There are a lot of places around the country that you could call “donut obsessed,” but here in the Northeast, we have verifiable evidence. According to a study by Rent.com, eight of the country’s top (i.e. most abundant) donut cities are in the Northeast. While we have unquestionable proof that we do, in fact, run on Dunkin’, we still love to support the little guys. Here are some of the best independent Northeast donut shops.

PVDonuts
Providence, R.I.

The line around the block may be a hint that PVDonuts is something special, but a taste will have you fully convinced. The menu changes every month, and always with fun and inventive flavors that are equal parts tasty and nostalgic, like their Wild Berry Pop Tart, Funfetti and Dunkaroos donuts. At Thanksgiving, PVDonuts makes a special Friendsgiving donut topped with cranberry glaze, stuffing and fried chicken.

Knead Doughnuts
Providence, R.I.

Knead gets top marks for their gourmet donuts. Their brown butter pecan and peanut butter and jelly-filled are among the best. Get your fix at locations throughout Providence.

Back Door Donuts
Oak Bluffs, Mass.

During the day it’s all business at this bakery on Martha’s Vineyard, but at night it’s a party in the back where people line up by the hundreds at the purple door for hot and fresh donuts. Don’t, under any circumstances, skip the big-as-your-face apple fritters. Open seasonally from April through October.

Blackbird Doughnuts
Boston, Mass.

Blackbird Doughnuts has grown to seven Massachusetts locations (including Fenway Park) for a reason. They’re really that good. In addition to the classics, they serve up creative flavors like Everything Bagel, a brioche donut filled with whipped cream cheese and topped with toasted garlic, onion, poppy seeds and sesame seeds. Seasonal flavors include Summer Corn and Root Beer Float.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Waterbury Center, Vt.

Apple cider donuts are one of New England’s signature treats – and the ones that come from Cold Hollow Cider Mill are special. The secret? The fresh-pressed cider made on premises using a vintage 1920s machine. While you can get them hot out of the fryer all year round at the mill, you can also order them online and ship them straight to your house.

Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Peter Pan hasn’t changed much since it opened in the ’50s and like the true classic it is, it doesn’t have to rely on gimmicks or trendy flavors to stand out. Here it’s quality and freshness that earns the affection of regulars and newcomers alike. Order an egg cream or coffee with a red velvet, jelly or sour cream donut, pull up to the counter and enjoy the neighborhood atmosphere. Bet you can’t resist a fresh-from-the-fryer glazed for the road.

Cider Belly
Albany, N.Y.

Throw a rock in New York City and you can find a decent donut shop. The truly great ones, like what you’ll find at Cider Belly, are worth the extra effort to get to. This donut shop focuses on cider donuts but in interesting variations. Try the Sap Sucker with maple drizzle, the Venetian with cappuccino glaze or go all-in with a Double Down, a cider donut with cider glaze.

The Holy Donut
Portland, Maine

Maine potato donuts are a time-honored tradition, but nobody makes them like The Holy Donut, one of the earliest producers in the gourmet donut trend. Now, they make 2 million dense, moist donuts a year across their three locations around Portland, in flavors like original and dark chocolate potato, sweet potato and seasonal favorites like Maine blueberry. The savory bacon and cheddar-filled donut alone justifies the drive.

Neil’s Donuts and Bake Shop
Wallingford, Conn.

This old-fashioned bakery outside of New Haven serves up fresh bread, coffee cakes, muffins, coffee rolls, pastries, cookies and danish. Although, if you skip getting one of Neil’s 40 varieties of donuts, you’re missing out. Choose from cake donuts, glazed donuts and crullers in flavors like lemon chocolate, blueberry crumb and coconut cream. Or don’t choose and get them all. No judgement here!

Goody Good Donuts
Laconia, N.H.

Make sure you go to Goody Good with an empty stomach – if you choose wisely, you’ll end up with a treat that’s bigger than your hand that would get Homer Simpson’s stamp of approval, and Fred Flintstone’s too! This bakery serves nearly 30 flavors of donut, including the Bedrock, which is a honey donut rolled in Fruity Pebbles. Don’t sleep on the Arnold Palmer, either; the lemon and raspberry combo is a match made in a heavenly glazed shell.

Tell us about your favorite local donut shop in the comments.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

A few years ago, traveling a potholed highway across dusty plains in Gujarat, India, I was in my element: exploring the crafts and culture of a remote corner of the world, joined by three other journalists. Our good-natured guide, Sam, knew Gujarat and its customs and history well. Although he was not worldly and had never traveled outside India, Sam was open-minded. Banter flowed easily as we bumped along.

At some point the conversation transitioned to living arrangements and I commented on how my husband had recently started working from home, and how we were adapting to share the space.

“You mean your wife,” Sam interjected.

No, my husband, I replied.

“No, you mean your wife.”

I turned to Sam and smiled. “No, I have a husband at home.”

For a moment, Sam froze, and then his eyes widened quizzically. “You’re married? To a man?”

Several minutes of confused back-and-forth ensued, as I tried to explain how laws in the United States had evolved to embrace same-sex marriage. Sam was equal parts aghast and intrigued. He seemed to go through a mental checklist to identify ways this did not add up.

“But who cooks dinner?”

The Journey Begins

Each June, as rainbow stripes take over corporate logos, as allyship reaches out through social media and Pride marches set forth in cities and towns across America, I can’t help but reflect on how far the LGBTQ community has come over the last few decades.

Yes, I’m a glass half-full kind of guy.

For more than 25 years, I have been fortunate to be a travel journalist. But I don’t consider my work to be that of a gay journalist. That is, I rarely write about LGBTQ-specific travel, such as gay cruises or gay resorts.

I don’t often visit places like Provincetown and Key West, luxuriating in what fellow writer Kwin Mosby calls “the safety net of gay-friendly destinations.” I have no dating apps on my phone to meet locals; instead, I often travel with my husband of 35 years. Whether it’s at the registration desk when I verify we have a single-bedded room or by the pool where we share the kind of nose-in-book silence that longstanding couples do, we can be conspicuous by default.

In 1986, when my husband-to-be and I took our first vacation together, we were naive in our choice. We picked Jamaica, a country which soon emerged as the poster child for gay-unfriendly destinations.

Lured by the pulse of reggae and ads featuring lovers on a bucolic bamboo raft, I booked airline tickets through a Denver travel agent. Maybe she thought Chris and I were “just friends,” but she never advised us that Jamaicans might be unwelcoming to a same-sex couple. I picked up a brand-new “Guide to Jamaica” by Moon Publications, a book bereft of resort coverage but long on cultural context – useful on a first trip to the Caribbean.

In glancing through the book today I find not one word of caution to a gay or lesbian traveler.

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In Montego Bay we checked in at Doctor’s Cave Beach Hotel, amid what seemed to a monsoon. Day after day it rained, and while this was good for getting acquainted with ladies selling fruit and crafts at the market, we eventually succumbed to a worn-out cinema for a matinee showing of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” At the box office we were offered tickets for the balcony or downstairs – we chose downstairs. Little did we know, kids and families sat in the balcony, and downstairs was where the prostitutes worked. Although the ladies gave up pursuing us after we explained that we really were there to see the movie, somehow the word got out that a couple of queers were seated in the theatre.

As the credits rolled we exited onto the street, where a half-dozen young guys were waiting. They laughed and pointed, shouting my least-favorite f-word, and followed us with taunts for a block in the rain before losing interest.

A couple days later the sun came out and we headed to Negril, landing in a funky beachfront guest house called Arthur’s Golden Sunset. Here, for $10 a night, we were welcomed and eased into a Jamaican groove. I don’t recall another taunt during our stay, but I remember wandering up the beach to a fancy all-inclusive resort named Sandals. We gawked at smiling lovers, a sprawling pool and boisterous swim-up bar. As we neared the edge of the pool, imagining it for the day we hit a lottery jackpot, a guard came up to shoo us away, noting that the resort was for couples only.

It didn’t take long to understand that Sandals, and a few other Jamaican resorts, defined the term “couples-only” in strictly heterosexual terms.

The Power of the Gay Dollar

Flash forward a decade to the start of my career as a travel writer. By this point, Chris and I had visited seven or eight Caribbean islands, which even included a return trip to Jamaica. Among my first projects was the “Fielding’s Caribbean” guidebook, and soon I became a contributing editor at Caribbean Travel & Life magazine. As my island connections multiplied, invites to be hosted at Sandals resorts arrived. I ignored the first few, then got annoyed with the chain’s PR representative.

“Why would I stay as a guest at a resort that won’t allow me to check in as a paying customer?” I asked. She was embarrassed, and the invites stopped coming.

But by 2003, when Sandals had grown to 12 resorts on five islands, the policy met its match. Under Mayor Ken Livingstone, Transport for London – the government agency that oversees most of the city’s transportation system – stopped accepting Sandals advertising.

With Britain being the company’s second-largest market, Sandals responded a year later by “refining” its policy, very quietly opening its doors to LGBTQ couples.

Of course, by this point some destinations were beginning to recognize the value of the gay dollar, led by Great Britain.

“We’ve reached out to LGBTQ+ travelers for a good 25 years now,” says Paul Gauger, senior vice president of VisitBritain’s Americas offices. Great Britain was the first foreign government to participate in Pride marches in the U.S.; in 2019, VisitBritain joined 29 Pride celebrations and events in the U.S. and across the Americas. “But we don’t just activate during Pride season,” adds Gauger, “it’s throughout the year.”

