Is there anything better than a cruise vacation? Not only do you get to visit beautiful locales, but the trip is just as enjoyable as the destination. And no other cruise line does it quite like Norwegian. So, it’s a noteworthy statement when the company has a new ship it claims to be its “most incredible.” But that is precisely what the Encore is.

Part cruise ship, part floating resort, this 1,094-foot Encore can accommodate nearly 4,000 guests. It was built in 2019 and has already earned praise, being named the Cruise Critic’s 2019 Editors’ Pick for Best New Ship. Even better, it will start servicing the Northeast in April, with cruises to Bermuda sailing out of New York.

Let’s take a look around the Encore to see all that the stunning cruise ship has to offer.

Food and Drink

Encore houses a host of eateries including three main dining rooms: Savor Restaurant, Taste Restaurant and The Manhattan Room. Each serves modern and classic dishes in a stylish and contemporary atmosphere. The Garden Café is an indoor buffet restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. And for some late-night eats, the Local Bar & Grill offers classic pub fare 24 hours a day.

Encore also has a dozen specialty dining options to satisfy any and all cravings. This includes Cagney’s Steakhouse for some premium cuts, Onda by Scarpetta for indulgent pasta and seafood, Los Lobos serving premium Mexican cuisine and Q, which delivers authentic Texas BBQ. And for dessert, don’t forget The Bake Shop, Coco’s and Dolce Gelato for sweets, ice cream and milkshakes.

When it’s time to unwind and imbibe, the Encore has options for every taste. Need a cold one after a long day in the sun? The District Brew House has more than 50 different bottled and 22 draft beers. More of a wine drinker? The Cellars Wine Bar offers a taste of Napa Valley. How about a nightcap? The Maltings Whiskey Bar serves a wide variety of international spirits. These are just a few of the numerous bars and lounges on board.

Thrill. Chill. Encore.

Pack your shorts. It’s Bermuda season.

Cruise Now

Entertainment

If you thought you’d be leaving the best of New York behind once you depart, think again. Encore puts on performances of the six-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” for all its guests. You won’t find this show on any other cruise line. Other performances include “Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical” and “Choir of Men.”

If you’re looking for something a little different, catch the comedy show featuring two stand-up comedians. After the show, the space turns into a dance club with a live DJ. For a blast from the past, head to the Cavern Club. Named after the legendary club in Liverpool that regularly hosted the Beatles, this venue on the Encore is where you can catch performances from a Fab Four cover band.

Activities

After seeing all the activities the ship has to offer, you might be convinced that the Encore is part cruise ship, part amusement park. The Aqua Park features two multi-story water slides – including one that goes over the side of the ship – as well as a pool to lounge. The Encore Speedway is a 1,100-foot racetrack on the ship deck – the largest track at sea. Guests can whip around curves suspended 13 feet off the side of the ship.

Encore’s laser tag park is unlike any other you’ve been to before. Themed around the lost city of Atlantis, players can interact with long lost treasures that virtually come to life through cutting-edge technology. Speaking of virtual reality, the Galaxy Pavilion offers immersive VR experiences, thrilling simulator rides and even an escape room featuring holograms.

For the youngest members of your traveling group, there’s a kids’ Aqua Park and Splash Academy, where children can enjoy creative play and engaging activities. Those a little bit older can hang out at the Entourage Teen Club, where movies, art, music, video games and dance parties are always on the agenda. And finally, if you’re an adult looking for a different kind of fun, try the Encore Casino. Whether it’s at the slot machines or a table game, there’s plenty of luck to go around.

Staterooms

The Encore boasts staterooms for all budgets and travelling party sizes. The Haven, located at the top of the ship, is the most luxurious accommodations available. Each room comes with a private sundeck as well as concierge service and 24-hour butler service.

Below the Haven are mini-suites as well as balcony staterooms with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to your very own private balcony. Other options include Oceanview rooms with large picture windows, and inside rooms. Travelling alone? Encore studios are specifically designed and priced for the solo traveler.

For those who know they want the full pampering experience while onboard the Haven spa suite, spa mini-suite and spa balcony are for you. Not only do they feature tranquil spa décor, they are all located adjacent to the Mandara Spa and fitness center and come with complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suites.

Shopping

Maybe you want to buy a gift for your loved ones that couldn’t make the trip. Or maybe you just want to splurge. Whatever the reason, the Encore has all your shopping needs covered. Deck 8 is home to several shops selling luxurious gifts.

Sandbar is your go-to for brand names like Gucci, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Coach and Swarovski. At the Time Zone, shop timepieces from Cartier, Hublot, Panerai and others. The Beauty Shop has all your cosmetic and fragrance needs, while Treasures is home to dazzling fine jewelry designs. All shopping aboard the Encore is tax and duty free.

What are you looking forward to most about the Norwegian Encore? Tell us in the comments.

Book your next cruise with AAA Travel.

What does retirement look like for folks who don’t plan to slow down? For those whose idea of a good time might include learning a new sport or meeting new people through a volunteer activity?

Many soon-to-be seniors already have ideas about how to stay active in retirement and they’re looking into where to retire to maximize opportunities for engagement.

Attitudes around what life after retirement could look like have changed – and for the better. Since the first wave of baby boomers began to turn 65 in 2011, the national conversation around post-work life began to shift, just as a 2010 Pew Research Center report predicted it would: “By force of numbers alone, [boomers] almost certainly will redefine old age in America, just as they’ve made their mark on teen culture, young adult life and middle age.”

Part of that shift included understanding the importance of physical activity and intellectual engagement in post-retirement life.

Top City Rankings

Where will you find your best opportunities? For those in the planning stage, “best of” lists can help get the conversation started with a checklist of factors to consider.

In one of the most informative we found, Wallethub’s data-driven lists factor in affordability, activities, quality of life and healthcare. Their top five picks overall are Orlando, Fla; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Tampa, Fla,; Denver, Colo.; and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

But wait! When the list is re-ranked for “activities,” (such as senior centers, golf, and museums), the “top five” changes to Washington, D.C.; San Francisco, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Seattle, Wash.

It shifts again when ranked for “quality of life” (an elder-friendly labor market, walkability and so on); the top five in this category are Henderson, Nev.; Fremont and Glendale, Calif; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and San Jose, Calif.

You might also want to consider the least expensive cities to retire in the country.

Hiking, Biking and Active Pursuits

Staying active is important at any age, but it’s vitally important for seniors. Regular exercise helps you keep your edge, maintain freedom of movement and can even help treat (or manage) common age-related ailments like arthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes.

If hiking, biking and the great outdoors are your thing, Kiplinger recommends (among others), tax-friendly Huntsville, Ala. (bass fishing, biking trails at Monte Sano); Boise, Idaho (kayaking, boating, golfing and skiing); and Lynchburg, Va., for “more than 18 miles of urban trails on the city’s 300-acre greenway.”

If nice weather is crucial for your outdoor happiness, stick to California: Glendale, Riverside and Bakersfield are the top three in Wallethub’s “Best Mild Weather” ranking.

Part-Time Jobs, Learning and Volunteering

Staying active also includes social engagement – whether that’s helping out at church, volunteering in the community or taking a class at a nearby college.

It could also mean staking out a second-act or “encore” career. In fact, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that by 2026 some 30% of workers ages 65 to 74 will be working full- or part-time jobs. Even if the extra cash isn’t a financial necessity, some retirees return to the workforce simply because they want to keep busy or can’t imagine not doing what they love anymore.

For cities with better-than-average rates of volunteerism, a recent study from CNCS (the federal agency that includes AmeriCorps and Senior Corps) gave the highest marks to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Rochester, NY; Salt Lake City, Utah; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Portland, Ore.

And while any college town can work for retirees, the top five “best suited to retirees” according to CNBC are Athens, Ga; East Lansing, Mich.; Iowa City, Iowa; Kalamazoo, Mich.; and Lawrence, Kan.

As for the best cities for encore workers? A recent article by Money put Flower Mound, Texas – home of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital – at the top of a list that includes Ashburn, Va., and Palm Coast, Fla.

Planning for a Fun and Active Retirement

For today’s retirees, chilling out on a rocking chair is only a part of the picture – as a place to chill out after a round of golf, a class on a topic of interest or as a place of well-deserved rest after a day of biking, hiking or volunteering.

The bottom line: Be sure your plans for fun don’t get derailed by finances. While you’re still in the planning stages, consider getting expert help. Be sure to enlist experts assistance like AAA Financial Services can help with advice, loans and more.

Do you have any ideas about where to retire or how to stay active in retirement? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Some things in life are so commonplace, we hardly give any thought to how they came to be. Such is the tale of the humble traffic light. You can trace the modern traffic light back to Cleveland, Ohio, and the son of two freed slaves. Armed with nothing more than an elementary school education and an innate curiosity of how things work, Garrett Morgan patented several inventions that would revolutionize society.

Morgan was born in Kentucky in 1877. While still a teenager, he left home and moved to Ohio in search of work. He first worked as a handyman in Cincinnati before landing in Cleveland.

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

At the turn of the 20th century, Cleveland’s garment industry was the second largest in the country. Morgan got a job sweeping floors at a garment factory. Enamored by the inner workings of the sewing machines, he taught himself how to fix them (they broke quite often). Eventually he was hired as a repairman before opening his own repair shop.

It was while working at his shop that Morgan serendipitously created his first major invention. He was experimenting with a chemical solution that prevented sewing machine needles from overheating and burning the fabric. As the story goes, Morgan wiped his hands down before going to lunch. When he returned, the hairs on the cloth were perfectly straight.

