The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and extends through Nov. 30, is likely to be a busy one.

Colorado State University’s Tropical Weather and Climate Research predicts an “extremely active” year, anticipating 23 named storms, five of which could become major hurricanes.

Despite even the most accurate forecasts, it’s hard to pinpoint the property damage total that can result from a hurricane or severe storm. From Katrina to Sandy to Ian, storms continue to make historic benchmarks in losses. Weather and climate disasters in the U.S. from 1980 to 2022 cost approximately $2.6 trillion in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Without the right insurance coverage, it can be hard to recover after a hurricane hits. Here are some of the most important things to know about hurricane insurance deductibles.

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The History of Hurricane Insurance Deductibles

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew left insurers with $15.5 billion in losses – at the time, the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. From that point, hurricane insurance was determined to be a necessity in coastal areas to help cover high-cost property losses due to storm risks like hail and high winds.

“After the wake-up call of Andrew, insurers in many coastal states began to sell homeowners insurance policies with percentage deductibles for storm damage,” according to the Insurance Information Institute. “These deductibles are stated as a percentage of the insured value of the homes and generally are a higher dollar amount than traditional dollar deductibles used for other types of losses such as fire damage and theft.”

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have hurricane deductibles. In the Northeast, this includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

It should be noted that hurricane deductibles do not include flooding. Flood insurance must be purchased separately.

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What Is a Hurricane Insurance Deductible?

A deducible is the amount of loss paid by the policyholder before insurance kicks in. Percentage deductibles are calculated as a specified percentage of the insured value of your property.

The exact percentage of your hurricane insurance deductible will be noted on your homeowner policy.

In the event a hurricane damages your home, you’ll be responsible for around 1-5% of the insured value before your coverage starts. As explained by the Insurance Information Institute, “If a house is insured for $300,000 and has a 5% deductible, the first $15,000 of a claim must be paid out of the policyholder’s pocket.”

Based on where you live, some insurance companies may offer hurricane deductibles stated as higher dollar amounts or possibly no separate hurricane deductible at all. In both cases, this will be reflected in the premium that’s being charged. You can ask your agent about what options are available to you.

When Does Hurricane Insurance Coverage Kick In?

There are a few things necessary for hurricane insurance to apply. These triggers vary by state and insurance carrier, but a good indicator comes from the National Weather Service. Once a hurricane watch or warning is issued, the intensity level is crucial. The moment a Category 1 hurricane makes landfall is when the deductible becomes applicable.

How Well Do You Understand Your Hurricane Insurance Deductible?

Of the homeowners surveyed in New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Florida 34% had never heard of hurricane deductibles, according to a 2017 report by the Insurance Research Council. It was found that over 25% lacked understanding of basic deductibles and 33% were unsure of the percentage applied.

New Jersey respondents demonstrated the lowest level of awareness and understanding of several hurricane deductible issues, despite the fact that about 346,000 homes in New Jersey were damaged or destroyed by Sandy.

This lack of understanding makes it harder to gain coverage in the aftermath of a hurricane-related event.

Know Your Insurance

When shopping for insurance, always check the financial rating of a company, especially if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes. Catastrophic weather events result in large swaths of damage that may generate large losses for a particular company and can exceed their ability to pay all the claims.

Each state has its own rules regarding hurricane insurance. Talk to your insurance agent to run through all of the technicalities of your policy to make sure you can get the right coverage.

Speak to a AAA insurance agent today.  

Did we help you to better understand hurricane deductibles? Leave a comment below.

Dinosaurs are fascinating for all ages, but our prehistoric predecessors are particularly awe-inspiring to kids learning about them for the first time.

Dinosaur attractions that stand alone or as part of museums breathe life into what can otherwise only be imagined from books or on screens. Thinking about colossal creatures roaming the Earth with footsteps big enough to shake the ground feels like make-believe, but standing next to a life-sized model of a sauropod footprint brings an entirely new perspective.

I remember when my parents would take me to visit the American Museum of Natural History in New York City as a kid. Looking up at the long neck of the rearing Barosaurus skeleton at the grand entrance could stop anyone in their tracks, but it feels even bigger when you’re small.

Our region has played a large role in the unearthing and research of dinosaurs in North America. From discoveries of old dino stomping grounds in Connecticut, to paleontology digs and expeditions led by institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pennsylvania.

If you know a kid who can tell his Brachiosaurus from his Stegosaurus or can identify a Triceratops in two seconds flat, you don’t want to miss out on these local dinosaur attractions.