While Gauger notes that cities like London and Manchester have been a focus for much of the marketing, countryside and coastal vacations across England, Scotland and Wales are also promoted today.

“The community has changed,” says Gauger. “Not all gay and bisexual men want to be out partying all the time. There are gay and lesbian couples traveling with kids experiencing our family attractions, and there’s a greater number of people from the transgender and queer community traveling, too.”

Great Britain is hardly alone today in dedicating resources to attract LGBTQ visitors. International destinations from Argentina to Montreal hire research firm CMI to help them understand the dynamics of marketing to the community. In its 2019 report, CMI found that Canada and Mexico were the most frequent international destinations for America’s LGBTQ travelers, while Britain, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy were all visited by more than 6 percent of respondents in the previous year.

LoAnn Halden, a spokesperson for the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, points to Malta as one success story in the last five years.

“It’s a conservative country that almost overnight updated its laws and is now considered the best European country for LGBTQ+ rights,” says Halden.

In the U.S., New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco have a long track record attracting LGBTQ visitors, but smaller cities are also getting in on the act.

In 2012 Columbus, Ohio hosted a fam (familiarity) trip for LGBTQ media and soon after began integrating same-sex couples into its marketing materials; last year, a gay couple was featured on the cover of Columbus’ visitor guide.

Roger Dudley, director of community and customer engagement for Experience Columbus, says travel priorities have evolved and not everyone wants to go to the big gay mecca cities. “Maybe they’ve checked those off their list,” adds Dudley. “Columbus is driving distance for a lot of people in the Midwest, so we’re a good place for long weekend.”

Even Salt Lake City, a destination identified with Utah’s conservative politics and the Mormon Church, has started marketing to the LGBTQ community. Eric Thompson, vice president of marketing for Visit Salt Lake, says the city has, on a per capita basis, a larger-than-average LGBTQ population.

“We felt like we needed to dedicate more resources in that direction,” explains Thompson, who adds that the city’s 2019 Pride celebration drew 80,000 people. “There’s been a lot of migration from other states to Utah, and gays and lesbians feel comfortable here.”

Still Work To Be Done

Feel comfortable? As a 6-foot-3-inch white man, I feel fairly comfortable almost everywhere I go. Work has taken me to some pretty unusual places, but it is rare for me to feel ill at ease when traveling. After all, being the fish out of water often makes for a better story. Still, often I find myself exploring the world in a bubble that masks the reality beyond the sheen.

Plant me amid the gilded embrace of a safari lodge in the Serengeti and it’s easy to overlook how Tanzania’s institutionalized homophobia preys on its citizens. Bask in the luxury of a cruise floating down the Nile River, and who cares that Egypt’s General Directorate for Protecting Public Morality uses dating apps to entrap and imprison gay men?

Make no mistake: Many of the larger companies involved in tourism today earn a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual list of best places to work for LGBTQ equality. This includes American, Southwest and United airlines, and the Choice, Marriott International, Hilton, InterContinental, and Wyndham hotel groups. I’m delighted when companies like these integrate a rainbow into their social media stream, even if it disappears on July 1.

But as I grow older, and “roughing it” – staying in budget digs and trip-planning on the fly – yields more hassle and less serendipity than it once did, I’m finding I need to make a more concerted effort to pierce the bubble that luxe hotels and well-meaning but image-conscious tourism boards sometimes provide.

In 2008 I traveled to Uganda, in East Africa, a country ravaged by the reign of Idi Amin through the 1970s, followed by a sequel, the Lord’s Resistance Army that was still terrorizing rural Ugandans when I visited. But on my trip, this ravishingly beautiful country, called the “Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill, managed to retain the raw appeal that once made it the cornerstone of the Grand Tour of Africa.

I was besotted – so much so that I wrote about Uganda for National Geographic Traveler as one of the magazine’s “places to go” in 2013. But then Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a bill imposing prison terms for homosexual acts, one of the most regressive laws anywhere directed at the LGBTQ community.

My heart broke, both for stories of Uganda I no longer cared to share as well as for the people of this developing country, rich in natural resources and tourism potential. I called the country’s tourist board in New York and asked an attendant whether a same-sex couple would feel safe on a Ugandan safari.

“You don’t need to worry,” she told me. “This law is not meant for foreigners.”

Daina Ruduša, a spokesperson for human rights organization OutRight Action International, says there is a difference between welcoming LGBTQ tourists and how local people live their lives.

“Even in highly repressive, hostile places – Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Russia, for example – LGBTIQ travelers are welcomed and treated respectfully, often not facing any issues at all, while locals face active persecution,” Ruduša explains. “This can be partly because LGBTIQ people and issues are seen as a ‘Western’ phenomenon.” Local authorities feel safe in the knowledge that visitors will leave without impacting local culture, while cashing in on the economic incentives tourism provides.

To be sure, LGBTQ rights have made great advances in many corners of the world. With the addition of Austria, Taiwan, Ecuador and Costa Rica in the last two years, same-sex marriage is legal now in 29 counties.

But one third of the world’s countries still have laws that criminalize homosexuality. In much of the Middle East and northern and East Africa, same-sex relations can result in prison sentences; the death penalty is on the books in at least four countries.

“One has to be rational and sensible,” says Geoffrey Weill, owner of a New York-based travel public relations firm. “The entire world is not necessarily as advanced as we are (on LGBTQ rights). We’re privileged, we live in a society where nobody inquires, nobody asks. To turn travel into a world-changing crusade is naive.” Respect of customs and expectations in a foreign land is part of the bargain, he adds.

“You don’t flaunt a Star of David or rainbow flag where they’re not going to be welcomed.”

Coming Full Circle

In 2018, Chris and I were headed to the Caribbean island of Grenada. While laws against homosexuality are still in place, it’s an island we have been particularly welcomed at on multiple previous visits. By chance, we were invited to stay at the Sandals resort: The Jamaican chain had planted its flag on Grenada since our last visit.

We hardly knew what to expect. Amid honeymooners and Sandals regulars, we were welcomed at the check-in counter with warm smiles – nothing felt forced.

We were escorted to our room by a butler, a young, confident Grenadian who was taller than me. His well-rehearsed spiel described the resort’s amenities, the evening schedule and how to operate the infinity pool on our balcony. Despite plenty of opportunity, he didn’t miss a beat.

And at dinner, when we landed at the resort’s French restaurant, our waitress had laid out our initials on the table with heart-shaped glitter. We blushed.

While we noted only one other (presumably) lesbian couple at the resort during our visit, we actually started to blend in with the crowd. If we anticipated being the center of attention, just a bit, that didn’t materialize.

When I told Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts, about our Grenada experience, he was not surprised. “I have never gotten one letter from a same-sex couple that said they were discriminated against, or that they weren’t welcomed,” said Stewart, who added that the family-owned company also did not experience negative feedback from its famously loyal clientele.

I have no idea what happened to the young Jamaican men who taunted us as we exited the cinema 35 years ago. But I’m hoping that the takeaway for them – that day, or maybe another day – was that a gay couple was less exotic, more ordinary than they expected.

Plan your next vacation with the help of a trusted AAA travel advisor.

David Swanson is a San Diego-based freelance writer-photographer and served as president of SATW, the Society of American Travel Writers, in 2018-19. His stories have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, the Los Angeles Times and elsewhere.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version. 

Throughout New England — consisting of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine — visitors will find more than enough activities, entertainment and food to fill out a full week’s itinerary. Of course, narrowing down your choices may be quite the challenge.

We’ve picked some of our favorite New England destinations to make planning your road trip a little easier. Wherever your starting point, you can use the AAA mobile app to map out the perfect route.

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Dive into Mystic, Conn.

Take a deep dive into America’s seafaring past at the Mystic Seaport Museum (pictured above). Check out the artifacts in the formal exhibit halls, wander the streets of a recreated New England coastal village, see historic boats like the Charles W. Morgan whale ship, tour a working shipyard and hear the stories of those who made their living from the sea. Of course, no visit to Mystic complete without your own excursion on the water. Whether it’s a river cruise on the 1908 steamboat Sabino, a sail on the Breck Marshall–a 20-foot Crosby catboat, or some time on a pedal boat, you can enjoy the sea air as you travel through the water.

Book a hotel near Mystic, Conn.

Head to Providence, R.I., for bites and sites

Get a well-rounded taste of Providence on a food tour. During Providence Tour Company’s Crime and Cuisine on Federal Hill tour, you’ll sample some of the city’s notable Italian cuisine from such restaurants as Roma and Trattoria Appia. Along the way, you’ll hear the tales of how one mayor went after a mob boss, the corruption that shook the state’s banking system and how the city police cracked down on an illegal dice game. You’ll walk away with satisfied taste buds, a bit of history and a special memento.

Book a hotel near Providence, R.I.

Make your way to Worcester, Mass.

New England’s second largest city, Worcester offers plenty of outdoor recreation, including Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a great place to get outside and stretch your legs. There are 5 miles of trails, ranging from 0.1 to 1.7 miles in length. Along the way, you can watch for a variety of wildlife, including wild turkeys, great-horned owls, green herons, turtles, butterflies and much more. There’s also a nature center, where you can learn more about the area and its inhabitants.

Book a hotel near Worcester, Mass.

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Set out for Concord, N. H.

