Traveling with AAA

The holidays are an exciting time. But between airport delays, layovers, and miles of interstate traffic, the journey can feel anything but joyful. Even with careful planning, hiccups can happen. Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can use to make your travels this season smoother and merrier.

On this episode of Traveling with AAA, host Angie Orth is joined by Sal Vaglica, a New York-based travel and gear journalist whose work has appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Food & Wine. His travel writing includes guides to road trips and getaways between...

Small ship cruising offers a more intimate way to explore. With fewer passengers on board, there’s more opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers and settle into life on the water.

Host Angie Orth continues her conversation with Dan and Mikkel Woodruff, the founders of Sometimes Sailing and co-hosts of the Small Ship Cruise Talk podcast. They’ve taken dozens of cruises, including a small ship voyage in Alaska and a barge trip along a French canal, and devoted their podcast to sharing what they’ve learned.

In this episod...

Picture yourself sailing around a river bend, with nothing to do but take in the view.. How about gliding down a canal on a barge with just a few fellow passengers? Small ship cruising offers travelers a chance to explore with fewer crowds. Think quieter decks, familiar faces, and a more intimate journey.

In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes Dan and Mikkel Woodruff, the founders of Sometimes Sailing and the co-hosts of Small Ship Cruise Talk, a podcast dedicated exclusively to small ship cruising. Together, they’ve taken dozens of cruises and developed a lo...

Imagine a museum with interactive exhibits that highlight the rich culture of the land it rests on and its first inhabitants. Now imagine a world-class spa with sacred hot mineral springs set against picturesque desert scenery. That is exactly the treat you’re in for at the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, a destination dubbed one of the world's greatest places by Time magazine.



In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes Anthony W. Purnel, vice chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, to discuss the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs. As a descendant of the...

Haunted houses and ghost tours are having a moment right now, and the South has become one of the best destinations for both.

Host Angie Orth continues her conversation with travel writer and passionate Southern explorer Kinsey Gidick. She was once the editor-in-chief of the Charleston City Paper in South Carolina and now contributes to publications such as AAA Explorer, Travel + Leisure, Smithsonian Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Garden & Gun, and Fodor’s Travel. 

This time, Kinsey counts down her five favorite haunts in the South: a Richmond cemetery steeped in history, a h...

Looking for a little fright on your next trip? In the South, you can take a ghost tour through a historic cemetery, visit a battlefield with a ghostly reputation, or spend the night in a supposedly haunted hotel.

On this episode of Traveling with AAA, host Angie Orth speaks with Kinsey Gidick, a travel writer who has spent years exploring the South. Drawing on her recent National Geographic story about Charleston’s haunted spots, Kinsey shares tales of hotel apparitions, historic cemeteries, and a restaurant with an unexpected bathroom visitor 

The con...

Packing for a trip is rarely fun. In fact, it can be downright stressful. Fortunately, Laurie has the keys to success. As a pilot's wife, she’s traveled the world, often on standby, and picked up lots of tricks along the way. Her passion became a business, and today she shares her knowledge with thousands of followers across her YouTube channel, Travel Tips by Laurie, and blog by the same name.

In this episode, Laurie sits down with host Angie Orth to share some of her favorite packing tips. She covers her favorite type of lu...

Whether you’re exploring the world or traveling across the States, worrying about overpacking or lost luggage is the last thing you want to do. Packing may never be your favorite part of a trip, but the right tips can make it less of a chore. That’s where Laurie and her packing expertise come in.

On this episode of Traveling with AAA, host Angie Orth speaks with travel content creator and educator Laurie, who has built a career around helping people pack light. As a pilot's wife with over 20 years of travel experience, she’s pick...

It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place than Costa Rica. With its hot springs, beaches, volcanoes, wildlife, and wonderful food, the country truly is the definition of paradise.

Host Angie Orth continues her conversation with travel journalist, author, and TEDx speaker Jen Ruiz, who has written about her adventures for outlets such as The Washington Post, AFAR, and Condé Nast Traveler.

Today she takes us to Costa Rica, sharing her favorite moments from her recent cross-country road trip, including restaurant and zip line experiences no traveler should skip.

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Costa Rica’s signature phrase, pura vida, captures the spirit of the country and its many adventures: coastlines where monkeys swing through the trees, zip lines stretching across iconic cloud forest canopies, and gorgeous views of volcanoes. Costa Rica’s natural beauty is unmatched, and it keeps travelers coming back.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is joined by Jen Ruiz, a travel journalist who recently completed a road trip across Costa Rica. Her work has appeared in outlets including The Washington Post, AFAR, and Condé Nast Traveler. She’s also the author of several books...

