-grown lupin (or lupine) is another natural protein powder; however, it should be avoided by those with peanut allergies.

Soy

Popular soy-based foods include tofu and tempeh.

Tofu is made from soybean curds, similar to how cheese is made. It can be soft or firm, but it is relatively bland. It takes on the flavor of what you cook it with. One 3.5-ounce serving of tofu offers 8 grams of protein and 70 calories.

Made from fermented soybeans, tempeh has a nuttier flavor than tofu. One 3-ounce serving of tempeh boasts 15 grams of protein along with calcium.

Grains, Oats and Wheat

Spelt is an ancient whole grain that’s closely related to wheat. One cup of spelt has over 10 grams of protein. It can be added to baked goods or used to make polenta, risotto, grain bowls and more. Spelt is not part of a gluten-free diet.

Teff is a grain that comes from an annual grass, making it a gluten-free option. Just 3.5 ounces of teff flour has 12 grams of protein and fiber.

Raw oats can be a good source of protein, too. 3.5 ounces of raw oats offers almost 17 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber.

Seitan, or hydrated wheat gluten, is low-fat and low-carb while being high in protein. A 3-ounce serving contains between 15 and 21 grams of protein, according to Healthline.

Nuts, Seeds and Yeast

Nuts – like almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios and walnuts – might feel like just a topping or snack, but these protein powerhouses can support and flavor an entire meal in the form of peanut sauce or pesto.

Quinoa is a seed that puffs up when cooked. It can add nice texture to a dish, along with all nine essential amino acids. Quinoa has been called a superfood, boasting more fiber than brown rice as well as antioxidants and minerals, including iron, folate, magnesium and zinc.

Nutritional yeast is a golden powder that adds a cheesy flavor to dishes and thickens soups and sauces. Nutritional yeast is a complete protein that boasts B vitamins and trace minerals like manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc.

Vegetables

Vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, peppers, potatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes are all good sources of protein, according to the American Heart Association.

Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

There are more plant-based meat alternatives on the market than ever before. Some options are more meat-like than others, imitating the look, taste and texture of meat with various levels of nutritional value.

Check the Nutrition Facts

When looking for a vegetarian or vegan meat alternative, always check the nutrition facts and list of ingredients. Just because a product is labeled “plant-based,” “vegan” or “vegetarian” doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

Salt is used to improve flavor and increase the shelf life of many commercial food products. Watch out for the amount of sodium, saturated fats and preservatives when shopping for meat alternatives.

Veggie Burgers

Most veggie burgers don’t try to hide their lack of meat. In leu of meat, ingredients like beans, quinoa, potatoes and tofu are used to form a patty.

You can make your own veggie burgers at home – like these black bean burgers from the blog Sally’s Baking Addiction or the New York Time’s ultimate veggie burger. Or, consider store-bought varieties like Amy’s, Hilary’s or Dr. Praeger’s. Again, make sure to check the nutrition facts, as some makers and individual flavors are healthier than others.

Beef Imitations

“Meatless burgers are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals,” according to Harvard Health blog, adding that some meatless burgers are heavily processed and high in saturated fat.

There are a few popular meat alternative brands on the market that specialize in products that are made to imitate the look, feel and taste of real meat.

Impossible Products use a variety of ingredients to make burger, sausage and pork alternatives. There’s soy and potato for protein, heme and yeast extract for flavor, coconut and sunflower oils for fat as well as methylcellulose and food starch for binders.

Beyond Meat makes plant-based meat alternatives for meatballs, sausages, burgers and more. Protein comes from beans, peas and brown rice while cocoa butter, coconut oil and expeller-presses canola oil offer fat. Beet juice, apple extract and natural flavors make the products look like real meat. Calcium, iron, potassium chloride and salt provide flavor while carbohydrates like potato starch and methylcellulose offer structure.

Faux Chicken and Fish

Some chicken and fish alternatives are more convincing than others, but like faux beef products, you should look at nutritional info.

Products like Quorn Chik’n Cutlets and Simple Truth Meatless Grillers imitate actual chicken breasts, whiles brands like Morning Star Farms and Gardein make crispy “chicken” tenders and nuggets.

Notable faux seafood producers include Good Catch, which makes plant-based crab cakes, fish cakes, fish burgers and tuna. Similarly, New Wave is known for its plant-based shrimp.

