Summer is almost here, which means those of us who are lucky enough to live in the Northeast have just one thing on our minds: the beach! Known for picturesque coastlines, relaxing atmospheres and clear, blue waters, our beaches in the Northeast are a popular destination for both locals and vacationers alike. Once you’ve packed your sunscreen and all other essentials to head down to the shore with, there’s just one last order of business: beach snacks!
When it comes to deciding what kinds of snacks to take to the beach, there are a few parameters to keep in mind: portability, lasting power and, of course, yum-factor. We’ve put together three options that check every box, and might even become your new go-to beach snack!
First on the cooler packing list: mason jar salads. Although we’ve included a recipe below, you can use any salad ingredients you’d like to create these versatile mini lunches. By stacking each ingredient inside a small mason jar, you make sure everything stays fresh and separated until you’re ready to eat. At that point, all you have to do is give the jar a shake, and voila!
Next up is a savory homemade snack mix that keeps all day (but is so delicious it probably won’t last that long). In this version, you’ll combine store-bought snack mix with a butter-Worcestershire sauce before roasting in the oven to create an irresistible nosh.
Finally, we have mixed fruit popsicles to serve as a refreshing and sweet day-cap.
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In order to prepare your mason jar salads, all you’ll need is whatever you like! For ours, we went with Dijon dressing, grilled chicken, marinated artichokes, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, yellow bell pepper, black olives, capers, feta cheese and chickpeas.
For the snack mix, we followed this recipe from Kitchn, which includes two kinds of Chex cereal, pretzels, peanuts and bagel chips. Season to your heart’s content with a whisked mixture of Worcestershire sauce, melted unsalted butter, salt, garlic powder and onion powder.
These mixed berry popsicles from Feeling Foodish combine blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, kiwi and mango with coconut water for a simple sweet treat. Freeze them overnight before packing with ice inside a hard-sided cooler.
We recommend prepping your beach snacks the day before, so everything is all set before you head out in the morning. Grabbing a bag of ice (or two) for your cooler is ideal to make sure nothing goes bad — or melts! — in the hot summer sun. Tap the play button to see how easily everything comes together:
From the causal seaside towns of the south shore to the elite streets of the Hamptons, the list of things to do on Long Island in the summer is vast and varied.
Here, summer means lazy beach days and sunsets on the boardwalk, waterfront dining and getting out and enjoying the beautiful gardens and parks in full bloom.
These summer staples are all about nostalgia, tradition and creating new memories.
Nassau County
Beach Days
When the warmer months arrive, Long Island starts to feel like one big beach town. Right after Memorial Day, flip flops and swimsuit cover-ups become almost standard attire as most people are either on their way to or from the shore on any given day. Here are 10 of our favorite local beaches.
Long Island Gold Coast Mansion.
Garden Exploration
Long Island is home to a generous number of beautiful and historic former estates, many of which are now public gardens.
At the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, guests are free to wander the grounds of the Gold Coast estate and its formal gardens and greenhouses. Old Westbury Gardens is also open for tours and self-guided exploration and offers a variety of special summer events, including regular yoga and tai chi lessons.
For a scenic walk or quiet picnic, other must-visit gardens and mansions that make for perfect Long Island day trips include Sagamore Hill, the “Summer White House” of Theodore Roosevelt, and the Bailey Arboretum, where you can stroll the estate of renowned horticulturist Frank Bailey completely free of charge.
Adventureland
Just about everyone who has grown up on Long Island has an Adventureland memory. The Farmingdale amusement park has been entertaining locals with its range of rides, attractions and games since 1962.
Conquer “Merrick Mountain”
The next time you’re on the Meadowbrook Parkway on your way to Jones Beach, look for the windmill on the top of the hill. That’s the summit of Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve, informally known as “Merrick Mountain.” A refurbished landfill-turned plant and wildlife sanctuary, you can say it’s the best looking dump around.
Great for recreation and relaxation, the park includes three miles of hiking and jogging trails, 18 exercise stations, a 500-foot fishing pier and a kayak launch into the original Meadow Brook. At its highest point of 115 feet, there are sweeping views of the Jones Beach tower, the coastal neighborhoods below, and on a clear day, the New York City skyline. Up there you’ll also find two man-made ponds, circulated by the fully functional windmill.
Look for the park’s resident herd of Nigerian dwarf goats, which can be seen resting in their pen or wandering the trails.
Waterfront Dining and Drinks
One of the perks of being on an island is the many waterfront dining options. Here are a few popular spots in Nassau County:
The Lazy Lobster, East Rockaway and Massapequa Park – Enjoy lobster rolls, tacos, fried seafood baskets and other summer favorites in a casual outdoor atmosphere. For bay views and live music, visit the East Rockaway location. Craving a lobster roll to grab and go? The small storefront in Massapequa Park satisfies.
Jordan Lobster Farms, Island Park – A Long Island classic with a backyard raw bar and seating area, indoor dining room and an attached retail store where you can buy fresh fish to take home.
Prime American Kitchen & Restaurant, Huntington – Seafood, steaks and dock views overlooking Huntington Harbor. Enjoy a meal al fresco or have a cocktail by the fire pit on a cool night.
Walls Warf, Bayville – Eat on the deck or right on the beach with views of the Long Island Sound and Connecticut in the distance.
Crescent Beach Club, Bayville – Next door to Walls Warf, the Crescent Beach Club offers the same view, but in a less casual setting.
Have an Italian Ice by the Water
Of all the things to do on Long Island in the summer, there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day than an Italian ice and a waterfront breeze. At Bonanza’s Italian Ices in Bayville, the Bonanza family keeps up the tradition that their great grandfather established in the early 1900’s when he started selling handmade Italian lemon ices from a pushcart in Oyster Bay. Housed in a small corner shack, Bonanza’s doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the fresh handmade ices can’t be missed. Walk to the nearby Oyster Bay Harbor and have your ice with a view.
See a Show at Jones Beach
Go to a concert at Jones Beach Theater. Click here to see when your favorite performers will be in town.
But the biggest show every year at Jones Beach happens on the beach. Every Memorial Day Weekend, the annual Bethpage Airshow draws hundreds of thousands of people eager to see a roster of fighter jets, including the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, put on a breathtaking display of tricks over the water. Admission is free (except for the standard $10 parking fee). It is suggested that visitors arrive early to dodge the inevitable traffic; however, if you want to avoid some of the crowds, you can stop by the day before to watch the planes practice.
Hit the Links
Golf at one of Long Island’s many public golf courses, including the famed Black Course at Bethpage State Golf Course in Farmingdale. Considered one of the most difficult courses in the country, the Black Course hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009 and the PGA Championship in 2019.
Nassau County Museums
On rainy days or those hot summer days when being in the air condition beats being outside, museums make for perfect Long Island day trips. Here are a few to check out this summer:
Long Island Children’s Museum, Uniondale – A hands-on museum that encourages kids to let their imaginations run free. Next door, you can visit the historic Nunley’s Carousel, a treasured piece of nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the area that has been restored for future generations to enjoy.
The Cradle of Aviation Museum, Uniondale – Located beside the Children’s Museum in Uniondale’s Museum Row, this popular museum’s air and spacecraft displays honor Long Island’s role in aviation, and has a dome theater and planetarium.
Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor – On the grounds of the former Frick Estate, the mansion hosts rotating exhibitions in its gallery and has a sculpture garden with the works of renowned artists on its surrounding lawns. Walking trails lead to one discovery after another.
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
One of the most interesting places to go on Long Island, Old Bethpage Village Restoration allows visitors to step back in time. This “living history museum” consists of 36 houses, barns and buildings dating from 1765 through 1865, in which you’ll find costumed interpreters that deliver facts and stories about the people who occupied them. And on weekends in the summer, you can catch an old timey baseball game.
Suffolk County
Long Island Farms and Wine Country
Beginning in late May, Long Island’s farm country starts to come alive. Strawberry picking is one of the most popular things to do on Long Island in the summer, with farms like Lewin Farms that allow visitors out into the fields to harvest their own. Strawberry season is only a few weeks, but other fruits, veggies and berries soon follow.
Lavender by the Bay grows fields of lavender at their farms in East Marion and Calverton. There are serval bloom periods from late spring to early fall, but the French lavender peak in July is something you have to see (and smell!) to believe.
Summer is also the height of the season for the Long Island wine trail. There is no better staycation than sharing a bottle at one of the winery tasting rooms along the South and North Forks overlooking the vines and listening to live entertainment.
For a different way to experience Long Island wine country, bike tours such as East End Bike Tours include tastings, gourmet meals and exclusive guided stops. For an unforgettable winery experience with friends, hop aboard the North Fork Wine Wagon, a fun contraption that allows up to 14 people to pedal and sip their way through select vineyards as a professional driver steers.
The Hamptons
Spend some time like the Island’s elite, taking in some of the top beaches, food, wine and nightlife that the area has to offer.On your way, don’t forget to stop at the Big Duck.
