Via magazine | May+June 2020 | AAA by Via magazine | AAA Mountain West Group

MAY+JUNE 2020

How to deep clean your house Daydreaming about our next road trip Smart Guide: Preparing for disaster

Staying close to home

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PREPARDNESS

FOR EVERY ADVENTURE

AQUALITE Life Saving Emergency Preparedness Kit with Solar-powered Lantern. The Aqualite also has a bright LED light that can switch to SOS mode to signal for help. The built-in 2000mAh battery stores charge from the sun or fills up via the included USB cable. The silicone bottle contains the essentials including life-saving water purification straw, emergency whistle, flint & steel fire starter and basic first-aid supplies needed for a long hike or an unexpected emergency. etoncorp.com/aqualite

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CONTENTS

May+June 2020 / Vol. 141 / No. 3

Travel writer Freda Moon finds solace in creating a community garden. Page 28.

FE AT U R E S

D E PA R T M E N T S

28 When We Stopped Traveling

6 Connect

MITCH TOBIAS; COVER: TRINETTE REED / STOCKSY

Four travel writer reflect on when we sheltered in place. by t r i n a e n r i q u e z , p e t e r f i s h , f r e d a m o o n , a n d k at e s i b e r

Digital exclusive: How to make your home more energy efficient this summer.

8 AAA Insider

Save on everyday purchases using your AAA Membership.

Prepare your car for long-term storage with these simple steps.

24 On the Road

The first road trips the Via team plans to take when travel restrictions are lifted.

11 Community

37 Smart Guide

14 Smart Person

46 #ViaAdventure

When everything shut down, AAA made health and safety a priority.

Meet the National Park Service’s social media master.

ON THE COVER There was beauty and wonder to discover in our slowed-down, stay-at-home lives. Page 28.

20 Smart Auto

16 Smart Home

Nineteen ways to prepare for natural disasters.

Staying home is a bit easier when you have a great view to lift your spirits.

A room-by-room guide to deep cleaning your house.

A A A | VIA

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Editorial

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Dan Miller MANAGING EDITOR Whitney Phaneuf CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Avital Andrews,

Katie Henry, Rebecca Smith Hurd

Design + Production

DESIGN DIRECTOR Monica Ewing Jensen PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Amy Mackey ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Veronica Sooley PHOTO EDITOR Maggie Perkins

Digital

EXECUTIVE DIGITAL PRODUCER Rebecca Harper DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIST Valerie St. John SOCIAL MEDIA Arthur Ilasco

Advertising

ADVERTISING LEAD Linda Black ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Bruce Colton,

Kevin McCaw, Mike Walker ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Natasha Alcalá ADVERTISING ACCOUNTING William Nocera

Subscription rate: AAA primary members, $2 (included in dues). Change of address: Allow four weeks’ advance notice. Contact AAA at (800) 922-8228. Manuscripts and photos: Query ﬁrst; Via assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited material. Reprints from Via: Contents copyrighted 2020 AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah. No part of Via may be reprinted without written permission. Contact Via Editorial: Address all mail to Via, AAA, P.O. Box 24502, Oakland, CA 94623, or viamail@via magazine.com. Contact Via Advertising: Address all mail to Via Advertising, AAA, P.O. Box 24502, Oakland, CA 94623. Fax (510) 899-0525.

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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

In summer, temperatures rise and so can electric bills. That’s because air-conditioning systems are often the biggest energy hogs in the house. How can you keep your home comfortable without racking up a staggering utility bill? We have nine tips that will save you money while beating the heat. Find the list at AAA.com/efficiency. And you’ll find plenty of other great ways to save at AAA.com/viamagazine.

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Keep your cool

Protecting you on the road and now at home.

Home security, the AAA way. ✓ Members save $60 annually** ✓ 24/7 AAA professional monitoring ✓ Monitoring starts at less than $1 a day**

Call 866-320-5883 or Visit AAA.com/SmartVia

Free outdoor camera.*

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Use promo code VIACAM

*New system installs only, limit one free camera per person. Promotion expires on July 31, 2020. **Requires purchase of a new AAA Smart Home system. System sold separately. Installation fee applies. Discount applies to monthly alarm and smart home monitoring fees only. Valid AAA Membership required for discount. Please call 866.320.5833 for availability in your area. Certain terms and restrictions may apply, visit AAA.com/SmartTerms for details. Alarm License No. CA - ACO-5195 and AZ - 18658-0 © 2020 A3 Smart Home LP, all rights reserved.

AAA INSIDER

Enroll in Fuel Rewards from Shell to save 5 cents a gallon every time you fill up, with no minimum purchase required. Keep your car in shape by stocking up at Napa Auto Parts, where Members receive 10 percent off parts and accessories. And you’ll always save at least $25 when you buy a battery from AAA, which includes free on-thespot replacement plus disposal and recycling of your old battery.

