For years, the top menu of the Apple Podcasts app has been called “New and Noteworthy.” The New and Noteworthy section is supposed to detail the newest and most interesting podcasts, but that’s seldom the case. Some podcasts that show up there are in their fourth season already (cough Revisionist History cough). The best way to find new podcasts is to ask other people who are listening to podcasts, since everyone is always looking for their next fix.

Forget about the algorithm-assembled new podcast section on your podcatcher. Here are the new podcasts that I’m the most excited about this year.

Factually

Adam Conover, of TruTV’s “Adam Ruins Everything,” is on a mission to find the truth. On his new podcast, “Factually,” Conover interviews experts on frequently misunderstood subjects, like the tech industry, sleep, climate change and even the Civil War. Conover’s thirst for the truth is contagious, and the podcasting format allows for a deep dive into these subjects.

Recommended episodes: Skewed Civil War Stories with Christy Coleman; Big Tech, Workism and Killing Companies in the Crib with Scott Galloway; Trans Misconceptions, the Military and Space Force with Brynn Tannehill

Confronting: OJ Simpson

This past June marked the 25^th anniversary of the night Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were brutally murdered. “Confronting: OJ Simpson” is hosted by Ron Goldman’s sister, Kim. Throughout the series, Kim Goldman sits down with people connected to the trial of the century, from prosecutors, investigators and witnesses to reporters, jurors and hangers-on. Kim Goldman’s interviews are emotional and understanding, yet subtly challenging and confrontational. One episode consists entirely of a tense phone call between the podcast’s producer, Nancy Glass, and OJ Simpson’s lawyer, Malcolm LaVergne. The title of the show implies that there will be other “confronting” seasons about different topics, but I can’t imagine any story more compelling than this one.

Recommended episodes: Listen from the beginning.

Scoring Magic

“Scoring Magic” is a podcast documentary about making a podcast. Podcast journalist Wil Williams wants to produce her first audio drama, but she knows that she’s in for a long journey. With her friends and collaborators Anne Baird and Katie Youmans, Williams sets out to figure out how to make impossible scenarios sound realistic. This is a podcast about the process of creating something, from the excitement of the first idea to the frustrating second-guessing that can go into even the smallest decisions. But in “Scoring Magic,” it’s all worth it. As Williams says in the first episode, “Create is… feels good.”

Recommended episodes: Listen from the beginning.

Headlong: Running from COPS

I inhaled this series. “Running from COPS” is actually the third season of “Headlong,” an investigative podcast hosted by Dan Taberski. In the first season he explored the life of Richard Simmons, and in the second season he investigated the hysteria of Y2K. In this season, Taberski looks at one of the oldest reality shows on television: “COPS.” “COPS” is like a microcosm of problems that we all struggle with in modern life – from reality-bending reality TV to increased awareness of police brutality. How does the presence of a camera crew change how police act? What happens to the people who appear on the show, and why did many of them give permission for “COPS” to show their faces? And what about the cities that “COPS” embeds in? Does it change them?

Recommended episodes: Start with The One-Celled Amoeba

Gangster Capitalism

Sometimes there’s a dark side to the American dream. “Gangster Capitalism” is about white-collar crime and corruption in a society where money and status is everything. The first season of “Gangster Capitalism” focuses on the recent college admissions scandal, which saw wealthy parents paying scammers and professional test-takers to get their underperforming kids into elite schools. The most shocking parts of the podcast are the transcripts of conversations between the parents and the head scammer, Rick Singer. Singer sold his scheme as a “side door” to elite colleges – for parents who were wealthy enough to afford him, but not wealthy enough to “donate” millions to their school of choice. What does this scandal say about the current state of college admissions in America? “Gangster Capitalism” hopes to find out.

Recommended episodes: Listen from the beginning.

Spectacular Failures

On “Spectacular Failures,” host Lauren Ober recounts some of the most disastrous business failures of all time. You’ll hear stories of unsafe business practices, corporate corruption, imploding industries, bankruptcy and family feuds. Aside from the schadenfreude of watching business giants collapse, “Spectacular Failures” offers insights into all of the intricate details surrounding the failure du jour.

Recommended episodes: MoviePass begins with plenty of drama, A funeral industry giant keels over, Kodak misses its moment, The inferno that transformed American labor

Which of these new podcasts most interests you? Do you have any new podcasts to recommend? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for more podcast recommendations? Check out our articles on the best comedy podcasts and the best true crime podcasts. 

If you want to experience exceptional elegance and inspirational 19^th century architecture close to home, pay with a visit to the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island.

The historic-house museums (once summer homes and entertainment venues for America’s free-spending millionaires) are located on 88 acres of gardens and parks on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. You can explore these historic sites in person with the help of audio tours designed to shed light on the wealthy residents who once inhabited these breathtaking properties.

Two- and five-house tickets are available through the Preservation Society of Newport County, which cares for most of the opulent properties on and around Bellevue Avenue that showcase the stunning European-inspired architecture of the gilded age. Most are open daily during the spring and summer months; check the website for current hours. Wear comfy shoes, print out a Newport mansions map and gear up for a journey through time unlike any other.

The Breakers

The largest and most lavish of the historic Newport, Rhode Island mansions, The Breakers is the onetime summer retreat of Cornelius Vanderbilt II – grandson of family patriarch Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who made his fortune in the booming American railroad and shipping industries. The mansion served as a status symbol of his family’s social and financial prominence, which was estimated at $200 million 130 years ago. Rebuilt in 1893 after a fire, no expenses were spared in constructing this $7 million, 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palace with lavish furnishings, platinum wall panels and an open-air courtyard that sports a ceiling painted with a windswept sky. This half-acre, four-story mansion sits on 11 acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It also features a $5.5 million Welcome Center, which opened in June 2018 in a newly rehabilitated garden. There visitors can find refreshments, restrooms and places to sit for a spell.

The Elms

The summer residence of American coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind, this Bellevue Avenue estate is modeled after the mid-18th century French Chateau d’Asnieres outside Paris. Inside, its terraces feature extravagant marble and bronze sculptures, French and Venetian paintings and Oriental jades. It also has a newly restored outdoor garden with elaborate fountains, marble pavilions, gorgeous trees and a large carriage house.

Marble House

Built between 1888 and 1892, this magnificent marble marvel was a 39^th birthday present from William K. Vanderbilt to his wife, Alva. Their “temple to the arts” was designed in the fashion of the Petit Trianon at the Palace of Versailles and of its $11 million price tag, $7 million was spent on 500,000 cubic feet of marble. The Vanderbilts later divorced and Alva used the property to host rallies for women’s voting rights before selling the house to Frederick H. Prince in 1932. Its centerpiece Gold Room stays true to its name, with 22-carat gold leaf wall panels and Tiffany glass accents.

Rosecliff

With rooms featured in movies like “The Great Gatsby,” “True Lies” and “27 Dresses,” Rosecliff was the 1890s summer home of Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs. Modeled after the Grand Trianon garden retreat at Versailles, the $2.5 million mansion was frequently used as an event space for lavish parties and once hosted a famous party with a performance from magician Harry Houdini.

Chateau-sur-Mer

Another showcase of High Victorian architecture, furniture, wallpapers and ceramics, Chateau-sur-Mer  (which means castle on the sea) was known as one of the most lavish residences in the area prior to the construction of the Vanderbilt mansions in the 1890s. It was the location of a famous picnic in 1857 with more than 2,000 guests. Like a few homes on this list, owner William Shepard Wetmore (who made his fortune in the China trade and used the home in his retirement) hired architect Richard Morris Hunt to remodel and redecorate the mansion in Second Empire architectural style, and for that reason it displays many of the major design trends of the 19^th century.

Green Animals Topiary Garden

The oldest and most northern topiary garden in the nation, this small country estate in Portsmouth, R.I., dates back to the 1870s, when it was purchased by Thomas E. Brayton, treasurer of the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company in Fall River, MA. Under the supervision of gardener Joseph Carreiro and his son-in-law George Mendonca, it has more than 80 plants trimmed and clipped to resemble shapes like animals, birds, and geometric figures. Roam around the garden to see cute plants shaped like bears, giraffes and more. Plus vegetable and herb gardens and, of course, the Victorian house that was home to Brayton’s daughter, Alice, until her death in 1972. Green Animals is open seasonally, so call ahead to make sure they’re open. It’s located in Portsmouth, about a half-hour ride from downtown Newport.

Public transportation to the Newport Mansions is available through the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (a cute trolley, No. 67 on the Yellow Line). Plus, the Breakers, Marble House, the Elms and Rosecliff are all partially wheelchair accessible. And with astonishing views inside and out, there is certainly no shortage of reasons to make the Newport Mansions the location of your next weekend getaway.

What’s your favorite Newport mansion? Tell us in the comments.

Successful travel often hinges on getting a good night’s sleep. And a good night’s sleep can hinge on what you’re sleeping on. While a hotel’s spa, gym, restaurant and other amenities can make a difference, the mattress in your room can be key.

Some hotels partner with premium mattress brands. For instance, The Langham, New York, offers the DUX luxury hotel bed. And Ritz-Carltons around the world boast the Ritz-Carlton Bed designed by Stearns & Foster.

Most hotels will tell you what mattress brand they use, according to Logan Block, founder of the sleep product review and sleep information site Sleepopolis. “I’ve talked to a few people who travel quite a bit for work who called up [a hotel] and said, ‘Hey, I just love your mattress,’” Block said. Some even end up buying the same one for their home.

You don’t always have a choice when traveling, but if you’re serious about sleeping well, you might want to consider looking into hotel mattresses before you book. To know what to look for, you’ve got to know what you like.

Some mattresses are made with steel coils, while others are made from different types of foam, from polyurethane to memory foam to latex. “They have different properties, which give them different feels, different advantages and disadvantages,” Block said. A new option is a hybrid with coils wrapped in foam, which isolates motion.

Memory foam is popular for contouring around the body, which can be better for side sleepers, but it also traps body heat. Latex is bouncier, so you don’t sink in as much, and it’s cooler, so it’s better for people who alternate between their backs and sides and people who sleep hot. And, of course, some mattresses are firmer than others.

You can visit mattress manufacturers online and find lots of information about the construction of their products. You can also find reviews of mattresses at sleepopolis.com, and search them by brand, materials, sleep position and a host of other factors. That should give you some idea of what kind of fit you’ll have at your hotel of choice.

If you find yourself with a mattress that’s too soft, Block recommends pulling off the sheets to see if there’s a mattress topper you can remove to firm things up. If you’re a side sleeper and the mattress feels too firm, bringing your own pillow (or requesting extra pillows from the hotel) should help.

And don’t discount the value of pulling the blackout curtains and keeping your phone at a distance to help you get some shut-eye.

To read more articles about travel-related health topics, visit AAA.com/LiveWell.

The Your AAA team recently got the keys to a shiny black- and blue-accented 2019 BMW i3s for a test drive.

Excited to experience BMW power and luxury, we took to the road, each of us spending a few days with the car on our daily commutes and errands. It even went on a road trip from our office in Garden City, N.Y., to AAA Northeast headquarters in Providence, R.I.

We drove the 184-horsepower BMW i3s with the optional gasoline range extender, which adds almost 50 more miles of drive time. It was the first time any of us had driven an electric vehicle and the inclusion of a gas extender helped to calm any ‘range anxiety.’

This is the perspective of our editorial team – Andrew Rosen, Jerry Ascierto, Marisa Perjatel, Sarah Hopkins, Andrew Sheldon and Matt Robertson – based on our individual experiences behind the wheel of an electric BMW for the first time. We are not car experts, just typical consumers with varying lifestyles and driving demands. Below is a transcribed version of our discussion. Click the audio player below to listen.