Some of the most memorable stops in and around Newfoundland and Labrador are also among the easiest to overlook: a tiny French territory just off the Canadian coast, a fishing village with no cell signal, and a national park often compared to Banff and Jasper. This episode takes a tour through the corners of Newfoundland and Labrador that even the most seasoned travelers could miss.

Host Angie Orth continues her conversation with travel journalist Christopher Mitchell, who spent a month living in Newfoundland and Labrador as a writer-in-residence. Christopher digs deeper into the province's most...

In Newfoundland and Labrador, hospitality feels less like a service than a way of life. Travel through Canada’s easternmost province, and you’ll experience how deeply locals care about their home.

Host Angie Orth is joined by travel journalist Christopher Mitchell, a Toronto native who spent a month living in Newfoundland and Labrador as a writer-in-residence. Christopher shares what drew him to the province and why its culture left a lasting mark on how he travels.



You'll learn what sets Newfoundland and Labrador apart from the rest of Canada, with its de...

Japan’s most photographed sacred sites may draw the largest crowds, but quieter temples and shrines can be just as memorable. Taking the time to explore beyond the best-known landmarks can offer visitors a broader appreciation of the country’s religious traditions, architecture, and history.

In this episode, host Angie Orth continues her conversation with Chris Peskosky and Alex Murphy, the travel content creators behind It's Chris and Alex. The pair share more of their favorite discoveries from traveling through Japan, including the most underrated shrines and which temples are worth the extra effort to reac...

Taking time to understand local customs can help travelers explore Japan more thoughtfully and respectfully. Learning the etiquette associated with a shrine visit, an onsen soak, or even a train ride can deepen your appreciation of everyday life and traditions in Japan.

Host Angie Orth talks with Chris Peskosky and Alex Murphy, the travel content creators behind It's Chris and Alex. The pair has spent extensive time exploring Japan and built a following by helping travelers experience the country the way locals do.



You'll learn about etiquette at sacred sites, from ap...

A pickleball court with the Rockies rising in the distance. A game played beside glaciers off the coast of Alaska. A lesson on the grounds of a historic château in the French countryside. For a fast-growing wave of travelers, a love of pickleball is inspiring vacation destinations at home and abroad.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is joined by Joey Skladany, a travel journalist and avid pickleball player who has taken his game to some of the world's most extraordinary settings. He recently shared his favorite pickleball travel destinations for AAA Explorer and Wes...

Beach or no beach, island or mainland, the Caribbean refuses to fit into one neat box. The range is far more diverse than the tourism brochures let on, whether it’s a volcanic island with zero sand or a mainland destination that still feels unmistakably Caribbean.

Host Angie Orth continues her conversation with Matt Meltzer, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel journalist and former Marine who writes about food and travel for Thrillist, Matador Network, and his own newsletter, The Leftovers Miami. 

You'll learn how to reframe your idea of a Caribbean vacation. Matt breaks down how...

Most travelers see only a sliver of what the Caribbean actually has to offer. Beyond the beaches and duty-free shops lie hidden waterfalls, active volcanoes, centuries-old ruins, and cultures barely touched by tourism. 

Host Angie Orth sits down with Matt Meltzer, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel journalist and former Marine who writes about food and travel for Thrillist, Matador Network, and his own newsletter, The Leftovers Miami. Recorded at the Beach House Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, the conversation explores what separates an authentic travel experience from a manufactured one, and why the Caribbean has far more to o...

Europa Park has a coaster that drops you inside the Phantom of the Opera. Knoebels,  in rural Pennsylvania, has free admission and food that tastes like a real home-cooked meal. Neither one is a household name, but they just might be the best theme park days you'll ever have.

In this episode, host Angie Orth continues her conversation with Zachary Laks, travel journalist and theme park expert who has written for Fodor’s, The Points Guy, and Lonely Planet. He shares his favorite, most underrated parks worth going out of your way for. 

Some of the most exhilarating theme parks in the world have no mascot and no movie franchise behind them. What they do have is decades of obsessive craftsmanship, immersive storytelling, and rides good enough to build a trip around. 

In this episode, host Angie Orth is joined by Zachary Laks, a travel journalist and theme park expert who has written for Fodor’s, The Points Guy, and Lonely Planet. Before covering the world's parks, Zachary spent more than  20 years as a theater producer, which sharpened his eye for what separates a good theme park experience from...

You're standing at the gate, boarding pass in hand. Then the flight board flashes “cancelled”, your bag doesn't show up on the carousel, or you wake up on day two feeling under the weather in an unfamiliar place. These things can happen to even the most seasoned travelers. 

Host Angie Orth welcomes back Daniel Durazo, Director of External Communications at Allianz Partners USA, for a conversation recorded at the Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront in Richmond, Virginia. Daniel is one of the most trusted voices in travel protection, helping travelers navigate everything from canceled flights to medic...

