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IN THIS EPISODE

Ever feel lost in a maze of insurance jargon? Relax, we’ve got you covered!

AAA insurance specialists Emily Buckley and Brad Ferris are here to talk about insurance basics. From unraveling the mysteries of umbrella insurance to nailing down how much life coverage you actually need, let the pros guide you with this insurance 101 crash course.

Plus, the inside scoop on getting the best renewal rates, vehicles that are a breeze to insure and surprising truths about renters insurance for first-time renters that could save you big.

When it comes to protecting your world, knowledge is power. Listen now for information you can use!

To learn more about your coverage options with AAA, head to AAA.com/Insurance.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

[2:41] – What is umbrella insurance and why might you need it?
[6:47] – Breaking down renters insurance for beginners.
[11:20] – What are the different types of insurance? We discuss life insurance, annuities, and common insurance myths.
[16:55] – Can you claim it? We explore why is homeowners insurance important by covering different real-world scenarios.

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TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:02]
Amanda Greene: So, my husband and I were chatting while we were cleaning up dinner the other night, and I took my rings off to wash some pots and pans that couldn’t go in the dishwasher. After I was done, I went to go put my rings back on, and I dropped my engagement ring in the sink as the water was going down the drain. My heart stopped, but thankfully I was able to grab the ring before it swirled down. It did make me wonder though, am I even covered if my ring gets lost? I think so, but not with really any confidence. That’s the thing with insurance. I have some, but I think it is time I dig a little deeper.

Welcome to Merging Into Life, where we navigate life’s milestones one episode at a time, brought to you by AAA Northeast. I’m your host, Amanda Greene. Today, we’re talking about all things insurance, umbrella, life, car, annuity. I didn’t even really know what that was until today, but I promise you this won’t be a lecture on what you should have done, or a huge downer imagining all the things that can go wrong, because this is something that can bring peace of mind when you do it right.

Now, before we dive in, we want to mention that though our guests in this episode are offering us some great expert insight, conditions vary from state to state and person to person. You should always remember to check how this advice applies to your situation with your insurance carrier.

With that being said, today, I have two guests who, when it comes to insurance, they’ve got you covered. They’re going to guide us through what we need, how to approach it, and what insurance really brings you, because it’s all about building a safety net for you and the people you love. First, I’d like you to meet Emily Buckley.

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[00:01:50]
Emily Buckley: I am an assistant sales manager here at AAA Northeast.

[00:01:54]
Amanda Greene: So what kind of insurance do you deal with?

[00:01:56]
Emily Buckley: Car, home, umbrella, boat. Basically anything you can operate or live in, we can insure it.

[00:02:02]
Amanda Greene: So, at what point in our lives should we consider thinking about these kinds of insurance?

[00:02:08]
Emily Buckley: I like to say whenever you have something like your first car that’s strictly in your name where you are financially responsible for it, that would be I would say arguably the first time you should think about it. And then anytime you buy a home, anytime you have something that could potentially put you at risk to get sued for all your worth, is really the time to start thinking about that sort of thing.

[00:02:28]
Amanda Greene: Wow. So when do we start to amass financial value of any sort?

[00:02:32]
Emily Buckley: The thing with insurance is we buy it so that we don’t have to use it. So it’s protection in case the worst-case scenario happens.

[00:02:39]
Amanda Greene: Earlier you mentioned a few different types of insurance.

[00:02:43]
Emily Buckley: So, an umbrella, if you want to use your hands as an example, you have your auto in one hand, you have your home in your other hand, and then the umbrella will cover both of them. Just like with rain, umbrella insurance will cover everything. In case anybody tries to sue you for all your worth, it is in denominations of a million, usually the minimum is a million. And you will have that extend over a really bad car accident, somebody gets very badly injured, or if you have somebody who trips and falls on your property. I mean, there’s a plethora of reasons why people would want an umbrella policy, so yes, umbrella insurance is worth it.

[00:03:13]
Amanda Greene: Is that something that would cover you if you were injured and out of work?

[00:03:18]
Emily Buckley: No. Umbrellas are really strictly third-party liability. When we say third-party, I know it sounds scary, but all it means is other people. So it means not you personally or people.

[00:03:27]
Amanda Greene: Someone else?

[00:03:28]
Emily Buckley: Exactly.

[00:03:29]
Amanda Greene: That feels like an ultimate protection.

[00:03:32]
Emily Buckley: Oh, for sure. I know more often than not, people say if you’re a homeowner, you want to have an umbrella, but I think that anybody who owns a car should have an umbrella policy, anybody who wants to make sure that their livelihood is protected.

[00:03:44]
Amanda Greene: What sort of things do we need to think about before we meet with an agent?

[00:03:47]
Emily Buckley: First, think about net worth. If you were to have a situation where you had to forego everything  – your home, your cars, everything like that  – what is the dollar value? And that’s really what you should be insuring for liability-wise. That’s why umbrellas are more often important.

I live in New York. New York is expensive. And I live on Long Island, and it’s one of the more expensive places to live. And the average cost of a home out here is definitely north of $500,000. So, if your underlying policy’s only insuring you for that much, you want to make sure that you have that excess liability policy to protect above and beyond that. So insuring your value, that’s one of the first things you want to think about.

AAA Insurance Guide

[00:04:26]
Amanda Greene: So, that would fall under umbrella. What about auto policies?

[00:04:31]
Emily Buckley: You want to think about deductible-wise, if you get into an accident and your car gets damaged, how much do you want to pay out if something were to happen, or do you even deem this vehicle worth it to cover it for physical damage? Oftentimes, because people will say to me all the time when I’m quoting them or what have you, I’ll say, “What deductibles do you currently carry?” And they’ll say, “Oh, I don’t know. Give me what you think.” And I’m like, “Well, it’s a personal question, are you willing to pay $500? Are you willing to pay $1, 000? Do you want to self-insure a little bit more and have maybe even a $2,500 deductible?” It’s your call financially. You know at the end of the day what you can afford.

[00:05:08]
Amanda Greene: I like to take out a little bit more so that I pay less out of pocket when something, God forbid, happens.

[00:05:15]
Emily Buckley: Same here. I don’t want to have that financial burden on me, because everybody has an emergency fund, I would hope, but you don’t want to be in a position where you find out, “Oh my gosh, my emergency fund was not sufficient, and now I’m at a position that I have to save up for this loss.” I mean, this is why we purchased the insurance, so that we don’t have these oh-my-gosh moments of “I’m not covered” or “I don’t have enough coverage.”

[00:05:39]
Amanda Greene: There are so many options when it comes to choosing an insurance company. What should someone even look for when choosing an insurance carrier?

[00:05:46]
Emily Buckley: I would say that one of the main things you should look at when you’re looking to move forward with an insurance company is their financial responsibility. If something really awful were to happen, another Hurricane Sandy happens, another massive hurricane, tsunami, anything along those lines occurs, will that insurance company be solvent enough to pay out all the claims and still be above water? And the best way to do that is AM Best, it’s one of those unbiased rating companies that will determine their customer service value, their financial responsibility, their money in the bank and so on and so forth. You want to look for a company that’s usually, I would say, A-rated or higher.

[00:06:22]
Amanda Greene: What are some common things that you see people get wrong, or maybe they misunderstand when it comes to insurance?

[00:06:29]
Emily Buckley: There’s something called loss of use, technically coverage D. Loss of use covers you if, let’s say, we’ll use renters for this example, something occurs in the apartment building and you’re not able to live there and it’s a covered loss. So, there was a fire, something along those lines. They’ll give you money to go live somewhere else. Think about any situation where you move to a new location and you don’t have family and friends to fall back on. And if a fire happens in your building, where do you go? You have to all of a sudden now pay for a hotel in an area that you’re not familiar with. So, loss of use is huge, in my opinion.

[00:07:05]
Amanda Greene: And that is not something that just comes with renters insurance. That’s its own separate policy?

[00:07:10]
Emily Buckley: It comes with the renters insurance, but oftentimes people will allow for a minimum on that, because they don’t see the value in it. They see they are only getting minimum coverage on the content, let’s say $20,000, and think “I’m only going to need $4,000 for loss of use.” $4,000 is going to cover you for how long? Especially in New York City, Boston, not a lot.

[00:07:30]
Amanda Greene: The way you’re talking, I’m surprised people really even understand the policies to begin with. Actually, I lived on Long Island in New York for college, and I took out renters insurance. I couldn’t tell you what I took out, I just knew it was something I was supposed to do, so I did it. I was like, “Check it off the list.”

[00:07:46]
Emily Buckley: Oh, yeah.

[00:07:46]
Amanda Greene: … I did the renter’s insurance. Not sure what it’s going to do for me, but I bought it.”

[00:07:50]
Emily Buckley: Yep. Or the landlord requires it, or your college or whoever you’re renting from, they might say, “Oh, you need to have this.” And you’re just thinking, “This is compulsory because the landlord needs it, not because I should have it.” Right?

[00:08:02]
Amanda Greene: Right.

[00:08:02]
Emily Buckley: That’s a common misconception for sure.

[00:08:07]
Amanda Greene: How about this: Does the kind of car you drive affect your auto insurance premiums?

[00:08:12]
Emily Buckley: 100%, because at the end of the day, insurance is statistical. They don’t just look at a person, an individual, a situation and say, “Hey, we’re going to charge them that because we feel like it.” There’s a reason.