One of the best ways to explore this capital city is by taking the Historic Walking Tour. This self-guided tour takes approximately 1.5 hours and covers 2 miles. Prominent stops include the New Hampshire State House, the JFK Apartments and the New Hampshire State Library. Because you take the tour at your own pace, you can pop into the many boutiques, galleries and shops throughout downtown as you go along. When it’s time to refuel, choose one of downtown’s restaurants to sample a bit of local flavor.

Book a hotel near Concord, N.H.

Visit Vermont’s Only National Park

Don’t drive past Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, Vt. Here, you can learn about the families that called this area home, and tour some of the buildings they resided in. For instance, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion is open for tours each May through October, and the Belvedere – which includes a bowling alley and fallout shelter – is open for select guided tours. Outside, you can walk the gardens, hike more than 20 miles of trails or participate in one of the many programs and special events held each year. 

Book a hotel near Woodstock, Vt.

Relax in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Check out the collection of lighthouses in Cape Elizabeth. These include Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light, Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse and Two Lights (twin lighthouses, including Cape Elizabeth Light). You’ll also find two state parks and a municipal park where you can hike, picnic and swim the day away. Of course, you can indulge your love of seafood, especially lobster, at the many local restaurants. You’ll find plenty of cozy accommodations in and around the town.

Book a hotel near Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

New England is an ideal choice for any road trip, so feel free to use this itinerary as a guide to crafting a journey that suits your interests. Each destination features a wealth of accommodations, from familiar brands to local inns and plenty of private rentals, so you can find exactly the right spot to lay your head at night. When all is said and done, you’re sure to have great memories to talk about on the ride back home. 

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Thanks to its deservedly world-famous theme parks, restaurants, performing arts, eco-tours and wildlife attractions, Orlando offers something for every type of family and traveler. And luckily, the same goes for hotel choices.

There are two excellent choices, both minutes away from the Universal theme parks. If it’s space you need, look no further than Hyatt House, across from Universal Orlando Resort™. Here you can decide how many comforts of home you’d like, from in-room microwaves and refrigerators to suites with full kitchens and separate living rooms.

Or stay at the freshly-renovated Hyatt Place, across from Universal Orlando Resort™, where you can wake up to free breakfast and be on a rollercoaster in a matter of minutes (it’s a good idea to give yourself more than a few minutes in between). Take your pick of room configuration – most include sleeper sofas and some feature bunk beds. And thanks to being a Universal Partner Hotel, you’ll have access to discounts on food and merch at select park locations.

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At the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort you can relax in a private cabana at the lagoon-style pool one day, hit the links at the award-winning golf course the next, and take the complimentary shuttle to Walt Disney World® and Universal Orlando™ as often as your wallet can handle it. There’s three on-site dining options, including Chef Richard Blais’ Four Flamingos, featuring the wide array of seafood that Florida is famous for.

And lastly, filed under “something amazing for everyone,” is Hyatt Regency Orlando. While just minutes from all the major theme parks, the sprawling swimming grotto, complete with waterfalls and waterslide is an attraction-worthy escape. Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse is one of Orlando’s finest, so take a break from the action to relax and indulge – you’ve earned it!

AAA Members can save up to 10% at participating Hyatt hotels.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your puzzle playing experience. Good luck!

June is Pride Month, a time for celebrating LGBTQ+ community and history. If you’re celebrating Pride Month, there’s no better way to do it than at a local Pride parade. Here are just some of the amazing Pride parades and events happening this month in the Northeast.

Need a ride? Get exclusive deals on Hertz car rentals when you book with AAA.

Provincetown Pride – May 31 – June 2

No Northeast Pride list is complete without P-town! There are Pride events throughout Provincetown, Mass., all weekend long, but some of the highlights include a Pride festival, a queer comedy showcase, dance parties, artsy performances and a Pride-themed 5K run.

Jersey Pride – June 2

There are three elements to Jersey Pride in Asbury Park: the parade, the rally and the festival. The parade begins at Asbury Park City Hall and weaves through the city with floats, marching bands and other performers until it reaches the festival grounds at the shore. The rally is an outdoor concert, featuring a mix of local artists and national headliners. The festival features a food court, family activities, community outreach organizations and local vendors.

Boston Pride for the People – June 8

Boston Pride for the People will include a parade, a festival, a block party and more. The parade kicks off in Copley Square, and the festival will begin shortly after on the Boston Common. There, you can enjoy live entertainment, dancing, food, drink and local vendors.

Long Island Pride – June 9

Long Island Pride is back home in Huntington Village! Participants can enjoy a Pride parade on Main Street, as well as a concert and a sprawling festival featuring artists, vendors, food and music!

Rhode Island PrideFest – June 15

At Rhode Island PrideFest, you can enjoy live performances, vendors, nonprofits, food and drink. Just don’t get too tuckered out to enjoy the nighttime festivities. The Illuminated Night Parade takes place in Downtown Providence after dark, when the streets are suddenly filled with illuminated floats, marching groups decked out in lights and glow sticks, performers, bright lights and spectators. This massive celebration is not to be missed.

Manchester Pride Festival – June 15

Celebrate Pride in the Granite State with the Manchester Pride Festival, taking place in Veterans Park in Manchester, N.H. With artists, local vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and more, you’ll never get bored. Manchester Pride is also offering a week’s worth of Pride events leading up to the festival, including an art exhibition, a youth Pride event and even Pride karaoke.

Pride Portland! – June 15

Portland, Maine, is celebrating Pride with Pride Portland!, a big, loud and proud festival and parade. The parade steps off from Monument Square and snakes around Portland for about an hour, until reaching the festival grounds at Deering Oaks Park. The theme for the 2024 parade is “Life as Art.”

West Hartford Pride Festival – June 22

While West Hartford celebrates Pride with events all month long, the West Hartford Pride Festival features a rally, live music, speakers, drag performers, food, local vendors, nonprofits, family activities and more.

Newport Pride – June 28-30

Are you ready to put the pedal to the metal? The main event of Newport Pride is the Pride Ride on June 29, a Pride parade where all participants are on bicycles. Decorate your bike (and biking gear) in all the colors of the rainbow and join the 4-mile bike parade around Newport, R.I., ending in the Pride Market and Festival. The Pride Market and Festival features live entertainment, local retailers and vendors, food, music and fun activities for the whole family.

NYC Pride – June 30

When you’re celebrating Pride in the city where it all began, there’s never a shortage of things to see and do. The NYC Pride March is an annual march that commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which are widely considered to be the beginning of the modern movement for LGBTQ rights. With millions of participants and attendees snaking through lower Manhattan, it’s consistently one of the largest Pride events in the world.

On the very same day, you can attend the NYC PrideFest in Greenwich Village. PrideFest is an annual street fair featuring exhibitors, local artists, live entertainment, food and activities to celebrate Pride Month. Whether you’re taking a break from the march or planning on spending the whole day there, PrideFest is a great way to celebrate Pride.

Vermont Events – Various Dates

Vermont’s main Pride event in Burlington takes place in September, but there are many other Pride events all across the state to be found in June!

Are you looking forward to attending a Pride parade or event this year? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version. 

Challenges abound for today’s transportation officials, but it’s nothing strange for Monica Tibbits-Nutt, secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. She took over in November 2023 after serving two months as the department’s interim secretary and chief executive. Prior to that, she was the undersecretary.  

Tibbits-Nutt oversees the four divisions of MassDOT – Highway, Rail and Transit, Registry of Motor Vehicles and Aeronautics – in the most populous state in New England and the 16th in the nation. Her expertise includes regional and transportation planning, urban design and transit equity.  

Tibbits-Nutt recently discussed transportation and sustainability issues and some of the solutions she envisions. 

What sparked your interest in transportation? 

I was always interested in transportation. I realized the biggest housing issue when I was a housing planner in Ohio was transportation. I applied to be on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority advisory board, and I’ve been here 17 years. I like that as a transportation planner I get to build out a whole city. I have a blast every day I come to work. 

What do you think are the most pressing issues in traffic safety today?  

In Massachusetts, speeding and distracted driving. During the pandemic, people got used to driving 70-80 mph, and now, people are looking down at their phones and not driving. You can see it nationwide 

How can we best solve our infrastructure deficiencies? 

Mass transportation is suffering across the nation. The roadways are still considerably congested here, probably more than in the rest of the country. We encourage people to work from home and want to get people closer to mass transit stations and closer to their work. 

But I’m very optimistic about continued infrastructure funds; the federal government is focused on providing funding for agencies, but there still are not [comprehensive] plans. 

What issues do you think will be priorities 10 years from now? 

Honestly, I think we’ll be having the same infrastructure conversations, maybe with more focus on bridges. At MassDOT, we’re looking at our fleet, with a focus on electrification, electrifying commercial fleets and building out electric vehicle charging options for people, so EVs are more cost effective, and those with EVs don’t have to go it alone.  

Building on that, what plans does MassDOT have to become more sustainable over the next 10 years? 

We’ll be getting funding from the federal government to put EV chargers on federal roadways, including the Massachusetts Turnpike. We have 15 regional transit authorities and want to help them electrify, while focusing on equity and accessibility. If we want people to make the switch to EVs, we must provide the infrastructure.  

Just for Fun

What’s your perfect road trip?  

It’s going to different weird places – like to see the largest bale of hay. I love diners and good truck stops, very local attractions. I love Buc-ee’s in the South. 

What was your first car? 

