A graveyard might not be the first place you’d think to visit or include as a stop on your next road trip or vacation. But graveyards and cemeteries can be beautiful and are often historic as well. In the Northeast, the historic graveyards near you may include the graves of pilgrims, founding fathers, artists, activists and other well-known historic figures. Here are some of the most scenic and historic graveyards in the Northeast.

Trinity Churchyard

Manhattan, N.Y.

The parish of Trinity Church has three cemeteries, but none so historic as Trinity Churchyard in lower Manhattan. While it may have been in use since the 1660s, the oldest surviving memorial dates to 1681. Many historic figures are interred at Trinity Churchyard, including Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Philip Hamilton, Angelica Schuyler Church, Hercules Mulligan, Francis Lewis, William Bradford and Robert Fulton. Make sure to visit the Soldiers’ Monument in memory of the Revolutionary War, and the Fireman’s Memorial Monument, in memory of six firefighters who were killed during the Civil War.

Calvary Cemetery

Queens, N.Y.

Trinity Churchyard is miniscule in comparison to Calvary. It’s the largest cemetery in the United States, containing over 3 million graves and stretching across 365 acres. Calvary Cemetery was featured in “The Godfather,” and many infamous organized crime figures are interred within its grounds. Other notable burials include the first person to be processed through Ellis Island and a survivor of the R.M.S. Titanic sinking.

Green-Wood Cemetery

Brooklyn, N.Y.

As you pass through the massive Gothic revival gates of Green-Wood Cemetery, you’re also stepping back into history. This rural cemetery, opened in 1838, is like a combination of a graveyard and an inviting public park. There are many notable figures interred in the grounds of this National Historic Landmark, including Leonard Bernstein, two of the Fox sisters, Nathaniel Currier, James Ives, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Jean-Michel Basquiat and several Roosevelts.

Mount Hope Cemetery

Rochester, N.Y.

The sprawling Mount Hope Cemetery was founded in 1838 and is an early example of the rural cemetery movement, which aimed to make cemeteries more inviting to the living. Rural cemeteries are designed like parks or gardens, with rolling landscapes and pleasing features like ponds or gazebos. Mount Hope Cemetery is certainly picturesque, and contains a wide variety of different monuments from its long history. You can even see Tiffany glass windows on some of the mausoleums. Many historic figures are buried here, but perhaps none so prominent as Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. Both gravesites attract visitors who often come on Election Day to pay their respects.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

Cambridge, Mass.

Mount Auburn Cemetery was the very first rural cemetery in the United States, founded in 1831. This National Historic Landmark doubles as an arboretum, as its vast collection of trees shade its historic monuments and rolling landscape. Its beauty made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the 1800s. Notable gravesites include Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Winslow Homer, Harriet Ann Jacobs and Julia Ward Howe. Visitors can also enjoy buildings like the Washington Tower and the Bigelow Chapel.

Granary Burying Ground

Boston

Established in 1660, Granary Burying Ground is one of the most historic graveyards in Boston. While it may appear to be an unassuming old cemetery at first, Granary Burying Ground is actually the final resting place of Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Robert Treat Payne, Paul Revere and several members of Benjamin Franklin’s family (Franklin himself his buried in Philadelphia). It is also the final resting place of the victims of the 1770 Boston Massacre, including Crispus Attucks.

Myles Standish Burial Ground

Duxbury, Mass.

The Myles Standish Burial Ground, established in 1638, is the oldest graveyard in the country. It takes its name from one of its most famous inhabitants, Capt. Myles Standish, who came to America on the Mayflower. Several other Mayflower passengers are interred in the burial ground as well. This peaceful graveyard filled with time-worn and battered gravestones is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Standish’s final resting place is marked with an American flag and surrounded by cannons.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Concord, Mass.

Though it has no relation to “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving (that story takes place in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.), Concord’s Sleepy Hollow is a particularly literary historic graveyard. Established in 1855, this cemetery is most well-known for Authors Ridge, the final resting place of Henry David Thoreau, Nathanial Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Visitors to these graves are known to leave pens, pencils and poems behind in honor of these literary legends. The cemetery is also home to several other writers, as well as Mary Lemist Titcomb, the founder of the Bookmobile.

Swan Point Cemetery

Providence, R.I.

First established in 1846, Swan Point Cemetery is a rural cemetery that’s still in operation today. Offering standard burials, green burials, cremation and more. There are a lot of ways to spend eternity in Swan Point Cemetery. Visitors can take self-guided historical walking tours, which will take them to sites like the Memorial Grove Garden Megalith, the largest stone in an American cemetery, the white marble Grosvenor Lot, the Hope Memorial Garden and more. Many Rhode Island governors and other politicians are buried in these grounds, as well as author H.P. Lovecraft.

Hope Cemetery

Barre, Vt.

Barre is also known as the Granite Capital of the World, and that’s plain to see in Hope Cemetery. Established in 1865, Hope Cemetery features exceptional granite monuments in unique shapes and styles. The monuments and gravestones of Hope Cemetery are so unique that it’s also known as a museum of granite sculpture. Many of the gravestones in the cemetery were actually designed by those resting just below. Visitors can see monuments shaped like airplanes, furniture, race cars, intertwined lovers and more.

Grove Street Cemetery

New Haven, Conn.

Time to head to the Ivy Leagues. Grove Street Cemetery is a historic cemetery surrounded by the Yale campus. Founded in 1796, the Grove Street Cemetery was the first chartered burial ground in the United States. It was also the first cemetery to allow for the creation of family lots, so family members could be buried alongside each other. Before then, bodies were simply buried anywhere in the graveyard where there was enough room. The “city of the dead” layout of Grove Street Cemetery included named roads and walkways to make it easier for visitors to navigate. Unsurprisingly, many Yale presidents and faculty are buried here, along with notable historic figures like Eli Whitney and Noah Webster.

Are we forgetting any historic graveyards or cemeteries? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Looking for some chills and thrills with your history? Check out these haunted places in the Northeast.

We have a winner!

32 dishes battled it out, and after five rounds of voting and thousands of votes, it all came down to two Northeast culinary powerhouses: Maine Lobster Rolls vs. New England Clam Chowder.

In the final round, lobster rolls edged out clam chowder 57% to 44%, taking the crown of Northeast Food Fight champion!

KEEP SCORE

ROUND 1

14,927 total votes 

Atlantic City Taffy vs. Doughboys 
Doughboys – 65% (winner)
Atlantic City Taffy – 35%

New York-Style Cheesecake vs. Cannoli 
New York-Style Cheesecake – 59% (winner)
Cannoli – 41%

Apple Cider Doughnuts vs. Boston Cream Pie 
Apple Cider Doughnuts – 54% (winner)
Boston Cream Pie – 46%

Del’s Lemonade vs. Italian Ice 
Italian Ice – 58% (winner)
Del’s Lemonade – 42%

Maine vs. Connecticut Lobster Roll 
Maine Lobster Roll – 80% (winner)
Connecticut Lobster Roll – 20% (winner)

Rhode Island Stuffies vs. Clam Cakes 
Clam Cakes – 56% (winner)
Stuffies – 44%

Rhode Island-Style Calamari vs. Fried Clams 
Fried Clams – 65% (winner)
Calamari – 35%

Steamers vs. Oysters 
Steamers – 72% (winner)
Oysters – 28%

Manhattan vs. New England Clam Chowder
New England Clam Chowder – 86% (winner)
Manhattan Clam Chowder – 14%

Disco Fries vs. Jersey Shore Cheeseballs 
Disco Fries – 70% (winner)
Jersey Shore Cheeseballs – 30%

Baked Pretzel vs. Parker House Rolls 
Baked Pretzel – 57% (winner)
Parker House Rolls – 42%

Matzo Ball Soup vs. Waldorf Salad 
Waldorf Salad – 58% (winner)
Matzo Ball Soup – 41%

New York Pizza vs. New Haven Pizza 
New York Pizza – 67% (winner)
New Haven Pizza – 32%

Hot Wieners vs. New York Street Dog
NYC Street Dog – 67% (winner)
Hot Wieners – 33%

Pastrami Sandwich vs. Sausage and Peppers 
Pastrami Sandwich – 54% (winner)
Sausage & Peppers – 46%

Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese vs. Bagel and Lox 
Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese – 57% (winner)
Bagel & Lox – 43%

ROUND 2

2,527 total votes 

Doughboys vs. New York-Style Cheesecake 
New York-Style Cheesecake – 78% (winner)
Doughboys – 22%

Italian Ice vs. Apple Cider Doughnut 
Apple Cider Doughnut – 63% (winner)
Italian Ice – 37%

Maine Lobster Roll vs. Clam Cakes 
Maine Lobster Roll – 79% (winner)
Clam Cakes – 21%

Fried Clams vs. Steamers
Fried Clams – 67% (winner)
Steamers – 33%

New England Clam Chowder vs. Disco Fries 
New England Clam Chowder – 81% (winner)
Disco Fries – 19%

Baked Pretzel vs. Waldorf Salad 
Baked Pretzel – 69% (winner)
Waldorf Salad – 31%

New York-Style Pizza vs. New York Street Dog 
New York-Style Pizza – 83% (winner)
New York Street Dog – 17%

Pastrami Sandwich vs. Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese
Pastrami Sandwich – 80% (winner)
Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese – 19%

ROUND 3

1,204 total votes

New England Clam Chowder vs. Baked Pretzel 
New England Clam Chowder – 77% (winner)
Baked Pretzel – 23%

Main Lobster Roll vs. Fried Clams
Maine Lobster Roll – 70% (winner)
Fried Clams – 30%

New York Style-Cheesecake vs. Apple Cider Doughnuts 
New York Style-Cheesecake – 61% (winner)
Apple Cider Doughnuts – 39%

New York-Style Pizza vs. Pastrami Sandwich 
New York-Style Pizza – 60% (winner)
Pastrami Sandwich – 40%

ROUND 4

405 total votes

New England Clam Chowder vs. New York-Style Pizza 
New England Clam Chowder -56% (winner)
New York-Style Pizza – 44%

Maine Lobster Roll vs. New York-Style Cheesecake 
Maine Lobster Roll – 65% (winner)
New York-Style Cheesecake – 35%

ROUND 5 

307 total votes 

Maine Lobster Roll vs. New England Clam Chowder
Maine Lobster Roll – 57% (winner)
New England Clam Chowder – 44%

ROSTER

DESSERT

Atlantic City Salt Water Taffy

The go-to Atlantic City souvenir since the 1800s. A piece of boardwalk nostalgia, salt water taffy is made in a variety of flavors and (thankfully) not from actual seawater.

Doughboys – Rhode Island

The Ocean State’s version of a zeppole or beignet, these sugar-coated fried balls of dough are best enjoyed still warm from the fryer. Available at pizzerias and clam shacks throughout the state.

New York-Style Cheesecake

Rich, tangy, dense and creamy, New York-style cheesecake is cream cheese-based and usually made with a graham cracker or vanilla wafer crust.