First Impressions

Marisa: My first impression of the BMW i3s was that it was very cute and compact. It was a smaller vehicle but I kind of liked that. It’s been a while since I’ve driven a car that size and I just feel like it’s a little more fun when a car is smaller and sportier. I was also very impressed with the inside. There’s all-natural materials and it looks very cool. The infotainment system is also really impressive and there’s a lot of options; it took me a little time to get used to toggling through and using the dial control, but after that, it was easy.

Sarah: I agree. The car looks almost smaller on the outside than it is on the inside. You have a lot of room to maneuver and I love the materials on the inside, especially on the dashboard. I plugged my phone into the entertainment system almost right away. I have a similar but much lower-tech entertainment system in my car, so it was easy to adapt to this one. I really liked it.

Andrew R.: I would echo that sentiment. The car does appear very small from the outside, but once you get inside, the amount of room that you have is surprising. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas, which is like a yacht. So it is very refreshing to drive something small, yet the inside does feel sizable, which is nice. I also love when you close the door, it has that very solid feel and that solid sound that makes you feel safe. I also noticed the amount of glass right away; from both the front and the back, the visibility is great. And with the sunroof on top, getting some sunlight into the car is a really nice touch.

Andrew S.: It’s definitely a compact car, but as someone who’s driven larger cars almost exclusively, I kind of enjoyed that. It was a fun ride. Inside, it’s very upscale and luxurious with the wood finishing. The controls were very easy to use. I liked having the dial in the center console so that you didn’t have to reach out to change anything. I also know that it has vehicle memory, so that depending on who is driving, the car automatically reverts back to their custom settings. That makes it so much easier to get the audio, temperature, mirrors and such just the way you like them instead of having to adjust them every time you get in the car.

Jerry: I’d never driven such a small car and I’ve never driven an electric car, so there was a learning curve. But I was happily surprised to find that not only did it have great pickup –  I mean, it had some real giddy-up for such a small vehicle – it just handled beautifully. I’m not saying it had a zero-turn radius, but it felt as though it did at times. The breadth and depth of the infotainment system was off the charts as well. But as someone who’s never driven a car that had such a system, I found the screen a bit distracting and in fact, turned it off. So, there was a learning curve.

Matt: I am 6 feet, 6 inches tall. So my first impression was fear that I would not fit inside. I was happily surprised that with the seat all the way back, I was able to fit very well. It was almost like you could roll a soccer ball in between the two front seats; the appearance made it seem larger inside. When I drove it, I thought it had pretty decent pickup but the braking was the most challenging thing to get used to. At first, it felt like a golf cart when you would accelerate, but it slows down quickly when you let off the brake. But once it I got used to that, I really enjoyed it. I think it had all the typical luxuries from a BMW that you would expect with the moon roof and the Apple CarPlay. It also had a nice sound system, which I thoroughly tested out, and it was premium.

BMW i3s Driving Experience

Marisa: As someone who’s never driven an electric vehicle before, it definitely took some getting used to. The car brakes for you, to conserve energy. Just getting used to that was a little bit of a learning curve, but once you’re into it, I found the driving experience to be a lot of fun. It’s definitely a solid car. It has good pickup. It rides like a BMW. It’s a BMW electric car, but it’s still a BMW.

Sarah: Yeah, I’d have to agree that it’s sort of like a hair-trigger brake once you take your foot off the gas. Gas, I guess, being a metaphorical term. It was actually really interesting how different it is than driving a gas car. It’s a really quiet car because it’s not really burning anything, which was super weird. I definitely liked it. When I got back into my actual car after I was done with it, I was like, this thing is so loud. Going back to the infotainment system, the backup camera was incredible. It was like in HD. It had a panoramic shot of my neighborhood as I was pulling out of the driveway. My own car has a backup camera, but it’s piddly and little in comparison. Just as a safety feature, I think the panoramic shot is a really important addition to any car.

Andrew R.: The driving experience for me was really enjoyable. I think again we’re all kind of hitting on the learning curve and that’s definitely there, but I think it’s very brief. I’m used to a touchscreen infotainment system, so getting used to that toggle in the middle was weird for me. One thing I did find is that the acceleration was so much more than I would have expected. I also found that I had a neighbor or two stop me and ask how I got the car … they thought it was a prototype for a car, which is fascinating because this car has been out for almost five years now, but it still looks very modern and high tech and seems to spark some conversation.

Sarah: We’re all talking about how small it is, but in the past, electric cars have been like two seats in a steel bubble, basically. For an electric car, it does look really futuristic.

Andrew R.: And I would just tack on that the maneuverability was great. I previously owned a Mini Cooper and I would say the driving was sort of akin to that. Definitely has good pickup and good braking. You feel in control and very confident that the car is very competent, which is nice.

Andrew S.: I drove the car on Friday during lunch and then drove it home that afternoon. By the time I got home I felt totally comfortable driving it. So that learning curve is pretty short. And once you do get comfortable, it’s a really fun driving experience. Like we all said, I was afraid of taking it out on the highway just cause it’s very small and I wasn’t sure how fast it would go, but it is very solidly built car and the acceleration was probably the one thing that impressed me the most about it.

Jerry: I’d echo the sentiments about the acceleration particularly. But while the acceleration was pronounced, so was the deceleration and that was a big thing to get over. Fuel injection is something that I think we’ve all grown up on, so its absence is pronounced. And I agree it was very solid. What I really liked were the different driving modes – Sport, Comfort, Eco and Eco Pro + (where it would stop you at 56 mph to conserve more energy).  The different settings were very valuable; you become very aware of every decision you make and how it affects your range. It puts energy conservation at the forefront of your mind. Not only does this actually conserve energy as a product, but it forces you to think about energy conservation as well, which is very valuable.

Matt: I thought it was really cool how you could change the setting on the screen to see where the energy flow was going, whether it was gaining charge or losing it. The gas extender was great. The other thing I thought was very cool was that it had a wireless phone charger in the center console and that Apple CarPlay was Bluetooth capable. So you didn’t have to actually physically put your phone in.

Powering Up

Marisa: I charged the car with the three-prong outlet directly into my house, which is the best option if you just want to top off your car. I had a decent amount of mileage on the car already so I charged it overnight and it was perfect because it gave me just the right amount of juice to get me to work.

Sarah: I also used my house to charge the car. I thought it was really funny how the charger looked like a gas pump from a gas station. I thought that was adorable. I left it plugged in for a long time. I don’t think I plugged it in overnight, but when I got back in the car the next day I was like, yeah, this looks good. I didn’t really have a huge problem with running out of energy even though I was driving it when it was really hot and I had the air going super high. But also I didn’t drive it that far, honestly. I drove it to and from work and I drove it like around my neighborhood. I do think it’s really interesting how it actually takes time to charge the car so it forces you to think about the energy that you are using, which I think is almost like an interesting thought exercise if we’re going to get deep into this.

Andrew R.: There was a point in my life when (and I’ll out myself here) I’d roll down the windows and put on the air conditioner no matter what the temperature. So, I agree. It’s definitely an eye-opening experience and reframes the way you think about energy conservation, which is really cool. I charged at home with a waterproof extension cord. I don’t know if that’s BMW-recommended or not, but I can tell you the car did charge overnight in torrential rain without any problems. And I’m still here to tell this story. As far as looking for charging stations, it’s definitely still a work in progress. They’re out there and there’s a lot of them but I didn’t have that many super-convenient to where I live. That being said, there are plenty of apps that I downloaded that showed me where they’re available, local hotels, college campuses, etc.

Andrew S.: I went out into the wild to try to get this charged. I went to Nassau Community College, which may not have been the best place just because it’s a vast campus. And it took me a while to find them. When I did, I realized that they were in a restricted parking lot that I couldn’t get into. I did check and there were a few BMW dealerships close to me that had some; I didn’t test them but they’re there. You just have to do your homework and know where they are and just keep tabs on everything.

Jerry: Charging was interesting. I think one of the greatest features of the infotainment system was that it would let you know when you were running low on charge and it would offer to search for charging stations in the area. That was a really useful feature. I was surprised by how many chargers there were in certain areas. But a lot more education is needed for the public to understand how long it takes to charge an electric car. I  underestimated the difference between a standard charge and the supercharge and the amount of time needed to get to full battery, so as I was looking for chargers, I was running out of electricity rapidly. On my trip from New York to Providence and back, I thought the gas range extender came in handy to relieve a portion of my range anxiety. Even if I didn’t find a charger or didn’t have time, there was the reassurance that I could fill it up with gas.

Overall Thoughts

Marisa: It was a lot of fun. I think that it’s more of an around-town type of car than a highway car, which is what I would use it for. It’s the type of car that I would get. It was a solid car.

Sarah: It really did feel like a luxury experience inside. I’ve never had a car so nice. I just wanted to touch the dashboard all the time and the window is huge. It was like driving in a bubble. It’s not a road trip car by any means, just because of the amount of time it takes to charge. But like Marisa said, for going around town, it’s a nice ride.

Andrew R.: Yeah, I agree. The BMW i3 is not for everybody but I think it does have quite a few use cases. Going to the supermarket and kicking down the back seats? No problem. Throwing my 7-year-old son in the back? No problem. Taking it to the park with a lot of equipment? No problem. It really comes down to your commute and your willingness to put in the time to change, to get used to something that’s different. I mean, let’s face it, we’ve all been driving the same way for a very long time. But I think if you’re able and you’re willing, it’s definitely a vehicle that can check a lot of boxes for a lot of people.

Jerry: It’s a unique car that takes some getting used to. But once you do, I thought it was great driving experience. Great trim, great safety features. I think it’s a perfect car for anyone, particularly perhaps older drivers looking for a safety features, first and foremost. Sure, there’s a learning curve in going from a gas-powered vehicle to this. But again, it forces you to become more eco-conscious. Every choice you make affects the range of the car and it almost trains you to appreciate just how much energy you’re spending and that’s incredibly valuable, all in its own right.

Matt: I think there is market for this car and as a person with a long commute each day and a person who also travels hundreds of miles throughout New England for work on a frequent basis, it was not the vehicle for me at this point in my life. Not to say that it will never be, but I thought it was a great experience to drive and to get more used to being part of the electric vehicle community. There were a lot of things that I learned from this experience that gave me insight and made me less nervous about buying an electric vehicle in general.

Does the BMW i3 sound like your type of car? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

For details on specifications and a pro’s point of view, you can find the BMW i3 review and dozens more at AAA.com/TestDrive.

A Fire Island day trip can include soaking up the sun on its beaches, hiking or biking, sailing or surfing, clamming, visiting an iconic lighthouse or spending the afternoon in the park.

Located parallel to Long Island’s south shore, Fire Island is a pair of islands – split up by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 – that were devastated in the late 1930s by a hurricane and rebuilt into one of the Empire State’s most popular vacation spots in the years since.

Fire Island is known for its nightlife, bungalow-style homes, summer celebrity presence, lack of cars, roaming deer and two large LGBT communities, Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines.

As far back as the 1920s, the Manhattan theater community frequented the island and, to this day, it’s not unusual to spot some well-known faces there. But while the island is famous for its occasionally raucous parties and nightlife scene, it’s also a great spot for vacationing with friends or family.

Here’s a list of great activities and things to do in Fire Island.

Fire Island Beaches

There are a number of great beaches from which to choose for a Fire Island day trip. One of the top destinations for visitors is Ocean Beach, which has the largest concentrations of homes, bars and restaurants. If you’re bringing the family and, especially, young ones to Fire Island, drop by Saltaire, a quiet community that offers a variety of activities, including basketball, tennis and a boardwalk promenade.