A Cadillac that cost $50. I was in high school. The passenger door didn’t work, and the back doors didn’t work. I couldn’t roll any windows down. I had it for two years until it ceased to exist. It just stopped working one day in front of the school. My best friend’s dad was the fire chief, and the fire department had to get me out with an extrication tool. That’s how it went out. 

Featured image: Courtesy of MassDOT

Summer is known as a joyous time, with less work and school and more relaxation and vacation. But behind the leisurely veneer lurks a serious threat on the roadways: There is a sharp increase in automobile fatalities involving teen drivers from Memorial Day to Labor Day, also referred to as the 100 Deadliest Days.

It’s easy to chalk up the increase to the fact that more teens are driving for longer periods in the summer since schools are out and they have more free time. But it’s really the driving behavior that greatly increases the risk of a crash.

“For many teen drivers, summer brings more free time with friends and plenty of potential distractions, such as phone use and multiple teen passengers – all of which increase their crash risk,” said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “Any time is the right time for parents and caregivers to talk with their teens about risky driving behaviors, the importance of continued driving practice to develop their skills and the many reasons they have to stay safe on the road this summer and beyond.”

Another major risk factor is the number and ages of passengers in teen-driven cars. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when a teen driver has only teen passengers in their vehicle, the fatality rate for all people increased 51%. In contrast, when older passengers (35 or older) ride with a teen driver, overall fatality rates in crashes decreased 8%.

According to the AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, risky driving behaviors like speeding, texting and running red lights are top contributors to unsafe driving among teens. To counteract the dangerous summertime trend for young drivers, AAA Northeast is encouraging teens to identify their reasons to drive safely this summer.

At the AAA Northeast Teen Safety Summit held in May in Garden City, New York, high school students shared what’s driving them to practice safe habits on the road this summer. At the top of their lists were family and friends, walking across the stage at high school graduation and achieving life goals.

Teen Driving Statistics

Nationwide, 7,435 people died in teen driver-related summertime crashes nationwide from 2013 to 2022. And in 2022 alone, 790 people were killed in these types of crashes – a 10% increase over pre-pandemic 2019. In 2021 alone, 900 people were killed in these types of crashes, a 6% increase from the previous year and a 25% increase over pre-pandemic 2019.

Narrowing in on the last two years of available data from the National Highway and Traffic Association, both the number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes and the number of people killed in those crashes increased from 2021 to 2022.

Parents’ Roles

As many families look to get their teens licensed this summer, AAA offers helpful tips for choosing a high-quality driving school:

• Choose a school, like the AAA Driver Training School, that is a member of a professional association. This indicates that the school cares about the driver instruction profession and is staying up to date on the latest safety trends. Relevant associations include national associations, such as The American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association and The Driving School Association of the Americas, as well as state- and regional-level associations.

• Find a school that uses a curriculum that meets the national standards for curriculum content and includes modern topics, including: advanced vehicle technology, such as rear cross traffic alert and lane-keeping assist; sharing the road with vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians and motorcycles; Slow Down, Move Over laws.

• Take advantage of parent sessions hosted by driving schools, which will provide you with current information about your role, both as a driving coach during practice and as the manager of your teen’s driving when they start to drive on their own.
• The impact of cannabis on driving abilities. 

When Your Teen Is Licensed, the Real Work Begins

As more drivers take to the road this summer, it’s an excellent time for parents to model safe driving behaviors and help ensure their teens practice them. Parents and caregivers of young drivers should talk with their teens early and often about abstaining from behaviors such as speeding, impairment and distracted driving.

Parents also should set very specific household rules with their teen drivers. AAA offers a parent/teen driving contract to help guide the process.

Many states have passenger restrictions for teen drivers, and parents should educate themselves on these laws and stress compliance with their teens. AAA recommends going even further. Parents should consider setting driving limits that are stronger than a state’s law, and enforce those limits, especially for the summer driving season.

AAA reminds parents and teens to:

• Always buckle up.
• Never drive impaired.
• Put your phone away and focus on the task of driving.
• Follow posted speed limits.

Find more safe summer driving tips for your teenage motorist at AAA.com/DestinationSafety. 

Burgers have become so trendy. You’ll find them stacked patties high, topped with everything from fried eggs to waffles to truffle butter.  

Not that there’s anything wrong with innovation. But for those hankering for the blissful basics – excellent beef topped with lettuce, tomato and maybe a pickle, look no further than these old-school hamburger joints.

All American Hamburger Drive-In

Massapequa, N.Y.

A classic in every sense of the word: Drive up, get in line, order at the window, then grab your bag full of burgers and fries and dine under the glow of the neon sign at an outdoor table. Long Island’s oldest drive-in hamburger joint is a nostalgic throwback to the “Happy Days” era. The menu is, too, with recipes that haven’t changed since it opened in 1963. The burgers, which come single, double or quarter pounder, are served with a sprinkle of raw onion, pickles and ketchup. Get yours with fries, onion rings and a thick shake.

Al’s French Frys

South Burlington, Vt.

People drive miles just for the fries, which are legendary, and then end up loving the burger, too. Open since 1946, the restaurant has been named a James Beard American Classic.

Gilley’s Diner

Portsmouth, N.H.

This unpretentious diner is an oasis of old-school cool in downtown Portsmouth. What began in 1912 as a humble cart has segued into a brick-and-mortar hotspot, complete with a classic 1936 Worcester diner car. Locals and tourists head here for the atmosphere and the no-frills menu which includes a 100% chuck burger – order it with a side of poutine or a bowl of baked beans.

Louis’ Lunch

New Haven, Conn.

Fans claim the hamburger got its start here in 1895 and the Library of Congress agrees. Still family-owned, Louis’ has served the same classic hamburger sandwich – a hand-rolled double burger made with five different cuts of meat and served on white toast – for more than a century! Order one with cheese on top or cheese on the bottom, just don’t ask for ketchup. The only condiments offered are cheese, onions and tomato.

Red Rooster Drive-In

Brewster, N.Y.

This roadside drive-in, with its ice cream cone roof topper and mini-golf course, has been serving up the classics including burgers, shakes and fries, since 1963. Bon Appetit named it among the country’s best hamburger joints, labeling it “a perfect pitstop,” serving 100% Angus beef patties on a soft sesame seed bun.

Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers

Central Falls, R.I.

Since 1932, “Stanleyburgers” have been a staple for Rhode Islanders and travelers alike. The patties, which are embedded with onions before cooking, get a flip on the grill, topped with more onions and pickles and then served on a pillowy soft bun. Regulars swear by the cheeseburger, single or double, with a side of dirty fries – French fries covered with Stanley’s own blend of herbs and spices. The retro diner has chrome counter stools, red leather booths and charming period art. Stanley’s has been honored as Rhode Island Magazine’s “best burger” multiple times.

Ted’s Restaurant

Meriden, Conn.

Steamed burgers? Ted’s has been serving its square patties this way since 1959. Freshly ground beef is packed into individual metal trays then cooked in the original steamer. For Ted’s famous cheeseburger, white cheddar is steamed until gooey then ladled on top of the burger before it lands in a fresh roll. The “Everything” comes piled with lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo. Make sure to get a lot of napkins – this is definitely a two-handed burger! Ted’s is a homey joint, with a few counter stools and tables, as well as a small outdoor area.

White Hut

West Springfield, Mass.

Thin, griddled patties topped with white American cheese and fried onions and served wrapped in white paper have been the draw here since 1939. The Hut’s Hamburg and Cheeseburg (they leave off the “er” here) were named among the top 50 in the U.S. by Thrillist. After a change in ownership in 2020 (the White Hut had been family owned until then), the restaurant has been renovated and expanded, adding a food truck and a brand-new second location in Holyoke.

White Manna

Hackensack, N.J.

Burgers here, known as sliders, are made from extra lean ground beef cooked with onions and cheese and served on a soft Martin’s Potato Roll. Larger than an appetizer slider, but smaller than a full-sized burger, they’re perfect in multiples. And that’s how folks order them. In Hackensack since 1946, White Manna has become internationally famous due to appearances on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and lots of other media. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see a line forming outside a retro aluminum diner with a distinctive red sign.  

Who do you think makes the best classic burger? Share your favorite hamburger joints in the comments.

Prefer hot dogs? Check out our story on GOAT hot dog joints and join the debate for top dog in the Northeast.

It’s a good idea to occasionally assess your home’s potential electrical hazards.

The following electric safety tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International and the National Fire Protection Association can help you keep your home safe, reducing the risk of property loss, accidental injuries and fatalities. 

Have questions about your homeowners insurance coverage? Schedule a meeting with a AAA Insurance agent.   

Costs of Electrical Hazards

Fires are one of the major dangers associated with electrical hazards. From 2016-2020, an average of 30,740 home fires were caused by an electric source, resulting in 390 deaths, over 1,090 injuries and $1.4 billion in direct property damage annually, according to the latest report by the NFPA.

Anything with a cord or plug around the house could be a hazard, especially if misused or improperly maintained. Fires can spark from issues in wiring and electrical distribution systems from household appliances, lighting, cooking tools, office equipment and more.

Assessing Your Home’s Risks

Being aware of potential hazards is half of the battle, and you don’t have to be an expert to spot an electrical problem.

There are several warning signs of overloaded electrical systems, including frequently blowing fuses, tripping circuit breakers and lights dimming when other devices are used. If you hear a buzzing sound coming from outlets or switches, or they are warm to the touch, you could have an overloaded electrical system. 