Our fur babies need health insurance too.

Everyday savings How to cut costs on essential purchases using your AAA Membership. In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to pinch pennies. If you’re looking for ways to trim your household budget, remember that your AAA Membership can help. In addition to all the other services and benefits it provides, your Membership can save you money on everyday purchases for your car, home, health care, and more. The easiest way to find Member discounts is by using the AAA Mobile app. Open it up and tap “Discounts” at the bottom of the screen to discover deals in a variety of categories, or tap the search field to locate a specific partner. You can also visit AAA.com/discounts in any browser, enter your zip code, and view hundreds of discounts available to you.

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Finance Identity theft and related scams often increase in times of crisis. You can protect yourself by enrolling in ProtectMyID coverage, a free service from AAA and Experian. And with the deadline to file 2019 federal income taxes extended to July 15, there’s still time to get up to $20 off TurboTax, the popular software that makes filing easy.

Home and business Update your work-fromhome tools with a new printer or computer. You can save up to 35 percent on select HP prod-

Health and wellness Reduce the cost of your entire family’s prescriptions using GoodRx, a free benefit to all AAA Members. GoodRx gives you access to exclusive coupons that provide discounts of up to 85 percent on FDAapproved drugs, brand name and generic— whether you’re using insurance or not. Sign up at AAA.com/goodrx.

Insurance Our furry family members need health coverage too. Pets Best offers insurance for dogs and cats, with plans for every budget—and you’ll save an additional 10 percent as a AAA Member. Instead of dreading the next time you have to take your pet to the vet, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that Pets Best will help cover the bill, with no annual or lifetime payout limits.

GOODBOY PICTURE COMPANY / ISTOCK

Automotive

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Offer Valid 2/3/20-8/3/20 7:00am ET. *Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers. Taxes, shipping and other fees apply. Offers available only to qualified U.S. customers, and subject to restrictions in your applicable contract, if any. Offer not valid for Resellers. Dell reserves right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Copyright 2020 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. 333921

COMMUNITY

Fleet manager Alex Grant has adapted to new rules of the road.

Doing our part

JAMES BUETI

How AAA has been helping out in tough times. Alex Grant, who manages a fleet of AAA service trucks based in Fairfield, Calif., says a lot of things changed when the coronavirus crisis hit. Traffic got lighter, for one thing. Most of the people still driving were doing so for good reasons. They may have been medical personnel, first responders, grocery store clerks, or others who, in one way or another, were working to keep the rest of us healthy, safe, and fed. Grant’s job was to help make sure everyone arrived safely wherever they were going.

His top priority as a fleet manager remained the same as always: ensuring the safety and well-being of AAA Members and his staff. But in the days of physical distancing and extreme hygiene, that meant making some creative adjustments. Take, for example, a routine call for Emergency Road Service. Drivers now had to limit their physical contact with Members and passengers, observing the distancing protocols and minimizing contact with surfaces that others may have touched. For

the time being, a Member getting a tow could no longer ride in the truck with the AAA driver. When a Member contacted the AAA service center, a staffer would provide an estimated wait time, as usual. But now she or he would also ask the Member to use that wait time to arrange a ride—with a friend, relative, or ride-hailing service—to wherever the vehicle was being towed. In a few cases, AAA could provide rides in vans that had entirely separate airspaces for the driver and passengers

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COMMUNITY

Essential services Grant is just one of hundreds of AAA employees who worked hard through the first months of the coronavirus crisis to keep Members safe. Other AAA employees spent much of that time staying close to home and away from coworkers while still taking care of business. For the safety of Members and employees, all 118 AAA branches run by AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah closed temporarily. But team members stayed on the job, working remotely from home. As local authorities permitted, those branches began to reopen, after instituting new cleaning procedures and ensuring physical distancing. Club-owned car repair shops remained open to Members. Those shops offered curbside drop-off and pickup services—again, to minimize physical contact between Members and employees. Customers of AAA Insurance were issued premium refunds totaling $100 million. Members with policies active as of Apr. 30 were eligible for a 20 percent rebate on two months of premiums (where allowed by law). As stay-at-home orders spread, the club mobilized employees to proactively call Members to check in and help connect them with public resources as needed.

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Good neighbors AAA supported local communities in a variety of other ways too. The club donated 1,000 N95 masks to hospitals in Northern California. In those markets where GIG Car Share operates, community organizations were invited to take advantage of Gig4Good. This program offers free driving credits and access to GIG cars, which can be used for services such as delivering food to vulnerable

populations. The club also conducted virtual car seat inspections using videoconferencing technology, so parents could be sure their kids stayed safe. Throughout these trying times, everyone at AAA from the CEO to the tow truck drivers has been focused on how we can best serve our Members. “The unifying characteristic of the people I work with is that we love helping people,” says Alex Grant. “That’s never been truer than now.”

top: New protocols keep drivers and technicians safe. bottom: Gig4Good helps community organizations.