South Florida’s food sceene rewards the traveler who knows where to look. Most visitors default to the famous names and never make it to the ventanitas, lunch counters, and neighborhood joints where the region shines. A thoughtful dining experience can transform a trip from good to unforgettable.

In this episode, host Angie Orth gets the insider take from Ryan Pfeffer, senior editor at The Infatuation and Fort Lauderdale native, who oversees restaurant coverage across the region.You'll learn Ryan's top restaurant pick for first-time visitors to Miami, the spots where locals actually eat, and his e...

South Florida's dining landscape is the product of decades of immigration. Cuban, Haitian, Colombian, Venezuelan, and dozens of other communities have each added a layer to a food culture that is continuously evolving—and few people are better equipped to make sense of it than someone who grew up eating his way through it.

In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with Fort Lauderdale native Ryan Pfeffer, Senior Editor at The Infatuation, where he oversees restaurant coverage across South Florida. With years of on-the-ground reporting from the ventanitas of Little Havana to the pop-up sce...

A perfectly smoked brisket, a lobster roll dripping with butter, a hot tamale simmered in spiced broth. America's food trails are more than great eating—they're a passport to the history, culture, and community behind every iconic dish.

In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes back food and travel expert Kayleigh Ruller for a rapid-fire countdown of her top five food trails in America. From the Mississippi Delta to the coast of Maine, Kayleigh shares the routes she considers essential for any serious food traveler.

You'll hear about the cross-cultural origins of a So...

Every place has a flavor that tells its story, and that story might be reason enough to plan a trip. That’s the idea behind a food trail—a travel journey dedicated to the best food or drink in a destination. You might spend a weekend chasing barbecue across  North Carolina, or work your way up the Maine coast one lobster roll at a time. Food trails can transform a meal into a full-on adventure, offering travelers a deeply personal way to connect with a place, its people, and its history.

In this episode, host Angie...

Indianapolis has a way of hiding its best secrets in plain sight; bald eagles soaring over a river trail in the middle of downtown, an all-Black art fair that caught the attention of the New York Times, and a no-frills jazz bar where you can soak up the sounds of the city every Monday night.

Host Angie Orth is back with Indianapolis local and Through 2 Eyes founder Sampson Levingston for a closer  look at the city—like its diverse restaurant scene, quiet waterways, and art spaces.Sampson shares where to uncover the real heart of Indy.

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Each May,  33 IndyCars scream around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 245 mph while  400,000 fans pack the stands. But there’s more to the city than the famous race that bears its name. Indianapolis rewards the curious, whether you're chasing checkered flags or chasing a bit of history.

In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with two guests who know Indianapolis from completely different vantage points. Scott McLaughlin, the New Zealand-born IndyCar superstar and driver of the No. 3 AAA Travel Chevrolet for Team Penske, joins Angie trackside at the legendary Speedway. Then, Sampson Levingston, founder of Thro...

Traveling with furry friends can be a great adventure—when you’re prepared for it They can get carsick on the highway, bolt at the airport, or eat something they shouldn’t while you’re distracted by a beautiful view. The difference between a smooth trip and a stressful one almost always comes down to what you know before you leave home.

Host Angie Orth sits down with Scott Taylor, president of Spot Pet Insurance, at the company's Miami headquarters. Scott brings industry expertise and hard-won personal experience, including what happens when a Labrador gets his paws...

The best summer trip might be one you’ve never considered. From a pedestrian-only mountain village in British Columbia to a cabin on the edge of the Shenandoah Valley, some of North America's most rewarding summer destinations rarely make the usual shortlists.

Host Angie Orth sits down with family travel expert Tykesha Spivey Burton, founder of Mama Wanderlust, for a rapid-fire rundown of five unexpected summer destinations with great outdoor access, local culture, great food, and bang for your buck. 

You'll find out which small towns offer a quieter alternative to the summer crowds,  which citi...

Cool summer temperatures, a mountain view, and no waitlist for dinner—that's what a summer vacation can look like when you trade the crowded beach for somewhere unexpected. Ski towns, lakeside cabins, and quiet small towns don't just shine in their off-season; they offer families more room to breathe, more flexibility, and the kind of unhurried togetherness that's hard to find at a peak-season hotspot.

In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with Tykesha Spivey Burton, founder of Mama Wanderlust and a family travel expert who has taken her kids from the mountains of British Columbia to...

Before the guidebooks, the PBS show, and 60 published titles, there was a 23-year-old piano teacher with a hard-bound journal, a Pentax camera, and a one-way ticket to Istanbul. In 1978, Rick Steves  traveled the old overland route  from Istanbul to Kathmandu. The notes and photos he brought home  became the seed  of  a career  spent showing Americans a smarter way to see the world. 

