Carmakers like to boast about the latest and greatest safety features on their vehicles. But no matter how far technology goes, properly functioning car brakes will always be the first line of defense against a crash. Now, we all know what car brakes do. But how many of us know how they work? Or how long car brakes last or the warning signs of malfunctioning brakes?
To get some answers to these pressing questions, we spoke with Stephen Dias, service manager at Dorman’s Auto Center in Pawtucket, R.I., who guided us through a car brakes inspection and provided other automotive maintenance tips to make sure your ride will always be smooth and safe.
What’s the most common car maintenance mistake you see car owners make?
The most common maintenance mistake drivers make would be neglecting routine oil changes and ignoring warning signs their vehicle may give them, such as unusual noises.
How long do car brakes typically last?
The average brake life is usually around 30,000 to 40,000 miles. This can vary depending on your driving habits.
How often should you get your brakes inspected?
Car brakes should be inspected with every visit to an automotive repair shop. This includes when bringing the vehicle in for a routine oil change or any other visit.
What does a proper brake inspection consist of?
A thorough brake inspection consists of a visual inspection of friction material, measuring the brake pad/shoe thickness, as well as measuring brake discs and also checking for any disc runout. (Runout refers to the amount of deviation or wobble occurring as the disc rotates. A car’s brake runout must be limited so the brakes don’t shake and vibrate when activated.)
What are the signs that something may be wrong with your brakes?
Brake warning signs include noise, pulsation and a pull to either side while braking. Operators should also watch for a low brake pedal, although this can be difficult for most drivers to notice as normal brake wear is gradual, and the lower pedal may be something the operator doesn’t feel.
What’s you best advice for motorists to keep their cars running smoothly?
My best advice is to not neglect routine maintenance and listen to your service writer when you’re advised on maintenance and safety concerns. Keep your ears and eyes open to any changes in performance. or anything else that doesn’t feel normal.
For the best car care, find a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility near you. Need help getting there? Your membership covers you with 24/7 roadside assistance. If you need us, request service quickly and easily at AAA.com/GetMoving.
AAA members can save on automotive replacement parts and accessories at NAPA.
What automotive questions do you have for our mechanics? Let us know in the comments below.
This year’s NYC Pride Parade is back! After being canceled last year due to the pandemic, the parade is back in a hybrid form: Portions will be virtual, with some in-person elements sprinkled throughout. This year’s theme is “The Fight Continues,” which pays tribute to the challenges still faced by the LGBTQ community, the city and the country as a whole. The parade, along with a PrideFest celebration, will take place June 27.
Heritage & Hip-Hop
After 20-plus years of planning, the National Museum of African American Music has opened its doors in Nashville, Tenn. The 56,000-square-foot museum honors the African American musicians who created more than 50 genres of music, from the blues and jazz to hip-hop and gospel. Its seven galleries are filled with 1,500 artifacts, costumes, instruments, sheet music and more, with high-tech displays, films and virtual exhibits rounding out the offerings.
Come Sail … and Sail … and Sail Away
Really, really want to get away? AmaWaterways has debuted the world’s longest-ever river cruise: a 46-night journey that winds through 14 countries and seven rivers. The cruise departs June 1, 2023, whisking 144 lucky guests through France, Switzerland, Germany, Amsterdam, Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania and more. Tickets for the dream cruise start at $25,999 per person for a riverside stateroom. The itinerary proved so popular that AmaWaterways added a second sailing for April 20, 2023. Bon voyage!
Drive-in movie theaters are more than just another way to watch a film — they’re an experience. And for much of the 20th Century, the drive-in was an iconic part of the American soul, as ingrained in pop culture as any Elvis or Chuck Berry song.
But like jukeboxes and pinball machines, drive-in theaters are a vanishing breed. In 1958, more than 4,000 drive-ins packed them in (sometimes, with a stowaway or two in the trunk) across the nation. Today, only 305 such theaters are left in the United States — half as many as even just a decade ago, according to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association.
A state-by-state selection of drive-ins can be found at the end of this article.
Though a warm-weather enterprise, drive-ins continue to flourish in colder climes. Many in the Northeast don’t realize it, but there are more drive-in theaters in New York state (28) than in California, Arizona, Louisiana, South Carolina, New Mexico, Hawaii and Nevada — combined. Pennsylvania has the second-most in the nation, at 26.
And in an age when many of us converse via text or social media (while craving “authenticity”), the drive-in is returning to its roots as a fun and flirty communal hub.
The Gate
The origin of the drive-in theater is a matter of some dispute.
The accepted history is that the first drive-in opened in Pennsauken Township, N.J. in 1933. The theater was owned by local businessman Richard Hollingshead, Jr. who, a year earlier, nailed a giant screen to some trees in his backyard, placed a radio behind it and set a Kodak projector on the hood of his car. He perfected then patented the technology in 1933.
The theater’s slogan? “The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.”
While Hollingshead may have been visionary in some ways, he may have been short-sighted in others. After failing to make a profit, he sold the theater three years later, just as drive-ins began to catch on nationwide.
But was Hollingshead really the founding father? An outdoor theater in Las Cruces, New Mexico opened during the silent-film era, in April 1915, and another opened in Comanche, Texas in 1921. And long before Hollingshead’s patent, many small towns showed outdoor movies in the late 1910s and throughout the 1920s, as much a communal event as any town hall meeting or church picnic.
One such town was Schoharie, N.Y., about 40 miles west of Albany. In 1917, the small town started an outdoor movie series free to the public every Thursday night as a way to generate foot traffic for downtown merchants.
“It was so successful that this village with a population of 800 would get thousands, even nearly 10,000 people coming; a special bus would run from Schenectady every Thursday,” said Dwight Grimm who, together with his partner Leigh Van Swall, run the Greenville Drive-In in Greenville, N.Y. “All of the nearby farmers would come to socialize. Many of them weren’t watching, they just came to mingle.”
The first drive-in theater in America, the Park-In Theater in Camden, N.J.
Concessions
Grimm recreated that first Schoharie event a century later, in 2017, complete with a fleet of Model T Fords (one of which had a hand-cranked projector atop). On the bill? A screening of the first silent film shown in Schoharie, “The Awakening of Helena Ritchie.”
Grimm’s focus on novelty is no accident. Today, the drive-in industry is divided between larger companies that show first-run Hollywood movies on digital projectors, and smaller theaters that survive through creativity and flair.
The cost of converting to digital equipment in the mid 2000’s was a blow for many owners/operators. The big studios won’t release a first-run movie to a venue unless it has the most modern equipment, and digital projectors can cost upwards of $100,000.
“The conversion to digital was a death knell for a lot of smaller operators,” said Josh Frank, who runs a boutique pop-up drive-in called The Blue Starlite, with locations in Austin, Texas and Vail Valley, Colorado.
For Frank, a film school graduate, the drive-in is a labor of love.
“A lot of the smaller mom-and-pop shops like me, they do it because they’re passionate,” he said. “They want to be creative; they’re in love with the idea, the romance of the drive-in.”
Now Showing
The Blue Starlite is as boutique as it gets, a mini-urban drive-in with space enough for just 30 cars, mostly featuring throwback classics such as “Grease,” “The Goonies,” and “Back to the Future.” While sodas and popcorn account for some of its income, the Blue Starlite specializes in add-ons, creative ways to heighten the experience that blend the old and new—one package deal, for instance, includes virtual reality goggles and car-hop service.
“We bought an RV and people can rent it for small groups, to party for the evening,” he said. “You can pick the movie you want to see, or even use the screen for karaoke or video games.”
Grimm, too, ups the ante through creativity. For the Greenville Drive-In’s 60th anniversary this year, he featured 1959’s top film, “Some Like it Hot” as a ‘ukulele party,’ where patrons could jam together or steal the spotlight at an ‘Open Mic’ before being treated to a concert by a professional musician an hour before the show.
It’s been a tough grind for Grimm ever since he resuscitated the drive-in in 2015. But today, the Greenville Drive-In is something of a community resource, much as the silent films shown in Schoharie were 100 years ago.
“If our goal was to financially enrich ourselves, reviving a drive-in is the most knuckleheaded idea you could come up with,” said Grimm. “But in terms of something with community value — a gathering that brings together a diverse local crowd — it’s awesome.”
A Selection of Northeast Drive-In Movie Theaters to Check Out
Diamond Designation: Five Diamond (World-class luxury, amenities and indulgence for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Learn more about AAA Diamonds.)
Location: 1 Bluff Ave, Westerly, R.I.
You can play sous chef beside the culinary team at the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts at the AAA Five Diamond Ocean House (also home to Coast, Rhode Island’s only Five Diamond restaurant). The historic seaside hotel offers regular cooking classes, events and activities inspired by New England culture and the local landscape.
Heat oven to 400 degrees. In oven-safe bowl, combine butter, oil and water. Bake in bowl until butter starts to brown. Combine and sift all dry ingredients. Remove bowl from oven and fold in dry ingredients and apple cider vinegar. Chill for at least 2 hours.
