When I learned I’d be taking a AAA-sponsored research trip to Texas this year, I was excited for two main reasons: (1) I’d finally find out who shot J.R. and (2) I love red meat.

I’m kidding of course about the first item (it was Kristin!), but if you’ve read my Brooklyn Diner blog you know I’m sincere about the latter. And, unless you’ve been ... Read More

On Sunday, it will be five years since Hurricane Katrina and in that time a determined group of New Orleans residents and admirers have worked tirelessly to see that the city would recover and thrive again.  New Orleans simply could not go quietly into the night!  Recent non-stop headlines of the BP oil spill have again given an impression of disaster in the area.  However, as the AAA inspector with the pleasure of covering the Big Easy, I can testify that the ... Read More

A visit to the beach is a summer ritual for many families, and one of the most popular stretches of sand in the eastern U.S. is Virginia Beach, Virgina. I found that in addition to sunny skies, crystal blue water and warm ocean breezes, one of the main reasons folks return here year after year is the city’s boardwalk. This is not your typical boardwalk, though. ... Read More

Whether I’m traveling for business or on pleasure, it’s the destination experience that counts, not necessarily where I’m going to be spending the night. I usually end up at a standard mid-priced chain (company’s choice) or an easy-on-the-wallet, hopefully charming/quirky property (if it’s my dime). However, in Chicago I found that an upscale, business-oriented hotel like Marriott’s Renaissance Chicago Hotel can have distinct advantages.... Read More

 Martinique is one Caribbean island, one of the very few, that seemingly is neglected by American cruise ships and, thus, American cruisers. That is a shame, as it is an island with much to offer -- and French cuisine. Holland America visits with most frequency. Other cruise lines do come here, but it often is left out of Southern Caribbean itineraries. As with some of the Netherlands Antilles islands, one gets the sense that money flows in relatively freely from France, its European mother country, and that the locals do not need tourists as much as perhaps other Caribbean destinations do. Well, at least it will not be crowded.... Read More

   
Santa Fe is a town that takes its artsy reputation seriously. It has museums devoted to art (the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art, just to name three). There’s a mural or a funky sculpture on practically every side street. You could even say the town itself—adobe architecture, leafy plazas, mountain backdrop—is a work of art.

Of course downtown Santa Fe is packed with shops selling every type of art imaginable, from cheap trinkets to exquisite handcrafted pieces. But the really heavy-duty art scene is nearby on Canyon Road. ... Read More

A trip to Sanibel and Captiva islands off the southwest coast of Florida should be on everyone’s list of must-see places in Florida, I’m not the beachy type (I was assigned to go in order to write about the area for the AAA Florida TourBook guide) but found an atmosphere that will erase stress, at least temporarily. The name of the game on both islands is fun: good, clean, all-American fun, as in biking, boating, collecting seashells... Read More

 
Just north of Alliance, Nebraska, motorists touring through the flat, rural landscape on SR 87/ CR 59 detect something odd on the horizon. Rising from the Great Plains is an unusual gray structure noticeably distinct from the farmhouses and windmills that typically dot the prairie.

From about 200 yards, the circular structure begins to look like the prehistoric stone complex in England known as Stonehenge. ... Read More

This post, the third in a series, was written by Christie Hyde from AAA’s national office as she accompanies the winners of the 2010 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, students McKenzie Nordland and Jonathan Anderson of Valley City, N.D., as they travel to job shadow the Roush Fenway racing team.

The competition winners had three NASCAR events on the agenda and during most NASCAR race weekends, when events are in the same town they take place at the same racetrack. However, Indianapolis is unique. The premiere NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hold events at O’Reilly Motorsports Park, located six miles away.... Read More

Deep in the heart of south Texas is San Antonio, home of the historic Alamo, the mighty Spurs and the lively River Walk. Now it has another claim to fame: Morgan’s Wonderland, a unique park for those with physical or cognitive disabilities.

Self-described as ”The World’s First Ultra-Accessible Family Fun Park,” this 25-acre playland features a beautifully ornate... Read More