[00:08:22]
Amanda Greene: According to Emily, insurance companies set rates based on a bunch of factors. And that can include things like who’s covered, how long they’ve been driving in their driving record, the cost of repairs for your car and the type of coverage you’re looking to get.

[00:08:36]
Emily Buckley: You want to make sure that every time you shop around, you’re putting yourself in the best position to shop around. Pay your bills on time so your credit is good, make sure that you stay with the insurance companies at least three to five years so that you look like a loyal client.

[00:08:49]
Amanda Greene: I feel like I’ve seen insurance companies offer a deal if I switch before my renewal. Is that a thing, if I shop in advance?

[00:08:57]
Emily Buckley: Often insurance companies, they’ll give you something called an early shopping discount, usually about seven to eight days in advance of your renewal. It depends on the insurance company, but it’s a good thing to know about, because you don’t want to wait and think, “Oh, I’m just doing this because it’s on my to-do list, my renewal’s tomorrow.” No, give yourself a little bit of time so that they can, one, do their due diligence when it comes to shopping around, but also make sure that you are getting the right discounts, credits, everything like that on that insurance policy.

[00:09:21]
Amanda Greene: Good info. I once again have more homework to do, every conversation I have here on this podcast.

[00:09:27]
Emily Buckley: But hey, hopefully you get cheaper insurance rates next time.

[00:09:30]
Amanda Greene: Well, I hope so. It would be nice to know my things are taken care of, but what about insuring me?

[00:09:36]
Brad Ferris: So, there is this misconception that everyone has in their own little way, where life insurance is more like death insurance. So I think people tend to look at it in that negative light, which is also part of why people don’t want to talk about it in general. But it’s not death insurance, it truthfully is life insurance.

[00:09:55]
Amanda Greene: That’s Brad Ferris. He’s a life insurance and annuity agent with AAA Northeast. Okay. So Brad, you are an expert in a subject that I know nothing to very little about. And it feels like a very serious topic and an important topic to get right. So I would love to start off with what is life insurance, and what are the most common types?

[00:10:19]
Brad Ferris: There are two types of life insurance that people generally tend to go towards. There’s what’s referred to as term insurance, and then there’s permanent. Term insurance is, as the name says, is for a term, a period of time. This is really common. People will use this to cover, say the balance on their mortgages, if they have loans of some kind, if they have children that they want to put through school – those bigger face-value obligations. People can take care of those because they’re time-bound. So, if you have a mortgage that will be paid off in, say 20 years, you could have a 20-year policy for the value of your mortgage that protects it, provided obviously nothing happens to you.

And then there’s what is referred to as permanent insurance, which is a policy that is meant to last somewhat indefinitely. If you live to be 120, regardless of what age you started the policy at, it’s going to pay out. It’s also a little different from term because it’s not strictly a death benefit kind of a thing, where in the event that someone passes, it pays out. It also has a similar to a savings-account aspect to it as well. So, while it does function as insurance – that in the event someone passes, it pays out – on a tax-free basis, it aggregates cash value that accumulates over time, which you can then use pretty much at your discretion. It’s similar to an unstructured loan as opposed to say, going to the bank where you need to apply for it, they run your credit score, things like that. If you’ve amassed these funds over time, you can use them at your discretion.

[00:11:47]
Amanda Greene: So, a term life insurance is like a safety net to make sure that if something happened to the spouse, that they would be able to continue paying their mortgage, continue paying tuition and bills and keep their life maybe a little more comfortable. But the other, the permanent life insurance, is not that necessarily?

[00:12:05]
Brad Ferris: Absolutely. And safety net, I think is definitely the right phrase to use. This kind of a thing in the industry where it’s almost referred to as death insurance instead of life insurance, is because in that specific instance, yes, it is exactly to protect against those horrible events that may happen in an untimely way.

[00:12:21]
Amanda Greene: I find this all very interesting, because I love feeling the safety of being covered, and I guess investment is the wrong word, but it does feel like just a good place to put your money to feel taken care of. I hear a word all the time in the life insurance world, and I have no idea what it means: annuity. What is that?

[00:12:39]
Brad Ferris: Yes. So an annuity, in some senses, it’s a retirement vehicle. In some senses it could almost be looked at as a bond alternative, for a bank, like a certificate of deposit. So what it is, it’s a way to guarantee growth in a vehicle without having market exposure. So, there are people who, they don’t want to worry about the ups and downs of their market, they want to still have some kind of growth. So, what people will do is, they’ll take some funds from their 401( k), some funds that they just have on the side, and they say, “Well, I love the idea of being in the market, that’s where I can generate the most returns, but I don’t want to be susceptible to risk. So I can have funds that grow in a more conservative way, but protect against loss.”

[00:13:22]
Amanda Greene: And so does this fall under the life insurance umbrella?

[00:13:26]
Brad Ferris: It does.

[00:13:29]
Amanda Greene: Are there any other myths that you hear within your office that you want to debunk, something you hear a lot and you’re like, “People are getting this wrong all the time”?

[00:13:37]
Brad Ferris: Oh, yeah. There is a huge misnomer, which is that if you have insurance through your work, that that means that you are all set. People say, “Oh, I have this insurance, I have that insurance.” And all of those things are wonderful. A problem that exists with life insurance specifically is that people assume that if they leave their job, that they can keep it. That’s usually not the case. If you leave, if you’re fired, if you even retire, that does not mean that you get to take it with you. There are health insurance policies that you can take with you under laws that were made back in the ’80s that allow for that to happen, but that’s not the case with life insurance.

[00:14:12]
Amanda Greene: And the policy is probably much lower than it would be if you went out and sought it on your own?

[00:14:19]
Brad Ferris: You will always be able to get more independently. Usually, what ends up happening from what you get through your work, if it’s not your income exactly, it’s a multiple of your income, maybe two or three years of salary so to speak, approximate earnings. Or it’s a flat rate, which then is irrelevant to what you make a year. So you would then have to toe that line, be at their discretion.

[00:14:40]
Amanda Greene: So many factors that have never crossed my mind. Thank you so much, Brad. That was Brad Ferris. And before we go, it’s time for our pop quiz, and today it’s a special little game show called Can You Claim It? Let’s bring back Emily Buckley as our contestant. I’m going to give you some examples, and you can tell us whether or not this is something you can claim.

[00:15:05]
Emily Buckley: Love it.

[00:15:06]
Amanda Greene: Are you ready?

[00:15:06]
Emily Buckley: I am ready. I will give a disclaimer though, I am not a claims adjuster. So I’m giving you general responses, but technically I’m not allowed to say you are 100% covered. I will give you the yes or the no and why.

[00:15:18]
Amanda Greene: So, let’s say you’re driving one night and a deer comes out of nowhere and you hit it. You’re okay, but the car is not. Can you claim it?

[00:15:26]
Emily Buckley: Yes, if you have physical damage coverage. Specifically comprehensive coverage, which is super inexpensive because oftentimes it also comes with full glass coverage. The full glass is what would kick in if the deer hit the windshield, if it damaged the front of the car. The deer hitting the vehicle, if it’s a moving object that it’s hitting, that would be something covered by comprehensive subject to the deductible that you select.

[00:15:46]
Amanda Greene: That’s the only kind of car accident I’ve ever been in.

[00:15:49]
Emily Buckley: Really?

[00:15:49]
Amanda Greene: Me with a deer.

[00:15:50]
Emily Buckley: Oh, no. Was it late at night too?

[00:15:52]
Amanda Greene: Yeah.

[00:15:52]
Emily Buckley: That’s got to be so scary.

[00:15:52]
Amanda Greene: Well, seven o’clock, but in the winter, so it seems like it’s midnight, you know?

[00:15:57]
Emily Buckley: Yeah, for sure.

[00:15:58]
Amanda Greene: As kid, I was told a million times over, not to drive someone else’s car. Let’s say your friend grabs your car for an hour to run errands while theirs is in the shop, but they get into a fender bender. Can you claim it?

[00:16:11]
Emily Buckley: Yes, but not on your insurance policy, on your friend’s insurance policy. So there’s something called permissive use, which means that you give permission for somebody else to use your vehicle on an occasional basis. This definitely falls under that, and it would cover as if you were operating the vehicle. It’s basically you giving the okay for that person to be a temporary driver.

[00:16:29]
Amanda Greene: Okay, picture it: You wake up after a wonderful night’s sleep, and your first cup of coffee that morning is especially delicious, you are having the best day. Then you walk out the front door with a spring in your step, and your car’s been stolen. Can you claim it?

[00:16:47]
Emily Buckley: Yes, if you have comprehensive, that’s physical damage coverage, because technically, if they were to steal the vehicle, it’s subject to the deductible on the policy. So, yep.

[00:16:55]
Amanda Greene: What a feeling. Icky.

[00:16:58]
Emily Buckley: People don’t realize, these coverages are there, and you look at them and you think, “Oh goodness, I don’t need that. This car is old, I don’t care.” But if the car got stolen and you then didn’t have a vehicle to get to and from work, paying $ 500 is a lot cheaper than buying an entirely new vehicle.

[00:17:13]
Amanda Greene: Mm-hmm. Your beloved dog has a bad day and chews the neighbor’s fence. Can you claim it?