Cannoli

Crispy fried pastry shells with sweet ricotta cream filling, traditionally dipped in dark chocolate chips on each end. You’ll find some of the best cannoli in the bakeries of Little Italy neighborhoods throughout the Northeast.

Del’s Frozen Lemonade – Rhode Island

Part slushy, part Italian Ice, distinctly Rhode Island and all delicious. A hot day’s perfect companion.

Italian Ice

A smooth summer snack that cools you down but is lighter than ice cream. Served in a range of refreshing flavors at pizzerias and franchises like Rita’s and Ralph’s.

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Sugar and spice, plus everything nice about doughnuts, the addition of apple cider and cinnamon sugar transforms an already delicious dessert into something even better. No apple picking adventure, farmers market or fall festival would be complete without them.

Boston Cream Pie

The chocolate-topped, cream-filled golden sponge cake was said to be invented at Parker’s Restaurant at the Omni Parker House in Boston, where it has been served since 1856.

SEAFOOD

Maine Lobster Roll

The Maine lobster roll features cold lobster salad dressed in mayonnaise, served on a split-top New England hot dog bun. Some will add celery, lettuce and other seasonings to the mix, but purists believe that nothing should come between fresh lobster meat and mayo.

Connecticut Lobster Roll

A hot lobster roll served with warm melted butter for dunking or pouring over top.

Stuffies – Rhode Island

Stuffed quahogs (Rhode Island’s official state shellfish) baked and served on the half shell. These clam shack favorites are typically made with a mixture of celery, onions, clams, bacon, breadcrumbs, chopped clams, clam juice and seasonings.

Clam Cakes – Rhode Island

Standard on beach and roadside clam shack menus, these fried dough fritters are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and stuffed with meaty quahogs. Commonly served beside a bowl of clam chowder.

Rhode Island-Style Calamari

Crispy fried rings and tentacles get a flavor boost from a quick toss with garlic, butter and the vinegary kick of pickled cherry peppers. The official state appetizer of Rhode Island.

Fried Clams

Breaded and fried strips of clam.

Steamers

Steamed clams freshly harvested from East Coast and New England waters.

Oysters

The star of local raw bars, Oyster fans say that New England oysters are some of the sweetest.

STARTERS

Manhattan Clam Chowder

A tomato-based clam chowder made with vegetables and notably absent of milk or cream. A polarizing contender.

New England Clam Chowder

A thick and hearty cream-based clam chowder, customarily made with salt pork, onions and potatoes.

Disco Fries – New Jersey

Found at New Jersey diners, these gravy and mozzarella-topped fries are an irresistible late-night snack.

Jersey Shore Cheese Balls

Breaded and fried balls of cheddar that made their mark on the Seaside Heights boardwalk.

Baked Pretzel

Although they can be found just about anywhere, baked pretzels are a quintessential New York City street food, distinguished by their soft texture and irresistible toasty aroma.

Parker House Rolls – Massachusetts

Buttery, soft dinner rolls first created at the Boston Parker Hotel in 1890.

Matzo Ball Soup – New York

A comfort dish composed of chicken broth, aromatic vegetables, matzo ball dumplings and dill. A staple of any New York Jewish deli worth its schmaltz.

Waldorf Salad

A sweet salad starring crunchy raw apples and celery tossed in mayo. Many iterations also include walnuts. First made to celebrate the 1983 opening of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

QUICK-SERVE

New York-Style Pizza

A “regular” (cheese) New York pizza is a round pie with large, foldable slices, thin crust, tomato sauce and nearly full mozzarella coverage. Sold as a whole pie or by the slice.

New Haven-Style Pizza – Connecticut

Sometimes referred to as “apizza,” New Haven-style pizza is a coal-fired, Neapolitan-style pie marked by its ultra-thin crust. Sold as a whole pie.

Hot Wieners – Rhode Island

Also known as New York System wieners, these craveable sausages are more than your average hot dog. Typically ordered “all the way,” with onions, yellow mustard, celery salt and a seasoned beef sauce.

New York Street Dog

All-beef hot dogs topped with onions, sauerkraut and brown mustard. Often called “dirty water dogs” but revered, nonetheless.

Pastrami Sandwich – New York

Thin slices of tender, spice-rubbed, smoked pastrami, piled high on rye.

Sausage and Peppers

Grilled sweet or hot Italian sausage on a bun, topped with cooked peppers and onions. Tastes as good as it smells.

Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese – New Jersey

A popular Jersey breakfast sandwich consisting of sliced Taylor ham or pork roll – a processed, smoky pork product, a fried egg and American cheese on a roll.

Bagel and Lox – New York

A bagel topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon is a New York classic. Complete with sliced onion, tomato and capers, if you please.

Shop our storefront to get the supplies you need to make and enjoy some your favorite Northeast foods at home. 

What’s your favorite Northeast food? Do you think adding tomatoes to clam chowder is blasphemous? Are you team Maine- or Connecticut-style lobster roll? Tell us in the comments! 

You’ve probably been planning for your retirement for most of your adult life. And even after decades, you may still find yourself with a limited monthly income during your retired years. This can make it difficult to pursue all the interests you hoped for. If you find yourself in this position, a reverse mortgage could be right for you.

A reverse mortgage is a unique financial tool that can increase your monthly income, providing the financial freedom you dream of during retirement. Here’s how.

What exactly is a reverse mortgage?

A home equity conversion mortgage is a mortgage for homeowners age 62 or older who would like to access the equity they have built up in their home in the form of tax-free loan proceeds. A reverse mortgage allows homeowners to tap some of the equity they have in their home without adding to their monthly debt. The title remains in the borrower’s name, so you continue to own your home and the lender’s interest is simply the mortgage loan.

A HECM is the only reverse mortgage product on the market that offers insurance through the department of Housing and Urban Development.

What are the benefits?

A reverse mortgage is unique because there are no monthly payments. This can free up a significant amount of money each month. “Borrowers may be interested in supplementing their monthly income by setting up monthly direct deposits from their reverse mortgage,” says Julia Braun, a Reverse Mortgage Consultant for AAA. “They can customize the amount, term and even have the option of setting up a tenured monthly payment, which is guaranteed for life.”

For some borrowers, the main benefit is simply paying off an existing mortgage on their home. There are never any payments due on a HECM while the borrower lives in the home. Only the funds used to pay off the mortgage (plus closing costs and other cash requested by the homeowner) accrue interest. Any additional loan proceeds are made available through a Line of Credit that grows over time.

Who might benefit?

“The product is best suited for those borrowers who plan to remain in their home,” Braun says. “The loan can be beneficial for almost any homeowner age 62 or older who has significant equity in their home.”

How much can I borrow?

A HECM has a loan limit of up to $979,800. How much of that you can receive from a reverse mortgage depends on several factors. These include your age, the value of your home, current interest rates and an assessment of your finances.

In general, the older you are the more money you can receive from a lender.

Do reverse mortgages come with any fees?

Yes. You may have an origination fee, mortgage insurance premium, property appraisal, typical third-party fees and a modest charge for independent counseling.

Most fees can be rolled into your loan, minimizing your out-of-pocket costs.

How can a reverse mortgage aid your retirement?

“Freeing up your home’s equity, without adding to monthly debt can benefit a wide range of borrowers,” Braun says. “From eliminating a current monthly principal and interest payment on an existing mortgage, to having access to a line of credit, a reverse mortgage can provide liquidity for any number of purposes.”

Home improvements, medical expenses and dream vacations are just some of the endless expenses a reverse mortgage can fund, allowing you a greater amount of financial freedom during your retirement.

How is a reverse mortgage paid back?

The loan doesn’t have to be repaid until the last borrower has not lived in the home for six months. This can be extended for up to one year. When this occurs, the funds from the sale of the house are used to repay the loan.

If the home is left to an estate, it will usually sell the home to pay the loan as well. Any extra equity after the loan is paid off belongs to the estate. However, heirs also have the option to pay off the loan by other means and keep the property.

Are you considering a reverse mortgage? AAA’s dedicated experts are here with trusted, and reliable step-by-step assistance along the way, all from the comfort of your own home.

The Northeast is the setting of some of the most iconic television shows of all time, from “Cheers” to “Sex and the City.” Relive some of your favorite TV moments with a road trip to famous television locations.

There are TV shows that simply took inspiration from the Northeast and filmed elsewhere, others included establishing shots of real buildings and some filmed extensively in and around real Northeast landmarks and locations.

Here are some of the spots you should visit on your small-screen tour of the Northeast.

New York

“Sex and the City“

It’s right there in the name! New York City is a major character in “Sex and the City,” and you can find filming locations all over.

Visit Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment, at 64 Perry St. in the West Village. While you’re in the neighborhood, swing by Magnolia Bakery for a taste of its iconic cupcakes. If you want to buy the exact same cupcake as Carrie, get the vanilla cupcake with pink frosting and a sugar daisy. You can also stop and grab a cosmo at Onieal’s, which “Sex and the City” fans will recognize as the filming location for the in-universe bar Scout.

“FRIENDS”

So no one told you that “Friends” wasn’t actually filmed in New York City? That’s OK! New York is still there for you – and it’s filled with locations used for exterior shots that inspired some aspect of the show.

First off, you’ll want to visit Pulitzer Fountain, across from the Plaza Hotel. It’s said to be the inspiration for the fountain featured in the opening credits. It’s probably not a good idea to dance around inside it, though. You’ll find the exterior of Monica, Rachel, Joey and Chandler’s apartment building on the corner of Bedford and Grove streets in the West Village. You can also visit Bloomingdale’s, where Rachel got her start, or the American Museum of Natural History, which inspired Ross’s workplace.

If you want to be even more immersed, check out The FRIENDS Experience, where you can pose for photos inside detailed set replicas and see real props and costumes from the series. It just might make your day, your week, your month or even your year!

“Seinfeld”

“Seinfeld” is a New Yorker’s show about New York. “Seinfeld” fans must stop for a meal at Tom’s Restaurant, which was used as the exterior of their favorite hangout, Monk’s Cafe. The interior of Tom’s Restaurant was finally featured in Jerry Seinfeld’s other show, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” when he interviewed none other than Jason Alexander.

Still feeling peckish? The Original Soup Kitchen, the inspiration for one of the show’s most iconic episodes, is still serving up delicious bowls of soup. Jerry Seinfeld might be banned, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying some!

Connecticut

“Gilmore Girls”

“Gilmore Girls” wasn’t actually filmed in Connecticut, but the state is ever-present in the show’s cozy New England aesthetic. The fictional town of Stars Hollow is said to be based on the real-life towns of Kent, Washington Depot, West Hartford and New Milford. If you want to run away to live your “Gilmore Girls” dreams – sipping coffee on a brisk fall day and strolling past the town gazebo – they might be the next vacation spot for you.

