Road Trips

Charming Small Towns in the Mid-Atlantic – That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Small towns are often romanticized in movies and literature, and for a good reason – they’re typically surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, exude an authenticity that’s difficult to find in bigger cities, and they are oh so charming. But despite their pervasive charm and ubiquitous presence across the East Coast, we used to overlook these towns when choosing a travel destination.

Like so many other Americans, we began prioritizing both outdoor adventure travel and local road trips significantly more over the last two years. Our weeknights are spent researching where to find the most epic hiking trails in the Mid-Atlantic, and we fill our weekends with camping, hiking, and exploring the small towns that are home to our area’s natural wonders and beautiful views.

As local getaways continue to trend among travelers, small towns will undoubtedly begin to gain popularity. So, to help you prioritize your bucket list, we’re highlighting three of the quaintest and most idyllic in the Mid-Atlantic region. You could spend weeks exploring these towns, but read on for how to spend one adventure-packed day in Luray, Virginia; Thurmont, Maryland; and Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania – three of our favorite towns in the region!

Luray, Virginia

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest is Luray, Virginia. This town is a haven for nature-lovers as it boasts spectacular views, historic caverns, and easy access to some of the region’s most popular hikes.

If you’re up for an early wake-up call, start your morning with a sunrise hike along one of Shenandoah National Park’s 500+ miles of trails. The views from the summit of Stony Man, one of the park’s most popular trails, are breathtaking.

Before exploring Luray Caverns, grab a quick lunch in town (we recommend West Main Market Beer and Wine Garden). This cave site is over four million centuries old, the
largest in the eastern United States, and home to the world’s largest musical instrument, the Great Stalacpipe Organ.

If time allows, pay a visit to the Car and Carriage Caravan Museum and the Shenandoah Heritage Village. Both are found in the three-acre museum complex adjacent to Luray Caverns and highlight Shenandoah’s historical homes, vehicles, and industries as they transport visitors back in time.

End your night with dinner and cocktails at The Speakeasy at Mimslyn Inn or with some local craft beers at Hawksbill Brewing Company.

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Situated on the southern edge of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains within the Lehigh Gorge lies Jim Thorpe, a town where old-world storybook charm meets the adventurous nature of modern mountain towns and creates an oasis for outdoorsy travelers.

Start your morning with a to-go coffee from Muggles’ Mug, which is (you guessed it) the town’s Harry Potter-themed café, and then bop around the unique shops on West
Broadway. This part of town has maintained its old-timey, somewhat Victorian charm of years past.

After caffeinating, visit Lehigh Gorge State Park, where you can walk, hike, or bike to the waterfalls that call the park home. If the weather is favorable, spend your afternoon
kayaking or rafting along the Lehigh River. Or explore the boulder field in the northeastern corner of Hickory Run State Park. Located just thirty minutes from downtown Jim Thorpe, this park is home to waterfalls, trout streams, and over 40 miles of hiking trails.

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When you return to town, take a train ride through the mountains on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway that runs parallel to the Lehigh River. Looking for a more active
experience? Ride the train 25 miles north to White Haven, Pa., and return to Downtown Jim Thorpe by bike on a trail that runs slightly downhill. If time allows, peruse the Old Jail Museum. It dates back to 1871 and holds some haunting history.

Then, make your way to Stone Row Pub and Eatery. We recommend making an after-dark reservation and dining on the upper deck beside the old stables in the woods. It makes for quite a romantic experience – complete with fairy lights!

Thurmont, Maryland

Known for its covered bridges, beautiful waterfalls, hiking trails, and being the site of the Presidential Retreat, Camp David, this Maryland town is not to be missed.

If you’re visiting on a Saturday between June and September, starting your day with a visit to Thurmont Main Street Farmers Market is a must. Here, local vendors sell produce, handmade goods, and prepared foods on the grounds of Thurmont Park.

After fueling up, explore Catoctin Mountain Park. This National Park site is home to Camp David and offers miles of beautiful hiking trails. If you’re up for a challenge, head to Chimney Rock/Wolf Rock Trail – a 3.4-mile loop that boasts breathtaking views of the local landscape. Alternatively, spend the afternoon chasing waterfalls at Cunningham Falls State Park. These falls are the tallest in the state and hold a special place in our
hearts because we got engaged at their base.

Then, treat yourself to post-hike ice cream at Gateway Market and Candyland. If you’re in the mood for an adult treat, grab some meat and cheese from The Farmhouse Exchange (connected to Gateway Market) and head to Catoctin Breeze Vineyard for wine and live music. This winery has been named Fredrick County’s best winery.

Before heading home, take a scenic drive through Loys Station and Roddy Road Covered Bridge. Both are impressive as they were built in the mid-1800s and are still in operation. After spending the last few years road-tripping the East Coast, we’ve found that we enjoy the small towns hidden within just as much as (if not more than) their natural landscapes. We particularly love Luray, Thurmont, and Jim Thorpe as they provide something for every visitor. With elevated dining options, quaint main streets, speakeasies, wineries, and ample opportunities for outdoor adventure, these towns hold some of the Mid-Atlantic’s best-kept secrets. They are destinations that deserve a spot on the bucket list of every avid day tripper, adventure traveler, and road trip enthusiast alike.

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Four Essential Steps to Elevate Your Finances in Your 20s

Your twenties are notoriously intimidating – take it from me. With new learnings thrown at you from every angle, like taxes, 401Ks, and bills, many people (including myself) are beginning their careers with little guidance on how to set up their finances. The best thing I did at this stage was learn about my finances, which made me more confident about my future and less stressed about the present.

Let’s break down some of my best tips to take control of your finances in your twenties and how the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card can help you get there.

Create an Emergency Fund

Life is unpredictable; many of my twenty-something friends have abruptly lost their jobs or switched living situations. I want to protect myself in the case of a sudden change, so I’ve dedicated the last few years to building up four to six months’ worth of money in an emergency fund for an added sense of security.

I recommend setting up monthly automatic transfers to a savings account and using your cash back rewards as another savings method. The AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card earns you 5% Cash Back on grocery purchases, which you can redeem and transfer into your emergency savings account.

Build Your Credit

With my parents’ guidance, I opened my first credit card at 18 but still didn’t understand what credit was and how to build it. I always paid my balance on time and built up my credit score, but after graduation, I decided to close that card and open a new card with better benefits. Soon after, I realized my mistake – I lost all that credit history and tanked my credit score! If I’d spent more time learning about credit history, I could’ve saved myself from losing years of progress.

I recommend building your credit early with a no annual-fee, cash-back rewards credit card and keeping it open for as long as possible! One excellent option is the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card. This card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and high cash-back rewards on frequent spending categories like groceries and gas. For people in their twenties looking to build credit and get rewarded for everyday spending, this card is a great option.

Open a Roth IRA

At 20, I started investing in my Roth IRA. Today, my money has returned over 14%. The money you save in a Roth IRA can earn you interest on the interest it earns in your account, a concept commonly referred to as compound interest.

It might sound strange to think about retirement in your twenties, but when it comes to investing, time is your best friend. Even if you only put a tiny amount of money in your retirement account, it can grow exponentially and set you up for future financial success!

Track Your Spending

When I first moved to New York City after college, my finances overwhelmed me – I even started to doubt my decision to move to one of the most expensive cities in the world. I wasn’t making a lot of money, and it felt like the only way to meet people and have fun was to go out with friends, buy clothes, and dine at expensive restaurants. I was overspending every month until I ultimately decided to track every dollar I spent.

I started tracking my spending with a simple Excel sheet where I summarized all my expenses. Soon, it gave me insights into my spending patterns and allowed me to identify where I overspend. After a few months of diligent tracking, I stopped going over budget and created a clear path for reaching my financial goals. It only takes me 10 minutes per week to track, so there are no excuses for me not to do it!

Your twenties are a time of change and self-discovery; there’s no better time to set yourself up for future success. You’ll never meet anyone who says they wished they waited longer to take control of their financial life. The time to start is now, and with these four simple steps, you’ll be well on your way.

Redeem Cash Back and Travel for Less: My Tips for Maximizing Cash Back

Learn from my credit mistakes – I had one credit card for years, barely used it, and swiped my debit card instead. I figured earning credit card rewards couldn’t make that much of a difference, so why bother?

My world changed when I watched a creator break down how she redeemed her credit card rewards to cover an entire vacation. Since implementing a few key steps, I’ve earned thousands of dollars in credit card rewards, covering over $1,000 in travel this year alone. Most recently, I redeemed credit card rewards for roundtrip flights from Boston to Aruba, saving me over $400. With so much financial advice online, especially about travel hacking, I wanted simple, no-fuss tips and tricks to maximize my rewards. Here are three key steps I take to travel more for less.

Picking the Right Credit Card

While 82% of American adults have a credit card, logging into a credit card rewards portal can sometimes be disappointing – $8 in your account doesn’t feel like a “big win.” I recommend picking a credit card with rewards categories that align with your everyday spending to earn the best rewards possible. Take the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card, which earns you 5% cash back on grocery store purchases and up to 3% on other common spending categories. With these high percentages on everyday spending, you can generate an impressive amount of rewards with simple necessities and purchases, which you can redeem and use for flight tickets, vacation activities, and hotels.

Familiarize Yourself with Your Rewards

Credit card rewards are an avid traveler’s dream. I prefer cash-back rewards because you can redeem rewards for various expenses, like flights, ride shares, hotels, vacation activities, and rental cars. While rewards might not cover every vacation expense, you can use the cash back to subsidize the cost of some expenses. You can travel more without compromising your dream itinerary or destination.

During my recent trip to Aruba, I had the flexibility to splurge on a $130 ticket to a private island to feed flamingos and treat my friends to a lavish dinner. Thanks to the $400 I saved on my flights through credit card rewards, I was able to build these expenses into my travel budget.