[00:17:19]
Emily Buckley: Yes, actually. So your homeowners insurance policy would extend coverage in that situation.

[00:17:24]
Amanda Greene: How about a severe storm hits while your mother-in-law is visiting, and a branch from your tree smashes her car parked in your driveway. Can you claim it?

[00:17:34]
Emily Buckley: No, technically, you wouldn’t put it through your insurance policy. She would have to file a claim through her insurance policy, and hopefully she has physical damage coverage because comprehensive would kick in there too.

[00:17:45]
Amanda Greene: That delicious-smelling candle that you spent way too much money on was knocked over on a trip to the fridge for a snack. You catch it before it gets totally out of control, but the couch and rug are ruined. Can you claim it?

[00:18:02]
Emily Buckley: So that’s a good one. And the reason why this is a good one is because homeowner policies or renters policies normally have higher deductibles than car policies. So in this case, yes, fire is a covered loss, but then you’d be subject to the deductible. So it depends on the value of the couch, depends on the value of the rug, I’d say, but yes.

[00:18:20]
Amanda Greene: And finally, you just finished a lovely meal with friends at your place, and while chatting and finishing the dishes, your wedding ring is sucked down the drain, can you claim it?

[00:18:33]
Emily Buckley: Yes, if that ring is scheduled on your homeowners insurance. So people, this is probably one of my favorite coverages to talk about. Scheduling a ring is when you call your insurance agent and say to them, “Hey, I want to cover my engagement ring. Here’s my appraisal. It’s valued at this.” Mysterious disappearance is often covered under those types of policies. And when I say mysterious disappearance, it sounds mischievous, but all it means is that you could lose it, and you would have that coverage extended. So yes, if you endorse that ring on your homeowners insurance policy, you would have the coverage to replace it.

[00:19:04]
Amanda Greene: Thank you, Emily, for coming on and sharing all of your expertise. You had a lot of hot tips.

[00:19:09]
Emily Buckley: Yeah. No, my pleasure.

[00:19:12]
Amanda Greene: Okay, after hearing all of that, there is no way my wedding ring is covered. I’ve never had it appraised, I’ve never talked to an insurance agent about it. And imagine if it had gone down the drain. I’m getting this thing insured ASAP. And until then, it’s my excuse for no dishes.

You’ve been listening to Merging Into Life, where we navigate life’s milestones one episode at a time, brought to you by AAA Northeast, with production assistance from JAR Audio. I’m your host, Amanda Greene. If you had anywhere as much fun as I did, follow us wherever you get your podcasts. And tell us what you think or leave a review. We would love to hear from you. Email podcast@aaanortheast.com. Talk to you next time.

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

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RESOURCES

Contact a AAA Insurance Agent

AAA Jewelry Insurance

AAA Insurance Guide

Understanding Umbrella Insurance

Insuring Engagement Rings and Expensive Gifts

Term vs. Whole Life Insurance: What Is the Difference?

6 Myths About Life Insurance You Probably Believe

Why Life Insurance Through Work Isn’t Enough

What Is an Income Annuity?

The Ins and Outs of Hurricane Insurance Deductibles

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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.

Although it had been around long before it was given a name, the term “soul food” was first coined in the mid-1960s when “soul” was often used to describe African American culture. Like soul music, it speaks to the hearts of those who consume it, but more than that, it is deeply rooted in tradition and history – an authenticity both soul food restaurants and home cooks strive to convey.

“Soul food/Southern cooking is the storytelling of the Black experience and one of the biggest expressions of Black cooking in America,” said chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson.

Not all Southern food is soul food. Descended from enslaved Africans in the South, soul food is a distinctly African American cuisine. It is one of several traditional Black cultural cooking styles, including Cajun, Creole and low country.

The recipes passed down through generations of African American families are a connection to the resilience and resourcefulness of their ancestors. Chitterlings, fried chicken, candied yams, braised collards and other staples of the soul food repertoire were developed in the kitchens of newly emancipated cooks making the most of what they had. Homegrown crops such as okra, sweet potatoes, greens and beans – most of which were brought to the South during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, were inexpensive and easily accessible, as were game and offal.

”There are a lot of game meats that get forgotten about when it comes to soul food, and they are also a huge part of the experience,” pointed out Samuelsson, who serves classics like pan-fried catfish with black-eyed peas, shrimp and grits and fried yardbird at his restaurant Red Rooster Harlem.” The genius of using neck bones and other parts of the animal is symbolic of a great and creative cook.”

True to the metaphor, you could say that instead of making lemonade from lemons, Black communities made red drinks (a soul food essential that also plays a symbolic role in Juneteenth celebrations).

A clear indication of good soul food is the ability to taste the love that goes into it. Delight in everything from cornbread to peach cobbler at these acclaimed Northeast soul food restaurants.

Sylvia’s Restaurant  

New York

Founded by the late Sylvia Woods, “the Queen of Soul Food,” in 1962, Sylvia’s Restaurant is a Harlem institution. Sylvia’s family continues her legacy, welcoming all walks of life into the restaurant and making them feel at home. Locals, tourists, celebrities, dignitaries and even former President Barack Obama have enjoyed its famous barbecue ribs, Carolina-style fried catfish and fried chicken.

Fellow Harlemite Samuelsson is also a fan. “Since the pandemic, many amazing and historical soul food restaurants have been forced to close,” he said. “A bright example of a soul food restaurant that has survived, and notably one of my favorites, is Sylvia’s in Harlem. Sylvia’s is going on 60 years and is a staple in our community.”

Visit on Gospel Sundays for brunch or Wednesdays for live music.

Delta’s

New Brunswick, N.J.

Delta’s celebrates the food, music and spirit of the South. High ceilings, exposed brick and lounge seating set the vibe.

The menu features soul standards like smothered chicken and pork chops, barbecue ribs and oxtails, mixed in with twists like a Southern-inspired steamed dumpling starter and mac-and-cheese crab rolls. Spinach dip lovers will appreciate Delta’s version made with collard greens. And for dessert, red velvet cake, banana pudding and sweet potato pie will send you off with a smile.

On weekends, the space is amplified by live bands and DJs. Take in the lively atmosphere at night with a signature cocktail or come and relax on Sunday for brunch.

Sandra’s Next Generation

New Haven, Conn.

While you’ll find all the usual soul foods on the menu at this cozy New Haven restaurant deliciously and lovingly prepared, the fried chicken is said to be among the best in New Haven.

Chef Sandra Pittman, who owns and operates Sandra’s Next Generation with her husband Miguel and family, has perfected her mother’s signature fried chicken recipe. Marinated in spices for fully saturated flavor, crispy and served hot, Colonel Sanders can’t even compete.

Fill up with the church plate, which allows you to choose an entree and four sides. All meals are complemented with cornbread that’s baked fresh each day.

Darryl’s Corner Bar and Kitchen

Boston

Come to this neighborhood spot to meet up with friends, hang out, sip on a cocktail and enjoy live music and entertainment.

Through different names and owners, the corner of Columbus Avenue has been a landmark for soul food for over six decades. Owner and Boston native Nia Grace has seen to it that the heritage endures at Darryl’s Corner Bar and Kitchen. As co-founder of the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition, she is also a champion of Black-owned restaurants in the city.

Start with the soul food tacos filled with fried chicken or catfish. For a sampling of all your favorites, get the chicken or catfish “Bob the Chef” meal (named for the location’s original restaurant) with your choice of two sides. On Sundays the restaurant offers a fixed-price, all-you-can eat buffet (reduced price for seniors and kids 6-12).

Based on your suggestions, we also recently visited Kin Southern Table + Bar in Providence, R.I. Check out our video and recommendations.

What soul food restaurants do you love? Tell us in the comments.

On average, American drivers spend nearly one hour behind the wheel each day. If you’re going to be anywhere for that long, let alone an enclosed space, you’re going to want to make sure it smells good. That’s a big part of what makes the demand for the best car air fresheners so high and the market for them worth millions of dollars.

The humble car air freshener has a unique origin story that dates back to the 1950s. Since then, the market has grown to include numerous different models and scents. Let’s take a look at some of the best air fresheners available today.

Prefer an audio summary of this post? Click below to listen to this article.

The History of the Car Air Freshener

In 1952, a man named Julius Sämann was living in the northern New York town of Watertown. One day he was having a conversation with his milkman, who complained about the bad smell spoiled milk left in his truck when the drink spilled.

Sämann was a German-Jewish chemist who fled his homeland and settled in upstate New York. There, he spent years studying the Canadian pine forests and extracting the aromatic oils from these trees. To solve his milk truck driver’s problem, Sämann combined the fragment smells of a Canadian pine tree with specialized blotter material and the first car air freshener was born. He gave his new product the shape of its inspiration: a pine tree.

Little Trees, as they’re known today, were an immediate hit and quickly began selling across the country and around the world. The air fresheners are still made in Watertown although the product line has grown quite a bit. Originally there were just three scents: Royal Pine, Spice and Bouquet. Now, there are more than 40 including Cotton Candy, Fresh Shave and New Car Scent.

Types of Car Air Fresheners

Like most things that have been around for 70 years, car air fresheners have evolved quite a bit. There are now vent clip-ons, visor attachments, sprays, air purifiers and more.