Dinosaurs! At the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning

Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Filled with lessons of evolution, extinction and how animals eat, dinosaurs are excellent science teachers. Dinosaurs! is an engaging educational space on the grounds of Long Island’s Tanglewood nature preserve that focuses on adaptations. Towering models of dinosaur skeletons, hand-painted murals and lifelike animatronics serve as the attention-grabbing example of how animals conform to their surroundings, with interactive and hands-on exhibits and real-life birds and reptiles throughout to tie them to today’s world. Outside, there’s even more dinosaurs, animals and a dino dig.

The American Museum of Natural History

New York, N.Y.

A premier dinosaur attraction, the American Museum of Natural History is home to the world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils, the first of which was found in 1897. Pick your favorite from the many scale models of ancient reptiles in the dinosaur halls, where you can see Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, flying Pterodactyls and more. The museum is also home to a cast skeleton of one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered: the Titanosaur. At nearly 19-feet-tall and 112-feet long, it cannot even be contained within its gallery!

Dino Roar Valley

Lake George, N.Y.

You are going to see a lot more than squirrels and birds on this nature trail. At Lake George Expedition Park, visitors embark along the 1.5-mile path of Dino Roar Valley, encountering prehistoric sights and sounds and meeting a variety of moving, roaring, dinosaurs along the way. After exploring the trail, little ones and their families can enjoy a dinosaur-themed stage show and hands-on activities and adventures like the opportunity to climb into a dinosaur’s nest and fossil digging. Open seasonally.

Field Station: Dinosaurs

Leonia, N.J.

Located on the sprawling grounds of Overpeck County Park a short drive from Manhattan, Field Station has attractions starring dinosaurs for kids of all ages. Paleontologists have worked to make the park experience as authentic as possible, with scenic trails featuring more than 30 realistic animatronic dinos. Live shows, games and activities like the T.rex “live feeding” make this a memorable and educational day trip for the whole family. Check website for seasonal schedule.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Andrew Carnegie’s interest in dinosaurs and evolution fueled paleontology expeditions in the late 1800s that led to the discovery of many dinosaur types in North America, beginning the fossil collection that can be seen in the “Dinosaurs in their Time” exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Home to dozens of original fossils from the Mesozoic Era, most of the skeletons are real, not replicas. Remarkably, more than 75% of the objects on display are “type” specimens – meaning that they are the original specimen on which individual species are based – including the T.rex!

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

New Haven, Conn.

After being closed four years for renovations, the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History reopened in March with new classrooms and collection areas, improved accessibility and 50% more gallery space. Outside the museum, the life-sized bronze Torosaurus statue invites visitors to explore the Great Hall of Dinosaurs inside. Its collection includes Stegosaurus and Triceratops fossils and the type specimen of Brontosaurus. You’ll also get to see Rudolf Zallinger’s famous mural “The Age of Reptiles” – the world’s largest dinosaur mural.

Dinosaur State Park

Rocky Hill, Conn.

Walk in – or at least next to – the footsteps of dinosaurs. Dinosaur State Park is the site of 2,000 dinosaur tracks –500 of which are on display – believed to be from large carnivorous dinosaurs called Dilophosaurus. The fossils were accidentally discovered when the land was being excavated for a new building in the mid-sixties. The park’s museum, surrounding gardens, picnic area and the opportunity to cast your own dinosaur footprint make it perfect for a family day out.

The Dinosaur Place at Nature Art Village

Oakdale, Conn.

For a day of fun, Nature’s Art Village has something for everyone, from museums to mini golf to shopping and antiquing. They also have more than 50 life-sized dino models over 1.5 miles of nature trails, complete with hands-on activities and lessons for your journey. Feel the towering presence of a 40-foot Brachiosaurus, meet an animatronic Dilophosaurus, feel the rumble of a volcano near Raptor Bay and finish with a picnic. The kids will love the dino-themed playground and maze, which ends with sliding out of the mouth of a T.rex! Check out their website for more seasonal activities.

Beneski Museum of Natural History

Amherst, Mass.

One of New England’s largest natural history museums, the Beneski museum, located on the Amherst College campus, has more than 1,700 specimens on display, including fossilized dinosaur and fish skeletons, dinosaur footprints, wooly mammoths and trilobites. Its collection numbers more than 200,000 specimens, which are available for study by academics and researchers.

Save on museums, zoos and other attractions with AAA Discounts.

What’s your favorite dinosaur attraction? Tell us in the comments.

Though the Northeast is sometimes associated with harsh winters and record-breaking snowstorms, the warmer months and sprawling coasts can provide the perfect atmosphere for a cheap beach vacation that won’t overheat you (or your wallet). So put aside those plans to head on down to Florida and look closer to home – we’ve got a list of nearby beach towns that might surprise you.

Wells, Maine

Though Maine is as north as the Northeast gets, it isn’t all chilly temperatures. Its coastline is home to a number of beaches, 7 miles of which are in Wells.

