Traveling with AAA

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 van...

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 Spo...

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 une...

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 hot...

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 episo...

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 voluntouri...

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 worl...

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 h...

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 purpo...

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. McCart...

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...

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 sh...

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 recent...

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...

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 w...

Whether that guy in seat 32B is shouting into his speakerphone while you’re trying to read, or a stranger's bare feet appear inches from your tray table, air travel has become a tricky social experiment in a very confined shared space.  When etiquette rules collide at 30,000 feet, what’s the best way to handle these situations when there’s no way out? In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes Nick...

Just as music brings us together and teaches us about the world, so too do music venues—many of which are spectacular destinations in their own right. These venues transcend the performance, shaping our understandings of music, history, and place. In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with travel writer and musician Edmund Vallance to share five music venues worth building an entire trip around...

The lights dim, the crowd stirs, and the show you traveled for kicks into gear. In that moment, your vacation becomes something more: you're feeling the heartbeat of the city. Live music can transform a destination into an unforgettable experience, taking you on a deeper journey through its history and culture. In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes travel writer and musician Edmund Vallance to...

Imagine fireworks lighting up colonial cobblestones, tall ships gliding past centuries-old shores, and neon signs illuminating the American story in unexpected places. The United States is turning 250, and with celebrations unfolding coast to coast, the hardest part isn't finding a party—it's choosing which one to attend. In this episode, host Angie Orth reconnects with travel experts Barbara Noe...

America is turning 250 years old, and the nation is marking the milestone by revisiting overlooked stories, opening archives, and gearing up for a year packed full of celebrations. Washington's personal copy of the U.S. Constitution will emerge from the vaults, while in Boston Harbor, an international fleet of tall ships will arrive with billowing sails—just as they did when a revolution was born....

Every mile marker tells a different story, and each state along Route 66 offers its own slice of Americana. From restored gas stations frozen in time to desert craters that challenge your sense of scale, knowing where to stop can transform a long drive into an unforgettable adventure. In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with travel journalist and filmmaker Karuna Eberl to break down Route 66...

Picture yourself cruising past vintage motels with glowing vacancy signs, stopping for pie at a chrome-trimmed diner, and discovering roadside museums that tell stories most travelers speed right past. Today’s Route 66 isn’t about getting from point A to point B. It's about embracing the journey as America's most iconic highway turns 100. In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes Karuna Eberl, a t...

The words “summer” and “vacation” have always gone together. Summer travel is certainly wonderful, but it’s not the only time to vacation.  If you’re looking for great deals, fewer crowds, and more travel flexibility, then taking a trip during the winter might be right up your alley.  Today, Angie Orth welcomes Chadner Navarro, a seasoned travel writer who has contributed to Condé Nast Traveler, T...

Where are you celebrating New Year’s Eve this year? It’s a question that feels exciting and a bit nerve-racking at the same time.  New Year’s Eve is both a beginning and an end. It’s bidding farewell to the year that’s passed, and welcoming the new one in the best way possible. Naturally, we want to celebrate in a place that feels special. Today, Angie Orth welcomes a pair of trusted travel expert...

Holding on to the memories of the places we travel through souvenirs is an act of preservation. They are the physical manifestations of our travel experiences captured through the things we buy, collect, and even photograph along the way.  Souvenirs are meaningful not only for ourselves, but they’re also a way of sharing those stories with others when we return home. Today, Angie Orth welcomes tra...