New Jersey

“The Sopranos”

“The Sopranos” is not only one of the best shows to come out of New Jersey, it’s one of the best shows ever. If you throw a rock in New Jersey, you’ll probably hit a “Sopranos” filming location. Get a sweet treat at Holsten’s in Bloomfield, the site of the series finale. Sneak a peek at the Soprano family mansion, which sits on a real cul-de-sac in North Caldwell. If you’re feeling brave enough, you can even try a visit to the notorious Pine Barrens. And those are just the G-rated locations.

Reality TV

New Jersey has been home to many reality TV shows, but perhaps none so famous as “Jersey Shore” and “Cake Boss.” “Jersey Shore” fans can visit the iconic boardwalk in Seaside Heights, as well as the Shore Store, where the cast worked, and the Beachcomber Bar & Grill, where they played. Just don’t forget to GTL. “Cake Boss” fans can get a taste of their favorite show at the real Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken. Yum!

Massachusetts

“Cheers“

Do you want to go where everyone knows your name? At Cheers on Beacon Hill, you can step into the bar that inspired the TV show. Originally known as the Bull & Finch Pub, it was rocketed to fame when it served as the exterior location for the eponymous bar in “Cheers.” Now, the inside of the bar looks like “Cheers,” too. It’s a complete replica, plus some modern conveniences. Diners can enjoy a themed menu, as well as “Cheers” trivia. If you’re a fan, it’s a can’t-miss trip.

“Castle Rock“

Nothing says “New England” like Stephen King. “Castle Rock,” a horror anthology series loosely based on King’s works, was filmed mostly in Massachusetts. A large portion of scenes took place in Orange and the surrounding areas, including Gardner.

“Castle Rock” fans can see the Slencil Company buildings, which served as the Castle Rock police station and other local shops in the series, and catch a glimpse of Ruth Deaver’s house, a Victorian style mansion, in Orange. King fans can even visit the Public Health Museum in Tewksbury, which served as the filming location for the Juniper Hill Psychiatric Hospital.

Rhode Island

“Family Guy”

It’s no secret that “Family Guy” wasn’t filmed in Rhode Island … because it’s animated. But the fictional town of Quahog was heavily influenced by real-world locations. The stated inspiration for Quahog is Cranston, and the show heavily features the Providence skyline in the distance. Brown University, McCoy Stadium and even the Big Blue Bug have all been featured on the show. The show’s Nifty Fifties Diner is said to have been inspired by the Modern Diner, a historic train car diner in Pawtucket. While you’re in the area, stop by the Rhode Island School of Design, where creator Seth MacFarlane went to college and fell in love with the Ocean State.

Have you ever been to any of these locations? What about the location of your favorite TV show? Let us know in the comments below!

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One of the best ways to experience a new country or culture is through a culinary lens. Cuisine is a pathway to the history, politics and economy of a culture, and there is perhaps no better avenue than street food.  

What we have come to call street food is often the everyday fare of working people around the world. It is food that is affordable, practical in that it is usually portable, and fast, frequently consumed on the go from work or school. For travelers, it’s a way to eat on budget and among locals.

Some of my most memorable travel experiences have been eating meals streetside, snacking while walking along a river that intersects a city or simply people watching while sampling a place’s best street food offerings.

For the purpose of this article, I define street food as food bought and consumed outside, rather than inside of a restaurant setting. Streets foods are often sold from food trucks, carts and stalls, hawker centers, night markets and at the roadside.   

When you’re not traveling the globe, the next best thing is to visit the places in our communities where chefs are serving street food favorites. The following are the types of street foods I remember fondly from my own travels, offered right here in the Northeast.

Ta’amiya and Hawawshi

Cairo, Egypt, is a bustling, energetic city situated adjacent to the Sahara Desert. Travelers come in droves every year to see the Great Pyramid of Giza. But Cairo also offers a vibrant street food scene, sometimes overshadowed by the pyramid’s allure.  

Translated from Arabic as “tasty little bits,” ta’amiya is a popular Egyptian street food. And while they look much like traditional falafel, they aren’t made with chickpeas. These snackable fritters are made with mashed fava beans, garlic, onions, coriander and cumin and dressed in sesame seeds.

I get my ta’amiya at Zooba in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where they’re moist, fluffy and packed with flavor. Served as side dish in portions of three, they appear on the menu as Egyptian Falafel.

But the main attraction at Zooba is the Hawawshi, a handheld crispy pita stuffed with minced meat, onion, garlic, peppers and herbs. I go for the Street Hawashi, which features meat without any additional toppings, though options with cheese and slaw are also offered. Like most types of street food around the world, Zooba’s hawawshi is portable, affordable and delicious.

Oyster Omelet

Hawker centers in Singapore and Malaysia are frenetic, crowded, mostly outdoor food venues with a variety of food stalls. They are perfect for gathering with friends and sharing family-style meals from a large sampling of the region’s offerings.

In both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I was hooked on oyster omelets. These savory, fried, greasy, delicious concoctions of egg, green onions, bean sprouts and a tapioca starch batter, feature a magical mashup of chewy, crisp and gooey textures. Paired with spicy sambal or chili oil, oyster omelets are the ideal accompaniment to a cold local beer on a hot day.

My favorite oyster omelet in New York City can be found at Kopitiam. Their oh chien (oyster cake) is dressed with fragrant, fresh cilantro and comes with spicy house sambal sauce. If you grab an outdoor table, it almost feels like being transported Jalan Alor Food Street, Kuala Lumpur’s famous hawker center.

Baleadas

Baleadas are a seemingly simple meal of flour tortillas filled with refried beans, queso and crema. Filling variations can include sliced avocado, pickled red onions and eggs, chicken, pork, or beef. Honduran crema and Honduran crumbled queso duro make the flavors of baleadas pop, but it’s the freshness of the ingredients that make them special.

Baleadas will fill you up cheaply and quickly before starting your day. After a week in Honduras, I was hooked on breakfast baleadas and I long to go back to experience them again; for now, I’ll stick to Rinconcito Copaneco in Jersey City until I can return again.

Pho Bo Kho/Bo Kho

I had limited exposure to Vietnamese food where I grew up in the suburbs. Today, Vietnamese food in America is far more prominent.

Pho, a beef broth, rice noodle soup, is the most ubiquitous Vietnamese dish in the States, though in my opinion, it is best experienced streetside, on a plastic stool, mopping the sweat from your brow in the thick, humid, Vietnamese air.

Pho Bo Kho is closer to a stew than a traditional Pho, featuring a darker red broth, carrots, lemongrass, star anise and cinnamon. The rich, spicy flavor induces sweat, which cools you on even the hottest days in Saigon. If you are traveling through Connecticut, stop at Pho Viet, just ten minutes from central Hartford, and order a steaming bowl of Bo Kho.

Cevapi

Cevapi is the national dish of Bosnia and Herzegovina, though a similar variation is found throughout the Balkan region. Minced lamb, veal, pork, beef or a combination of meats are seasoned with salt and pepper, shaped into sausages or miniature patties, skewered and roasted. The meat is served with flatbread and chopped, raw, white onion, which begs to be made into a sandwich.

Cevapi is sold in restaurants and as a street food dish, and there are slight regional variations within Bosnia & Herzegovina. Whether you are in Mostar, Sarajevo, or the countryside, it’s a foregone conclusion that you will be repeatedly asked, “Have you tried cevapi yet?” Try it for yourself at Burek King in Clifton, New Jersey.

Harira

Harira is a hearty soup of lentils, tomatoes, chickpeas, turmeric, cumin and cinnamon. The non-vegetarian variety comes with chunks of lamb. The soup is often considered to be Morocco’s national dish, and you can find it offered morning, afternoon and night.

At the Jemaa el-Fna Squarein Marrakech, ware sellers, street carts, tourists, locals and performers all mix to form a lively evening scene. Street hawkers beckon patrons towards their bowls of snail shells, skewers of grilled meats and boiling pots of harira. Get some for yourself at Zerza in Manhattan’s Essex Market. Morocco is well-known for its tagine, but it is high time that its street food culture gets the recognition it deserves.

Stinky Tofu

There was a popular streetside lunch bar in Taipei City that I passed every day while I was in Taiwan, and I could smell the pungent, noon-time meal before I could ever see the restaurant’s storefront. The odor was coming from stinky tofu, a popular dish served in restaurants and night markets, often as a side dish or as part of a larger meal.

True to its name, stinky tofu is tofu that has been fermented in brine for upwards of a few months, and served with any combination of mustard greens, cabbage/kimchi, dried shrimp, bamboo shoots and Chinese herbs. The dish is sour, spicy and savory with a mix of soft and crunchy textures. Yes, it does smell quite funky, but it is also delicious. (I am deeply impatient with anyone willing to write off stinky tofu based on its scent alone.)

In Queens, head to the New York Food Court in Flushing for your stinky tofu fix. In Manhattan, try Bings and Noodles for a slightly less funky variety.

Tamales

Tamales are a handheld, portable meal that originated in Mesoamerica, having likely spread from Mexico or Guatemala to the rest of Latin America. They are made of masa or corn dough, steamed inside of a banana leaf or a corn husk. The inside is commonly stuffed with slow-cooked pork or chicken, beef, beans, cheese, and/or mole.

The best tamales come from fresh masa, and my indicator of a great tamale is whether it has retained a bit of moisture rather than being dried out. My favorite tamale in New York City comes from Factory Tamal. The mole poblano with chicken tamale showcases chef Fernando Lopez’s roots from Puebla, where he learned to make mole in his family’s tradition.

Egg Hoppers

Hoppers are light and crispy, bowl-shaped pancakes made from a fermented rice flour and coconut milk batter that is steamed or fried. They come with a sunny-side up egg in the center and are often served with a sambal or curry.

This was my go-to breakfast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, ordered adjacent to the beach and enjoyed overlooking the surf. At Lakruwana Restaurant in Staten Island, you can order a hopper meal, which comes with one egg hopper filled with your choice of vegetables, chicken, pork, lamb, beef, fish or shrimp and three additional plain hoppers.

Pizza

Ok, pizza may not be a street food I have eaten overseas – at least not in the same form as a New York slice, but it is the epitome of what makes street food so wonderful.

As a New Yorker, I can tell you that pizza is ubiquitous in New York. It crosses class boundaries and is eaten by all regardless of age, occupation, religious beliefs or cultural background. It’s eaten on sidewalks, on the subway (don’t do this), in parks, in the office, at school lunch and in restaurants in all corners of the five boroughs.

Pizza has become something to brag and argue about, creating tribal lines as New Yorkers claim their favorite pizza spot as the best. Local variations in Detroit, Chicago and Connecticut have created loyal followers, ready to argue on behalf of their home city’s pizza like rival sports fans defending their teams.

My favorite slice in the city is the burrata slice at L’industrie in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The pizza shop expanded its size within the last year, and business has been booming, as evidenced by a packed patio and lines out the door on Friday nights. Grab a few slices and a soft serve ice cream topped with olive oil and salt.