When you’re not swimming, zipping on a personal watercraft or just enjoying the sun at one of four beaches, you could be kayaking or canoeing up the Webhannet River, or shopping at the antique stores along Route 1.

Highlight: Just a short drive away is Ogunquit Beach, a popular tourist destination in Maine. But since Ogunquit is so popular, the restaurants, hotels and shops nearby can get pricey. Staying in Wells ensures that you enjoy all of the views without breaking the bank.

Hampton, N.H.

The waters in Maine and New Hampshire are quite cold for some, but this beach town has enough for you to do even if you don’t care to swim.

Enjoy fresh seafood at any of the eateries along Hampton State Beach, go to the Casino Cascade Water Slide or take the family to the Blue Ocean Discovery Center, where the little ones can get up-close and personal with marine life.

Highlight: Treat yourself to a nice breakfast or lunch at the Hampton Airfield, which features an open deck cafe decorated with an aviation theme, and a chance for you to fly over the Hampton beaches in a historic 1930 New Standard open-air biplane.

Dennis, Mass.

As far as New England beach vacations go, it doesn’t get any better than the good ol’ Cape. One of the more inexpensive areas, Dennis lies right in the middle of the peninsula.

In Dennis, you decide which kind of beach you’d like to swim at – beaches with the mild waters of the Cape Cod Bay, like Mayflower Beach, or the even calmer waters of the Nantucket Sound, like at West Dennis Beach.

Highlight: The best part about Dennis is its proximity to everything else on the Cape. Whether you prefer the wilder waves of the Atlantic Ocean on the lower Cape or a more historic getaway like Falmouth on the upper Cape, Dennis is central to it all.

Narragansett, R.I.

A cheaper alternative to Newport, R.I., Narragansett also has beautiful beaches, plenty of opportunities to sample local seafood and a number of historic landmarks.

When you’re not swimming and soaking up the sun at Scarborough State Beach or Narragansett Town Beach, check out the Point Judith Lighthouse for a spectacular view of the coast. Then, head to Galilee for a bite to eat as you watch boats leave the harbor.

Highlight: The Block Island Ferry leaves from Point Judith, giving you the perfect opportunity to day trip on the island and enjoy a relaxing ride on the way there.

Madison, Conn.

A quiet Connecticut getaway, Madison is not well-known by most tourists, so restaurant, lodging and entertainment prices aren’t driven by a high tourist demand.

Hammonasset Beach State Park is your one-stop shop for outdoor summer activities; swim and lounge in the sand on the beach, fish and hike the walking trails, or visit the Meigs Point Nature Center to have hands-on experiences with native animals.

Highlight: Main Street, aka Boston Post Road, is lined with independent shops and boutiques, family-owned restaurants and historic buildings, such as the crown jewel of the town, R.J. Julia Booksellers. The charm of this town is a welcome respite from everyday life.

Cape May, N.J.

With its sprawling beaches and quaint Victorian architecture, Cape May is perfect for family vacations.

Not far from the coast are attractions like the Cape May Lighthouse, Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, Willow Creek Winery and more. Also nearby are campgrounds, which provide cheaper lodging options for vacationers.

Highlight: Just north of Cape May is Jersey Shore Alpacas, where visitors can meet and feed alpacas on a tour of the farm. It’s an inexpensive way to be sure that your vacation is memorable.

Booking Your Cheap Beach Vacation

While vacationing nearby will save you from airfare, location isn’t the only factor to consider when you want to save. Reserving your hotel several months in advance will generally get you a lower price. AAA members also get discounted rates at thousands of hotels whenever they book.

Discover more of the Northeast’s best beaches.

Share your tips and tricks to having a great vacation without breaking the bank in the comments below.

If you need a break from the grind of everyday life, try shutting down your devices and escaping to the wilderness for some camping and hiking.

The last time I went camping, I turned off my phone for three days. I didn’t read or reply to any emails, liked zero social posts and not once did I hear it ring or ding to notify me of a message. If someone wanted to reach me, they would have had to drive five miles into the piney forest of Massachusetts and hike up a dirt path to my campsite or track my steps along a thin trail snaking beside the shores of a strikingly, seemingly impossibly blue lake.

My feet were dirty, my clothes were slightly damp from the morning dew and my hair gave off the slightest scent of smoke that it had absorbed while my face had been warmed by the glow of the campfire. My senses were rejuvenated through environmental immersion, and – even if only temporarily – I was freed from the constraints of technology, hurry and responsibility.

Here, I was reminded why hiking camping trips are my happy place. It offers a reprieve from the everyday hustle and bustle, a reconnection with nature and reminder of the simplicity of life’s necessities: cooking, breathing clean air, exercising and – perhaps most importantly– relaxing.