If your home is a few decades old or you recently had a major appliance installed, you should have your place of residence inspected by a licensed electrician. Your home may need to have new circuits installed in order to meet appliances’ demands. 

If you find yourself relying regularly on extension cords and/or power strips, it’s likely your home doesn’t have enough outlets to suit your needs. Consider having additional outlets installed. While do-it-yourself projects are growing in popularity, when it comes to electrical work, “hiring a qualified, licensed electrician” is strongly recommended by ESFI.

Taking Everyday Precautions

One of the first things you can do to give yourself some peace of mind is installing and maintaining your home’s smoke detectors. Making sure you have enough fire alarms for your home’s size and that they are placed in the right locations can help save lives. Testing your detectors once a month, changing the batteries at least once a year and replacing them every ten years can help you combat house fires, electrical and otherwise.

Always make sure to childproof outlet covers and other hazardous areas if they can be easily reached by tiny hands. Tamper-resistant electrical receptacles are a great option.

Lighting and Appliances 

Improper use of electronics can lead to issues like damaging your devices and appliances as well as increasing the chance electrical risks will happen.

A best practice of electric safety is to regularly inspect electrical cords for damage, like sharp bends and cracks. Contact with a single strand of exposed wire can result in an electrical burn or shock. If a device’s power cord is damaged, stop using it.

Never place anything flammable too close to lamps or other heat-producing appliances. Though it may seem like common sense, it’s still an electrical safety tip worth mentioning. Loose curtains and drapes can be inadvertently moved by fans, drafts and when people or pets walking by. Art, family photos, posters, maps and other wall hangings can fall down, making contact with an appliance or loosening wires.

Use light bulbs with the correct wattage for a specific appliance. Invest in energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and unplug devices when they’re not being used. These acts will not only reduce the risk of electrical hazards, they will help you save money too.

Avoid overloading outlets and running cords under rugs, doors or windows. Not only could they become a tripping hazard, covered cords can overheat and become potential fire hazards.

The Dos and Don’ts of Extension Cords

Never use an extension cord that becomes warm or is damaged; exposed wiring is dangerous. You also want to make sure you are using the right kind of extension cord; there are different types for indoor versus outdoor use. Finally, don’t plug major appliances into an extension cord – plug them directly into a wall outlet instead. Extension cords are not intended for permanent use.

Preparing for Natural Disasters and Storms

When storms or natural disasters are in the forecast, the risk of losing power reminds us of how dependent we are on electricity. Before a storm hits, charge necessary devices, like cell phones.

Natural disasters also increase the risk of electrical hazards. If flooding is possible, consider unplugging electronics and moving them as high as possible to avoid water damage. Carry essential devices in plastic bags or other waterproof containers.

If you’re outside when a storm rolls in, stay 10 feet away from fallen overhead power lines. Call your area’s electrical company or emergency services to alert them of the issue. If you are in your car when a wire falls, stay inside your vehicle. 

Practicing electric safety in and around your home can help save lives and lessen financial loss.

Do you have any other electrical safety tips to add? Share them in the comments. 

Make sure your home is fully protected with homeowners insurance from AAA. 

Recent automotive industry news indicates many consumers are keeping their older cars rather than purchasing new ones. While vehicles last longer now than they ever have, the main reason people are holding on to their cars is the sticker shock of new models. The average new car price today is about $47,401, nearly double what it was 12 years ago, but down 3.5% from January 2023.

Listen to Our Podcast

For more car-buying tips, listen to Episode 1 of our podcast, Merging Into Life: Buying Your First Car.

Tune In

How long can I expect my current car to last?

The average age of a AAA member’s car is about 12 years old, but your car’s lifespan depends on how well you take care of it and how well you follow the scheduled maintenance. Try to build a relationship with a good repair shop over time, so its staff understands your expectations and budget. They should also keep you informed about your car’s overall condition and perform routine maintenance.

Some drivers will wait until the car breaks down or warning lights come on, but it’s always advisable (and less expensive) to do preventative maintenance, including oil changes, cabin- and air-filter replacement, battery cleaning, wiper-blade replacement and headlights checks. Find a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop near you.

Many cars also have lower mileage and less wear and tear because people are driving fewer miles to work since the pandemic. Instead of commuting five days a week, many people are now only driving to work two or three days a week, or none at all.

Traditionally, drivers wanted new cars every few years to get the latest, greatest safety features, said John Paul, AAA Northeast’s senior manager for traffic safety and Car Doctor. But now, many of the important safety features, such as smart airbags, anti-lock brakes and automatic emergency braking are standard in most cars.

At the same time, be aware of recalls. The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration maintains a database of all recalls in the last 15 years. Enter your vehicle identification number on the NHTSA website to see if your car is affected.

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Is it time to let go?

“There was a time when we said that if the cost of the repairs equaled half the cost of the car, it was time to let it go,” Paul said. “Today that may not be as relevant. As an example, a 2010 Toyota Camry can be worth $5,000 to $7,000. At one time putting a $3,500 transmission in a $6,000 car was crazy. Now with the average used car price at $28,000 putting $3,500 into a car that is still serviceable to get a few more years out of it can make sense if the car is structurally sound, the engine is in good shape and you still enjoy the car.”

Here are some guidelines for deciding whether to replace your car:

• If you’re facing a major repair, make sure your car is both mechanically and structurally sound before you commit to the service. A vehicle that’s been around for a decade is sure to need additional repairs or parts in the future, and they could be pricey.
• If it is starting to rust away. Once structural rust sets in, the cost of repairs can become overwhelming.
• Parts availability. As some cars age, replacement parts become hard to source, meaning that it your car breaks down, it may stay out of service for a long time.
• Overall dependability. If your car is stranding you on a regular basis, a newer car should be more dependable.

Deciding on a New Car

There is a plethora of choices on the market these days. Yours can depend on your driving style, commute, cargo needs and more. Also, consider if you want a traditional gas-powered car, a hybrid, plugin hybrid or electric vehicle.

If you’re considering an EV, there are tax incentives for both the purchase of the car as well as for a home charging station. For gas-powered cars, think about your driving habits, how often you expect to fill up and the price of gas. And, if you’re taking out a loan, you’ll find interest rates have increased dramatically.

Be wary of longer-term loans. The dealer may find a way to make your desired monthly payment feasible, but if you take on a six-, seven- or eight-year loan you’ll be making car payments and paying repair costs. And, if you decide to trade in the vehicle after a few years, you may owe more than the car is worth.

The cost of owning and operating a car goes well beyond the monthly loan payment. The latest study from AAA revealed that the average cost is $12,182 a year, or $1,015 per month. This study factors in purchase price, depreciation, special features and add-ons, fuel, insurance, repairs and more.

What’s my trade-in worth?

Before shopping, do your homework. Check out what companies like CarMax, TrueCar and Carvana are willing to pay for your car. When you start negotiating for a new vehicle, it’s always best to consider the new car purchase and the trade-in as two separate transactions. Settle on a new car price without the trade, then bring the trade into the discussion.

Do I want a new or used car?

You’ve probably heard that a new car loses its value the minute you drive it off the lot, and that’s true. In fact, most cars depreciate about 20% in value in the first year of ownership. A used car might be a better choice, though inventory is getting tighter as people hold on to their personal vehicles longer. However, there are unique concerns that come with any used car purchase.

Used car considerations

Keep in mind that someone traded in that car you have your eye on because they kept it long enough, repairs were mounting up or it may not have been reliable. Certified pre-owned cars generally have better warranties and are in better mechanical shape due to a more rigorous inspection process.

One important note: With the increase in hurricanes and flooding, CarFax reports that nearly half of flood-damaged vehicles return to the market as used cars. Click here for a full list of signs that may reveal if a car has been flooded.

Find a great price on a new or used vehicle with the AAA Auto Buying Program.

Does your car need an upgrade? Will you buy new or used? Tell us in the comments.

Birdwatching, or birding, is a lifelong activity that you can participate in no matter where you are. It’s a great way to get out in nature and connect with your surroundings. There’s also a huge community of birders ready to welcome newcomers into the pastime. Are you interested in picking up the binoculars and going birding? Check out these beginner tips for birdwatching in the Northeast.

Getting Started

You don’t need a lot to get started on your birding journey – just a pair of binoculars and a good field guide.

The Best Birdwatching Binoculars for Beginners

Top-of-the-line birding binoculars can cost up to $3,000, but there’s no reason to get those right out of the gate. The National Audubon Society recommends the Athlon Neos 8 x 42 as a good, low-cost pair of beginner binoculars. If that’s still out of your price range at the moment, try the more affordable Celestron Outland X 8 x 42 binoculars or even the ultra-compact SkyGenius 8 x 21 Lightweight binoculars. As long as you have something that lets you see the birds from afar, you’re ready to start birding.

Birding Field Guides

Every birdwatcher needs a field guide; it’s an especially invaluable tool for beginners. A field guide will help you identify birds via illustrations or photos, range maps of where you can find them, species information and more.

If you don’t want to carry around a book and prefer a digital experience that’s easily searchable, you could try using field guide apps for your smartphone, like Sibley Birds v2, Audubon Bird Guide and Merlin Bird ID. But you have to make sure you’re not draining your phone battery or losing service while you’re out birding.

Some birders, however, might want to get out into nature precisely to escape their phone. If this is the case and you’d rather stick to physical field guides, you’re in luck. The birding world is full of amazing resources, and many field guides have special editions that are specific to your area. Birdwatchers in the Northeast have a lot of guides to choose from. Here are just some great guides to get you started.