Cardboard

Cardboard air fresheners, like Little Trees, are made of specialized blotter material that slowly releases the fragrance. They are generally meant to hang from the rearview mirror but you can put them anywhere in the vehicle.

Clip-On

As the name implies, clip-on air fresheners clip on to your car’s air vents. The air then helps circulate the fragrant oils throughout the cabin. They work as long as air is passing through them. With most clip-ons, you can adjust the amount of scent that is released.

Plug-In

Plug-in air fresheners work in much the same matter as clip-ons except they do not require your car’s air to be on. Instead you plug the device in and it releases the scent itself.

Can

These cans have a fragrant gel or wax inside them. All you have to do is twist the lid to open the built-in vents. You can control the amount of scent being released by adjusting the size of the vent openings.

Spray

These are just like your household deodorizing sprays except specifically designed for your car. They are especially useful if the odor is coming from one particular area in the cabin.

The Best Air Freshener Scents

The most common scents include some version of Apple, Coconut, Lemon, Cherry and the always popular New Car Smell.

According to Little Trees, their best-selling scents are Black Ice, New Car Scent and Caribbean Colada. The company’s more unique fragrances include Fresh Shave, with notes of talcum powder and musk, Rainshine, a mix of dewy florals and earthy greens, and Celebrate!, a blend of vanilla cake and sweet buttercream frosting.

Yankee Candle, another major producer of car air fresheners, has popular scents Red Raspberry, Clean Cotton, Lilac Blossoms and Leather in its lineup.

Do you use air fresheners in your car? What is your favorite scent? Let us know in the comments below.

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

Before I visited Aulani, Disney’s resort in Hawaii, I thought I knew what to expect. Having been to Walt Disney World and Disneyland more times than I can count, I assumed that Aulani would be similar to the Disney resort hotels in Orlando and Anaheim: Highly immersive (i.e. tons of movie theming), feeling very Disney (with hidden Mickeys everywhere) and closely tied to the theme park experience.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Aulani surprised me at every turn.

While there’s no doubt that your Hawaii family vacation to the resort will be a magical experience, only part of the magic comes from the mouse. The rest of it comes from the island itself.

Looking to plan a more traditional Disney vacation? Listen to Episode 2 of our podcast, Merging Into Life: Theme Park Secrets.

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Aulani is on Oahu, about 20 miles from Honolulu, on the leeward side of the island. While it’s owned by Disney, there’s no theme park attached to it. (Disney also has non-park hotels in Hilton Head, S.C., and Vero Beach, Fla.).

Before I got there for my first trip in 2021, I had assumed the hotel would be a lot like Disney’s Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World, with wafting ukulele music, “Moana”-themed rooms and a tiki bar with volcanoes that erupt when you order a certain drink. But as soon as I stepped through the doors and into the lobby, I knew Aulani was different. The lobby opens to an expansive deck overlooking the resort, the pools and palm trees giving way to the sparkling ocean beyond. It was my first taste of the enchanting majesty and singular beauty of Hawaii.

Unlike other luxury resorts in Hawaii, Aulani doesn’t give out leis or kukui nut necklaces on arrival. However, you can ask for celebration buttons, like the ones you get in Disney parks, to mark birthdays, anniversaries or any occasion. When I arrived for my most recent visit in March 2024, I took one that says, “I’m celebrating,” and in the blank space wrote, “mai tais.” I was only half kidding. As I had already learned, Aulani makes my favorite mai tai on the island.

The main attraction at Aulani is the water, from the extensive complex of pools and decorative ponds in the center of the resort to the beach just beyond. The hotel shares Ko Olina Beach with the Four Seasons next door and the Marriott a bit farther away; though it’s public like all the beaches in Hawaii, each of the hotels has an area just for hotel guests with beach loungers and umbrellas.

If you don’t splurge on an ocean-view room (which I would 100% suggest doing, if you can swing it), the beach is the best place to watch the sunrise. Given that you’ll be fighting jetlag and adjusting to the time difference, you’ll likely be awake in plenty of time to watch the sun come up. That’s actually a good thing, though. Unless you’re in Waikiki, there’s very little to do at night, so you’re much better off waking up early and enjoying every bit of daylight that you can.

While the beach is delightful, you’ll probably spend most of your time at Aulani in the pools. The resort has the best water features I’ve ever seen. A saltwater lagoon offers snorkeling and fish-feeding without having to go into the open ocean. There’s also a lazy river, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean – with a waterfall – kids’ splash pad areas and baby pools, and hot tubs, including an adult-only one.

Inside the mountain that rises in the center of the resort, there are two waterslides integrated so seamlessly that you can’t even tell they’re there until you get to the stairs. On the mountain itself and the rock features built around the lazy river, there are hidden animal carvings; instead of hidden Mickeys, look closely to spot whales, octopi and schools of fish.

Don’t worry. You will still see Mickey, and plenty of other Disney characters. They hang out in public spaces, all in resort wear, to do casual meet-and-greets. Walking from your room to the pool, or from the beach to a restaurant, you’ll likely see Moana or Stitch saying hello and greeting guests, or Donald Duck in a Hawaiian shirt.

Mickey and Minnie both make appearances throughout. In the morning, Chef Minnie hosts a character breakfast. In the afternoon, surfer Mickey and Minnie bop around and say hello. At night, the pair make an appearance at Aulani’s luau, which is more fun than any luau I’ve ever been to before. In addition to the hula-dancing mice, there are also theatrical Disney touches in the show and demonstrations on playing ukulele, mashing poi and other Hawaiian traditions.

Aside from character meals, Aulani also has several excellent dining options. Ama Ama is a locally sourced fine dining restaurant with stunning sunset views. The Olelo Room has craft cocktails and excellent sushi made with incredibly fresh ahi and albacore, which come with a little pat of Mickey-shaped wasabi and chopsticks emblazoned with a tiny mouse. All around the Olelo Room (“olelo” means “say” in Hawaiian), are carvings of objects with the Hawaiian words for them underneath. Some are practical (pua’a is a pig, kalaka is a truck), and some are a little more Disney (kalipa aniani is glass slipper, kalela is castle).

I loved the garlic shrimp tacos at Off the Hook, the poolside restaurant, so much that I ordered them for lunch almost every day with a mai tai, sometimes in a hollowed-out pineapple. The resort also has quick-service options for quintessentially Hawaiian snacks like spam musubi and shave ice, both Mickey-shaped, of course. In Hawaii, the rule is still true: Everything tastes better when it’s shaped like Mickey Mouse.

Plan your Disney Hawaii vacation with AAA Travel.

Have you ever been to Aulani? Tell us about your experience in the comments

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

The highly anticipated, overhauled 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA was released in early 2024, but has run into a few snags.

Prospective college students around the country are delaying decisions as they await financial aid offers derailed by errors plaguing the new system.

The delays have put pressure on colleges as well, as many schools cannot provide complete offers to students without knowing how much aid a student may get from the federal government. Many schools have extended the deadline for making a tuition deposit from May 1 to June 1 as they continue to monitor the situation closely.

Donald Kerr, director of student lending and college services at AAA Northeast, urges families not to give up.

“The redesigned FAFSA is intended to help families who are most in need of financial assistance to make a college education possible. It increases the amount of aid available by billions of dollars,” said Kerr. “Unfortunately, the delays have added up to the point where many students are starting to give up and instead seeking employment and looking at community colleges on a part-time basis.”

Kerr offers the following guidance for students and families:

• Check the status of your FAFSA on studentaid.gov to ensure it was submitted, processed successfully and sent to colleges. If it has been sent, students should sign up for a student portal at each prospective school, which will give them access to view financial aid before award letters arrive.
• If your FAFSA form has not been processed, reach out to the Federal Student Aid office by phone or use the live chat option on studentaid.gov to determine the reason or error. While some issues are outside the control of students and families, such as a system glitch expected to be corrected by mid-April, other issues may have a simple fix.
• If needed, students can reach out to a school to request an individual extension. While many schools have already extended deadlines, students can reach out directly with concerns about their own timeline given financial aid delays.
• Know that the Department of Education and schools across the country are working hard to get all issues and delays resolved as soon as possible so students can make the very important decision on where to start their college journey.

“It may be a bumpy ride this year, but don’t give up on what could be one of the most generous financial aid seasons for those who need the help the most,” Kerr added.

Who Should Fill Out a FAFSA?

College students and/or their parents complete and submit the new FAFSA form online, which includes information about a family’s income and assets, to apply for federal financial aid for college costs. Many states and colleges also use FAFSA data to award their own financial aid.

College students and their parents should submit a FAFSA form annually. This includes those who believe they won’t qualify for aid because they make too much money. Low-interest financial aid loans are available to everyone regardless of income. Even if a student won’t use financial aid, many private scholarships want to see the results of the FAFSA form. Millions of dollars of federal student aid are left on the table each year simply because people did not fill out a FAFSA form, according to the College Board.

Normally, the FAFSA is available by Oct.1 each year. The deadline to complete the 2024-2025 form is June 30, 2025, although students and their parents should check if their colleges and states have different deadlines. After the form is processed, applicants receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (formally the Student Aid Report), outlining the amount and type of aid for which they might be eligible.

The New FAFSA Has Fewer Questions

The primary goals of the FAFSA revisions were to shorten and simplify the 128-question form and develop new formulas so more students qualify for aid. The new FAFSA has about 40 questions, and some applicants could answer as few as 28.