Once you have traveled throughout the Northeast to try each of these street food classics, I hope you will feel inspired to go to the true source of each meal. There is nothing that compares to the experience of having a local meal in a foreign culture.

So, hit the road to get your fill within your home region for now but try to hop on a flight to experience street food abroad someday, too. A AAA travel agent will be happy to help you plan your trip!

Featured image: Ta’amiya from Zooba.

We’ve all been there before: driving home after work and being blinded by the setting sun. You squint, turn the sun visor down and try to peer through the windshield just to get a glimpse of the road. Truth be told, this is more than just a seasonal annoyance, it can be a serious safety risk.

Just after sunrise and before sunset, the sun can shine directly into a driver’s eyes. The glare can make it much more difficult to see the road ahead, as well as other cars, pedestrians and hazards. While the sun will continue to rise and set, there are some helpful tips to dealing with the glare when driving during these times of the day.

Keep Your Windshield Clean

Your windshield provides your view of the road, so any dirt, debris or smudge can limit your field of vision. This situation is exacerbated during sunrise and sunset. When the sun hits your windshield during this time of day, it highlights all the dirt and smudges on the glass – even those you didn’t know were there. Now, you don’t have to just deal with seeing past the sunlight, but also all the dirt on your windshield. This could create a serious safety risk.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to prevent this: keep your windshield clean. You don’t need to do a thorough wash everyday, just a quick clean once a week should do the trick. And remember to clean both the outside and inside of the glass. A professional-grade product will give you the best results.

Turn on Your Headlights

It may seem counterintuitive to turn your headlights while the sun is up. But this tip is not necessarily just for you, it’s to help your fellow drivers. If your headlights are on, so are your taillights, making it easier for the car behind you to see your vehicle. If they can see your car, they’ll be less likely to cause a crash, creating a safer roadway for everyone.

Make sure that your lights are clean. These lights can get cloudy and dirty, creating a much dimmer light.

Break Out the Shades

No reason to reinvent the wheel. If the sun is in your eyes, put on a pair of sunglasses. It’s a great idea to always have a pair stored in your car. You never know when the clouds will part while you’re driving. Ideally, you’ll want to use polarized sunglasses, which have a special chemical applied to the lenses that filter light. The result is a clearer picture and reduced strain on your eyes.

Drivers can also utilize the vehicle’s sun visor. Depending on the location of the sun, the visor may be able to completely block it out.

Drive Slow

The goal of beating sun glare is to get from one place to another safely. So while driving slowly won’t help get the sun out of your eyes, it will help you drive during sunrise and sunset.

Driving at a safe speed is always important regardless of the circumstances, but is even more critical when your vision may be compromised. The slow speed gives you more time to observe the vehicle in front of you, scan the road, watch for hazards and pedestrians, and make any adjustments.

Leave Extra Room

It doesn’t matter how slow you’re driving – if you don’t leave enough room between your vehicle and the other cars on the road you’re more likely to cause a crash, particularly in low visibility. In fact, limited light can negatively affect depth perception. Make sure to give yourself plenty of space to react and maneuver.

Adjust Your Driving Routine

If you’re forced to deal with sun glare on a regular basis, you may want to consider altering your driving schedule if possible. After all, you don’t have to fight sun glare if you don’t have to face it. Are you able to start your trip a few minutes earlier or later? If so, this may help alleviate the problem.

You may instead be able to adjust your route. Although you’ll likely need to travel in the same direction, you may be able to find a different route that has tall buildings or trees that will help block out the sun.

Pull Over

If you can’t drive safely, don’t drive at all. When you find yourself fighting a losing a battle against sun glare, do the right thing and pull over. Find a safe spot, ideally in a parking lot and wait for the sun to move. It may only take a few minutes for the sun to get out of your direct line of sight and allow you to properly see the road.

Following these tips to avoid glare are important for keeping your view of the road clear when driving. If there is something more obstructive such as a crack or chip in your windshield, make sure to have it fixed as soon as possible.

Get more car safety tips. 

Diamond Designation: Five Diamond (Leading-edge cuisine, ingredients and preparation with extraordinary service and surroundings. Learn more about AAA Diamonds.)

Location: 120 Wauwinet Rd, Nantucket, Mass.

Topper’s is a can’t-miss dining spot overlooking Nantucket Bay. Led by Executive Chef Kyle Zachary, the kitchen makes the most of the local bounty with island favorites like lobster rolls and Retsyo oysters on the half shell, plucked from the water just yards from the dock.

In a review of the property, a AAA inspector describes Topper’s as an “extraordinary gem” inside of The Wauwinet, an elegant beachside hotel. But it is the details – an upscale dining room, impeccable service, memorable prix fixe menu and wine list of 1,550 wines – that have earned it the prestigious AAA Five Diamond designation, reserved for only the best of the best. For a more casual atmosphere, grab a spot on the deck for the views of the bay under a heated awning.

Lobster Rolls

• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons Meyer lemon juice
• 1 cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola
• Kosher salt
• 1¼ pound lobster meat
• 4 brioche buns
• 4 leaves Boston bibb lettuce
• Bread and butter pickles

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, mustard and lemon juice. Slowly whisk in the oil. Season with salt. Dress the lobster meat with the mayonnaise.

To assemble, split four brioche buns and butter the cut side. Toast the cut side on a griddle until golden brown. Place a leaf of Boston bibb lettuce on the bottom half of each bun. Top with equal amounts of lobster salad and top with the other half of the bun. Serve with a few bread and butter pickles.

Serves 4.

Life insurance is one of the primary resources people rely on to provide surviving family members with financial stability after their death. To have the insurance company reject the claim creates the very dilemma that the policy’s existence was intended to prevent.

Before you run the risk of your policy’s rejection, here’s a crash course on how your coverage could get derailed.

Making a Life Insurance Claim

Once the insured has passed away, it falls to the beneficiary to report the death to the life insurance company and complete all the necessary paperwork. The details will vary based on both the provider and the policy you have, but  the beneficiary will need to obtain the death certificate as well as the letters testamentary (also known as the letters of administration) that prove they are indeed the intended recipient of the policy’s death benefit. After the documentation is submitted, the insurance company typically has 30 days to respond.

At this point, the beneficiary can wait and hope that the claim is paid as expected, in which case they will likely have to choose between a lump sum or regular deposits in a designated account. Whatever form it takes, this insurance payout represents the provider’s fulfillment of its side of the contract with the insured. The provider might also opt to delay or deny the life insurance claims. Both results require immediate action from the beneficiary, but a denial in particular means that you might need to contest the provider’s conclusion if you believe you’re in the right. We’ll discuss that approach in a bit.

Let’s go over some of the main reasons why your life insurance claims might be denied:

Misrepresentation and Inaccurate Information

Anytime you provide faulty or incomplete personal data to your life insurance company, you run the risk of leaving your policy open to misrepresentation. In this scenario, an applicant is accused of falsifying information – whether intentionally or not – in order to ensure that their policy is approved. An example of this would be omitting details about a serious medical condition. A word of advice: Double-check your application before you submit it to ensure that you’re being as truthful as you can be.

The Contestability Period

Most life insurance policies feature a contestability period during the first two years after the purchase date, during which the provider can reassess and contest (hence the name) your application. If the policyholder dies during this period, the insurance company can withhold delivery of the death benefit on the basis that you provided incorrect data on your application. Again, a blatantly honest application could mean the difference between your family’s financial protection or lack thereof.

Lapsed Policies and Overdue Premiums

If you stop paying your electric bill, eventually your home’s lights will go out. The same principle applies to your life insurance coverage. If you fail to pay your premiums on time (or within the designated grace period), your policy will likely lapse. If the policyholder passes away after this happens, your plan will no longer be active, leaving any claims likely to be denied in short order. You’re better off reaching out to your representative to handle any payment issues before such a predicament occurs.

Exclusions and Uncovered Causes

Depending on your policy, not all causes of death may be covered by your provider. If an accidental death falls outside the parameters of your policy but winds up being the reason for the insured’s untimely passing, your claim will most likely be denied. This rationale also applies to any exclusions – the circumstances and conditions that are decidedly not covered – that may be listed in your policy. The most popular exclusion relates to suicidal deaths, but check your policy details to see which pertain to your case.

When You Want to Contest

Even though a claim denial can wreak havoc on a beneficiary’s financial outlook, he or she can still contest the decision if they truly believe that it was reached in error. The first step should always be to alert the provider to your dispute and see if an amicable resolution can be reached between the beneficiary and the insurance company itself. If this approach doesn’t work, the beneficiary may need to seek out legal counsel and mount a court case against the provider.

Get a personalized life insurance policy through AAA. 

Road trips are a great way to explore the country with lots of opportunities to see new places, meet new people and enjoy beautiful views. Mountains provide some of the most spectacular views you can find on a road trip. Even if you’re not the hiking type, driving through the mountains and up the winding roads that lead to these towering peaks is not to be missed.

New Hampshire is the place to be if you want reach the highest points in the Northeast, but there are plenty more highly enjoyable options throughout the region.

Mount Washington

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire White Mountains, named for their snow-covered peaks, are full of trails and roadways with beautiful scenery. If you’re looking for the highest spot, then you want to check out Mount Washington, part of the Presidential Mountain Range. At 6,288 feet, this mountain is tallest in the entire Northeast.

It’s easily accessible during the summer months by the Mount Washington Auto Road, so you can drive to the top rather than making the hike. At the summit, you’ll find the Mount Washington Observatory along with a café where you can get a little snack and take refuge if the weather turns. Even if you’re driving to the top, check out the weather first as a beautiful warm day at the base doesn’t erase the possibility of cold rain and high winds at the summit.

Mount Adams

New Hampshire

The Presidential Mountain Range has no shortage of towering mountains, with five that top 5,000-feet. This makes the Granite State the place to visit if you want the best mountain views. The second-highest peak in New Hampshire is also the second-highest peak in the Northeast. Mount Adams comes in just below 5,800 feet in elevation. Climbing to the top of this one is a challenge, but there are easier trails around the mountain that will let you get out and explore without having to be a hardcore hiker. The White Mountains are a popular vacation destination, so there’s no shortage of outdoor activities.

Mount Katahdin

Maine

The seventh-highest peak in the Northeast at 5,267 feet is found in the state of Maine. Mount Katahdin sits in Baxter State Park, which is part of the Maine Highlands. This mountain is about 25 miles away from the town of Millinocket and marks the northernmost point of the Appalachian Trail. There are numerous hiking trails, but climbing this one is not for beginners. Be sure you’re prepared before you head out for the day and if a strenuous hike isn’t to your liking, there’s still plenty to explore throughout the rest of Baxter State Park.

Mount Marcy

New York

Located in the beautiful Adirondacks, Mount Marcy is the highest peak in New York State at 5,344 feet, sitting just ahead of 5,114-foot-tall Algonquin Peak. These are the only two peaks in the state that exceed 5,000 feet. This one isn’t easy to get to and its varied terrain can be tricky for inexperienced hikers. If you do scale Mount Marcy, when the weather is clear, the view extends all the way to Mont Royal in Montreal. Its location in the Adirondacks means there’s lots to do in the area with kayaking, boating, hiking and towns to explore. Expect snow from October to May if you’re looking for a winter road trip destination.