Whether getting lost in the woods brings you joy or you prefer enjoying the great outdoors from the comforts of an RV parked in a resort, check out our collection of bucket list-worthy destinations for the best camping and hiking in New England and New York.

Need directions? Let AAA guide the way. 

Camping and Hiking Tips

First-time camper? Take a look at the infographic below for tips on how to survive (literally and figuratively) out in the wilderness.

Novice hikers, we’ve got you covered too. This list of essentials will get you on the trail with all the right gear and supplies needed for a successful hike.

Camping and Hiking in New England

Lake Waramaug State Park
New Preston, Conn. 

On a trip into the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, you’ll find yourself leaving quaint, small towns in your wake and diving deep into the woods, traveling along winding, hilly, tree-lined roads where acorns ping off the roof of the car and the smells of pine and the countryside waft in through the windows. The area is dotted with picturesque lakes, including Lake Waramaug, upon whose shores you’ll find 76 campsites, some overlooking the water and others hidden within the trees.

There is also a number of cabins on site, for those campers who aren’t quite willing to give up the comforts of the indoors. The campground is open Memorial Day through Labor Day and contains fishing, picnic, swimming and boating facilities, including canoe and kayak rentals.

Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine

Located on Mount Desert Island, surrounded by the chilly Atlantic waters off the central Maine coast, Acadia National Park offers world-class hiking on the island’s mountain with dramatic views of the Maine coastline and encircling foliage. There are five different camping and hiking areas in the park, and choosing the right one for your trip depends on the experience you hope to have.

Blackwoods Campground is open year-round, offering traditional tent camping facilities during the warmer months and primitive camping experiences during the off-season, when campers must hike to their sites. Seawall Campground, on the Southwest Harbor, and Schoodic Woods Campground, on the Schoodic Peninsula just southeast of Winter Harbor, offer amenities such as drive-in tent camping and RV accommodation sites.

Those looking for a more rustic, immersive and wilderness-focused experience should make a reservation at Duck Harbor Campground located on Isle au Haut, a smaller island located about 30 miles south of Mount Desert Island. You’ll have to catch a ride on the mail boat to get to this island where you won’t find any vehicles, but instead five fantastically primitive campsites that ooze adventure, each of which includes a lean-to shelter for a tent and a composting toilet.

After you’ve set up camp, head out on the 18 miles of hiking trails that explore the island’s marshes, bogs and mountains. Wildwood Stables Campground is only open to visitors with stock animals.

Cathedral Pines Campground
Eustis, Maine

What makes Cathedral Pines Campground one of the best places for camping in New England? It meets many campers’ criteria for a fabulous and comfortable camping and hiking experience. It’s in the middle of nowhere, provides access to great outdoor activities, and yet still has flushing toilets.

Set within towering red pines in northwestern Maine, and less than 30 miles from the Canadian border, this campground offers a rural outdoors feeling while providing the comforts of bathroom, shower and laundry facilities. There’s also a playground, recreational hall and boating amenities.

Savoy Mountain State Forest
Florida, Mass.

Whether you find yourself among the warm sunshine of the spring and summer months, the stunningly beautiful reds, oranges and yellows of the autumn months, or – if you’re brave enough – the snow in winter, Mother Nature practically guarantees campers in the Berkshires a visually beautiful experience no matter what the season.

Savoy Mountain State Forest offers some of the best camping and hiking in New England. It features 46 campsites, available for reservations seasonally and located below the bowing branches of an apple orchard, as well as four cabins that can be rented year-round.

Campers can choose from a variety of outdoor experiences and adventures, accessible from each of their 50 miles of collective hiking trails. The trails pass through floating bog islands, climb up to overlooks to offer spectacular views and weave through the forest before emerging over cliffs to reveal hidden, crystal clear waterfalls.

Chocorua Camping Village
Tamworth, N.H.

Chocorua Camping Village is the ideal destination for resort-style, all-inclusive family camping and hiking in the woods of the New Hampshire White Mountains. Here you’ll be surrounded by the quieting comforts associated with camping like sprawling lakes, towering pine trees, fire pits and picnic tables.

But, you and the kids will also have access to many activities and amenities, including a game room, movie theater, swimming pool and treasure hunts. Both tent and RV sites are available, and more indoors-y, yet still adventurous campers can rent one of 10 Wabanaki Lodges. These log cabins are accessible only by venturing over a footbridge.

Charlestown Breachway State Park
Charlestown, R.I.

Who says you have to choose between camping and going to the beach? Charlestown Breachway offers campers and beachgoers the best of both worlds. RV-suitable campsites are located right on a man-made breachway that separates the Atlantic Ocean from Ninigret Pond. Campers also have access to the state beach, freshwater fishing and shell fishing. There is even a boat launch on site. Campers must have a self-contained RV (this means no tent camping), as there are no sanitation facilities.

