While on assignment in Washington, D.C., I was asked to do a walking tour.  Being a AAA inspector, I've done many- from walking and Segway tours to bus and Duck tours (an amphibious craft).  When I was asked to do this one my expectations were not very high. 

First of all it was a free tour. What can you expect for free now-a-days? Secondly, the website said to meet at a street corner at a particular time and look for a person in a blue shirt.  This sounded kind of shady, but it’s my job so I did what the website instructed me to do. ... Read More

As an inspector for AAA, I spend a lot of time behind the wheel traveling to the many hotels and restaurants that we recommend for members; let’s face it, love of travel and driving are job requirements.  But even those who love the road can grow weary of traffic and long stretches of less-than-spectacular scenery including overly familiar fast food restaurants and gas stations.  Recently in Mississippi, I had the choice to take “the scenic route” –the Natchez Trace Parkway - north from Natchez to Jackson and enjoyed one of the most relaxing, scenic and historic drives I have had in a long time.... Read More

 
Boston and its surrounding communities are steeped in American history.  This Sunday, April 18, marks 235 years since Paul Revere made his infamous ride informing colonists that the “British were coming.”  I soon learned that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow took some literary license when he wrote the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride,” altering some of the details.  (For one, Paul would not have said “the British are coming” because the Patriots considered themselves British.... Read More

I’m a history buff. A costume wearing, reference book buying, card carrying history buff. So why wasn’t I excited when friends wanted to take my husband and I to the historic district of St. Charles, Missouri? Let’s be honest here- most historic districts are pretty dull. Every small town has one in the hope of dragging in a few passing tourists and they rarely amount to much. Thanks to my historic district snobbery, I had passed St. Charles by countless times on my way... Read More

There is something otherworldly about Gettysburg National Military Park in the early morning - the mist creeping across grassy swales and over split rail fences, softening the harsh outlines of cannon and monuments to heroes and fallen. Morning doesn’t do justice to what happened there. You need to see the battlefield in full daylight to really appreciate what it must have been like those first three days of July 1863.

The best advice I got before I visited the park was to make the new Visitors Center my first stop and to purchase a... Read More

“In the beginning … ,” the thunderous voice boomed. A big black light-illuminated globe that looked like it was made out of Play-Doh was slowly rotating at the front of the darkened room. About 20 or so tourists seated in the small Discovery Globe theater at Ponce de León's Fountain of Youth National Archeological Park watched the aging sphere as it turned. Though some were indifferent to the discussion about early explorers—related by a voice likely recorded decades... Read More

Visiting ancient temples, listening to prayerful chants, learning to weave a ti leaf lei. My favorite part of visiting Hawai‘i is absorbing the Hawaiian culture. Many destinations offer sun, surf, and sand, but only Hawai‘i has the rich heritage that rode the waves with the ancient wayfarers, survived in traditions passed down through generations and lives today in the soulful sounds of chanters and the graceful movements of hula dancers.

On my first trip to the islands, I visited Pu‘uhonua o Honauanau National Historic Park on... Read More

 
It’s almost a law that if you visit St. Louis, you go to the Arch (or to be more official, “The Gateway Arch”). National Park monument, unmistakable city landmark and indelible symbolic icon, it’s a necessary sightseeing pilgrimage.

I made the pilgrimage on a steamy, hazy August Friday morning. The Arch stands overlooking the Mississippi River on the leafy grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial park. In downtown St. Louis the... Read More

     If you’re planning a driving trip to Williamsburg, Va., be sure to have a good AAA map (or GPS unit) and a lot of patience. For those who haven’t visited this popular vacation destination, be advised that the streets twist, wind, and split off in every direction imaginable. To further add to the confusion, the street signs are purposely designed to be unobtrusive, making them somewhat difficult to see.
 
Before a visit to Williamsburg with my family, I had highlighted the route to our hotel on a TripTik strip map—a task which I perform daily... Read More

Question: Audrey Putman asks: We are headed to Williamsburg VA Sept. 12-19. What will the weather be like? Attractions and activities still available after Labor Day?

Answer: AAA senior writer Nancy Woodard says: In September, it is still seasonably warm in Williamsburg with temperatures averaging 74 degrees during the day and a bit cooler in the evening. Attractions in the historic area are open throughout the year. When you arrive in Williamsburg, be sure to stop first at the Visitor's Center to get a copy of This Week which will... Read More