Mount Mansfield

Vermont

Mount Mansfield State Forest is home to 4,393-foot Mount Mansfield, which is the highest peak in the Vermont. The forest covers 44,444 acres of state-owned land, an expansive state forest that provides lots of opportunities for nature lovers to explore.

Mount Mansfield’s summit ridge is unique for being one of only three mountains in the state where alpine tundra survived the ice age. The area is also home to several notches with a federal scenic-by-way that runs from Stowe Mountain Resort to Smugglers’ Notch Resort along Route 108. There are also numerous hiking trails suited for everything from a leisurely stroll to rock climbing. If you choose to visit during the winter months, you can even experience ice climbing.

Mount Greylock

Massachusetts

The highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet is Mount Greylock. On a clear day, the view from the top lets you see 90 miles away and is simply breathtaking. This mountain has an auto road that can easily get you to that view and is open from late May through the end of October depending on the weather. The area has enough to keep you busy no matter the time of year. There are hiking trails from easy to difficult along with spots for camping. Visit during the winter months, and you can snowmobile the trails up to the summit.

Bear Mountain

Connecticut

As you move south the highest peaks in the northeast get a little shorter. In Connecticut, Bear Mountain is the highest peak at roughly 2,300-feet tall. Located in Mount Riga State Park in the town of Salisbury, this peak is a strenuous climb that leads to incredible views. There are also more family-friendly trails in the area that lead to their own spectacular views if you’re not up for a rigorous hike. Note that if you want the highest spot in the state, rather than the highest peak, then you have to look for Mount Frissell. While the 2,454-foot peak of Mount Frissell is in Massachusetts, its southern slope is in Connecticut, which makes it the highest spot in the state.

Travel to new heights in style. AAA members can save up to on Hertz rentals.

Once you arrive at your favorite destination, you need a way to get around town. A rental car is the perfect solution as it allows for the convenience of going where you want, when you want. There are lots of different styles of cars to choose from and a wide range of prices to fit your vacation and budget. So, how do you get the best deal on a rental car? Here are a few tips and tricks.

Use Your Memberships

There are lots of discounts available when it comes time to rent a car, but they’re not always widely advertised by the rental companies. The good news is that you can simply ask about current car rental deals at the counter or even online when you’re making a reservation.

At the top of the list is your AAA membership. AAA members can save up to 20% on Hertz rentals. Always inquire about which member discounts are available and use the one that gets you the best rate.

Keep It to One Driver

Unless it’s absolutely necessary to have multiple drivers on your rental, keep it to just one person. Most rental companies charge an extra fee for each additional driver. It’s usually not a flat fee, but a daily fee, so if you have a rental car for a week, that cost is going to add up fast.

If you have a large crew of potential drivers, pick one person as your chauffeur for the week. If it’s a longer trip, then plan a few extra breaks so they get some time to stretch and grab something to drink, which is a good idea for everyone.

Book the Right Size Car for Your Needs

The bigger the car, the more you’ll pay for your rental. If possible, go with an economy car since those are the most affordable. Only opt for a large sedan or SUV if you truly need one, like if you have a large family to accommodate or lots of luggage. Otherwise, smaller is better when it comes to saving money. Getting a smaller car also helps reduce your fuel cost, which is especially important if you’re going on a long-distance trip.

Ask About Free Upgrades

Often, there are free upgrades available for the asking when you show up at the rental counter. These include premium cars in the same class as the vehicle you reserved or even larger cars, all available at the same price as the original car you booked.

If an upgrade isn’t offered, then ask. While they may not have anything, if they do, you could find yourself travelling in more comfort than you expected without having to pay any extra for the experience.

Avoid the Add-Ons

There are all sorts of things you can add on to your rental, such as navigation and car seats, both of which you can avoid by using your own. You can even bring your own toll transponder if it’s valid in the location to which you’re traveling.

Insurance also falls in this category. Check with your insurance company and chances are good they have you covered while you’re in a rental car. Many credit card companies also automatically provide insurance when you use their card to rent a car. Do a little research ahead of time and don’t feel pressured into adding unnecessary insurance at the counter.

Return With a Full Tank of Gas

You will need to return the car with a full tank of gas, except in rare situations. The agent at the counter will offer several options for filling up the tank. You can prepay for a full tank, which is one rate, or they will charge you by the gallon for just the amount you need, which is another rate. You can also just fill-up on your own at a gas station near the drop-off location. Filling it yourself is almost always the cheapest option. You can search out the nearest gas stations online in advance of your trip or just find the cheapest station on your AAA mobile app. This can make a huge difference in how much you pay for your rental, so don’t automatically have the car rental company fill it up for you just for convenience.

Use your AAA membership for even more savings on Hertz rental cars. Members can add an additional driver for free, reserve a free car seat and get 10% off prepaid gas and 50% off satellite radio.

Is it time for an upgrade? Whether you need a new phone, a bigger TV, a faster computer or more powerful home appliances, AAA members have access to exclusive discounts to save on tech.

Samsung

You can get premium gadgets and appliances without breaking the bank by utilizing Samsung’s special discount for AAA members. At the exclusive online store for AAA members, your discount will automatically be applied as you shop, and you’ll be able to see all your deals in one place. You’ll also get access to limited-time offers on phones, TVs, computers and home appliances.

Start shopping and saving.

HP

Looking for the latest in printers, PCs and computer accessories? HP helps AAA members save on tech. Unlock exclusive offers, upfront discounted pricing (no promo codes required!) and automatically-applied savings when you sign up for HP’s exclusive savings program.

Register today and get up to 35% off select HP products with free shipping and dedicated support.

Dell

Dell’s line of top-quality products includes desktops, laptops, tablets, TVs, printers and electronics accessories.

Save an additional 10% off Dell products by going to their exclusive online store for AAA members.

Lenovo

Lenovo has the electronics you need for work, home and play. Their selection of products includes laptops, PCs, software, smart devices, office chairs and even gaming essentials.

AAA members can access Gold level pricing and save up to 70% on clearance products.

Logitech

Logitech is your one-stop shop for computer accessories, including keyboards, mice, headsets, webcams, microphones, speakers, earbuds and VR devices. They also offer specialized tech and software solutions for businesses and creators.

Save 25% on select products.

Norton 360

Your privacy and personal information are more valuable than all the tech gadgets in the world. Protect yourself against viruses, malware and privacy breaches with Norton 360, which offers a password manager, real-time threat protection, cloud backups for your information, a secure VPN, dark web monitoring and more.

AAA members can save on a Norton 360 subscription.

T-Mobile

Your wireless carrier can make or break your day (or your wallet). T-Mobile provides fast and reliable wireless connectivity with simplified rate plans that won’t break the bank.

Thinking of switching over? AAA members who switch to T-Mobile can get up to $100 via a virtual prepaid Mastercard.

Discover more AAA Discounts.

When you get acquainted with your local food vendors, you get closer to your food. Our communities are enriched by the diversity of choices, the craftspeople and growers who have a specialized knowledge of the items they are producing and the close-knit ties between producers and consumers.

But, as we all well know, modern consumerism is all about convenience and speed. With the press of an icon on a phone application, you can have almost any item you desire shipped directly to your doorstep within days. Whole industries have had to transform to meet the changing technological advancements and the desires for convenience – to have things now.

Even the grocery business is seeing its share of new automation as Amazon rolls outs Amazon Fresh stores in the Northeast, offering a contactless option where patrons can skip the checkout lane and get in and out faster than ever before.

We often lose out on quality when our only options are mass produced in industrial quantities. When it comes to food, this can mean sacrificing all-natural ingredients for fillers, additives and preservatives. And while large grocery stores have always been about one-stop convenience, stocking items regardless of where they are produced or if they are currently in season, the venture into automated grocery shopping could feel even more disconnecting.

Taking the time to learn how your food was grown and produced allows you to make choices that match your ethics and your health requirements. Your neighborhood butcher, baker, fishmonger or farmer, can provide that knowledge, expertise and passion.

Meat and Poultry

A whole-animal butcher shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y., The Meat Hook sources meat and grocery items from small, family-run farms in New York. Their beef is 100% grass fed and finished, and their pork, poultry and lamb come from pasture-raised animals. They also have specialty meats like rabbits, geese and Cornish hens.

The Meat Hook’s products showcase a quality unmatched by what you’ll find in your average large grocery store. The beef is a rich, red color when unwrapped from its butcher paper – a far cry from sad grocery store cuts graying under plastic packaging.

But there are two items that will have you completely sold on The Meat Hook. The first is their weekly lineup of handmade sausages, which often includes beautiful, vibrant flavors like green Chorizo, currywurst, and lamb tzatziki. The second is the pate en croute. The ingredients can vary, but this loaf-shaped amalgamation of delicious flavors has, at times, included, pork, chicken, duck, pistachio, whiskey-soaked prunes, tomatoes aspic and butter/schmaltz crust. While certainly not new or even entirely unique, pate en croute represents the butchers’ desire to feed shoppers the good stuff and to push them out of their culinary comfort zones.

It may not be saving any lives, but if we could swap out a pate en croute for the mystery meat in a child’s Lunchables in every school cafeteria, it may just make for a better world.

If you are interested in the art of butchery, The Meat Hook also offers regular classes. For most of us used to purchasing beef already shrink wrapped and labeled, learning these skills is a way to become less detached from the process of obtaining meat.

Bread and Baked Goods

There are certain places, once visited, from which there is no turning back.

Take one step into La Bicyclette Bakery in Brooklyn, and you will be transformed. From your first step into the bake shop, the aroma of baked treats is intoxicating. Fresh baguettes baked daily will make you question how you ever bought bread off a supermarket shelf.

Grab a coffee and a fresh, flaky ham and cheese croissant, walk down to nearby Domino Park adjacent to the East River, and all will be right in the universe. At least for a little while.

Fruits and Vegetables

Whenever possible, support your local farmers and consider joining a Community Supported Agriculture program. CSA offers consumers the chance to become a member through a pledge, much like a subscription service, for the year’s harvest. If you don’t live close enough to a farm to join a CSA, look for local greenmarket options or support groceries that are sourced from the closest available farms.

Local farms offer us the ability to speak with growers to learn about issues like genetically modified organisms and pesticides, and to make the choices we feel most comfortable with.

Holcomb Farm in West Granby, Conn., has a CSA program as well as a local farm store selling their own produce and products from local businesses and producers.

Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett, N.Y., offers a CSA as well as a fantastic cafe and market. This is a beautiful farm to visit on your way out to the East End.

Blue Moon Acres in Pennington, N.J., believes in sustainability and soil health. Unlike many other local farms, it grows rice using Korean farming techniques.