Visit a lighthouse for great photo ops and beautiful outlooks. Here are a few you can’t miss:
Montauk Lighthouse, Montauk State Park – The oldest lighthouse in New York State (authorized by President George Washington in 1792) and a National Historic Landmark, it is understandably one of the most popular destinations (and picture spots) on Long Island. Paired with the expansive scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s hard to beat. While you’re there, you can climb to the top, walk the park or visit the museum, which is located in the 1860 keepers’ house.
Fire Island Lighthouse, Captree Island – Take the 182 step tour of this iconic black and white tower and enjoy the panoramic view of the ocean and surrounding region, which extends all the way to the New York City skyline on a clear day. Of course, Fire Island is a top summer destination in itself. Take the ferry over to experience the beaches, nightlife and car-free streets of this one-of-a-kind little piece of paradise.
Horton Point Lighthouse, Southold – See the lighthouse, tour the exhibits and have a picnic on the grounds. Head 120 steps down to the beach or walk the nature trail.
Splish Splash
Fun in the sun is what it’s all about at Splish Splash water park in Calverton, which has been rated as one of the top water parks in the country.
More Fun Stuff To Do With Kids
White Post Farms, Melville –Little ones get the opportunity to hand and bottle feed goats, interact with birds in the free flight aviary and encounter more exotic animals like kangaroos and lemurs.
Long Island Game Farm, Manorville – The largest children’s zoo and wildlife park on Long Island, the Long Island Game Farm has been a part of family memories on Long island for almost 50 years. Here the kids can get up close and personal with baby animals, deer, camels and more.
Long Island Ducks Baseball, Central Islip – A fun baseball experience that comes at a much friendlier price tag than a major league game. Arrive early as Duck players sign autographs 15 minutes before starting time. Not only will the kids have a blast cheering on the Atlantic League Champions (2004, 2012 and 2013), they’ll love Quackerjack the mascot and running the bases after the game. Fireworks on select nights.
Riverhead Raceway – Built in 1949, this is one of the oldest stock car race tracks in the country and the only NASCAR stock car track in the New York metropolitan area. There are 5 to 6 racing divisions every Saturday night with an average car count of 150 cars, and special shows such as the Demolition Derby.
Fish Hatchery, Cold Spring Harbor – A former trout hatchery, this non-profit educational center teaches visitors about the freshwater ecosystems of New York. While you are here you can check out the largest living collection of fresh water reptiles, fish and amphibians in New York State, tour the two aquarium buildings and eight outdoor ponds and even feed the trout.
Outlet Shopping
Retail therapy feels even better in the pleasant outdoor setting of the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park and Riverhead. Aside from great deals on designer brands, they also have places to eat, occasional special events and both locations have a movie theater, so it’s fun for the whole family.
Go Camping
Get in touch with nature at one of Long Island’s campgrounds. Consider on one of these:
Hither Hills State Park, Montauk – A 189-site campground at Hither Hills State Park on the ocean that offers a beach as well as scenic picnic areas, fireplaces, sport fishing, bridle paths and hiking, nature and biking trails. The unique “walking dunes” of Napeague Harbor are a highlight of the park.
Wildwood State Park Campground, Wading River – 600 acres of undeveloped forest that ends on a high bluff overlooking Long Island Sound. In addition to swimming and fishing in the Sounds, visitors have access to a picnic area, playground and hiking trails.
Smith Point County Park Campground, Shirley – Suffolk County’s largest oceanfront park. A popular spot for residents and tourists alike during the summer season, the park has a beach that’s great for surfing and fishing, showers, a playground, food concessions and special events. Campsites (reservations required) and outer beach camping are available (first come, first served).
Watch Hill Marina and Campground, Fire Island – Campgrounds, including 26 sand sites are in a protected area behind the dunes just a short walk to the beach. The facilities include running water, picnic tables, grills, showers and bathrooms.
Suffolk County Museums
Vanderbilt Museum, Centerport – Tour the waterfront mansion of William K. Vanderbilt and explore the museum, which includes the thousands of marine, bird and insect specimens that he collected during his oceanic expeditions and trips around the world. Don’t miss the planetarium.
Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington – The museum’s permanent collection includes 15-20th century American and European paintings, presented alongside limited time exhibitions and various programs, lectures and events.
Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum – Located in Cold Spring Harbor, which was a whaling port in the 19th Century. Highlights include a scrimshaw collection, ship models, artifacts and tools used by whalers, and New York State’s only fully-equipped 19th century whaleboat with original gear.
The Long Island Aquarium
Among numerous indoor and outdoor exhibits of marine and other wildlife, the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead boasts a massive coral reef display, shark tank and year-round sea lion shows. The fairly small size of the Atlantis-themed aquarium allows for lots of up-close-and-personal experiences, including touch tanks and other interactive encounters such as sea lion selfies and penguin meet and greets. On a nice day, the 90 minute Atlantis Explorer Boat Tour down the Peconic River is a relaxing and educational trip.
Spend a Day in Port Jeff
And we can’t leave out a day in Port Jefferson. With a variety of restaurants (Old Fields, The Pie, The Fifth Season), fun food stops (Toast Coffee House, The Secret Garden Tea Room, Sweet n’ Savory Creperie Crepe and Rice Pudding Bar), unique shops and popular retail stores, it’s no wonder that this waterfront village is a summer hotspot. From here, you can also take the ferry to Connecticut.
Prefer a Tent? Go Platform Camping in the Everglades
Camping in the Everglades is an experience you’ll never forget. Head to the southern end of Everglades National Park. There, you can rent a canoe to take you over the water (keep an eye out for dolphins!) and toward the Pearl Bay Chickees.
Traditional chickee huts are sheltered overwater wooden camping platforms where you can set up your tent for the night – your very own rented island in the Everglades!
Beach Camping in the Florida Keys
Picture yourself waking up in the morning and unzipping your tent to the sound of waves, then spending the day swaying in a hammock or swimming at the beach. Perhaps you enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride before gathering around the campfire under a sea of stars and tucking back into your sleeping bag at night. It’s all possible at Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Other tent camping sites in the Keys include Bahia Honda State Park and Long Key State Park.
If the beginning of summer on Long Island had a flavor, it would probably taste like strawberries. As June rolls around, signs on every main road on the East End point in the direction of U-Pick strawberries. It’s a quintessential mark of the season and a patiently-awaited tradition for many. Simply put, strawberry picking on Long Island is an annual must-do!
Each year, families and strawberry fans visit Long Island’s U-Pick strawberry fields in droves, eager to get their hands on the freshest, juiciest berries of the lot, and experience the distinct sweetness of just-harvested strawberries while they are at their peak. Depending on the weather, the short-lived season only lasts from late May through early July at the latest.
Like many locals, strawberry picking on Long Island has become a tradition for me. At the height of the season, Lewin Farms is an especially popular spot; from the street you can spot dozens of people lined up at the farm stand with armfuls of U-Pick strawberries destined for jam, pies, ice cream and cereal bowls.
I’ve also tried Glover Farms in Brookhaven. Watch the video below to get a peek at my visit to their strawberry fields.
When the supply is fleeting and the reward is so delicious, people are willing to put in the work for strawberries. I’ll admit, it’s hard to stop. I always find myself traveling farther and farther down the rows of bushes in search of the biggest, brightest berries I could get my hands on. And when they no longer fit in my pint, I just start eating them straight off the vine.
Bright red throughout and still warm from the sun, freshly picked strawberries taste as if they have already been marinating in sugar syrup for days. It’s almost like eating a totally different fruit from what you would find in the grocery store.
When something tastes so good naturally, it’s best to enjoy it simply. That’s Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht’s theory, farmer at Garden of Eve Organic Farm and Market in Riverhead, which offers strawberry picking. After you go strawberry picking on Long Island at Garden of Eve or any of the U-Pick fields below, you can enjoy her recipe for fresh strawberries with cream when you get home.
Fresh Strawberries With Cream Recipe provided by Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht of Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market
Wash and hull strawberries (remove tops), cut into quarters lengthwise. Toss with a sprinkle of granulated sugar.
Mix approximately one cup whole cream (ideally from grassfed cows) with a teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon sugar.
Whip till stiff and spoon over strawberries. Delicious!
Eat plain, with shortbread if available, or with any fluffy vanilla flavor cake or cookie.
Strawberry Picking on Long Island: U-Pick Strawberries
Check websites and socials or call for updates on openings and hours.
Strawberries with green or white coloring do not yield as much flavor and will not continue to ripen after they are picked, so look for the biggest, reddest, juiciest ones that you can find and use them as soon as possible.
Always call the farm beforehand to make sure that their U-Pick field is ready and open when you are planning to go. Farms usually close when the weather is bad and on weekends when it is crowded they will sometimes limit supply.
Also check the farm’s website for field rules; some require you to bring your own container, while others only allow you to use the ones that they provide. They generally charge by the pint or the pound.
Strawberry picking on Long Island is only available for about a month, so go out and get them while you can! Not only is it a fun day out with the family, it is a great way to support local farms and gain a closer connection to the food we eat.
Make it a long weekend! Book a hotel on Long Island’s East End with AAA.
What’s your favorite place to go strawberry picking on Long Island? Let us know in the comments!
The best-laid plans of travelers often go awry. The weather and life – and thus travel – are unpredictable. From headaches like lost baggage to emergencies that can interrupt or cancel your trip, travel insurance can save you from the unplanned.