Fair Harbor is a popular locale for urbanites visiting from New York City. It includes a relaxed downtown district with restaurants (don’t miss Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Le Dock for the view) funky shops and an upscale food market (complete the day with an ice cream cone from Unfriendly’s). Fire Island Pines is known for its boutiques and markets. And if nightlife is your reason for visiting, you can’t go wrong with Kismet, a popular location for nightclubs and house parties, with a marina that’s great for boating.

Another top spot for things to do in Fire Island is Davis Park, which has a marina, restaurants and bars. If  you intend your vacation to be a relaxing one, there’s likely no better locale than the appropriately named Lonelyville, which is known for being one of the island’s quietest beaches.

For more local beaches, check out Your AAA’s Northeast beach guide. 

Fire Island Parks

If you’re looking to get away from the beach for a while, either for relaxation or exercise, there are several great parks and hiking spots on Fire Island. Robert Moses State Park has 5 miles of beach that can be used for swimming, surfing and fishing. The 875-acre park, which is the island’s largest, has an 18-hole golf course as well as volleyball courts, picnic areas, a playground, concessions and park grills.

The Sunken Forest is an ancient holly forest located just east of Point O’Woods. In 1966, the property was donated to the Fire Island National Seashore under the provision that it would always be maintained in its natural state and operated as a sanctuary. Some of the forest’s plants are considered rare.

Smith Point County Park is a popular spot for sportsmen, swimmers and surfers alike. The park has white sands, camping facilities, saltwater fishing, concession stands, a playground and special events during the summer. Smith Point is also where you can find the TWA Flight 800 International Memorial, which commemorates the 230 people killed when a Boeing 747 crashed on the site in 1996.

More Things To Do in Fire Island

During your trip to the island you should check out the Fire Island Lighthouse, which was built in 1858 and for years acted as a landmark for transatlantic ships coming into New York Harbor. For some European immigrants, it was their first sight of land upon arriving in the U.S. During a visit to the lighthouse, you can check out the keeper’s quarters and exhibit center, climb the tower’s 182 steps, take in gorgeous views of the ocean and view the Fresnel lens used in the tower between 1858 and 1933.

A great spot for hiking and spotting animals is the Otis Pike Wilderness Area, which includes pine forests, wetlands and dunes, where visitors might see herons, white-tailed deer and waterfowl.

What are your favorite things to do in Fire Island? Let us know of any other great activities or must-see spots in the comments. 

For more things to do in the area, see our post on 21 things to do on Long Island in the summer. 

Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the sheer size of the ocean and the amount of life contained within its watery boundaries. Until you have the opportunity to see whales in the wild, that is. There’s nothing quite like seeing them breach in person, leaping into the air and splashing back down with magnificent force.

Luckily, there are plenty of places in the Northeast to view whales in their natural habitat. Some whale watching tours offer guaranteed whale sightings during the peak season, which runs from May through October.

White Cap Charters

Scituate, MA

White Cap Charters offers up-close encounters with whales during five-hour private charters on a yacht that seats just six people. They operate in Cape Cod Bay, which is the richest fishing ground in the East, said owner Brad White, attracting countless humpback whales that are always coming up to breach. Passengers on White Cap Charters tours have seen rare right whales, orcas, sharks and – of course – whales.

“Being face-to-face with the whales is a truly unique experience that everyone should have in their life,” White said. “They’re just such spectacular creatures and it’s humbling to know that we share the world with something so beautiful.”

AAA members save 10% on tours and charters with White Cap Charters.

Al Gauron Deep Sea Fishing and Whale Watching

Hampton Beach, NH

You won’t go hungry on this whale watching cruise! The boat is equipped with a full bar and plenty of food to sustain you during the four-hour trip. Cruises run from June to September.

Captain John Boats & Whale Watch

Plymouth and Provincetown, MA

Booking a whale watching tour with Captain John’s experienced captains, who have been in in business since 1946 and offering whale watching tours since the 1970s, will almost guarantee you’ll learn new things and have an exciting experience. Tours are offered in both Plymouth and Provincetown, MA. Whale watch guests have seen humpback, finback, pilot, minke and even endangered right whales during cruises.

AAA members get $3 off adult and children’s tickets. 

Frances Fleet

Narragansett, RI

Board a Frances Fleet whale watch and the chances are high (thanks to waters warmed by the Gulf Stream) that you’ll see finback whales. Guests have also spotted humpback, pilot, false killer, sei and minke whales, in addition to tuna, marlon, sharks, turtles, and dolphins. Although it can’t guarantee signings, Frances Fleet gives free vouchers for a future trip or a fishing trip voucher if no whales are seen on a cruise.

Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.

Bar Harbor, Maine

Maine has more than just lobster, it also lays claim to some of the world’s biggest mammals. You can follow along on Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.’s website to see what guests have seen on recent outings. On July 15, guests saw eight humpback whales on a charter. The day before, guests saw a mother and calf as well as six humpback whales and a few breaches.

Boston Harbor Cruises

Boston

These whale watching tours are offered in conjunction with New England Aquarium, so you’re sure to learn a thing or two about whales from an onboard naturalist. Guests visit the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and often see the same whales again and again during tours. (Keep an eye out for regular humpbacks Etch-a-Sketch, Sprinkles and Shuffleboard!) Guests have spotted finbacks, minke, pilot and right whales during their trips.

Have you ever gone on a whale watching tour? Tell us about your experience in the comments. 

When you go searching for a hotel or restaurant, you likely have certain criteria in mind. Luckily, AAA Diamond Ratings and new AAA Inspector “Best Of”badges rate eligible hotels and restaurants to help travelers find exactly what they’re looking for.

AAA ‘Best Of’ Locations in the Northeast

AAA uses several badges for rating properties. The recently redesigned badges are diamond-shaped and can be found in AAA online listings for restaurants and hotels.

Badges show where hotels and restaurants have exceeded in their AAA inspection and denote inspector favorites in categories such as Entertainment, Family-Friendly, Pet-Friendly, Recreation, Scenic View, Value and Wow Effect.

As of 2019, AAA Northeast has 1,342 amazing hotels and restaurants with AAA Diamond Ratings. Here are some with unique features and amenities that won “Best Of” badges.

Connecticut

• Knapp’s Landing Restaurant, Stratford – Inspector’s Best of Scenic View
• Barcelona Wine Bar, Stamford – Inspector’s Best of Beverages
• Viron Rondo Osteria, Cheshire – Inspector’s Best of Value
• Grace Mayflower Inn & Spa, Washington – Inspector’s Best of Spa

Massachusetts

• Elisabeth’s, Fairhaven – Inspector’s Best of Value
• The Port Hunter, Edgartown – Inspector’s Best of Local Hangout
• East Bay Grille, Plymouth – Inspector’s Best of Outdoor Seating
• XV Beacon, Boston – Inspector’s Best of Pet Friendly

New Jersey

• Adega Grill, Newark – Inspector’s Best of Beverages
• Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, Weehawken – Inspector’s Best of Location
• Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, Morristown – Inspector’s Best of Wow Effect
• Archer Hotel Florham Park, Florham Park – Inspector’s Best of Social Scene

New York

• Cittanuova, East Hampton – Inspector’s Best of Outdoor Seating
• Lavo, New York – Inspector’s Best of Entertainment
• Best Western Plus Arena Hotel, Brooklyn – Inspector’s Best of Recreation
• 1 Hotel Central Park, New York – Inspector’s Best of Landscape

AAA Inspector’s Best Of Family-Friendly and Four Diamond Rated Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island describes the value of their AAA accreditation:

Rhode Island

• The Beach House, Bristol – Inspector’s Best of Outdoor Seating
• The Hotel Viking, Newport – Inspector’s Best of Social Scene
• The Weekapaug Inn, Westerly – Inspector’s Best of Family-Friendly
• Gracie’s, Providence – Inspector’s Best of Value

Look for Best Of badges in AAA hotel and restaurant listings. 

What AAA Ratings Mean

AAA has inspected and approved roughly 59,000 Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants. Diamond Ratings evaluate the kinds of experiences different locations offer and highlight their attributes. Essentially, you can use AAA Diamond Ratings to find the best fit for your occasion and budget.

The ratings for hotels and restaurants mean slightly different things. For hotels, Five Diamonds means “Ultimate Luxury,” while a Four Diamond establishment will provide a “Refined” experience. Three Diamonds indicates the lodging is “Distinguished,” and Two Diamonds means “Enhanced.” Lastly, a One Diamond rating means the accommodation is “Budget-Oriented.” For restaurants, a Five Diamonds rating signifies an establishment is “Leading-Edge,” while a Four Diamonds location is “Distinctive.” Three Diamonds restaurants are “Trendy,” and Two Diamond restaurants are more “Casual.” Lastly, One Diamond means an eatery is “Quick-Serve.”

So if you’re looking for a high-end experience where you’ll need reservations well in advance, like for a honeymoon, vacation or other special occasion, you’ll want a location with Four or Five Diamonds. If you’re looking to have a good time on a budget, a one or two Diamond Rated establishment will likely be a better fit. Learn more.

How AAA Ratings Happen

AAA would never recommend subpar eateries or lodgings to members, and so Diamond Rated locations are carefully graded by professionally trained inspectors. They’re industry experts who put the wants, expectations and priorities of AAA members first. Reviews are completely objective to assure honest results.

According to an anonymous AAA Inspector, the Three Diamond rating is the most sought-after. “This is where most properties want to be, as it is seen as the most approachable by the American traveler. They only want Four-to-Five Diamond places for fancy vacations or special occasions.”

With so many AAA Inspected and Approved properties to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to go. Thankfully, the Diamond Rating System is here to help you find exactly what you’re looking for based on your budget, expectations and priorities.

To learn more about AAA Diamonds, this Diamond Rating explainer breaks down the basics. For a behind-the-scenes look at how restaurant ratings are determined, check out our inspector shadow. 

What do you think of the new AAA Inspector “Best Of” badges? What AAA Rated hotel or restaurant would you like to visit?   

Powwows are gatherings that blend ancient and contemporary Native American customs, such as intertribal dances, foods, music and activities, into full-fledged festivals open to the public.

“Today’s powwows have evolved into a contemporary mix of dance, reconnection of family and friends, [a] supermarket of Native goods and arts, and festival,” said Yvonne Wakim Dennis, co-author of “Native American Landmarks and Festivals.” “Powwows are famous for their fanfare of colorful clothing, exhilarating drumming,singing and dance moves which have all been modified into a dazzling and exciting event enjoyed by both Native Americans and visitors. The Powwow is a major cultural activity that not only helps preserve a rich legacy, but illustrates the tenacity and strength of Native cultures that are living and dynamic.”

Powwows are open to the public, but Wakim Dennis reminds spectators to show respect.

“Spectators should enjoy themselves, but remember that for many participants, the powwow is a way of earning money,” she said. “It is also a serious time when participants, who may be marginalized from their own cultures in their daily lives, have the opportunity to connect with their friends, family and heritage.”

Here are just a few of the local powwows happening in the Northeast this summer and fall.

Narragansett Indian Tribes August Meeting Powwow

Aug. 10-11

Charlestown, RI

The Narragansett Indian reservation claims to hold the oldest recorded powwow in North America. The event features traditional Narragansett cuisine, as well as modern American food, various Native jewelry, music, artwork, books and traditional Native American dancing.

Mohegan Wigwam Festival

Aug. 17-18

Uncasville, CT

Each August, the tribe sponsors a free powwow-style event to celebrate the annual Green Corn Festival or Thanksgiving for the corn harvest. Here, the general public is invited to view dance competitions, musical performances, art shows and other special events.

Visitors can learn more about Mohegan culture and traditions including Native American crafts, foods, dancing and drumming. The family-friendly festival is free and open to all.