Toss apples with brown sugar, granulated sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, allspice and cardamom in a large bowl. (Reserve some slices for decoration.) Let sit for 1-3 hours.
Use parchment paper to roll out dough.
Place apple cider in saucepan and scrape in vanilla bean seeds; add pod. Bring to boil and whisk occasionally until reduced by two-thirds. Add in juice from bowl of apples. Return to boil until reduced to ½ cup; remove vanilla pod. Stir cornstarch into 3 tablespoons of water in a separate bowl, then whisk into apple cider mixture. Cook, whisking constantly, until cider mixture is thick and bubbling. Cool slightly, then pour over apples; toss to coat.
Transfer dough to a pie 9-inch dish. Scrape in apple filling. Fan remaining apples on top, alternating colors. Sprinkle with Demerara sugar.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake until crust is deep golden brown and juices are thick and bubbling, 1½ hours, or until apples are tender.
When it comes to federally recognized outdoor spaces, National Parks get all the attention, and fairly so. But there are plenty of other nationally designated areas, filled with adventure, scenery, nature and wildlife, well worth a visit. And for Northeast residents, these destinations are far more accessible. After all, the Northeast has just one National Park but boasts three national forests and two national seashores.
While they may not garner the acclaim of a national park, these areas provide just as much to visitors: picturesque views, local wildlife, outdoor activities, historical sites and scenic drives. So pack your bags, fill up the tank and hit the road to explore the seas and trees of the Northeast.
Note: Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 crisis, please see official websites before visiting to check for restrictions or closures.
Fire Island National Seashore is a 26-mile, protected area of Fire Island, a barrier island off the southern coast of Long Island. The park offers visitors a little bit of everything: beaches, hiking, history and wildlife viewing.
One of the area’s main attractions is the Fire Island Lighthouse. At 168 feet, the structure is the tallest lighthouse on Long Island. Guests can climb the 182 steps to the top to enjoy 360-degree views. On a clear day, you can even see the New York City skyline. The surrounding area features beaches and a nature trail for hiking.
Speaking of hiking, the park offers ranger-guided tours of Sunken Forest. This ecologically rare holly forest is one of the world’s last remaining occurrences of such an assemblage of plants. Another site unique to Fire Island is The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, New York’s only federally designated wilderness area.
Amongst all this nature are 17 unique Fire Island communities filled with restaurants, stores and other attractions. One important thing to remember when planning your visit: You can drive to some parts of Fire Island but not through it, as most of the island does not have paved roads. The best way to get there is by ferry. Once on the island, guests have the option of traveling from spot to spot by foot, bike or water taxi.
Cape Cod National Seashore
Massachusetts’ Cape Cod National Seashore is 40 miles of pristine coastline, home to beaches, ponds, lighthouses, cultural sites, cranberry bogs and much more. For those looking to bask in the sun, several of the regions sandy oases, including Coast Guard Beach and Race Point Beach, are considered among the best in the country.
Those looking for more of an adventure can explore Cape Cod on foot by following one of the park’s seven hiking trails, or by bike on one of the three paved bicycle paths. Cape Cod is home to numerous lighthouses including Highland Light in North Truro and Nauset Light in Eastham. All the lighthouses are open to visitors seasonally from spring through fall.
As picturesque as the region is, Cape Cod is also a beacon of culture and history. Visitors can view public art works at the Highland Center, or travel back in time to sites such as the French Cable Station Museum and the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station.
White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest is the easternmost such forest in the United States, stretching from western New Hampshire to eastern Maine. It’s home to dozens of 4,000-foot mountains, including Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. Visitors can also explore the forest’s 1,200 miles of hiking trails, 160 miles of the Appalachian Trail, 12,000 acres of wetlands, and more than 100 lakes and watersheds.
Not to be outdone, the White Mountain National Forest boasts six Congressionally designated Wilderness Areas spread out across 150,000 acres. Here, sharp-eyed visitors can spot moose, white tail deer and nearly 200 different species of birds.
Those looking for a scenic drive must make a cruise along the Kancamagus a priority. The National Scenic Byway traverses 34 miles through the forest and rises to an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet. Scenic vistas plotted along the highway provide unparalleled picturesque views of the surrounding mountains, rivers and other natural wonders.
“Green Mountain National Forest” by Rich Moffitt is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Green Mountain National Forest
Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest encompasses more than 400,000 acres of the southwestern corner of the state. It’s the largest contiguous piece of public land in Vermont and, along with New Hampshire’s White Mountain Forest, one of New England’s two nationally recognized forests.
The forest contains three notable hiking trails, including sections of the Appalachian and Long Trails, as well the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail. The latter commemorates the work of the famed poet, with many of his poems posted along the route. It’s an easy walk for guests of all ages and the first section is wheelchair accessible.
The location has a total of eight wilderness areas, home to turkeys, beavers, moose, deer and many other forms of wildlife. Those looking to witness a different form of eye-catching nature can visit Thundering Falls. Here, water cascades 140 feet down through a narrow cataract, making Thundering Falls one of Vermont’s largest waterfalls.
Finger Lakes National Forest
The 16,000-acre Finger Lake National Forest in New York is located on a ridge between the region’s two largest lakes, Seneca and Cayuga. The area offers just about everything an outdoor enthusiast could ask for: hiking, biking, fishing, camping and horseback riding.
The forest is home to a wide array of wildlife, including deer, beavers, bobcats, foxes, turkeys, as well as a host of grassland, shrubland and forest birds. Viewers can watch these animals at one of the countless ponds, gorges, ravines, woodlands or pastures found throughout the area.
If you’re hungry for a bite you can enjoy fresh blueberries, apples, raspberries and other fruit that are available for picking. The Finger Lakes is also one of the country’s foremost wine-producing regions and there are several wineries located on the outskirts of the national forest.
Need a ride as you tour the historic sites in the Northeast? AAA members can save up to 20% on Hertz rentals. And up to four additional drivers (who are AAA members) can drive for free, so everyone can take turns in the driver’s seat.
From the Statue of Liberty to Plymouth Rock, the Northeast is home to hundreds of landmarks of cultural and historical significance.
This Photo Session, we asked you to share photos of your favorite nearby landmarks. Whether as iconic as the Empire State Building, as elegant as the Newport mansions or as inspiring as Walden Pond, all are reminders of what makes our region such a fascinating place to live and visit.
Flip through the slideshow below to see all of the photos submitted and be sure to check our social media channels, where we will be sharing some of our favorites. Select photos may also be featured in an upcoming issue of Your AAA magazine.
Ausable Chasm – one of the Oldest US Attractions. (Kimberly Hart)
Portland Head Light (Anandavalli Thiagarajan)
Pilgrim monument at night, Provincetown, Mass. (Heather Smith)
Leaving New York Harbor. (Jeaneen Buchanan)
Chatham Lighthouse (Cindy Merrill)
A new day in the New World. (Diane Gulla)
Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine. (Arthur Schucht)
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Acadia National Park. (Greg Gale)
No plaque need for this landmark. (Harold Mueller)
One World Trade Center from Governors Island (Janine Bender / AAA Employee)
Unity (Janis Lee)
The Sleeping Giant watches over Hamden, Conn. (Joanne Ekstrom)
Statue of Liberty (Nancy Kryshchuk)
This is the place where on February 18, 1779, General Isreal Putnam, second in command of the Continental Army under George Washington, escaped from the British cavalry by galloping down the rocky steep. (Paul Barbian)
Land of the free. (Patricia Kunzinger)
Chrysler Building, New York City (William Griset)
Sunrise at Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine. (Timothy Townsend)
Memorial in Washington, D.C., of Martin Luther King Jr. (Tyrana Carter Jones)
Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. (Vicki Hammer Rosenkrantz)
Hard Rock Cafe, Boston. (Christian Ingemi)
How to Photograph Northeast Landmarks
Find Them
Local landmarks can help you learn more about the history of where you live and can make for some interesting photo ops, but first you need to find them. Fortunately, seeking them out is part of the fun. Travel apps and website make it easy to find Northeast landmarks and plan your day.
Download the AAA mobile app to help plan your trip, get directions and find the cheapest gas wherever you are.
Capture the Story
Whenever I photograph a local landmark, I always try to include a photo of a descriptive sign or plaque that may be next to it. Having the visual narrative of the landmark will help you to remember the story and history behind it. I like to create a diptych collage using the sign and a photo of the landmark.
(Photo: Getty)
Just Add People
Gather the family and pose them by the landmark. Not only does it help show the scale of the landmark, it’s also a wonderful way to document the time spent together and the places you visited. Make sure to get yourself in the frame!
Bonus tip: Revisit the same landmark and take the same family photo every year. This is a fun way to see how everyone changes over the years. When you’re done, you can make a collage or photo book.
Time Your Shots
Daytime shots will make colors come to life in your photos. If you are photographing a landmark like a mural that is very colorful, daylight is going to give you the best chance at making those colors pop.
If you want to have warm, soft light hitting your landmark, then shoot for the golden hours – an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. This is also the best time to photograph people in front of your landmark. Harsh daytime light causes people to squint their eyes.
Check out past AAA Photo Sessions and stay tuned for the next one, coming soon.