TOP: JAMES BUETI; BOTTOM: BRANDON HAWK

and allowed those passengers to enter and exit completely hands-free. Keeping the tow trucks virus free also required new cleaning solutions. At first, commercial disinfectant wipes were often unavailable. So Grant and his team made their own, using bottles of Lysol and heavy-duty paper towels. They also supplied drivers with power sprayers and soap to make regular hand washing easier.

PREPAREDNESS AT HOME

BLACKOUT BUDDY COLOR LED EMERGENCY FLASHLIGHT AND NIGHTLIGHT WITH MOTION SENSOR

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$17.49

SMART PERSON

Matthew Turner Social media specialist

Matthew Turner is the quickwitted, 37-year-old ranger behind the National Park Service’s official social media presence. He began his career at Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia, working the park entrance station before moving into guided tours and living history demonstrations. He joined the Office of Communications at the Washington, D.C., headquarters in 2018 to manage the NPS accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, which collectively boast nearly 5 million followers. Turner’s posts are often hilarious and timely— such as showing a skunk “practicing social distancing before it was cool.”

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CREDIT HERE

The NPS ranger keeps us virtually connected to the West’s most beautiful places.

COURTESY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (2)

Q What’s your favorite NPS Instagram post? A The horse with great hair [right, from Apr. 2020] at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland was fun. I also enjoyed putting together a safety post over the holidays that dealt with taking safe selfies and watching wildlife. [In the Dec. 2019 post, gingerbread bison topple a gingerbread man with a camera.] Lots of cookies, maybe a pan or two, were harmed in the making of the post. But— the things you do for social media, right? Q In February, you offered to match anyone’s personality to a park if they provided their favorite animal, hiking level, and a personality trait selection. How did you pull this off? A We’re always looking for ways to engage followers. This was an idea to get people thinking about parks, and maybe introduce them to a new park or two. I tried hard to respond to as many comments as possible. The comments numbered over 7,000, so I probably missed a few. I apologize to everyone who is still waiting for their park match! There did seem to be quite a few “neurotic marmots” and “ambitious moose” out there. Watch out the next time you’re in Yellowstone or Grand Teton. Q How do you balance humor and more serious messaging— especially when we were dealing with a global pandemic? A Of all our accounts, Instagram tends to be the most lighthearted. But across the platforms, it’s

about holding that fine line of government agency pushing out important messages and educating people as we welcome them. The humor is often used to draw people in. But beyond the funny, there is usually a safety message, a deeper dive into park resources or policy, or a fun fact. Q When you’re posting, how aware are you of the parks’ opportunity to lift people’s spirits and offer a visual escape? A Sometimes just posting an image of a beautiful mountain vista or a short clip of a waterfall can bring a moment of escape or serenity. By sharing on social media, we’re part of a community of park supporters. We share trip ideas, exchange favorite memories, and connect over funny park experiences. Our accounts are meant to be a place where everyone can come together and share their love of parks and take a virtual trip all over the country. Q Do you have a favorite park in the West? A Grand Canyon gets a lot of the glory, but I’ve also enjoyed exploring Arizona’s other parks [and monuments], like Saguaro, Tonto, and Tuzigoot. Also, Idaho’s Craters of the Moon offers a unique and unexpected landscape to explore. Q What are your favorite bits of park trivia? A There are some big parks out West! Alaska’s Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest national park in the country. Covering 13.2 million acres, it’s bigger than Vermont and New

Hampshire combined. At 3.4 million acres, California’s Death Valley National Park is the largest park in the lower 48. It’s also the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the United States—so bring water! Q What happened in the parks while humans were mostly away? A Nature carries on as it always has. Some parks, like Yosemite, have shared videos showing the ongoing transition from winter into spring with wildlife going about their business, exploring oncebusy park roads. On a related note: Wildlife petting incidents are way down. — l e e a n n e j o n e s

Visit AAA.com/virtualparks to experience some of the West’s national parks from the comfort of your home.

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SMART HOME

How to deep clean your house A room-by-room guide to making your home sparkle.

CREDIT HERE

Your home needs a deep clean at least once a season and summer presents the perfect opportunity to enlist your kids and grandkids to pitch in. By focusing on cleaning areas that are often neglected (dirty baseboards, the dust bunnies lurking underneath large furniture, and grimy handles and knobs), you can end up with a germ-free home in tip-top condition. Not sure where to get started? We spoke to experts for advice on what to clean—and how.