Increased apprehension over health outbreaks, natural disasters and fear of terrorism have caused a rise in travelers’ desire to seek extra protection from travel insurance. The COVID-19 pandemic especially increased awareness of how quickly our travel plans can change. Now more than ever it seems too high of a gamble to go without some kind of coverage.
“Travel insurance covers so many different scenarios in people’s lives,” said Wendy Marley, a AAA Northeast travel agent in the Newton, Mass., branch. “It covers their family members, travel delays, missed ports of call [for cruises] or emergencies that happen while they are traveling.”
Here’s how AAA travel insurance partner Allianz Global Assistance helps to ease top traveler concerns.
Hurricanes and Natural Disasters
June through November is a great time for travel deals, but it also happens to be hurricane season. Remember, insurance is designed to protect against the unexpected. Once a storm or weather event such as a wildfire or earthquake is tracked and/or named, it’s considered “known and foreseeable.” A policy purchased on or after the date the National Weather Service issues a warning will not cover losses related to the event.
Medical Emergencies
Unfortunately, no one’s immune to getting sick on vacation. Caroline Haylett, a AAA Northeast travel advisor in the Narragansett, R.I., branch recalls a trip where a grandfather traveling with a family of six fell ill in the Bahamas and was hospitalized for two weeks. “Not only did [travel insurance] pay for his medical bills and the transportation back to the U.S.,” Haylett said, “they also covered the accommodation for the entire family to stay abroad, as well as their airfare back home.”
Travel insurance ensures that any medical care you might need abroad does not get lost in translation. Many U.S. plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, do not cover international travel or out-of-country emergency medical transportation. Without coverage, a medical evacuation can cost more than $50,000.
Health Outbreaks
Most travel protection plans exclude losses caused directly or indirectly by an epidemic, as in the case of COVID-19. Like storms, once a health alert is issued it is considered a “known event” and excluded from coverage.
“Cancel anytime” or “cancel for any reason” insurance comes at an additional cost and provides the most options to travelers, but even these policies may include exclusions due to known events or an epidemic.
Marley has noticed an increased awareness of such travel insurance limits. “While people are more willing to take the insurance, they are more savvy in calculating their risk to the point where I send multi-levels of coverage policy quotes,” she said. “It still takes time to go over all of the benefits of insurance but most people come around once you do.”
Terrorism
Terror attacks can occur anywhere at any time, although the risk is higher in some places more than others. In order to be covered, a terror event must not occur within 25 miles of any city (U.S. or foreign) you are traveling to within 30 days of your certificate’s coverage effective date.
Before traveling anywhere abroad, check the State Department website for travel advisories on potential dangers related to health, politics and violence.
Delays and Cancellations
Delays and cancellations happen. In 2023, there were nearly 87,943 domestic flights canceled and over 1.3 million delayed, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But the coverage that airlines and credit cards offer for these inconveniences is limited. With travel insurance, a covered delay can mean cash for rebooking fees, meals and accommodations. Similarly, if you are renting a car, you will get more for your dollar than what is provided by a standard car rental policy.
Tour Company Closes
What happens if the company you used to plan your trip goes out of business after you’ve already paid upfront expenses for your cruise, flight or excursions? If you make sure to secure travel insurance first, you’ll be less likely to have to pay for an experience you won’t have.
Tips
Most people purchase the one-off insurance on a per-trip basis, but if you travel a lot throughout the year (two to three times per year), you should consider an annual plan. It may work out better for you cost-wise.
Keep in mind that the earlier you buy travel insurance, the bigger your coverage window. The best time to buy is as soon as you place your initial deposit or payment for vacation. And always read over your policy carefully, including the fine print. Talk to your AAA travel advisor if you have any questions.
Travel should be as stress-free as possible. Your biggest worry should be how many 3.4-ounce liquids you can fit into the 1-quart bag in your carry-on. Let your travel insurance take on the heavier burdens.
From selecting eco-friendly lodging to opting for less carbon-intensive activities and transportation, here’s how to minimize your impact on the environment when visiting the Caribbean.
Home to some of the most beautiful beaches and landscapes in the world, the Caribbean attracts millions of tourists each year in search of sun, sand and relaxation. The hundreds of islands scattered throughout the region are more reliant on tourism than any other part of the world.
The stunning beauty of the Caribbean, however, is also vulnerable to the impacts of so many visitors. Recognizing this fact, governments and tour operators from across the islands have come together to create a variety of eco-tourism initiatives ranging from protecting biodiversity to adopting clean energy programs.
There are also several Caribbean resorts that are not only focused on sustainable operations but have also begun including environmental education and activities for guests among their offerings.
If a tropical island vacation is in your future, here’s your sustainable Caribbean travel guide.
Best Times to Travel to the Caribbean
Sunny days are what most visitors are seeking in the Caribbean and the driest months of the year here are from February through May. The wettest months, on the other hand, are June through November, which is the region’s notorious hurricane season.
You may also want to avoid visiting during the high season, which is November through April. Not only are flights to the islands more expensive, but you’ll pay a steeper price for lodging. What’s more, the burden of large numbers of tourists visiting all at once, such as during the high season, can be especially taxing for local resources and the environment.
How to Get Around
Getting to the Caribbean will likely involve a fossil fuel-intensive plane journey. But once you’ve arrived, you can minimize your environmental impact by practicing slow travel. This is an approach to exploring the world that involves picking just a few places while on vacation and staying put for several days. In the Caribbean, consider spending time on just one island, or maybe two, rather than busily island hopping.
While on an island, opt for no-carbon modes of getting around like biking, hiking and walking. You can also minimize your carbon footprint by taking local public transport.
If you do choose to visit a few different islands in the region during your vacation, consider using ferry services. For instance, L’Express connects a handful of islands including Dominique, Martinique and Saint Lucia. There’s also an inter-island ferry between Trinidad and Tobago. Similarly, Makana Ferry serves the islands of Saint Kitts, Saint Maarten and Saba.
Ethical Activities
The Caribbean is known for its abundance of outdoor activities, such as kayaking, snorkeling, hiking and biking. There is also a long list of eco-reserves and nature-filled national parks throughout the islands.
In the Bahamas, for instance, you can spend time exploring Lucayan National Park, a 40-acre preserve featuring an underwater cave system, pine forests, mangrove creeks and coral reefs. In Jamaica, don’t miss Mayfield Falls, the location of two waterfalls and about 21 natural pools. While in Turks and Caicos, explore Iguana Island (also known as Little Water Cay), which is a tiny, undeveloped island that’s a sanctuary for the rock iguana; all you’ll find on Little Water Caye are nature trails, sunbathing iguanas and pristine beaches.
Sustainable Hotels
Throughout the Caribbean, numerous hotels and resorts have adopted extensive sustainability programs and have elevated eco-friendly operations to inspiring new levels.
On Eagle Beach in Aruba, the Bucuti & Tara resort has not only been named one of the top 25 hotels in the world but also boasts being the first carbon-neutral resort in all North America. The property implements an extensive sustainability program. Highlights include having the lowest per-occupied-room electricity usage rate of all hotels in Aruba and using biodegradable and environmentally friendly detergents.
Among the most eco-friendly properties in the Bahamas is Tiamo Resort, where the 11 villas were all constructed from sustainable pine wood. Each guest villa is also elevated on stilts, which allows for natural cooling and ventilation, further minimizing the property’s environmental impact. What’s more, all property supplies are locally sourced and organic whenever possible.
The AAA Four Diamond Designated Seven Stars Resort & Spa in Turks and Caicos is also doing its part to protect the planet. Efforts include providing guests with refillable water bottles upon check-in, integrating reusable cups and biodegradable straws into its food services, hosting organized beach clean-ups and installing an underground water collection and recycling system.
The climate- and eco-initiatives at the AAA Four Diamond Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, are equally admirable. The property plans to be carbon neutral by 2025. In the meantime, Jamaica Inn is already using renewable energy, composting and recycling wastewater, and has eliminated the use of Styrofoam products on the property.
What to Eat
The cuisine in the Caribbean is as varied as the number of islands in the region. In many places, dining options are informed by a melting pot of influences including Spanish, French, English and African cultures. Throughout the region, seafood is a staple on most menus.
More recently, hotels and resorts have started incorporating foods made from their own organic gardens and locally sourced producers. On islands like Puerto Rico and St. Croix, and many places in between, climate-conscious eaters will find farm-to-table dining is becoming increasingly common. And for those visiting Turks and Caicos, don’t miss experiencing food from Seven Stars Resort & Spa’s own hydroponic, sustainable, insecticide-free container farm.
Learn how AAA Northeast is becoming more sustainable. Visit AAA.com/ESG to read about our environmental, social and governance initiatives and how we are progressing on these goals.
AAA’s sustainable travel series is written in partnership with Kind Traveler, a women-and-veteran-owned public benefit corporation empowering travelers to make a positive impact in local communities, and contributing writer, Mia Taylor.
Traveling can be rewarding and exciting, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming at times. Fortunately, with the help of technology, there are many apps available that were designed solely to make your vacation easier, better and more fluent between bon voyage and home sweet home. From booking flights and accommodations to finding the best local restaurants, here are a few of the best apps for travel.
