Modified from story written by Barbara Wayman which originally appeared in AAA's Home & Away magazine.

Everybody needs a bit of “Southern” in them says actress Elisabeth Röhm, referring to old-fashioned values surrounding the appreciation of family, beauty, food and life. Although she was born in Europe and raised in New York, Röhm says her schooling in the South as a college history major made a permanent imprint.

She visits several times a year, taking an afternoon to drive around midtown to enjoy the architecture,” said Röhm. “Sometimes I fantasize about moving to Memphis. It’s decadent. It’s a place where the senses really bloom.” ... Read More

From the Q&A mailbox:
We want to see the fall colors in the Smoky Mountains. What do you suggest?

Do some planning quickly, as it's a popular time in western North Carolina, eastern Tennesee and of course, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The timing of peak fall color varies with weather and altitude, but this page can give you some idea - look at early October to early November. Take a look at these free online AAA planning resources:
Smoky Mountains AAA Drive Trip      Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Guide   Great Smoky Mountain National Park Travel Guide ... Read More

 ‘Planes, trains, tow trucks, caves, pizza’ … that’s what a AAA travel guide written by a 10-year-old boy might look like. So it’s no surprise my son enjoyed Chattanooga.

Though I normally travel with his older sister as well, this time it was just him and me for an impromptu getaway.  Chattanooga, Tennessee is an easy drive for many in the South, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states, but we got a crazy-cheap fare with a discount airline and flew in from Central Florida. The small but modern airport was easy to navigate and we quickly found the shuttle to our hotel, the Chattanooga Choo Choo, known locally as ‘The Choo.’... Read More

He had me at “Hello.”

Johnny Cash, that is. I’ve only been in love with his mournful bass-baritone voice for a short time (since 2005, when the biopic “Walk the Line” first turned me on to the hell-raising maverick who originally wanted to be a gospel singer). Nevertheless, if CDs wore down like well-appreciated vinyl, my frequently replayed Cash discs would be ready for the junk pile.

Still, it’s understandable that I didn’t even think about the legendary... Read More

In Memphis, barbecue borders on being a religion—a religion with legions of followers. Its disciples are many, and they worship at the multitude of barbecue joints that are the source of the tender, moist pulled pork and smoky ribs that are the city’s hallmark cuisine. Secret sauce recipes are sacred and closely guarded, not to be shared.

In the South—and Memphis is a Southern city, through and through—the word barbecue (or barbeque, bar-b-q or, in its simplest form, just BBQ) is a noun, not a verb. When someone in Memphis says, “Let’s get some... Read More

Some people can hop on a plane without so much as a guidebook in their carryon bag and actually look forward to exploring a strange place without an itinerary or even knowing much about where they’re going.

I’m not like that. I’m a planner. I research and read and prepare detailed itineraries for my trips; it doesn’t matter if I’m traveling for work or pleasure. Although I don’t go so far as to schedule bathroom breaks, I have been known to map out my meals as well as how much time I think it will take to get from Point A to Point B.... Read More

I love all kinds of food (I don’t discriminate!), but breakfast fare is by far my favorite. When I travel, I usually try to check out at least a few local eateries with standout morning menus. So, on a recent business trip to Nashville, I chowed down at the Pancake Pantry, said to dole out the yummiest pancakes in town. (Some devotees go so far as to claim the flapjacks doled out at the Pantry are among the world’s best.)

The local A.M. institution is in Hillsboro Village, a colorful neighborhood abutting Vanderbilt University. When I... Read More

Everybody I know who is familiar with Memphis says that you’ve got to try the barbecue. You’ll love the barbecue! And I’m sure that’s true—if you like barbecue. But as far as I’m concerned: Meh. I can take it or leave it. Usually I leave it. To me, barbecue means gnawing on bones for a shred of meat, which in my opinion turns a meal into an unappetizing chore. I prefer my food without the messy anatomy lesson, thank you very much.... Read More

When I listen to music, I play tracks from hardcore rappers, classical pianists and everyone in between. But, when someone asks me what genres I’m into, I invariably answer: “Pretty much anything—except country.”

While I do adore Johnny Cash’s haunting voice, such stars as Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks leave me cold, and some country songs actually make me cringe. Needless to say, I wasn’t overly thrilled about checking out the Grand Ole Opry during a recent Nashville trip, but I figured I could live... Read More

     'Grand Ole Music' is the theme of today's featured AAA Drive Trip - just one of over 100 available. Click here for a printable itinerary of this 1,071-mile trip, which is broken into four segments as it goes from Nashville to Memphis to Little Rock to St. Louis. You might well get 50 different answers if you asked the question, "Which state is most closely identified with music?"  This five-state jaunt can be traveled on one grand journey or broken into shorter trips that suit your musical tastes.... Read More