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The big picture Basic supplies to keep on hand

LEFT: BYMURATDENIZ / ISTOCK; RIGHT: XSANDRA / ISTOCK; OPPOSITE: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS / SHUTTERSTOCK

Before you dive in, make sure you have these expert-recommended cleaning supplies. A vacuum. Opt for one with a HEPA filter, which will “pull toxins out of the air,” says Brian Murphy, a franchise partner of You’ve Got Maids. Rags or microfiber cloths. You can recycle old T-shirts and towels or use microfiber cloths, which are great for dust, stains, and dirt, says Abe Navas, general manager of Emily’s Maids. “They are supercheap, reusable, and durable,” he notes. A mop and bucket. Keep two buckets on hand, “one for dirty water and another for clean [water],” advises Jennie Varney, brand marketing manager for Molly Maid. Sponges, scrub brushes, and old toothbrushes. These workhorses are essential. “If you can think of something to clean, then you can probably use a sponge,” says Navas. Scrub brushes and toothbrushes work well on grout or anything that’s caked on.

Gloves. You should add this layer when you’re getting down and dirty (think: behind the toilet). “If you use bleach or another harsh chemical, then you should definitely use gloves to protect your hands,” Navas says. Cleaners. A spray bottle containing equal parts vinegar and water can clean most surfaces, says Varney. Navas also recommends bleach, glass cleaner, soap, and a product to polish wood. If you’re avoiding harsh cleaners, you have options. Hydrogen peroxide, available in any drugstore, is effective on a wide range of micro organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and spores, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wipes and sprays with at least 70 percent alcohol are also potent disinfectants. Be thoughtful in putting these supplies to work: Mixing products— such as bleach and ammonia—can cause toxic fumes. And even when the results aren’t toxic, using the wrong products could get in the way of the deep clean you want, Murphy points out. For instance, using an oil soap throughout the home can create a foglike effect on wooden floors.

Cleaning pros recommend tackling one room at a time. That way, says Navas, you avoid dust flying from one space to another. Declutter. You won’t be able to clean effectively if every surface is covered in old mail and bric-a-brac. Start by clearing, tidying, and putting things away. Clean baseboards and ceiling fans. Murphy recommends doing this by hand, not with the vacuum. A microfiber cloth or a wet, soapy rag will do the trick. Be sure to get the top of the fan as well as the bottom. Disinfect items that are often touched. These include light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles. Wash the windows. Use a window cleaner or make your own. Varney recommends mixing half a cup of white vinegar, half a cup of rubbing alcohol, two squirts of dish soap, and one gallon of water.

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SMART HOME

Bathroom

Kitchen Making this room sparkle requires a thorough approach, from the refrigerator to the oven. Empty the fridge. Check expiration dates on food, including condiments, and discard items as needed. Defrost the freezer. “Use a sponge and a baking soda solution to wipe the inside of both your freezer and refrigerator,” says Varney. Don’t forget to clean the outside, too. Clean the microwave. In a quart-size microwave-safe bowl, mix half a cup each of water and white vinegar, says Varney. Microwave on high until the liquid hits a rolling boil. Once it cools, use it to wipe away grime with

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a sponge. Wipe down the exterior of the microwave as well. Clean the dishwasher. Soap residue can build up and leave spots and streaks on dishes. To remove old detergent, run the dishwasher on empty with a cup of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda. Wipe down cabinets. Use a dis infectant on handles and knobs, since these are frequently touched. Clean the stove and oven. Attack all surfaces, not just the greasiest ones, with a spray or hot soapy water. Run the oven’s self-cleaning function if it has one. “Remove the pot grates and soak in hot soapy water,” Varney recommends.

Scour the sink, toilet, and tub. Use equal parts vinegar and water or a bathroomspecific product to clean the fixtures. Spray a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water on any areas with mold, says Varney. “Let it sit for at least five minutes and then scrub it with a toothbrush,” she says. Wipe down surfaces. You’ll want to clean countertops, the outsides of cabinets, and frequently touched handles and knobs. Clean mirrors and windows as well. Wash bath mats and shower curtains. If there is mold buildup on the shower curtain, soak it in warm water with bleach.

LEFT: KRISTIANSEPTIMIUSKROGH / ISTOCK; RIGHT: NEW AFRICA / SHUTTERSTOCK

Go beyond the typical sprayand-wipe routine.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GAF_LILA / SHUTTERSTOCK; PHOTOGRAPHEE.EU / SHUTTERSTOCK; PPA / SHUTTERSTOCK

Bedrooms Living room You’ll relax better in this room once the dust has been banished. Vacuum and mop. Run the vacuum everywhere, even moving furniture to clean underneath. Shake area rugs outside. Mop floors using an appropriate cleaning solution. Dust and polish. Use a microfiber cloth to dust all surfaces (tchotchkes and picture frames, too). For wooden

furniture, use a wood-friendly product to make it shine. Don’t forget about your electronics. “Use a microfiber cloth with plain water or a small amount of cleaning solution and wipe the television and remote controls,” says Varney. Flip couch cushions. Or, at the very least, lift them up to vacuum underneath, and clean the cushions themselves. “Put the tip of the vacuum directly on the fabric and suck the filth away,” Navas says.