Beth Mancuso is a professional landscape and travel photographer.
It’s a shame that most people’s impressions of China tours come from things like animated movies or current happenings in foreign politics. The only way to truly understand this foreign nation for yourself is to participate in China tours and immerse yourself in the culture.
But a trip to China is distinctly different than a trip to places within the United States or a vacation to the very-Westernized Europe. China is anything but Westernized, with a focus on traditional values and a connection to their ancient roots.
As such, traveling through China can be a bit of a culture shock for those expecting or accustomed to being catered to. The following tips can help you properly prepare yourself for an upcoming trip, both in terms of required cultural adjustments, working around the “big brother” nature of the Chinese government, and anything else that may otherwise come as a surprise when you tour Asia.
Looking to plan your next vacation? Be sure to consult a knowledgeable AAA travel agent to help guide you through the rapidly changing travel landscape.
1. You’ll need a visa for China tours
This is true even for a short-term trip. Traveling to China is not something you can do on a whim, perhaps because the government likes to feel like they’re in control of everything that goes on within their borders. If you opt into China tours led by a reputable tour group, they may be able to secure your visa on your behalf, but you can also take care of this at your nearby Chinese consulate general for a fee. Come prepared with your passport and documents detailing your itinerary and where you’ll be staying.
2. Don’t expect English to help you much
For the most part, when traveling the world, English will be sufficient to get around. Most people learn English as a second-language in school. And while this is true for some in China, attempts to converse with natives in English will mostly be met with a blank stare. Even your fluent tour guide may have a hard time with your accent.
So have fun getting lost and finding your way back home later. To make sure you don’t get too lost, grab a card from your hotel with a map to easily guide a taxi driver in a way they’ll understand.
3. Respect the local culture
Just about everything you’re used to is different in China. An immature traveler might laugh at local customs, or make fun of them, but don’t be tempted to be an ugly American. Instead, show respect for the people and their traditions. If a local offers to teach you something about their culture, take them up on this with an open mind.
4. The food may not always agree with you
It’s not uncommon to feel bloated after eating a traditional Chinese meal. Chinese food tends to contain MSG, which improves the taste but can cause temporary bloating in some people. Don’t worry so much that you’re gaining weight — you’ll drop the bloat when you return to your usual diet.
China tours will likely take you to restaurants with Americanized ideas of Chinese food. But when you venture out on your own, expect some of the flavors to be a little more foreign to your stomach, and expect reactions to happen. Pack some Imodium just in case, especially if you get a bit adventurous with street food.
Another random tip for your trip to Asia destinations? Wear dark clothing to hide noodle slurping stains!
6. Don’t miss out on China’s ancient wonders
The Great Wall of China is one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, which takes into account monuments and other amazing spectacles that are still standing today. Depending on where your China tours take you, there’s a lot to see. A few wonders to try and fit in when possible are:
Beijing: The Forbidden City
Outside Beijing: The Great Wall of China
Shanghai: Oriental Pearl Tower. Not ancient, but a must-see in this modern Chinese city.
Xi’an: Terracotta Army
6. You can (and should) bargain
This won’t work in a luxury shop or restaurant, but is fair game in a market. Shopkeepers expect haggling, and most start with a price at 10 times the amount you should counteroffer. You’ll end up meeting somewhere in the middle, but don’t be afraid to start walking away to drive the negotiations in your favor.
Chinese markets are known for selling a number of counterfeit goods featuring your favorite brands, which make for some fun souvenirs.
7. Big Brother is always watching
Censorship is present in many aspects of daily life, though none so obvious as when it comes to internet use. Accept that you won’t have access to Facebook, Instagram, Google and other similarly blocked websites.
8. The toilets are different
If you’ve never seen a squat-style toilet before, prepare to be a bit surprised. Outside of your hotel, these are quite common, and are essentially a hole in the ground or porcelain bowl that you crouch over. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as many facilities don’t offer hygienic supplies.
9. Safety is practically a non-issue
Many worry that when traveling outside of the culture they know and understand, they’re unsafe. This mostly stems from a fear of the unknown, especially when it comes to traveling in China. Unlike the warnings you often hear when traveling to European cities, there isn’t as much anxiety about pickpockets in China. Violent crime is not as big of an issue in China’s big cities as it is in the U.S.
10. Err on the side of acting conservative
For instance, dress a bit more conservative than you would at home. Chinese people aren’t used to yoga pants and bikini tops in public. Additionally, tone down the PDA with your significant other to a light peck or handholding at most. Though these things might not correlate to your normal daily life, they’re important for respecting the culture of the place you’re visiting.
What are your best tips for things to know about traveling through China? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
If there’s one automotive feature drivers are willing to sound off about it’s the humble car horn. Some people use them, others use them far too liberally. But behind this debate is the fact that car horns are important safety features. They allow drivers to alert pedestrians and other motorists of their presence, hopefully avoiding any injury or damage.
For nearly as long as there have been automobiles, there have been car horns – and the tool’s simplicity means it hasn’t changed too much since. But that doesn’t preclude the history of the car horn from having its share of noteworthy developments.
The History of the Car Horn: Early Car Horns
Car horns were important features on early automobiles. In fact, the biggest change in the car horn since its inception isn’t the feature itself, but in how it’s used. While these days, excessive car honking is considered déclassé, it was polite to use one’s horn in the early 20th century.
“You were expected to honk your horn if you were coming up on pedestrians, to let them know you were bounding down the street,” Matt Anderson, curator for transportation at the Henry Ford museum, told Car and Driver magazine. “You’d be thought rude if you weren’t using your horn, which is the exact opposite of where we are today.”
The first car horns came in three different varieties. Air horns had a plastic bulb the driver could squeeze to emit a sound. Exhaust horns consisted of cuts made into exhaust pipes that elicited a sound similar to a steam engine. Finally, there were electric horns, which are most like what we have today.
The Klaxon Horn
One of the first pioneers of car horn manufacturing was Miller Reese Hutchison. In the early 1900s, the inventor became inspired to create an improved horn after nearly hitting a pedestrian while driving. Hutchison believed car horns should elicit a louder, harsher noise, which is precisely what his invention, the klaxon horn, did. If you’ve never heard of the klaxon horn you’ve almost certainly heard its famous “ahooga” sound.
The klaxon horn became almost immediately ubiquitous on roadways since it was affixed to most Model T’s. It remained the prominent horn of automobiles even as Ford transitioned to the Model A. Eventually, by the 1930s, the klaxon was replaced by electric horns.
Did You Know? Just a few years before the klaxon, Hutchison invented the first portable electrical hearing aids, called Acousticons. This led to none other than Mark Twain joking, “Hutchison invented the Klaxon horn to deafen people so they would have to buy Acousticons.”
How Car Horns Work
Truth be told, the car horn is one automotive feature that hasn’t evolved much over the decades. There have been some changes in look and sound, but the science has remained about the same.
When a driver pushes down on the horn, an electric current travels through a coil to an electromagnet, creating a magnetic field. This field causes a metal diaphragm to flex. Once in this flexed position, contact points disengage and the current flow stops, causing the diaphragm to return back to its flat position and the cycle is repeated. This process continues as long as the horn is being pressed. The vibrations made by the oscillating diaphragm produce the horn sound.
Did You Know? Most of today’s car horns emit a sound of approximately 100-110 decibels.
Modern Car Horns
While the science remains the same, automakers are making slight adjustments to the car horn in order to satisfy the ever-growing and ever-changing automobile market. For instance, GM makes its diaphragms out of tungsten instead of steel because the former lasts longer. This is particularly important in Asia, where drivers tend to honk more often and drive over more rough roads, two factors that can cause horns to wear out.
Some companies are also swapping out copper wires for aluminum, a lighter material that improves a vehicle’s all-important fuel efficiency.
How do you feel about car horns? Do drivers use them too much or maybe not enough? Let us know in the comments below.
Now that you know about the history of the car horn, learn the backstories of other automotive features at AAA.com.
OK, the Hyundai Ioniq has an odd name. But even so, it’s one of the most environmentally friendly compact cars on the market.
There are actually three different Ioniq hatchbacks on offer, including a traditional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid like my test car and an all-electric battery-powered version. The Environmental Protection Agency’s MPG estimates for the regular hybrid “Blue” model (57 city, 59 highway) make the Ioniq the most fuel-efficient hybrid on sale today.
My plug-in hybrid version performed adequately, though power delivery from the 139-horsepower four-cylinder gasoline engine and hybrid system felt a little anemic. On the upside, 630-plus miles of total range means you can go a long time between fill-ups.
The Ioniq’s handling inspires confidence, though it’s admittedly no sports car. The suspension also delivers a ride quality that’s on the overly soft side.
Taken together, all this makes the Ioniq an appealing choice in spite of its quirky moniker.
Quick: What’s the best ice cream flavor? It’s a highly subjective question. Which brings to mind the Honda Clarity, a state-of-the-art sedan that may not be available in 31 flavors, but has enough different versions to satisfy a wide range of tastes.