Airline Apps
Have the latest updates at your fingertips with your airline’s app. More than just your general flight information, airline apps are always refreshing to detect any deviations on your journey, including gate changes and delays. Make sure to also sign up for alerts so you never miss a thing.
Need to find a bathroom on the go? The Flush app makes finding public restrooms easy with over 200,000 locations in its database worldwide and even has step-by-step directions on how to locate them quickly. It’ll even tell you which restrooms are accessible, need a code to enter or require payment.
XE Currency is a helpful app for converting currency when traveling internationally. It provides real-time exchange rates for over 180 currencies and allows you to set up rate alerts to notify you when the exchange rate reaches a certain level. Don’t forget to exchange currency before you go at your nearest AAA branch.
Google Translate is a language translation app that can help you communicate with locals in foreign countries. It allows you to translate text, voice and even images in over 100 languages.
PackPoint is a packing list app that helps you pack for your trip based on the length of your stay, the weather at your destination and the activities you have planned. It can save you time and ensure that you don’t forget any essentials.
LoungeBuddy is an app that helps you find and book airport lounges around the world. It allows you to access amenities such as free Wi-Fi, food and beverages, and comfortable seating while waiting for your flight.
Uber is a ride-sharing app that allows you to quickly and easily get around in cities all over the world. It provides a reliable and safe transportation option, especially in areas where public transportation is limited.
If you’re planning to rent a car during your trip, the Hertz car rental app helps you book and keep track of your reservation so pick up and drop off are a breeze. Plus, your AAA membership gets you discounts up to 20% on most rentals, free unlimited mileage and more.
Splitwise is an app that keeps track of any shared expenses between you and your travel mates, so you can worry less about splitting the check and focus more on enjoying yourself. All of your IOU’s are stored in one place, so it’s easy to see what you owe (and what others owe you) at a glance. After all is set and done, just tap “Settle up” to pay back.
Of course, no list of travel apps is complete without the AAA Auto Club app. More than just your membership on-the-go, AAA Auto Club allows you to navigate maps or TripTiks, request and track roadside assistance, find the cheapest gas near you, book hotels, flights and rental cars as well as search for discounts on shopping, dining and more.
One More Tip
It’s not an app, but if you’re traveling, your wireless carrier can make a big difference. T-Mobile makes traveling a breeze with benefits like no-hassle calling, texting and browsing in Mexico and Canada. T-Mobile users also get full in-flight WiFi so you can stay connected even when you’re in the air. Plus, you can use your device as a mobile hotspot no matter where you go. If you have their Go5G Plus plan, you’ll get high-speed data in over 215 countries. Now that’s a plan for a traveler.
Want to make the switch before your next vacation? AAA members can get up to $100 when they switch to T-Mobile.
What do you think are the best apps for travel? Share your favorites in the comments below.
There’s an app for just about every travel need, but nothing beats the personalized experience a AAA travel advisor can provide. From planning to finding great deals and booking all the details, let an advisor help you with your next trip.
What’s in a car name – or a logo? Naturally, car manufacturers put a lot of thought into the icons that represent their brand. And while most are immediately recognizable, they are not always easily decipherable. Inspired by family crests to mythical gods to the night sky, all car logos and names have a story.
(Photo: Courtesy of Acura)
Acura
At first glance, Acura’s logo appears to be a stylized letter “A.” Some have suggested that it could also read as an “H,” which would make sense given that Acura’s parent company is Honda. But according to the manufacturer, the symbol is not a letter, but an image of a caliper. A caliper is an instrument used in science and engineering to precisely measure the thickness an object. This explanation makes more sense when you learn that the word “Acura” is derived from the Latin word “acu,” meaning “done with precision” or “mechanically precise.”
(Photo: Courtesy of FCA)
Alfa Romeo
Of all the car brand logos in existence today, Alfa Romeo’s may be the most unique, or at least the most ornate. The logo design combines symbols of Milan – the birthplace of the company – and the House of Visconti, the elite ruling family of Milan in the Middle Ages.
The Milanese cross dates to the time of the Crusades; Milanese soldiers wore the symbol in battle and included it as part of the city’s coat of arms. The biscione or “large snake” is an important figure in Milanese history, adopted by the Visconti family. The man emerging from the serpent’s mouth represents rebirth, and the crown is symbolic of Alfa Romeo’s world racing championship status.
(Photo: Courtesy of Audi)
Audi
The meaning behind Audi’s four-ring emblem is straightforward enough: it symbolizes the four automobile manufacturers – Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer – that merged together to form the company.
How the name Audi came into existence was slightly more creative. Engineer August Horch began his car-building career by founding the Horch & Cie company in 1899. After encountering differences with the board, he left to form another car company. However, his surname was still a Horch & Cie trademark. While trying to choose a new company name, the son of one of Horch’s business partners suggested using the Latin translation of the engineer’s name. In German, “Horch” means “hark” or “hear.” In Latin, “Audi” means “to listen.”
The new BMW logo, as seen on a concept i4, was just announced in March 2020. (Photo: Courtesy of BMW)
BMW
It has long been held that the BMW logo represented spinning propellers against a blue sky, a nod to the company’s history of making aircraft engines in the early 1900s. This is not the case, according to the company. The original logo was based on that of the Rapp Motorenwerke company, from which BMW was established. That logo was circular with “Rapp Motor” written around the edges. The German car manufacturer replaced the text with “BMW” and as an homage to its home state, painted the interior the Bavarian colors of blue and white.
So how did the propeller rumor start? It could have been a 1929 ad promoting a new aircraft engine BMW was building, which showed an airplane with the BMW logo in the rotating propeller.
While not technically its origin story, BMW has seemed to embrace the propeller idea over the years. On its website, Fred Jakobs of BMW Group Classic states that, “For a long time, BMW made little effort to correct the myth that the BMW badge is a propeller … This interpretation has been commonplace for 90 years, so in the meantime it has acquired a certain justification.”
(Photo: Courtesy of GM)
Buick
The tri-shield design of Buick’s car logo is based on the ancestral coat of arms of founder David Dunbar Buick’s family. “A designer researching the Buick family history at the Detroit Public Library in the 1930s found a description of the ancestral coat of arms in an approximately 80-year-old book of heraldry,” according to the marque. Buick’s familial roots were in Scotland and while the book didn’t have an illustration of the crest, it described a red shield with a contrasting, checkered line bisecting it from the upper-left to the lower-right corners.”
(Photo: Courtesy of GM)
Cadillac
The Cadillac company was named after Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac, the man who founded Detroit. The manufacturer honored the French explorer not just in its name but also in its logo, which is roughly based on his family crest.
Though it has since evolved, for many years Cadillac famously featured what looked like ducks in its logo. The birds represented mythical creatures called merlettes, which were often used as a knight symbol and appeared in groups of three to represent the Holy Trinity.
Chevy co-founder William C. Durant introduced the logo in 1913 and claimed that the symbol was inspired by a wallpaper design he saw in a Paris hotel room. Durant’s daughter Margery would later say that her father would doodle nameplate designs during dinner. Years later, Durant’s widow Catherine said in an interview that the logo was inspired by a design in a newspaper ad. The final theory is that the bow tie is a stylized version of the Swiss flag cross; Durant’s partner and company namesake Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland.
(Photo: Courtesy of Ferrari)
Ferrari
Founder Enzo Ferrari adorned his racing cars with the prancing black horse in honor of Italian Air Force ace pilot and national hero of World War I Francesco Baracca, who had the same design on his plane. Years after Baracca’s death, his parents asked Ferrari to use the image, suggesting it would bring him luck. Canary yellow, the city color of Ferrari’s hometown of Modena, Italy, was used as a background to complete the image.
(Photo: Courtesy of Hyundai)
Hyundai
Yes, the Hyundai’s logo is a stylized “H.” However, the image is meant to depict two people, the company and the customer, shaking hands. The company states that this logo represents Hyundai’s promise to its customers.
(Photo: Courtesy of Infiniti)
Infiniti
Nissan created the Infiniti marque to be a line of luxury vehicles. The logo the company designed depicts two central lines stretching into the horizon, symbolizing an endless road forward. Some have also suggested that the logo is a representation of Mount Fuji as a nod to Nissan’s Japanese roots, or that the logo is a play on a lemniscate, the mathematics symbol for infinity.
(Photo: Courtesy of Lamborghini)
Lamborghini
Choosing the design of the Lamborghini logo was rather benign; founder Ferruccio Lamborghini had a passion for bullfighting and his astrological sign was Taurus, the bull. It’s the the story behind the colors that’s interesting. Legend has it that Lamborghini used the inverse color scheme of Ferrari’s logo in order to prod its competition. Lamborghini has a gold animal (a bull) with a black background. Ferrari has a black animal (a horse) with a gold background.
(Photo: Courtesy of Maserati)
Maserati
The Maserati logo is unique in that it has existed since the creation of the company and has remained for nearly a century, virtually unchanged. Around 1920, the manufacturer needed a logo that it hoped would make their car stand apart. The family commissioned artist Mario Maserati, the sixth Maserati brother and the only one uninterested in engines.