Outside Clean indoors and out. Think beyond the doorstep. “The exterior of the home is often forgotten,” notes Varney. Maybe that’s because many outside tasks require expert help. Home maintenance services such as AAA House Manager offer power washing, deck cleaning and staining, gutter cleaning, wood rot repair, window weatherstripping replacement, and more.

Restore bedrooms to sanctuary status by ridding them of clutter, dust, and dirt. Wash the bedding. Throw sheets and blankets in the washing machine. Many pillows can also be washed; check their tags to make sure. Flip the mattress. Is it singlesided? Turn it from end to end. Dust and vacuum. Experts recommend a microfiber cloth for dusting. “This will trap dust, rather than just push it around,” says Varney. Wipe away the dust from the entire bed frame and all bedroom furniture. Finish by vacuuming, especially underneath the bed and any other large furniture. — m a d e l e i n e b u r ry

Leave cleaning the exterior of your home to the pros at AAA House Manager (AAA .com/housemanager), whose services include gutter cleaning and power washing.

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SMART AUTO

Keep your car road ready Not going to be driving your vehicle for a while? Here’s how to prepare it for long-term storage. There are all kinds of reasons you might leave your car sitting for an extended period of time. Perhaps you’ve bought a new vehicle but haven’t yet figured out what to do with the old one. Or maybe you’re getting ready for a long, once-in-alifetime trip and you’ll be leaving your car at home. Or maybe, as happened to many of us recently, you’re working from home for a while and not commuting as much. Whatever the reason for your car’s extended rest, a few simple steps will make sure it’s ready to go again when you are. Take care of routine maintenance. If the car is due for a change of oil, brake fluid, or coolant, get it done now. Deteriorated fluids can lead to rust and corrosion. Check the battery. Make sure the terminals are clean and tight. To preserve the battery’s charge, consider attaching a trickle charger.

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Your driveway isn’t ideal for long-term car storage.

Extra tire pressure can forestall flat spots.

LEFT: DENISE KAPPA / SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT: PAKPOOM PHUMMEE / SHUTTERSTOCK

CREDIT HERE

Pump up the tires. Add an extra 10 psi of pressure to each tire to prevent flat spots from forming. You can also buy storage pads, which distribute the car’s weight more evenly over the surfaces of your tires. Fill ’er up. Make sure the gas tank is full, to minimize condensation. While you’re at it, add a fuel stabilizer. If you do, be sure to drive for five to 10 miles to circulate the stabilized fuel before you put the car away.

and may prevent premium increases due to lapsed coverage. Make a list. Keep track of everything you did to prep the vehicle for storage, so you can undo it all when putting the vehicle back on the road. Then just leave the list in the car.

Release the parking brake. Engaging the brake can cause brake pads to rust or brake shoes to distort the drums. With an automatic transmission, just place the vehicle in park. If your transmission is manual, put it in first gear or reverse, and use wheel chocks to keep the car in place.

If you’re storing your car for more than 45 days, park it in a cool, dry, dark location. If that’s not possible, consider a portable parking structure, car bag, or at the very least a breathable cover. If the vehicle will be exposed to significant moisture, scatter some desiccant packs inside. Finally, if there are mice where you’re storing the car, stuff some copper or steel wool into the tailpipe, engine air filter inlet, and any other openings where critters can enter.

Prop up the wiper arms. That way, they won’t get stuck to the glass.

↘ Have a professional take care of

Keep your vehicle insured. This will protect against unforeseen claims

your prestorage service: Find the nearest AAA Owned Auto Repair Center or AAA Approved Auto Repair facility by visiting aaa.com/repair.

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Home security, the AAA way.

✓ Equipment customized to your budget & priorities ✓ Two-way encryption protects against multiple hacking methods ✓ One convenient app to control, manage, and protect your home

Call 866-320-5883 or Visit AAA.com/SmartVia

Free outdoor camera.*

($160 value)

Use promo code VIACAM

*New system installs only, limit one free camera per person. Promotion expires on July 31, 2020. Please call 866.320.5833 for availability in your area. Certain terms and restrictions may apply, visit AAA.com/SmartTerms for details. Alarm License No. CA - ACO-5195 and AZ - 18658-0 © 2020 A3 Smart Home LP, all rights reserved.

ready wherever you are. AMERICAN RED CROSS FRX3+ All-Purpose Weather Radio and Portable Phone Charger Keep your household prepared with the FRX3+. This hand turbine rechargeable preparedness radio receives AM/FM radio stations and all seven NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather bands. When the “Alert” function is on, the radio will automatically broadcast emergency weather alerts for your area such as hurricanes, tornadoes and severe storms. The included 2600 mAh battery will keep your smartphone charged up during power outages to ensure you stay in touch with family and friends. Spin the hand turbine for one minute to get 10-15 minutes of radio and flashlight use or place the FRX3 in the sun for a solar charging option. etoncorp.com/frx3+