This midsize four-door comes in three relatively uncommon varieties: a plug-in hybrid that will work for anyone, an all-electric battery version for the committed environmentalist, and a hydrogen-powered fuel cell version only offered in select markets with the requisite refueling infrastructure.
Of the three, the plug-in hybrid is the most practical for most people, with excellent 47-mile all-electric range and a 340-mile total range on a tank of gas. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor team up to produce 212 total horsepower, but still delivers leisurely acceleration.
Ultimately, while the Honda Clarity may not suit everyone’s tastes, there’s no denying there’s a lot to like here.
Looking for a new ride? Check out more car reviews at AAA.com/TestDrive.
“It’s the journey, not the destination.” These simple words found at the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Okla., summed up the road trip of a lifetime I took in fall 2020. In the middle of the pandemic, I drove all of the “lower 48” in as many days. I took the trip to celebrate my retirement.
The idea came to me 20 years ago, when retirement seemed as far away as Seattle. Some influences were books: Bill Bryson’s “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America,” Charles Kuralt’s “America” and John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley.” I thought, “I need a trip with purpose.” I was confident I could hit all 48 states in 48 days. At least it’d be a challenge. In the end, I knew that I’d enjoy it, if I followed my mother’s rule of travel, “If you don’t have fun, it’s your own fault.”
Negative comments from friends and family ranged from “Can that even be done?” – the mildest – to “Why on Earth would anyone do that?” – which was the harshest. I admit the why is the harder question. The how was easy.
I shelved the trip for decades, but when our daughter went off to college and I retired, I decided “I’m going to do this.”
A simple rule: spend one night and only one night in each state. But the rule was hard to implement. I studied maps and traced my way through the United States, calculating mileage, and the few sites I had to see – or at least thought I had to see. I listed calculated mileage between towns from state to state to crank out a plan. The pre-trip version of the plan? The longest day would clock in at 600 miles. The total trip would come in at 12,000 miles.
The Plan
Getting ready to close the tailgate on the RAV4 just before leaving.
I gave myself a 50% chance of pulling it off when I retired in July. This was the year of COVID-19, and I was not going to be reckless. By the end of August, case numbers were coming down, and interstate travel was not prohibited. I decided to do it, and of course, I could always turn around if the pandemic made it unsafe.
I would leave after Labor Day to avoid summer crowds, hit the northern states before the snow and complete the southern states after the worst of the hurricane season. On Sept. 8, I hit the road.
From my home outside of Boston, I headed north to Maine. From there, it was across the North, dipping as far south as St. Louis, Mo., before heading west and north again (like Lewis and Clark, but in a Toyota RAV4). When I hit the Northwest, I turned around and headed home.
I fell into a rhythm. Get to the hotel for the night, write a blog post to keep my friends and family up to date, go to dinner, then plan my next day. In addition to my old-school Rand-McNally road atlas, I had two excellent resources, “1,000 Places to See in North America Before You Die” and “50 States 5000 ideas.” The internet is better at many things, but old-school maps and guidebooks still have a place on a road trip.
I booked hotels only three nights in advance, choosing mostly inexpensive brand name hotels (using my AAA discount). A silver lining to traveling during the pandemic? Empty hotels, low gas prices and no traffic. Downsides? Some museums and key sites closed, and I couldn’t hang out in bars to talk with locals and fellow travelers. Most nights I ate takeout in my room, or if lucky, found an empty place with outdoor dining. I embraced being an introvert and closed attractions reinforced the philosophy tacked up on a wall in Oklahoma. It was about the journey.
Bethlehem Steel Stacks
My car climbed Mount Washington in New Hampshire; I saw where Woodstock happened in Bethel, N.Y.; I went on a Rust Belt tour through Bethlehem, Pa.; Youngstown, Ohio; Flint, Mich.; and Gary, Ind. I spent a lot of time near the mighty Mississippi, winding my way back and forth across that waterway through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, and later, between Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans, La. I hit bucket list items: See the Badlands and stand in front of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and visit the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. More often than not, though, it was the unexpected sites that left a lasting impression.
The Unexpected
I learned that Indiana has sand dunes; outside Lincoln, Neb., there is an unbelievably good museum of flight; Bismarck, N.D., has green spaces; and Oklahoma City has fantastic restaurants by canals.
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
I listened to books on my iPhone – everything from Teddy Roosevelt and the National Park System, “The Johnstown Flood,” by David McCullough, books on racism in America and “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.” I incorporated what I read and saw many of the sites discussed in person. I listened to a lot of Bruce Springsteen, and then visited Bruce’s hometown in New Jersey and the club where he became not just Bruce, but “The Boss.”
These visits were not planned; they just came about, which made them even more rewarding.
It was about two weeks into the trip when I woke up one morning with a realization: What a gift I was giving myself. I was so excited about whatever might come next. All I had to do was hit the road and drive toward the next destination, with nothing to worry about, knowing whatever was ahead would be extraordinary. It’s a rare opportunity to have nothing to worry about but the road ahead.
The Unmasked
Due to the pandemic, I didn’t see a lot of people until I got to the Badlands. My first busy bar. A bartender and a waitress in the tiny town of Hill City told me it was much busier than usual, and they were unprepared. I was surprised at the lack of people wearing masks in the Dakotas, even in the wake of the Sturgis Motorcycle rally, which was identified as a superspreader event.
Throughout my trip, I noticed a wide variety of mask usage. Hotels and national restaurant chains were pretty consistent, but gas stations and convenience stores were really different, not even state-to-state but county-to–county. A bartender in the panhandle of Florida told me no one was wearing masks because they think they all had COVID in fall 2019. Despite the lack of masks, I never felt strange wearing mine, and my out-of-state plates never drew unwanted attention.
America the Beautiful
Yellowstone National Park
By the time I left the Dakotas, I really began to appreciate the beauty of the United States. On previous trips across the country, I saw America from the interstate. On this trip, I drove state roads across the land. Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska became interesting, not just places to get through. I gave a lot of thought to the landscape and the people who lived in the heartland year-round. In many ways, they were some of the best places I’ve seen.
After my trip, people would often ask what was my favorite part was. I usually respond that the section from Livingston, Mont., down through Yellowstone National Park, over to Boise, Idaho, and then up into Washington state and down the Columbia River Gorge to the Oregon coast was the prettiest part of the journey.
But I also found the Great Plains and my 200 miles on the Extraterrestrial Highway through the Nevada desert beautiful. In truth, my favorite part was what I talked about earlier – the feeling of being excited for whatever might come next.
For the most part, the trip went as planned. On the coast of Oregon, I had to divert from my plan to see the Redwoods because of forest fires. Later, I had to change my route because of a hurricane. Despite such diversions, I lived the rule. I visited every state and spent only one night in each.
Other personal highlights: I stood on a street corner in Winslow, Ariz.; I visited my old apartment outside of Chicago and where I lived for a time in college in Durango, Colo. In Memphis, I saw Graceland, but also the wonderful Civil Rights Museum, which sits on the grounds of the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The Civil Rights Museum was meaningful and memorable. I was able to head south down the Blues Highway (named for all of the Mississippi Delta blues singers that traveled this road north to Memphis and Chicago) and north on the Country Music Highway which passes the birthplaces of country music stars like the “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Lorretta Lynn.
Bryce Canyon, Utah
From New Orleans to the panhandle of Florida, I saw the aftermath of recent hurricanes, and soon after, drove the Blue Ridge Parkway and viewed spectacular fall scenery. I couldn’t drive the whole country without stopping in Washington, D.C., even if it was just for a quick tour around the National Mall. I did not sleep in the capital as it is not a state. Yet.
I switched up my mode of transportation in Delaware. I found a ferry to take me over to Cape May, N.J. On a beautiful fall day, it was hard to beat the trip across the Delaware Sound. And Cape May is not the New Jersey I’m used to seeing from the turnpike.
Going the Extra Miles
In many ways, I was lucky. I kept safe from the virus that was soon going to spike again, safe from really bad weather that would soon lead to heavy snow in the West and safe driving a trip that turned out to be 15,000 miles instead of the planned 12,000 miles.
What was America like from the road during the pandemic and a difficult political time? America is still America. Sure, the wearing of masks varied from county to county and political billboards dotted the countryside, but Americans will still be pleasant to an outsider. As good as it felt to accomplish a challenge, I had been working on for 20 years, in the end, I came home with a deeper appreciation for what a great and varied country we live in. I can’t think of anywhere else in the world where I could see so much, so easily. The feeling of waking up and just being excited about what might come next is something that will stay with me for a long time. I think I made Mom proud.
So, what’s next for me? I still haven’t been to Alaska or driven across Canada.
Field of Dreams ballpark
If You Go
Read
“1,000 Places to See Before You Die,” Patricia Schultz, Workman Publishing, New York, 2007
“50 States 5000 Ideas,” Joe Yogerst, National Geographic, Washington D.C., 2017
A lot of pent-up wanderlust is about to be unleashed.
Online traffic and bookings have significantly increased of late, particularly for hotels and car rentals, according to a recent internal survey by AAA Travel. With 40% of the U.S. population now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Americans are demonstrating increased confidence to travel as we head into summer.