Nickerson State Park
Brewster, Mass.

Nickerson State Park in Cape Cod is a mini paradise. A world away from the crowds, scorching sun and crashing surf of the Cape Cod National Seashore, you’ll discover an enchanting forest refuge offering warm breezes, picturesque hiking trails and private beaches overlooking crystal clear waters of eight kettle ponds, formed thousands of years ago by glaciers and lined with white sand.

You’ll have your pick of over 400 campsites and access to swimming, boating and fishing facilities, as well as the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a paved bike path that runs through the park. There is also a nature center on site that offers recreational programs and yurt camping options.

Moosalamoo Campground
Salisbury, Vt.

Like Cathedral Pines, Moosalamoo Campground affords campers an outdoor, backwoods getaway without feeling too in the backwoods. The 19 sites, located at the base of Mount Moosalamoo, offer drive-in tent camping, toilet facilities, accessible drinking water and trash disposal. Once on site, campers can challenge themselves on the mountain’s 70+ miles of nearby trails, which are open for biking, cross-county skiing, hiking, horseback riding and snowmobiling in the winter.

Camping and Hiking in New York

Taconic State Park
Copake Falls, N.Y.

One of the state’s most popular camping spots, Taconic State Park can easily get crowded. So, it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Some highlights include standing under Bish Bash Falls, hiking Brace Mountain and walking the famed Appalachian Trail.

Visitors can opt for tents or cabins, which include kitchens and outdoor campfire and picnic areas. Fishing is available at the campground. Deer and turkey hunting is also allowed, but with restrictions. The Copake Iron Works Museum, where visitors can learn about the area’s iron industry, is also nearby.

Letchworth State Park
Castile, N.Y.

Referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth offers a variety of amenities. Swimming, camping, hiking, fishing, lectures and cultural activities are some of the many features it has to offer. The site has camping spots for tents and trailers, but also private cabins and hotel-style lodging.

The park features 66 miles of hiking trails. Horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, biking, swimming, kayaking and whitewater rafting are also available. And, if you’re not afraid of heights, you can see the park from a hot air balloon.

Glimmerglass State Park
Cooperstown, N.Y.

Overlooking Otsego Lake, this area is the one described in James Fenimore Cooper’s “Leatherstocking Tales.” The park offers biking, camping, fishing, hiking and picnicking. In the winter months, there is skiing and ice fishing. The campgrounds include concession stands, a nature trail, pavilions, picnic tables, showers, grills, volleyball courts and fire rings.

Campfire wood is sold in the park. There are also a variety of nearby attractions, such as the Canadarago Boat Launch, Herkimer Home State Historic Site and Hyde Hall State Historic Site.

The Adirondacks
Northern N.Y.

There are plenty of natural wonders to explore at the Adirondacks, from waterfalls and lakes to mountain views and tree-lined hiking trails. Campers will enjoy the privately run Adirondack campgrounds which include lakeside amenities like daily paddleboard rentals. Some sites also offer RV hookups. For a more rugged experience, there are backcountry campsites, which are located 150+ feet away from trails or water sources, and are served by outhouses.

Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Considered the most famous of the Finger Lakes state parks, this spot offers 305 campsites with restrooms, showers, dumping stations and firewood for sale. It also offers concession stands, a gift shop, picnic tables and grills, playing fields, an Olympic sized swimming pool, kiddie pool, playgrounds and 19 waterfalls.

Reservations for campsites may be booked nine months in advance for a two-night minimum stay. Visitors to the park can also hike, fish in Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek and hunt in designated areas.

Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Carmel, N.Y.

One of the main draws to this state park is its huge beach at Canopus Lake. For hikers, there are more than 14,000 acres of forest. Fishermen can catch bass, pickerel, perch, brook and rainbow trout in the park’s waters. The site also offers picnic areas, hikes led by park staff, a bridle path for horses, concession areas and more. And in the winter, Fahnestock is a popular locale for sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing and cross-country skiing.

Harriman State Park
Ramapo, N.Y.

Home to more than 47,000 acres, this park is considered the second largest in New York State. The scenic campgrounds include approximately 200 miles of hiking trails, 31 lakes and plenty of quiet, secluded spots for spending the night. The Beaver Pond Campgrounds feature comfort stations, laundry facilities and a dumping station. Activities in the park include fishing, camping and hiking, picnicking and boating.

Hither Hills State Park
Montauk, N.Y.