Medicine River Charity Powwow

Aug. 24-25

Gilbertville, MA

Experience Native American drumming, dancing, teaching, artisanal vendors, a community feast, sunrise ceremonies, children’s activities and nightly cultural wellness meetings at the Medicine River Charity Powwow.

Saturday night includes a pot luck dinner in which guests are invited to bring side dishes, desserts or bread. Other activities include morning sunrise ceremonies, mother’s honor dance and a Saturday night talking circle.

Shinnecock Indian Powwow

Aug. 30-Sept. 2

Southampton, NY

The Shinnecock Indian Powwow is one of the largest Native American gatherings on the East Coast. Each day features competitive and ceremonial dancing, entertainment and prayers. Drum groups and dancers will compete for $50,000 in prize money.

The powwow also plays host to approximately 100 Native American arts, crafts and food vendors from across the Americas. Additionally, Native American representatives provide demonstrations and information to guests.

New to the Hamptons? Here’s your comprehensive guide to the neighborhood.

Labor Day Weekend Powwow

Aug. 30-Sept. 1

Sanbornton, NH

Sponsored by the Laconia Indian Historical Association, this powwow features two days of dancing, drumming, demonstrations, crafts, food and traders. Guests can visit the snack shack for delicious food and drinks, including fry bread stand with wojapi (a thick berry sauce) and other toppings. A mourner’s feast takes place Friday at 7 p.m. and a candlelight vigil will be held at 10 p.m.

Iroquois Indian Festival

Aug. 31-Sept. 1

Howes Cave, NY

The Iroquois Indian Festival, which takes place at the Iroquois Indian Museum, includes an art market exclusively featuring Iroquois artists. Both contemporary and traditional art forms are on display. There will also be a children’s area with art and traditional crafts activities.

The event is highlighted by traditional Iroquois social dances performed by The Sky Dancers from Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. Storyteller Perry Ground of the Onondaga Nation, one of the original nations of the Iroquois, will tell tales of daring feats and astounding adventures.

A wildlife rehabilitator will discuss local wildlife conservation and show a variety of wild animals, including birds of prey. The museum’s archaeology department will give demonstrations of flintknapping and other early technologies. Delectable Native foods will be available from Haudenosaunee food vendors.

Saratoga Native American Festival

Sept. 22

Saratoga Springs, NY

This year’s Saratoga Native American Festival will be held at the historic Congress Park and will include activities in the Saratoga Arts Center and the Canfield Casino. Authentic northeastern Native American Indian drumming and dancing, storytelling, music, crafts, and traditional native foods are just some of the things visitors will find.

The festival includes Native artists and artisan vendors selling their work, including traditional arts and crafts to more modern forms such as beadwork, quillwork, wampum, tufting, silver work, carving in wood, stone, antler and bone, leatherwork, oil painting and clothing. Crafting demonstrations such as basket weaving, jewelry making and carving will take place throughout the day.

Native American vendors will offer a wide variety of foods, ranging from traditional blue corn bread, moose meat and strawberry drink to Navajo tacos and buffalo burgers.

Spending the weekend in Saratoga? Click here for more things to fill up your itinerary. 

Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

Oct. 13-14

Randall’s Island, NY

During this celebration, the Redhawk Native American Arts Council brings together a consortium of 14 indigenous organizations to bring awareness of Indigenous Peoples day, traditionally celebrated as Columbus Day. All are welcome to enjoy music, song, spoken word, artists and a guest speaker.

The Redhawk Native American Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization founded and maintained by Native American artists and educators living in the New York City area.

Have you ever been to a powwow? What was the experience like? Let us know in the comments below.

The first of many decisions that you will have to make when planning a theme park vacation is choosing where to go. With so many incredible parks and resorts along the East Coast and just a short plane ride away in Orlando, some might say it is the hardest part. And that’s just the beginning.

Then there’s picking a place to stay, making sure you get reservations at the restaurants you want to visit and more. We know there is a ton to think about, but it’s nothing you can’t handle with a bit of thoughtful organization. It will all be worth it when you’re off having the time of your life.

Picking the Right Theme Park

Your first step will be to choose the perfect theme park for your family. Your decision will be based on a number of factors, including distance, cost, and the ages and interests of your kids.

Distance: The theme park you choose may depend largely on where you live and how much time you have to travel. We all know that Florida and California have the most variety, but almost every state in America has a theme park or two. You have plenty of options, no matter where you live, but remember that the farther your destination, the more time and money you’ll spend to get there.

Cost: Ticket prices vary from park to park, but you should be prepared to spend anywhere from $35 to $100 per person for a one-day ticket. If you’re a AAA member, you can save on admission to many parks when you buy tickets in advance at any AAA branch or at AAA.com. Be aware of extra costs like parking, concessions and access to special attractions. The cost of your flights, car rental, gas, lodging and food all add up. Be sure to do your research and create a budget long before your trip. And make sure to use your AAA discounts on hotels, resorts, airfare and rental cars, too.

Ages and interests of your kids.  A large part of deciding which theme park to visit will depend on your kids. Are they old enough to enjoy a theme park vacation? What are their interests? Many of the largest and most famous theme parks focus on the characters your kids have seen on TV and in movies, but there are also parks based on wild animals, popular toys and distant lands.

You can take a successful theme park vacation with kids of all ages, but perhaps the best time to bring them is when they are between ages 4 and 12. A 4-year-old will be able to walk by himself for part of the day and 12-year-olds still believe in the magic and excitement that a theme park provides.

Choosing a Place to Stay 

Once you’ve selected a theme park or two, you can start hashing out the other details. Most parks provide a wealth of lodging options, from budget hotels to upscale resorts. On-site lodging will help you save on transportation costs, spend more time in the park and possibly even skip ahead in lines. While this option is often more expensive, the added perks can make them worth the splurge.

Most standard-size hotel rooms are suitable for four people. Larger families will need to look for a larger suite of rooms. Suites come equipped with separate sleeping quarters and a kitchen, so guests can make their own meals. If you don’t reserve a room with a kitchen, be sure to find a resort or hotel that has an on-site restaurant. And remember, you can call AAA Travel or stop in at any AAA branch to meet with a AAA travel agent. These industry experts can help you plan and book nearly every aspect of your trip at a discounted price.

Planning Your Meals

Theme park restaurants can be a circus of long lines, tired children and crowded tables. The last thing you want from your vacation is a meltdown at every meal, so it’s important to prepare well in advance. Here are some tips to take the stress out of mealtimes.

Eat a healthy breakfast at your hotel. Breakfast may just be your most sane meal of the day, so make it count. If you’ve got a kitchen in your room, prepare breakfast yourself and take this time to relax a bit before heading out. Otherwise, take advantage of your hotel’s on-site restaurant to fill yourself and your kiddos up with a nourishing meal before heading to the park.

Pack snacks and water. Most theme parks won’t allow you to bring in full meals or coolers, but snacks are usually allowed, and they can be a lifesaver if your kids become grouchy while you’re standing in line. Stash granola bars, fresh fruit and trail mix in your backpack for emergencies.

Make reservations well ahead of time: Did you know that many theme park restaurants allow you to make reservations months in advance? It’s true, and if you build the rest of your day around meals, you can minimize meltdowns from tired, hungry kids. Make your reservations during off-hours to avoid crowds. If you can do lunch at 11 a.m. and dinner at 4 p.m., you will have more time to relax and even a little peace and quiet when you sit down to eat.

Follow these tips to make sure your theme park vacation is one your family will remember for all the right reasons. Take a little time to do some research and plan ahead and you will see nothing but smiles (hopefully!) when vacation time rolls around.

Plan a theme park vacation with AAA and save.

If you’re just passing through, Watkins Glen, N.Y., might seem like a blink-and-you-miss-it place. The village in the Finger Lakes region is only 2 square miles with a year-round population of about 2,000. Its downtown area, just a few blocks around Franklin Street (NY Route 14), is quaint, yet nondescript, with two-story brick buildings circa 1840-1940. Today, they house small retail shops and eateries.

On the surface, Watkins Glen might seem like an ordinary, unhurried, somewhat-rural community. In truth, it is a pacesetter.

Note: Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 crisis, please see official websites before visiting to check for restrictions or closures.

Watkins Glen Racing

For racing fans, Watkins Glen International is high-revvin’ heaven. In fact, the history of car racing in these parts predates the raceway. Organized street racing started in Watkins Glen in 1948. The first track was a route through and around the village on twisting, turning, hilly roads – some paved, some not.

Today, visitors can still drive the original 6.6-mile grand prix race course used from 1948 to 1952. Maps are available at many locations including the racetrack, the visitors center downtown and the chamber of commerce website. I got mine from the front desk of the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, along with insight from the knowledgeable staff. Commemorative signs mark the road route, but so do speed-limit signs, mostly in the 25-mph range.

“Drive the Glen” at Watkins Glen International might be more your speed. On various occasions during the race season, April through October, visitors can experience the thrill of maneuvering the 3.4-mile road track for a couple of laps in their own vehicles. I was there in the off-season, so I didn’t have the opportunity, which was especially disappointing because I happened to be driving a rented Dodge Charger for my road trip. Anyway, the rules say you can’t push it beyond 55 mph or pass other vehicles, “especially the pace car.” I watched some racers taking impressive practice runs over the hills and curves of the track.

Watkins Glen cherishes its place in racing history. To learn more, you can make a pit stop at the International Motor Racing Research Center.

Finger Lakes Wine Country

Car racing isn’t the only circuit in town. There’s another loop through Watkins Glen, N.Y., for wine enthusiasts. Watkins Glen has been dubbed “the Gateway to the Finger Lakes,” the largest wine-producing area in New York state. More than 100 vineyards operate in the region that encompasses 9,000 square miles. Most are in the vicinity of Cayuga, Keuka and Seneca lakes.

Situated on the south shore of Seneca Lake, Watkins Glen is on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, which includes about 30 participating vineyards and wineries. Many of the wineries offer tastings and tours. Some world-class wines have been produced in the area. The slopes surrounding Seneca Lake are said to be particularly good for growing grapes. They also make for an attractive setting for sipping and gazing across the neat rows of vines toward the lake.

Needless to say, wine tastings and driving are a dangerous pairing, so it’s important to have a designated sober driver. Another option is to hire a transportation company. At Lakewood Vineyards, I met some women from Long Island on a group tour of the wine trail. They were traveling without worry on motorcoach. Their biggest dilemma was getting the wine they had purchased home. They had cases of their favorites that could only be bought in the area.

Take a Road Trip to the Finger Lakes.

Watkins Glen State Park

You’ll find tranquility in abundance at Watkins Glen State Park. The Gorge Trail is a must for any able-bodied visitor. It follows Glen Creek alongside – and sometimes under – its 19 waterfalls, past swirling pools and around and through water-sculpted rocks. Behind each turn in the path, beyond each water-carved tunnel, above every uphill climb is another brilliant view from every perspective – even if you are surrounded by crowds at this popular natural attraction.

I was lucky to avoid crowds on my visit to the gorge. We enjoyed a guided tour in the rain armed with ponchos and umbrellas provided by the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. The soft but soaking showers enhanced the beautiful surroundings. The creek ran a little higher and faster through its turning, dropping passageway and the vegetation along the banks released large drops from its shiny water-drenched foliage into the water below.

Speaking of foliage: In mid-fall, when summer crowds subside, the hills surrounding Watkins Glen turn to vibrant shades of red, yellow and orange. The colors encircle the village and highlight picture-perfect scenes of farmhouses, croplands, barns and animals in the distance.

Please note that the Gorge Trail closes at the first sign of frost in fall and will stay closed until it is deemed completely safe from ice.