Morgan then tried the substance on a neighbor’s dog before testing it on himself. Each time, the same perfect results. Whatever oils were in the substance were able to break down and relax hair fibers. Morgan bottled up the substance and G.A. Morgan’s Hair Refiner was born. He sold it in African American communities around the country to great success.

With sudden financial security, Morgan was able to pursue other ventures. After watching firefighters struggle to breathe due to smoke inhalation, the inventor was struck with the idea of a safety hood. The device, which was patented in 1914, consisted of a hood placed over an individual’s head, connected to a long tube that reached the ground. Since hot air and smoke rise, the tube on the ground would deliver clean air to the person.

In 1916, the city of Cleveland was drilling a new tunnel under Lake Erie. Workers hit a pocket of natural gas, creating an explosion that trapped them underground. When Morgan heard what had happened, he and his brother donned the safety hoods and entered the tunnel themselves. They were able to save two lives.

Morgan’s safety hood is widely considered a precursor to the gas mask. With the onset of World War I – and the use of poisonous gas – Morgan won a contract with the U.S. Navy. The hood became standard equipment for the U.S. Army during the war.

Morgan’s successes allowed him to own an automobile, which was a rarity in the day (he was reportedly the first African American in Cleveland to have a car). Streets in America, though, were a mess in the early 1900s. With a combination of automobiles, carriages, bicycles and pedestrians, the roads were chaotic and navigating them was dangerous.

One day Morgan witnessed a terrible accident at a Cleveland intersection and his brain once again went into problem-solving mode. Traffic signals had been invented, but they only included “Stop” and “Go” alerts. The problem was that drivers didn’t know when the “Go” signal was going to switch to the “Stop” signal. The result was that drivers would stop abruptly or be stuck in the intersection when vehicles traveling in other directions began to move.

To solve this, Morgan invented a T-shaped traffic signal that had a third, “caution” signal. When this signal was on, traffic in all directions stopped and intersections would clear. It would also allow pedestrians to cross before traffic started moving again.

On November 20, 1923, Morgan was awarded a patent for a three-position traffic signal. In essence, he had invented the yellow light. Morgan’s original traffic signal prototype is on display at the Smithsonian’s American History Museum.

Aside from his technical contributions to society, Morgan was a pillar in Cleveland’s African American community. He founded the Cleveland Call, one of the most important African American newspapers in the country and was a leader in the city’s NAACP chapter.

Garrett Morgan passed away in 1963, one year before the passage of the of the Civil Rights Act.

For more stories about African American automotive pioneers, read about the fascinating lives of C.R. Patterson, Charlie Wiggins and Wendell Scott.

Need some inspiration for date night? While you can never go wrong with dinner for two, it’s fun to throw in a little creativity every now and then. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and those in need of a few last-minute date ideas are in luck; there are tons of quirky, offbeat and innovative date ideas in the Northeast sure to ignite some passion.

Play Like a Kid at Legoland Discovery Center  

Somerville, MA & Yonkers, NY 

Hit up Legoland Discovery Center Boston or Westchester for a night of fun without the kids. Held the second Wednesday of every month in Somerville and the first Thursday of every month in Yonkers, Legoland hosts an adults-only, themed evening of youthful fun at the attraction that will rekindle childlike wonder. Team up with other couples for a group date and get discounted rates, or get a sweet deal at the Westchester location through AAA.

Bonus points: Give all the prizes you win to your significant other as sweet souvenirs.

Pick a Star at Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theater

Charlestown, RI 

Just because it’s a last-minute date idea, doesn’t mean it can’t be romantic. Visit the observatory for a night of stargazing with your sweetie. Enjoy views of the starry sky through one of the several telescopes on clear nights or head indoors for presentations by astronomers in the Sky Theater during inclement weather. Open to the public free of charge every Friday night year-round and Wednesday nights in summer.

Bonus points: Want to get super romantic? Pick a star together and call it yours (cue the “awws!”).

Make a New Friend at Mystic Aquarium 

Mystic, CT

Is your loved one an animal lover? Don’t pass up the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the aquarium’s famous residents, including sea lions, seals, penguins and beluga whales. Visitors will learn more about their favorite aquatic creatures from scientists and trainers and, in some programs, can even get in the water with their new friends. Plus, you can get a discount on tickets with AAA.

Bonus points: “Adopt” an animal in your beloved’s name.

Toss an Ax at Kick Axe 

Brooklyn, NY

Is your honey a wannabe lumberjack? Does the seemingly forbidden idea of throwing sharp objects excite you? Look no further than Kick Axe, an indoor ax-throwing range where you and your date will learn how to throw from the pros. Compete in games against each other, then round out the experience with snacks and pizza.

Bonus points: Buy a couple of fake axes so you can clown around at home without risking beheading your significant other.

Bowl Back in Time at BreakTime Bowl & Bar

Pawtucket, RI 

Challenge your date to a game at this vintage bowling alley, which claims to be the oldest industrial recreation duckpin lanes in the Northeast. The restored alley – first built for employees of the Hope Webbing Company mill in the 1920s – provides a night of fun alongside the full bar and sizable food menu sure to satisfy your appetites.

Bonus points: Brush up on your game before heading out on your date and wow your partner!

Unleash Your Creativity With a Graffiti Lesson

New York, NY 

Pair up with a graffiti pro for a lesson in all things street art. You’ll feel super cool creating your own graffiti masterpiece as you learn about the art form and the techniques of aerosol painting. Classes take place at a local park in order to further immerse students in the street art experience.

Bonus points: Paint something romantic for your loved one. A simple “I love you” is always a winner.

Compete in Go-Kart Racing at X1

Braintree, MA

Hit up the track at one of the open racing sessions for a drive experience that will excite both you and your date. Choose from multiple challenging tracks featuring turns, hills and tunnels as you speed off in pursuit of the finish line and, hey, maybe even romance! Finish off the date with a meal at the complex’s Ascari Bar & Grille.

Bonus points: Challenge your date to an after-dinner game in the billiards room and, just this once, let them win.

Attend a Glass Blowing class at Brooklyn Glass

Brooklyn, NY 

Choose from a wide selection of one-day classes led by professionals at this unique glass blowing studio. Make a vase, shot glass, terrarium, beer mug or ice cream dish alongside your sweetie.

Bonus points: Make it a competition! Whose creation comes out the best?

What are your favorite, unique, quirky and off-the-wall date destinations? Tell us in the comments!

This post was originally posted in 2018 and has been updated. 

There’s a lot to love about a New England winter, from the magical quiet of a snowy night to carving fresh powder on the ski slopes. But sometimes you really just need to soak in some warmth to fight the icy temperatures. Here are a few nearby warm winter destinations where you can feel the heat, even in the coldest season.

Visit the Tropics

If you can’t actually take a vacation to the tropics, at least you can visit them for a few hours. Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI has two ways to experience tropical vibes year-round. The Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park is New England’s largest indoor garden. It’s always warm inside the two enormous greenhouses, the Conservatory and the Mediterranean Room, which are filled with plants from around the world. At Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Faces of the Rainforest exhibit is home to giant river otters – the only ones in New England – and nearly 150 other species of tropical plants and animals.

AAA members get $10 off select Roger Williams Park Zoo memberships.

The Tropical Rainforest at Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo has gorillas, pygmy hippos, a boa constrictor and an anaconda, among many other animals you won’t see naturally in New England, like ring-tailed lemurs and ocelots.

The New England Aquarium in Boston has six Amazon exhibits, including an Amazon rainforest with electric eels and poison dart frogs. And while you can walk through the Museum of Science’s Butterfly Garden, where hundreds of winged beauties fly freely around you, you can also observe life in warmer climates at a screening of The Congo 4-D: Life in the Rainforest, a 3-D movie with special effects in the museum’s theater.

Check out some more of our favorite New England zoos and aquariums.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

???? Baby, it’s cold outside… ????❄️ Come in and warm up by the fire in the spa’s Resting Area ????…the perfect spot on a (almost) winter’s cold day! • • • #MirbeauMoment #LifeClassicallyBalanced #winterwarmup #spa #christmasatmirbeau

A post shared by Mirbeau Inn & Spa Plymouth (@mirbeauplymouth) on Dec 6, 2019 at 11:37am PST

Immerse Yourself in Warmth

When you can’t take the cold anymore, it’s time for drastic measures. As in 150-degree drastic. Raffa Yoga in Cranston, RI has a calming warm winter destinations called Urban Sweat, a series of saunas and steam rooms designed to boost your health. There’s a black charcoal sauna that absorbs the body’s impurities, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory yellow turmeric room, and several others that are very hot and extremely restorative when you’re feeling chilled to your bones. In Newport, RI, The Bodhi Spa offers a Water Journey, a circuit of six mineral-rich salt pools and saunas that stimulate and purify your system.

If you truly want to show winter who’s boss, choose a spa with a year-round outdoor hot tub. Mirbeau Inn and Spa in Plymouth, MA has one on its aqua terrace, as well as an indoor heated foot soak that’s modeled after Plymouth Rock. Mountain View Grand Hotel in Whitefield, NH has spa rooms in the highest point in the hotel with 360-degree views of the Presidential Range.