Mindful Redeeming, More Rewards

Redeeming your rewards is just as important as earning them! For cash back credit cards like the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card, redeeming your rewards within the credit card portal is the best option to keep organized.

Stay Practical While Travel Hacking

While rewards are one of the best perks of holding a credit card, I recommend paying off your card monthly and avoiding carrying a balance. You can take advantage of the power of credit by picking the right card, understanding the scope of your rewards, and mindfully redeeming. Cash back from cards like the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card can open up a world of possibilities, especially if you’re ready to elevate your travel game for a fraction of the cost.

What Are Your Dashboard Lights Trying To Tell You?

If you’ve ever found yourself confronted with a dashboard light you didn’t recognize, you’re not alone. There’s a certain sinking feeling that comes with the sight of an unintelligible wingding glowing beyond the steering wheel that can fill a driver with dread. Is your car overheating? Is there something wrong with the headlights? Does the appearance of the check engine light mean you need to visit a mechanic right away?

But there’s no reason to be anxious about dashboard lights. They are just the way your car communicates. Though many of the lights are merely notifications, warning lights in particular can deliver important information about vehicle maintenance. Understanding the meaning of your dashboard lights and symbols can determine what action to take. Paying attention to these alerts and knowing what they mean can help you get more good years out of your car.

Different Types of Dashboard Lights

There are basically three grades of dash indicator lights: Green or Blue, Yellow or Orange and Red.

Green or blue dashboard lights are notification lights, telling you that a feature of your car is active. They do not signal a fault or problem. Rather, they are an indication that these parts of your car are functioning exactly how you want them to function.
Yellow or orange dashboard lights are low-grade warning lights. There is a problem in your car that you should address in the very near future. Your car can usually still be driven a few miles, or the fix is a simple one, like closing your car door or pulling up to a gas station to fill your fuel tank.
Red dashboard lights are serious warning lights. You should stop immediately, or risk damage to the car (or worse, yourself). If you are out driving when you see a red warning light, pull over and deal with the problem. If your car requires immediate attention from a professional, don’t drive it to the shop, contact AAA Roadside Assistance for a tow. The exception to the red warning rule is of course the hazard light symbol, which simply reminds the driver that they have engaged the hazard lights and is not an issue in itself.

Dashboard Lights Decoded

The infographic above highlights some of the most common – and sometimes most confusing – dashboard lights and symbols. One of the difficulties with deciphering dashboard lights is that the symbols vary between different makes and models of cars. Though the variation is often very slight, it is important to keep in mind that the symbols in your own car might look a little different than the ones seen here.

Many dashboard symbols use a sort of pictograph-style code to help the driver decipher them. The head lamp symbol, for example, is usually illustrated as an illuminated light bulb. While most of the images are pretty straightforward, like the low fuel symbol or the battery symbol, some can be confusing. The tire pressure symbol is ostensibly supposed to be a cross-section of a car tire with an exclamation point in the middle, and treads on the bottom; however, it looks more like an exclamation point in parenthesis, floating over a stout fence. The brake system dashboard light isn’t representative at all, deviating profoundly from the style of the other more illustrative symbols. The only way to instantly be able to recognize this symbol is simply by memorizing what it looks like. Some dash indicator lights blink when the driver’s attention is especially urgent, though this is not the case for all vehicles.

If you’re still unsure about what certain dashboard lights or symbols mean, you can always check your owner’s manual. If you have an iPhone running with iOS 17, you can also use the Visual Look Up feature, which has a “Look Up Auto Symbol” button.

If your dashboard lights are telling you that your car needs maintenance, be sure to use a shop you can trust. Search for a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility near you.

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

Merging Into Life: How to Prevent Identity Theft

SEASON 1: EPISODE 12
Episode Feedback

How to outsmart scammers and protect your personal data.

IN THIS EPISODE

If “catfishing” and “pig butchering” sound like life on a farm — listen up! These days any one of us could be reeled in or led to slaughter when it comes to identity theft, particularly online. So, what is identity theft? It’s a serious and widespread threat where criminals aim to steal your savings and your identity, often through cleverly named online schemes. These are some of the common identity theft scams to avoid.

In this episode, we explore the critical topic of identity theft protection. We talk to Robert Siciliano, CEO of cyber security training company Protect Now, and Mike Breummer, vice president of consumer protection for Experian. They reveal the modern tactics thieves use and provide expert advice on how to prevent identity theft and protect your personal information online, so you don’t take the bait.

AAA members get exclusive access to identity theft protections services with ProtectMyID by Experian. Learn more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[5:27] – How can I protect myself from identity theft?
[12:58] – Are young people at risk?
[14:09] – How to protect your personal information online
[19:37] – Tips for good password hygiene

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00]
Amanda Greene: So the other day I saw the cutest pair of shoes online. I clicked the ad and ordered right away because they were so cheap. And then as soon as I completed the transaction, I felt instant dread. Why was it so cheap? Was it too good to be true? As I’m running through everything in my head, wondering if I just got scammed, my phone rings. It’s the bank. Or at least he says he’s the bank.

[00:00:26]
Scammer: Hi, this is the bank. Is this Amanda Green?

[00:00:28]
Amanda Greene: Yeah.

[00:00:29]
Scammer: We’re going to need you to answer a few questions to confirm your identity. What’s your address?

[00:00:33]
Amanda Greene: I’m not comfortable giving that information out over the phone.

[00:00:37]
Scammer: Well, I need to confirm that you’re really Amanda Green.

[00:00:39]
Amanda Greene: How do I even know you’re really my bank?

[00:00:41]
Scammer: Ma’am, it’s the bank’s policy to confirm our client’s identity with just a few questions.

[00:00:45]
Amanda Greene: But you called me. You have to understand I need to know that you are actually who you say you are.

[00:00:52]
Scammer: How about just your PIN number?

RESOURCES

Experian ID Theft Protection for AAA Members

Identity Theft Scams to Keep an Eye On

Tips for Understanding Your Credit Report

Pig Butchering Scams Are on the Rise

Protect Now

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

Places in the Northeast That Will Haunt You

Once a year it’s cool to love ghouls, so plan a fall road trip to check out some spooky spots. Here are a few of our favorite creepy places that guarantee a haunting experience.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Philadelphia, Pa.

Brave souls who are looking to be spooked can experience Halloween Nights, featuring five haunted houses and other hair-raising attractions inside the crumbling cell blocks of this fortress-like penitentiary that once housed legendary criminals like mobster Al Capone. It’s visited by more than 60 paranormal investigators annually, but the Halloween mayhem goes on select nights from the end of September through early November.

Fort Delaware Paranormal Adventure

Delaware City, Del.

Fancy yourself an amateur ghost hunter? If so, join Diamond State Ghost Investigators and Fort Delaware State Park staff on a three-hour Paranormal Adventure at this abandoned fort located on an island and dating to before the Civil War. Available on Friday and Saturday nights throughout October, the tour uses actual electromagnetic field recorders, data recorders and temperature sensors in an effort to capture the footsteps and apparitions of one-time prisoners.

Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum

Fall River, Mass.

Talk about a creepy place. You may not feel the infamous whacks that Lizzie Borden allegedly gave her parents here (she was tried and acquitted, and the murders remain unsolved), but book a room at this museum/bed-and-breakfast and you’ll certainly feel spooked. A tour offering bloodcurdling details of the 1892 ax rampage is given to every guest – getting more than a wink of sleep, however, isn’t guaranteed. Too timid to turn in? You can take a daytime tour.

For more local tours that will give you the creeps, click here. Remember, AAA members can save on select ghost tours with AAA Tickets.

creepy places — Mark Twain House. (Photo: Flickr / Craig Fildes / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Mark Twain House and Museum

Hartford, Conn.

Check out the elaborate, 25-room, circa-1873 home where one of America’s most gifted writers – and a big believer in the supernatural – lived and wrote until financial hardship and tragic loss (his daughter Susy died here in 1896) forced its sale.

Mount Hope Cemetery

Bangor, Maine

Stephen King fans will recognize this spooky place as the film location for the movie adaptation of his seriously scary “Pet Sematary,” and Bangor as the fright writer’s place of residence. You can also take a self-guided daytime tour of America’s second-oldest garden cemetery – if you dare!

Mutter Museum

Philadelphia, Pa.

This scholarly yet icky homage to medical oddities is also pretty darn creepy. Run by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the Mutter Museum’s collection includes 139 human skulls, plaster death casts of conjoined Thai twins Chang and Eng Bunker, slices of Albert Einstein’s brain and other bizarre keepsakes that will make you go “Ewww!”

Salem, Mass.

Salem’s dark history definitely adds to its appeal during spooky season. The Witch City embraces its reputation every October during the extremely popular Haunted Happenings Festival, but the creepy vibes linger on throughout the year. Explore Salem’s macabre past with a trip to the historic Witch House, Charter Street Cemetery, one of its many museums or a guided tour, like the Salem Witch Walk, led by well-known witch and owner, Lorelei.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

Some Halloween-themed tours are more captivating than spooky, but cemeteries? They’re certifiably creepy places. Lantern-lit night tours happen every weekend September-November at the burial ground made famous by the Washington Irving character Ichabod Crane. Learn about more haunts in the area.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Weston, W. Va.

Are you brave enough walk the halls of a 19th-century psychiatric hospital that once housed 2,400 patients – and an unknown number who are said to haunt its rooms and hallways? If so, this National Historic Landmark is open for walk-in historic and paranormal tours from early spring through November.

Featured image: Lizzie Borden Museum and Bed and Breakfast. (Photo: Flickr / Stewart Robotham / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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

Have you visited any of these creepy places in the Northeast? Are there any others that we missed? Tell us in the comments below.