A simpler form could make higher education accessible to more people.

“Many families have viewed the form as too difficult to complete, which created a barrier to obtaining a college education for some,” said Kerr.

Updates to calculations that determine financial aid are projected to increase eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, for as many as 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds.

Other Major Changes

• Instead of using data from the form to estimate the expected family contribution (EFC) to college costs, a new formula creates a student aid index (SAI). Schools plan to use the SAI to determine the extent of a student’s financial need by subtracting the SAI from the school’s total cost.
• If a student’s parents are not married, only the parent who contributes the most financial support to the student needs to be listed on the form. In the past, contributions from the parent with whom the student lives carried more weight.
• Each student and at least one parent or contributor need to create a federal ID. Users will not have access to the form until the new usernames and passwords are cleared by the Social Security Administration, according to Kerr.
• Males no longer are required to verify that they have registered for the selective service (draft) to qualify for federal financial aid, Kerr noted. (Males between the ages of 18 and 25 still must register for the draft).
• In the past, students could designate up to 10 colleges to receive their FAFSA data; now they can list 20.

Tips on How to Fill Out a FAFSA Form

• You no longer have to download your tax data into the FAFSA. All you have to do is sign an authorization form giving the IRS permission to share your information, although it is a good idea to have a copy of your return handy in case you need to refer to it.
• The form is separated into a student section and a parent section, and while the student completes their section first and then invites the parent to do their section via email, it is a good idea for families to complete the form together.

Federal aid can help finance your education, but often it is not enough on its own. Learn more about AAA Northeast’s affordable student lending products and services.

What do you think of the new FAFSA? Tell us in the comments.

The harsh realities of distracted and impaired driving were presented to more than 100 high school students at AAA Northeast’s recent event, AAA to Gen Z: A Safety Summit for the New Generations of Drivers, held at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y.

Speakers from law enforcement, the local district attorney’s office, advocacy groups and representatives from AAA Northeast told students from seven Long Island high schools that, while it may be hard to imagine a tragedy happening to them, all it takes is one lapse in judgement or a nanosecond of distraction behind the wheel to end a life.

“I’m here to scare you,” said Maureen McCormick, special assistant for legislative initiatives for the Suffolk County district attorney’s office and a 38-year prosecutor. “Not to death, but enough to save your own lives.”

Deadly Distractions

The statistics are scary enough. On average, one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 39 minutes in 2022, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. The 15- to 20-year-old age group makes up 17% of that total.

Equally as concerning are the rise in drivers using marijuana and crashes involving distracted drivers, often caused by cellphone use, a particular problem with younger drivers. Statistics show that 56% of teens text while driving.

Rich Faber, a health and driver’s education teacher at Syosset High School, said fighting distractions is his biggest concern when it comes to new drivers. “Kids have always been in cars with phones,” he said. “They are not used to looking at the surroundings.”

While AAA surveys show that the age group most engaged in speeding and distracted driving is between 19 and 24 years old, Alec Slatky, managing director for government and public affairs for AAA Northeast, told the students that they will be that age soon enough. “The habits you start today are going to last a lifetime,” he said.

Promoting responsible driving behavior and making the roads safer are at the core of AAA’s mission. “…We know our roads are getting deadlier for everyone,” said Slatky. “As students are getting out of school, they face more risk on the road, so we wanted to take this opportunity to give them tips to keep themselves, their passengers and others safe.”

Rachel Liu, a junior at Syosset High School who completed her school’s driver’s education course, said she came because she wanted to learn more about being a safe driver before taking her driver’s test. “I’m hoping this will cement the ideas in my head,” she said.

Preventable Tragedies

Speakers emphasized that many crashes are preventable. They urged students to speak up if they are in a car with someone who is impaired or if they see a driver who is impaired. And, again and again, reminded them to stay off their cellphones.

McCormick said she has seen many terrible crimes during her career, though not all committed by terrible people. Some continue to haunt her. She choked up recalling the 2005 case of drunk driver Martin Heidgen hitting a limousine head-on while driving the wrong way. The limousine was carrying six members of the Flynn family returning from a wedding. The limo driver, 59-year-old Stanley Rabinowitz, was killed, as was 7-year-old Katie Flynn. When the dash cam video of the moment of the crash was shown at the summit, many in the room jumped. Heidgen was convicted of depraved indifference murder and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.

Particularly dismaying is the rise in dangerous behavior, such as drivers using marijuana, driving as fast as possible and recording themselves while driving, according to McCormick.

“Put your phone away, put it in the glove box, stop taking selfies while driving. It’s your responsibility to drive like you care about other people,” she said. “I’m begging you as a mom. Don’t hold your lives so cheaply.”

One student from Uniondale High School, who chose not to give her name, told a AAA representative she was going to be more careful not to get in a car with someone who had been drinking.

One Bad Choice

Audience members were visibly moved by the story of Alisa McMorris, whose 12-year-old son, Andrew, was killed by a drunken driver in 2018. He was hiking with his Boy Scout troop, including his father, when the car plowed into them. Several other scouts were severally injured.

In their son’s memory, the McMorris family started The Andrew McMorris Foundation, which advocates for measures to curb drunken driving and provides grants and scholarships.

“What keeps killing me is how this was preventable,” McMorris said.

Have a Plan Before You Go Out

McMorris offered students these tips to help keep them safe:

• Before you even go out, ask “How are we getting home?”
• If you are in a car with someone who is not sober enough to drive, say you are going to be sick and get out. Save face, save a life.
• Do not text and drive.
• Always have money to get home.
• Make a deal with your family to give you a ride if something happens.

“It’s about empowerment,” McMorris said. “They (students) have the ability to make a change.”

“You don’t realize what could happen until you hear the actual stories,” added Amy Berenbroick, a 10th grader at South Side.

Be A Hero

Karen Torres, president and founder of ALL4UDAD, a program for road safety education and advocacy, stressed to the crowd how easy it is to get distracted, and used several interactive activities to demonstrate. She lost her father, who was working on a road crew, when a cement truck driver dropped his bottled water. When he bent to retrieve it, he veered into her father. “It takes a conscious effort every time you get in the car not to be distracted.”

A major goal of the summit was to give students the courage to be advocates for themselves and others. “The biggest takeaway for the teens is that they should speak up if they feel like unsafe behavior behind the wheel is taking place or about to take place,” said Slatky. “Speaking up is not easy – especially if you’re talking to family or friends – but they can come up with some lines beforehand to have in their back pocket if these situations arise.”

How do you teach your teen to drive safely? Tell us in the comments.

Featured image: The AAA Public Affairs team at the summit.

Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery

200 Woonsocket Hill Rd, North Smithfield, R.I.

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If you’ve had an exceptional piece of cake, pastry or scoop of ice cream in Rhode Island lately, there’s a good chance it came from Wright’s Dairy Farm. As a state (and out-of-state) staple, Wright’s has been whipping up incomparable local dairy goods since 1914, and there are many reasons why the farm has made such a name for itself.

First and foremost: freshness. Whether you choose to buy a quart of chocolate milk or a Funfetti birthday cake from Wright’s, you know exactly where it was made and processed – right there, on site, with milk that came directly from the herd of Holstein dairy cows that dot the pastoral landscape. Affectionately dubbed “happy cows,”  these ladies are the true stars of the operation, producing more than 9 gallons of milk every day. The milk is pasteurized and bottled on the farm within 24 hours and then it’s either delivered to local stores to be sold, or used for baking or making ice cream.  

There are a few ways to experience Wright’s, each of them with their own great perks. The original farm in North Smithfield is where you can scope out some amazing desserts at the bakery, see the cows being milked, visit the baby calves and take a self-guided tour to learn about the farm’s 100-year history.

Wright’s Creamery in Providence is the only “cow-to-cone” ice cream in Rhode Island, and where you’ll find the ice cream flavors of dreams – from Coffee Oreo to rainbow-swirled Unicorn. You can also catch The Wright Scoop in Warren, a fully renovated Streamline trailer, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth on the go. Interested in trying the latest flavor concoctions before everyone else? Sign up for the Wright’s Test Batch Club, happening yearly.

Spend a moment with us at more of our favorite places.

Have you ever been to Wright’s? Tell us in the comments.

If you’ve ever bought or sold a used car, you’re likely familiar with vehicle history reports. These detailed reports provide crash data, maintenance records and ownership history, assuring buyers that they are getting what they paid for. Unfortunately, the process of obtaining these reports is often corrupted by criminals in the form of vehicle history report scams.

Such scams are often perpetrated by sellers trying to offload a damaged, stolen, salvaged or malfunctioning car. In other cases, scammers are trying to obtain personal information. Either way, it’s critical to use a reputable vehicle history report provider. Otherwise, you will be leaving yourself vulnerable to criminals.

Types of Vehicle History Report Scams

Incomplete Reports

Sellers may try to pass off an outdated or incomplete vehicle history report that does not include all the relevant information. If a car is involved in a crash but no insurance claim or police report is made, it likely will not show up on a vehicle history report. In such instances, the owner may not disclose this information to potential buyers in fear of losing the sale.

“I try to remind consumers that the information is only as good as how and when it was entered,” said AAA Northeast Car Doctor John Paul.