Request a Table by the Fire

There’s no faster way to shake off a chill than eating comfort food by a roaring fireplace. The Common Man in Lincoln, NH has an enormous hearth in its lounge, big enough that several couches and overstuffed chairs fit in front of it. Sharpe Hill Vineyard Fireside Tavern in Pomfret, CT specializes in wood-hearth cooking, and has a double-sided fireplace with enough heat to warm the entire space – the perfect warm winter destination! Trattoria Delia in Burlington, VT defines cozy Italian dining with its roaring fireplace surrounded with candles and twinkling lights. Ebenezer’s Tavern at The Publick House in Sturbridge, MA is a circa-1791 inn with a 6-foot-wide fireplace that harkens back to the time when a roaring fire was the only source of heat for the room. And it’s in the name of the Tipsy Toboggan Fireside Pub, a winter-themed gastropub in Fall River, MA, so that’s basically a legally binding contract to keep you warm.

Drink All the Hot Chocolate

It’s a scientifically proven fact* that hot chocolate fights the winter blues – and since that’s one of our biggest exports in New England, we’ve devised a lot of inventive ways to enjoy a warm, chocolatey mug of comfort. The Gelato Fiasco in Portland, Maine makes its drinking chocolate with chocolate gelato. Vicuña Chocolate Factory in Peterborough, NH has a cafe on premises that serves European drinking chocolate and mocha lattes made with its own chocolate. Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester, NH offers up spicy Mayan hot chocolate.

In Boston, Gâté Comme des Filles in the Bow Market food hall serves hot Valrhona chocolate with flavored whipped creams and added flavors like lavender. Kakawa Chocolate House, in Salem, MA, doesn’t serve hot chocolate: It serves “elixirs” based on drinking chocolate recipes dating as far back as the 1600s, and from everywhere from South America to Europe, drawing inspiration from Marie Antoinette and Thomas Jefferson’s hot chocolate preferences.

*obviously that is not real science, but shouldn’t it be?

Where do you go to stay warm on the coldest days? Tell us in the comments. 

If exploring Ireland’s culturally rich cities and historic countryside has always been on your bucket list, you won’t want to pass up an amazing deal available this February through AAA Member Choice Vacations.

You can take advantage of great values on trips to the Emerald Isle on select dates through April 2021, with round-trip airfare starting at just $99 per person.

Whether your interest in Ireland comes from wanting to see the land of your ancestors or a desire to visit one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes, with plenty of music, beaches, hiking and pubs along the way, now is the time to answer the call.

There are so many reasons why Ireland has seen several consecutive years of record tourism, and with special savings from AAA Member Choice Vacations, you can find out why – and save some serious coin in the process.

Here are a few destinations you’ll likely see during your Ireland vacation, and why you should pick up your phone and call your AAA Travel agent today.

Tour Dublin

On the east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey, Dublin is Ireland’s capital and largest city. Most tours of this renowned hotbed of arts and entertainment include stops on Grafton Street, the Irish Parliament, the National Museum of Ireland and two prominent churches: the Christ Church Cathedral (which dates to 1028) and St. Patrick’s Cathedral (founded in 1191).

Beer lovers won’t want to miss what is often ranked among the best tourist attractions in Europe: the Guinness Storehouse at St. James’s Gate Brewery. Your tour will start at the bottom of the world’s largest pint glass and progress through seven floors of interactive displays and experiences. And of course, it will end with a pint of Guinness in the world-famous rooftop Gravity Bar.

Wild Atlantic Way

This tourism trail on Ireland’s west coast passes through nine counties and three provinces, with 157 discovery points and 1,000 attractions along the way.

Several seaside cliffs along the route offer some of the most Instagram-worthy photo spots you’ll find anywhere in the world, including the 9-mile-long Cliffs of Moher in County Clare (where on a clear day, you might be able to see the famous Aran Islands) and the 2,000-feet-tall Sliabh Liag in County Donegal (some of the tallest seaside cliffs in Europe).

Other stops include Fort Dunree – built into a rocky promontory for defense during the Napoleonic Wars – and numerous castles, beaches and islands a short distance from the Ireland coast.

Find Your Own Irish Magic!

What's it like to travel to Ireland? See for yourself and discover what you knew was always there, and find a few surprises too.

Galway Getaway

The city of Galway in western Ireland is home to numerous festivals and events, including the Galway Arts Festival in July and the Galway International Oyster Festival in September. This year, the European Union has designated Galway a European Capital of Culture, which means the city will host special cultural events throughout 2020.

At its core, Galway is a university town, packed with incredible live Irish folk music, historic churches and standout modern Irish restaurants.

Belfast Breakout

Some trips will take you into Northern Ireland – a separate country that is part of the United Kingdom. More than 2,000 murals decorate the streets of the capital city, Belfast,  depicting decades of political and religious unrest in the once war-torn city.

Today, the city remains a major port packed with incredible restaurants and pubs.

About an hour north of the city, you can also visit the Giant’s Causeway. Legend states a giant created the natural phenomenon of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns so he could fight another giant.

Tours are also available to see filming locations from the popular television series “Game of Thrones,” including a tour of Old Castle Ward, which stood in for Winterfell Castle. During your tour, you can even dress up in costume – an incredible experience even if you don’t like the way the show ended.

Ireland Vacations from AAA

AAA Member Choice Vacations is offering a variety of trips to Ireland during this special promotion available through President’s Day (Monday, Feb. 17). Packages vary from eight to 15 dates and start at $1,748 per person, air-inclusive. Departures from Boston and New York City are available.

“Irish Splendor” is an eight-day, eight-meal trip where you’ll visit the Cliffs of Moher, tour Dublin, visit Christ Church Cathedral and so much more. You’ll visit historic sights like the Rock of Cashel, the Gap of Dunloe and Blarney Castle, too, where you’ll have the opportunity to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone and acquire the “gift of the gab.”

On the nine-day, 11-meal “Shrines of Ireland” vacation, you’ll tour the 11th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin (with the help of a local guide) and see the Book of Kells, a renowned ninth-century manuscript created by Celtic monks that documents four Gospels of the New Testament (and which has become one of Ireland’s most revered treasures). A 13-day, 17-meal version of this trip is also available, tacking on extra days for travel to Northern Ireland to tour the “Maiden City” of Derry – the only remaining city in Ireland completely surrounded by walls, which stand 12 to 35 feet high for about 1 mile in length around the city limits.

If you want to take full advantage of your Irish excursion and cross some other western European countries off your list at the same time, the 15-day, 20-meal “Exploring Britain & Ireland” trip is for you. You’ll not only enjoy the natural wonders of Ireland (as well as Ireland’s thriving culinary scene with a class at one of Dublin’s most celebrated culinary institutes) but also England, Scotland and Wales. You’ll still get breathtaking views of Ireland, including the spectacular coastal landscapes and seaside villages along the Ring of Kerry in the southwest part of the country, but you’ll also get to visit Stonehenge, London and North Wales, too.

Finally, the 13-day, 17-meal “Shades of Ireland” package includes tours of Dublin, Blarney Castle, the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry. During this trip, you can even take a tour of historic Killarney on a horse-drawn jaunting car and see Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, home to a popular Medieval museum.

Know you want to visit Ireland, but you aren’t sure exactly which trip is the best for you? Talk to your AAA Travel agent today. They can customize your trip from start to finish, while helping you take advantage of this limited-time only pricing that can make your Ireland vacation dreams come true.

If you are looking to impress your special someone, you could always opt for the traditional flowers and chocolate, or you could whisk yourselves away to a destination with just the right touch of romance. There’s a getaway for everyone’s needs, whether it be closer to home, cross-country or around the world. Here are some of the most romantic places to travel, near and far.

Romantic Places to Travel in the Northeast

Newport, RI.

This charming water-side Rhode Island town exudes New England romance. Go for a stroll along the Newport Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile trail with up-close views of the famous mansions and beautiful seaside scenery. Speaking of the Newport Mansions, take a guided or audio tour of these extravagant architectural feats and see how Newport’s wealthiest residents lived in the 19th century. Learn every step behind the winemaking process with a tour of the Newport Vineyards, followed by a wine tasting. And, of course, many Newport restaurants serve up freshly caught seafood daily with romantic ocean views.

The Berkshires, MA.

If you’re seeking culture, the Berkshires are one of the most romantic places to travel in the Northeast. Explore the galleries at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and The Clark Art Institute for a deep dive into the world of art. Take in a theater production by renowned theater organizations like Shakespeare & Company. For the music lover in your life, a concert at the Tanglewood Music Center is a must. Visit some artisanal shops in the area for a romantic picnic under the stars set to beautiful symphonic tunes.

Pocono Mountains, PA.

The Pocono Mountains contain some of the most romantic places to travel in the United States. Known for it’s couples-only resorts, you’re never too far from a heart-shaped Jacuzzi. Embrace the mountain surroundings with a peaceful ride through the woods and fields on horseback. Bushkill Falls – known as “The Niagara of Pennsylvania” – covers 300 acres with eight waterfalls and plenty of trails and bridges. For the ultimate romantic nature getaway, the Poconos are the place to be. If you like small town charm, you can stay in one of three historic buildings at The Inn at Jim Thorpe, located in charming downtown Jim Thorpe, just steps from parks, shops, galleries and more. Set some time aside for the spa, where all services are offered as side-by-side couples treatments.

More Romantic American Destinations

Savannah, GA.

For a taste of Southern hospitality look no further than Savannah. A riverboat cruise is a great opportunity for some sweet romance. Savannah Riverboat Cruises offers a variety of cruises on two luxury riverboats, like dinner, lunch and brunch cruises, as well as gospel, moonlight and sightseeing trips. Tybee Island is perfect for some quality time with your special someone. Take a kayak excursion on the coast, head out on a tour to watch frolicking bottlenose dolphins or go for a romantic stroll on the beach at sunset.