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CREDIT HERE

On the Road

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“My husband and I are looking forward to driving Highway 1 from the Golden Gate Bridge to Bodega Bay. We plan to revisit our favorite spots, including Muir Beach, the Point Reyes headlands, and Two Bird Café, where we enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving dinner last year.” —monica ewing jensen, d e s i g n d i r ec to r

STAFF FAVORITES

Road trip daydreams ↘ When it’s safe to travel for leisure, the Via team plans to hit these spots in California. “The first place I’d like to go after travel restrictions lift? Across the Central Valley on Highway 120, up and over Sonora Pass (my favorite trans-Sierra crossing), and down into Bridgeport for lunch at the Burger Barn, to be eaten alfresco while gazing across that big valley to Matterhorn Peak and Sawtooth Ridge.”

“I just got a tent, with the thought that camping will make for a safe getaway this summer. First stop: Big Sur. It’s one of my favorite places, yet I haven’t been in probably 10 years. I can’t wait to go to Pfeiffer Beach, climb the rocks, and watch the ocean, then enjoy a snack on the deck at Nepenthe.” — a m y m ac k e y ,

— d a n m i l l e r , e x ec u t i v e e d i to r

p r o d u c t i o n d i r ec to r

“Wine country is my happy place, so I will be headed to Napa Valley. For sprawling views of vineyards, it’s hard to beat the drive along the Silverado Trail. It’s stunning at any time of year, but especially in late summer while the vines are lush, right before harvest.” — v e r o n i c a s o o l e y ,

“I’m dreaming of a Central Coast road trip down to Avila Beach. My family has some favorite waypoints along Highway 101, including a lunch stop at Firestone Walker in Paso Robles. Taking 101 means more time to stop for pie at the Avila Valley Barn and to explore the beachfront restaurants in town.” — r e b ec ca h a r p e r ,

as s o c i at e a rt d i r ec to r

e x ec u t iv e d i gi ta l p ro d uc e r

“For my family and me, a trek up to the Sierra foothills is in order so that we can get our fix of beautiful tree-lined mountains, blue skies, and clear vistas. It’s easily reached from the Bay Area, yet far enough away to give us a self-care weekend.” — to m h e n ry , d i r ec to r , b r a n d a n d

JEFF LEWIS / TANDEM STOCK

d i g i ta l c o n t e n t m a r k e t i n g

“My favorite road trips revolve around food. I’ve been fantasizing about taking Highway 1 north from Point Reyes Station, where I’ll pick up Cowgirl Creamery cheese and Brickmaiden Bread, to Marshall, where I’ll grab fresh oysters and set up a beach picnic.” — w h i t n e y p h a n e u f , m a n ag i n g e d i to r

“When the shelter-in-place order is lifted, I will head to Yosemite National Park—one of my favorite places on earth! My family has been going to Yosemite for generations, so I feel connected to my ancestors when visiting. Being at one with nature and the beauty of the park, I am overcome with a peaceful tranquility.” — b r u c e c o lto n , ac c o u n t e x ec u t i v e

NE X T Q UES TION

What is your favorite local hike, and why?

↘ Email us at otr@viamagazine.com. You may be quoted in a future issue. A A A | VIA

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When We Stayed

Four travel writers reflect on life while sheltering in place. 28

V I A | M AY+ J U N E 2 0 2 0

CREDIT HERE

HOME

MITCH TOBIAS (2)

“It’s not a sprint,” my wife tells me. “It’s a marathon.” We’re on Day 20 of sheltering in place. It feels like Day 200. My wife is a social worker, gifted at coping strategies. She’s devising one for me. “There’s no Pandemic for Dummies,” she advises. “You have to find your own resilience.” I’m trying, but it’s not easy. I’m a travel writer. I’ve spent my life working to capture the world’s wonders in words. Now, thanks to Covid-19, my world shrinks every day. I spend hours canceling long-planned trips. Goodbye, Sonoma coast. So long, Sierra Nevada. Some other time, Montana Rockies. We are lucky, my wife and I tell ourselves five times a day. We’re healthy, we have jobs, and there are few better places to be quarantined than our ocean edge of San Francisco. I can slip a leash on Maisie, our yellow Labrador, strap on my protective mask, and within minutes be strolling through Golden Gate Park. If I want something more strenuous, I lace up running shoes and—carefully maintaining a safe physical distance—pound the jogging path along a Great Highway now blissfully closed to cars. It all feels normal, until it doesn’t. Until you realize that it’s Day 30 with no shelter-in-place end in sight. Worry sets in. About San Francisco: Will the bookstores, movie houses, and coffee joints that make the city the special place it is return when the virus is under control? Worry about our firstjob-out-of-college son, sheltering in place in far-off New Jersey, reachable by only by Zoom. Worry about the family trips we’d tentatively planned with him, to places he has yet to see—Alaska’s Inside Passage, the Grand Canyon, Utah’s Highway 12 and the impossibly beautiful red rock country it traverses. Will those places be out of reach forever? What helps? My wife, our dog, gin and tonics, and books. I can’t venture out into the world, but I can read all about it. I gravitate to old friends. Mary Austin’s Land of Little Rain, that poem to California’s high desert where you savor “deep breaths, deep sleep, and the communion of the stars.” And a newer classic, George Black’s Empire of Shadows, an epic history of my favorite place in the universe, Yellowstone National Park, the kingdom of grizzlies and geysers and the chasm where