Mario was inspired by the Fountain of Neptune in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, where the Maserati brothers established their company. The statute depicts Neptune holding a trident, a symbol of strength and vigor. Thus, the trident logo was born. The red and blue colors of the Bologna banner adorn the image. Maserati states that, “The Trident underlines the exclusive status of the firm’s cars and their identity as masterpieces of elegance, luxury and sports-car performance.”
(Photo: Courtesy of Mazda)
Mazda
Mazda has utilized several different logos since its inception in the 1930s. The current logo was released in 1998 with a slight update in 2015. The symbol depicts a pair of V-shaped wings inside an oval, collectively forming the letter “M.” According to the company, the wings represent Mazda’s determination to “pursue ongoing improvements to drive powerful, continuous growth.”
(Photo: Courtesy of Daimler)
Mercedes-Benz
Before it became the Mercedes-Benz logo, the three-pointed star was first used on a postcard. Co-founder Gottlieb Daimler used the symbol to mark his family’s house on a postcard depicting a view of the town of Deutz during the time he was working as technical director of Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz. Following Daimler’s passing, his sons Paul and Adolf Daimler adapted a three-pointed star for use as the brand logo. Afterward, Mercedes-Benz has stated that the logo represents the company’s ambition of universal motorization on land, air and sea.
(Photo: Courtesy of Mitsubishi)
Mitsubishi
“Mitsubishi” is the combination of two Japanese words. “Mitsu” means three. “Hishi” means water chestnut, but the Japanese have long used the word to refer to a diamond shape, in lieu of the water chestnut’s diamond-shaped leaves. Mitsubishi founder Yataro Iwasaki chose the symbol as a reference to the three-leaf crest of his first employer, the Tosa Clan, and his family’s crest of three stacked rhombuses.
(Photo: Courtesy of Porsche)
Porsche
The Porsche logo combines the coat of arms of the former German state of Württemberg and its capital city Stuttgart. The Porsche headquarters are located in Stuttgart. The horse on the logo was taken from Stuttgart’s coat of arms. The antlers and red and black stripes were adopted from the crest of the Kingdom of Württemberg.
(Photo: Courtesy of FCA)
Ram
The Ram’s head logo that is now synonymous with the Ram trucks debuted in the 1930s as a hood ornament on all Dodge cars. Sculptor Avard T. Fairbanks designed the ornament as a symbol of vehicles that were swift, strong, sure, and proud.
After working out several different designs in clay, including a lion, tiger and jaguar, Fairbanks presented a leaping ram to owner Walter P. Chrysler and several other executives, according to Ram. Fairbanks chose the ram because, “It’s sure footed; it’s the king of the trail; and it won’t be challenged by anything.” Eventually, the Ram name was given to the marque’s line of trucks.
(Photo: Courtesy of Subaru)
Subaru
The Subaru logo is a reference to the most visible stars in Pleiades, a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus. Subaru is the Japanese name for the Pleiades cluster. Why name a car brand after a group of heavenly bodies? The logo has another significant meaning. The merger of five smaller companies created Subaru’s parent company FujiHeavy Industries. In the logo, the large star represents FHI and the five smaller stars symbolize the merged companies.
The Toyota logo consists of three overlapping ellipses, two of which spell out the letter “T.” According to the manufacturer, the ellipses “symbolize the unification of the hearts of our customers and the heart of Toyota products.”
(Photo: Courtesy of Volvo)
Volvo
Volvo began as a manufacturer of ball bearings, which helps explain its name. “Volvere” means “to roll” in Latin, thus “volvo” translates to “I roll.” When Volvo began producing cars, it utilized the ancient symbol for iron, a circle with an arrow pointing diagonally upwards to the right, as its logo. (This symbol was originally used to represent Mars, the Roman god of warfare. An early connection was made between the Mars symbol and the material from which most weapons of war were made of – iron.) For Volvo, their adapted logo symbolizes steel and strength with properties such as safety, quality and durability.
What is your favorite car brand logo backstory? Is there any that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
The miles of rolling hills, sparkling lake views and sunsets that dip into the distant peaks and ridges of the Adirondack and Green Mountains make the Lake Champlain Region of New York a vision of summertime magic.
Summer is the perfect time to get outside and dig into all the region has to offer. Come and explore the mountains, lakes and historical sites. Immerse yourself in the local communities, and sample some of the area’s freshest foods.
Here are a few highlights to bookmark for your visit.
You’ll find a hefty dose of history and culture in the Lake Champlain Region.
First up: Historic Ausable Chasm. Known as the “Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks,” this sandstone gorge offers breathtaking waterfalls and cliffside trails. Besides hiking and climbing, visitors can follow a trail suspended over the Ausable River and enjoy rafting and canoeing down below.
Next, head to 2,000-acre Fort Ticonderoga, where 18th century history comes alive with daily weapon demonstrations, cannon firings, fife and drum parades and stories about the lives of soldiers stationed there throughout different conflicts. Built by the French between 1755 and 1757, the fort later was taken by the British and then continental militia. Visit the museum with one of the largest collections of 18th-century military artifacts in North America and exhibitions about art, gardening and cooking. Then, take a relaxing happy hour cruise on Lake Champlain aboard the Carillon, a 1920s era tour boat.
For more recent history, take the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour in Ticonderoga and step back to 1966. Guided tours, photo opportunities and an immersive experience are available at this mockup of a Star Trek set.
Keep It Fresh
All that hiking, boating, swimming and living history works up an appetite. Did you know the Lake Champlain Region is brimming with some of the best year-round farmers markets and farm-to-table restaurants in the Adirondacks? Take advantage of the local bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sink your teeth into the region’s farms and flavors at Essex Food Hub markets, located in both Essex and Westport, or ‘Agri-Alley,” a meeting of three farms on Mace Chasm Road near Ausable Chasm. Everything from formal dining to lunch and midday treats are on the menus!
Cool Off With Watersports
Stay active and cool when boating or paddling on glittering Lake Champlain, the sixth-largest lake in the country. Take a swim off one of the many lake beaches or camp by a local pond. Why not charter a fishing boat or take your boat out into “The Narrows,” a slice of water rich with old shipwrecks and geological wonders?
Hike the Champlain Area Trails
The Champlain Area Trails (or CATS) is a network of gently rolling hills, meadows, crests and water features. The more than 200 miles of trails, have been wowing birders, hikers and casual strollers looking for a slice of paradise in New York for years. Looking for a less strenuous outing? Take your pick from an assortment of scenic walks through downtowns and forests, many less than a mile long and ideal for all ages and abilities. The Boquet River Nature Preserve trail meets Federal Accessibility Guidelines so come out stroll this beautiful 1.15 mile long trail.
Road Cycling
If you like road biking, strap on your helmet and pedal off to the Adirondack Coast Bikeways, a network of 14 themed loops included in the 1,600 miles of the Lake Champlain Bikeways, which circle Lake Champlain and go as far as Quebec. Consult the Lake Champlain bikeways map and pick a route filled with scenery and historic sites. Connect with a section of the Empire State Trail, 110 miles of which pass through the Champlain Valley.
Charming Towns
Westport, N.Y., the birthplace of the Adirondack Chair, offers art galleries and the Split Rock Wild Mountain Forest Preserve, featuring more than 11 miles of hiking trails. While you are there, try to catch a show at the Depot Theatre – located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station.
Essex is where you will find the Adirondack Art Association, featuring works by local artists. Stop in the hamlet of Port Henry, to see if you can spot Champ, the Lake Champlain Monster, or climb the fire tower at the summit of Belfry Mountain.
Elizabethtown, located on the Bouquet River, features the Adirondack History Museum and the Rosenberg Gallery, which specializes in Adirondack art, not to mention farmers’ markets.
And in Crown Point, you can visit the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse or even take the walk to Vermont over the Lake Champlain Bridge Heritage Area.
Fad diets seem to come and go as quickly as the pounds they promise to melt off. So, at first glance, a menu that allows plenty of meals and snacking – not to mention morning coffee, red wine and tea – seems like just another food fantasy.
Not so, say nutritional researchers and longevity experts who are encouraging people of all ages to aspire to a Blue Zone lifestyle.
Somewhat mysteriously, people living in the five Blue Zones (Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, Calif.) tend to live longer than anywhere else on Earth and have a higher percentage of centenarians (people who are over 100 years old).
But Dan Buettner says there’s really no mystery behind the longevity.
“The calculus of aging offers us two options: We can live a shorter life with more years of disability, or we can live the longest possible life with the fewest bad years,” said the National Geographic Fellow and New York Times best-selling author who discovered the zones. “As my centenarian friends showed me, the choice is largely up to us.”
Indeed, beyond red wine and coffee, Blue Zone locals eat a mostly plant-based diet high in whole grains, greens, sweet potatoes, nuts and beans. In fact, Buettner claims that eating just a cup of beans a day alone could add two to three years to your life.
In addition to diet, community involvement, social activity and a sense of purpose are key to embracing a Blue Zone mentality and lifestyle.
People living on the healthier side of life and maintaining a good weight due to diet and exercise typically receive the best life insurance rate offerings, too.