In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with legendary travel writer and TV host Rick Steves to discuss his newest book, On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Tr...

You don’t need specialized training or extra time off to make a meaningful environmental impact while you travel.  Wherever you’re headed—whether it’s  a national park, a coastal town, or a dark-sky destination—there's a meaningful volunteer experience waiting.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with sustainability and travel writer Amy Brecount White, who counts down her top five voluntourism experiences perfectly suited for every traveler.

You'll hear about the easiest entry points for giving back, including beach cleanups to trail restoration events, and how to find opportunities wherever you...

What if your next \ vacation was about more than just recharging your batteries—what if you could leave the place a little better than you found it?? A little intention can turn any trip into a chance to protect the places we love.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is joined by sustainability and travel writer Amy Brecount White, a self-described citizen scientist whose passion for the natural world takes her from her own backyard to beaches and marine reserves around the globe. Together, they explore the growing world of voluntourism and what it really me...

Switzerland is known for precision, with trains that arrive to the minute, watches accurate to fractions of a second, and chocolate engineered to perfection. So what's a hot air balloon doing in the mix? Turns out, the country that prides itself on timeliness also embraces drifting wherever the wind takes you. 

In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes back travel writer Crai Bower to count down his top five most unexpected discoveries in Switzerland, each one worth a spot on your itinerary.

You'll hear about the food traditions worth seeking out, a cultural o...

Switzerland is famous for precision watches, world-class skiing, and secretive banking—but there's a stranger, more fascinating side to this small, landlocked country that most travelers overlook. 

This episode digs into the Switzerland that doesn't make it into the guidebooks—like a carnival where crowds are rewarded with root vegetables, and  a train called "Express" that takes its time on purpose. 

Host Angie Orth is joined by award-winning travel writer Crai Bower, who recently covered the country for Westways and AAA Explorer magazines. This journalist's eye for the offbeat will have you loo...

What kind of destination for deepening a friendship? And when the goal is reconnecting with someone you love, does it really matter where you go? 

In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with actor, director, and New York Times bestselling author Andrew McCarthy. His 10,000-mile journey across America to rekindle foundational friendships is chronicled in his latest book, Who Needs Friends.

McCarthy offers  practical advice for anyone hoping to reconnect through travel, including  the one thing that instantly changes the dynamic between two people, and why the destination itself may matter less tha...

When was the last time you actually saw your closest friends? Texts and social media can help you stay connected, but chances are, it’s been too long since you’ve been together in person. 

The same was true for actor, director, and New York Times bestselling author Andrew McCarthy. A pointed question from his teenage son sparked an unplanned, 10,000-mile road trip across America; Without GPS or an itinerary, he packed a bag and an old-school map, determined to reconnect with the people who helped shape him.

In this episode, host...

Your group tour is booked and departure day is approaching. Then the reality hits: you're about to spend nine days with a group of strangers. For many travelers, the built-in social time  and structured schedule of group travel can feel overwhelming—before you’ve even left home.

In this episode, host Angie Orth continues her conversation with award-winning travel journalist Sheeka Sanahori, who shares five practical tips drawn from her recent European group tour. Whether it’s breaking the ice with strangers or communicating your needs clearly, Sheeka offers straightforward strategies to help nervous first-timers feel co...

If you’re a traveler who loves to craft detailed itineraries, group travel may sound like your worst nightmare. But what if it’s exactly what you need? Surrendering the logistics can feel scary at first—but it may be the most reliable way to secure the mental break a vacation is meant to provide.

In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes award-winning travel journalist Sheikha Sanahuri, who recently took her family on a group tour through Europe. As someone who typically plans every detail of her family trips, Sheikha shares what it was like to exp...

Maybe it’s the aisle seat passenger who reaches across you to adjust the window shade. Or the stranger who wants to trade your carefully selected seat for their middle seat in the last row. How about the tuna-and-egg sandwich enthusiast who seems oblivious to the issue in an enclosed space? These are the scenarios that test even the most patient traveler's resolve.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with Nick Leighton and Leah Bonnema, co-hosts of the etiquette podcast Were You Raised By Wolves? Together, they count down the top five trickiest ai...

Whether you’re taking in world-class entertainment, strolling gallery-lined streets, or heading out on the ocean in search of marine life, Orange County has something for everyone. Its diverse communities each tell their own story, reflecting a distinct and dynamic side of California that demands a closer look.

In this episode, host Angie Orth explores three Orange County communities with locals who know them best. Chris Do, Entertainment Manager at Knott's Berry Farm, discusses Buena Park's central location and the evolution of one of America's first theme parks. Logan Crow of the Frida Cinema shares how...