Family-Friendly Farming

For families, there are a number of opportunities for outdoor activities. At Farm Sanctuary, a 300-acre shelter, you can interact with rescued farm animals and hear their stories. At Reisinger’s Apple Country, you can have a pick-your-own adventure. You’ll get to try the latest hybrid created by Cornell University’s apple-breeding program, like the SnapDragon, a trademarked mix with a Honeycrisp and an undisclosed apple variety. Whatever the other parent is, it helps make for a wonderfully sweet and crunchy snack. The Reisingers are test growers for Cornell’s new creations, which actually take about 10 years to perfect. There are pears, peaches and seasonal vegetables, too. Kids might get a kick out of the giant Adirondack chair. It’s also a fun growth-measuring stick for generations of Reisinger’s visitors.

Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel

Some of the most spectacular views are from the AAA Four Diamond Rated Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. Tucked behind the village’s main strip, it sits overlooking Seneca Lake. The hotel is a central location for visitors to explore the area with ease. Step out the main entrance for a leisurely stroll through the downtown neighborhood. Head out to the Watkins Glen State Park Gorge Trail, which is about a half-mile south on Franklin Street. Book now.

Just a few miles to the north, you’ll come upon some of the most notable vineyards in Finger Lakes Wine Country. The Corning Museum of Glass is about 20 miles south.

A hub for travelers and locals alike, the large back patio at Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel is a casual, comfortable and enjoyable place to hang out whether you’re dining at the handsome umbrella-topped, wrought-iron tables, relaxing in an Adirondack chair or gathered around one of the gas-lit firepits. There’s often musical entertainment and seasonal activities, as well.

The Harbor Hotel shows pride its in community with a collection of local flavor. The restaurant pays homage to local products like melt-in-your-mouth cheeses, fresh produce and a good selection of Finger Lakes wines. The hotel decor reflects the community’s most notable characteristics: The walls are lined with photographs of orchards, vineyards, boating on Seneca Lake and spectacular images of Watkins Glen State Park and awe-inspiring vantage points of the Gorge Trail.

The Harbor Hotel staff members show genuine hospitality. They are unobtrusive and maintain a laid-back vibe while still attending to every detail of a guest’s stay. There’s an around-the-clock concierge, but you can also get local insight and insider tips from the many of the staff members who grew up in the area. After a steep winding climb up the Watkins Glen State Park Gorge Trail, I was impressed when a Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel staff member told me that she used to run the course to train for high school track.

The highlights of my stay were in the early morning and evening. In the morning, a beverage station is set up at the central elevator area of each floor. Coffee, tea, hot cocoa and more are available in whatever quantity you find necessary to start your day. Rather than fiddling with a coffee maker in my room, spilling sweetener and powdered creamer (never enough for me), I could stumble down the hall and return with a perfectly brewed, hot mug of coffee with real cream and any sweetener I preferred.

Every evening, I found a mouth-watering chocolate bar on my pillow. Even when we turned down turndown service, I was given a handful of chocolates. They sure knew how to put a smile on my face.

Have you ever been to Watkins Glen, N.Y.? Share your trip highlights in the comments. 

More than 30 million Americans wear contact lenses regularly. With contacts providing more natural eyesight than eyeglasses, being safer for performance sports and physical activities and having no chance of fogging up in sudden temperature changes, it’s easy to see why they’re so popular.

But according to the U.S Food and Drug Administration, 90% of contact lens wearers do not take proper care of their lenses, which can lead to eye problems such as irritation, blurry vision or infections.

Follow this advice to make sure that your eyes and lenses continue to perform their best.

Keep in Contact With Your Eye Doctor

Your eye doctor is the key to your contact lens care and making sure they work with your lifestyle. Get your eyes checked regularly to keep your prescription accurate. (AAA members can get 30% off eye exams at participating LensCrafters locations.)

Be sure to follow all the guidelines set by your eye doctor and the contact lens manufacturer. This includes wearing times, replacement schedules and cleaning instructions.

How Keep Your Contact Lens Clean

Your contact lenses help you to see the world around you, so you want them to be as clean as possible. There are a few things to keep in mind when cleaning your lenses.

Wash and dry your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water. If you’re wondering how big of a difference this simple step can make, try this experiment: Place unwashed fingers on a piece of clear tape; whatever sticks to the tape is what you would be putting on the lens – and in your eye!

Don’t clean your lenses with water. You might be tempted to throw the lenses under the faucet but tap water may contain microorganisms that can seep onto the lens and cause an eye infection. To clean your lenses, use disinfecting solution and rub the lenses with your clean fingers to get rid of any residue and surface build-up. If you have reusable lenses, you should use the solution to clean your lens case as well. And while we’re talking about water, take your lenses out before swimming in a pool or hot tub or taking a shower. Even though contact lenses do not fog up like eyeglasses do, the exposure to water can do more harm to the lenses than good.

Your lenses aren’t lollipops. If your contacts are feeling a little dry, avoid the temptation to dab them with saliva. Your mouth is full of bacteria, so doing this is not a safe idea.

Keep them fresh. The solution you use to soak your contact lens in should always be completely fresh. Make sure that you do not mix older solution with new as the mixture will lose the amount of disinfectant it needs to kill off organisms.

Change it up. If you keep using the same case for your contact lenses, dirt and other irritants will linger and build up and stick to them, causing all sorts of eye problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend changing your case about once every three months.

Put them in, then look good. Be sure you put the lenses in before putting on makeup. Not only will your mascara and eye liner look more even, but doing so will reduce the risk of makeup-based irritants sticking to the lenses.

Contact Lens First-Aid Tips

Contact lenses are a more comfortable option than glasses for many, but there are also risks. Should you run into these situations, here’s what you should do.

Contact lens stuck in your eye? First and foremost, wash your hands. Then, determine the location of the contact lens. If it’s centered on the cornea, rinse the eye with saline, contact solution or eyedrops, then close the eye and massage the lid until the contact moves. Rinse and repeat as needed. Is the lens somewhere else in your eye? Move your eye in the opposite direction and gently massage the eyelid or blink to move it to the center.

Contact lens torn? Having a torn contact lens is more than just a minor inconvenience – it is a hazard to your eyes.  A torn lens can scratch the cornea, which can lead to infections and other eye problems. If the lens is torn, remove immediately and get a fresh pair. Always have backup lenses or glasses handy.

Violent stinging or burning sensation? This could be a result of many factors, from allergens to dry eyes. Use lubricating eye drops or switch to a preservative-free contact lens cleanser until you can see your eye doctor.

Give Your Eyes and Contacts A Break

Lastly, when getting ready for bed, remember to take out your contacts. Per the CDC, at least half of all Americans who wear contact lenses sleep or nap with them in. Doing so, however, can lead to infection, redness and soreness of the eyes. You wouldn’t wear your eyeglasses or sunglasses while you sleep, so do the same with your contacts.

AAA members can save 10% off on contact lenses with LensCrafters.

When we’re traveling, we think about the sights we’ll see, the things we’ll do, the food we’ll eat. But we should also think about the air we’ll breathe. In some places around the U.S. and the world, pollution in the air can be harmful.

“We are talking some serious health effects,” said Janice Nolen, assistant vice president of national policy at the American Lung Association. “We’re talking about increased risk of premature death. We’re talking about heart attacks. We’re talking about asthma attacks. We’re talking about needing to go to the hospital, not being able to breathe. Even healthy adults who are exposed during a period of unhealthy air quality can be affected.”

You can find air quality forecasts for U.S. destinations online at airnow.gov, which also has links to forecasts from U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, and international air quality sites.

If you’re traveling someplace with unhealthy air quality and you have an underlying health condition such as asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease or diabetes, visit your doctor before your trip to discuss what medications you might need to bring with you. Others at special risk from exposure to air pollution include people over age 65, pregnant women (because of risk to the baby) and children, whose lungs are still developing.

“Even healthy children need to be protected,” Nolen said.

Pollutants in the air can include particulate matter from industrial or auto exhaust, wildfire smoke and harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone.

The best way to protect yourself is to stay indoors as much as possible when the air is unhealthy. Keep windows and doors closed and if you have a heating/air conditioning system, set it to recirculate.

If you must be outdoors, an N95 face mask can be helpful, but offers limited protection.

“They don’t protect against gases, so they’re not going to help you with ozone, they’re not going to help you with sulfur dioxide, they’re not going to help you with carbon monoxide,” Nolen said.

In order to work, face masks must fit snugly. Because of this, they won’t properly fit children, many women or men with beards. Because they are meant only for single use, you’ll need one for each day.

“Don’t look at them as a solution,” Nolen said. “Look at them as a temporary help in an emergency situation.”

Careful planning will help you breathe easier – and more safely – wherever you roam.

To read more articles about travel-related health topics, visit AAA.com/LiveWell.

Sharks are everywhere and they’ve been here forever. Sharks have been swimming in the oceans since Pangea and there are currently over 400 different species of them. But for a fish that’s been around for so long, sharks are pretty misunderstood. In the United States, more people get struck by lightning than attacked by sharks. One of the best ways to learn more about our neighbors of the deep is by visiting a local aquarium. And if you’re feeling really curious, some aquariums even offer shark diving programs. Are you ready to take a little dip?

One of the best aquarium shark diving experiences can be found at the Long Island Aquarium, in their 120,000-gallon Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit. At the Long Island Aquarium shark dive, you descend into the exhibit in a cage. Here you’ll come face-to-face with four sand tiger sharks, four nurse sharks and two wobbegong sharks, as well as the fish that share their habitat.

Save on tickets to the Long Island Aquarium with your AAA membership card.

“This experience is perfect for someone looking to get over a fear of sharks, because you are very safe,” said Darlene Puntillo, the Long Island Aquarium’s marketing director. “You’re in a steel cage with an experienced dive master and an educational tender outside the cage.”

Whether sharks scare you or not, you’re sure to learn a lot on your dive. Included in the dive is a tour of the Lost City of Atlantis habitat, as well as a Q&A with the in-house shark experts.

“Getting that close to an animal you otherwise wouldn’t helps people feel a connection to that animal,” Puntillo said. “You can’t leave this adventure without appreciating sharks and wanting to be with them or learn even more about them. They are amazing animals!”

If you can’t make it to the Long Island Aquarium, you could head to Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey. Adventure Aquarium offers educational programs with a variety of marine wildlife, including sharks. In Shark Realm, you can don a wetsuit and snorkel and get right in the water. You’ll come within inches of sand tiger sharks and sandbar sharks. You’ll also get the chance to swim with and feed the aquarium’s stingrays in the Stingray Lagoon.

Adventure Aquarium is full of great shark exhibits even for people who don’t want to get in the water with them. You can interact with little bamboo sharks at the Touch a Shark exhibit and walk through a giant Shark Tunnel (home to over 20 sharks). You can even make your way across Shark Bridge, a V-shaped rope suspension bridge that passes over a shark tank.

Do you have a younger shark fan in your house? Many nearby aquariums offer touch tank experiences, where children can interact with small rays and sharks. Mystic Aquarium and The Maritime Aquarium both offer this type of experience. The New England Aquarium’s shark and ray touch tank houses even larger marine life, like cownose rays, Atlantic rays and epaulette sharks.

If you’re willing to travel for sharks, there are a few other aquariums around the U.S. that offer shark diving programs. Most notable are the Florida Aquarium and the Georgia Aquarium.

At the Florida Aquarium, you can take a surface snorkel among stingrays, barracudas, a sea turtles, nurse sharks and sand tiger sharks. A dive master will be with you at all times to guide you through the experience.

“Part of the experience is learning about sharks and how they impact our waterways,” said Sandra Morrison, the Florida Aquarium’s director of communications. “We limit the number of guests and staff that go in the habitats to ensure we do not negatively impact the animals.”