Plants With Meaty Texture

Although they aren’t the most protein-packed plants, mushrooms and jackfruit are vegetarian meat substitutes that can add a hearty “meatiness” to otherwise meat-free dishes.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms – like button/white, cremini, maitake, oyster, portobello and shitake – are another superfood. Mushrooms are cholesterol- and fat-free as well as low in calories and sodium. They’re also packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a popular choice among vegans and vegetarians due to its shredded meat-like texture. Jackfruit offers a decent amount of protein compared to other fruits and contains many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A and C, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium and riboflavin.

Looking for more ways to mix it up in the kitchen? AAA members can save on Home Chef, a subscription box that provides everything you need to create delicious meals from home, from fresh ingredients to step-by-step instructions. Plus, Home Chef offers a wide variety of vegetarian options, including Impossible Foods!

Which plant-based meat substitutes do you like to eat? Tell us in the comments.

Only 300 people call Rottnest Island home but the quokkas really own the place.  

The quokka – a smaller version of the wallaby – is the only mammal native to the island. In turn, Rottnest Island is just about the only place on earth where you’ll find these little marsupials. 

And there are plenty of them to be found: at least 10,000 quokkas roam this area of just 7 square miles.  

Rottnest also contains colonies of seals and sea lions as well as a rich array of birds. You can surf, hike, fish, sail, dive or bask in the sun on sandy beaches of crystal-blue water.  

But all of it takes a back seat to the real stars of the show.  

Origin Myths  

When 17th Century Dutch explorers touched down on these shores, they thought quokkas were giant rats. So they called it Ratnest Island (or Eylandt ‘t Rottenest)     

But the island’s original inhabitants, the Whadjuk Noongaro, lived there more than 7,000 years ago – before it was even an island. After Rottnest separated from mainland Australia during the last Ice Age, the Whadjuk Noongaro named the new island “Wadjemup, or “place across water where the spirits are.”

Calling Rottnest a best-kept secret is a bit misleading, though. “Rotto” is an enormously popular daytrip with the denizens of Perth and its surrounding areas. But in a broader sense, West Australia in general – and Perth in particular – aren’t exactly celebrated tourist destinations the world over.  

Known as the most isolated city in the world, Perth contains 2 million residents … and more ‘roos than humans for hundreds of miles. The nearest city of even 100,000 people, Adelaide, is over 1,300 miles away.  

Still, its rugged beauty both inland and on the coasts makes Perth well worth the trip. It may not be as cool as Melbourne or as cosmopolitan as Sydney, but Perth’s natural treasure chest offers at least one gem those other places can’t. 

Chockablock With Quokkas 

The word “cute” is subjective, sure, but how can you not melt a little when you encounter a quokka?  

About the size of a house cat (if cats walked on two legs), quokkas are nocturnal, stocky creatures with incredibly well-developed back legs and a knack for climbing. They’re herbivores who get their water mainly from chewing grasses and leaves.  

Think of a deer’s demeanor wrapped in a playful package. Quokkas have the same black placid eyes and brown coat, and like a deer, there’s something good natured about them.

Maybe it’s because their mouths naturally curl into a contagious smile.  

After years of entertaining curious tourists, the quokkas are quite curious and friendly themselves. It’s no surprise then that quokkas have become social media stars over the last decade, with Instagram accounts like @Instaquokka gathering more than 150,000 followers, and #QuokkaSelfie trending for a time.  

If you try to take a quokka selfie, be warned: you shouldn’t handle them. It’s also a crime to feed them human food, as it can have a disastrous effect on their health. While they’re gentle, they are still wildlife and therefore relatively unpredictable. Their teeth, so cute in a smile, are razor sharp. 

Getting to Rotto 

Rottnest is more than just the exclusive playground of quokkas. 

One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive is the silence, since there are very few cars on the island. Its biking and hiking trails are extensive and fantastic, as are the snorkeling and diving, fishing, surfing and swimming. 

And it’s easy to get to Rottnest, just a 45-minute ferry ride, which leaves from Perth’s port of Fremantle, though other boat and aerial options are available. 

The island has some history to explore, too, from ancient artifacts to its use as a Colonial-era prison/labor camp to remnants of Australia’s WWII defense system.  

But ultimately, it’s those smiling little brown critters – animals you won’t meet anywhere else in the world – that make it such a special place. 

Experiencing wanderlust? Visit AAA.com/Travel for plenty of info and inspo!

Where’s your favorite “best-kept secret” spot? Tell us in the comments below!