This trend comes fresh on the heels of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated travel guidance that fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to themselves, and can forgo masks in most settings.
AAA Travel advisors are fielding numerous travel inquiries from people who are planning trips after a year at home. Booking data reveals that domestic travel and road trips remain the biggest drivers of travel recovery in the near term.
Here are the top places to visit in the U.S. right now, based on AAA member interest and bookings.
Note: Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, please see official websites before visiting to check for restrictions or closures.
Yes, the land of the Mouse House and Universal Orlando Resort is right at the top of the list of places to visit in the U.S., and it’s no surprise. The parks are open, with increased safety measures and some new procedures, and families are ready to add an element of fun and magic back into their lives. At Walt Disney World, guests must have both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date, while Universal advises that its parks may reach capacity levels during the summer due to limited attendance numbers. The basics: Plan ahead if you’re traveling to the parks and make reservations and book theme park tickets in advance.
Gourmet food, glamorous gaming, outdoor fun and even – yes – family-friendly fun is just some of what you’ll find in Las Vegas. New spots are always opening up: After filling up up on aesthetic art and creative joy at Area15and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, head to the Downtown Container Park for trendy eats and shops – and a 40-foot metallic fire-breathing praying mantis that serves as the park’s mascot of sorts.
Alaska
If you’ve ever dreamed of taking an Alaskan cruise, now might be the time to book. President Joe Biden is expected to sign a bill into law Monday that would allow cruise ships to return to Alaska this summer. In addition to seeing wildlife like puffins and orca and humpback whales from your cabin, you can also see bears, moose, wolves and caribou– and exquisite panoramas – if you explore Denali National Park.
Perhaps best known in these parts for being home to Fenway South, the Boston Red Sox’s spring training facility, Fort Myers is also known for its historic sites, sandy stretches of beach, great seafood and outdoor activities like fishing, biking and paddling. You can also check out the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, if you’re so inclined. The area is also home to Sanibel Island, a beach paradise known for its spectacular sunsets and seashell-combing.
Hawaii
Always one of the top places to visit in the U.S., the ultimate tropical paradise also has good news for travelers: Gov. David Ige wants to open up the islands to tourists by the July 4th holiday. By then, vaccinated travelers would not need to take a COVID-19 test to be able to visit.
Key West, Fla.
Florida’s southernmost point is surrounded by warm Atlantic waters on all sides, with plenty of historic architecture, water sports and fishing opportunities, and the chance to see where literary legends like Ernest Hemingway, Robert Frost and Tennessee Williams lived and worked. (Of course, make sure to get a slice of Key lime pie while you’re there. They’re especially good dipped in chocolate and served frozen on a stick.)
Palm Springs, Calif.
Midcentury-modern architecture, hot springs, beautiful weather and vintage boutiques all call Palm Springs home. The former playground Hollywood stars and starlets, today’s Palm Springs beckons those with a taste for style, glamour and relaxation with its many fine restaurants, gorgeous landscapes, tasteful shopping and many hiking and biking trails that thread through the desert to explore.
Museums are great spots to hit up on a road trip or vacation. But with so many places to visit so close, how are you supposed to choose? Just check out our list of the best museums in New York City.
Note: Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 crisis, please check official websites before visiting to check for restrictions or closures.
The Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan is a landmark institution, showcasing works from the 20th century and beyond. The iconic building was designed by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright. In addition to the vast collections of modern and contemporary art, the Guggenheim also hosts many special exhibitions and events. It’s not only one of the best museums in New York City – it’s one of the best museums in the world. Get $3 off admission with your AAA card.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
One of the world’s most famous – and largest – museums, the Met is a favorite of both visitors and locals alike. Find yourself in the company of artworks from some of the world’s masters, spanning 5,000 years. If you’re a fan of medieval art, the Met Cloisters – which houses the museum’s medieval collection of art, manuscripts and tapestries, including the famed Unicorn Tapestries – is not to be missed.
American Museum of Natural History
Another one of the best museums in New York is the American Museum of Natural History. The museum has just about everything within its walls – and it should, considering it’s the largest natural history museum in the world at over 2 million square feet. The museum is a catalog of ecological history, animal species, human culture, architecture, geology and astronomy. Coming in February 2021, the all-new Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, promises a brilliant showcase of specimens, including some of the largest amethyst geodes on public display. The dinosaurs are also always a visitor favorite. It’s a great trip for the whole family.
Museum of Jewish Heritage
The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is dedicated to educating visitors about Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust. The museum houses recorded testimonies from Holocaust survivors, liberators, protectors and others, and hosts various programs, events and classes.
The Museum of Modern Art
MoMA is an unforgettable place where thought-provoking creativity and contemporary artwork is all around. Explore the galleries and collections, then head outside to enjoy the Rockefeller Sculpture Garden or grab a bite in one their outdoor restaurant spaces. Be sure to pick up something unique in the gift shop before you leave.
If you love modern art, you’ll also want to check out MoMA PS1 in Queens. A former abandoned public school building, it now features works from an ever-changing roster of diverse artists, often addressing current social, cultural and political issues.
New York Hall of Science
During a typical year, NYSCI welcomes droves of students, teachers and families. With over 450 exhibits, events, and workshops for all ages, the museum practices the “Design-Make-Play” method to educate visitors in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and math.
Although NYSCI hasn’t yet set a reopening date, it’s celebrating summer and a bygone slice of Americana with a special Queens Drive-In experience. It’s showing open-air movies outside its building in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, with guests appropriately socially distanced inside their cars. Vendors from the Queens Night Market will be on hand selling snacks, and guests can bring their own snacks and nonalcoholic beverages as well.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Two memorial pools outside pay homage to the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and the six who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The museum holds more than 70,000 artifacts, as well news archives, video footage and first-person testimonies of the events of that day within its 110,000 square feet.
There are so many great museums in New York City! Which one do you think is the best museum in New York City? Will you be visiting any when they reopen? Let us know in the comments below.
Find AAA Discounts on museums and attractions throughout the Northeast.
A recent study by Nestpick revealed the top 10 most vegetarian-friendly cities in America, with New York City coming in at No. 3.
Criteria used to judge each city included the affordability of fruits, vegetables and plant-based protein products along with the number, quality and menu prices of vegetarian restaurants, as well as the number of locally held vegetarian festivals and events.
If you’re looking for tasty vegetarian fare or vegetarian-friendly accommodations, check out this list of the 10 most vegetarian cities in the U.S.
1. Los Angeles
L.A. is the most vegetarian-friendly city in America, according Nestpick’s Vegetarian Cities Index. It scores highly for the affordability of plant-based meat alternatives as well as the number of vegetarian festivals and events. It also has a decent number of vegetarian-friendly restaurants, and restaurant prices aren’t too bad, either. It doesn’t have as many vegan-friendly restaurants.
Los Angeles scores 96.60 out of 100.
2. San Francisco
San Francisco also scores highly for the affordability of plant-based protein products. It doesn’t have as many festivals or events compared to L.A. but scored second-best of the U.S. cities for the number of vegetarian-friendly restaurants per person.
San Francisco scores 96.21 out of 100.
3. New York City
NYC is home to the most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurants of any U.S. city. It also ranks No. 1 for most vegetarian festivals and events, beating out Chicago and L.A. One con is the total average cost of vegetarian food, which was the highest of the U.S. cities listed.
The Big Apple scores 96.08 out of 100.
4. Atlanta
Atlanta scores well for its number of vegetarian festivals and events as well as the affordability of fruits, vegetables and plant-based protein products. Atlanta falls short when it comes to the average rank of its top 10 vegetarian and vegan restaurants, scoring fifth-worst in this category compared to other U.S. cities.
Atlanta scores 94.85 out of 100.
5. Miami
Miami features a decent number of vegetarian events and festivals. The local affordability of plant-based protein products scored well too; however, the total average price of vegetarian food was the fourth-highest of the U.S. cities.
Miami scores 94.65 out of 100.
6. Pittsburgh, Pa.
The price of plant-based protein products is pretty affordable in Pittsburgh, Pa. The availability of affordable vegetarian restaurants in the city and the average rank of the top 10 vegetarian restaurants are decent. It may just be a little difficult to find these restaurants. Pittsburgh ranks fifth-worst of the U.S. cities when it comes to number of vegetarian-friendly restaurants adjusted for population.
Pittsburgh scores 93.90 out of 100.
7. Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City received the best score of any ranked U.S. city when it comes to the availability of affordable vegetarian restaurants. The cost of fruits, vegetables and plant-based protein alternatives are relatively affordable, too. Vegan-friendly restaurants are limited, though; it’s home to the fifth-lowest amount of vegan-friendly restaurants of the ranked U.S. cities.
The capital of Oklahoma scores 93.81 out of 100.
8. Washington, D.C.
You’ll find a decent number of vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the nation’s capital. It scores as the second best U.S. city for the number of vegetarian restaurants as a share of all its restaurants. One con is the total average price level for vegetarian food, which was the fifth-highest of the U.S. cities listed.
Washington scores 93.46 out of 100.