Seafood

Every summer, throngs of party-going city dwellers flock to the East End of Long Island, N.Y., to swim, tan and dance until the early morning hours in the local watering holes in Montauk and the Hamptons. For a more relaxed vibe, come after Labor Day when the crowds have died down.

Any time you’re this close to the ocean, is easy to start dreaming of fresh seafood, oysters floating in their own delicious brine and the sweet flesh burrowed deep into the pockets of a lobster claw. And you’ll be happy to find all that at Montauk Seafood Company.

Owners Wesley Peterson and Douglas Davidson grew up in the waters off the East End. Their decades of fishing and relationships with other local fishermen give them a keen knowledge of the best of the Atlantic Ocean’s offerings. Ask them what’s fresh on the day you arrive, and you may just be fortunate enough to come across a beautiful rarity like pumpkin swordfish.

Before leaving town, make sure you stop at the seaside food truck Ditch Witch, that has been feeding locals and surfers for years.

Independent/International Grocery:

There are many independent, specialty groceries in our communities that offer regional ingredients and products that serve immigrants and expats. They serve a vital role in providing these communities with a connection to home. For Americans born in the U.S., they offer a taste of new flavors and an education into the culinary culture of countries around the world.

Tong Dee Asian Market in Woonsocket, R.I., has a wonderful variety of sauces from Southeast Asia, packaged noodles, coffees and teas, even fresh bahn mi sandwiches. It carries many items used in Lao cooking, which deserves its place in popular food culture.

Russell’s General is in the small, upstate New York town of Bovina. There are very few businesses in Bovina, and Russell’s is a must visit, stocking goods like fish sauce and pho mix. Stop by Russell’s and make sure you have dinner at Brushland Eating House before leaving Bovina.

Pinoy Republic and Sons is a Filipino grocery in Worcester, Mass. Even if you have limited knowledge of Filipino cuisine, or especially if you do, you need to shop here for the beautiful ingredients and flavors of the Philippines. Go on a hot summer day and order halo halo, the classic Filipino desert of ube (purple yam) ice cream, evaporated milk, red beans, flan, shaved ice, tapioca and whatever other sugary sweet items the proprietor wants to add to this magical concoction.

Local food businesses are an endangered species. In exchange for speed and convenience, get to know your food and support your community when you can.

Tell us about your favorite local food businesses in the comments below.

Featured image: The first course at Brushland Eating House: dried meats and eggs. (Tim Vetter)

Some of the country’s greatest literary talents lived, worked and were inspired by locations in the Northeast. Fortunately for book lovers, many of these historic destinations have been preserved or restored and are open to the public. Here are a few literature-themed road trip ideas for your next adventure.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

Just 30 miles north of New York City sits the town of Sleepy Hollow, whose namesake cemetery is cited as the resting place of the Headless Horseman in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Irving spent the last 25 years of his life living just south of Sleepy Hollow in the town of Tarrytown. He is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery along with numerous other famed individuals including Elizabeth Arden, Andrew Carnegie and William Rockefeller. Visitors can take guided tours of the cemetery during the day or evening. Irving’s restored estate, Sunnyside, is also open to the public in nearby Irvington. The home is filled with the author’s possessions, including his books and writing desks.

The Mark Twain House & Museum

Hartford, Conn.

Mark Twain may be one of the most famous Missourians in history, but he spent many years of his life living in Hartford. The author and his family moved to Connecticut in 1871. Three years later, they moved into their newly constructed house, where they would live until 1891. Twain wrote many of his most famous books during this time, including “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” The house is available to see through guided tours and also hosts a variety of programs and events. A great destination to add to your literature-themed road trip.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

Hartford, Conn.

One of Twain’s neighbors in Hartford was Harriet Beecher Stowe. The author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” lived in a Victorian Gothic cottage on Forest Street for the last 23 years of her life. In 1924, Stowe’s grand-niece Katharine Seymour Day purchased the house. She spent years collecting manuscripts and objects connected to her famous relative. In 1968, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House opened to the public as a museum. The center includes modern galleries and interactive spaces, and houses more than 12,000 books, 4,000 pamphlets, 180,000 manuscripts and 12,000 images related to Stowe and her work.

Emily Dickinson Museum

Amherst, Mass.

Emily Dickinson is one of the most intriguing figures in American literature. Much of her life and work is misunderstood or unknown, in part because she lived a very reclusive life. Although she wrote nearly 1,800 poems, less than a dozen were published during her lifetime. The Emily Dickinson Museum attempts to shed more light on one of America’s greatest poets. The location consists of two buildings: the Homestead, Dickinson’s birthplace and home, and the Evergreens, home to Dickinson’s brother and his family. Collectively, they house thousands of objects that help bring guests into Dickinson’s life. The museum offers guided tours as well as a host of public programs and events.

Walden Pond

Concord, Mass.

A Northeast literature-themed road trip wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Walden Pond, the focus of Henry David Thoreau’s seminal piece “Walden.” The author lived on the pond’s banks for more than two years, chronicling everything he learned and witnessed from nature. The book is credited with inspiring the modern conservation effort. The pond itself is part of the 462-acre Walden Pond State Reservation. Guests can see the site of Thoreau’s cabin as well as visit the Thoreau Institute Library, which holds more than 60,000 Thoreau-related items including books, manuscripts, art, music, maps and correspondence.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum

Springfield, Mass.

Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was born in 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. More than a century later, his hometown paid tribute to their native son by opening The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum. The first floor features interactive exhibits on Dr. Seuss’ life growing up in Springfield, while the second floor recreates his studio and living room. Right outside the museum is the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, featuring bronze sculptures of the author’s most famous characters. More than three million people have visited the garden since its opening in 2002.

Robert Frost Farm

Derry, N.H.

In 1900, Robert Frost’s grandfather purchased a farm in Derry for Frost and his family. The family lived on the property for the next 11 years. His time spent on the farm served as an inspiration for the poet. During this period, Frost wrote many of the poems included in his first two books. In 1965, the state of New Hampshire purchased the farmhouse buildings situated on 12.6 acres of land, opening the property for public visitation in 1975. Guests can take a guided tour of the farmhouse to view Frost’s kitchen, where he wrote poems late at night near the wood stove, and the stairs that inspired the setting of his famous poem “Home Burial.” The landmark also offers a free, self-guided nature trail along the perimeter of the property. The path winds past 14 points of significance to Frost, such as the Hyla Brook.

Herman Melville’s Arrowhead

Pittsfield, Mass.

A native New Yorker, Herman Melville moved his family to the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts in 1850. The property, known as Arrowhead, was Melville’s home for the next 13 years. It was here where he penned some of his most famous works, most notably his classic novel “Moby-Dick.” Guided tours allow visitors to explore the home’s historic rooms, including Melville’s study. Guests can also dive deeper into the author’s world by following the Melville Trail. The journey takes participants to many of Melville’s beloved locations in the Berkshires, including Pontoosuc Lake, Balance Rock and Mount Greylock.

Have you ever been on a literature-themed road trip or visited any of these historic locations? Tell us in the comments below!

Need a ride? Learn about exclusive Hertz discounts for AAA members.

Today’s cars come with features galore, most of which are tried and true, positive additions to any motor vehicle. Navigation systems, smartphone compatibility, remote start, heated seats – the list goes on and on. But over the century-plus history of the automobile, not every new feature has hit the mark.

Whether strangely obscure, especially useless or astonishingly bizarre, here are some of the strangest car features ever offered.

Chrysler Highway Hi-Fi Record Player

In a major milestone in the evolution of car audio systems, Chrysler unveiled a custom record player in several of its 1956 models. The intention was pure, the execution muddled. Despite working well in high-end models, poor suspension systems in lower-tier vehicles caused records to skip. Additionally, Highway Hi-Fi could play only proprietary 7-inch records, forcing owners to go out and repurchase albums just to play in their car.

Toyota Van Ice Maker

It’s fair to say that this vehicle was not the most thought-out model Toyota ever produced. The company did, after all, name it “the van.” Then, there was the optional feature available in the LE trim: a shoebox-size freezer. The compartment was cooled by air-conditioning lines and came equipped with ice trays. This strange feature was surely a hit at tailgate parties, but otherwise, we’re not entirely clear on why anyone would need it.

Subaru BRAT Jump Seats

This strange car feature doesn’t even pass the eye test. One look at these rear-facing, open-air seats in the vehicle’s cargo bed seem to have “safety hazard” written all over them. And, indeed, passengers did get injured while riding in the back of the BRAT. Making matters worse, the seats were added only to save Subaru money. During the years the BRAT was being manufactured, the U.S. “chicken tax” imposed a 25% tariff on any trucks being imported into the country. By adding the ill-fated jump seats, Subaru could classify the BRAT as a passenger vehicle and save millions of dollars in taxes.

Honda Motocompo

The Motocompo holds the distinction of being the smallest scooter Honda has ever built. So small, in fact, it could fit into the trunk of the automaker’s subcompact cars, which is precisely what it was designed to do. The handlebars and seat folded into the toy-sized bike’s body to form a roughly 4-by-2-foot rectangle.

Some pose that the Motocompo was Honda’s attempt to promote itself as a manufacturer of both two- and four-wheeled vehicles. Unfortunately, no one could seem to rationalize why you would need a secondary mode of transportation within your primary mode of transportation. Introduced in 1981, the Motocompo was out of commission by 1983.

Fiat 500L Espresso Machine

In an attempt to make the morning commute less chaotic and more caffeinated, Fiat offered an optional espresso coffee machine in its 2013 500L model. The machine, developed in tandem with Italy’s Lavazza coffee company, was fully integrated into the passenger’s dashboard. It even came with accessories, including spoons and sugar holders. For safety and practical reasons, the machine worked only when the car was off. For safety and practical reason, the machine is no longer available. In fact, the 500L was discontinued itself several years back.

Water Bumpers

Water balloon bumper sounds like something out of a Moe, Larry and Curly skit. But believe it or not, these safety devices were real and nearly made their way onto commercially available vehicles.

The idea behind Hi-Dro Cushion cells, as they were known, was simple: the water could absorb the force of a collision, then redirect that energy by shooting through vinyl water chambers behind the bumper’s metal facing. In the end, the two colliding bodies would be cushioned, significantly reducing the chance of damage and injury.

Water bumpers never reached mass-produced vehicles, but they were constructed onto taxicabs in New York, San Francisco and other cities, where the most interesting thing about them came to light: they worked. Initial testing on taxis found accident repair costs and accident claim payments decreased more than 50%. But alas, between the extra weight, water turning into ice during the winter, and rather comical site of water balloons popping after a collision, water bumpers never caught on.

Cadillac Eldorade Brougham Drink Tumblers

At more than $120,000 in modern money, the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was the most expensive production car in the world at the time it rolled off the assembly line. Although they paid handsomely for it, owners certainly got a lot for their money. The Cadillac came equipped with power seats, power windows, automatic locks, electronic trunk opener and air suspension, all premium midcentury amenities that have become commonplace today. But the Brougham’s most unique feature, and one you certainly won’t find in your next car, was in the glove box – six stainless steel drinking glasses held down by magnets.

