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 tra...

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 sh...

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...

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, ho...

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, Smithson...

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...

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...

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...

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 s...

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...

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 Ort...

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 t...

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...

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 s...

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 pickleba...

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 wri...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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 Infatua...

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...

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 M...

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, of...

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 ...