Speaking of when, another trick scammers often use is providing an outdated report that was completed prior to any damage. In whatever manner it’s done, intentionally withholding information is a scam.

Fake Reports

Scammers will often create counterfeit vehicle history reports containing fabricated or altered information in an attempt to hide negative records. These may include digitally altered documents and/or fake vehicle identification numbers used to deceive buyers. Fake reports are most often used by private sellers.

Phishing Scams

Scammers often send emails or text messages to potential buyers leading them to fraudulent websites. Once there, the recipients are asked to provide personal and/or financial information, which can then be used for identity and monetary theft.

One type of phishing scam specifically targets people selling their cars online. The criminals contact the sellers as if they are interested in purchasing the vehicle, but ask them to get a vehicle history report from a website link that they provide first. Once the seller orders the report, they are never contacted again, and the scammer has what they wanted all along – valuable personal information.

How to Avoid Vehicle History Report Scams

Use Reputable Sources

Now is not the time to go comparison shopping. Your safest bet in securing an accurate vehicle history report is using a well-known, reputable provider. Start by heading to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System’s website, vehiclehistory.gov. Here, you can get a vehicle history report and find a list of approved report providers.

Verify the Website’s Legitimacy

Scammers will often try to deceive consumers by creating websites that appear to be those of trusted sources but aren’t. To spot these fake sites, you’ll need to examine the URL.

All secure websites have URLs beginning with “https,” rather than “http,” along with a lock icon on the left side of the address bar. You should also examine the end of the URL to make sure the domain checks out. Legitimate websites have commonly used domains such as “.com,” “.org” and “.gov”.

Scammers have tried using websites with a “.vin” domain, thinking users would believe it was legitimate site for looking up a vehicle identification number, which is often abbreviated as “VIN.” In fact, “.vin” is a domain used for websites related to wine, as “vin” is the French word for wine.

Do not provide any personal information if any of these elements are missing or suspicious.

Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection

Ultimately, your goal is to learn whether the car is in the condition the seller claims it is. The best way to know this is by having a trusted mechanic inspect it. This should always be done prior to purchasing a used car, even one that comes with a legitimate vehicle history report.

Don’t know a good mechanic? We know hundreds. Find a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop close to you.

Be Skeptical of Enticing Offers

Scammers will often try to lure in unsuspecting individuals by offering free or low-cost vehicle history reports. The Car Doctor always says, “if the deal is too good to be true it most likely is.”

Trust Your Gut

Whether buying or selling, if anything strange comes up during the vehicle history report process that seems suspicious, trust your gut and walk away.

Have you heard about or been a victim of a vehicle history report scam? Tell us in the comments below.

In the market to buy a car? Apply now for affordable auto loan rates on new and used cars with AAA Auto Loans.

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

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

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

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

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

Dinosaurs! At the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning

Rockville Centre, N.Y.

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

The American Museum of Natural History

New York, N.Y.

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

Dino Roar Valley

Lake George, N.Y.

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

Field Station: Dinosaurs

Leonia, N.J.

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

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Pittsburgh, Pa.

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

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

New Haven, Conn.

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

Dinosaur State Park

Rocky Hill, Conn.

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

The Dinosaur Place at Nature Art Village

Oakdale, Conn.

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

Beneski Museum of Natural History

Amherst, Mass.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Is a Catalytic Converter?

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

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

Why Are Catalytic Converters Stolen?

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

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

Cars Most Likely to Have Catalytic Converter Stolen

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

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

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

How to Tell If Your Catalytic Converter Is Stolen

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

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

How to Protect Your Catalytic Converter From Getting Stolen

Install an Anti-Theft Device

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

Etch Your License Plate Number or VIN Onto the Catalytic Converter

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

Park in a Smart Spot

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

The Most Stolen Car Parts

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

Tires and Wheels

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

Batteries

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

Air Bags

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

Tailgates

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

How Can Insurance Help?

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

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

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

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

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IN THIS EPISODE

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

Enter Felicia Troy, AAA travel sales manager and Disney enthusiast. Having planned countless theme park trips, Felicia knows the top theme park secrets and amusement park hacks to maximize your experience and find fun for the whole family. This episode is full of useful theme park tips, from finding the perfect place to stay to getting the most out of park apps.

You can plan the best theme park vacation ever, and we’re here to help.

Save on Walt Disney World park tickets with AAA Tickets.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

[2:42] – The best time to go to a theme park
[6:40] – Preparing for your trip and what to pack for a theme park vacation
[12:01] – How to deal with long lines and the best ways to beat theme park crowds
[15:47] – The importance of setting a budget and how to save money at theme parks

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TRANSCRIPT

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

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

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

[00:00:14]
Kids: Disney!

READ MORE

[00:00:15]
Amanda Greene: Disney? I’m going to need to talk to your dad about this. I was thinking more like Cape Cod or the beach.

[00:00:23]
Kids: Disney!

[00:00:24]
Amanda Greene: Hold on, hold on, you guys. Welcome to Merging Into Life, where we navigate life’s milestones one episode at a time, brought to you by AAA Northeast. I’m your host, Amanda Greene. Today on this show, we’re going to learn how to plan and then take your first trip to a theme park. A theme park makes me think of sunny days, exhilarating rides, very fun food options, family togetherness and lifelong memories.

But simmering just below the surface there’s a possibility of pure exhaustion, tantrums and massive lines. So how do we do everything in our power to have the ideal theme park experience we’re picturing? We bring in a theme park enthusiast and expert to guide the way.

[00:01:18]
Felicia Troy: It’s something that’s so ingrained in me that I just love a theme park. That’s my idea of a great vacation. Throw me around on a roller coaster. Do all the crazy stuff. That’s what I love to do. So having done it so often, I feel like I have great advice to give.

[00:01:32]
Amanda Greene: That was Felicia Troy. She’s AAA’s resident roller coaster riding, thrill-seeking, family loving theme park expert extraordinaire. And I have to say, like me, she loves her theme parks. Planning a trip specifically to a theme park, to Disney, is a big undertaking. It’s a lot more, I don’t want to say complicated, but there is a lot more to prepare now than maybe there was back when we were kids. So when someone comes to you with the idea that they would like to plan a trip, they would like to go to a theme park, where do you begin?

[00:02:06]
Felicia Troy: I think when we sit with people, we actually don’t really start with the meat and potatoes. We want to get to know you a little bit more. We want to find out what you like, what you don’t like, if you’re bringing kids, what they’re interested in, how old are they, what do they like to do every day?

Because I think it matters if you take the time to get to know somebody, you can plan something truly excellent instead of just being that order-taker that’s like, okay, you want to go here? Let me get that for you, and move on. We really try to get to know the person so we can fit you to the right trip.

[00:02:34]
Amanda Greene: Do we begin with planning what time of year we go, or do we start with something else? Where do we begin in this process?

[00:02:42]
Felicia Troy: I think we usually begin with are you celebrating something and what’s the goal of this trip? Sometimes it’s to celebrate grandma and grandpa’s 50th anniversary and we want it to be magical, but relaxed enough that grandma and grandpa can have a great time. Or it’s the kids’ first Disney trip and we want to get to the castle and we want to dress up like a princess. So, really what’s the goal? What are we trying to do? Are we trying to relax? Are we trying to get up and go? Are we trying to entertain the kids?

[00:03:07]
Amanda Greene: A little of both, ideally. As an expert, is there a time of year that you recommend people plan to visit?

[00:03:14]
Felicia Troy: So truly, if you want to go kind of on a lower time, now everything is busy in theme parks in general, but that after the holiday rush in January can be a good time to go which is a nice Disney tip for you! And if you’re going somewhere south like Florida, the weather can be a little bit better if heat’s hard for you. Especially us people in the Northeast, we sometimes have a hard time with heat. So January can be great.

Another great time can be September right after school start because the crowds die down and all the kids go back to school. And so it can be a great time even for an adult couple or an older couple with no kids to go because there’s likely going to be less kids in that timeframe. So it could be a good opportunity.

[00:03:50]
Amanda Greene: I know when we were planning a trip to a theme park, everyone was saying, “Don’t go in August. It’s going to be way too hot.” And you would see people online who go in August who have the wearable fans around their neck or a cooling towel, all of these things that they prepared so that they could make it through the day during really hot days of summer. Do you do that or do you just avoid August?

[00:04:14]
Felicia Troy: So, actually I’ve been in August. My birthday’s in August. My 21st birthday was spent in Epcot, so yes. But we like to just take a midday break in that heat of day when you can’t walk around anymore and everything’s sticky and you just don’t want to be outside. We’ll just go to the pool and then we go back to the parks a little bit later where the temperature’s more tolerable and we’re all less cranky.

[00:04:33]
Amanda Greene: So, speaking of the pool and just hopping back to the pool, that brings us to where to stay. Because if you want to be able just to hop back to the pool for a little while in the middle of the day, you need to be sort of close by. How would you even begin to choose where to stay?

[00:04:48]
Felicia Troy: Yeah, I totally agree. I think that there’s not a one size fits all answer for this, but I do love staying near the respective amusement park you’re going to. So whether it’s Disney, whether it’s Universal, whatever it is, I like to be on site. Because as I said, we enjoy taking the midday break going to the pool. But then there are people that do not care. They will spend the whole day in the theme park, and then later go back to their resort or hotel or wherever.