9. Seattle
Seattle had the fifth-highest score of any U.S. city when it comes to the number of vegetarian- and vegan-themed events and festivals. Its vegetarian restaurant affordability score was decent as well. Seattle has the second-worst score of U.S. cities when it comes to the total price average of vegetarian food – falling right behind NYC in this category.
Seattle scores 93.18 out of 100.
10. Houston
Houston scored the highest of any U.S. city when it comes to the affordability of fruits and vegetables along with third-best for the affordability of plant-based protein products. Houston has the lowest scores when it comes to the number of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, as a share of all the city’s restaurants.
Houston scores 92.95 out of 100.
Boston, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis and Dallas round out the top 15 vegetarian-friendly cities.
When it comes to working out, why not head outside?
After a gray, gloomy and uniquely isolating winter, we’re all looking forward to exploring the great outdoors again. Now that the weather is warm – and more and more people are getting vaccinated – heading outside for a fun, free workout is an excellent choice.
These are some of the best outdoor workouts. Try one, or all, this spring, summer and fall.
Note: Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, please see official websites before visiting to check for restrictions or closures.
Benefits of Outdoor Workouts
Adults should do about 150 minutes, or 2.5 hours, of moderate to intense aerobic activity per week, according to the American Heart Association. This can also be broken down as 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.
Right now, exercising outdoors is safer than going to the gym, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it saves money, too.
Exercising outside also allows for access to fresh air and sunshine. While you don’t want to spend too much time in the sun’s harmful UV rays, some sunshine in moderation is good for you. Vitamin D can help your sleep cycle and mood as well as lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and pancreatic and breast cancer, according to Hartford HealthCare.
Activities that raise your heart rate are good for your body, but there’s something to be said about the mental and emotional boost that results from getting out of the house as well.
There is also more variety outdoors, as different locations allow for different types of exercises to help you reach your goals. If you are looking for the best outdoor workouts for weight loss, you can get an idea of how many calories different types of activities can burn with this chart from the Mayo Clinic.
Walking/Jogging
Going for a walk or jog is one of the easiest forms of outdoor exercise.
Walking can help lower your cholesterol, blood pressure, risk of diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness, inflammation and mental stress, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
Keep things interesting by listening to music/podcasts or mixing in some walking lunges, butt kicks and/or going backwards.
You can always carry weights or include hilly terrain to burn more calories.
Hiking gets your heart pumping. It can also help reduce your risk of hearth disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, osteoporosis and arthritis, according to the American Hiking Society.
The psychical benefits of hiking are rewarding – as are the mental and emotional benefits of being in the great outdoors and working your way toward scenic views.
Like other aerobic workouts, biking is good for your heart and muscles. What’s more, cycling is easy on your joints, can help improve balance and the resistance of pedaling strengthens bones, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
Whether you prefer a peaceful cruise around your community, a scenic bike tour or some exhilarating mountain biking, there are plenty of options to explore in the northeast.
If you’re new to biking, look into the different types of bikes and choose the right one for you. Start easy and work your way up to more challenging trails to burn more calories.
AAA Northeast members receive free bicycle service along with their 24-hour roadside assistance. If your bicycle breaks down while you’re out for a ride, call 1-800-AAA-HELP.
Many people enjoy yoga for its relaxing and mood-boosting benefits. The deep breathing and meditative practices of yoga can even aid in coping with anxiety and depression, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
When it comes to physical health, yoga helps improve balance, flexibility and strength, too.
If you are interested in outdoor workout classes, yoga is a great option. Check for outdoor, socially distanced yoga classes near you. To try outdoor yoga on your own, simply roll out your yoga mat on the back porch or a flat area on the lawn and follow an instructional video on your preferred device.
Exercise outside and feel like a kid again by strapping on a pair of skates.
Rollerblading strengthens your core, glutes and legs while burning a decent amount of calories – 600 calories per hour, according to Roller Skating Association International. It’s also less jarring to your joints compared to running.
Don’t forget to wear a helmet and knee pads. Consider wrist pads as well if you’re new to skating or it’s been a while since you rollerbladed last.
Inline skating is permitted on a number of paved walking trails.
Water Sports
If you live near a river, lake or ocean, there’s an opportunity to exercise on the water as well.
Canoeing, kayaking and rowing are good workouts for your arms and back muscles while stand-up paddle boarding and surfing are great for your core strength and balance.
Swimming is a full-body workout that burns a lot of calories. “A gentle swim can burn over 200 calories in just half an hour, more than double that of walking,” according to Swimming.org. It’s also gentle on your joints and a fun, relaxing activity for many.
Beach Workouts
Some may argue that the best outdoor workouts are at the beach.
Running on the beach, or doing sand sprints, can be more effective than running on hard surfaces.
“Studies have shown that running on the beach – especially on soft, dry sand that’s typically found farther from the water’s edge – will likely lower your odds of impact-associated overuse injuries,” according to Runner’s World. Also, “running on sand forces your body to work at least 10% harder than it does on grass.”
One drawback is the risk of ankle sprains and tendinopathy, so keep your limitations in mind.
You can also try yoga, stretches and other activates on the beach for a change of scenery.
With the Kids
Focusing on play makes exercise feel like less of a chore. It’s also a great way to keep yourself and the kids active, especially when school is out for the summer
Make an obstacle course or plan a scavenger hunt that requires different stretches and exercises, like a mix of burpees, crunches, long jumps, lunges, push-ups, squats, etc.
Play sports and other outside games, such as throwing around a ball/frisbee, jumping rope and playing tag. Find more fun games to play with kids, here.
Or, head to a park or playground to exercise. Some parks, like these around NYC, offer outdoor workout equipment.
Need new workout gear? AAA members can get exclusive discounts at Reebok Outlet stores.
Other Considerations
Make sure to stay extra hydrated when exercising outside, especially on hot days. Also, consider sun protection for your skin and eyes along with pest repellant if you’re prone to bug bites. When exercising outdoors, bring a spare mask in case you come across crowds on trails, at a park or the beach.
Which Northeast States Are Adopting the CDC’s Mask Guidelines?
Most Northeast states are following the CDC’s updated guidance allowing fully vaccinated people to ditch their masks, but there's one outlier that might surprise you.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its public health guidelines,saying that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19don’t have to wear masks or observe social-distancing guidelines in any setting.
But at least one state in the Northeast – New Jersey – has opted not to adopt the guidance, instead requiring people to continue to wear masks in indoor public spaces.
Masks will still be required on planes, trains, buses and other public transportation and transportation hubs,and where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local businesses and workplaces. Masks are also mandatory in most health care settings, including doctors’ offices, hospitals and nursing homes.
The CDC recommends unvaccinated people still wear masks in most situations and to observe social-distancing measures.
Most Northeast states are following the CDC’s guidance, except for New Jersey. You can find links to all the states’ requirements below.
There’s little arguing that electric vehicles are the cars of the future. In fact, between automakers pledging to transition to all zero-emission lineups and states banning gas-powered cars, it’s looking more and more like EVs will soon be car owners’ only option. With that in mind, it’s becoming imperative to better understand how to operate these green vehicles – particularly, how to charge them. Since most charging is done at home, this means understanding how EV home charging stations work.
Although EV home charging can be as simple as plugging your car’s battery in an outlet, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration, including charging efficiency, installation and cost.
EV Home Charging
Most electric vehicle owners charge their cars at home. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 80% of EV charging is done at an owner’s residence. This is obviously the most convenient option – you can charge the car when you’re sleeping and it’s ready to go in the morning – and it’s also the cheapest. Single-family homes generally have low and stable electricity rates.
Charging your EV at home certainly isn’t free but it costs substantially less than paying for gas and is usually cheaper than using a public charging station. The Department of Energy estimates that fully charging an all-electric vehicle with a 100-mile range would cost the equivalent of running air conditioning for six hours. Because they have smaller batteries, plug-in hybrid EVs would cost even less.
When you compare this to the cost of gasoline, you can see how the savings pile up. Over the past few years, gas prices have fluctuated between $1.50 and $4, meaning a person could be spending as much as $1,500 per car each year.
Charging Levels
There are two levels of charging available to you when using your home’s electricity: level 1 and level 2.
If you plug your vehicle into a standard 120-volt wall outlet, you’re using level 1. This is the simplest charging method but also the least efficient. Level 1 charging takes time, adding roughly 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. If you don’t usually drive long distances, this may be more than enough.
Some drivers, however, need to get more miles out of their vehicles on a regular basis. That’s why many EV owners opt to upgrade to level 2, which delivers 240 volts and, depending on the amperage or electrical current, can add anywhere from 10 to 60 miles of range in one hour. The typical level 2 charging station can fully charge an EV overnight.
EV Charging Station Installation Cost
Level 2 charging isn’t a matter of flipping a switch or purchasing a different power cord. Instead, special charging equipment must be installed in your house. These units, known electric vehicle supply equipment, can range in price from a few hundred dollars for an EV charging cable that plugs into a 240-volt, 20-amp outlet to a couple thousand for hard-wired internet-connected smart charger.