Napa Valley, CA.

No matter the occasion, a trip to Napa Valley is never complete without exploring the famous vineyards. Like something out of a fairytale, the Chateau Montelena Winery is a stone castle carved into a hillside with picturesque natural views, with tours and wine tastings offered daily. Traverse the California skies in a group hot air balloon ride or book a private flight for two for a romantic splurge. For some much-needed rest and relaxation, Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort offers private mudrooms for two, the epitome of a romantic retreat.

The Most Romantic Places to Visit in the World

Santorini, Greece

Santorini has a reputation for its romance. This group of islands has stunning coastal views from every angle, especially at sunset. Head to the coastal town of Oia for stunning, romantic views of the sun sinking into the Aegean sea in the evening, a must-do for any traveler. Explore the medieval stone fortress of Skaros, once lived in by Venetian nobles and long damaged by volcanic eruptions. For the more adventurous duo, there are many opportunities to go scuba diving and traverse the world under the sea. Santorini offers a variety of cooking classes for an authentic culinary experience with a side of romance.

Paris, France

The City of Love is often considered the most romantic place to travel, and for good reason. Paris is filled with romantic experiences and attractions. Take a stroll over to the Jehan Rictus garden square and gaze at Le Mur Des Je t’aime – the Wall of Love – covered with the words “I love you” in over 250 languages and dialects. Book a romantic cruise on the Seine for an intimate setting and close look at some of the city’s famous monuments. See the beautiful, ornate halls of the Palace de Versailles or have a romantic sunset dinner of infamous Parisian cuisine. The possibilities for romance are endless.

Happy living the single life? Check out our list of the top 10 places to travel alone. 

What are your favorite romantic destinations? Share in the comments!

Book your next romantic getaway with AAA Travel.

An Oscar party isn’t just for the stars. Bring Hollywood’s biggest night to your home with your own celebration. We have a list of party ideas, food and games to get you started. Who knows? Maybe you’ll take home an award for best party.

Oscar Party Ideas

A fancy night deserves some fancy invitations. Print out these snazzy invites from the DIY blog Hey Let’s Make Stuff, and tell your friends that you’re having a party.

Suggest a fun dress code if you’d like, even if it’s simply “dress to impress.” The beauty of an Oscar party is that you have nearly 90 years of red carpet fashion inspiration to choose from. Have guests channel the Golden Age of Hollywood in old-school glam looks from the ’30s and ’40s , or host an ’80s-themed bash when dresses with poofy sleeves and big hair were some of the hottest trends. If you want to think outside of the box, ask your friends to recreate unique Oscar looks like Bjork’s swan dress from 2001 or dress like their favorite movie character. Don’t forget to take pictures for the paparazzi!

Need music? Play these Best Original Song winners. From Broadway ballads to Disney to more modern pop, it’s an award-winning playlist.

No matter what, don’t let your guests go home empty-handed. The nominees get gift bags, and your guests deserve them, too. Put all that swag in a DIY gold star tote bag, like this one from Kristi Murphy.

Oscar Party Food

Fancy food is always an award winner. Finger foods and dressed-up snacks will give your party an air of sophistication. But don’t count out popcorn – a dressed-up batch of kernels is a great way to pay tribute to a classic movie food.

It also helps to have a drink in hand to toast to the winners. And since winning is sweet, don’t forget to give your guests some sweet desserts. Happy snacking!

Dressed-Up Snacks 

Tuxedo cheese wedges (Cute Food for Kids)

Hot dogs in suits (Better Homes & Gardens)

Popcorn 

10 pretty popcorn recipes (Cosmopolitan)

Edible white chocolate popcorn bowl (Hungry Happenings)

For Toasting to the Winners

DIY glitter Champagne bottles (Evite)

24 carat Champagne (Brit + Co)

Sparkling pomegranate punch (Food & Wine)

The golden night cocktail (Salt & Wind)

Rose sangria (Sweet & Savory by Shinee)

Sweets

Oscar statue-shaped sugar cookies (People)

Film reel ice cream sandwiches (Hungry Happenings)

Oscar Party Decorations

Roll out the red carpet! Gold, glitter and stars transform any space into a Hollywood movie set. And any homemade Oscar party needs homemade Oscar statues.

Twig & Thistle has a simple template for your own paper Oscar. Or if you want something more three-dimensional, give your friends their own Academy Awards. With these instructions from DIY Candy, all you need is gold spray paint and Ken dolls.

And Here Are a Few More DIY Decorations…

Cardboard film reels (MLive)

Star garlands (Green Wedding Shoes)

Oscar Party Games 

The night may drag on, but these games should keep you and your guests interested.

Up the stakes and set up an Oscar pool. Or just vote for your favorites and see how it stacks up against the winners. Print out the list of nominees.

What year had the oldest and youngest actresses ever nominated? 2012. What was the first color film to win best picture? “Gone With the Wind.” Test your friends and see how well you know your Oscar trivia. Diva Girl Parties and Stuff has a list of trivia questions to get you started.

And if you want a reason to pay better attention to the acceptance speeches, play Oscar bingo with these print out cards from HGTV. Hand them out to your friends and see who gets five when someone gets cut off mid-speech. You can send the winner home with a gift, just like the actors!

Still need to see the Oscar-nominated films? AAA members get discounted movie tickets. 

What do you like to see (and eat) at an Oscar party? Let us know in the comments!

Couples who are looking for a weekend getaway or an anniversary retreat should look no further than the romantic hotels in New England. From dense forests and rolling hills to sandy beaches and sunny shores, New England is rife with romantic vistas. A reprieve from the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day lives might be exactly what you need to recharge and reconnect. Come and enjoy the old world charm of the most romantic hotels in New England.

The Mayflower Inn & Spa, CT 

This luxurious retreat is located in Washington, Connecticut, amidst 3,000 acres of nature preserve. Their opulently decorated rooms are simply a place to go between treatments in their 20,000 square foot luxury spa. For the most amazing getaway, book the ultimate Mayflower Inn & Spa experience, which lets you and your partner enjoy private use of the spa after hours, as well as a sumptuous candlelit dinner. During your trip, you can utilize the indoor pool, outdoor pool, gym, putting green, hedge maze, tennis courts and more.

The Chanler at Cliff Walk, RI

The Chanler in Newport, Rhode Island, is a luxury boutique hotel situated right on the famous and scenic Cliff Walk. At the Chanler, you and your loved one can enjoy windows with ocean views, as well as a private courtyard, hot tub and sauna. All of the opulent rooms are lavishly decorated in the style of a different time period, the most popular rooms being the Renaissance and the Louis XVI. If you’re visiting during the warmer months you can even make use of their beach butler service.

Sterling Ridge Log Cabin Resort, VT 

If you’re looking for something more rugged than the other romantic hotels in New England (but not that much more rugged) look no further than the Sterling Ridge Log Cabin Resort. At Sterling Ridge, tucked away in the Vermont wilderness, you can choose from a variety of luxury log cabins. These cabins are outfitted with modern amenities as well as rustic, romantic touches, like wood-burning stoves. The resort is no stranger to weddings and elopements, as couples can’t seem to get enough of the beautiful landscape. Sterling Ridge is right in ski country, and Smugglers Notch is just four miles down the road.

Mandarin Oriental Boston, MA

For a more cosmopolitan getaway, head to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the heart of Boston. You and your loved one can tour around the city’s landmarks and historic sites, then retreat to the hotel’s luxurious embrace. Dine at the hotel’s beautiful Bar Boulud, a French-inspired bistro decorated with rich, curving arches. Be rejuvenated at the spa, with a luxurious couple’s suite for tandem treatments. Get cozy in the suite’s private sauna, soaking tub and daybed. Finally, you can collapse in your art deco inspired room, complete with a view of Boston’s Back Bay.

The Chesterfield Inn, NH

Want to just get away from it all? Head on over to the Chesterfield Inn, a gorgeous bed and breakfast nestled in the New Hampshire countryside. You can choose to stay in the main inn, the cottage or the Johanna Wetherby building, but no matter which place you choose, you’re sure to have a romantic stay. Book the Rekindle the Romance package to receive champagne in your room, a dozen chocolate-covered strawberries, a gourmet dinner and full country breakfast. Or you could book the Couples Massage Package for an in-room full body massage for two.

Belfast Bay Inn, ME

If you’re looking for a place to elope, one of the most romantic hotels in New England would be the place to do it. The Belfast Bay Inn has become such a popular spot for elopements that they started to offer elopement packages. Situated in the charming town of Belfast, the Belfast Bay Inn is a cozy, romantic hideaway. Its exterior, a Greek revival row house, is marked by a yellow sign that simply says “HOTEL.” That betrays very little about the inside, which consists of a series of warmly-decorated and luxurious suites. Make your getaway special at this hidden gem.

Ocean House, RI

For your trip to a romantic hotel in New England, what better place is there to visit than the only AAA Five Diamond Rated hotel in Rhode Island? Ocean House is a sprawling, gold-hued ode to a time when the beaches of Rhode Island were a playground for the richest of the rich. Stay in one of their beautifully-designed guest rooms, or book a whole cottage just for you and your date. Ocean House is also home to the 12,000-square-foot OH! Spa. Whether you’re looking to get a 3-hour couple’s spa escape or just a quick ocean manicure, the luxurious OH! Spa is not to be missed.

Book a trip to the romantic hotels in New England with AAA.  