And it also depends on how many people are going. Sometimes you have a really big family and you need something that can accommodate that size. So I think we talk through the options and that’s what we typically do if you sit down with one of our advisors is we’ll talk through the best options for you and maybe what you want to be close to.

If you’re at Disney on the Monorail, taking the train to Magic Kingdom and all of that, that could be very worth it, as opposed to somebody who’s like, “I just want the least expensive accommodations. It doesn’t really matter. We’re going to rent a car.” So we try to go through every option. I personally always say stay at the theme park hotel, but that is me.

[00:05:50]
Amanda Greene: What is the nearby, I guess, transportation option for a place like Universal? Do they have something similar that will transport you back to an area resort?

[00:05:59]
Felicia Troy: They do. I love Universal. It’s almost even closer to be able to get to the theme parks. There’s a couple resorts you can just walk. So if you’re at one of their premier resorts, most of them you can walk. They also have a boat and the boat is very simple and easy. And then for the ones that are slightly further out and slightly, it’s really not that far, they have a bus.

So they do have the same type of transportation style where they include or have some way to get to their theme parks if you’re staying on property. We usually stay at the ones we can walk because I love a nice little walk to the theme park. But yes, it’s absolutely whether you’re at Disney or Universal, there’s options.

[00:06:36]
Amanda Greene: Okay, so we’re planning a trip. What else can we do to prepare beforehand?

[00:06:40]
Felicia Troy: So one of my biggest things is wherever you’re going, if they have an app, get used to it, download it, look through it, figure out what it offers. My best Disney tip is their app (My Disney Experience App), you can do almost anything on it. You can order food. You can make a dining reservation. You can do your [Lightning Lane], which is the skip the line pass. You can even unlock your hotel room door. So it’s very good to get familiar with whatever technology that place is using because I think it’s going to help you in the long run.

When you arrive that day of travel, you’re flustered, you don’t know what’s going on. And then you pull the app and you’re like, “Oh my gosh, I’ve never looked at this thing. What am I going to do?” So if you’ve already familiarized yourself with it, I think it’s going to go a long way and make the experience better for you and everyone else.

[00:07:20]
Amanda Greene: What’s your take on watching a bunch of YouTube videos before you go on a trip to learn the [the app] or figure out your plan for the trip?

[00:07:28]
Felicia Troy: I love YouTube videos. I watch them. I have favorite influencers and all of that for Disney hacks. I think it’s a great way, but I also take the information with a grain of salt, because sometimes they put their own opinions in there and they might not be your opinions. So while you’re watching the videos, it’s great for instructional purposes, but don’t necessarily write off things that they might be giving you opinions on because you might actually like those things. Do with it what you will, but don’t let it shape your entire trip.

[00:07:53]
Amanda Greene: It seems like [My Disney Experience App]s= specifically, when you’re talking about Disney, people really want to do their homework before they arrive to the park and have a plan for their Disney vacation. What Disney tips or what else do we need to do on the app beforehand? What kind of issues might occur when using the app?

[00:08:09]
Felicia Troy: One of the biggest things that I find would be a challenge for most is how to mobile order and dining and all of that. I would watch a YouTube video or talk to your travel advisor about how do I mobile order? Because even when I went for the first time after they started it, I believe it was around 2020, I didn’t know what to do. I was confused. I was like, oh, do I hit this button? What do I do here? And I was like, wow, I didn’t even prepare for this and I’m supposed to be the expert.

But it is just a little bit weird and different, and it’s the same for Universal. They also have mobile ordering too. You want to try to get used to that. So that way when everyone’s starving and looking at you and my son would be like, “Mom, I need chicken fingers right now or I’m going to pass out,” you’re not fumbling through this app like, “What am I supposed to do?”

You already know how to order it. You’ve got it, and hopefully you’ve learned that you could order it early and have it ready. So all those things. So definitely worth looking at the food because food becomes the big thing when you’re on a trip and the kids are staring at you starving. You need to plan before it’s time. You need to have a plan for your food before everyone’s hangry.

[00:09:10]
Amanda Greene: Even me. 100%. What kinds of things or what should we bring to an amusement park with us to feel prepared and to be able to enjoy the day?

[00:09:18]
Felicia Troy: I mean, we obviously talk about the app. You’re going to need your phone for the app, so external batteries or phone chargers are huge. You want to make sure that your phone doesn’t die in the middle of the day. One, because you’re probably entertaining your kids in line with your phone and saying, “Here, watch a YouTube video,” So it drains the battery a lot faster until you’re on the app using your phone. No matter what, you’ll need some extra batteries.

You want to make sure you have all your medical stuff. Any medication that you might need, bring a little extra, bring it into the parks. Because if you’re all the way across the back of one park, you don’t want to have to walk all the way to your car, go all the way back to your hotel to get whatever it is you may need. I would say have the basic stuff too, just like Tylenol and all of that for kids and adults.

Another thing that I love to bring is little plastic baggies. That’s my one thing that I never travel without at a theme park. One, you can use it for extra food, extra treats that your kid doesn’t finish because inevitably they want chicken fingers, but they eat one. And then two hours later they’re like, “Where’s the chicken fingers?” And you’re like, “I don’t know. They’re gone in the trash.”

So now you can put it in a plastic bag, keep it in your bag, and then go back to it. Or it rains often if you’re going to somewhere like Florida, so having those plastic bags on hand if you need to put your phone in one or things that can’t get wet, it’s a nice option to be able to have something that’s not going to get ruined in the storm.

[00:10:33]
Amanda Greene: And I know that people who don’t use strollers at home because their kids have outgrown like a stroller to use regularly, use strollers at Disney because there is just so much walking that even if your kid has outgrown strollers for years, you probably want one for Disney or other amusement parks.

[00:10:49]
Felicia Troy: No matter if your kid walks every single day, it is still more walking at a theme park. It’s like 10 miles of walking in a day. And even if your five-year-old hasn’t used a stroller in two years, get it for the day. Even if they only get into it intermittently and just use it for breaks, you can also use it for your stuff.

If you go shopping or anything like that, then it’s something to push the stuff in too. So, not only can your kid get a break, but then your shoulders can get a break from not carrying around all the stuff.

[00:11:16]
Amanda Greene: And there’s plenty of stroller parking at all parks. They specifically have designated areas where you just park your little stroller and some people put a little flag on it so that you can recognize which one is yours.

[00:11:27]
Felicia Troy: Yes, absolutely. I would say the one tip for that is they sometimes move your stroller. They have cast members there organizing them to make sure it doesn’t stay too chaotic in that there’s little rows of strollers. So if you go back and look where you just put down your stroller and it’s not there, don’t panic.

Someone did not likely steal it. It’s just that the cast member had to move it to make space. So that’s why they put little flags or little balloons on strollers so that way you can easily spot yours in the sea of strollers. Just buy a balloon at the beginning of the trip. They sell them on every corner and tie it to your stroller and then you’re good.

[00:12:01]
Amanda Greene: An inevitable part of visiting a theme park or really any well-attended place that’s really fun is the long lines. There’s a lot of line waiting. What’s the best way of dealing with the long lines?

[00:12:14]
Felicia Troy: Short of getting some sort of express pass or Genie pass or fast pass, whatever it is at whatever respective theme park, which is always my suggestion, I would just make sure you pack something to keep people entertained. A lot of people play that heads-up game where you put the character or whatever and people try to guess it, or Disney has a Play Disney app that you can interact in different ride queues with the app and while you’re waiting in line.

So depending on what it is, I mean, I know putting your kids on an iPad or something isn’t ideal, but it does help pass the time in a line where there’s not much else to do. My big tip is if it’s a long line, go to the bathroom before you get in the line. Because we have been halfway through that line. You’ve been in the line an hour, and then your kid’s like, “I have to go to the bathroom.”

And you can’t say no. What are you going to do? And if your kid has outgrown any diaper or anything, then you just have to go and there’s not really a mechanism to come back.

[00:13:07]
Amanda Greene: Your next question is usually, well, how bad?

[00:13:10]
Felicia Troy: Oh yeah. I’m like, can you wait a little while? Yeah, no, exactly. So it is tough. And then sometimes it’s nice to have a little snack or some water in the line too. So if they’re like, “I’m starving, or I’m thirsty,” they have something as well. Prepare for those long lines.

[00:13:23]
Amanda Greene: I’m that mom that has my children basically ask every child in line their name, their favorite color. We get to know them. We’ve exchanged information to become pen pals. You make it work in the line. That’s another thing people do at theme parks too is give little gifts out to kids that they meet in line sometimes. I had my girls also make bracelets, and so they would give them out. Other people did stickers or like Dum Dum Pops, which is just another cute way to pass time in the lines.

[00:13:51]
Felicia Troy: We call it pixie dusting. So it’s you pixie dust people with different trinkets. And usually it’s not much, but it is a lot of fun. I do recommend that you stay away from edible pixie dust, so lollipops or candy, because you don’t know the allergy or the situation with the child. We just want to be really aware of anything going on. So I think a bracelet is a great idea. Keychains, stickers, even little bubbles or anything that kids can play with I think is phenomenal.

And I think it makes it more magical when you get a little treat from a little friend. My son has done that, made friends, and then he ends up going on the ride with the friend. And I’m in the back car and he’s riding with this random kid that we just met, and they’re having a great time. So it’s great.