You will need to get an electrician to install the charging station or power to supply the station, which will also cost money. A typical installation could cost as little as $300, but there are several factors that could bump up the price, including if your house needs an electrical upgrade or a remodel to allow the unit to connect to the house’s electrical supply. Some states offer charging station rebates and incentives to help defer cost.
Outdoor Home EV Charging
Most owners charge their EVs from the garage, but both level 1 and 2 charging can also be done outside. The only consideration with outdoor level 1 is the length of the power cord. Most EVs come with their own cord but you may need to invest in a longer one that can reach from your home to the vehicle.
You can follow the same process with outdoor level 2 charging, simply running an extended power from your vehicle to the indoor charging station. However, you can also install the charging station itself outside. If you choose this option, install the unit in a location where the wires can be run safely. You’ll also want to choose your charging station wisely. Some are better suited to deal with outdoor elements than others.
Every proper Long Island wine tour includes a stop at Bedell Cellars, Paumanok, Pindar, Duck Walk or Wölffer Estate. If you’ve ever traveled through the East End and its many vineyard-lined streets, chances are you’ve at least heard of one of them. Grand in size, quality and popularity, these top Long Island wineries have each played a part in shaping the island’s wine industry and vineyard experience.
Bedell Cellars 36225 Main Road, Cutchogue, NY 631-734-7537
Bedell Cellars is known for making some of the finest wines on the East Coast of Long Island. As one of the most well-established Long Island wineries, they have received much critical acclaim and recognition, including having their wine served at the 2013 U.S. Presidential Inauguration.
Pioneers in the Long Island wine industry, Kip and Susan Bedell planted their grapes on the North Fork in 1980, only several years after Hargrave Vineyards (now Castello di Borghese) launched the wine industry in the area. Kip, a self-taught winemaker, focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, eventually earning a name for the winery as one of the top red wine producers in the region and himself the nickname of “Mr. Merlot” by Wine Spectator magazine.
In 2000, Kip sold the winery to film executive Michael Lynne, president of New Line Cinema, but the focus remains on quality. Bedell Cellers continues to hand-craft their wines in small batches as they have always done and are certified sustainable by Long Island Sustainable Winemaking.
The tasting room rests within a refurbished historic barn that was built in 1919. While you are there you must try their famous Merlot for a taste of some of Long Island’s best, although all of their varieties are well-received by critics. If you like bubbles, pop a bottle of Blanc de Blancs. And be sure to take note of their artist series bottles, which feature works of renowned contemporary artists.
Fittingly named for the Native American word used to describe Long Island, Paumanok wines are an excellent representation of the quality that the land is capable of producing. In fact, their wines have been representing the region quiet prominently, recently earning them the distinction of “Winery of the Year” at the 2015 New York Wine & Food Classic; it is the second time they have won the honor.
Charles and Ursula Massoud founded Paumanok Vineyards in 1983. The 127-acre former potato farm is entirely owned and managed by the couple and their three sons. Only state-grown grapes are used to make their wines, which are grown using traditional dense planting, resulting in more concentrated fruit. The quality grown in the vineyard is maintained in the bottle by limiting production to fewer than 12,000 cases a year.
Try a glass or two during a visit to their winery and tasting room in Aquebogue. Summer and fall are great times to enjoy the scenic vineyard view out on the deck.
Pindar 37645 Main Road (Route 25), Peconic, NY 631-734-6200
Late Pindar founder Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos was a big player among those who helped to form Long Island wine country into what it is today. From the early 1980’s he worked with his family to make Pindar one of the largest and most recognizable wine labels on Long Island. With over 500 acres of land, Pindar produces 70,000 cases a year of about 23 different varietals and blends.
Over the years, the Damianos name has made its mark on the East End at Pindar and beyond. Dr. Dan’s sons Alexander and Jason own and operate nearby Duck Walk Vineyards (more on that below) and Jason’s Vineyard respectively, while his son Pindar manages the vines at the vineyard of his namesake.
Inside the Pindar tasting room, artwork and Tiffany-style lamps surround a tasting bar where the wine is always flowing. During the warmer months, the covered deck out back is an ideal spot to take in the view and live music (weekends). U-pick sunflowers are also available while in season.
During your visit, be sure to try the Sunflower Field and Peacock Chardonnays, one of their popular sparkling wines, or the palate-pleasing red blend, Pythagoras, named “Best U.S. Red Blend” by the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago. For a quieter experience, visit Pindar’s Port Jefferson Wine Store, which also has a full tasting bar.
Duck Walk Duck Walk North: 44535 Main Road, Southold, NY / 631-765-3500 Duck Walk South: 231 Montauk Highway (Route 27), Water Mill, NY / 631-726-7555 x4
Pindar’s cousin winery, Duck Walk was founded by Dr. Dan Damianos and his son Alexander in 1994. Like Pindar, it has become one of the best-known Long Island wineries. Altogether, their vineyard encompasses 140 acres and produces about 35,000 cases of wine a year.
Duck Walk has two beautiful locations. In addition to their impressive flagship winery, housed within a Normandy Chateau-style building in Southampton, they claimed their spot along the wine trail on the North Fork in 2007, which quickly rose in popularity. Designed to accommodate large groups, both tasting rooms are large and airy with scenic outdoor areas to enjoy live music and wine and cheese pairings. Leashed dogs are also welcome.
Duck Walk wines are consistently recognized in national competitions. Tastings not to be missed include the Vidal Ice Wine dessert wine, made from grapes frozen on the vine, and Blueberry Port, made from wild Maine blueberries (served with a piece of chocolate).
The stylish Wölffer Estate Vineyard is a European escape in the Hamptons. Once a potato farm, the beautiful South Fork winery was the vision of late Hamburg-born businessman Christian Wölffer, who transformed the land and founded the vineyard in 1987. It also doubles as an equestrian center with the largest indoor riding ring on the East Coast.
Visiting the tasting room at Wölffer Estate is like going to a friend’s home who loves to entertain (and has a really nice house). The elevated Tuscan-style building offers pristine views of the vines and features old-world European accents including a hand-crafted bar made from reclaimed wood, stained glass doors and a stone terrace. It is the heart of the vineyard’s many events such as their Twilight Thursdays in the spring and fall and Candlelight Fridays in the winter, both of which feature live music and wines by the glass. Their nearby wine stand is also a hot spot for tastings and Sunset Fridays and Saturdays in the summer.
Winemaker and partner Roman Roth produces a diverse array of wines with food pairing and longevity in mind. All of the wines are made from estate grown and sustainably farmed grapes from Wölffer’s 55 acre vineyard and from locally-sourced fruit. They are certified sustainable by Long Island Sustainable Winemaking.
Must-taste wines: Grapes of Roth Merlot and Riesling; Summer in a Bottle rosé and white, which exactly as the name implies, are fruity sippers that capture the spirit of Long Island in the summer; and their dry white and rosé ciders, made exclusively from New York State apples. Try them at the tasting room or with dinner at Wölffer Kitchen in Sag Harbor or Amagansett, the first winery-owned restaurant in the Hamptons.
I came to the U.S. from India when I was 9 and for my parents, the decision was largely driven by education.
My father looked at what it would take to put me and my three siblings through college in India, based on the salary of his government job. And he knew that if he stayed in India, he would come up short.
He thought, if I go to the U.S., there will be better opportunities for my career, and for my children to get educated. Otherwise, he’d have been forced to make the painful choice of which of us went to college and which didn’t.
My father had a degree in horticulture and at the time, there weren’t a lot of people in America with his expertise. So he always worked. But that doesn’t mean anything came easily for him or my mom. Or their four children for that matter.
To say that the move from New Delhi, India, to Queens, N.Y., was a culture shock would be a huge understatement.
I didn’t speak the language. I looked different than most of the people in my class – in my entire graduating class, I could count the number of brown people on one hand. There weren’t any Asian-Americans that looked like me.
If you wanted anything Indian, there were two shops on Main Street in Flushing, Queens, that were your only go-tos back then. Now there are dozens!
So as a child of the 1980s, my goal was just to quickly fit in, to adopt the American holidays and assimilate. Basically, I didn’t want to stand out.
It may sound odd but when I was growing up my parents never really celebrated Indian holidays with us.
My father and mother worked all time, six or seven days a week; my mother had never worked like that until she came to America. And my siblings and I all started working the moment we were old enough to do so because we understood that everybody had to chip in. College is expensive.
There were no family vacations or traveling to fancy destinations; everybody worked. My father was 15 and my mother was 12 when they were married, and my mother didn’t have much education. They never really had a childhood themselves.
So for them, the goal from day one was our education. No matter how hard they had to work to make it a reality, they would see all four of their children through college.
And college is where my culture opened up to me. I didn’t start to own my heritage until I was an undergrad at Baruch College, studying for my bachelor’s in business administration. In every class, I met people from all over the world, all ages, all of this cultural diversity. I remember reading that there were more than 150 different nationalities represented by the student body there. It was a real wake-up moment.