Take a game break! Solve this spooky mini crossword.

The Story of Rhode Island’s ‘Real’ Vampire, Mercy Brown

Judging by her tombstone, underneath an evergreen tree in a sun-dappled historic cemetery, there’s nothing at all amiss about the final resting place of Mercy Brown. “Mercy L,” the stone reads, “Daughter of George L. and Mary E. Brown. Died Jan. 17, 1892. Aged 19 years.”

For an old grave in the small town of Exeter, R.I., it gets a lot of attention, the kind usually reserved for notable or historic figures. On any given day, a visitor could easily find several bouquets of flowers and small gifts, and rocks placed on top of the headstone.

But upon closer inspection, the stone does have an unusual feature. A metal band secures it to the ground, ensuring no one with larcenous intent can steal it away. Mercy Brown might not be a celebrity, but she lives on in history as Rhode Island’s most infamous “real” vampire.

As far as moral panics go (and this being New England, we have a lot of them), the vampire craze that swept Rhode Island in the late 1800s was relatively minor. Unlike the Salem witch trials, which saw 25 people executed or dead from harsh prison conditions, the fervor focused on people who had already died and were suspected of siphoning the vitality of their living relatives from beyond the grave.

The idea was borne from desperation. Tuberculosis (then referred to as consumption) was killing a huge portion of the population, and there was no reliably effective treatment or medicinal remedy. People resorted to the “vampirism” cure, a folk remedy that “required exhuming the bodies of deceased relatives and checking them for ‘unnatural’ signs, such as ‘fresh’ blood in the heart,” Michael Bell wrote in “Food for the Dead: On the Trail of New England’s Vampires.”

“The implicit belief was that one of the relatives was not completely dead and was maintaining some semblance of a life by draining the vital force from living relatives,” Bell explained. By ingesting the parts of the departed that still appeared to be alive, the living hoped to reclaim their lost health.

In a way, it makes sense. If someone is dying from a disease called consumption, a logical question to ask is exactly who – or what – is consuming them?

The Brown family had already faced devastating losses from consumption – the deaths of mother Mary Eliza and eldest daughter Mary Olive in the mid-1880s – when siblings Edwin and Mercy fell ill with the disease in 1891. Edwin went to Colorado for treatment and recovered, but Mercy died at home and was buried in the family plot in Chestnut Hill Cemetery off Ten Rod Road (which visitors can still easily see today). When he returned home, Edwin once again fell ill. In a last attempt to save his life, father George Brown allowed a group, including the local doctor, to exhume the bodies of his deceased loved ones in March 1892 under the suspicion that one was a vampire draining Edwin’s life force.

Mary Eliza and Mary Olive were appropriately decomposed, but Mercy’s body showed little decay, and she still had blood in her heart. (Details are hazy on this. Reports say she was exhumed, but since she died when the ground was frozen, it’s more likely her body would have been stored in the cemetery’s crypt until the spring thaw. The cold winter weather, and her above-ground storage, could easily explain the state of her corpse.)

There were many ways of “fighting” the vampirism suspected of making families ill, some of which revolved around the heart of the deceased person. Some people would exhume the dead relative and burn their heart, either inhaling the smoke, or eating the ashes.

That’s what happened to Mercy. When the locals saw that she seemed unnaturally vital, they cut out her heart, burned it and created a tonic with the ashes. Edwin drank it, but he still died two months later.

Even at the time, Mercy’s posthumous treatment was a scandal. An 1892 article in the Providence Journal, which Bell included in his book, said that locals were “testing a horrible superstition” when they exhumed her remains. “Bodies of dead relatives taken from their graves,” it continued, “they had all died of consumption, and the belief was that live flesh and blood would be found that fed upon the bodies of the living.”

Mercy is far from the only person suspected of being a vampire in Rhode Island, or who got caught up in the frenzy. Simon Whipple Aldrich, who died in 1841 in North Smithfield, is memorialized on his gravestone with an inscription mentioning “consumption’s vampire grasp.” But according to Bell’s book, Mercy is likely the last person exhumed under that suspicion in America.

Mercy’s memory and her legend live on. H.P Lovecraft wrote about her in “The Shunned House,” and Smithsonian Magazine suggested that even Bram Stoker knew her story and referenced it while writing “Dracula,” which debuted in 1897. In modern media, she’s been featured on the podcast “Lore” and its Amazon Prime show of the same name, and in many songs and novels.

Have you ever heard of the Mercy Brown vampire incident? Tell us in the comments.

Featured image: Chestnut Hill Cemetery

Breast Cancer Survivor Pushing Toward $1 Million Goal

While battling a life-changing disease like breast cancer, it helps to have a support system in place. It’s especially helpful when someone who has survived breast cancer is in your corner, helping you navigate through the journey, from the initial diagnosis to undergoing treatment and beyond.

Someone like Dianne Fonseca, a AAA member and resident of Lincoln, R.I., and Palm Aire, Fla., who has been cancer-free for 25 years. The retired teacher recently celebrated her milestone with a Silver Soiree at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Fonseca hosts an annual breast cancer fundraiser in Rhode Island, but this year was extra special. She is an all-star when it comes to supporting the cause.

She is more than halfway to her ambitious goal of raising $1 million for the American Cancer Society. “If you raise $1 million, you become a legacy team,” Fonseca said. “I want to be a legacy team.”

Fonseca plans to participate in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Oct. 20 in Providence with her team, Keeping the Pace With Dianne.

Her friends in Florida have also helped by knitting pink hats and trading them for $100 donations, raising $1,100.

How it Started

Fonseca was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. After finding a lump herself, she scheduled an appointment with her doctor, who immediately sent her for a sonogram.

“The hardest part at that time was waiting an entire week for the results,” she said. “I will never forget coming home from teaching that day and finding my husband and older son waiting for me. My husband informed me that my doctor had called him to tell him I had breast cancer. The doctor said the cancer was ugly and aggressive, and there was no cure for me.”

But Fonseca is a fighter and was not going to let her diagnosis get in the way of her life. She and her husband were determined to keep living their lives as they did before. The road ahead wasn’t easy. One of her greatest challenges was losing her hair, which had begun to fall out a week after her first chemotherapy treatment. Fonseca quickly recognized that her diagnosis was strongly affecting her loved ones.

“I was somewhat taken aback at first by the reaction of my husband, our sons and my mom at the news of my breast cancer,” she said. “Our oldest son didn’t want to finish his senior year at Notre Dame, and our youngest didn’t want to go to Loyola University (in Maryland) for his freshman year. I realized that I needed to be strong, not only for myself, but also for my family.”

Fortunately, Fonseca qualified for an experimental drug during her treatment, which put her cancer in remission. “Here I am, 25 years later, due to an experimental drug,” she said. New treatments and protocols have raised the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients to 91%.

Fonseca found that some of the best medicine was continuing to live her life as she did before her diagnosis. It gave her a purpose and took her mind off her disease.

“It was also better for my family,” she said. “My mom insisted on coming to stay with us when I first came home, but within a couple of days I was up and about, hanging clothes on the line! Always look ahead, and never look back!”

Giving Back

Also critical to Fonseca’s healing was support from volunteers with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program. Volunteers who are breast cancer survivors connect with people living with breast cancer. Through in-person visits or by phone, the volunteers provide understanding, comfort and hope by answering questions and addressing concerns that may come up during the experience.

Though they don’t give medical advice, the volunteers offer guidance that only someone who has been through the same experience can. While dealing with her own diagnosis, Fonseca was introduced to a Reach to Recovery volunteer by a friend. Her experience spurred her to help others.

“I knew that as soon as I was able, I would volunteer for the program myself,” Fonseca said.

In 2005, she started providing support to women in southern New England who were facing issues much like those she had during her cancer journey. Many were Spanish-speaking women who understood little English. Fonseca – a former language teacher – speaks Spanish fluently, as well as Italian. She still is registered as a Reach to Recovery volunteer, although she is not as active.

Every year, Fonseca continues to push herself and works to raise more money than the year before. She’s motivated by gratitude for her life and being able to spend time with her husband, two sons, daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

“In raising these funds, I feel that I am helping the American Cancer Society to continue with their research and programs to help others,” she said. “Volunteering has been the most rewarding for me, helping others who are going through what I went through.”

Another AAA Survivor’s Story

For Mary Maguire, vice president of public and government affairs at AAA Northeast, the cancer story began on Veterans’ Day 2014. Her doctor called while she was driving and told her she had breast cancer. Maguire pulled over and began to cry, because she felt like she had been given a death sentence.

“I’ll never forget what my longtime physician – who had delivered my youngest son – said to me that day. He said, ‘Mary, do you know how many patients I have living with cancer?’ That stuck with me, and today I’m cancer-free and 10 years in remission. And I know many others who are living well, living with cancer or have beaten cancer, like me.”

“My cancer was detected very early and knowing that helped immensely,” she continued. “My doctors were amazing, and my family and friends were incredibly supportive. My colleagues at AAA were concerned and encouraging and provided me with the time I needed to recover.” After six weeks of radiation treatments, Maguire got a clean bill of health.

“My annual mammogram led to my diagnosis,” she added. “Don’t skip or put off your yearly screening – it could save your life!”

Tips for Early Detection

Here are the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for detecting breast cancer early. One of the most important:

Get a Mammogram

Early detection is critical to saving lives.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women between the ages of 40 and 44 have the option to begin annual mammograms. Those between ages 45 and 54 should have mammograms yearly and women 55 and older every two years.

Men can also develop breast cancer, although they represent only about 1% of all cases. Since men are not routinely screened for breast cancer, males, especially those between the ages of 60 and 70, are advised to check for lumps. If they feel anything unusual, they should immediately call their doctor.