Rolls-Royce Vignale Champagne Cooler

When American businessman Joseph Maschuch commissioned renowned Italian car designer Alfredo Vignale to customize a 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, he had several requirements. Everything under the hood was painted green, all visible pipes were chrome-plated, air conditioning was installed and a full bar was added to the rear compartment. The most distinctive feature however, was out of plain sight. Underneath the right rear passenger seat was a toilet complete with a gold seat. The receptacle came with a mechanism allowing you to dump the contents onto the ground below. Before your imagination runs amok, know that the owner claimed the feature was used only as a champagne cooler.

Head to our auto history page to learn more about cars of the past.

What do you think of the strangest car features on this list? Which is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below.

It always feels good to shop local – and it usually tastes good, too. While some farmers markets are open year-round, the best time of year to visit is often in the fall. It is harvest season, after all. Nothing will get you in the fall spirit like visiting a local farmers market. Northeast farmers markets are among the best in the country, and they’re full of autumn treats.

Here are seven Northeast farmers markets you can’t miss.

Union Square Greenmarket

New York City

This farmers market is nestled in Union Square Park, in the middle of bustling Manhattan. The Union Square Greenmarket is open year-round, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, giving you plenty of opportunities to visit. The market began in 1976, and it hosts up to 140 farmers, fishers, bakers and artisans during its peak season. Stop by the Union Square Greenmarket for fruits and veggies, heritage meats, farmstead cheeses, artisan breads, local wines and more.

Haymarket

Boston

Set on Blackstone Street in Boston’s historic downtown, Haymarket is one of America’s oldest farmers markets. It originally opened for business in 1820! This open-air market is open year-round, through rain or shine, every Friday and Saturday from dawn until dusk. Stop by to visit over 40 independent vendors providing fruits, vegetables, seafood, flowers and more. Haymarket is especially proud of its multicultural makeup, with over 20 nationalities featured among the vendors.

Portland Farmers Market

Portland, Maine

The Portland Farmers Market is even older than Haymarket, and it claims to trace back all the way to 1768! Northeast farmers markets are old! The location of the Portland Farmers Market bounces around the city depending on the day of the week or the time of year. On Wednesdays and Saturdays from late April to November, it can be found in Deering Oaks Park. On Saturdays from December to mid-April, it becomes the Winter Farmers Market, at 631 Stevens Avenue.

Plymouth Farmers Market

Plymouth, Mass.

The Plymouth Farmers Market takes place at Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum about Plymouth Rock. It’s the perfect backdrop for a farmers market! While you’re there, take the opportunity to visit the Wampanoag Homesite and the 17th-century English village. The Plymouth Farmers Market is open every Thursday, outdoors through October and indoors from November through May.

Hope Street Farmers Market

Providence, R.I.

The Hope Street Farmers Market is a farmer-run co-op created and managed by local farmers and artisans. The market runs from May through October on Saturdays in Lippitt Park on the East Side of Providence. At the Hope Street Farmers Market, you can find fruits, vegetables, flowers, cheeses, pastries, seafood and more. Along with being one of the best Northeast farmers markets, it was named one of the 10 best farmers markets in America by USA Today.

Burlington Farmers Market

Burlington, Vt.

Located on Pine Street in Burlington’s South End, the Burlington Farmers Market has been running since 1980. Visit the market every Saturday through the middle of October to shop from over 90 stands of local vendors, selling seasonal fruits and vegetables, artisan goods, flowers, prepared foods and more. You can also catch some live music and entertainment while you’re shopping. In winter, the Burlington Farmers Market moves indoors – most recently to the Dudley Davis Center. That way, the locally-grown fun never has to stop!

Coventry Farmers Market

Coventry, Conn.

Coventry Farmers Market is relatively young for Northeast farmers markets, at around 16 years old. Still, it’s quickly become one of the largest farmers markets in Connecticut. The market takes place every Sunday from June through October on the Nathan Hale Homestead, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Coventry Farmers Market is usually chock-full of special events, like chef demonstrations, recipe and microbrew sampling, guest lecturers, visiting farm animals and even a pumpkin harvest in late October. It’s definitely not to be missed!

If you like to eat healthy, farmers markets are an excellent way to get inspired.

What are your favorite Northeast farmers markets? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Consider these home DIY projects if you’re looking to save money and make a big difference on your living space.

Give Your Mirrors Some Pizzazz

One of the simplest home DIY projects to make your home look more unique is to create interesting mirror frames. If the mirror is a square or rectangle, you can build a simple wooden frame around it to give it some personality. Keep it rustic or personalize it even more with your choice of stain or paint color.

Upgrade a circular mirror with a sunburst frame using wood shims and glue. You can also try using a charger plate for an elegant, Victorian look that’s even easier; all you need is an adhesive like hot glue to attach the mirror and you have a charming centerpiece for your bedroom or living room.

Add a Frame to Your TV

It’s not just mirrors that are great for framing. You can also frame your TV! If your TV is the focal point of a room, this will make it look more decorative. A prominent frame around your TV also helps to distract from any wires that might get in the way of your viewing experience.

Set up a Home DIY Canopy Bed

If you’d like to make your bedroom look a bit grander, one idea is to set up a DIY canopy bed. It’s easier than it sounds. With a little resourcefulness, you can make your canopy by hanging curtains from curtain rods or an embroidery hoop installed above the bed. Check out these 5 DIY canopy beds from Bob Villa.

While you’re at it, try using “balloon” drapery to decorate your windows. This just means hanging your drapes on a curved curtain rod to make your window look a bit bigger and more luxurious.

Build Your Own Headboard

One of the best home DIY ideas to make your bedroom look more interesting and picturesque is to make your own headboard for your bed. If you like to get creative, try polishing up an old door. For more of a farmhouse look, you can put together pieces of reclaimed hardwood.

DIY Shelving

Of course, what would home DIY be without a good shelving project? For a quick shelf that still looks great, rope shelving is a nautical-looking choice that requires very few materials.

Build a Nightstand

For a unique nightstand, cut an old table you don’t use anymore in half, paint over it with a new color and attach it to the wall. This two-legged nightstand will look great next your bed, and who doesn’t love a good upcycle?

Have you done any home DIY design projects? Share them in the comments.

Need a little extra cash for your DIY project? Learn more about a home equity loan from AAA! While you’re at it, learn about AAA’s homeowner and condo insurance.

If you are a frequent traveler you know that staying in the same types of rooms over and over again can get boring. A run-of-the-mill weekend hotel can look the same no matter where you go. Sometimes, to preserve the enchantment of travel, one must pursue weirder and more unique hotels in the USA.

Fortunately, America is in no shortage of unique hotels. From roadside oddities to AAA Diamond Designated luxury lodges, America’s weird hotels are unique, boutique – and unabashedly odd.

The Liberty Hotel, Massachusetts 

No list of unique hotels is complete without the Liberty Hotel. Nestled at the foot of Beacon Hill in Boston is a luxury hotel built out of the historic Charles Street Jail. You heard me right: the Liberty Hotel is a AAA Four Diamond Designated establishment where guests can stay in jail. Well, not exactly jail. The accommodations are renovated, posh and roomy. In terms of decoration, the hotel has a running motif of antique keys, iron bars and exposed brick.

The property is replete with themed bars and restaurants. At Alibi, you can enjoy a cocktail in the prison’s former drunk tank, while at Clink., you can dine on fresh seafood, heirloom produce and weekend brunch from behind bars.

The Library Hotel, New York

The Library Hotel is a literary-themed establishment in New York City. It’s exactly what it says: a hotel that’s also a library. Floors are based on the Dewey Decimal System and rooms are based on different genres, complete with personal books curated for your rooms. The hotel’s reading lounges offer hundreds more books to choose from.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Florida

Take a dive – literally – into Jules’ Undersea Lodge. The lodge is a restaurant and hotel inspired by the work of Jules Verne. As a result, it’s five fathoms under the water at Key Largo Undersea Park. To get to the Lodge, you must scuba dive all the way down yourself. If you’re not certified, don’t worry. They have classes. As weird hotels go, it’s one of the weirdest. It claims to be the only underwater hotel in the world.

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for Stephen King’s “The Shining,” and the location for the 1997 miniseries adaptation of the book. Embracing its status as one of the spookiest unique hotels, The Stanley offers many King-related experiences, such as a hedge maze, paranormal tours and a ghost adventure package.

McMenamins Kennedy School, Oregon

The McMenamins Kennedy School invites you to “fall asleep in class” in every meaning of the phrase. The Kennedy School is an old elementary school that has been renovated into one of the most unique hotels. The rooms of the hotel are fashioned from old classrooms and other areas of the school. Some of them still have desks and chalkboards.

The hotel boasts multiple bars and restaurants riffing on the school theme and carved out of restored school rooms. Detention has been turned into a bar where you can drink and smoke cigars with the other rebels. Or you could drink with the nerds in the Honors Bar. The school’s old cafeteria has been transformed into the Courtyard Restaurant, which serves pub food instead of square pizza. Don’t tell the vice principal, but the girls bathroom has been turned into a brewery.

The Jane Hotel, New York

This historic hotel, which opened at the turn of the 20^th century, once served as temporary housing for survivors of the Titanic. Its slim rooms are reminiscent of sleeper cars on trains or cabins on ships. No bathrooms, though – they’re down the hall! The aesthetic of the hotel is grounded somewhere in the 1920s, with bellhops dressed in maroon suits and hats and maids dressed in black and white. It looks almost like a Wes Anderson-directed adaptation of the Tower of Terror. These are some of the cheapest and most stylish rooms you’ll find in the city.

Out’n’About Treehouse Treesort, Oregon

The Out’n’About Treesort is a vast network of treehouses strung together by bridges, zip lines and ladders. The treehouses are all different, with unique designs and interiors. Many of them have modern amenities, like running water, toilets and refrigerators. It is a family-run bed and breakfast, with no locks on the treehouse doors.

The Curtis Hotel, Colorado

This quirky and colorful hotel is filled with unique and specialized theme floors, designed with tongue-in-cheek. As you ride up on the elevator, the doors will play a different jingle with every floor they reach, like the “Ghostbusters” music, the “Star Trek” theme or “Margaritaville.” Spend the night in one of the ultra-decorated theme rooms, based on everything from “Talladega Nights” to “I Love Lucy” to knock-knock jokes. The lobby is filled with pop art by local and nationally renowned artists, adding to the technicolor aesthetic of the Curtis Hotel.

Wigwam Village Motel, Arizona

The Wigwam Village Motel in Arizona is one of three surviving “wigwam motels” in the United States. It is situated right off Route 66, providing a series of fake teepees to house weary travelers. This ring of concrete teepees (mistakenly referred to as “wigwams”) served as the inspiration for the Cozy Cone Motel in the Pixar film “Cars.” There are also many vintage cars on display year-round in the parking lot.