“The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America” is a fantastic guide for beginners and seasoned birders alike, featuring 650 bird species and thousands of painstakingly accurate illustrations by David Allen Sibley. Sibley’s illustrations and descriptions are sure to help you identify any bird in the region you may come across.

“The American Museum of Natural History: Pocket Birds of North America, Eastern Region,” which covers over 350 species, uses high-quality photographs in their compact, easy-to-carry guide.

“The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region” is another great photography-based guide for birdwatchers, featuring 545 species and over 2,000 photos.

Looking for something that’s stood the test of time? The most recent edition of the “Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Eastern and Central North America,” based on the original field guide by Roger Tory Peterson, features captivating, accurate illustrations of the region’s birds and instructions on how you can use field marks to identify them.

Tracking Your Birds

When you see a new bird, it’s time to tick it off your lifetime list. Most birders keep track of all the birds they’ve seen since they started birding. Checking new finds off the list becomes part of the fun. You might want to get a field notebook for tracking all of your sightings. The Letterfolk Bird Passport Journal is a pocket-sized field journal with space to log facts about the birds you’ve seen, a “bird bucket list” and a place for your own photos or illustrations. The Sibley Birder’s Life List and Field Diary is a field journal featuring space to record your sightings of 923 species in the continental United States and Canada, a checklist for recording how many times you’ve seen them and a lifetime list of all birds.

If you want to go digital for your bird list, there’s no better site than eBird. This collaboration between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society allows users to comprehensively track their bird sightings, share information, find birding hotspots and connect with other birders. It’s an extremely popular website in the birding community and is sure to help any beginner birder. Plus, it’s free.

The Best Birdwatching Near You

There are many places to find birds in the Northeast. You can probably spot some in your backyard or at your local park. But if you want to find birds in the field, there are tons of great places to go birdwatching near you.

Headed to the beach? Cape Cod National Seashore is the perfect place to find shorebirds like piping plovers, American oystercatchers, whimbrels and more. Over 330 species of birds have been recorded at Fire Island National Seashore, and there’s even a raptor-viewing platform near the Fire Island Lighthouse. The Boston Harbor Islands are a hotspot for migrating birds and nesting shorebirds. Rhode Island’s Block Island is also a favorite of migratory birds in the fall.

Sometimes you can find birds at historic sites. Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt’s “Summer White House,” is home to 119 species of birds. Roosevelt was a birder himself. Valley Forge National Historical Park provides a comprehensive list of the birds that can be spotted there, including the season they appear and how rare or abundant they are in the park.

Another great way to see birds is to hit the trail. The Lake Champlain Birding Trail in New York and Vermont features 88 birding sites along the lake. Along the Maine Birding Trail, you can see puffin colonies at Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park. On the New Jersey Birding Trails, you can hit beloved birding hotspot Cape May, the Meadowlands, the mysterious Pine Barrens and more.

You’ll never run out of places to go birdwatching in the Northeast. Over 260 different species have been found at the Delaware Water Gap, including bald eagles, golden eagles, cerulean warblers and scarlet tanagers. Niagara Falls is an amazing place to spot gulls, as 100,000 gulls fill the skies over the Niagara River in the fall and winter. Birders even love New York City’s Central Park. Can’t get enough? You can find even more hotspots near you by searching for your region on eBird.

Birding Responsibly

One of the most important things to remember while you’re birding is that you’re there to observe birds, not to disturb them. If you’re birdwatching in a nature preserve or forest, stay on the path so you don’t trample any important vegetation or frighten the wildlife. It’s always best to keep a respectful distance from the birds, especially when they’re nesting. This is why binoculars are so important. If you want to take photos of the birds, it can be helpful to bring a zoom lens so that you can let them have their space while still getting your shot.

Definitely don’t feed birds any human food, and make sure you don’t leave any food or trash behind. Even if you have birdseed, check the local regulations before using it. In places like national parks, it’s illegal to feed the birds at all, and many states have laws against feeding wildlife on public land.

Remember to be quiet! It’s true that loud noise can disturb birds, but it can also scare them away. If you want to see as many birds as possible (and as responsibly as possible) keep the volume to a minimum. The other birders in the area will thank you as well.

Birdwatching is a wonderful hobby that people of all ages can participate in, and there’s no time like the present to start your birding journey. Get out there and start finding some feathered friends!

Have you ever gone birdwatching before? Are you a birder yourself? Let us know in the comments below.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version. 

For many Americans, the backyard deck is a favorite recreational area to get together with family.

It doesn’t feel like a dangerous place, but if it’s not built correctly or properly maintained it could become one. Collapses and failures of decks, porches and balconies accounted for about 2,900 injuries between 2016 and 2019, according to the most recent research from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Let’s explore some of the culprits that might be making your deck unsafe and what you can do to address these potential issues.

Dangerous Backyard Decks Are More Common Than You Think

Injuries due to collapsing or unsound decks often occur because a deck is either built in a way that violates current housing codes or has deteriorated over time.

If your deck was built before 1980, it’s likely that it was made with wood that wasn’t properly treated to prevent termite infestation. Aside from this, the average lifespan of a deck is around 15 years. If your home has a backyard deck that was built 30 or 40 years ago, make sure to have it inspected by a professional to identify and fix any hazards.

If you’re planning on spending time and dining out on your deck with family and friends, it’s especially important to make sure it is in top shape ahead of time. It’s never a good idea to test the limits of an old deck and put your loved ones at risk.

How to Inspect Your Backyard Deck for Wood Damage

If you built your deck yourself, it was constructed more than 15 years ago or if you simply suspect it might not be in the best shape, take some time to inspect the wood and other elements. One of the most obvious signs that your backyard deck is damaged is if you notice large cracks in the boards or posts, which could lead to more serious issues down the road.

You should also check the entire deck for rotting wood and termite holes. While it might not be obvious at first, use a screwdriver to poke around in any areas that look weak. If the wood feels spongy or soft inside, you’ll need to remove the rotten area and consult a professional to evaluate the extent of the damage.

Rotting wood can be caused by water damage and fungi, and in general, the elements can take a toll on wood over time. After all, your deck is subject to the weather 24/7; rain, snow, sun and wind can all be factors in causing your deck to decay, especially over decades of exposure and without proper maintenance.

Structural Signs Your Backyard Deck Might Be Unsafe

Pay close attention to any strange noises or movements you notice while spending time on your backyard deck, such as loud creaking, warped or weak boards and wobbly railings. While a weak railing might not seem as crucial to fix as the main body of the deck, these can pose a particular hazard for children or the elderly. If a piece of the railing suddenly becomes loose, people are at risk of falling. In the same way, make sure to keep a close eye on the stairway to verify the steps aren’t loose or damaged.

Examine your deck to confirm it has the proper structural connections. If you don’t see the standard bolts and metal connector plates supporting your deck and only see nails, your deck is structurally unsound. Finally, take a look at the wood posts supporting the weight of your deck and make sure they’re not off-center on their concrete footing. If you don’t have any concrete footing at all and your posts are touching the ground, this is usually a coding violation.

Insurance Considerations

“If someone were to get injured on your deck, your homeowners liability coverage should cover that up to the limits. If you have sufficient underlying limits and an umbrella policy, the umbrella policy would also provide excess coverage if that’s needed,” said Ray Eng, vice president of insurance sales at AAA Northeast.

Eng advises homeowners to have their backyard deck inspected before any problems arise. If you suspect your deck shows any of these warning signs, don’t attempt to handle the problem yourself. Hire a professional who’s familiar with the coding laws in your area.

Although it might seem like a hassle to have repairs done on your deck when you’d rather be barbecuing, you’ll feel better knowing your family is safe from danger.

Learn more about AAA home and condo insurance in your state. 

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your puzzle playing experience. Good luck!

IN THIS EPISODE

How do you get the highest value for the lowest price? Is it better to buy new or used? Lease or pay in full? Four door or hatchback? Ford, GMC, Toyota, Volkswagen – which is best?

There’s a lot to know about buying a car. Don’t worry  – we got you!

You’ll learn how to negotiate a deal, where to get financing, the best time to buy a vehicle and what to know before you even start shopping.

Guests: Nicole Wakelin, automotive journalist, and Ted Lyons, VP of financial services at AAA Northeast, share their expertise.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[3:01] – The first things you need to consider before you start car shopping
[9:55] – The best time to buy a vehicle
[10:34] – Budgeting and the importance of getting pre-approved

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:02]
Amanda Greene: I go to get into the car this morning and there’s a puddle under it. I can’t tell what this is. Oil, brake fluid, coolant, whatever it is, I’m fairly sure it should be in the car and not on my driveway. The air conditioning doesn’t work. Rust is starting to show and now this, I’m out. It’s time for a new car.

Welcome to Merging into Life where we navigate life’s milestones, one episode at a time. Brought to you by AAA Northeast. I’m your host, Amanda Greene.

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*The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are not necessarily the views of AAA Northeast, AAA and/or its affiliates.

Hello summer! It’s been a long time, but it’s back, and it’s (hopefully) going to be glorious. If you’re planning on digging your toes into the sand and playing in the surf – like we are – we’ve compiled a list of the best beaches in New England to help you out. So grab some sunscreen, a blanket, and tasty beach fare and get ready to explore New England’s best places to soak up summer.

Here are our picks for the five best beaches in New England.