“No matter what risk you may be, it’s recommended to see your primary doctor once a year to get labs and any recommended testing your doctor may order completed,” said Brenda Silva, a AAA Northeast life insurance specialist. “Life insurance companies weigh their decisions very highly on what they review in your medical records and like to see that you are maintaining good health.”
Lastly, don’t forget to hit the hills every day. As it turns out, Blue Zone citizens live in hilly geographies and tend to be active walkers as opposed to sedentary sitters who drive everywhere. Need to get out more? Try an Active & Fit Direct subscription, or get personal training anywhere with Future.
Indeed, aspiring to live like the folks in Blue Zones shows there’s really no big secret to living a longer, happier life. Eat healthy, get exercise and have fun with your friends, and you’re more likely to be dancing the night away at your 100th birthday party.
To learn about life insurance options, visit AAA.com/Life.
The Bronx’s Little Italy, located in the Belmont neighborhood of the city’s northernmost borough, has historically existed along Arthur Avenue and East 187th Street. Today, it spills over to a roughly six-block area that includes pockets of Chinese, Albanian, Puerto Rican and Mexican communities. While many locals and tourists know of Manhattan’s Little Italy in the downtown area of the city, Italian Americans in the Bronx will argue there’s no contest between the two.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a wave of Italian immigrants to the neighborhood brought their culture, and most important to our interests here, their food to the Bronx. Over a century later, New Yorkers are still reaping the delicious benefits of the migration of early working-class Italian immigrants and the food they cooked and sold. While that food culture came from Italy, the Italian American hybrid that was created is its own unique cuisine, and there is perhaps no better place to find that cuisine than Little Italy in the Bronx.
Here are some of the neighborhood’s must-visit establishments.
Founded 48 years ago, Calabria Pork Store is the last remaining salumeria on Arthur Avenue. While they stock packaged grocery items, Calabria Pork Store is specifically a cathedral to all things pork – dry sausage “chandeliers” dangle from the ceiling like monuments to cured meats. Order staples like prosciutto, soppressata and hot sausage by the pound.
Entering Dominick’s is like walking into a stranger’s family dinner and being accepted into the fold immediately. Long tables are often shared with other patrons, and they are adorned with baskets of fresh house bread, red wine and generous portions of all the old-school Italian American classics you can eat. Opt for sharing family style and enjoy a mammoth-sized stuffed artichoke, ravioli drizzled with olive oil and covered with red sauce or the linguini with white clam sauce.
Emilia’s is a great lunch option, teeming with all the Italian American classics you could want and a back patio that welcomes in sunlight. It’s all about the gnocchi at Emilia’s. The delicious miniature dumplings of flour and potato are made by hand in-house and served in a Bolognese sauce.
The pizza chefs at Full Moon Pizza have perfected their craft – a crispy, thin crust and only the best toppings. Specialty slices like chicken parm or BBQ chicken have excellent flavor without overwhelming the pizza.
Joe’s Italian Deli has been providing the Bronx with fully loaded sandwiches, prepared foods, groceries, cheeses and meats since 1979. If you’re new to Joe’s, try some homemade cheese like scarmoza, the Southern Italian cheese made with pieces of sun-dried tomatoes, olives and arugula, or opt for their highly sought after mozzarella.
Randazzo’s is a seafood market that’s open year-round. Ask for a dozen clams or oysters to be shucked open and placed on a platter alongside a wedge of lemon and eat them how they’re supposed to be eaten: swimming in their own seawater brine.
While also a pizzeria, Tony and Tina’s is most well known for their burek, an Albanian favorite that is part pastry, part savory pie. Flakey phyllo dough crust is filled with meat, cheese, pumpkin or spinach creating a multi-textural, crunchy and chewy treat. Make sure to drizzle a spoonful of their tangy homemade yogurt over the top of your burek for the full experience.
Artuso Pastry Shop is the go-to bakery in the Bronx’s Little Italy for sfogliatelle, the shell-shaped pastry with a ricotta and citrus cream filling that is commonly known as “lobster tail” in the States. The sfogliatelle at Artuso’s has a flakey outside, a soft and sweet filling and is generously sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar.
Gino’s is an old school bakery with excellent prices and a cannoli that will imprint itself on your brain. The cannoli are fresh and filled with ricotta cream upon ordering. They have a crunchy outer shell and are dipped in pistachio or chocolate chips.
Madonia Bakery has been baking bread on Arthur Avenue since 1918. The smell of fresh bread hits you on the street before you even enter. Choices are plentiful, with savory breads like their ciccola (pane con ciccioli), which is baked with rendered pieces of pork fat, and sweet options like cranberry walnut bread.
Visit Morrone Pastry Shop and Cafe for an after-dinner gelato and a cappuccino. The outdoor seats are perfect for people watching as crowds of hungry patrons navigate their way along Arthur Avenue. Sit and reflect on your day and plan your next visit to Little Italy.
Have you been to the Bronx’s Little Italy? What is your favorite thing to eat there? Tell us in the comments.
Planning a trip from start to finish can be exciting, but it also takes a lot of time and work. While you’ve likely dreamed up all kinds of travel adventures, turning them into a reality is another story.
The challenge of travel planning is the details: sticking to your budget, figuring out where to stay and eat, booking activities and tour reservations. Plus, there’s the particulars you might not be thinking of, like currency exchange, transportation and travel insurance. Now, especially with the ever-changing travel landscape, it can be hard to know where to begin.
That’s where AAA travel advisors come in. If you haven’t used their expert services already, what’s keeping you from scheduling an appointment? Maybe you think they’re too expensive or that they’ll take control of your trip. Chuck Nardozza, managing director of travel sales for AAA Northeast, and Anne Lischwe, travel sales manager, have heard it all. Here, they set the record straight on 10 of the top travel advisor myths.
Myth: Travel advisors are unnecessary.
Fact: Travel advisors can offer a level of expertise, convenience and peace of mind that simply can’t be matched by booking travel online. While some travelers may prefer to be at the helm of their own travel plans, those looking for personalized advice and support should consider working with a travel advisor.
Myth: Travel advisors are expensive.
Fact: Not if you’re a AAA member! Access to thousands of travel advisors is part of your membership. We don’t charge any fees for booking your travel packages or cruise vacations (though, there is a service fee if you are booking air only.) Working with a AAA travel advisor can actually save travelers money; we have access to exclusive deals and packages that are not available to the general public. Moreover, travel advisors can help you maximize the value of your travel budget by providing insider tips and tricks.
Myth: Travel advisors only book luxury travel.
Fact: Travel advisors can help with all types of travel, from budget-friendly options to high-end luxury experiences. Simply tell your advisor what you’re looking to spend, and they’ve got you covered from car rentals to world cruises and everything in between.
Myth: Travel advisors only book packages.
Fact: “We do book travel packages and cruise vacations, but that’s not all. We can help with flights, hotels, car rentals, activities and travel insurance, too,” Nardozza said.
Myth: Travel advisors only work with large groups.
Fact: Travel advisors can help plan trips for any size group, from solo travelers to large groups, providing valuable advice, support and expertise along the way. As a matter of fact, group travel, multi-generational trips and destination weddings are booming. While these trips can be complex, travel advisors can provide personalized advice and support to ensure travelers have a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Myth: Travel advisors are for your grandparents.
Fact: Many thought the internet would shut down travel agencies for good, but that’s not the case at all. Today, there’s such an overload of information online, people are turning to travel advisors to sift through all the noise.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a return to travel advisors, even for younger generations. Some studies have shown that millennials like working with travel advisors more than boomers do, partly because booking travel is not always an easy digital experience. Millennials and Gen Z are used to one-click and done, doorstep delivery. When it comes to the many nuances of planning a trip, a travel advisor is just about as close to that as you can get!
Myth: Travel advisors only book popular destinations.
Fact: Travel advisors can help with travel to any destination, whether it’s a popular tourist spot or a remote and off-the-beaten-path location.
Myth: Travel advisors don’t have access to better deals.
Fact: Your advisor will help find you savings wherever possible. They often have access to hot deals, exclusive member perks and discounts.
Myth: Travel advisors take control of your trip.
Fact: Travel advisors are exactly that – advisors. And together, you are a team. They ask questions to understand your preferences and budget to create your perfect custom, never cookie-cutter vacation, even if all you know is that you want to go away. “Advisors are there to find your best trip,” said Lischwe. “Don’t know what you want to do or where you want to go? Tell your advisor what you like to do and what you’re interested in, and they can make suggestions and find the best option for you.”
Myth: Travel advisors work only with certain travel suppliers.
Fact: Travel advisors work with a variety of travel suppliers, including hotels, airlines, cruise lines and more, and can help you find the best options for your trip. AAA has preferred partners that cover every continent, travel type and budget to offer our members exclusive perks and unmatched service levels.
Have a question for our travel advisors? Ask away!
What do you think of these travel advisor myths? Tell us in the comments.
Moving is a big job, but it helps when you know how to get the job done right. If you have a plan for how you’re going to pack your moving truck, it can make the entire process of moving smoother. Here’s how you can pack a moving truck like a pro.