If you’re a certified scuba diver, you can go even deeper at the Florida Aquarium. With a dive master at your side, you will plunge into the tank to get a close-up and personal look at the sharks. You don’t need to bring your own scuba gear, the aquarium will provide it for you. Just make sure you have your certification!

At the Georgia Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world, you can take their Journey with Gentle Giants swim. Journey with Gentle Giants is an experience where you can snorkel or scuba dive (again, as long as you’re certified) with a variety of marine life, including manta rays and whale sharks. The swim takes place in the Ocean Voyager exhibit, which contains 6.3 million gallons of water. In addition to whale sharks and manta rays, you could see zebra sharks, sawfish, leopard whiprays, bowmouth guitarfish, humphead wrasses and many other types of fish. The Journey with Gentle Giants swim is actually the only program in the world that allows guests to swim with whale sharks, the largest-known living fish species.

If you want to get closer to our toothy ocean friends, then shark diving is definitely for you. And at these aquariums, every week is shark week.

Would you ever go shark diving? Have you done it before? Tell us in the comments! 

For the germ-conscious, the mindset upon entering a hotel room walks a fine line between the pampered world of room service and freshly made beds (gratefully made by someone else), and thoughts that could have you reaching for the hand sanitizer.

Microbiologist Philip Tierno, a clinical professor at New York University School of Medicine, assures that there’s nothing to fear. Once you know what to look for, your hotel room will be as tidy as home sweet home.

First things first – wash your hands. Tierno suggests giving your mitts a good scrub as soon as you arrive in your room to get rid of any germs you picked up during your travels.

Address germ hot spots such as doorknobs, telephones, tabletops and light switches by going over them with an antibacterial wipe and letting them air dry. “I usually bring a plastic bag to cover the TV remote,” said Tierno. In the bathroom, go over the counter, faucets, toilet lever and toilet seat.

Wash reusable glasses, ice buckets or coffee makers in your room before using them. You can use disposable cups and the plastic liner provided for the ice bucket.

As an extra precaution, you may also want to remove the bedspread or comforter. And if the hotel doesn’t use hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers, ask for an extra fitted sheet and pillowcases and double up.

When it’s time to freshen up, Tierno says you’re better off with a shower than a bath, which can harbor germs that are not easily removed. In a shower, only the bottoms of your feet are exposed.

Whenever you take off your shoes, he suggests protecting your feet with hotel slippers or a pair you bring from home. “I would not walk around barefoot.”

Even at the ritziest hotels, hundreds of people have probably stayed in the same room. The key is not to overthink things. Unless it is visibly unclean, relax, settle in and use these strategies to keep your space hygienic and maintain peak health during and after your trip.

AAA Diamond Ratings make finding quality hotels easy. Hotels are inspected and rated based on high standards, including cleanliness and comfort.

For more information, visit AAA.com/Diamonds.

Walt Disney World is a huge organism, filled with thousands of cast members from around the world. After their time at Disney, some of those cast members wind up making magic at AAA. I am one of those former cast members (a veteran of Toy Story Mania, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-A-Long Celebration and the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks). Recently, I had the pleasure of talking to Stacey Crowley, a travel sales manager at AAA Northeast who spent her early career working for the mouse.

Stacey and I were both part of the Disney College Program, which offers internships at Disney parks to college students. Many cast members start with the program, then stay on at Disney for years. Here, Stacey and I talk about getting your foot in the door, behind-the-scenes magic, upcoming attractions and other Disney insider tips for your vacation.

The following interview is edited for clarity. 

Sarah: What were your roles at Disney?

Stacey: When I started, I did my college program at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom.

[The Emporium is a mammoth-sized souvenir shop that stretches all the way down Main Street, USA. To say the least, it gets a lot of foot traffic.]

Sarah: Oh boy.

Stacey: Yeah, that was great. Let me tell you. After that, I was on the opening team for FastPass+ [Walt Disney World’s former FastPass system]. I wrote the training manuals and integrated FastPass+ into attractions. Then I went over into entertainment. I was a performer for a while, and then I was a character attendant and then I eventually was a trainer and a captain for shows and parades. So it was good! It was a lot of stuff.

Sarah: How did you decide to do the college program?

Stacey: Well, my plan was not to go to college after high school, but part of the rule for being in the program was that you had to do at least one semester of college. So I literally went to college for one semester just so I could do the college program.

Sarah: That’s so funny!

Stacey: I was like, “Listen, if this is what gets me in, I’m there.” It’s been my dream since I was probably 3 years old to work for Disney. My family used to go to Disney World literally all the time. There was one time when I was 4, and I had just met Mickey. My dad pointed his camera at me and said, “Hey, what did you think? How was that?” and I turned around and I said, “Dad, I’m gonna be Mickey Mouse one day!” And then fast forward 20 years later and that’s what I did.

Sarah: That’s amazing.

Stacey: So you were in attractions, right? You did Toy?

Sarah: Yeah, I did Toy Story Mania at the time when it was the most popular ride in the world. So we were all, like, insane when we worked there. It was a lot of pressure, having to put all those people through the ride every day. And it was pretty safety-intensive, we were all eagle-eyed for people leaning on railings or getting too close to the tracks. But I liked working at Hollywood Studios. What’s your favorite park?

Stacey: It depends on the day. Animal Kingdom is probably my favorite overall, if I had to pick. I’m obsessed with animals and conservation and I actually foster an elephant at a sanctuary in Kenya. But Hollywood Studios has to get an honorable mention.

Sarah: Are you excited about the new “Star Wars” land that’s coming in?

Stacey: Oh yeah, I have six brothers, so I had no choice but to like “Star Wars”. I think it’s gonna bring a lot more to that park. And I think that park needs a little more love. And it’s so immersive. It’s going to bring a lot to Disney. Are you a “Star Wars” fan?

Sarah: I am, yeah. I mean, I got to be way more of a “Star Wars” fan working at Hollywood Studios than I ever was before. Because they were just starting to push all the “Star Wars” stuff, and I got a “Star Wars” name tag that said I was from Alderaan, which was very special.

Stacey: That’s like the best thing ever.

Sarah: What’s your favorite Disney insider tip to give people who are visiting Disney World for the first time?

Stacey: Don’t be afraid of the pre-planning. It seems overwhelming, but it really takes away so much of the worry and the stress while you’re in the park. Another tip is to take advantage of the restaurants that are inside the parks. Magic Kingdom is a great example. If you can get breakfast at Be Our Guest, they start seating people an hour before the park opens. So you can go in and get pictures in front of the castle without anybody else there. You eat breakfast and then you’re literally right there in front of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. And you’re the first on line.

Sarah: So what was your experience in entertainment like? I’m really curious.

Stacey: It was very challenging. I mean, I danced my entire life. I danced for 23 years – ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, but it didn’t prepare me for what it would be like. There’s nothing in the world to describe what it’s like to have a little kid come up and hug Mickey Mouse. You’re seeing it from the inside, and you feel the emotion when they give the hug. You know? We had this one little boy at the Incredibles Dance Party in Magic Kingdom. He had a wheelchair, and I think he was there for three weeks. But every day, he came to dance with Frozone and the Incredibles. That’s the only time he would get out of his wheelchair, to try and show off his dance moves.

Sarah: When, in your opinion, is the best time of year to visit Walt Disney World?

Stacey: People looking for less crowds should go the first two weeks of January, after New Year’s Day. The week after Labor Day is also usually a little quiet because everybody is going back to school. But if you’re looking for best overall time, meaning less crowds and more activities, I would highly recommend September. You get Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you get the Food and Wine festival, there’s just more happening around that time.

Sarah: What do you think about the new fireworks show, Happily Ever After?

Stacey: I love it a lot. But I mean, I loved Wishes [the previous Magic Kingdom fireworks show]. When I worked at the Emporium, my team and I got selected to run “Project E” which was where we got the chance to manage a team of CPs to redesign the store to what it looks like now. We did all the windows and stuff. I had just turned 18, I had no experience, it was crazy that they trusted me to do something like that. At the end of our college program, the manager took us to the roof of the Emporium to watch Wishes.

Sarah: Oh my gosh!

Stacey: I know! Every time I think about it, I could cry. It was amazing. I’m very partial to Wishes, but the new one … the projections and everything about it. How could you not love a fireworks show that Disney does? I’m really happy that we have a focus on Disney at AAA. There’s nothing like having AAA to back you up, and to have all the experts in your corner. I’m not the only one on the team who used to work for Disney, or who has this level of appreciation. It’s a smart choice.

Sarah: Yeah, there’s a lot of cross-pollination between Disney and AAA.

Stacey: It’s kind of funny, right? That’s a good way to put it.

Do you have a favorite Disney World story? Share it in the comments below!

Plan, book and save on your next Disney vacation with AAA. 

Food challenges sound simple enough: Eat a bunch of food in a certain amount of time and be rewarded for it. But anybody who has failed to conquer a food challenge knows that your eyes often can be bigger than your stomach.

Thanks to the television show “Man v. Food,” food challenges have gained an extraordinary amount of attention and restaurants are using this opportunity to beef up the stakes for those who dare to try them.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the top food challenges in the Northeast based on the following criteria:

• Difficulty (as in, you have to mentally prepare for these);
• Amount of time; and
• Rewards.

Connecticut

Cheese Truck Challenge
The Cheese Truck
New Haven

If you love grilled cheese sandwiches and happen to see the Cheese Truck driving around the New Haven area, you might be tempted to try the Cheese Truck Challenge. Eat 10 grilled cheese sandwiches with at least one topping of choice and you’ll get a free sandwich every week for a year and a sandwich named after you. Because nothing says sweet victory like a sandwich bearing your name.

Massachusetts

Eagle’s Challenge
Eagle’s Deli and Restaurant
1918 Beacon St., Brighton
Time limit: 1 hour

Do you like burgers? What about super-big burgers? Take on the Eagle’s Challenge! This monstrous burger is 5 pounds of beef – almost 10 patties – 20 slices of bacon and 20 slices of American cheese between a large bun. Plus, it comes with 5 pounds of fries, a deli pickle and a fountain soda of your choice. If you manage to finish, you’ll get a full refund and a $100 gift card.

New Hampshire

The Feedbag Shovel
KC’s Rib Shack
837 Second St., Manchester
Time limit: 30 minutes

Calling all BBQ lovers: KC’s Rib Shack is offering the ultimate Northeast BBQ test with its Feedbag Shovel. There’s so much food – 6 pounds, to be precise – that it comes served in a shovel. Don’t tackle this one alone – you’ll need at least three or four friends to finish it all.

It holds a full rack of ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked sausage and pulled chicken. But that’s not all. There’s also a half pound of baked beans and coleslaw, plus two pieces of cornbread.

If successful, you and your friends will get the meal free, some nifty T-shirts and your group’s picture on the KC’s Rib Shack hall of fame. Check out this cool video from NESN’s “Wicked Bites” to see what exactly what that shovel looks like.

The Grand Poutine Challenge
Chez Vachon
136 Kelley St., Manchester
Time limit: 1 hour

If you just can’t get enough poutine, how does a five-pound tray sound? Finish this gravy-and-cheese-curd French fry tray and your photo will be added to the wall of winners. This challenge is available only before 1 p.m.

New Jersey

The Eighth Wonder Challenge
Clinton Station Diner
2 Bank St., Clinton
Time limit: 1 hour

The largest of several food challenges at Clinton Station Diner, the Eighth Wonder is no joke. This burger weighs a whopping 105 pounds, stands at almost a foot tall and you’ll need the help of nine other people to finish it. As a reward for conquering this massive burger, you and your team will get $2,000 in cash. So far, no one has been successful.