Self-Care for Cancer Patients

Fonseca offers her advice and encouragement for those fighting cancer.

Rest Often

“You’re going to be tired. It’s normal,” Fonseca said about having cancer.

People can experience fatigue before, during and after cancer treatment. “Your loved ones will understand if you need to let your body rest. When the opportunity presents itself, take it.”

Look Ahead

“Having a positive outlook changes everything,” according to Fonseca. “Look ahead instead of behind.”

Focusing on the past can dredge up negative emotions, she added. Focus on the future – recovery – and try your best to remain positive. Fonseca said a positive attitude made all the difference during her own experience with cancer.

Take Advantage of Help

Fonseca encourages people with breast cancer to take advantage of all the resources the American Cancer Society offers. In addition to the Reach for Recovery program, the Road to Recovery program provides transportation to cancer-related medical appointments for those who can’t drive. The Look Good, Feel Better program provides group workshops and one-on-one consultations based on skin care, makeup application, hair-loss products and more.

Visit www.cancer.org to learn more.

Do you have any experience volunteering or raising money for a cause that’s important to you? Share your story in the comments below.

Featured image: Knead Donuts of Providence created a doughnut in honor of Dianne Fonseca, and proceeds from the sales went to her making Strides Against Breast Cancer team.

8 Halloween Crafts and Spooky Foods to Try

When you’re a kid, Halloween is all about the costume. As an adult, it’s all about the ambiance.

Creating – or should we say crafting – the perfect spooky vibe for your home is a great way to immerse yourself in the season, thoroughly enjoying all there is to offer this time of year. From reusing and recycling to tapping into your imagination, the perks of getting crafty with your Halloween decor are endless. To get the creative juices flowing, here are eight of our favorite Halloween crafts and spooky foods to try this fall.

Spooky Foods

Spooky Chocolate and Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

If you enjoy the classic peanut butter and chocolate combo, these skull-shaped cookies are scary good. Start by preparing chocolate shortbread dough. Divide the dough in half, wrap each portion and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. In the meantime, whip up the peanut butter buttercream recipe below.

Once the dough is ready, roll out to about 1/4-inch thickness and use a 2- to 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out circles for the faces. Pinch the sides of each circle with your thumb and index fingers to form a skull shape. For the eyes, use a tiny round cookie cutter or the small end of an extra-large piping tip, as shown in the video above. Cut out the nose and mouth with a knife. Each face will develop its own unique personality as it bakes!

Make half of the shortbread batch with faces and the other half plain, then sandwich them together with the buttercream after baking (350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes). Makes about two dozen cookies.

Peanut Butter Buttercream (makes about 1 cup)

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Fine salt, to taste (optional)

Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, blend together the peanut butter and butter. Slowly add the confectioners’ sugar until fully incorporated. Add salt to taste, if desired.

Boo! Brie Board

A cheese board is always a good idea, but it’s even better when it’s spooky. This creator starts by cutting a wheel of brie lengthwise and using a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to stamp out the shape on one side. On the other, jam is spread over the cheese to create a contrasting background before the ghost outline is placed on top. Next, they create a mummy out of soft cheese and strips of salami and tiny witches’ hats made from chocolate sandwich cookies and Hershey’s Kisses.

Ghoulish Strawberries

Who could pass up a chocolate-covered strawberry shaped like a ghost? These gems are easy to make and require only three ingredients: strawberries, white chocolate chips and black icing.

First, melt the white chocolate chips in a saucepan on low heat or in the microwave, stirring frequently. On a flat surface lined with parchment paper, create swoops of white chocolate that generally resemble an animated ghost’s “tail.” Repeat for however many strawberries you plan to dip. Next, dip each strawberry fully into the white chocolate and place on top of each swoop. Refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened (about 15-30 minutes) then use black icing to draw two eyes and a mouth.

Marshmallow Ghost Cups

Turn your favorite iced beverage into a Halloween treat in seconds with this adorable idea from creator debtrette. All you need is some marshmallow creme, a black marker and a clear disposable cup. Scoop a generous amount of marshmallow creme onto the back of a large spoon and place it on the inside of your cup, trying to create a ghost-like shape. Once you have as many marshmallow ghosts as you can fit, use a black marker to draw eyes and mouths on the outside of the cup. Then fill it up with your drink of choice (something pumpkin spiced, perhaps?) and you’re good to go.

Zombie Dirt Cups

An irresistible combination of pudding, whipped topping and chocolate sandwich cookies, these zombie dirt cups have it all – including worms. After layering these base ingredients until you’ve reached the top of the cup, adorn your chocolate “graveyard” with sugary zombie hands, headstones, bones, plastic spider rings and a shovel spoon to really drive the theme home.

Halloween Crafts

Air-Dried Clay Ghost Tealights

Once a staple of elementary school art projects, air-dried clay is making a comeback as one of the easiest ways to DIY all kinds of things like earrings, magnets and, in this case, sweet little ghosts.

Creator teawithteenie starts her process with a rolling pin, empty glass bottle, ping pong ball, some water, a sponge and a sculpting tool. After rolling out the clay, she cuts out a circle relative to the size of the ghost she wants to make, then uses the ping pong ball atop the empty glass bottle to create its shape. After making two holes for eyes, let the clay dry for 24 hours. Once fully dried, place atop a battery-powered tealight as a real flame is not recommended.

Papier-Mache Vintage-Style Jack-O’-Lanterns

If you want your Halloween decor to have a retro edge but can find only modern options, try this clever papier-mache hack to get the same look.

Using a store-bought plastic jack-o’-lantern, start by brushing Mod Podge over its outside surface and then cover with a layer of paper towels. Create any raised details during this step, like eyebrows or cheeks. Next, soak two to three cardboard egg cartons in water for three hours before blending them to create a pulp. Squeeze out any excess water and add half a bottle of white glue to create your papier-mache mixture and apply to the entire lantern. Let sit in the sun until dry (about two hours). Lastly, paint your vintage jack-o’-lantern however you see fit!

Tangerine Jack-O’-Lanterns

A perfect spooky craft to enjoy with kids, these tangerine jack-o’-lanterns make use of the fruit’s rind and can be hung as a garland or on their own to hold small handfuls of candy.

To make, slice off the top of the tangerine and carefully remove the fruit inside, keeping the rind intact. Stuff a paper towel inside the husk to give a backing and make it easier to cut the eye, nose and mouth holes with a razor or sharp knife (this part’s for adults only!). Make two additional holes on either side of the rind for the lantern handle. Replace the paper towel inside with aluminum foil and bake the lanterns at 200 degrees for two to three hours. Once thoroughly dry, use a small piece of twine to loop through the side holes creating the handle.

Which of these Halloween crafts are you going to try? Let us know in the comments!

3 Reasons to Keep Dental Insurance After Retirement

Retirement is a big milestone in life, and one that deserves to be enjoyed to its full extent. To get the most out of your retirement years, it’s important to maintain your physical, mental and oral health, and insurance will help you do so.

You may not know where to start when determining which dental coverage is best for this new phase of life, but luckily Delta Dental of Rhode Island makes it easy for AAA members in Rhode Island to have affordable, quality care.

Here are three reasons why continuing to have dental insurance after retirement is an important choice to make.

Aging Changes Our Teeth And Gums

Cells renew at a slower rate as we age, which means older adults are more at risk for certain oral health conditions such as dry mouth due to prescription medication side effects or certain health conditions. When salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva, it can increase the risk for problems tasting, chewing, and swallowing, mouth sores, gum disease, tooth decay and yeast infection in the mouth (otherwise known as thrush).

Receding gums due to periodontal disease is also common in older adults. This is when the gum tissue pulls away from the tooth, exposing the base, or root. This makes it easy for bacteria to build up and cause inflammation and decay. Not brushing and flossing every day, not receiving regular dental care, smoking, diabetes or a weak immune system are all conditions that put older adults at risk for developing periodontal disease.

Without a competent dental insurance plan, these conditions may be left to fester and ultimately put you at risk for a range of side effects from uncomfortable to deadly.

Most Dental Care Isn’t Covered by Medicare

It seems like a safe assumption to make that once you retire, Medicare will cover general dental work like cleanings, fillings and dentures — but unfortunately that is not the case. Medicare only covers certain dental procedures that one would receive in the hospital, leaving your basic oral health in limbo.

With an individual plan through Delta Dental of Rhode Island, you can get coverage that compares to the insurance you’re used to through your place of employment.

Those With Dental Insurance Get Checked More Often

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, folks with dental insurance are much more likely to visit a dentist on a consistent basis than those without, as paying out-of-pocket can be costly. Easy accessibility to routine dental care through individual dental insurance is the simplest way to maintain your healthy smile – and be prepared for the unexpected.

With Delta Dental of Rhode Island through AAA Northeast, AAA members living in Rhode Island can stay covered and worry-free through their golden years. Explore the benefits and enroll now.

Best Place to View Fall Foliage? From the Top

When it comes to prime leaf peeping spots, the Northeast boasts destinations above the rest. Literally. From state parks to historic sites, climb one of these towers for a different perspective of the changing autumn colors. And as a bonus, learn some area history on the climb!

If you’re in search of the best places to view fall foliage, these are some of the “top” destinations.

For more foliage fun, scroll down to play our fall-themed Wordrow.

Castle Craig Tower at Hubbard Park

Peak Drive, Meriden, Conn.

Those driving along Connecticut’s Interstate 691 have probably wondered about the round stone tower standing tall above Meriden. Next time, plan a detour to visit Castle Craig, located more than a thousand feet above sea level on the city’s East Peak. Castle Craig opened to the public in 1900 and is located in the 1,800-acre Hubbard Park.

An interior stairway leads to an observation platform atop the tower that affords sweeping views of the Sleeping Giant Mountain range, the buildings of New Haven, and on a clear day, even a glimpse of the Long Island Sound.