Need more romance? These restaurants are perfect for date night. 

The post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated. 

Charles Richard Patterson may not be a household name in transportation history, but he and his son Frederick successfully carved out an important place for themselves at the dawn of the automobile age. We take a look at how these automotive pioneers left their mark on both American and black history.

C.R. Patterson was born a slave in Virginia in 1833. Years later, according to the African American Registry, he escaped, traveling over the Allegheny Mountains, through West Virginia and across the Ohio River. He settled in Greenfield, Ohio, a town with strong abolitionist sympathies and a station on the Underground Railroad.

Once in Ohio, Patterson learned blacksmithing skills and went to work for a carriage-making business. In 1873, he formed a business partnership with another local carriage manufacturer named J.P. Lowe. For the next 20 years, the duo ran a successful business making expertly crafted horse-drawn carriages.

In 1893, Patterson bought out Lowe and became the sole proprietor of the newly renamed C.R. Patterson & Sons. When he died in 1910, Patterson passed the flourishing business to his son Frederick. The younger Patterson was already a pioneer, becoming the first African American to play football for Ohio State University.

The change of hands occurred just has the transportation business was being revolutionized. Frederick began noticing more and more “horseless carriages” on the roads and knew that automobiles were the future. C.R. Patterson & Sons produced its first car in 1915. Known as the Patterson-Greenfield automobile, it sold for $850.

More orders came in and Patterson & Sons established itself as legitimate auto manufacturer. According to the Historic Vehicle Association, the Patterson-Greenfield model was comparable in quality and workmanship to the Ford Model T. However, the Ohio company couldn’t match Ford’s manufacturing capability. In the 1920s, after producing approximately 150 cars, Patterson & Sons switched to the production of trucks, buses and other commercial vehicle bodies, which were installed on top of chassis made by major auto manufacturers.

Hit hard by the Great Depression, coupled with Frederick’s death in 1932, the company began to spiral downward. It closed in 1939. There are no known Patterson-Greenfield automobiles in existence today, but several C.R. Patterson & Sons Company carriages have survived. The National Museum of African American History & Culture states that Patterson & Sons remains the only African American-owned automobile company in United States history.

The road to stardom is not always a straight line. It certainly wasn’t for Billy Gardell. The actor worked the comedy circuit for years while picking up bit parts on shows like “King of Queens” and “My Name is Earl.” That all changed in 2010, when Gardell starred in the sitcom “Mike and Molly.” The show, which ran for six seasons, was a huge success and helped launch the careers of Gardell and Melissa McCarthy. Now, he is back in a leading role, starring on CBS’ new comedy “Bob Hearts Abishola.”

Gardell has traveled quite a road. And it all started in a $300 car.

What was your first car?

My first car was an AMC Wagon.

How did you acquire it?

A friend of a friend sold it to me for $300.

What did you love most about the car?

There wasn’t anything I loved about it. I hated it. But it moved.

What is your favorite memory of the car?

I think my favorite memory was the day I realized I could drive anywhere I wanted without asking anyone.

What happened to it?

Three months after I bought it, the engine blew up.

For more celebrity stories, visit AAA.com/MyFirstCar.

For New Yorkers, NYC tours and tourists are usually one thing – in the way. And although it may be hard to hold back expletives when they walk too slow or stop mid-stride in the middle of the sidewalk to take pictures with their selfie sticks, we can take a cue or two from our visitor friends.

Tourists take advantage of what we sometimes take for granted. Blissfully unjaded by the daily hustle of life in the big city, they revel in the energy and take time to explore culture and history, stopping to gawk at its sheer massiveness along the way.

Whether you are from New York City or live close enough to visit all the time, don’t be too proud to take on the tourist mentality. Because no matter how much you’ve already seen or think you know, there is always something new to discover and learn (while still avoiding Time Square like the plague). Now is as good a time as ever to go on one of the many NYC tours available.

Circle Line Tours

Pier 83, West 42nd Street and 12th Avenue
212-563-3200

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises are an icon in their own right. Cruising for over 70 years, their leisurely tours (typically 1 to 2½ hours) feature picture-perfect views of Manhattan, with experienced guides that point out the most famous sights and locations and provide fun facts and trivia along the way. Cruises operate year-round and have enclosed viewing areas to accommodate guests in any kind of weather. During the warmer months, thrill seekers can hop aboard “The Beast” – a speedboat that takes a high-speed tour through New York Harbor.

Double Decker Bus Tours

Multiple locations
212-445-0848

See all the sights from the top of a Double Decker Bus. Experience the Bronx, Brooklyn, uptown or downtown Manhattan, or all of the above. With the ability to hop on and hop off as you go, you can travel the city at your own pace and pick up a bus from anywhere, anytime, with tours up to 72 hours. Options and packages include guided walking tours and drop-offs at other sightseeing locations such as cruises, helicopters and skyscraper observation decks.

Liberty Helicopter Tours

Downtown Manhattan Heliport 6 East River Piers
212-967-6464 or 1-800-542-9933

View the New York City skyline like you never have before – from above! Choose from several tour options that will have you flying over the Hudson River, past the Statue of Liberty and by other famous landmarks.

Central Park Bike Tour 

203 W 58th St. (7^th Avenue)

A bike ride in Central Park is one of the best things to do in NYC. Pedal through the top sights and attractions such as the Onassis Reservoir, Shakespeare Garden and Strawberry Fields on a two-hour leisure bike tour or art and architecture tour. Tours are run by Bikerent.nyc, which in addition to bike rentals in Central Park, offer rentals at Brooklyn Bridge and Broadway locations for self-guided tours and city exploration.

A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours

212-913-9917

Learn where to find the best pizza in Brooklyn from true “Brooklynites” on A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours. Pass through famous neighborhoods and familiar movie locations while on your way to enjoying some of the best pizza around. Stops include Grimaldi’s under the Brooklyn Bridge and L&B Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst. In December, the Christmas Lights Tour of the extravagant light displays in Dyker Heights is not to be missed. All NYC tours conveniently depart from Manhattan. AAA members save 15% on A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours when booking online.

Museum Hack 

1-800-210-9676

“Museum tours for people who don’t like museums,” is how Museum Hack defines their service. Specializing in private, small group tours, Museum Hack tour guides take a non-traditional approach to museums, highlighting fun facts and quirky tidbits to make your museum visit anything but boring. Experience the Met or the Museum of Natural History in a new light!

Grand Central Terminal Tour 

89 East 42nd Street
212-340-2583

Grand Central Terminal is the largest train station in the world by number of tracks, but it is much more than a commuter portal. Over 100 years old, it holds a lot of history and many secrets, not to mention some of the most remarkable examples of architecture and design. Do you know about the unmarked “Whispering Gallery,” where due to the unique acoustics, one person can whisper something into the corner and another person across the way can hear them as if they were right next to them? Learn this and more on a Grand Tour, a 75 minute walking tour led by an expert. “Local” and “express” audio tours are also available; obtain headsets at specially marked “GCT Tour” windows in the main concourse or downloaded straight to your phone.

On Location Tours

212-913-9780

New York is the most filmed city in the world. Get transported to your favorite movie and television scenes on a guided bus tour of famed locales. Drink cosmos and shop in Greenwich Village on the “Sex and the City” Hotspots Tour, take pictures in front of famous backdrops on the Turner Classic Movie Film Tour or enjoy a date night like your favorite on-screen couple on the Romantic Movie Moments Tour. If you’re into celebrity gossip, the TMZ Celebrity Tour NYC showcases over 50 of the stars’ favorite hangouts. Check out what a tour is like here.

AAA members save over 20 percent on On Location Tours in New York City when booking in advance online.

The Radio City Stage Door Tour

1260 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave and 50th Street)
212-247-04777

Go behind the scenes of one of the most famous theaters in the world. On this guided tour, you will get the inside scoop on the design, the history, and the secrets of the stage. Plus, meet a Rockette!

Gain a new appreciation for the city on one or several of these NYC tours. If not a formal tour, take a self-guided adventure. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, visit the Statue of Liberty or climb to the top of the Empire State Building. You may be surprised at how fun being a tourist can be!

What are your favorite NYC tours? Share them with us in the comments below!

Whether you’re a crosswords aficionado or just learning the ways of the game, we have good news for you. There are many benefits of crossword puzzles, including improving one’s mood, memory and mental health.

Better yet, you don’t have to complete a puzzle every day — though there’s also nothing holding you back from doing so. Regularly working on crosswords even just once a week, can positively impact your health in several ways.

Here are six good reasons why you should start or continue doing crossword puzzles.

Strengthens Memory

Science shows that solving crossword puzzles is good for mental health by improving a person’s memory and other intellectual skills.

A study from the University of Exeter Medical School and Kings College London found “that the more regularly participants engaged with word puzzles, the better they performed on tasks assessing attention, reasoning and memory.”

Thanks to the results from this study, researchers can safely say “that people who engage in word puzzles have brain function equivalent to ten years younger than their age, on tests of grammatical reasoning speed and short-term memory accuracy.”

In other words, the brains of people who do crossword puzzles act a whole decade younger than their actual age, which is a pretty impressive feat.

Keeps the Mind Active

Since doing crossword puzzles keeps your brain 10 years younger, it’s truly never too late to learn something new. One of the greatest benefits of crosswords are that they are constantly introducing you to new words.

Learning new things is a productive way to pass the time and helps keep your mind active. Crossword puzzles teach new vocabulary and improve spelling in people of all ages. Keeping a dictionary near you or looking up the meanings of words you don’t know online takes the learning even further.