New York City

Phaal Curry Challenge
Brick Lane
99 Second Ave., New York
Time limit: One sitting

This food challenge is so intense, you have to declare prior to the challenge that Brick Lane “is not liable for any physical or emotional damage after consumption.” Even the chef has to wear a gas mask to prepare it. The goal is to finish a dish of hot curry made with nine different peppers with your choice of chicken, lamb, goat, fish, shrimp, paneer, tofu or veggies in one sitting. Finish it and you’ll get a bottle of beer, a certificate of completion proclaiming “extraordinary courage (and rather dubious judgement),” the title of Phaal Curry Monster and a picture on the online P’hall of Fame.

Supersize Mi Challenge
Mi Noodle Bar
391 Second Ave., New York
Time limit: 90 minutes

Fans of pho noodles will want to give this food challenge a try. You must consume 3 pounds of meat and 3 pounds of noodles, which may or may not include broth. Prizes include a free meal, $100 gift voucher, inclusion in the wall of fame and one free appetizer for future dine-ins “pho life.”

Lunchbox
1612  Forest Ave., Staten Island

The Lunchbox offers three very different food challenges, with free meals and T-shirts at stake. If you want to try any or all three, you must sign up online by filling out the form here. You also have to sign a waiver.

Motherload Sloppy Joe Challenge
Time limit: 30 minutes

Better have loads of napkins or even a bib ready for this one. The Motherload Sloppy Joe challenge consists of 8 pounds of sloppy Joe in a 16-inch Kaiser roll, 1 pound of melted cheddar cheese and a quarter-pound of diced onions with your choice of a 24-ounce beverage. Two people can take this challenge but they must each use only one utensil and finish the sloppy Joe in 30 minutes.

151
Time limit: 20 minutes

The 151 is an ultra-thick chocolate, strawberry or vanilla milkshake that’s served in two portions – one huge 150-ounce glass with a 1-ounce shot glass “chaser.” It’s topped with whipped cream and you must use a spoon or a straw to finish.

Death Wish
Time limit: 10 minutes

With a name like Death Wish, you know this food challenge isn’t for the faint of heart. You have to eat six buffalo wings mixed with chipotle chillies and the Hellraiser habanero ghost chili extract – considered the hottest in the world – within 10 minutes. You can’t use any utensils or napkins and you’re not allowed to drink anything until 10 minutes after you’ve eaten the last wing.

New York – Long Island

Kitchen Sink Sundae Challenge
Krisch’s
11 Central Ave., Massapequa
Time limit: 1 hour or less

Can’t get enough ice cream? This challenge involves 10 scoops and any three toppings that can’t be placed on the side; that’s 6 pounds in all! Finish all of it and get your picture on the wall of fame, a T-shirt and free ice cream. And yes, it actually comes served in a kitchen sink.

5-Pound Barbecue Challenge 
Swingbelly’s Beachside BBQ
909 W. Beech St., Long Beach
Time limit: 1 hour

This intense Long Island barbecue challenge includes a full slab of St. Louis ribs, a quarter pound of pulled pork on Texas Toast, a quarter pound of brisket also on Texas Toast, four Swingz (monster chicken wings), three rib tips, two sides and two pieces of cornbread. Finish this barbecue frenzy within an hour and earn a free meal, an official Porker T-shirt and your picture on the wall of fame.

New York – Upstate

The Colossal Pancake Challenge
The Ugly Rooster
312 N. Third Ave., Mechanicville
Time limit: 20 minutes

If breakfast food is more of your thing, try the Colossal Pancake challenge. This challenge features two 8-by-12-inch pancakes slathered in whipped butter, whipped cream, syrup and your choice of fruit or eight eggs. The prize for conquering one of the heartier food challenges is an Ugly Rooster T-shirt, your picture on the wall of fame and a free meal. Of the 250 customers who have tried it, only one has succeeded.

The Magnum Pizza Challenge
Chick-N-Pizza Works
2940 Union Road, Cheektowaga
129 Abbot Road, Buffalo
Time limit: 1 hour

Two people are required for one of the more intense food challenges in the upstate region. For this challenge, the team has to eat a pizza pie that weighs over 13 pounds and is 29 inches in diameter – the size of a wagon wheel. Competitors can’t take bathroom breaks and outside help is not allowed. But they can have unlimited soft drinks. If you conquer this challenge, you and your teammate can get two $25 gift cards and free pizza. Out of all the hundreds of customers who have attempted the challenge, only four have won.

Pennsylvania

Moby Dick Sandwich Challenge
Lucky Louie’s
8238 Perry Highway, Erie
Time limit: 1 hour

Eat through 2 pounds of Smith’s garlic-ring bologna, pierogi, sauerkraut, chili, cheese, grilled onions, bacon, fried eggs, cream cheese, ketchup, Greek sauce and Frank’s RedHot Sauce (7 pounds in all) within one hour and not only will you get a free meal but you’ll also get a free T-shirt and your picture – or “Fat Head” – on the wall of fame, as well as $100 in cash.

Belly Buster Challenge
The Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub
1452 Woodland Road, Clearfield
Time limit: 4 hours

You’ll need the help of a buddy with this barrel of a food challenge. In four hours, you’ll have to finish a 20-pound burger with a huge beef patty that’s loaded with cheese and veggies, served on a huge and dense homemade bun. This challenge takes so much preparation, reservations must be made at least three days in advance. Should you conquer one of the heftier food challenges, you’ll receive a free meal, free T-shirts for you and your friend, $400 in cash, your picture on the wall of fame and a certificate of completion.

Dog House Challenge
Ale Mary’s at the Bittenbender
126 Franklin Ave., Scranton
Time limit: 1 hour

One of the most dogged of food challenges, the Dog House Challenge requires you to eat three foot-long hot dogs within one hour. Specifically, you have to eat the following:

• The Notorious P.I.G. – a 12-inch all-beef, bacon-wrapped dog with pulled pork and Monterey Jack cheese
• The Snoop Dog – a 12-inch all-beef hot dog with short-rib chili, malt-liquor mustard and corn chips
• The Craig Mac – a 12-inch all-beef, bacon-wrapped dog with Gouda macaroni and cheese

Eat all three and get a free meal, a $25 Ale Mary’s gift card and 1-cent select drafts for the rest of the day.

Rhode Island

Kennel Club Challenge
Spike’s Junkyard Dogs
485 Branch Ave., Providence / 640 Reservoir Ave., Cranston / 1623 Warwick Ave., Warwick
Time limit: 90 minutes

This straightforward food challenge calls on the challenger to finish six large plain hot dogs, including the homemade buns. Toppings such as ketchup, relish and mustard are optional. If you manage to finish all six, you’ll get a free T-shirt and your picture on the wall of fame. Beat the store record and your meal is free. As of Sept. 18, 2018, the record is 25 hot dogs for men and 12 for women. This challenge is also available at the Allston, MA., location.

Know of any intense food challenges in the area we missed? Let us know in the comments.

To be honest, it’s fairly thrilling to roll into Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone. Having ridden north from Kiev in a minibus over a two-lane road, we arrive at a checkpoint.

Authorities examine our passports, then admit us into an area that encompasses some 1,000 square miles, set 30 miles away from Chernobyl Power Plant’s destroyed reactor four. Inside stands the husks and hulks of some 200 former villages and towns, which now feel like a post-apocalyptic place. In all, about 200,000 people were evacuated.

“And no one will ever live here again,” our guide Anastasia, clad in fatigues, tells us.

Tours to this disaster site have never been more popular, with HBO’s hit miniseries “Chernobyl” putting the place back on the map – and boosting visitor numbers dramatically. Local tour operators, who typically run one-day tours to the site (which sits about 75 miles north of Kiev) are reporting a significant bump in bookings, increasing some 30-40% since the show started airing. Tours cost about $100 and usually include a simple lunch in a local canteen.

A Different Sort of Day Trip

The background: on April 26, 1986 an accident during a test on reactor four at a nuclear power plant sparked a fire and a meltdown, releasing unprecedented amounts of radioactive material. Soviet authorities eventually evacuated everyone within the Exclusion Zone. A fallout cloud drifted across Europe and between the initial trauma and continuing effects of radiation, thousands died (how many, exactly, is subject to debate).

My visit, which predated the television series, began in Kiev’s Independence Square where I joined a group of about a dozen people for the two-hour drive north. I was in the country to check it out as a tourism destination: Ukraine’s capital city sports a soaring skyline, interesting museums, monument-filled parks and restaurants that serve the best perogies, vodka and chicken Kiev in Eastern Europe. And from the capital many visitors are now adding a trip to Chernobyl to their itineraries.

Vincent Rees, who owns Cobblestone Freeway, a tour company based in Canada and Ukraine, says his phone has been ringing off the hook since the TV series started airing. Although he admits that a lot of those calls have been from journalists like me. But when it’s guests calling to book a trip, many wonder, is it safe to visit Chernobyl? “The radiation question – that’s always the first thing people ask,” he said. Experts seem to agree that in most spots, including all places on tour itineraries, the radiation has dropped to safe levels. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just announced plans to turn Chernobyl into an official tourist attraction, a move likely to draw more visitors to the area.

But others aren’t so sure. Some question the ethics of visiting the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, where so many died and where the course of so many lives was altered.

‘Annoyance, Fear and Grief’

As the minibus passes deeper into the Exclusion Zone, which runs along the northern border with Belarus, guides give a list of fairly commonsense rules: Don’t eat any plants or drink from water sources, and avoid sitting on the ground. We stop at reactor four, now enclosed in a protective dome, taking photos in front of it. In the wake of the show’s airing, social media influencers have descended on the site, in some cases taking inappropriate photos­ – including modelesque selfies – in front of hollowed out buildings and abandoned fun parks. It all prompted Craig Mazin, creator and executive producer of the HBO show, to ask people to “please remember that a terrible tragedy occurred there. Comport yourselves with respect for all who suffered and sacrificed.”

On my tour, we proceed through the sites with a mixture of awe and horror. The Ukrainians I spoke with while traveling in the country ranged from ambivalence to anger about the accident. Because it occurred during the Soviet Union era, a sense of blame persists. (Russians have expressed displeasure at their depiction in the HBO series, and plans are underway to make their own version.) And while some would prefer not to shine a light on it, some Ukrainians told me that they were pleased Chernobyl tours were helping produce a bump in tourism.

“Most of us feel resentment, annoyance, fear and grief,” Tanya Bakbardina, a client manager with Cobblestone Freeway, tells me in an interview after my visit. “It’s because this catastrophe affected the life and health of not only those who caught this tragedy or was an eyewitness, but also those who were born after 1986.”

Bakbardina adds that the feelings tend to split down age-based lines. For older generations, some of whom have suffered ongoing health problems, the anger still boils. (She admits that tour companies offering itineraries to Chernobyl sometimes take some heat from these Ukrainians.) But young people in the country – like the tourists who visit – are attracted to Chernobyl by their curiosity, detached by time from the actual event. “In this, they see romance, and dangers pleasantly tickle their nerves,” she said.

Hope and Renewal

After the reactor we have a look at the “red forest,” a stretch of radiation-scorched woodland. As we enter Pripyat – a purpose-built city to house workers at the nuclear plant, which was once home to some 50,000 people – it feels like a city of ghosts. We wind through an amusement park now frozen in time, grass curling up through cracks between the bumper cars, a yellow Ferris wheel – now an icon of the town – rusted and perpetually halted.

We pass restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and restaurants. Their hollow-eyed windows all staring at us, black and empty, then proceed through the Palace of Culture. The wooden floors of its once-fine gymnasium now wrecked, the pool emptied out. It’s all sad, but – more than that – eerie, as if you can still hear just the slightest whisper of the vibrant life that once surged through this place.