The more compact something is, the easier it will be to move. Disassemble all the furniture you can, like bedframes, dining tables and desks. You can even take the feet off of your couches and upholstered chairs if you need to save space. If you are disassembling a piece of furniture, keep all parts (including screws, bolts and other small pieces) together, so that there is no confusion when you reassemble it in your new home.
Protect Your Furniture
Even if you can’t fit your items in a box, they still need to be protected. Use furniture padding to protect the surfaces of your belongings on their journey, so that it’s harder for them to scrape against each other. Rolling up a rug? Roll it with the carpet backing on the inside and cover the outside with plastic. Most moving trucks will include hooks and loops to help secure your items with tie-downs, which help anchor your items so they don’t shift and bump into each other when you hit the road.
Get in Formation
When packing a truck, the experts at Penske recommend using the “I” formation. The heaviest items in should be flush along the front and back of the truck, with a line of heavy furniture and boxes running through the middle of the truck, creating the letter “I.” This helps the truck stay balanced and can prevent your items from being damaged.
The largest and heaviest items in your home, like your washing machine or refrigerator, should go in the moving truck before anything else. Make sure you have other people to help you carry these items – it’s probably going to be more than a two-person job. Put these items in the front of the truck, closest to the cab, and make sure they’re balanced along the width of the truck. Keep all items in an upright position.
Along the center of the truck, make a line of heavy furniture and boxes. A good strategy is to fill the center with your tables and desks, then store your heaviest boxes underneath them. On either side of the tables, you can store softer furniture items, like couches, upholstered chairs, rolled-up rugs, box springs and mattresses. Set aside all of your smallest items and boxes for later.
The back of the truck, closest to the doors, should be where you put all your additional heavy boxes to anchor the “I” formation.
Fill in the Gaps
Even after you’ve loaded in all your biggest furniture and heaviest boxes, you probably still have a lot of stuff left over. Fill in the gaps and crevices of your moving truck with your smaller items and boxes. A densely-packed truck will make sure that things don’t slide and knock into each other. This is also a good time to try and fit in your irregular-shaped items, like floor lamps.
Transfer your lighter boxes to the truck and stack them on top of the heavy ones. If you need to put more fragile items in the body of the car, put them close to the top and secure them so they won’t move around. It’s also a good idea to wrap them in a lot of padding. If you have small and extremely fragile items, it might be best to keep them in the cab with you.
In 2018, exhausted and burned out from work, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Cebu City in the Philippines.
I spent the next six months hopping from country to country in Southeast Asia. Along the way, I sought the best parts of each country’s cuisine, slurping spicy bowls of noodles and gnawing on skewers of meat at roadside plastic tables. Having been to several Southeast Asian countries before, I’d already established an affection toward the variety of food and culture in the region.
When I returned home, I quickly came to crave the delicious meals I had overseas. I wandered the side streets and back alleys of New York City with a voracious hunger. Once those options were exhausted, I branched outward to neighboring states. The following list is my recommendation for Southeast Asian restaurants in the Northeast.
After a night of drinking with friends in Jakarta, there was no better food to fill a late-night craving than martabak (pictured above). Papa Don’s martabak manis – a dessert version of the buttery, fluffy, pancake-like bread – comes with sweet fillings like chocolate, Nutella, peanuts and sprinkles.
On Tuesdays, Chef Dewi Tjahjadi cooks up Indonesian classics in the back of Indo Java, an Indonesian grocery store in Elmhurst, Queens. Originally from Surabaya, Chef Dewi’s dishes represent multiple locations from Indonesia’s 16,000 islands. The menu rotates weekly, often offering two options. If you’re lucky, you might get to try my favorite, soto betawi, a beef soup from Jakarta that sends my endorphins flying. The space rotates chefs, so if you can’t make it on a Tuesday, Thursday’s feature, Warung Kamis, has similarly excellent options.
Chicken, vegetables, rendang sauce and spicy sambal by Jakarta Munch.
Ratih Wulandari Del Valle started Jakarta Munch in 2019 after leaving an office job, and we’re all better for it. Her salad and rice bowls feature well-known dishes from Jakarta, like spicy beef rendang. And on special occasions, you may find my favorite Jakarta breakfast, bubur ayam, a rice dish not unlike congee or rice porridge, made with shredded chicken and an array of tasty condiments like fried shallots, sweet soy sauce, peanuts and chicken stock. Find the food stall at the Smorgusburg food market in Prospect Park on Sundays and in front of the World Trade Center Oculus on Fridays.
Go to Little Quiapo for a traditional longsilog breakfast of eggs, sausages and rice. But if you want an authentic sweet treat, you need to try the halo-halo at this Southeast Asian restaurant. This mixed dessert features ice cream, condensed milk, corn, fruit, beans, shaved ice, tapioca and jellies. Commence sugar rush.
Filipino pork barbecue with cilantro parsley green sauce and coconut turmeric rice at Patikim. (Photo: Erika Costa)
Erika Costa is the cook behind the Filipinx pop-up in New York City, cooking up Filipino comfort food and classic street food. Fried tilapia, chicken adobo and pork lumpia (traditional crispy spring rolls), often grace her menus. Follow Patikim’s schedule on Instagram and try to get there early as it is sure to sell out. Bring a group of friends, order everything and share.
Like many Cambodian restaurants in the Northeast, Heng Lay serves a mixture of Cambodian and Thai dishes. For a dish that’s distinctly Cambodian, I recommend the terk kreung, a traditional fish-based dip for raw vegetables. It has a deep, savory flavor that comes from tamarind and fish paste. You will be lapping it up when you run out of veggies.
I was sitting at a plastic table on the second floor of a restaurant overlooking the street in Saigon when a torrential downpour rained angrily on the passing motorbikes. I took in the scene while slurping noodles from a mammoth bowl of bun bo hue. This spicy bowl of beef, pork pieces and cilantro haunts my dreams. Go to Pho 501 on a Saturday, which is the only day the soup is offered, and yes, you should ask for it with pig’s feet.
My favorite banh mi in New York City is found at Ba Xuyen. I want the classic sandwich of pate, head cheese, ham, butter and pickled vegetables, wrapped in a fresh baguette without any flair. It reminds me of early morning runs to a local street vendor in District 1 of Saigon, who sold me sandwiches wrapped in newspaper.
Bun rieu is perhaps the greatest single dish I’ve eaten anywhere, ever. I first tried it in Saigon, but this magical bowl is also sold at Saigon Social in New York City. It features crab, pork, shrimp, tofu and rice vermicelli in a pork and chicken broth.
There are many incredible places to get Malaysian food in New York City, yet I keep returning to Kopitiam. In Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, I ate plate after plate of nasi lemak, which I think is the perfect introduction to Malaysian cuisine. At Kopitiam, this national dish has coconut rice, ikan bilis (fried anchovies and peanuts), cucumber, hard-boiled egg and a side of house sambal sauce. And, of course, you must order kopi (coffee).
When the summer heat in Thailand was at its most oppressive, all I wanted to do was relax with a cold Chang Beer and a plate full of street food. At Mao Mao, you can have a similar experience while watching classic films on a big screen and munching on Thai drinking snacks. But don’t expect a fine dining experience; this is the real deal. The plastic plates, cold drinks and dim ambiance take me back to Bangkok.
Boat noodle soup is an underrepresented Thai dish, and that needs to change. Pye Boat Noodle in Queens has you covered. The soup comes as a big bowl of murky broth with fiery chilies, fresh garlic and cilantro, pork and rice noodles. Often, the dark broth is flavored with pig or cow blood.
Khe-Yo is New York City’s only Lao restaurant. There have been excellent Lao pop-ups throughout the five boroughs, but this is the sole brick and mortar. I recommend the pork curry noodle bowl and as many small plates as you can eat.
Lao food is somewhat elusive, as many Lao chefs and restaurant owners have historically run Thai restaurants in the United State due to the idea that it is more marketable and familiar. It’s time we familiarize the American palette with this truly wonderful cuisine.
Regrettably, I haven’t made it to Myanmar yet. Therefore, my love of Burmese food isn’t tied to memories of my travels, but I can recommend Amayar Kitchen all the same. Order the traditional Burmese tea leaf salad with fermented tea leaves, crunchy peanuts and fried shallots. And don’t forget to try the kyae oh noodle soup, a pork bone broth with meatballs, offal and other chewy bits and rice noodles.
Do you have a favorite Southeast Asian restaurant in the Northeast? Share it with us in the comments below.
International travel is bouncing back in a major way with travelers looking to make up for time lost during the pandemic. Still, longstanding rumors about traveling abroad may be keeping some from venturing out into the world. With the help of our expert AAA travel advisors, we bust six common international travel myths, so you can feel better about visiting other countries and embracing foreign culture.
What kind of traveler are you?
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International Travel Myth No. 1: It’s Expensive
International airfare ebbs and flows with the changing seasons, so you should do your research and take advantage when you can. In fact, some domestic destinations can be more expensive than international. Prices also rise during school breaks or holidays, so if you modify your trip to accommodate this, you can score savings.
“If you’re flexible on your timing and destination and can travel in the off-season to avoid popular times, this will definitely help with cost,” said AAA travel advisor Yannick Gonzalez. “Also, I recommend booking in advance to combat fees. Otherwise, it’s a gamble to wait.”