For those hoping to camp out on the water, this 168-site campground features a 40-acre freshwater lake and two-mile sandy beach. Visitors can also spend the night on oceanfront property. There’s also a self-guided nature trail, sport fishing, opportunities for biking and hiking, picnic areas, woodlands and more. In the summer, Hither Hills offers movies, folk and line dancing, children’s theater and magic shows.

Shut down your smartphone for a few days and appreciate the beauty of nature in the Northeast region. You’ll come back feeling reinvigorated and better than ever.

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

Tell us your favorite camping spot in the the comments below.

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

Pride Month isn’t just about celebrating – it’s also about remembering LGBTQ history.

If you’re in the Northeast, you don’t have to go far to bump into some of the most historic LGBTQ sites in the world. And there’s no better way to spend Pride Month than walking in the footsteps of LGBTQ pioneers at these local, historic sites.

The Stonewall Inn

No list of LGBTQ landmarks is complete without the Stonewall Inn. The gay bar and tavern located in New York City’s Greenwich Village was the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots. When police raided Stonewall on June 28, 1969, a group of patrons and passersby retaliated and sparked the modern movement for LGBTQ liberation. On the anniversary of the riots, the first Pride parades took place in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Pride Month is in June because it marks this pivotal moment in LGBTQ history. Today, Stonewall is a National Historic Landmark and even has its own National Monument across the street in Christopher Park.

Julius’ Bar

Julius’ Bar is one of the oldest continually-operating bars in New York City, and it’s also the oldest gay bar in New York City. This bar in Greenwich Village wasn’t always gay-friendly, though. In 1966, three members of the gay rights organization the Mattachine Society held a “sip-in” at Julius’ to protest laws that prohibited openly (or suspected) gay and lesbian people from being served at bars. The sip-in attracted attention from the New York Times and the Village Voice, leading the New York State Liquor Authority to roll back some of its policies against gay and lesbian patrons. It was an important stepping stone that would eventually lead to the events at Stonewall. Julius’ Bar is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Its interior is remarkably preserved and extremely similar to how it would have looked in 1966.

Provincetown Art Association and Museum

Originally, the beachside LGBTQ community of Provincetown was an artists’ colony. The Provincetown Art Association and Museum, established in 1914, documents the history of art and culture in P-town as it gradually grew into one of the top LGBTQ destinations in the country. The Provincetown Art Association and Museum offers a mix of contemporary and historical art, mostly by artists who have a connection to the area. At the museum, you can attend classes and lectures on everything from watercolors to LGBTQ symbolism in historic art. You can also see pieces by artists like Andy Warhol, John Singer Sargent, Blanche Lazzell and William Littlefield.

Carrington House

Carrington House was built at the turn of the 20^th century, and it was one of the first structures in Fire Island’s Cherry Grove. Theater director Frank Carrington purchased the house in 1927, expanded it and used it to house visiting LGBTQ artists, actors and writers. Truman Capote famously developed the novel “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” while he was staying there. Though it has since fallen into disrepair, some in the community hope to transform it into a museum celebrating the history of Fire Island. Carrington House and the surrounding area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cherry Grove Community House and Theater

Also on Fire Island, you’ll find the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater, which was built in 1948. It’s the oldest continually operating LGBTQ theater in the country, and served as the cultural and civic center of Cherry Grove. The Cherry Grove Community House and Theater, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, continues to support the community today – in 2021 it was used to administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents.

Arlington Street Church

Boston’s Arlington Street Church has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ community. Since the 1970s it’s served as a popular meeting spot for various LGBTQ groups, like the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, BAGLY, the Daughters of Bilitis and the Homophile Union. The Unitarian Universalist church welcomed the gay Catholic group Dignity-Boston after they were banned from meeting on Roman Catholic church property. In 1981, the church held its first prom for LGBTQ youth. In 1983, members hosted their first AIDS benefit concert. In 2004, Arlington Street Church held America’s first state-sanctioned wedding for a same-sex couple. Then, just three days later, 55 LGBTQ couples were legally married there on the same day. In addition to its rich history, the Arlington Street Church is beautiful, with 16 stained-glass windows installed by Tiffany Studios, 16 hand-rung bells in its bell tower, Corinthian columns and a 62-foot-high arched ceiling.

Did we forget any other landmarks important to LGBTQ history? Have you been to any of these places before? Let us know in the comments below!

Planning on taking a road trip to one of these historic sites? Learn about exclusive Hertz discounts for AAA members.

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

You’ve probably heard the term “catalytic converter” recently. Unfortunately, it’s likely for all the wrong reasons.

Theft of this important car part has been rampant in the last few years. In 2019, 3,389 catalytic converters were reported stolen across the country, with 14,433 stolen in 2020, 52,000 in 2021 and 153,000 catalytic converters stolen in 2022. Although thefts did decline in 2023, the risk still remains.