Good to know: You can hike to the tower or drive on a road open from May 1-Oct. 31, weather permitting.

Heublein Tower

1 Summit Drive, Simsbury, Conn.

Built in 1914 as a summer home for the family behind A.1. Sauce, the 165-foot-tall tower offers panoramic views of Connecticut, Massachusetts and beyond.

“I say, why go to Vermont when you can just come to the tower?” said Jay T. Willerup, the president of the board of directors of the Friends of Heublein Tower.

Now part of Talcott Mountain State Park, there’s a 1 1/4-mile hike to the structure. Take the stairs to the top floor observatory, and on the way, get a glimpse of a dining, living and bedroom floor, which appear much as the Heublein family might have used them.

The paneled and windowed observatory, once used as a ballroom, offers 360-degree views.

You can see Mount Tom and Springfield, in Massachusetts, and Connecticut’s Bradley Airport, according to Willerup.

Good to know: The third week in October is typically peak leaf peeping time at the tower. Open seasonally.

Monument at High Point State Park

1480 State Route 23, Sussex, N.J.

To really appreciate the Garden State in autumn, you need to climb to the highest elevation possible, which can be found at High Point, the summit of the Kittatinny Ridge, rising 1,803 feet above sea level.

Once you’re there, check out the Monument at High Point, completed in 1930 to honor New Jersey’s war veterans. Climb the tower’s 291 stairs to the top for a view of the Pocono and Catskill Mountains, the Wallkill River Valley and more.

You can walk, hike or drive to the monument, part of the larger 16,171-acre High Point State Park which offers seasonal outdoor activities including hiking and walking trails, camping, fishing and boating.

Good to know: The monument is open weekends in September and October.

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory

711 Fort Knox Road, Prospect, Maine

When it comes to the best place to view fall foliage, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge has a height advantage. Here, visitors can ogle the landscape from the highest public bridge observatory in the world. Take a 42-story elevator ride to the glass-enclosed, three level observatory which offers views that span 40 miles (on a clear day) in every direction, including the Penobscot River and Bay and the distant western mountains.

Although considered a modern marvel – it opened in 2007 – there’s a rich sense of local history delivered through interpretive panels. Back on terra firma, explore the adjacent Fort Knox, a preserved military fortification which was established in 1844.

Good to know: The Observatory and Fort Knox are open through Oct. 31. Admission is required. All visitors must enter through the Fort Knox State Historic Site.

Perkins Memorial Tower

Perkins Memorial Drive, Stony Point, N.Y.

Constructed in 1934 as the crowning touch to Bear Mountain State Park, this 40-foot-tall tower located 2 miles up the mountain’s summit, served as a weather station and fire lookout until the 1950s. On a clear day, you can see north to the Catskills and all the way south to the top of Manhattan’s skyscrapers. The view spans four states – New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

There is no elevator, so be prepared to climb, but the ascent on wide steps is not difficult. Each landing offers interpretive displays and photos which describe the view and bit of the history of Bear Mountain State Park.

Good to know: You can hike or drive to the tower via Perkins Memorial Drive, a steep, winding road, which may close due to weather. Call 845-786-2701 before you go. The drive and tower are open April 1-Nov. 30. The state park was damaged in a summer storm and some parts of it may remain closed to visitors. Check the website (linked above) or call ahead.

Tower of Victory

84 Liberty St., Newburgh, N.Y.

Located high on the west shore of Hudson River, the tower opened in 1887 on the site used by Gen. George Washington as his headquarters during the American Revolution.

It was commissioned by U.S. Secretary of War Robert T. Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, to honor Washington and to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the disbanding of the Continental Army.

Today, visitors can climb a spiral staircase inside the 53-foot-tall limestone structure to take in views of the Hudson River, Mount Beacon, the Hudson Highlands and West Point in the distance. Just imagine when the site was an important defensive position for Washington’s army.

The tower is part of Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, the nation’s first publicly owned historic site, which opened in 1850. Take a tour of the onsite museum and adjacent Hasbrouck House where Washington and his wife, Martha, were in residence from 1782 to 1783.

Good to know: Tours of the tower are by appointment only, so call ahead to book: 845-562-1195. Open through Oct. 29.

Pulpit Rock Tower

Neptune Drive, Rye, N.H.

This eight-story concrete tower is a relic of WWII, built by the U.S. military as a coastal observatory, one of 14 on the New Hampshire coast. Pulpit Rock is the only surviving tower. Soldiers once patrolled its observation deck, nearly 100 feet above the shoreline, looking for enemy ships in Portsmouth Harbor and its naval yard. Today, take in the peaceful views of the harbor and sea coast.

Good to know: Tours are only given a few times each year by the Friends of Pulpit Rock, although private tours can be arranged by appointment by emailing friendsofpulpitrocktower@gmail.com. For info on scheduled tours, follow on Facebook.

Play Our Fall Foliage Wordrow!

What do you think is the best place to view fall foliage? Have you been to any of these towers? Tell us in the comments.

Check out more ways to view fall foliage throughout the Northeast.

Need a ride? Rent a car.

Featured image: Monument at High Point. (Courtesy of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection)

Fall Driving Tips

Each year, the transition from summer to autumn brings the much-anticipated return of colorful foliage, sweater weather, football season and all things pumpkin. However, the beginning of fall also comes with potential driving risks, including slippery roads, decreased daylight, fog and sun glare. Autumn weather can be unpredictable and conditions can change drastically within a matter of minutes.

Prepare yourself and your vehicle for the changing seasons with the following tips to help you drive safely in the fall.

How to Drive Safely in Darkness

As the days get shorter, you will likely be driving in the dark more.

Be sure to keep your headlights clean and in proper working order; dim or misaligned headlights can decrease your visibility.

Always watch for pedestrians walking, jogging or biking through the streets; they may be difficult to see at night if they are wearing dark clothing.

Be mindful of children walking to and from bus stops in the morning and afternoon.

Fall is also an active breeding time for deer, so travel slowly if you live in a deer-laden area. If you see a deer cross the roadway, expect others to follow, as they often travel in groups.

Cold Weather

Fall weather can change rapidly from warm to cold, causing roads to ice over overnight. Drive slowly and brake gently when driving across overpasses and bridges, as these surfaces tend to frost over before others. Be aware of spots where black ice forms on the roadway and drive carefully through these areas.

Check your tire pressure daily. Extreme changes in temperature will cause your tires to expand and contract, which may lead to a loss of tire pressure. Before starting your vehicle, clear away any frost on your windows and check that your tires are properly inflated and have plenty of tread.

Driving in Fog

With cold autumn mornings often comes fog.

When driving in foggy weather, set your headlights to low instead of high. High-beam headlights bounce off of fog and reflect back at you, further impairing your ability to see the road. Low beams, however, aim down toward the roadway and improve your visibility.

Slow down and leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you so that you have ample time to stop if necessary.

Glare

Autumn’s sunrises and sunsets can cause a large amount of glare, making it difficult to see other vehicles, pedestrians, traffic lights or the roadway.

To combat glare, clean your windshield inside and out to remove any dust particles, streaks or smudges. These can become magnified when illuminated by sunlight and impact your visibility.

Avoid using washing and waxing products that increase your car’s shine. These products magnify the sun’s glare on your car, which may cause the light to reflect into your eyes and blind you for a few seconds.

Keep a pair of sunglasses in your vehicle at all times to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. If you frequently drive at night, consider purchasing lenses with anti-reflective coating in order to reduce glare from streetlights and headlights.

Wet Conditions

Fall is notorious for wet weather. Wet leaves pose a risk to motorists since driving on them is like driving on ice.

Before starting your car, remove any leaves from your windshield to prevent them from getting stuck under your wiper blades. Also, be sure to replace windshield wiper blades if they show any signs of wear. Neglecting your wipers can limit your vision during poor weather conditions and leave you in a dangerous situation.

When driving during heavy rain, slow down, especially around turns. Wet conditions increase the time it takes your vehicle to come to a complete stop, so keep a good distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Avoid sudden movements with the steering wheel or slamming on the brake pedal, as these actions may cause your car to hydroplane. If you feel that you are losing control of your vehicle, steer straight and gently release the gas pedal until you feel the tires make contact with the road surface again.

More Fall Driving Tips

Never park your vehicle over a pile of leaves. Doing so may cause a fire to start from your vehicle’s exhaust system or catalytic converter.

Never drive over a pile of leaves; small children often play in leaf piles.

Changing temperatures and weather conditions create potholes, and leaves on the roadway may make it difficult to see them. Always be sure to slow down and avoid driving over leaf-covered areas, if possible.

Check that your spare tire is correctly inflated and has a proper tread. Having an under-inflated spare could leave you stranded if you happen to get a flat.

Whenever you need a hand the road, AAA Roadside Assistance is available 24/7. For help after a crash, be prepared with car insurance through AAA Insurance.

AAA members can save on automotive replacement parts and accessories at NAPA.

Merging Into Life: The Dangers of Drowsy Driving and How to Prevent It

SEASON 1: EPISODE 11
Episode Feedback

Don’t sleep on safety. Learn the dangers of driving while drowsy.

IN THIS EPISODE

Usually, when we hear about people driving impaired it’s because of drugs or alcohol. But did you know that getting behind the wheel when you’re tired is just as dangerous? Drowsy driving is impaired driving, and we often don‘t even know we‘re doing it.

In this episode, Jennifer Pearce will talk about how she lost her sister, Nicole, in a crash caused by a driver falling asleep. Now a victim’s advocate for traffic safety, Pearce discusses the risks of pushing ourselves to drive when we are tired.