the Yellowstone River cascades down canyon walls seemingly sculpted in molten gold. With such aids, good days follow the bad. I put on the running shoes and head to the Great Highway. Another brilliant spring day—bright, breezy, with whitecaps skittering on a slate-blue sea. The path is bordered by short, decorative wooden posts. I run past one and spot something new. Nailed to the wood is a small oval blackboard on which someone has scrawled a message in white chalk. The words are blurred. I bend down for a closer look. We Will Get Through This. I stand there for a moment, warmed by spring sunshine and the message an unknown neighbor has left for the world. A marathon, not a sprint, I tell myself. We will take our son to the Grand Canyon and the Inside Passage. I will order a Cubano at my favorite neighborhood coffee joint. I resume my run. We will get through this. We will. — p e t e r f i s h

p e t e r f i s h is a

San Francisco– based writer whose work also appears in the San Francisco Chronicle, Coastal Living, and Sunset.

A A A | VIA

f r e d a m o o n ’s

travel writing has appeared in the New York Times, Afar, and Sunset. She lives on a trawler in San Francisco Bay.

During my 20s and early 30s, I moved a lot and traveled more. When my husband and I moved— from Santa Cruz to Chicago, New Haven to Nicaragua, Mexico City to New York—we sold our things and started over. We were rootless. I loved it. When we eventually decided to have kids, we returned to California, bought a boat, and began living on San Francisco Bay—an unmoored version of “settling down” that brought us closer to family, if not significantly closer to staying put. Our travel changed, but it didn’t stop. Both our kids had visited half a dozen countries before they could walk. But there were downsides to all this adventure. “Home” never felt like more than a stop on our itinerary. Then Covid-19 came to California and forced me, like everyone else, to stay. To shelter. Facing

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MITCH TOBIAS (2)

There was a moment in March, when others were panic buying, that I began panic gardening.

an uncertain future, without either travel or work, my impulse to garden felt instinctual, like an inheritance from my grandmothers, who had lived through Depression-era poverty and a world war. The tactile satisfaction of gardening—hands in manure-rich soil, plucking weeds, wrangling snap pea vines and tomato branches—was calming. It was also a commitment. It wedded me to Alameda, the island city where we’d lived for years but never truly dug in. In our marina’s parking lot, I took over raised flower beds, badly neglected, and converted them to vegetable gardens of kale, collard greens, chard, and carrots. I turned our roof deck into a lettuce and herb farm and hung a hammock to remind me of my last trip to southern Mexico. I was supposed to return there in April for an assignment that is now on indefinite hold. I planted more than we could eat, then kept going. I wanted to have extra so we could feed others. I knew in my gut that people would be hungry. So I grew scallions and potatoes from kitchen scraps. I began baking, making sourdough pizza and biscuits from wild yeast. We got a waffle maker and an ice cream churn, single-use gadgets of the sort I’ve resisted keeping in our small space. I made extra of everything and gave away as much as I could, finding purpose in feeding people. I packed a ziplock bag of waffles and sent my husband and daughter kayaking along the shore with a special delivery for a friend a few marinas away. I stood in my garden, mask on, handing out extra greens to strangers, neighbors I am only now getting to know. In return, I received unexpected gifts: a painted rock that reads Smile; a small pot with a young bean stalk, ready to plant; knitted mask clips to make my 5-year-old more comfortable in her Minnie Mouse face covering. This island is now our whole world, so why not make it a world overflowing with flavor, and color, and enough food to share with the people a pandemic has turned into a community. — f r e d a m o o n

CREDIT HERE

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CREDIT HERE

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MITCH TOBIAS (2)