We know the motivation behind stealing valuable cars, but why the specific interest in catalytic converters?

What Is a Catalytic Converter?

A catalytic converter is an important feature of your car’s exhaust system. Its purpose is to limit the amount of harmful pollutants emitted by an internal combustion engine. Located between the vehicle’s engine and tailpipe, these devices convert toxic gases found in car emissions, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, into less-harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Catalytic converters are filled with precious metals, which act as the catalysts. Most often, these include palladium, rhodium and platinum. When the engine emissions’ harmful gases pass through the device, they make contact with these metals and undergo a chemical reaction. This process alters their molecular structure, converting them into safer substances.

Why Are Catalytic Converters Stolen?

The reason these catalytic converters are stolen so often lies in what’s inside them. There is both a high demand and limited supply of the precious metals contained in these devices. Recent disruptions in supply chains have made them even more difficult to source and, in turn, even more expensive.

This has turned catalytic converters, which can be removed from cars in a matter of minutes with readily available tools, into valuable commodities. Today, catalytic converters are worth more than gold – literally. Platinum, palladium and rhodium are each worth thousands of dollars per ounce. Catalytic converters typically have just a few combined grams of these metals. That would still fetch a price of at least a few hundred dollars, possibly up to $1,000.

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Cars Most Likely to Have Catalytic Converter Stolen

All catalytic converters are valuable and thus prone to theft. But those found in two vehicle segments are most likely to be stolen, for vastly different reasons. One because they’re more valuable and the other, because they are easy to get to.

Catalytic converters work most effectively in high temperatures, which is why they are typically located near the engine. Because the engine in hybrid vehicles is not always in use, the converters fail to heat up to optimal temperatures. Therefore, the converters in hybrid vehicles have more of the precious (and expensive) metals to make up for the lack of efficiency.

Larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks are victims of their own circumstance. A higher ground clearance makes it easier for a thief to slide under the vehicle and remove the converter.

How to Tell If Your Catalytic Converter Is Stolen

It’s unlikely you’re looking underneath your car every time you go for a drive. So how else can you tell if your catalytic converter has been stolen? It will be readily apparent once you start your car.

Without a catalytic converter, your car will make a loud, roaring sound once the engine starts. You may also notice the check engine light on and the vehicle not driving smoothly.

How to Protect Your Catalytic Converter From Getting Stolen

Install an Anti-Theft Device

Installing an anti-theft device over your catalytic converter is the most effective way to prevent it from being stolen. There are several types of devices available, including shields, cages and steel cables. Check with your mechanic to see if this is would be a safe solution for your vehicle.

Etch Your License Plate Number or VIN Onto the Catalytic Converter

This step can’t stop a thief from stealing the catalytic converter, but it could deter them. If the component should get taken, the unique marking can alert potential buyers that it is stolen. This may make it more difficult to sell and less appealing to thieves. Nearly two dozen states have passed or are considering legislation that would more closely regulate the purchase of scrap catalytic converters.

Park in a Smart Spot

Whenever possible, park your car inside a closed garage or in your driveway. If you’re parking away from home, leave the vehicle in a well-lit area.

The Most Stolen Car Parts

Catalytic converters are not the only vehicle components thieves are trying to get their hands on. Here are some other commonly stolen car parts.

Tires and Wheels

Car tires and wheels check a lot of boxes for thieves. They can be easily removed in just a few minutes, they’re expensive and they’re essential for every automobile yet commonly replaced, so there’s always a market for re-selling. An easy way to protect your wheels from theft is by installing wheel locks. These are specially designed lug nuts that can only be removed with a unique wheel lock key as opposed to a standard socket.

Batteries

These don’t hold quite as much appeal as other commonly stolen car parts because used car batteries are not overly expensive. They are, however, simple to remove, making them easy targets. Installing after-market hood locks can prevent anyone from accessing the battery.

Air Bags

Air bags need to be replaced once they’re deployed, creating an ongoing demand for these safety features, and an opportunity for thieves to make money. Approximately 50,000 air bags are stolen each year at a cost of more than $50 million, according to the NICB.

Tailgates

Truck tailgates can often be removed in less than a minute without the need of any tools and can fetch hundreds of dollars on the resale market. While many newer pickup models now have locking systems, owners of older trucks can install their own tailgate locks.

How Can Insurance Help?

Having comprehensive coverage on your policy will ensure you are protected from stolen car parts. Sometimes (and less confusingly) called “other than collision,” it provides coverage from damage caused by an incident other than a crash, including theft. While only mandatory if you are leasing or financing a vehicle, this inexpensive option could prove to be invaluable if you find yourself the victim of a stolen catalytic converter or other car part. Catalytic converter repair could cost thousands of dollars.