With a wider range of words at your disposal, you’ll certainly feel and sound smarter.

Builds Social Bonds

To reap even more benefits of crossword puzzles, consider using teamwork. When done with others, like family or friends, crossword puzzles can positively affect multiple aspects of a person’s health.

Humans are social beings, and having meaningful connections can boost one’s physical and mental health, improves their quality of life and helps them live longer.

More specifically, connecting with others “helps relieve harmful levels of stress, which can adversely affect coronary arteries, gut function, insulin regulation and the immune system,” according to Harvard Health Publishing. “Another line of research suggests that caring behaviors trigger the release of stress-reducing hormones.”

Solving a crossword puzzle together as a group is a great way to connect. You’ll be making yourself healthier while having fun and helping each other figure out the answers. It’s a win-win situation.

Helps Fight Disease

Diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia are not completely preventable but doing crossword puzzles can help slow a person’s mental decline and lower their risk.

Cognitive activities, like doing crossword puzzles, “may help build cognitive reserve which allows someone to maintain normal cognition longer,” according to Cognitive Vitality, a program of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Though it should be noted that performing both physical and cognitive activities can lower risks even further.

A Positive Distraction

In a time where everything seems to be vying for our attention, it’s easy to feel sensory overload. Sometimes we just need to sit down and focus on a single task in order to help our minds defrag.

Working on crossword puzzles is a fun way to pass the time, fight boredom, distract from stresses and alleviate anxiety or depression. Additionally, trying to solve a crossword is more engaging than watching TV or scrolling through your phone. Unlike these kinds of activities, crossword puzzles actually help your concentration.

Improves Your Mood

While working on a puzzle will certainly keep your mind occupied, distracting you from boredom and stress, this task can improve your mood in other ways too.

The feeling of accomplishment you get when finishing a problem, whether it be finding something you thought was lost or solving some kind of puzzle, is remarkable. This sense of victory causes a person’s body to produce extra dopamine, the neurotransmitters responsible for boosting mood, motivation and attention.

So if you’re feeling the effects of stress or the blues, try your hand at a crossword puzzle – it might just help you feel better.

No matter the source – in a newspaper, magazine or online – there are clearly a number of great benefits of crossword puzzles that you can reap. By simply playing a game, you can expand your vocabulary, strengthen your memory, improve your mood and more.

Do you enjoy the challenge of a good crossword puzzle? Tell us in the comments. 

Try Your AAA Network’s crossword puzzles!

Planning a vacation takes a lot of Googling. First you have to search where you want to go, then you have to find hotels and flights, then you have to see what you just have to do at your destination. In that storm of online searches, however, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a legitimate company and a not-so-legitimate third-party booking site. When most travel planning is done online, how can you avoid travel booking scams? The best way is learning how to spot them.

What’s the Scam?

According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, 23% of consumers said they were misled by third-party travel booking sites on the phone or on the web, translating to more than $5.7 billion in online booking scams. Customers are led to believe that they are booking through an official hotel or airline site, but they’re actually doing business with a third-party middleman. This can lead to lost reservations, incorrect accommodations, undisclosed fees or worse.

For example, in 2017 the Federal Trade Commission settled a lawsuit with Reservation Counter, a third-party hotel booking website based in Utah. Reservation Counter used call centers and websites to trick consumers into believing that they were interacting directly with their desired hotel. They would then charge the customer’s credit card immediately – instead of upon check-in. Now, Reservation Counter has a non-affiliation disclaimer on its website.

How Bad Can It Be?

Some travel booking scams just want to skim some extra fees off of your hotel or flight reservation. But other scammers want to steal your money, your personal information and your vacation plans. Lisa Melton, senior vice president of marketing at AAA Northeast, encountered one of these scams when she tried to change her flight plans.

“Seattle got the biggest snowstorm on record when we were supposed to be going,” Melton said. “I wanted to call Delta and see if they would just change our flights so we could go to San Diego.”

Melton Googled the phrase “Delta customer service,” and called the first phone number she saw. The man on the other end was quite helpful. “He rebooks our ticket, gets all our information, gets our flights to San Diego and sends me the confirmation,” she said.

A few days later, Melton called Delta to check on her family’s seat assignments. At first, she was told that she needed to talk to her travel agent. But Melton hadn’t used a travel agent. The Delta agent suggested Melton call her credit card company.

Turns out, the Delta customer service line that Melton had originally called had been a fake number set up by a scammer.

“I gave him all of our personal information, including my credit card number, all of our dates of birth, and our address. And we had no flight to San Diego,” she said. “He didn’t book anything, he just tried to take $2,000 of our money.”

While Melton was able to arrange a different trip at the last minute, she learned a valuable lesson.

“I will never not use a travel agent again,” she said. “This is the reason that we all need to have a travel agent on our side, so this doesn’t happen.”

How Do I Avoid Getting Scammed?

“The quantity of online travel scams is alarming,” said Cyndi Zesk, vice president of travel services at AAA Northeast. “Even the most savvy of travelers have fallen victim to such deception and misrepresentation.”

So what can you do about it? According to the Better Business Bureau, one of the best ways to protect yourself from travel and hotel room booking scams is to purchase directly from the source and double-check that you have the correct contact information. It’s also a good idea to call the hotel a few weeks before you arrive to confirm your reservation. You can also book through an organization that has a proven track record and good reputation, such as AAA.

“AAA members have access to knowledgeable travel professionals who can assist them with their travel plans, look out for their best interests, and offer discounts,” Zesk said. “AAA travel advisors know what to look for in a scam and how to avoid them. They are keenly aware of which travel vendors and travel sites are legitimate. When you book with AAA, you can rest easy knowing you’ve got a trusted source and travel professional working for you.”

Have you ever encountered a travel booking scam? What did you do? Tell us your story in the comments below. 

Brrr…it’s cold outside, especially in the Adirondacks. But fear not, the Village of Lake Placid, which has twice hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, has plenty of luxury hotels to hole up in. Whether you’ve spent the day skiing on Whiteface Mountain or taking in the sights of the village, you can look forward to laying your head down at one of these four luxury hotels in Lake Placid.

Lake Placid Lodge

This classic Adirondack hideaway has 30 rooms (a mix of cottages, cabins on the lake and rooms in the historic main house) with Adirondack-style furnishings, stone fireplaces and Oriental rugs. It is said that no two rooms are exactly alike.

On-site activities include ice skating on Lake Placid and cross-country ski trails. You can also treat yourself to one of the variety of in-room massages available, including the sport, Swedish, deep tissue or reflexology.

In the evening, have a hot toddy in Maggie’s Pub, which is stocked with a variety of drinks and pub fare in a casual yet gorgeous setting. Or you could settle into a fireside dinner at Artisans, which takes elegant lakeside dining to the next level with its sensational seasonal cuisine and breathtaking lake views. Its one a kind wine cellar can be booked for private events and special occasions. An interesting side note: While Artisans is known for its fine dining options, its pancakes are ranked among the 10 best in the country, according to Travel and Leisure magazine.

Other winter activities you can book through this hotel include ice fishing, toboggan rides and dog sled rides.

Whiteface Lodge

A relative newcomer, the Whiteface Lodge was founded in June 2005 by a former Olympian and developer who sought to create one of the most epic luxury hotels and properties in the Adirondacks. A mile from Lake Placid village yet surrounded by woodlands, this 94-suite, timber-and-stone lodge is the perfect place to take in the breathtaking snow-capped mountains. A short drive from the slopes at Whiteface Mountain.

At Kanu restaurant, with a granite fireplace and antler chandeliers, dine on game dishes such as grilled bison steak with roasted potatoes and save room for the nightly bonfire with make-your-own s’mores.

Other amenities on the premises include 24-hour room service, a heated indoor and outdoor swimming pool that is open year-round and outdoor hot tubs. There is a 56-seat surround sound movie theater, a family game room and Old-Fashion Ice Cream Parlor, which offers a variety of delicious sundaes, milkshakes and sodas.

The on-site spa at Whiteface Lodge has also been ranked among the top 100 spas in North America. Appointments are required, so make sure you make that a priority. Specialty massages include a four-handed massage and a pain-relieving Table Thai massage that features a unique blend of Eastern techniques.

The Point

For a truly splurge-worthy getaway, there’s the Point, a luxury hotel and Relais & Chateaux property once owned by the Rockefellers.

Just a few miles from Lake Placid, the Point has 11 rustic-chic rooms spread among timber-and-stone cabins and come with wood-burning fireplaces. Oil paintings from the 19th century hang on walls made of native pine, spruce and fir in each of the guestrooms. Its most requested guestroom, The Boathouse, has breathtaking views of the Upper Saranac Lake through its gaping windows. It has a fantastic bathroom, complete with a soaking tub for two and a rock-walled shower.

Outside the guestrooms, there’s also communal fireside dining in the Great Hall creating a festive, house-party atmosphere.  But with its tranquil woods location, there is plenty for those who prefer something quiet, including old movies, blazing fires to cozy up next to with a book and fine wines from The Point’s private cellars.

Mirror Lake Inn

You can’t get closer to the action than the family-owned Mirror Lake Inn, which sits on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid village. This AAA Four Diamond inn has everything you need for a winter getaway: alpine-style rooms with lake and mountain vistas, the award-winning View Restaurant, a luxury spa, a heated indoor pool and a private ice skating rink! While at the spa, be sure to try the Maple Sugar Body Scrub of the Healing Soles Pedicure.