We finish by climbing to the top of a 15-story apartment building and walking around on the roof, with sweeping views of the destruction: a forest, sprouting all throughout the city, returning it all to nature, and the phantom of reactor four on the horizon. It’s all very green, and very melancholy.

But for Tanya Bakbardina, this view inspires hope.

“One lesson, for me, is that nature will survive even after the apocalypse,” she tells me later, adding that Ukraine continues to face a choice with how to deal with the aftermath of Chernobyl. “The Zone has two ways – to be forgotten or to be famous,” she said. “We chose the second way – the preservation of the memory of the heroes, whose action or inaction saved the world.”

Would you visit Chernobyl? Tell us in the comments. 

Let me get this right out in the open – I love food. All sorts of food: Ethnic. Street. Gourmet. Comfort. Free. But Providence food, especially.

As a born-and-bred Rhode Islander, I spend an inordinate amount of time exploring the capital city’s burgeoning foodie scene. From sushi to espresso, pizza to upscale fare, I love scouring Providence’s tasty nooks and crannies for the newest food sensations.

So, when an invite for a Providence culinary press trip crossed my desk, I was giddy, though a tad apprehensive. What new things could this jaded journalist learn about the city’s restaurants and Rhode Island in general?

Hint: A lot.

So here, in no certain order, is a list of my favorite Providence food destinations from that whirlwind weekend – some new, some classic, all delicious.

The Best Providence Food Destinations

Rhode Island Red Food Tours

Our first afternoon started out with a Rhode Island Red food tour of the downtown area. The three-hour-plus walking tour stops at eight restaurants throughout the city, with little bites at each one. You can even add alcohol pairings for an additional cost. It’s a lovely introduction to the city for newcomers, as well as those who have been in Rhode Island for a bit. Our guide Jenny dropped Providence knowledge and trivia like tasty breadcrumbs throughout the afternoon. The food offerings left me stuffed and happy.

Friskie Fries
100 Washington St.

Oh, how I love Friskie Fries. This spot, born from a popular food truck of the same name, serves gourmet french fries. Read: Crisp and golden, piping hot, with a soft center. You can get them buck naked, dusted with spices or all dressed up. Try the Rhode Kill for a taste of the classic Rhode Island wiener: they’re topped with New York System meat sauce, onions, mustard and celery salt. My favorite was the Alleycat, with fresh garlic, Parmesan and olive oil. The best-seller is the Miss Potato Head (a nod to Hasbro, which has its headquarters in nearby Pawtucket), which come smothered in sour cream, bacon, cheddar cheese and chives.

Yoleni’s
292 Westminster St.

Located in the old Tilden-Thurber building, the lovingly restored Yoleni’s is part Greek marketplace, part bustling breakfast-lunch-dinner spot. During our visit, owner Alexander Philippides served us a spread of marinated olives (ouzo, orange, herbs, etc.) and homemade Greek yogurt flavored with lemon. (You can customize your yogurt – the best I’ve ever had – with a selection of fresh fruit and granola.) The yogurt was so good that many of us came back at night to pick up some containers for a snack. It doesn’t get any more authentic than this: The original outpost store is located in Athens, and the olive oil is grown from the family’s trees in Olympia.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

@kneaddoughnuts !!

A post shared by Dana Laverty (@danaraelaverty) on Oct 25, 2018 at 10:54am PDT

Knead Doughnuts
135 Elmgrove Ave.

There’s a reason the Providence-Warwick metropolitan area was recently chosen as the top “donut” city in the nation. Hand-crafted doughnuts are having a moment, and Knead Doughnuts is a big reason why. (PVDonuts and Allie’s – if you’re up for a road trip – are also wonderful.) Of course, it doesn’t hurt that there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts shop on nearly every street corner. But visit one of Knead’s two Providence locations for doughnuts that will make you stop and savor. Every. Little. Bite. You’ll find old-fashioned, cake, filled and brioche varieties in flavors like Black Forest, vanilla glazed, chocolate, blood orange, cinnamon roll, peanut butter and jelly …. the delicious list goes on. There are also daily vegan and flourless options. If you visit the Custom House location, take a peek at the left side of the building. You’ll see this:

Cool, huh? The Avenue Concept, a Providence-based nonprofit that fosters public art, is behind the mural (“Still Here” by the artist Gaia) and several others strewn throughout the city. Head to the website for a map of where you can find them all.

Gracie’s
194 Washington St.

Spoiler alert: Gracie’s is one my favorite restaurants in Providence. It’s more than earned its AAA Four Diamond status with its tasty, inventive fare and outstanding service. We feasted like royalty in a dim, private room surrounded by wines of all vintages. Even the bread was amazing: We had our choice of warm sourdough or cornbread basted with duck fat. The menu changes with the seasons, with standouts like Atlantic cod loin with chickpea stew, chorizo and squid, and a tasting of winter vegetables. Save room for the specialty desserts that are all made in-house.

Sydney
400 Exchange St.

The avocado toast at this bright and sunny Australian-themed eatery is everything: slathered with bright-green avocado, cherry tomatoes and a smattering of feta. Or opt for the ricotta toast. A savory option is topped with winter greens and drizzled with balsamic, while a sweet version comes with honey and brûléed fruit. You’ll also find healthy yogurt bowls, breakfast sandwiches, overnight oats and a bevy of home-baked goodies, as well as light sandwiches for lunch. (Next time, I’m trying the signature roasted broccoli, served with ricotta salata and lemon-caper aioli on ciabatta. Drool.) Perfectly crafted beverages round out the menu, with offerings like flat whites, matcha green tea lattes and plenty of bold cold brew.

Malted Barley
334 Westminster St.

This is where I discovered I liked hard cider. A lot. Malted Barley has 37 craft brews (including cider and fruit beers made from bananas and pineapples) on draft, plus more than 60 bottles and cans. Order up a flight of your favorites and pair them with perhaps my favorite new Providence food find: a delectable, made-to-order fresh pretzel. You can get them plain and salted, served with a to-die-for apricot butter, or stuffed with myriad fillings for a sandwich. It’s a great place for lunch, a mid-afternoon snack or a quick bite before a show.

AAA members can save at restaurants all over the country with exclusive discounts from Restaurant.com. 

Can’t get enough Rhode Island fare? Tell us your favorite Providence food and be sure to check out these specialties throughout the state. 

As a writer, I sit at my desk. A lot. I often find that I’m slouching, my wrists are hurting, my buttocks are sore and my legs are cramped. But after recently attending a chair yoga class, I learned all that could change with a few easy exercises.

I was amazed at the stretches and poses provided by the instructor, Chris Molzahn, and the modifications she offered for doing the exercises at my desk. She understands the plight of the sedentary office worker.

“I’m stiff after sitting for 10 minutes! Getting up periodically and stretching helps,” Molzahn said.

Fellow yoga instructor Katherine McIntire agrees. “We find that people sitting all day is the new smoking. If people can get up and move once an hour, it’s good for the heart,” she said. “It’s also good for reducing stress. Anytime someone stops and does an exercise at their desk, they’re being mindful.”

Here are some great poses you can do without leaving the office.

SEATED CRESCENT MOON

This pose is great for those who find themselves hunched over their computer, causing back and shoulder

pain. Sit in your chair, feet flat on the floor. Raise both arms over your head and place your palms together. Bend slightly to one side, hold for a few seconds, then repeat on the other side for a great stretch of your sides, back and shoulders.

CHAIR PIGEON

This pose helps center your hips and spine. Sit in your chair, feet flat on the floor. Bend one leg and place it across so the ankle rests on the other knee and your leg rests at a 90-degree angle. Twist slightly to one side, hold, then repeat on the other side. Remember to breathe!

WRIST STRETCHES

Wrists and hands can get particularly crampy after a day filled with typing. Stretch your arms out straight in front of you, palm up and pull your fingers downward for a great finger and wrist stretch. Release and repeat with just your thumb, then switch sides. Then make wrist circles with both a closed fist and open fingers to keep those hands agile and the words on the keyboard flowing.

Find more tips on healthy living. AAA.com/HealthFitness

For every person who is a fan of something, say a type of food, a movie, a music genre or even something less mainstream, like rattlesnakes or “Little House on the Prairie,” there’s probably a festival for it. Unique festivals across the United States include the Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival in Wisconsin, the Fort Wayne Pugfest in Indiana and the Fantasy Fest in Florida, among thousands of others.

One of the sweetest, and perhaps more under-the radar festivals, has to be the annual Dirty Dancing Festival, celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2019. Generally held in mid-September, the festival is an ode to the iconic 1987 movie. If you know who uttered the phrase “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” and can easily envision the classic “Come here lover boy” scene between Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze) in the fictional Catskills resort’s dance studio, this unique festival is for you.

Held in Lake Lure, N.C., one of the movie’s location sites, the tribute event offers everything a fan could want: watermelon races, dance lessons, reenactments, a screening of the movie, the Kellerman’s Talent Show, and of course, the festival highlight, the popular Lake Lift competition, attempted by eager volunteers.

Lake Lure has a population of just about 1,100 people, but it swells to at least triple or quadruple that during the festival, when people come from as far away as Germany to celebrate their favorite film. In truth, there aren’t that many physical spots in the area that remain from the movie to visit, but that seems irrelevant to the festivalgoers, who are just happy to be with like-minded fans.

Two spots that do remain include the dance floor where the talent show in the film took place, and the boathouse stairs that Baby carried a watermelon down and later practice-danced on. You can find the floor at the Esmeralda Inn, serving as the floor in the lobby and dining room, but you can’t access the stairs (they’re on private property now, though you can glimpse them from a boat). Local tour companies run sightseeing trips and can point them out to you.

Hardcore fans might want to stay at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, which housed the cast and crew during filming. The dancers practiced in the inn’s Roosevelt Hall and visitors can book the exact rooms in which Swayze and Grey stayed.

One of the best parts of the festival is the gleeful audience participation. You can take dance lessons with professional instructors, then try out your moves in an amateur shag competition; take part in the Kellerman’s Talent Show after training with the Asheville Ballet dancers; or see if you can lift your partner over your head in the Lake Lift competition. This crowd favorite is held in the lake cove of Morse Park, around the corner from where Johnny and Baby practiced one of their most famous scenes. Couples enter the water and get two practice lifts before making the third try count. The year I attended there was a proposal, which brought the crowd to its feet with cheers and clapping.

More Not-to-Miss Unique Festivals in the U.S.

Lebowski Fest

It’s been almost 20 years since the movie “The Big Lebowski” came out, but you’d never know it from the legions of fans who still worship The Dude. Now in its 18^th year, the two-day Lebowski Fest, held this year in Louisville, Ky., celebrates all things Lebowski with a movie party, a live soundtrack tribute concert, unlimited bowling, plenty of White Russians and costume and trivia contests, a fitting tribute to His Dudeness.

San Fermin Festival in Nuevo Orleans

A hilarious riff on the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, the San Fermin in New Orleans also features a race of runners being chased. But instead of bulls in hot pursuit, participants are pursued by roller derby skaters. The “Rollerbulls,” armed with foam baseball bats and horned helmets,  give runners a swat if they catch up to them. The annual event is now in its 13^th year.

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival

While the annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival is filled with the typical literary readings, live theater performances, author talks and discussion series, its Stella (or Stanley) Shouting Contest is both uniquely Williams and New Orleans, setting it apart in a fun spin. Contestants vie to rival Stanley Kowalski’s shout for “STELLAAAAA!!!” in the unforgettable scene from Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Both women and men are welcome to participate and yell for Stella (or Stanley) on Jackson Square, while onlookers cheer for their favorites.

Book a hotel near your favorite festival with AAA.