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Madison, Conn.

Fancy a long stretch of beach with gentle surf, scenic spots and plenty of activities for the kids? You’ll find it at Hammonasset Beach State Park, where the 2-mile-long shore borders not only the Atlantic, but a nearby nature preserve as well. The waves are gentle and calm thanks to its location on the Long Island Sound, making it one of the best beaches in New England for families. More than 500 campsites dot the park’s 1,000 acres. You can even visit the Meigs Point Nature Center while you’re there! Parking is free for Connecticut residents. Non-resident fees are $15 on weekdays, $22 on weekends and holidays.

Sand Beach

Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

What’s better than plunging into the refreshing (read: chilly) Atlantic ocean on a sweltering day? Plunging into the refreshing Atlantic amid craggy granite peaks, hundreds of miles of rugged hiking trails, car-free carriage roads and nearly 50,000 acres of protected forest in Acadia National Park. For $35 per car, you can gain entrance to the park and bike, ride and traverse the day away in Mother Nature’s playground. You could climb the near-vertical Beehive Trail in the morning – at 500 feet, it’s got a superb view of Sand Beach – and have a picnic lunch on its shores in the afternoon. But be forewarned: At 55 degrees in the summer months, the water is – to put it mildly – bracing.

Race Point Beach

Provincetown, Mass.

Since 1961, when President John F. Kennedy signed legislation creating the Cape Cod National Seashore, nearly 40 miles of pristine shoreline have been protected from development. You’ll find one of its six beaches – Race Point Beach – at the very tip of the Cape’s arm in Provincetown, jutting into the Atlantic. The views of the endless seas are breathtaking. Oftentimes you can see whales and a seal or two off in the distance. There are no concessions, so bring a picnic lunch and drinks. You can also explore the grounds of the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, a circa-1897 building moved by barge from Chatham to Provincetown in 1977. If you want a little exercise, you can hop on the Province Lands Bike Trail, which connects to nearby Herring Cove Beach and the Province Lands Visitor Center. The daily vehicle fee is $25, and $15 for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Narragansett Town Beach

Narragansett, R.I.

I’m a Rhode Island girl, born and bred, so it was tough for me to pick just one favorite beach in the Ocean State. But if you’re looking for waves, whether it’s for surfing or boogie boarding, you can’t beat Narragansett Town Beach. Yes, you must park on the street or the designated visitor’s lot (the other lots are for residents/pass holders only) and pay admission, but what you get in return is a mile-long beach that’s spotless and sandy, with the added benefit of watching surfers plying the waves. Plus, you’re right in the heart of a thriving beach town. Just across the street you’ll find tons of eateries – everything from classic seafood fare to crepes – as well as shopping and ice cream spots. The wall ringing the beach is a popular spot to sit and indulge in some serious people-watching, especially with an ice-cold cone of gelato in your hand. Daily admission is $12 for adults. Children ages 11 and under get in free. Parking in the West Lot $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays.

Discover more Rhode Island beaches. 

Lake Paran

North Bennington, Vt.

If you’re looking for salt-water spray and rollicking waves, Vermont isn’t the place for you. But if you’re looking for a quaint lake maintained by volunteers with a strong sense of community, then head over to Lake Paran. There you’ll find the pretty lake with a Lake House and full snack bar featuring famous $1 grilled cheese sandwiches. You can swim and rent canoes, play a game of horseshoes or grill up your own goodies on charcoal grills. The lake is open every day beginning mid-June, and lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The daily admission fee is a real bargain at $3.50 for adults and $1 for children. And the lake isn’t just a summertime destination. The volunteers of Paran Recreation, the nonprofit that supports the lake, always have something to celebrate, from winter bonfire parties and summer camps to a stone-skipping festival and harvest fair in the fall.

What do you think are some of the best beaches in New England? Tell us in the comments below!

Find top beaches throughout the Northeast at AAA.com/BeachGuide.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

You don’t have to leave the city to celebrate the summer. Visit one of these New York City beaches to sunbathe, swim and even surf through the hottest days of the year.

Many of these beaches are easily accessible through public transportation and provide a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Brooklyn

Coney Island

Fees: Free

Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during beach season.

Coney Island is arguably the most famous of all New York City beaches and undoubtedly the most popular beach in Brooklyn. The nearly 3-mile stretch of boardwalk is known for its eccentricities and fun summer attractions.

Conveniently accessible from the subway’s D, F, N and Q lines, you can easily spend a full day here. Numerous restaurants and eateries are spread throughout the area; however, no trip to Coney Island is complete without a visit to the original location of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.

Brighton Beach

Fees: Free

Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during beach season.

Sometimes referred to as “Little Odessa” because of its Eastern European population, Brighton Beach is a small neighborhood on Coney Island, just east of most of the island’s main attractions.

During the off season, the beach is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. At the height of peak season, from May to September, the area gets very crowded but still stands out as one of the best New York City beaches.

Easily accessible from midtown Manhattan from the subway’s B and Q line, stop by to walk on the boardwalk, grab a bite at the concession stand or take advantage of the calm water. While you’re there, step out into the community for a taste of authentic Russian food and culture.

Manhattan Beach Park

Fees: Parking is $7 on weekdays / $22 weekends and holidays.

Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during beach season.

This bustling beach is a hot spot for family barbecues and picnics, so be sure to bring some burgers and hot dogs for the grill. The beach features a path for biking and skating, a boardwalk, two baseball fields as well as tennis, basketball, volleyball and handball courts for sports-lovers to enjoy. Other amenities include playgrounds, bathrooms, showers and even a dog-friendly area. There is also a concession stand located on the premises that sells snacks and refreshments.

Plumb Beach

Fees: Free

Hours: There are no set hours at this beach.

Plumb Beach is a small, sandy beach on the shore of the Rockaway Inlet. The only access is through a small parking lot, located just off the eastbound side of the Belt Parkway. The most popular activities are kite boarding and windsurfing as the small, rarely crowded beach makes for a prime launching spot, but it is not lifeguarded. It’s also a great place to view planes taking off and landing at the nearby John F. Kennedy airport.

The Bronx

Orchard Beach

Fees: Parking is $10 on weekdays / $12 on weekends and holidays.

Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during beach season.

Located in Pelham Bay Park, Orchard Beach is one of the quintessential New York City beaches. The Bronx’s sole public beach, it consists of 115 acres and features a promenade, pavilion, launching site for kayaks and canoes, nature centers, two playgrounds and a dog-friendly area. It’s also an athlete’s paradise with 26 courts for basketball, volleyball and handball, as well as various baseball and soccer fields, bocce courts, hiking trails, running tracks and golf courses.

When you get hungry, you can stop by the snack bar or bring a cooler and take advantage of the barbecues at the two picnic areas.

Staten Island

Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach

Fees: Free

Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily during beach season.

Two beaches – South Beach and Midland Beach – make up the Franklin D. Roosevelt Beach; both share the boardwalk.

South Beach features a great view of the Verrazano bridge and includes almost 2 miles of biking and jogging trails, playing fields, tennis courts, fun fountains, a gazebo and a special section just for seniors with chess tables and bocce courts. Popular activities among beach-goers include swimming, kayaking and fishing (at 835 feet, the pier is one of the longest in NYC!).

Midland is often less crowded than South Beach. Aside from the beautiful, sandy beachfront, it has a playground, tennis and shuffleboard courts and a fountain for children to play in. There are no food options, but barbecuing is allowed in some areas.

Wolfe’s Pond Beach

Note: At time of writing, Wolfe’s Pond Beach is currently closed for swimming. Please check the official website for updates.

Fees: Free

Hours: Lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. when the beach is open.

Wolfe’s Pond Beach is a roughly 1,500-foot stretch of sandy coastline on Raritan Bay. The beach is part of the Wolfe’s Pond Park, which is one of the largest parks on Staten Island. Known for being a very calm, relaxing place, it is rarely crowded, even during the summer months.

Great Kills Park

Fees: Free

Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Great Kills Park is the location of four New York City beaches: Cedar Grove, New Dorp, Oakwood and Fox Beach.

Cedar Grove Beach is a small, family-oriented beach that offers a beautiful view of the bay and the Manhattan Bridge as well as lifeguard-protected swimming, fishing and boating. The multi-use trails surrounding the area are ideal for hiking, biking, rollerblading and running. Neighboring New Dorp, Oakwood and Fox Beach also provide numerous walking paths, but they mainly serve as barriers to prevent the park from flooding.

Home to a variety of wildlife, Great Kills Park is the only osprey nesting site on Staten Island, making it a perfect destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Queens

Rockaway Beach

Fees: Free

Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during beach season.

The Ramones wrote their hit single “Rockaway Beach” after this beach, and once you’ve visited, you’ll be inspired too. As the largest urban beach in the country, Rockaway Beach has something for everyone. Not only is it New York City’s only legal surfing destination, is also has volley, handball and basketball courts, as well as baseball fields, fitness equipment and a boardwalk. Laidback beach-goers can lounge in the sand and soak up the sun while the kids enjoy the facility’s playgrounds and skate parks. Don’t miss the many great eateries nearby. Stop into Rippers for freshly prepared burgers and a beer on the beach or relax at Wharf Bar & Grill for casual waterfront dining.

Jacob Riis Park

Fees: Parking is $20 per car during beach season from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Hours: Boardwalk is open 7 days a week, year-round, from sunrise-10 p.m. Parking lot closes at midnight. Lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during beach season.