[00:14:31]
Amanda Greene: Love that. It’s so cute the way kids can make friends anywhere they go.

[00:14:34]
Felicia Troy: Oh, it’s amazing.

[00:14:35]
Amanda Greene: Is there anything you think families should keep in mind when visiting a theme park for the first time?

[00:14:40]
Felicia Troy: Pretty much any theme park you go to, if you’re going for the first time, you’re not going to be able to do everything. Theme parks offer a lot of different things, whether it’s shows or rides or characters or whatever it is. I would suggest when you’re going for the first time, you sit everyone down in the family and you say, “What are your top three things? What do you want to accomplish with this trip? What would make you the happiest with this trip?”

And that way you can get everyone’s top things, their top ride or whatever it is, and make sure that you hit those points for each person. So you may not have done everything, but you’ve done the most important things to everyone in your family, and that will be a huge difference maker.

Because you might not realize that your son’s top thing is, I want to go to the pool and play in the pool for part of the day, and you’re so focused on being in the theme parks, you completely missed the pool. And then he’s bummed because that was the one thing he really wanted to do. So now if you make a list and really prioritize your itinerary to that list, I think it’s going to make it so much more magical.

[00:15:35]
Amanda Greene: These are such great tips for making the trip a wonderful experience. But a big part of this, paying for it. How do you save money on these trips? How do you make sure you aren’t going overboard and coming home to an uncomfortable amount of debt?

[00:15:47]
Felicia Troy: I think the biggest thing will be truly determining what your budget is. How far are you willing to go and what is comfortable for you? I think oftentimes we see the stereotypical planned Disney trip that’ll be on the Monorail, and they’ll go to all the fanciest restaurants and all of that. And that might not be the budget that you have, and that is so fine.

We can make magic with every single budget, but establishing that boundary for yourself and understanding where you stand in that is going to be really helpful. Because then if you’re working with a travel advisor, we can maximize what we’re working with once we know upfront. So it’s good to establish that. So one, you’re comfortable and the trip doesn’t feel like it’s taking over.

Sometimes it can get too heavy if you’re so far out of budget that it’s hard to enjoy because it’s just you’re so focused on that. But if you set that budget for yourself and you make it comfortable for you, I think you’re going to have such a great time and a great experience because you’re not worried about that.

[00:16:45]
Amanda Greene: And that comes back to what you were saying earlier about knowing what your travel style is. Do you prioritize skipping the line, or do you want to be at really nice dinners? And if your budget says you need to choose which one’s more important to you, I think skipping the line is more important personally.

[00:17:02]
Felicia Troy: That’s me all the way. We [skip the line] no matter what. I will eat pizza every night in order to skip my lines. That is absolutely how I feel. But I agree. And that’s why when you set those boundaries, then we can talk through those options for you. And I think it will help set expectations once you get there, because you’ll have an idea of the direction you want to go and what you want to do.

[00:17:23]
Amanda Greene: That makes sense. And it is hard because you want to try and do everything because you only have a short amount of time there. But you can’t do it all, and you really do have to prioritize what you want to do. What about downtime?

[00:17:33]
Felicia Troy: I think my biggest thing when going to any theme park is not scheduling yourself too much. I believe in just letting things happen and letting the magic come to you and letting the moments appear as they may. I find oftentimes people over schedule and then it doesn’t leave time for those magic moments that you have throughout your day.

While having an itinerary and having a schedule is a good thing, leave time for moments. Leave time for the special stuff, for the unscripted times where you just wander or you just find the next thing that interests you, because I promise those will probably be your favorite moments.

[00:18:09]
Amanda Greene: Well, I’m sold. Thanks so much, Felicia. Okay, before we make any final decisions about our summer plans, girls, can you come answer a couple questions for me?

[00:18:20]
Kids: Okay. Yes, Mommy.

[00:18:23]
Amanda Greene: Let’s pretend we are going to a theme park this summer. Would you rather get a pass that helps us skip the line or go to eat at your favorite restaurant, like one with princesses or something?

[00:18:37]
Kids: Eat at restaurants. I would usually get a pass to skip the line.

[00:18:41]
Amanda Greene: Okay, so we’d get hungry. What should we bring for snacks?

[00:18:45]
Kids: Uh, we should bring sandwich.

[00:18:48]
Amanda Greene: Sandwiches, okay. We would do a lot of walking. What do you think, should we bring a stroller?

[00:18:56]
Kids: No, I’d rather go on nature walk. Stroller.

[00:18:59]
Amanda Greene: Yeah, your feet are going to get tired. You’re a little younger. And when you think of a theme park, what’s the very best part?

[00:19:07]
Kids: Meeting Minnie.

[00:19:09]
Amanda Greene: Meeting the characters.

[00:19:10]
Kids: I really like getting the face paints in those pictures. Roller coaster. We never even went on a roller coaster.

[00:19:18]
Amanda Greene: You sure did.

[00:19:18]
Kids: I don’t remember that.

[00:19:20]
Amanda Greene: Mama was screaming. I was screaming so loud and holding onto you really tight. You don’t remember?

[00:19:28]
Kids: No.

[00:19:32]
Amanda Greene: We covered a lot today. Felicia really knows her stuff. If skipping the lines are important to you, pay the extra money for a pass. Familiarize yourself with the park apps, attractions, maps, and food options. Prioritize which rides you really want to go on. That way you can maximize your time in the park and minimize your frustration. Be strategic and thoughtful when picking a hotel.

You want a hassle-free vacation and cutting down on travel time can be huge. Think of everyone’s comfort, including your own. If that means bringing the stroller out of retirement, do it. These parks are big and you’ll put on a lot of miles. The less things to lug around, including your tired tot, the better. Figure out what matters most to each member of your group and plan around that.

But remember to leave time to just let the magic happen. Theme parks aren’t cheap and take a lot of effort to plan, but there is a reason more than 17 million people visited Disney World alone in 2022. Theme parks are amazing and totally worth it. So take the time to prepare and then go have the time of your life.

You’ve been listening to Merging Into Life, where we navigate life’s milestones one episode at a time, brought to you by AAA Northeast with assistance from JAR Audio. I’m your host, Amanda Greene. Worried you might’ve missed something? Check out the show notes for details from today’s episode. If you’re enjoying the show, follow us and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

And we’d love to know what you think. Get in touch at podcast@aaanortheast.com Talk next time. All right, so what do you think? Do you think this is the year to go? Should we just do it?

[00:21:14]
Amanda’s husband: Disney? Well, they’re only young once. Let’s just do it.

[00:21:18]
Amanda Greene: Girls, we’re going to go to Disney World.

[00:21:21]
Kids: Yay!

[00:21:25]
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are not necessarily the views of AAA Northeast, AAA, and/or its affiliates.

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RESOURCES

Ask an Advisor: Disney 101

How to Skip Lines at Disney

11 Ways to Save Money on a Theme Park Vacation

Your Guide to Universal Orlando Resort Parks

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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.

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

PVDonuts
Providence, R.I.

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

Knead Doughnuts
Providence, R.I.

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

Back Door Donuts
Oak Bluffs, Mass.

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

Blackbird Doughnuts
Boston, Mass.

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

Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Waterbury Center, Vt.

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

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

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

Cider Belly
Albany, N.Y.

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

The Holy Donut
Portland, Maine

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

Neil’s Donuts and Bake Shop
Wallingford, Conn.

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

Goody Good Donuts
Laconia, N.H.

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

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

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

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

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

“You mean your wife,” Sam interjected.

No, my husband, I replied.

“No, you mean your wife.”

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

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

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

“But who cooks dinner?”

The Journey Begins

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Power of the Gay Dollar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Still Work To Be Done

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coming Full Circle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dive into Mystic, Conn.

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

Book a hotel near Mystic, Conn.

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

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

Book a hotel near Providence, R.I.

Make your way to Worcester, Mass.

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

Book a hotel near Worcester, Mass.

Set out for Concord, N. H.

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

Book a hotel near Concord, N.H.

Visit Vermont’s Only National Park

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

Book a hotel near Woodstock, Vt.

Relax in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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

Book a hotel near Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Provincetown Pride – May 31 – June 2

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

Jersey Pride – June 2

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

Boston Pride for the People – June 8

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

Long Island Pride – June 9

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

Rhode Island PrideFest – June 15

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

Manchester Pride Festival – June 15

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

Pride Portland! – June 15

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

West Hartford Pride Festival – June 22

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

Newport Pride – June 28-30

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

NYC Pride – June 30

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

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

Vermont Events – Various Dates

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

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

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

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

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

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

What sparked your interest in transportation? 

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

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

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

How can we best solve our infrastructure deficiencies? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just for Fun

What’s your perfect road trip?  

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

What was your first car? 

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

Featured image: Courtesy of MassDOT

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

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

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All American Hamburger Drive-In

Massapequa, N.Y.

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

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Al’s French Frys

South Burlington, Vt.

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

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Gilley’s Diner

Portsmouth, N.H.

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

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Louis’ Lunch

New Haven, Conn.

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

Red Rooster Drive-In

Brewster, N.Y.

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

Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers

Central Falls, R.I.

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

Ted’s Restaurant

Meriden, Conn.

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

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White Hut

West Springfield, Mass.

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

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White Manna

Hackensack, N.J.

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

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

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