Should you need to use your comprehensive coverage, your deductible would apply.

Reach out to a AAA Insurance agent to discuss your auto insurance coverage options.

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

You finally found the house that checks all your boxes, and now you must decide on a down payment. How do you know how much to put down on a house?

What is a down payment?

A down payment is a percentage paid upfront when mortgaging a home.

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For expert advice on the homebuying process, listen to Episode 7 of our podcast, Merging Into Life: Buying Your First Home.

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Do you need a down payment to buy a house?

Yes. Not only does it prove to lenders that you are a good mortgage loan candidate, it can help lower your monthly mortgage payment and save on interest.

What is the average down payment on a house?

Down payments vary, based on the state, price of the house, type of mortgage and age of the buyer. According to one report, the average down payment for a house nationwide for the second quarter of 2023 was 14.4%. The National Association of Realtors (NAR), though, reported that the average down payment for first-time homebuyers has been between 6% and 7% since 2018. Repeat homebuyers put down about 17% last year.

At the same time, home prices continue to rise. The NAR noted that the national median price for existing homes of all housing types was $393,500 in March, up 4.8% from the same month in 2023.

Despite those numbers, Steven Vieira, director of mortgage sales and operations for AAA Northeast Bank, advised putting down 20% of the house price once a selection is made. That way, buyers can avoid paying for private mortgage insurance.

Preparing and saving for your down payment

Before launching a house hunt, you should first be prepared financially. “Homebuyers need to create a budget for purchasing a new home,” according to Vieira. “Through this process, they must determine how much money in total they can spend on the purchase while avoiding any financial hardships post-purchase.”

New homebuyers need to calculate the overall cost of purchasing a home, he continued. This includes the closing costs, taxes, the first year’s home insurance and an escrow account to pay future taxes and insurance. In addition, homebuyers should budget for “settling in” costs including moving, new appliances, furniture and supplies to maintain the home.

Leave yourself a cushion

Putting down less money can lead to higher loan costs or problems qualifying for a loan. “Often, the lower the down payment, the more expensive the loan becomes in terms of closing costs, mortgage insurance, higher payments and of course, higher interest rates,” Vieira noted. “Many lenders have more stringent underwriting guidelines for lower down payment loans due to the increased risk of default.”    

At the same time, a larger down payment puts buyers at risk of not having enough cash to address unexpected repairs or necessary improvements to the home once they settle in. “After the excitement of moving into a new home wears off, many homebuyers will start to see items they may have overlooked during the purchase,” according to Vieira. “For example, replacing flooring or updating plumbing can be expensive improvements and if the buyer put all their money into a larger down payment, they may be stuck after the purchase trying to figure out a way to pay for these improvements.”

This is why it’s critical to set aside an emergency fund to dip into when those issues arise, said Vieira, and only then determine your down payment. “Once these costs are all accounted for, then the buyer will be able to determine the right down payment to fit their budget and put them in a good position for success.”  

Need mortgage advice and help getting a mortgage? Start the loan process with AAA Home Loans.

How much did you put down when you bought a house? Do you wish you put down more or less?

IN THIS EPISODE

Every child dreams of going on a theme park adventure. Rollercoasters, magical characters, delicious food – what’s not to love? But planning a trip to a theme park can also feel overwhelming. With so many options, how do you narrow down what to do?

Enter Felicia Troy, AAA travel sales manager and Disney enthusiast. Having planned countless theme park trips, Felicia knows how to maximize your experience and find fun for the whole family. From defining a budget to choosing the perfect accommodation and dealing with long lines, we’ve got you covered.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[2:42] – The best time to go to a theme park
[6:40] – Preparing for your trip
[12:01] – How to deal with long lines
[15:47] – The importance of setting a budget

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:02]
Amanda Greene: You are almost done with school. Are you excited for summer?

[00:00:05]
Kids: Yeah, I can’t wait. I’m going to miss my friends.

[00:00:09]
Amanda Greene: I know, but summer break means a summer vacation. Where do you think we should go this year?

[00:00:14]
Kids: Disney!

RESOURCES

Ask an Advisor: Disney 101

Your Guide to Universal Orlando Resort Parks

11 Ways to Save Money on a Theme Park Vacation

Shop Theme Park Essentials

Contact a AAA Travel Advisor

AAA Travel

AAA Tickets

Want to Learn More? Drop Us a Note

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

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.

Need a ride? Save on Hertz car rentals with AAA.

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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Let's Go!

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. 

Rent a car with Hertz and take advantage of exclusive AAA member perks and savings.

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.

Summer in Orlando Never Looked Better

AAA Members can save up to 10% at exciting Hyatt hotels and resorts.

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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, N.Y., 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.

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

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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.