Nicknamed the “People’s Beach,” Jacob Riis Park was named after the famous muckraker who wrote the book “How the Other Half Lives” about the plight of NYC’s poor and working class in the 1880s. This mile-long beach is part of the 25,000-acre Gateway National Recreation Area. A popular spot for families, it features tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, a barbecuing area, boardwalk and the Riis Park Pitch and Putt Golf Course.

Breezy Point Tip

Fees: Day passes ($45 for an adult, $35 for a child) can be purchased from the Breezy Point Surf Club.

Hours: Breezy Point Surf Club is open daily from 9 a.m.-5:00 p.m. during the summer

Breezy Point Tip is one of the most pristine and untouched pieces of land in the Gateway National Recreation Area. It offers more than two hundred acres of shoreline, sand dunes, marshes and coastal grasslands to explore. The park is also a great place for bird-watching; it is a protected breeding area for the piping plover, making it one of the best places in New York to see the species.

What are your favorite New York City beaches? Tell us in the comments. 

Find top beaches throughout the Northeast at AAA.com/BeachGuide.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

Graduating from high school or college is a big accomplishment and a milestone worth celebrating. If you want to give a graduate something they’ll never forget, consider an experience gift.

Maybe you’re the one who just graduated, and you want to treat yourself by broadening your horizons. No matter who is turning the tassel this year, these are some of the best experience gift ideas for a new grad.

Live Events

Is there a concert that your grad has been wanting to go to forever? Maybe a hit Broadway show or a favorite sports team? AAA members can access special discounts for tickets to concerts, Broadway shows, music festivals, comedy shows and more. Just try searching your grad’s favorite artist, from Taylor Swift to Usher. You can also get discounted tickets to sports events like baseball, basketball and football.

New Semester. Same Low Rates.

Set them up for success with AAA Student Lending.

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Classes

More classes? Your grad might appreciate it more than you know! Encourage them to cultivate their hobby or passion project with local art and music classes. Or help them meet people in their city with low-stakes courses that encourage teamwork. Some great options include pottery, golf, martial arts, cooking and dancing. Check out what’s available near your grad and see if any of them are gift-worthy.

If they’re interested in fitness, you can get them a subscription for Active&Fit Direct, which includes over 12,500 gyms, 12,000 on-demand videos and one-on-one wellness coaching.

Or keep them inspired with access to thousands of books on topics ranging from memoirs to motivation with an Audible subscription. AAA members get a two-month free trial with two free bestsellers or new releases.

Travel

Being well-traveled is an education in itself.

New travelers may prefer guided tours, where a local expert is the one leading the way. Guided tours also make thoughtful experience gifts, since they take care of all the stress associated with planning daily itineraries, hotel stays and more. Reach out to a AAA travel advisor to discuss options and start planning.

After all their hard work, you might want to give your grad a chance to kick back and relax. There’s no better way to get some much-needed rest and relaxation than by going on a luxurious cruise. Whether they’re in search of Caribbean fun in the sun or a European river journey, there’s a cruise for every type of traveler.

Want to immerse your grad in the world of fantasy and fun before they have to get back to reality? AAA members can get discounts to theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and more. You can get them the gift of thrills and chills while saving on tickets.   

More Ideas

Check out our list of gifts to get your grad financially ready.

You can also never go wrong with flowers. Save up to 20% on 1-800-Flowers.com orders. For more gift ideas, visit AAA.com/Discounts.

Do you remember what you got when you graduated? Would you have preferred an experience gift? What are you planning to do for the recent grads in your life? Let us know in the comments below.

You don’t need to be a lawyer to make sense of your insurance policy.

What’s more, understanding the language used in these contracts helps you get the best products for your lifestyle.

“It’s good to make that practical connection between what could happen and how certain coverages protect you,” said Ray Eng, vice president of insurance sales for AAA Northeast.

This A to Z guide for decoding insurance jargon will get you started.

Actual Cash Value -The calculated worth of insured property at the time of loss or damage. Replacement cost – depreciation = actual cash value.

Beneficiary – The person who receives the payout from a will, life insurance policy, annuity or similar contract.

Captive Agent – An individual who sells insurance contracts for a specific insurer.

Deductible – The portion of the loss you pay for before your policy kicks in.

Endorsement – An addition to an insurance policy that adds to or changes the terms. Also called a rider.

Flood – Not typically included in a homeowners policy, this extra coverage protects your property from floods.

Hazard – A circumstance that increases the likelihood of loss.

Independent Agent – An agent who represents multiple insurance companies.

Liability Coverage – The part of your policy that will pay out if you’re found responsible for someone else’s injuries.

Named Perils – Hazards specifically named in a policy.

Occasional Driver – Someone who is not the main driver of the car he or she usually operates.

Personal Injury Protection – Coverage that pays for the insured’s medical expenses regardless of who is at fault for a crash.

Quote – An estimate of what your insurance premium would be with a given insurance provider.

Renters Insurance – An affordable insurance policy that protects a renter and their belongings.

Standard Risk – Someone who is insurable at standard insurance rates. High- or low-risk policyholders may pay higher or lower rates based on such risk.

Term – The period when an insurance policy is in effect.

Umbrella Policy – Excess liability insurance that could also cover losses not covered by other insurance policies.

Whole Life – A life insurance policy that remains in effect for a person’s entire lifetime with guaranteed cash value and a payout upon their death. In contrast, a term life insurance policy is cheaper but has no cash value when the term ends. Learn more.

Need more help? Talk to your AAA insurance agent about the specific terms of your policy.

Walt Disney World is one of the hottest vacation spots in the world. That means it can get busy – and expensive. But if you have some insider tips, you can make sure your vacation is the most magical experience ever. Check out these Walt Disney World hacks that you and your family can use to make the most of your trip.

Plan, book and save on your next Disney vacation with AAA. 

For more tips on planning your first Disney trip, listen to Episode 2 of our podcast, Merging Into Life: Theme Park Secrets.

Don’t: Wait in line for character meet-and-greets

Character meet-and-greets come with wait times. And that’s valuable time you and your family could be spending enjoying the rest of the attractions at the parks, like the rides, parades and shows. Waiting in lines for character after character can start to add up – and while the photo-ops are nice, they’re nothing like riding Space Mountain. It’s a huge drain on your theme park time.

Do: Visit one of the many character dining options

Character dining is one of the best ways to meet your favorite Disney personalities. Walt Disney World is full of options where you and your family can meet characters while you eat. There’s no waiting in lines, no wasted time, fantastic photo-ops and amazing interactions. Some options include meeting princesses at Epcot’s Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Mickey and friends at Chef Mickey’s, Cinderella and friends at 1900 Park Fare and more. Check with the restaurant in advance and make sure that your favorites will be there when you make a reservation.

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Book your next trip with AAA Travel now or call 866-423-5585 to speak with a travel advisor.

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Don’t: Weigh yourself down with a huge backpack

If you don’t need to bring something like a diaper bag, special food items or important medicine with you, it’s best to leave the backpack at home. It’s a huge pain to walk around with a bulky bag all day, and it can be hard to squeeze it onto the rides with you if you don’t have anyone to hold your stuff.

Do: Travel light

A small purse, bag or even a fanny pack will do. If you’re nervous about going to the parks without a water bottle, don’t fret! A lesser-known Disney hack is that you can get a free glass of ice water at any food service location in the park. It’s a lot more refreshing than carrying around a sweaty water bottle all day.

Don’t: Assume things haven’t changed

If you show up at the parks looking for free FastPasses, you’re going to be disappointed. FastPass+ used to be the law of the land in Walt Disney World, but the system has been replaced with pay-to-play Lightning Lanes.

Do: Adapt to new systems early

Get ahead of the game by doing your research beforehand. If you learn the rules of services like Disney Lightning Lane quickly, you’ll be able to use it to your advantage.

Disney is always introducing new and exciting changes, but it could start to feel overwhelming. To help you navigate, AAA has travel advisors who specialize in Disney vacations; it’s their job to stay on top of all the latest happenings and help you plan.

Don’t: Follow the crowd

Many people entering theme parks will automatically go to the right, meaning that those parts of the park – like Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom – will get more crowded earlier in the day.

Do: Forge your own path

If you go to the left in the Magic Kingdom, toward Adventureland, you’ll be able to hit a lot more rides in your first couple of hours in the park. Most theme park guests try to get to the most popular rides early in the day, but the long lines can waste time. (If you get to the park as soon as it opens, you’ll want to check out these rope drop tips.) If there’s a popular ride you want to go on, try getting in line a couple of minutes before closing at the end of the night. There are several benefits to this option. First, if you’re in line before the park closes, cast members must let you ride the ride. Second, this means you’re not missing anything, no matter how long you wait. Third, posted wait times at the end of the day are usually inflated to discourage guests from getting in line, so the actual wait time might be way faster than the posted wait time. And finally, you’ll miss the huge crowd of people all leaving the park at the same time.

Don’t: Use Lightning Lane access on shows and parades

Everybody is going to get to see the show at the same time, so there’s really no reason to use one of your Lightning Lane choices on something like that. You might get slightly better seats, but it’s not really worth it.

Do: Schedule your Lightning Lane choices early in the day

If you use up your choices earlier in the day, you have more time to keep picking more and getting more Lightning Lane rides throughout the day.

For extra savings on your Walt Disney World vacation, check out AAA Tickets.

Do you have any Disney World hacks? Share them in the comments below.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.