Chena Hot Springs, Alaska

The Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks, Alaska, was founded over 100 years ago. At Chena, you can enjoy hot springs and the aurora borealis. It’s also home to the largest year-round ice museum in the world, the Aurora Ice Museum and Ice Bar. Guests have many experiences to choose from, like dog sled rides, healing mineral waters, snow coach tours and skiing. It is a beautiful, remote location filled with Alaskan wildlife and breathtaking views.

Rainbow Ridge Bed and Breakfast, Wisconsin

The Rainbow Ridge B&B is actually a working farm with crops and livestock. As a guest you can help milk goats, feed baby animals, harvest from the garden and collect eggs. It even has a calendar tracking when the new babies are supposed to be born. At night you can lay your head down in one of the rooms of the 1880s farmhouse. You don’t even need to worry about setting your alarm; that’s the rooster’s job!

The Inn at Christmas Place, Tennessee

This unique hotel is straight out of a Hallmark movie. The Inn at Christmas Place is a AAA Three Diamond Designated hotel in Tennessee across the street from a Christmas-themed shopping center. The inn is open all year-round. It is a tall, formidable presence, with Bavarian architecture and multiple spires. In the lobby, there is a giant glockenspiel which goes off hourly from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. There is a nightly concert by Singing Santa, who has an acoustic guitar and sings Christmas carols. And finally, the crown jewel: Their phone number is 888-HOLY-NIGHT.

The Queen Mary, California

Once a world-class ocean liner, The Queen Mary is now docked permanently in Long Beach, California. This cruise ship, which last sailed in the 1960s, is the pinnacle of weird hotels. Enjoy the art deco architecture, luxury spas and nautical theme, but beware! The RMS Queen Mary is said to be one of the most haunted places in America. You won’t have to encounter the ghosts all alone, though. You can take one of the many paranormal walking tours.

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, Massachusetts 

Come stay at the grandfather of unique hotels! Longfellow’s Wayside Inn is the oldest continually operating inn in the United States. With three centuries under its belt, it’s older than America itself. The inn crossed paths with George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette and Henry David Thoreau. It wasn’t until Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a book based on the inn, entitled “Tales of a Wayside Inn,” that it cemented itself as an American landmark. In 1923, Henry Ford purchased the inn and transformed it into the first living history museum in the United States.

If you could visit any of the unique hotels in the USA, which would it be? Let us know in the comments below!

Plan and book your next getaway with AAA. 

Getting rid of your old car isn’t always as easy as it seems. You might be able to trade it in and get some money back on your new car purchase. Maybe you can successfully resell it on your own. Either way, new cars depreciate precipitously, so it’s unlikely you’re going to get back a lot of money no matter how you unload your old vehicle. With that in mind, donating your car might prove to be the most rewarding option.

Donating your car has several benefits. First and foremost, you’re helping those in need. There are also financial and convenience advantages as well. Your donation will likely be tax-deductible and many charities will come pick up the vehicle, which is particularly helpful if it no longer runs.

Which charities accept car donations?

Many of the country’s major charities accept car donations, including Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, Make-A-Wish, the Salvation Army and the Ronald McDonald House, to name a few. If you’re curious if a smaller and/or local non-profit accepts car donations, reach out and ask. This also includes technical high schools and colleges that look for vehicles to teach with. They may be willing and able to even if it’s not advertised.

Regardless of the organization, it’s always a good idea to research the charity you’re giving to. This ensures your donation is used to support your intended cause.

What do charities do with the car?

Depending on the organization and the state of the car, charities will typically do one of two things with the donated vehicle. If it’s still running well, some may use it for their own operations or give it to a needy individual or family. Most often, however, charities will sell the cars at auction or for scrap and use the proceeds to fund their work.

Can you donate your car without a title?

It can still be possible to donate your car without a title, depending on the state where you live. If your state allows it, you will need to provide other paperwork that proves ownership. If you don’t have a title for your vehicle, contact your state’s DMV and/or the charitable organization to see if and how you can donate the car.

Can you claim a tax deduction from donating your car?

Charitable donations are only tax-deductible if they are made to non-profits that have received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS or meet 501(c)(3) requirements, such as religious organizations. You can use the Tax-Exempt Organization Search Tool on the IRS website to learn if a particular organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations.

How do you claim the deduction on your taxes?

First and foremost, you’ll have to itemize your deductions when filing taxes in order to receive the financial incentive for the car donation. If you claim the standard deduction, which most taxpayers do, you won’t receive a deduction for your donation.

For tax purposes, a donated car is only worth as much as the charity is able to sell it for. Even if you believe the vehicle has a higher value, your deduction is capped at the sale price.

Written Acknowledgment

A deduction claim of more than $250 but less than $500 requires written acknowledgment of the donation from the charity. This document must include the following:

• The name of the charity.
• A description (but not value) of your vehicle.
• And one of the following:
  • A statement that no goods or services were provided by the charity in return for the donation.
  • A description and good faith estimate of the value of goods or services, if any, that the charity provided in return for the donation.
  • A statement that goods or services provided by the charity consisted entirely of intangible religious benefits.

A deduction claim of more than $500 requires the written acknowledgment include the following:

• Your name and taxpayer identification number.
• The vehicle identification number (VIN).
• Date of donation.
• And one of the following:
  • A statement that no goods or services were provided by the charity in return for the donation.
  • A description and good faith estimate of the value of goods or services, if any, that the charity provided in return for the donation.
  • A statement that goods or services provided by the charity consisted entirely of intangible religious benefits.

If the charity is going to use the vehicle, the written acknowledgement should state so, and you can deduct the car’s fair market value. If the charity plans to sell the vehicle, the document must also include:

• A statement certifying that the vehicle was sold in an arm’s length transaction between unrelated parties.
• The date the vehicle was sold.
• The gross proceeds received from the sale.
• a statement that your deduction may not exceed the gross proceeds from the sale.

Tax Forms

You must obtain this written acknowledgment, which can be made through Form 1098-C, within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale or the date of the donation. If you are claiming a deduction between $500 and $5,000, you must also complete Section A of Form 8283. If the deduction is more than $5,000, Section B must be completed and include the signature of an authorized charity. You may need to include a written appraisal from a qualified car appraiser.

Have you ever donated your car? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Get more automotive insight from Your AAA.

Whether you’re looking to purchase a new home or to sell your current one, the first step is typically to contact a real estate agent. It sounds easy enough until you start to notice the various, sometimes fancy titles that some agents have. Dual agent? Broker? Transaction coordinator? What are all the different types of real estate agents?

To help you navigate these sometimes complicated and confusing terms, we’ve compiled a list of real estate agent titles to help you find a professional best-suited to your needs.

Types of Real Estate Agents

When you’re buying or selling property, you’re most likely going to work with an agent, also referred to as a real estate associate broker or simply a salesperson.

Real Estate Agent

In general, real estate agents monitor the market and look for housing trends in areas such as pricing, inventory, location and more. They can tell you about available houses that you can afford as well as take you on tours of prospective homes.

Buyer’s Agent

This type of real estate agent helps people that are looking to purchase a house with all aspects of the buying process from the home search to the closing. He or she can help you find the right property, deal with the mounds of paperwork, negotiate the offer and also recommend reliable home-related professionals, such as home inspectors, movers and more.

Seller’s Agent

If you’re selling your home, this agent, also sometimes called the listing agent, works with you step-by-step, from home marketing to closing, as you prepare to sell your home. Additionally, they list your home on the multiple listing service. If you’re buying a house, you deal primarily with the seller’s agent rather than with the seller directly.

Dual Agent

This type of real estate agent represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction. If a potential buyer doesn’t have a buying agent working with them, they can contact a seller’s real estate agent and tell him or her to submit an offer on their behalf.

Transaction Coordinator

The transaction coordinator or transaction agent helps the real estate agent or broker in processing administrative items for a real estate transaction. He or she manages deadlines, gathers the necessary paperwork, opens an escrow account and makes sure disclosures are properly signed and filled out. He or she simply maintains the transaction between the buyer and the seller and doesn’t represent either party.

Other Real Estate Titles

Realtor

People often use the term realtor and real estate agent interchangeably, but there’s a difference between the two. As mentioned before, a real estate agent is someone who has obtained a real estate license and can help you buy or sell a house. A realtor is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and adheres to the standards and code of ethics of the association. They can either be agents or brokers.

Real Estate Broker

A real estate broker is one step above a real estate agent. He or she has taken real estate education beyond the agent level and passed a broker’s license exam, meeting state requirements to own or manage a real estate company. They can either work alone, unlike a real estate agent, or hire agents to work for them. Some brokers also provide services for buyers and sellers. All agents hired to help buy or sell properties report to a broker.

The broker also handles earnest money deposits – money that the buyer puts down to buy a home and is delivered when the sales contract or purchase agreement is signed, and bears responsibility for the actions of real estate agents under his or her supervision. If you have any issues that can’t be resolved directly with the agent, the next step to take would be talk with the broker.

Real Estate Associate Broker

The associate broker is a real estate agent who has taken additional education classes and earned a broker’s license. He or she could work independently, but they choose to work for a broker or join a larger real estate network.

Did you know about these types of real estate agents? Let us know in the comments.

On the hunt for a house? Let AAA help you with your mortgage.

AAA may be best known for helping to clear the roads. But it has an equally impressive history of creating roads.

In 1917, Stephen T. Mather was named the first director of the National Park Service. One of his first orders of business was to increase attendance at the parks. With automobiles becoming more affordable – and thus more common – it was a goal he felt could be reached. There was only one problem: there were no roads. The national parks in the western United States were in remote locations. If there were any paths leading to the park, they were mostly dirt roads, difficult for automobiles to traverse. Only wealthier individuals could afford to travel by train. In addition, there hadn’t been any reliable mapping done of the area, making travel extremely difficult.

Out of this, the idea for the National Park-to-Park Highway was born. This new route would connect what at the time were the 12 National Parks in the American West. To create the route, Mather enlisted Anton Westgard, AAA’s pathfinder.

“As AAA’s pathfinder and field representative, Westgard continued to cross the country several times and wrote extensive advice for other motorists,” said Brandon Wade, director of the documentary “Paving the Way,” which chronicles the creation of the Park-to-Park Highway. “His work on the Park-to-Park Highway of 1920 was his last contribution to AAA.”

Westgard mapped the route through 11 states, connecting all 12 parks. On Aug. 26, 1920 he led a group of motorists on a AAA-sponsored, 5,000-mile, 76-day pilgrimage along the newly designated route.

At the time, the Park-to-Park Highway was the longest motor route in the country. Coupled with the introduction of the automobile, it allowed people of all walks of life to visit these majestic locations and brought to life the National Park System’s campaign of “See America First.”

PAVING THE WAY: The National Park-to-Park Highway – HD Trailer from Unify Creative Agency on Vimeo.

Thinking about exploring the National Parks? Download our free National Parks guide for all the can’t-miss attractions.