Mirror Lake Inn says your journey to healing begins at the spa, but it could also begin at breakfast where the chefs at the View are serving up renowned Adirondack Flapjacks. Other food and drink options on premises include Taste Bistro & Bar and The Cottage Restaurant, found directly on Mirror Lake, complete with indoor and outdoor wood-burning fireplaces and live music at night for when you want to keep the good times going. Speaking of, the Cottage is known for its Bloody Marys so be sure to try one during your stay.

Which hotel is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Plan and book your next getaway with AAA. 

When creating a budget, dining out is often one of the first things to get cut. But for the busiest among us, the convenience of grabbing a meal is not always such an easy sacrifice.

Whether out of necessity or for pleasure, if you frequently enjoy dining at local restaurants, there are a few smart ways to save money on food and dining out, starting with these tips.

Happy Hour

One of the simplest ways to save money on food at a restaurant is to go early. New York City restaurateur Randi Lee explains, “Happy hour is a great opportunity to taste the flavors of the restaurant without the high price tags. It’s usually a little less crowded time of day and there are specials on food and beverages.”

Plan Ahead

Anyone that is indecisive can agree that choosing what to order while the server is standing at the table can add some pressure. “Look at the menu online before visiting the restaurant and make a plan of what you want to order, so you stick to your budget. This will keep you from ordering too much or impulse buying (hello, mac & cheese!),” Lee said.

Rewards Cards

Credit cards are another way to save money on food, you just have to look for the credit card perks that suit your lifestyle. “Shop around for a card that meets your needs – some food-focused credit cards provide higher rewards and better benefits but charge an annual fee, while others charge no annual fee and still deliver solid rewards,” said Sean Messier, credit industry analyst at Credit Card Insider.

Bring Your Own Cup

More and more cafes and restaurants are offering anywhere from five cents to a quarter or more to bring your own cup when buying a beverage – and these savings add up quickly. “Restaurants and coffee shops like ours are increasingly offering discounts to people who bring in their own thermoses or containers,” says Jeremy Lyman, co-founder of Birch Coffee, which has locations throughout New York City. If you bring your cup every workday, you’ll save $65 a year. It feels good to save money and the planet at the same time!

Corkage Fee

If you are wondering how to save money on food and you like glass of wine with your meal, Jessica van Dop DeJesus of DiningTraveler.com recommends calling the restaurant ahead to see if they have a corkage fee. Some restaurants that allow you to BYOB will let you have the first bottle for free.

Restaurant Weeks

Take advantage of these local events, when participating eateries offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at a fraction of the usual prices. Find a Restaurant Week near you.

Go for the Bottle

If you’re dining out with a group, don’t be afraid of the wines by the bottle list. “If you are three guests or more it’s not too big of a commitment (usually one and a half glasses each) and the value is almost always much better than ordering by the glass,” said Max Katzenberg co-owner of Olmsted in Brooklyn, New York. Sounds like a win-win!

Time of Day

One simple way to save money on food is to consider the time of day that you’re visiting an establishment. “Try popular restaurants for breakfast or lunch. They’re often less crowded and meals are typically less expensive,” says Lisa Huff from SnappyGourmet.com. And if you need to go out in the evening, opt for ice cream or a nightcap (just one!) as a less expensive dining out alternative.

App Rewards

This may take a little effort, but downloading restaurant apps and signing up for rewards is one way to save money on food. “I’m in the habit of checking for apps or rewards offers before we head to a new restaurant,” said Collin Morgan, owner of Hip2Save.com. “So many times there is a completely free offer I can grab to help stretch our budget. There are also tons of free birthday offers available.” Free birthday appetizer or dessert? Sign us up!

AAA Discounts

There are loads of great AAA discounts that members can enjoy on dining out and eating in, from food tours and food delivery to gift cards and fine dining.

So instead of ditching your favorite restaurants, incorporate these ways to save money on food and dining out into your lifestyle.

Tell us how you save money on meals in the comments below.

You don’t have to be at or near retirement age to see the appeal of living in one of the least expensive cities to retire in the U.S. After all, many of the factors that make an area attractive to seniors – like safe and affordable housing – appeal to all age groups.

If you’re approaching retirement, knowing where to retire cheap could help keep your nest egg safer, longer, especially when you consider senior-specific factors like whether or not your Social Security check will be exempt from state income taxes.

Does this mean the nation’s soon-to-be seniors are looking to move somewhere more affordable? It’s hard to predict. A GOBankingRates survey found that only 22% of Americans choose to move based on the potential to save money.

But if you want to thrive in your retirement someplace new, it is essential to consider the cost of living. Here are some of the least expensive cities to retire in the U.S. to consider.

Where to Retire Cheap: How to Look and What to Look For

If you’re wondering which cities can make savings last, there’s information galore about the most and least affordable places to live. Some target pre-retirees who want to live overseas or downsize to Smalltown, USA. Others focus on just one factor about an entire state – such as housing prices or taxes.

But to get a comprehensive picture of the least expensive cities to retire in the U.S., it’s best to consider a broad range of factors under the cost of living umbrella – housing, healthcare, groceries, transportation and utilities – as well as subjective livability items, like access to parks and proximity to the nearest airport.

Where to Retire Cheap in the Northeast

If you live in one of the northeastern states, it probably comes as no surprise to you that the cost of living is cheaper…elsewhere. In fact, “If you’re looking for a cheap retirement destination, you can pretty much count out the West Coast, the Northeast, Alaska and Hawaii.” So says Kiplinger, which ranks New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut in five of the 20 “Most Expensive U.S. Cities to Live in 2019.” (Stamford is 16, Boston is 10, and Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan rank 9, 4, and most expensive, respectively.)

Keep looking, though, and you might find a northeastern city that works for you. TheStreet says Durham, N.H., could prove easy on your fixed income, thanks to “some of the best cost of living ranges (18% above the national average) in the otherwise pricey U.S. Northeast.” The seventh-lowest tax burden in the U.S. Buffalo, N.Y., also gets a nod: “Although taxes in New York are generally high, the state does not tax Social Security benefits or public pensions, and there are some other breaks for retirees.”

Where to Retire Cheap…Elsewhere

In one of the more comprehensive looks at the least expensive cities to retire in the U.S., GOBankingRates offers a top 50 list based on the annual retirement income required to cover basic expenses, including housing and healthcare.

Although it is the only northeastern city to make the cut, Buffalo, N.Y. is in the number three spot with $40,624 in total annual expenditures – 18% lower than the national average. Other tops spots include Fort Wayne, Ind.; Greensboro, N.C.; and two great cities in Ohio – Toledo and their number one pick, Cleveland. Cleveland snagged the top spot for the lowest cost of living, second-lowest annual amount spend on healthcare and the lowest annual amount spent on housing of all the cities listed.

North Carolina performed well, snagging four spots in total. Charlotte, Durham and Winston-Salem also made the list. (Raleigh, an anecdotal favorite favored by many N.Y.-N.J.-Conn. retirees, did not.)

Does a Move Make Sense for You?

For many Americans heading into retirement, stretching Social Security dollars and preserving wealth will be a big part of their financial planning goals – and a move to a more affordable area may well be on the table.

That said, pre-retirees should know that no single factor makes one city more affordable than another. Tax savings can be wiped out by high healthcare costs; affordable housing can be blunted by a poor transportation system.

The bottom line: lists and surveys can help get a conversation going, but ultimately, we all have to manage our individual finances in an ever-changing post-retirement landscape. Be sure to enlist experts assistance like AAA Financial Services, which can help with advice, loans and more.

Are you thinking of staying put? Or will you pack your bags for one of one of the least expensive places to retire in the U.S.? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

When traveling abroad, sometimes you want to go your own way. Going off the beaten path of public transportation or tour buses can bring some of the most memorable moments of your vacation. But wait…are you even allowed to drive abroad? It’s not like you have a driver’s license for every country you’re visiting! No worries, that’s what an International Driving Permit is for. If you’re planning on driving or renting a car outside of the country, you’ll most likely need an International Driving Permit, or IDP.

What’s an International Driving Permit?

The International Driving Permit is a document that, in tandem with a domestic driver’s license, allows you to drive legally while you are abroad. The IDP comes from agreements reached in the UN Conventions on Road Traffic in 1926, 1949 and 1968. The standardization of the IDP helps regulate drivers even when they aren’t in their home countries, and upholds road safety.

An International Driving Permit is a small booklet, almost like a passport. It contains your name, you photo and your driver’s license information. It’s a valid form of photo ID in over 150 countries and contains translations in 10 languages. Your information is duplicated in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, German, Italian, Swedish and Portuguese. If you get pulled over somewhere like Italy or Spain, you can simply produce your IDP and it will speak the language for you. Many countries that do not recognize foreign driver’s licenses do recognize an International Driving Permit.

Do I Need One?

If you are planning on driving in a foreign country, it would be wise to obtain an International Driving Permit first. Many countries require an IDP to drive legally. Fines for driving without an IDP can be quite costly in some countries, so do some research on the country’s IDP policies and driving laws before you travel. If you don’t have an IDP, and are stopped by police or roadway officials in a country where the permit is required, you could get a penalty ranging from a fine to a citation for mandatory court appearance. That’s no way to spend your vacation.

If you are renting a car in a foreign country, it is common for the rental service to ask for your International Driving Permit as well as your driver’s license. Some services will not rent to foreign drivers without an IDP – while others use the opportunity to pile on a hefty surcharge instead. To save yourself time, money and hassle, it would be best to come prepared with your International Driving Permit.