You’ll also hear from Alec Slatky, AAA Northeast’s managing director of public and government affairs, about how AAA is working to better understand and prevent drowsy driving.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[3:24] – Jennifer Pearce talks about the dangers of drowsy driving and losing her sister
[10:51] – How does lack of sleep affect driving? We explore how drowsy driving compares to driving while impaired
[13:33] – The dangers of distracted driving

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00]
Amanda Greene: Just a heads-up before listening. This episode concerns the dangers of drowsy driving, including loss of life and can get emotional. It’s a serious but important subject. In fact, I remember a time when I got a call from my husband a few years ago. My husband was driving home late at night from a meeting that was two hours away. He had stopped for gas, and I remember feeling like he was way too tired to continue driving on. He knew he was tired, I knew he was tired, but he just wanted to get home. And after talking for a few minutes, I came to the conclusion that he was just too drowsy to keep driving. So I said, “Go get a hotel, stay the night, come home tomorrow.” And he resisted for a minute because he wanted to sleep in his own bed, the cost of a hotel. But once he agreed, I could hear the relief in his voice. He got a room, he got home safe. And I’m so glad that we made that decision because all too often we as drivers don’t even think to make that call.

Welcome to Merging Into Life where we navigate life’s milestones one episode at a time. Brought to you by AAA Northeast. I’m your host, Amanda Green. Today we’re going to talk about the dangers of drowsy driving and how to make sure we never do it. We’ll speak to one of AAA Northeast safe driving experts, Alec Slatky, about how to be alert and stay safe on the road. But first, Jennifer Pearce. She knows firsthand how devastating the effects of drowsy driving can be. Her younger sister, Nicole, died in 2008 when the driver of the car she was in fell asleep at the wheel and crashed.

Jennifer has been a victim advocate for traffic safety ever since because we know not to drive drunk or impaired. Speeding is dangerous and so is driving while distracted, but just as dangerous though less talked about, is drowsy driving. So, Jennifer is going to share her story with us and it’s heartbreaking. But Jennifer does this work to help other families avert disaster through education and awareness because as you’ll hear, one of the biggest problems with drowsy driving is that we often don’t even know we’re doing it.

Hi, Jennifer. Thank you so much for joining us today.

RESOURCES

AAA Defensive Driving Courses

How to Avoid Drowsy Driving on a Road Trip

Bad Driving Habits and How to Fix Them

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Study on Drowsing Driving

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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

Why You Should Prioritize Eye Exams After Age 60

If you’re over 60, you probably have already noticed changes in your eyes. You may be holding your phone further away to read your texts. You might have a little trouble reading the menu in a dim restaurant. Or you may be noticing even more concerning changes. Your eyes are aging, but it doesn’t mean you have to settle for declining vision.

Go beyond standard eye care with Altus Vision™ through AAA Northeast, an affordable, accessible way to get vision coverage in Massachusetts.

How Your Eyes Change

Like the rest of our bodies, our eyes change as we go through life. Many people over 40 experience presbyopia, the medical term for age-related farsightedness. This makes it more difficult for people to see things up close, and can turn everyday activities like reading, sewing or working at the computer into a struggle.

It may also become more difficult to see while driving at night. Taking a driving course for seniors may be helpful to deal with this issue.

With Altus Vision™, AAA Northeast members in Massachusetts can rely on a comprehensive vision plan that offers exams, savings on glasses and much more.

Increased Risks

Aging comes with some increased risks to your eye health. Here are just a few you should be on the lookout for.

Cataracts happen when the lens inside of your eye becomes cloudy, and they can be treated with surgery. Your vision may be blurry, or you may be seeing double.

Glaucoma is a disease that can damage the optic nerve, and it’s the leading cause of blindness for people over 60.

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, occurs when your retina’s macula is damaged. You may lose your central vision, while your peripheral vision may seem normal.

All of these risks are serious and can be caught early with regular eye exams. AAA members in Massachusetts can maintain regular eye care, affordably, with Altus Vision™.

Eye Care Is Health Care

Did you know that routine eye exams can also detect a variety of general health conditions, including:

Diabetes
High blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease
Thyroid disease
Cancers of the blood, tissue or skin
Vitamin deficiencies

That’s another great reason to take advantage of the added protection offered by a vision plan.

Keep Your Eyes Healthy

Little changes can make a big difference for your eyes. One small way to keep your eyes healthy is to protect them from UV rays while you’re out and about. Sunglasses or a baseball cap are perfect for minimizing exposure.

Another simple trick is to maintain your health beyond your eyes. Make sure to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and avoid smoking. These behaviors can help mitigate the risks of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And, of course, the best thing you can do for your eyes is to get regular, comprehensive eye exams. Some eye conditions, like glaucoma, aren’t immediately noticeable in your day-to-day life. It takes an ophthalmologist to really see what’s going on. In addition to keeping your eyes healthy, eye exams can also show early signs of other health concerns, like diabetes or stroke.

If you need corrective lenses, wear them. Straining your eyes over time can cause painful headaches and won’t help your vision in the long run. Just make sure your prescription is up to date.

Altus Vision™ provides AAA Northeast members in Massachusetts a vision plan with features that go beyond standard eye care, in partnership with VSP® Vision Care, the largest vision benefits company in the US. Enroll now.

Book an Aruba Vacation With Pleasant Holidays

The picturesque island of Aruba beckons with its warm, dry climate, velvety white sands and crystal-clear azure waters, creating an enchanting haven for vacationers.

Situated alongside the islands of Bonaire and Curacao, Aruba lies comfortably south of the hurricane belt, putting travelers’ minds at ease. In fact, it hardly ever rains and maintains a sunny 80 degrees most of the year.

Speak to a AAA travel advisor about booking one of these luxurious Aruba resorts with Pleasant Holidays. They’ll take care of the planning and set you up with exclusive discounts and other member benefits.

Where to Stay in Aruba

Embassy Suites by Hilton, Aruba Resort

This family-friendly resort is located between Aruba’s famous Eagle and Palm Beaches and offers beach access through a private tunnel. Guests can choose between rooms and suites.

JOIA Aruba by Iberostar

Iberostar plans to open it’s newest property by the end of 2024. Located on Eagle Beach, the resort boasts 240 suites and interior designs inspired by nature and the ocean.

The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba

Boasting signature Ritz-Carlton style, here you can enjoy five restaurants, a luxurious spa and 320 spacious, luxury guest rooms, including 55 suites.

Riu Palace Antillas

This 24-hour, all-inclusive adults-only (18-plus) beachside resort is the perfect place for a celebration. Guests can save up to $690 on wedding and honeymoon inclusions, plus themed parties.

More to Love About Aruba

More than 90 nationalities and ethnic groups, including European, East Indian, Filipino and Chinese call the island home.
Considered the wreck diving capital of the Caribbean, Aruba offers incredible exploration opportunities for divers of all skill levels.
The unique crushed coral and shell composition of the beaches’ powdery white sand keeps it cool, making it perfect for barefoot beach walks.
Big payout at the casino? Take it all home – Aruba has no taxes on gambling wins.
Sustainability fans will be happy to know that the island is at the forefront of the green energy movement. Aruba anticipates all its power coming from renewable sources within the next decade.

To learn more about the resorts mentioned and start planning your Aruba vacation, reach out to a AAA travel agent today.

Safe Driving Tips for Hazardous Conditions

Safety should always be the top priority when behind the wheel, but drivers should be especially alert, aware and defensive on days when conditions are not ideal.

Always obey traffic warnings and stay off the roads when directed; however, if you do find yourself on the road when hazards are heightened, here are a few safe driving tips to keep in mind.

Headlights and Hazard Lights

We all know to put our headlights on when it gets dark, but they should also be used during adverse weather conditions. In fact, many states require headlights to be on whenever wipers are in use. Studies show that driving with your car’s headlights on all the time can reduce fatal frontal crashes by 10%.

Low beams are more effective in the rain and fog. The light from high-beam headlights bounces off water and reflects back at you, further diminishing your visibility. Remember to also periodically check your headlights and clean the lenses. Clouded or yellow lenses can reduce the amount of lighting dispersed by nearly 80%.

In most cases, hazard lights should only be used during an emergency, such as if your car has broken down or you have to pull over to the side of the road. This helps warn other drivers of a temporary hazard. Using your hazard lights while driving on the other hand, can distract or confuse others on the road. Many states prohibit the use of hazards while driving. If you truly feel conditions warrant the need for hazard lights, consider stopping and waiting out the weather, as the low visibility may make driving too dangerous.

Slow Down, Move Over

First responders play a vital role in keeping drivers free from harm as well as ensuring that roadways are running as smoothly as possible. In order to do their job, they are often forced to work just a few feet away from speeding vehicles.

Slow down, move over laws aim to keep police officers, firefighters, roadside technicians and other first responders safe. These laws, versions of which exist in all 50 states, direct drivers approaching a vehicle with its emergency lights illuminated to exercise caution, slow down and, if possible, move over and away from the emergency vehicle.

When to Go Slow

Driving too fast under any condition is both dangerous and far too common. Roughly half of all drivers report going more than 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway, according to AAA’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index. In turn, speeding contributes to nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities.

When driving conditions become hazardous, such as in the case of storms or reduced visibility, driving slower becomes even more important. Traveling at a lower speed helps you control your vehicle, come to a stop more quickly and provides you with more response time. You should also increase your following distance in these conditions.

Even if driving conditions are ideal, certain situations call for reduced speeds, such as navigating winding roads. Tight turns are difficult to execute at higher speeds. You should also slow down when approaching a blind corner so you can react to oncoming traffic.

When to Stop Driving

Sometimes the best decision is not to drive at all. If conditions are too hazardous to drive safely, pull over and wait until the storm or other event is over. Rest areas are the best options. If you are forced to stop on the side of the road, pull off the road as far as possible, keep your seat belt fastened and turn your hazard lights on to ensure other drivers can see you.