Gonzalez adds that England and Ireland remain more affordable, along with Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica for resort beach vacations. Destinations like Italy and Greece are higher budget.
International Travel Myth No. 2: You Have To Go Far Away
Adventuring to another country doesn’t mean you have to plan an exotic expedition around the globe. Lucky for travelers in the Northeast, America shares its border with two countries that are easily accessible.
You can experience all the culture and history in Canada and stay closer to home, while Mexico remains a reliable tropical getaway. Even Iceland is only a five-hour flight from Boston, and once you’ve landed, there is so much to do nearby.
Ultimately, it’s important to not let distance deter you. “A lot of my clients drive to Canada, Montreal especially, because it’s an easy drive from here on the East Coast,” Gonzalez said.
International Travel Myth No. 3: It’s Hard to Travel With Kids
It’s infinitely more rewarding to journey with your children at any age. There are myriad benefits, including introducing them to new cultures and showing them the wonders of exploring. Although, Gonzalez admits there are challenges and unpredictability, it just takes careful planning to ensure international adventures are less daunting for families. “It depends on the destination and proposing the right product to keep the kids entertained with an age-appropriate activity,” she said.
Some tips to consider when traveling with little ones:
Strategically schedule flights and tours around naps or mealtimes.
Pack the necessities (as well as toys and treats they can enjoy on the plane).
Allow downtime and have a Plan B in case a scheduled activity falls through at the last minute (even if Plan B is downtime).
International Travel Myth No. 4: It’s Unsafe
There are so many misconceptions around safety. And though there inevitably will be neighborhoods or destinations that travelers may want to avoid, Gonzalez said it comes down to being aware of your surroundings.
Understanding culture, customs and etiquette is important, too, and will amplify your appreciation of the country and help sidestep misunderstandings.
“Safety is always top of mind” said Gonzalez, but your worries shouldn’t keep you from a dream vacation.
International Travel Myth No. 5: It’s Not Inclusive or Acceptable
While stairs and sidewalks, as well as remote natural wonders, are difficult to navigate if you use a wheelchair or have other physical challenges, that shouldn’t deter you from discovering the world.
AAA travel advisors can secure tours and guides that accommodate special needs, including sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired, assigning travel buddies for the blind and finding access to adaptive bikes.
International Travel Myth No. 6: It’s Overwhelming
It doesn’t have to be! Streamline and simplify your trip with Gonzalez’s top five tips:
Check passport validity. Everyone’s passport should have at least six months validity beyond your return travel date. See if other documents are required for the country you are entering, such as visas or immigration forms.
Travel Insurance is highly recommended, especially when traveling with children. It not only protects trip bookings and cancellations but covers you in case of unforeseen medical issues.
Prepare your international communication strategy by enabling your international cell plan or using WhatsApp to stay in touch with family and friends from wherever you are in the world.
The names for major roadways are often used interchangeably, but there are some key distinctions that set them apart. Find out the difference between parkways and highways, freeways and expressways.
Parkway vs. highway, freeway vs. expressway. We certainly have a lot of names for major roadways. Why is that? Is the expansive list just an expression of our love for the English language? Can the variations simply be chalked up to regional differences? (e.g., do you call it “soda” or “pop”?) Or is there another explanation altogether?
Granted, many of these terms are used interchangeably today. But they were each originally created for distinctive purposes and with defining characteristics. By and large, these purposes and characteristics remain today.
So, what exactly is the difference between a parkway and a highway. And what about freeways and expressways?
The major difference between highways and other types of major thoroughfares is open access. Highways often intersect with side streets and private driveways that provide motorists with continual entry points. Parkways are only accessible via designated entrances.
Highways can also be lined with businesses, gas stations, parking lots and even private homes. This, coupled with the aforementioned intersections, contributes to a slowdown in traffic that limits a highway’s effectiveness in promoting movement.
What is a Parkway?
Parkways were originally devised of in the late 1800s to connect large, urban parks that were becoming increasingly popular. As such, they were developed as extensions of these lush spaces. Early parkways were constructed along wider corridors, allowing them to be lined by trees and lawns. The roads themselves were broader, which promoted a sense of leisure and recreation that directly opposed the cramped city streets of the time.
To this day, parkways typically provide a more scenic route than other types of major roadways. As opposed to highways, parkways are limited-access roads and, in sticking to their recreational origins, are often only open to passenger vehicles.
Did You Know? Famed landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux devised the world’s first parkway, New York City’s Eastern Parkway, as a scenic accessway to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
Freeway vs. Expressway
What is a Freeway?
Highways and parkways successfully facilitated traffic in the nascent stages of the automotive era. But as more and more cars took to the road during the early 1900s, a new type of roadway was needed to handle the increased traffic.
Edward M. Bassett, one of the founding fathers of American urban planning, developed the solution. Bassett envisioned a roadway that incorporated features of both highways and parkways to create a freer flow of traffic. As such, these new thoroughfares would be known as “freeways.” Like highways, freeways promote transportation by providing a faster, more-direct route between destinations. They did not, however, intersect with other streets or be lined by private business and homes. Freeways would also be open to both personal and commercial vehicles, unlike parkways.
What is an Expressway?
Expressways are similar to freeways, with one major distinction. Expressways are defined as divided highways with partial control of access, according to the Federal Highway Administration, as opposed to freeways, which have full control of access. This means that expressways may intersect with other roads.
Whether you have tots or teens, traveling with kids means looking for hotels that are fun for everyone. Tasty breakfasts, onsite laundry, locations close to the action and entertainment and price ranges for every budget, make Wyndham Hotels & Resorts perfect for families.
Days Inn® by Wyndham Hershey
Hershey, Pa.
Located half a mile from Hersheypark®, let Days Inn be your home base after a day of racing between rides at the park and sugar rushes at Hershey’s Chocolate World.
This economical property is great for families who want a convenient place to rest their heads while visiting Pennsylvania’s charming chocolate capital. Your whole crew can grab a complimentary breakfast item before hitting the amusement park, plus kids can enjoy the indoor pool during down time.
Howard Johnson® by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground
Anaheim, Calif.
Looking for a well-priced, kid-friendly hotel for your family’s next trip to Disneyland® Resort? Dreams do come true. Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground is situated within a mile of Disneyland® Resort.
Beyond its ideal proximity to the parks, this family-friendly hotel’s highlights include a garden pool, children’s pool, play area, water park and shuttle to local attractions.
Wyndham Grand® Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Escape to Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort in tropical Puerto Rico for the ultimate easy, breezy family getaway. The 500-acre property features lagoon-like pools, ten restaurants and lounges and a long stretch of sugar-like sand beach.
Kids will love the daily activity schedule; depending on the week, options include dancing, nature walks, movie nights and craft activities. And there’s bliss for parents, too – from the casino and Balinese-inspired therapies at the sprawling Mandara Spa to two 18-hole golf courses and tennis courts.
AAA members save 10% or more at participating Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Book now atWyndhamHotels.com/AAA.
Summer vacation can’t come soon enough. Fortunately, travelers flying domestically will be arriving at their destinations a bit faster, thanks to 169 shorter East Coast flight routes.
Designed to cut travel by 40,000 miles and 6,000 minutes annually, the Federal Aviation Administration announced the launch of more direct flight paths on May 1, just in time for peak getaway season.
While saving passengers time, the new routes also save on fuel – helping to cut down on air travel’s notoriously high carbon emissions – and prevent delays and cancellations by giving air traffic controllers more flexibility to redirect flights, especially when faced with bad weather. Further, “fewer converging points and more simple flows enhance safety,” the FAA said in their statement.
If your flight does end up getting delayed or cancelled, travel insurance can help. Don’t know where to start? AAA travel advisors make it a seamless part of the trip-planning process.
After more than seven years of development, the new and improved flight routes are a sign of some industry catchup, replacing legacy routes built when airplanes relied on ground-based radar, instead of GPS, which limited the way planes could travel.
The flight paths are great news for those traveling along the East Coast, as they are mainly operating on flights above 18,000 feet along the Atlantic Seaboard.
Still need to plan a summer vacation? It’s not too late! Schedule an appointment with a AAA travel advisor today.
You can expect some traditional Jewish fare at Oak Bakeshop, but that’s certainly not all. Their chuckle-inducing tagline states that they’re a “Jew-ish” bakery, with “Some Jewish things, some not Jewish things … but mostly just figuring it out.” We get it.
The bakery itself sits atop a small hill and feels like a beacon of comfort with welcoming large windows and a cozy, colorful interior. Settle in at the high-top window seating with your coffee and laptop, or mingle at the long center table with other patrons as you await your to-go order.
Offerings change daily with some Jewish menu items (Jerusalem bagels, rugelach, babka and more), a few Kosher items (chocolate chip cookies, rainbow cooking, Mandel bread, challah and more) and a selection of other goodies like peanut butter and jelly cookies, quiche and savory scones.
Have a look over their merch section where you’ll find plenty of pick-me-ups from t-shirts to mugs and candles.
Our suggestion: When it’s available, don’t miss the coffee cake.