I wound up taking an Indian history course as an undergrad because I wanted to educate myself about the culture I’d been disconnected from since my early years. And it was around then that I traveled back to India for the first time, reconnecting with my extended family. Soon after returning from that that trip, I met my wife who had emigrated from India much later in life and helped me learn so much more about my heritage.
The last year has been another type of wake-up call for me, as anti-Asian sentiments entered the national stage. It’s not as though this kind of discrimination is a new thing. I faced it growing up. And there are times — like explaining to my 10-year-old son why a group of teenagers called him a derogatory name because of the color of his skin — that make you think, ‘Maybe things haven’t changed that much.’”
But in other ways, things have changed a lot. Today, I love introducing my children to our culture. We recently celebrated Holi, an ancient Hindu springtime festival characterized by people throwing colored chalk on each other, and they loved it and wanted to know all about it.
Now, when an Indian holiday comes, we’ll take the day off, make sure we dress up and exchange gifts. It gets them curious, and that’s how you discover your heritage.
And now that my parents are retired, they love nothing more than spending time with their grandkids, especially during all of those holidays that they never had a chance to celebrate once upon a time.
Rahul Chand is vice president of membership marketing at AAA Northeast.
When planning a trip or vacation to China around food, remember that China is a big country. Food can vary noticeably from village to village, but there are eight major Chinese food regions to remember: Cantonese, Sichuan, Anhui, Shandong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Hunan and Zhejiang.
Each of these Chinese regional cuisines is steeped in a history that plays a role in how they are prepared, with geography and available resources deeply impacting the final results, but they are all delicious in their own right.
Looking to plan your next vacation? Be sure to consult a knowledgeable AAA travel agent to help guide you through the rapidly changing travel landscape.
Cantonese
When you think of authentic Chinese food – which is vastly different than American-Chinese food – you’re probably thinking of Cantonese cuisine. In general, chefs trained in Cantonese kitchens can find work throughout China and abroad.
The flavors of Cantonese food are balanced, relying heavily on ingredients selected and used at peak freshness. Despite the reliance on freshness, fresh herbs are rarely used in the dishes, though exceptions are made for garlic, chives and coriander leaves.
Beef, pork, chicken and seafood are staples in Cantonese cuisine. Both Guangdong Province and Hong Kong are home to excellent Cantonese seafood dishes served with rice. If you’re enjoying an Asian holiday in this region, don’t be surprised to find chicken feet, offal, duck’s tongue, snail, anteater or snake in your dish as well.
A number of sauces are popular in the region, such as plum sauce (sweet and sour), hoisin (sweet and salty) and oyster sauce (sweet, salty and a little “oystery”).
Sichuan
Even if you’ve never been to China, the name Sichuan probably rings a bell. Known for its hot and spicy flavors, this Chinese food region has a reputation for variation in seasoning and cooking methods.
The intense flavors from Sichuan Province – in contrast to Cantonese cuisine – rely on Sichuan pepper, black pepper, chili, broad bean chili paste, shallots, ginger and garlic.
Some of the most famous dishes are Kung Pao chicken, diced chicken with dry red pepper and peanuts; Fuqi feipian, thinly sliced beef seasoned with chili oil; and Sichuan hot pot, a tongue-numbing spicy dish. If you get the hot pot, be prepared to sample sea cucumber and unusual meats.
Anhui
The landlocked province of Anhui provides the wildest of Chinese regional cuisine, as locals forage the mountainsides for herbs, berries, fungi and game. Anyone whose Asia vacation takes them to this region will notice the lack of frying and stir-frying, as locals tend to favor stews and braised meats.
Local farms produce bayberry, tea leaves, bamboo shoots and dates, while wild mountain herbs are selected and added to dishes for both aroma and medicinal effects.
If you’re feeling bold or in need of protein, steamed stone frog is one of the several famous regional dishes. For those lighter of heart, there is Luzhou roast duck, Li Hongzhang stew and egg dumplings.
Fujian stir fried rice.
Shandon
Found along the northeast coast of China, Shandon cuisine, also known as Lu cuisine, is characterized by flash-fried seafood and vegetable dishes that aren’t too oily.
Like in Cantonese cooking, Shandon chefs focus on using spices and herbs to add subtle complexity to flavors rather than dominate the dish. Green onions, garlic, ginger and a dash of red pepper are often found in these dishes.
Shandon does not use some of the heavier sauces found in Cantonese cuisine, relying instead on vinegar and lots of salt.
Fujian
This Chinese food region is another that relies heavily on local delicacies, such as fish, turtles, indigenous mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Also known as Min cuisine or Hokkien cuisine, these dishes are often prepared to emphasize umami – the tantalizing fifth flavor for our palates.
If you’re a soup person, this province is a must-visit. Fresh seafood soups gain richness with exotic, wild ingredients brought down from the mountains.
Jiangsu
A wealthier region of China, Jiangsu errs on the side of gourmet, rather than partaking in the tradition of the hearty mountain peasant food you’ll find in Anhui province. Chefs create richly aromatic and refined meals with a heavy focus on presentation.
As a coastal province, it’s no surprise that seafood and sea vegetables play heavily into the region’s cuisine.
Hunan
Food from Hunan province is perhaps even hotter than Sichuan cuisine, but a little less so because they don’t incorporate the Sichuan peppercorns.
If you like Sichuan, it’s safe to say you’ll probably like Hunan cuisine. However, a mix of vinegar-chili and locally produced citrus allows dishes to evolve beyond simply spicy.
Zhejiang
Once home to the capital of the southern Song Dynasty, this region serves up elegant, refined dishes that feature quality ingredients. The cuisine shares a philosophy with Japanese food as they both incorporate raw or almost-raw ingredients.
There are three styles of Zhejiang cuisine: Ningbo is known for salty seafood dishes, fully utilizing brines during preparation; inland, Shaoxing uses less seafood, focusing instead on poultry and freshwater fish; and Hangzhou seems to include bamboo shoots in nearly every other dish.
Did we forget your favorite Chinese regional cuisine or dish? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Podcasts wouldn’t exist without the internet, and many podcasts are produced by extremely online people. These top podcasts about the internet prove that some of the most interesting stories can come from the far-reaching corners of the wild World Wide Web. Be warned, though, just like the internet, some of these podcasts can get a little strange.
“ICYMI,” which is internet slang for “in case you missed it,” is a Slate podcast hosted by writers Madison Malone Kircher and Rachelle Hampton. Like the title would suggest, this twice-weekly podcast is all about what you might have missed on the internet lately. News moves fast online, and it’s easy to fall behind. Kircher and Hampton make sure that you’re updated on all the latest memes, callouts, meltdowns and cringe content. Even if you’re not as online as the hosts, you’re sure to enjoy their hilarious analysis.
If you’re on the internet or even know people who are on the internet, you’ve probably heard of cancel culture. But what even is cancel culture? Is it even real? On “Cancel Me, Daddy,” journalists Katelyn Burns and Oliver-Ash Kleine deconstruct recent “cancellations,” public outcries, bad takes and free speech squabbles. It’s one of the most interesting new podcasts about the internet out there, as Burns and Kleine try to navigate the changing mores of the online world (and how that affects the offline world).
“Rabbit Hole” is a podcast from the New York Times chronicling how the internet can change people’s minds and lives – sometimes for the worse. From algorithms that point people toward more and more polarizing content to forums that stoke conspiracy theories, “Rabbit Hole” is true to its name. The podcast asks, “What is the internet doing to us?” Columnist Kevin Reese tries to find out. Whether you’re an internet expert or an online newbie, “Rabbit Hole” will shock you.
Recommended episodes: Listen from beginning to end.
“Reply All” is a podcast about the bizarre things that happen when internet culture intersects with real life. It has episodes about things like rat-based performance art, inmates posting from behind bars, websites listening through phone microphones, conspiracy theories and public shaming. Recently, after their controversial series The Test Kitchen was abandoned after two episodes, “Reply All” has undergone some behind-the-scenes changes. We won’t know how these changes will effect the show until they start posting episodes regularly again, but it will certainly be interesting to see their transformation.
Comedian Emily Heller and cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt are on a mission to know everything, and they have decided to learn it from increasingly obscure Wikipedia pages. From strange internet articles, to guest experts, to updates from Martha Stewart’s Instagram, “Baby Geniuses” has everything you never knew you needed. Heller and Hanawalt’s friendship makes the irreverent and bizarre podcast feel like a series of secret handshakes and inside jokes (like Lisa Hanawalt’s childhood as a horse girl). Though they both have a similar sense of humor, the hosts bring two completely different energies to the podcast – from Heller’s brash, stand-up style to Hanawalt’s soft-spoken, arty absurdism.
What if the most widely-accepted version of the story, the story you’ve been hearing your whole life, just isn’t true? “You’re Wrong About” is a podcast about common misconceptions and the way stories get warped in the public eye. Hosts Michael Hobbs and Sarah Marshall take turns telling each other about things like the satanic panic, Y2K, anti-vaxxers, stranger danger and so much more. They’ve currently also started doing multi-episode deep dives on books covering infamous celebrities and events. “You’re Wrong About” is not specifically about the internet, but the nature of online misinformation has led to them covering many internet-related stories.