Bad weather is not the only reason to stop. If you feel drowsy, find a safe place to park and take a break. Sleep deprivation slows reaction time, decreases accuracy of responses and leads to long lapses in attention. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drivers who lack adequate sleep have significantly elevated crash rates, and that the estimated crash risk associated with driving with only four to five hours of sleep is similar to the risk of driving with a blood alcohol concentration equal to or slightly above the legal limit of 0.08.

Visit AAA.com for more driver safety tips.

How to Vet a General Contractor

Thanks to TikTok and YouTube, it takes less than 10 minutes for a homeowner to learn how to replace a toilet, install a window or build a secret passageway behind the bookcase in the living room.

If only it were that easy to hire a general contractor.

It takes time to find the right fit for a major home renovation project. But hiring a contractor without thoroughly vetting them first is like giving a complete stranger a wad of $100 bills and hoping they come back with groceries.

You might think it would get awkward as you pepper a prospective builder with questions about his or her work history and safety practices, but there are answers you deserve to know before any money changes hands.

Hesitance or reluctance to answer your questions is also a sign that you might be dealing with an unscrupulous crew. Start with these questions as you embark on your quest to find the right contractor for your home renovation project.

What can you tell me about your company?

While internet reviews of a company can be helpful, they could also be written by employees or rival businesses. Give the company a fair shake by meeting with the owner or project manager. Ask for a few customer testimonials, preferably something recent and another from a few years back. Ask how long the company has been in business and find out if the company is a member of the area chamber of commerce.

Can I see your license?

Ask for proof that the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured. If a contractor is unable to produce these documents, do not hire them. That is not a risk you want to take.

The contractor should have both general liability insurance, for damage to your home, and workers compensation insurance, in case a worker gets hurt on your property. If the contractor does not have insurance, you could be held liable for damage to the house or an injury to a worker. Your homeowners insurance might pay the claim, but that could result in higher rates or make it difficult for you to get insurance in the future.

How much?

Obviously, price plays an important role in the contractor you choose, but don’t let it be the only factor. What you want is someone who can do quality work at a fair price. Seek at least three bids and ask each company to provide an itemized list of expenses so you can see exactly how your money will be spent. Confirm that the list accounts for every aspect of the project, including building permits and trash removal. Homeowners can also use resources like HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide to view the average price of what other homeowners have paid for similar projects in your area.

Can you give me a timeline?

Unexpected issues might come up, but an experienced contractor should be able to give you a timeline for the job. Ask for firm start and end dates and make sure they account for change orders and cleanup, too. If you decide to hire the company, verify that the dates are included in a formal legal document. You should also establish how the contractor would contact you — and vice versa — during the workday, after hours and when you need to make a decision.

What permits are required?

In most states, building permits are required for everything from demolishing a wall and changing a window to replacing a roof and installing a fence. A permit is essentially an agreement that the builder will adhere to construction codes. The contractor should offer to pull all the necessary permits for the job, which will save you time and the headache of answering complicated questions from the building inspector. If a contractor gives you a hard time about the permits, consider someone else.

Who will be in my home?

Big projects take time, and during those days or weeks, workers may be inside your home when you are not. If the contractor is not the foreman who will run the project, ask to meet that person and make sure it’s someone you trust in your home when you are not there. Ask what an average work day is like and if they will have other projects going on while working on yours. It is not unreasonable to ask for a set schedule of the hours they plan to work as well as regular progress reports as the project moves along.

Do you stand by your work?

Ask what kind of warranty the contractor provides for his or her work. Insist on a written warranty — rather than a verbal agreement — for parts and labor. An average warranty for labor is a minimum of one year, according to HomeAdvisor. Many contractors will visit your home six months after the project is complete to fix anything that has gone wrong. Some will visit again in a year.

What is your payment schedule?

This will likely depend on the size of your project. For smaller jobs, where the contractor and homeowner have agreed on an hourly charge or fixed fee, it is normal for the payments to be made upon completion. For larger projects, the contractor should provide a detailed payment plan (known as a draw schedule). The draw schedule lists when payments will be due based on when certain phases of the project have been completed. Be leery of a contractor who asks for a huge advance to begin the project. For large jobs, contractors typically require a down payment of 10%, according to HomeAdvisor. Never pay more than 50%. Never pay with cash, either. A check or credit card is a much better option.

With these questions answered, you should be able to make an informed decision about the contractor you want to make your home renovation project a beautiful reality. Of course, before you sign anything, make sure everything you agreed upon is in writing in the contract.

Have a question about how a home renovation project could affect your insurance? Go to AAA.com/Insurance.

Unconventional Coffee Drinks in the Northeast

A good cup of coffee is subjective. Some prefer it black, while others chant “extra, extra” like old-time paper boys when placing their orders. The fact is we might not all agree on how to take our coffee, but we certainly have no shortage of options to argue over in the Northeast. From exceptionally fresh coffee roasteries to nitro brew on tap, we have it all – but this one’s for the paper boys.

These coffee drinks go way beyond just cream and sugar. Some even push the boundary of what can still be considered coffee. And that’s just how we like it.

Banana Split Latte

Find it at: The Nook Coffeehouse

East Greenwich, R.I.

Don’t be fooled – this isn’t your average banana-flavored latte. Here, the banana split latte has the advantage of a multidimensional flavor profile thanks to black sesame tahini, which perfectly balances the would-be overpowering and sweet banana syrup. What’s left is a smokey, nutty and almost bananas foster-like taste that keeps you sipping until the last drop.

Beetlejuice Brew

Find it at: Mykonos Cafe & Bakery

Millbury, Mass.

Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. That’s us ordering this drink over and over again. Made with rich mocha syrup, iced coffee and mint cold foam, it’s reminiscent of grasshopper ice cream, but better, because caffeine. Although it’s a limited-time special made for the new movie sequel, Mykonos Cafe has plenty of creative offerings to choose from like the Teddy Graham Cold Brew, Honey-Bee Latte and even Cadbury Cream Cold Brew. Pair your drink with a yummy treat out of the well-stocked dessert case, and you’ve got yourself a perfect morning.

Butterfly Pea Latte

Find it at: Remi43 Flower & Coffee

New York City

This beautifully blue latte is right at home among the floral dreamland that is Remi43, a cafe and flower shop in one. With its subtle earthy flavor, butterfly pea flower is more often used in tea brews but creates a well-rounded profile when used with espresso. Besides its striking color, butterfly pea flower is also known for being anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

Ice Spice Latte

Find it at: Presto Strange O

Warwick, R.I.

Like the rapper it’s named after, this latte is a fan favorite. It’s got a lot going on: Three base flavors – pumpkin, gingerbread and cookie butter – mixed and generously topped with whipped cream, cinnamon and caramel drizzle. But everything comes together harmoniously under its piled-high dome lid. The creativity doesn’t stop there: Presto Strange O also has themed lattes for each zodiac sign offered during their month, like the Age of Aquarius latte, comprised of pistachio and honey flavors with salted honey cold foam on top.

Find it at: Riposo Coffee Roasters

Rumson, N.J.

A tribute to the almond-flavored Italian dessert, the rainbow cookie latte from Riposo Coffee Roasters has the taste down to a science: Espresso shaken with chocolate and almond syrup blanketed with raspberry almond cold foam and topped with cocoa powder and an actual rainbow cookie. Perfection is hard to achieve, but this might be it.

Spumoni Latte

Find it at: Over Easy Kitchen & Espresso Bar

Marlboro, N.J.

Coffee and ice cream were just made for each other. Our evidence? Affogatos, actual coffee ice cream, and this spumoni latte. Offered seasonally, this latte is created with a blend of pistachio, strawberry and mocha flavored syrups and includes two shots of espresso and green and pink cold foam on top. For the fall, they’re whipping up a Pumpkin Pie Chai made with pumpkin syrup and chai tea topped with pumpkin spice cold foam and turbinado sugar.

Taro Latte

Find it at: RaonJena Coffee & Dessert

Glastonbury, Conn.

Taro, a root vegetable native to Southeast Asia, takes center stage in this latte from RaonJena Coffee & Dessert. Although seemingly unorthodox to pair coffee with something that closely resembles a potato, taro has a unique flavor that is often described as nutty and even vanilla-like. Naturally purple-hued, taro also makes the latte an eye-catching shade of lavender. Available hot or iced.

Which extra coffee drinks did we miss? Let us know in the comments!

Cruising Solo? You’re Not Alone!

It used to be one was the loneliest number at sea – and you paid a price for it! But today, solo cruising has never been more welcoming or affordable.

The solo cruising trend started making waves years ago, but post-pandemic it turned into a tsunami. Modern sensibilities coupled with an urge to see the world without delay, even if that means going it alone, have altered the horizon for travelers who rightly view cruising as an easy way to strike out on a solo trip. Embracing the trend, cruise lines have responded with new-builds and retrofitted ships to accommodate solo passengers.

Book a cruise with AAA Travel.

Solo Cruising

Bear in mind, a solo cruise isn’t the same as a singles cruise. Those embarking all by their lonesome aren’t necessarily looking for love. In fact, many are married, so it’s a misconception to even assume solo cruisers are single. The trend also spans different age groups.

However, aside from wanderlust, you can count on one common denominator among travelers: Nobody likes the dreaded “single supplement” – cruise lingo for the surcharge an individual incurs when occupying ship cabins traditionally built for two paying passengers. This fee can be as much as 100% of the per-person fare, which basically amounts to solo cruisers footing the bill for phantom cabinmates. For some, it’s a gangway bridge too far.

solo cruising lounge — Solo Lounge on Norwegian Epic.