Here’s what you need to know about renting a car abroad.

What If I’m Not Driving?

One of the most valuable things about an International Driving Permit is that it is a legal travel document regulated by the United Nations. Since your IDP is automatically translated into several languages, it can be a useful document in situations where there might be a language barrier.

It can also be a good idea to obtain an IDP so that you can drive in an emergency, or if your plans change while you’re abroad. It helps you to be flexible while you’re abroad.

AAA International Driving Permit Services

Getting your paperwork in order is easy with AAA International Driving Permit services.

You can get your IDP at any AAA branch location. AAA is one of only two private entities in the country that is authorized by the US Department of State to issue International Driving Permits, and the process is simple. All you have to do is bring a valid US driver’s license, $20 and passport-sized photos (2 inches by 2 inches). If you don’t have any such photos on hand, any AAA branch can take your photo for you for a nominal charge.

If you can’t make it to a AAA branch, you can also get your permit by mail. All you have to do is download the IDP application, print it and fill it out. Then you can mail your application to AAA, along with your photos, a photocopy of your driver’s license, and a check for $20.

Getting an IDP is easy, affordable, and can bring you some much-needed peace of mind while traveling.

Have you ever driven a car abroad? Did you need an International Driving Permit? Let us know in the comments below!

For more information on International Driving Permits and how you can get one, visit AAA.com/IDP.

AAA is unveiling a transformed, contemporized version of its highly acclaimed AAA Diamond Program. The program will remain backed by professionally trained inspectors using member-driven criteria to recommend only clean, comfortable, hospitable hotels and restaurants.

What’s new? Replacing ratings with designations. A Diamond designation reflects AAA’s professional inspector reviews using updated, member-centric guidelines, setting the program apart from services that leverage unverified, often biased hotel and restaurant ratings.

“We’ve transformed the AAA Diamond Program to help travelers better understand the overall quality, range of facilities and level of services offered by a property,” said Stacey Barber, executive director of AAA Travel Information & Content. “Unlike ratings from unknown users sharing their opinions, the Diamond designations are provided by experienced professionals using consistent guidelines to tell travelers what a property offers.”

Under the new system, previously One and Two Diamond hotels and restaurants will transition to the Approved designation while Three, Four and Five Diamond establishments will retain their designations. However, the 2020 inspection cycle will be the determining factor for all properties’ future designation.

The modernized AAA Diamond Program guidelines for hotels and restaurants reflect the latest in traveler expectations and industry trends. AAA has removed outdated criteria in favor of factors that more directly relate to guest comfort, design and layout. For example, AAA inspectors will now look for sufficient storage space and shelving for clothes and personal belongings in guest rooms, and not for ironing boards or printed guest information, to reflect modern guest expectations.

The AAA Diamond Program comprises nearly 60,000 properties in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, including nearly 27,000 hotels and more than 30,000 restaurants. To be included in the AAA Diamond Program, properties must pass an unannounced, on-site evaluation. Hotels must provide acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, and restaurants must meet requirements for cleanliness, food preparation and service.

“Only the best hotels and restaurants are included in AAA’s Diamond Program – professional inspectors eliminate substandard places from consideration as a service to our members. For more than 80 years, travelers have relied on AAA’s trusted recommendations, and these latest changes only strengthen AAA as a go-to source for relevant information and advice for all trip planning needs,” added Barber.

While AAA recommends only good options for its members and travelers, additional Diamonds indicate more elaborate surroundings and attention from service staff. Here is a breakdown of what travelers can expect at each Diamond designation.

Travelers can learn more about the new AAA Diamond Program at AAA.com/Diamonds and search the AAA Travel Guides for their next great hotel or dining experience.

More About the AAA Diamond Program

For more than 80 years, AAA’s professional inspectors have conducted in-person property evaluations. AAA is the only entity using comprehensive, on-site professional hotel and restaurant evaluations guided by member priorities. AAA’s inventory includes some 60,000 Diamond hotels and restaurants across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Travelers can find AAA Diamond hotels and restaurants and inspector insight in AAA’s trip planning products: AAA Mobile app, AAA Travel Guides, TripTik Travel Planner and the AAA TourBook guides available to members at AAA offices. For more information, visit AAA.com/Diamonds.

On National Plan for Vacation Day, travel lovers across the U.S. pick up their calendars and plot out their vacation days for the year. The five-year-old holiday was launched by the U.S. Travel Association to inspire Americans to intentionally plan paid time off rather than missing out. Last year alone, 768 million vacation days were left unused!

Since Northeast residents rate “reducing stress” as the best motivation for vacation, we’ve rounded up seven relaxing trips to consider as you map out the year on National Plan for Vacation Day.

National Plan for Vacation Day 2020 from U.S. Travel on Vimeo.

Schedule a Long-Weekend Staycation

If you live in one of the Northeast’s bustling metropolises, you’re in luck. From reflecting in the Boston Public Library and Boston Opera House, to relaxing at Aire Ancient Baths in New York City, there are plenty of stress-relieving activities in your own backyard.

Those in smaller cities can cash in on even more peace and quiet during a staycation. Book a few nights at your favorite hotel, make a reservation at the best spa in town and then relax at a local romantic restaurant before ambling back to your room. The bliss of a staycation is its simplicity.

Slow Down on an Automobile-Free Island

For a slice of unpolluted paradise, consider heading to a car-less destination this year. Though two of these islands require a trip outside the Northeast, the tranquility and peace will make any extra travel worth your while.

Meander along beaches and boardwalks on Fire Island in New York.

Visit the lighthouse and maritime forest preserve on Bald Head Island, North Carolina.

Don’t miss a horse-drawn carriage ride and a taste of local taffy on Mackinac Island in Michigan.

Check out some other blissful locations recommended by a AAA travel editor!

Pull Up Anchor in Boston or New York

AAA Northeast members love cruises for so many reasons: all-inclusive amenities, diverse ports and activities, and the relaxation of being truly swept away to another place.

For a truly Northeast-friendly vacation, consider departing from Boston or even Manhattan. Plan for Vacation Day is the perfect time to check your calendar against your favorite cruise lines’ schedules.

Go Camping at One of These State Parks

If unplugging in nature sounds like your idea of heaven, request some PTO for a weekend at a state park this year. The Northeast is rife with lush forests, rolling hills and wave-pummeled coastlines guarded by historic lighthouses. Find inspiration at the following state parks.

Mount Greylock State Reservation was Massachusetts’ first state park. Don’t forget to clamber up to the highest point in the state, where you can see 90 miles away on a clear day.

Burlingame State Park in Rhode Island offers more than 3,000 acres of hiking, canoeing and the sort of rustic camping that will spark memories of childhood summers past.

Letchworth State Park is one of New York’s most gloriously rugged state parks. Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” the park is nearly 17 miles long.

For a soothing waterfront campsite, look no further than Connecticut’s Hammonasset Beach State Park. It’s one of the state’s most popular parks, so don’t forget to reserve your campsite on National Plan for Vacation Day!

At High Point State Park in New Jersey, you’ll enjoy stunning wide views of farms and forests, hills and valleys in three states.

Pawtuckaway State Park isn’t the biggest or boldest of New Hampshire’s parks, but that’s what makes it so peaceful. Take a hike in the woods, then head out for a sunset kayak paddle before the stars come out.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Beach bums are officially out! Have you caught some rays at your favorite #southcountyri beach yet? . . ???? credit to @davesarazen for this shot! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #finditandliveit #instatravel#oceanviews #roamtheplanet#beachbums #getoutthere #travelstoke#flashesofdelight #drone #thehappynow #pursuepretty#letsgosomewhere #onthebeach#dslooking#helicoptershot #hello_worldpics #ig_worldshots #droneshot #helicopter #instagood #imatraveler#beautifuldestinations #exploretocreate #coast #viewfromabove #thursday #beach #westerly #beachlove

A post shared by South County Tourism Council (@southcountyri) on Jun 27, 2019 at 12:56pm PDT

Escape to the Beach for the Summer

A year in the Northeast wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the beach. Whether you prefer to plant yourself in the sand for a few days or meander along the Atlantic Coast in a classic car or camper van, this is the perfect getaway to wash all your cares away and welcome summertime with open arms.

Just remember: Put in your request for PTO before everyone else in the office takes those same summer days.

Plan a Blissful Week at a Wellness Spa

Nothing says stress relief like massages, steam rooms and the gentle scent of herbs in the air. On this National Plan for Vacation Day, book a stay at one of these Northeast spa resorts.

In Massachusetts, don’t miss Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires.

In Rhode Island, luxuriate with in-room spa amenities at The Chanler at Cliff Walk.

In New York, soak in the understated glamour of Whiteface Lodge on Lake Placid.

In Connecticut, you’ll dream of making one of the cottages at Winvian Farm your permanent address.

In New Jersey, unwind at Reflections Spa at Crystal Springs Resort before a relaxed round of golf.

In New Hampshire, you won’t regret the Omni Mount Washington Resort for its spectacular views and classic elegance.

Fill up Your Senses at a Northeast National Park

Whether you’re a fan of camping, parking the RV, or checking into a charming boutique hotel, there are plenty of accommodations and dining options around the Northeast’s national parks.

From the Cape Cod National Seashore to Acadia National Park, you can settle into one stress-free destination or map a route that includes stops at several.

Start planning by requesting a vacation day on April 18, when you’ll get free admission for the first day of National Park Week.

Book your next vacation with AAA Travel.