Norwegian Solo Cruises Set the Bar

Norwegian Cruise Line deserves kudos for recognizing the solo trend early and doubling down on it. All the line’s latest ships feature a complex of studio cabins purpose-built for solo cruisers, alleviating the need for single supplements. Equally noteworthy, the cabins are clustered around an exclusive, key-entry Studio Lounge that provides a social gathering place for solo cruisers and perks such as complimentary snacks, cocktail hours and a host to help organize activities.

For solo cruisers concerned about feeling left out or lonely, the setup delivers a surefire safety net. Plus, the studios’ chic design (think mood lighting, integrated furnishings and smart storage) adds a certain cachet. These are thoughtful spaces, not throwaway areas with individual cabins squeezed in. Still, all studios are inside accommodations (some with corridor windows or virtual portholes that reveal exterior views via LED screens). And, they always sell out fast.

The popularity of its studios prompted Norwegian to up the ante this year with the introduction of solo staterooms, including ocean view and balcony categories, across its entire fleet. When announcing the new options, in addition to its own data, the cruise line cited mind-blowing stats, including a Radical Storage study reporting a 267% increase in online searches for “solo travel” between 2020 and 2022.

solo cruising - celebrity — Infinite veranda on Celebrity Beyond.

More Cruise Lines With Solo Cabins

Norwegian isn’t the only line rolling out the welcome mat. Cunard used a multimillion-dollar refurbishment to add solo staterooms. Most adorn its flagship, Queen Mary 2, which sails regularly from a local homeport in New York.

Holland America prides itself on a hospitable record concerning solo cruisers, pointing to inclusive activities (even soirees with professional dance partners) and now purpose-built solo cabins on the newest pinnacle-class ships.

Celebrity boasts a perfect upward graph for increasing solo spaces, some sporting the line’s innovative “infinite veranda” (a retractable wall-to-wall window that transforms the entire living area into a veranda).

Elevating the luxe quotient, Oceania’s latest ships feature perk-laden, concierge-level solo veranda staterooms. Oceania also added solo staterooms to four older ships.

Even family-focused Royal Caribbean touts solo cabins. Some connect to standard staterooms, producing a perfect granny-suite. Princess jumped on the trend, too. Sun Princess, which launched this year, is the first in its fleet designed with solo cabins.

Riverboats rarely contain solo cabins, but American Queen Voyages does offer a few. On the other hand, riverboats, expedition vessels and luxury lines tend to be the best bet for reduced or even waived single supplement deals. Usually, these smaller ships also provide included shore excursions, always a great way for solo cruisers to safely explore destinations with others and bond over the shared experiences.

solo cruise - spa — The spa on the Norwegian Bliss.

The Perks of Going on a Cruise Alone

The crux of cruising’s appeal to solo travelers is that it delivers the best of both worlds. You can travel independently, but amid the security of a larger group. The cruise line handles logistics, so the ship becomes a familiar touchstone while discovering unfamiliar destinations. Once you pick an itinerary. They facilitate the big stuff, and you fine-tune the experience.

Since you’re traveling solo, that means consulting a party of exactly one … you! No negotiating different schedules and opinions when deciding what to do. Enjoy guilt-free freedom to pursue personal interests, try new things on a whim or just do nothing at all. The independence can be self-enlightening.

Onboard, dip in and out of activities. Looking for sublime me-time? Enrichment lectures, spa treatments and endless sea-gazing await. Want more interaction or maybe a thrill? Join classes on anything from mixology and music to yoga and scuba diving. Or, on the biggest boats, try skydiving, go-kart racing, ziplining and more. Along the way you’ll meet like-minded passengers if you’re interested in socializing.

Cruising even makes dining – a stressor for some solos – easy. While you can opt to eat alone, both traditional dining (at an assigned table with the same people at the same time every night) and anytime dining (at whenever, wherever, with whomever) allow you to sit with others. Simply ask to join a large table. Plus, some specialty restaurants promise a communal vibe. You’ll find chef’s tables, teppanyaki and meal experiences that unfold like shows. For example, Celebrity’s Le Petit Chef utilizes 3D table animation to take diners on a culinary romp. Many lines facilitate group tables for solo cruisers, too.

Usually there are solo meetups and some solo-specific programming, such as a group pub crawl. Technology has eased the way for solo cruisers as well, with online forums to connect passengers prior to departing.

A solo cruise can be deliciously self-indulgent and so rewarding. You’ll feel empowered, having conquered a bit of the world on your own. If you’re unsure at first, don’t fret. Cruises are friendly. You’re on a one-of-a-kind experience, but you’re all in the same boat.

Did you know your AAA membership grants you access to your own travel team? Plan your cruise with the help of a trusted AAA travel advisor. Call 866-423-5585 to start planning today!

Basic Car Maintenance 101

Proper car care can improve your vehicle’s performance, keep you safe on the road and save you significant amounts of money.

We’ve rounded up our top car maintenance tips to help you get started.

Washing and Waxing

Keeping your car’s exterior in good condition isn’t just aesthetically pleasing. Regular washing can help maintain the vehicle and keep its value, thus saving you money now and earning you more money later should you try to resell it. Once your car is clean, you’ll want to keep it that way. Waxing forms a protective coat over the paint, which will help repel road grime, bird droppings and tree sap.

Here are a few tips to properly wash and wax your car:

Move your car out of direct sunlight and make sure it is not hot to the touch.

Get the vehicle good and wet to wash off any accumulated dirt, grime and other debris.

Use a dedicated car wash soap, not hand or dish soap that can strip off the car’s protective wax.

Use the two-bucket method. One bucket will have the clean, soapy water, and the other is where you’ll drop the dirty water.

Dry your car with a microfiber cloth. Once dry, spread a small amount of wax onto your cloth or pad. Then apply it to the car using a circular motion and steady pressure. Work the wax into the paint until it’s completely absorbed.

To buff, use a clean towel or microfiber cloth, gently buff the paint until you get the shine you’re looking for. This step ensures that the wax fully bonds with the paint.

And though you’re focusing on the exterior, don’t forget to get around to cleaning the car’s interior as well.

Headlights

Unless the bulb burns out, headlights are probably the last thing you think about when it comes to car maintenance. But headlights can begin to deteriorate after as little as three years. AAA research found that deteriorated headlights produce only 22% of the light output (low beam) that new, original headlights provide.

AAA recommends routinely checking headlights for discoloration, such as a yellowed or cloudy appearance. If it’s difficult to see the bulb through the lens, have the headlights replaced or restored as soon as possible.

Battery Maintenance

Most of the roadside assistance calls AAA Northeast receives are for battery issues. But many of these issues can be avoided with proper car maintenance. These tips can help to keep your car battery in top shape and ensure you don’t get stuck in your tracks.

Drive your car for at least 30 minutes once per week to maintain a full state of charge. Shorter drives can discharge the vehicle battery over time.

Battery terminals require regular removal and cleaning in many environments. Periodically disconnecting the car battery to clean its terminals with water, baking soda and a specialized terminal cleaning brush can help extend its life.

If you accidentally drain the battery and need a jump-start, your battery needs to be recharged properly on a battery charger, likely for several hours or more. Years ago, we may have let a car run for an hour or so to recharge the battery, but this will not properly recharge batteries in today’s cars, and you will likely find yourself stuck again with a no-start after turning the car off. There is no set amount of time that can be relied upon to recharge a battery by running its engine. Trust AAA Car Battery Service to test your battery and charging system, or anytime you need a jump.

All car batteries will eventually die. The average battery life in the Northeast is between three to five years. As they age, batteries should be checked yearly, ideally before cold temperatures hit.

Oil and Fuel

Your car needs several different fluids to run. Two of the most prominent are fuel and oil.

You may not give much thought to the gas you put in your car, but there are numerous types of fuel available. Choosing the right one can improve your vehicle performance and potentially help the environment. Opting for the wrong one can seriously damage your car.

In the past, it was recommended to change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles; however, today’s engines are built to go 5,000 miles or more between oil changes. To get the proper schedule for your car, refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation in the vehicle owner’s manual.

Regardless of how often you need to change your oil, you should still check the vehicle’s oil levels every month. Fortunately, checking your oil is one of the more basic car maintenance tasks.

Here’s how you do it:

Make sure the engine is cold or has been turned off for at least 10 minutes.

Locate the dipstick, which will have a hook or ring on it, and pull it out. Wipe off any oil with a clean, lint-free rag so you can see the markings.

Put the dipstick back in place and pull right back out again and look at the markings.

If the oil reaches the high line where it says full, then you’re all set. If it’s down at the bottom line, then you’re running low and need to add oil. Add oil until the level is up to the full or safe mark without overfilling.

Tires

Tires are the only parts of the car that touch the road, so their importance cannot be overstated. A tire that is worn down or not properly inflated could have disastrous effects on the roadways. Additionally, proper tires – in good condition – improve your car’s fuel efficiency, which will save you money.

A few things to consider when checking your tires:

Take a good look at each tire to see if there are any visible signs of damage. These include tears, bulges, bumps or wayward nails stuck into the tread.

Check tire pressure and use the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure as your guideline.

Keep a close eye on tire pressure when the outside temperature shifts. As a rule of thumb, when the temperature drops 10 degrees your car’s tires can lose between one-half and one pound of air pressure. Add or reduce the air in your tires to stay at the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Check tire tread by using a quarter. If the tread does not touch the top of Washington’s head, then you have less than 4/32 inch of tread and your tire should be replaced.

Have an electric car? Get tips on how to keep it in top shape on AAA’s EV Platform.

If you have any other basic car maintenance questions, ask our Car Doctor John Paul. Or you can always head to a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility and leave your car needs to the pros.

AAA members can save on automotive replacement parts and accessories at NAPA.

Charming Small Towns in the Mid-Atlantic – That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Luray, Virginia

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

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Thurmont, Maryland

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