The first two weeks of sheltering in place were the most bewildering. The abrupt upending of routine, the sudden uncertainty of livelihood, the news seeming more foreboding by the hour, the worry for loved ones— all of it swirled together in a perfect storm of anxiety. The loss of control was tough. Then it occurred to me: Isn’t this sense of disorientation and how we adapt to it some of the best of what travel is about? After all, I thought, my loved ones are still OK. I am, for the time being, employed. And while I can’t control the news, I can regulate what I decide to do about it. Creating a new routine was key, not only to avoiding that vortex of worry, but also to providing a sense of structure and order for these strange days. So I still got up before dawn, but instead of heading to work, I’d go walk in the surrounding hills and take note of, say, the scent of jasmine on the breeze or the sight of a hummingbird zipping from bloom to bloom. My partner and I also began watching the sunrise, relishing its warm glow, and later strolling along nearby tidal sloughs to observe shorebirds go about their lives as though nothing were amiss. Sheltering in place also made space for all the homebodying my introverted heart could desire: more exercise, reading new books, streaming more documentaries and arts performances online. I made time to donate blood, to feel I could contribute something positive amid the bad news. Best of all, I had more time to spend on the letter writing and mail art I love, embracing both as a material way to stay connected with friends and family and as a fun way to express myself creatively. I scrapbooked! I journaled! In other words, I made sense of feeling so intensely housebound in the same ways I would help myself feel more grounded

in any new place. I made a point of trying something novel every day, no matter how small. I vowed to reflect on the moment but also to revel in what simple pleasures could be had. I still long to savor all that life offers, locally and globally—to dine at restaurants with friends, however physically distanced, and to listen to the plangent sound of waves on California’s rocky coast. A late-summer sojourn to Italy is now up in the air—we’ll see how the situation unfolds over the coming weeks—and I hold out hope of exploring Lassen Volcanic National Park in California for the first time, too, once the park fully reopens. But regardless of what happens, I feel determined to prove, if only to myself, that a full life, brimming with love and adventure and new experiences, can be found at home as well as on the road.

trina enriquez

lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, and her writing has appeared in Sunset.

—trina enriquez

A A A | VIA

lives in Durango, Colo., and contributes to Outside, Preservation, and National Parks.

It’s 10:30 a.m. on a Friday and I have already fixed myself an omelet, talked with friends on Zoom, baked an apple pie, eaten much of that pie, and finally sat down to write—all while wearing a pink wig, because why not? This is my life during the time of Covid-19— a mixture of the monotonous and the absurd. Normally in spring I would be road-tripping from my home in Durango, Colo., all over the Southwest and beyond—hiking, skiing, backpacking, photographing, and writing. But because of Colorado’s stay-at-home order, I am barely leaving my house, let alone the county. At first, I felt a sense of residual busyness as the lumbering machinery of my life came to a halt. But soon, with less work, volunteering, socializing, and traveling, great expanses of time opened up. That bounty of hours has allowed for visits from some interesting old friends. Anxiety, for one. I’m blessed to have a stable home and plenty of food, but I’m heartbroken for my community and the world—the people who are

ill, out of work, or one paycheck away from ruin. It’s hard to know the best way to help. In the abundance of time, my creativity, which is so often channeled into travel, has been resurfacing in new ways. I have started to write essays just for myself. I took a watercolor class online. I’m making collages and donning more creative—one might say eccentric—outfits. (Cue the pink wig.) Even my daydreams have changed. I think of all the amazing dishes I’m going to make for neighborhood dinner parties when the pandemic is over. I fantasize more extravagantly than ever about travel—maybe a months-long road trip up the Rocky Mountains into Canada, hitting every great hike and swimming hole along the way, or a grand wine-soaked European tour with my husband that includes a minimum of one gelato or pastry a day. It seems my neighbors are getting inventive too (or maybe just plain loopy). I spotted an older gentleman joyriding his vintage John Deere tractor at breakneck speed around town, and a pod of boys playing some hybrid of lacrosse and polo on baby tricycles—maintaining proper distance, of course. These long hours have also offered the opportunity to turn inward. I find myself listening more deeply to the rhythms of my own being, which are usually drowned out by the demands of a busy life. These days, when I feel tired, I actually lie down instead of powering through another project. When I feel restless, I take myself on a walk like a beloved dog. That finer attunement to my inner landscape has in turn heightened my awareness and enjoyment of the world around me—of such simple things as the birds flitting between trees in my backyard, the deer ambling by, the sounds of the river rising with spring snowmelt. I don’t know if I will take this enhanced capacity to listen with me into the postpandemic future, but I’m in no hurry to leave that part behind—whether I wind up going on that amazing Rocky Mountain road trip or not. — k at e s i b e r

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KATE SIBER; OPPOSITE: KYLA JENKINSON

k at e s i b e r

CREDIT HERE

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When the road calls, make sure your car is ready.

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WHAT’S THIS? IT’S OUR GUIDE TO LIVING LIFE SMARTER, WITH HELPFUL TIPS AND TRICKS.

Smart Guide → Preparing for disaster We’ve all just learned how important it is to be prepared for a global pandemic. But those of us who live in the West must also be ready for the kinds of natural disasters—earthquakes, fires, and floods— that are endemic to this part of the country. Here are 19 ways to make sure you are. by av i ta l a n d r e ws

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SMART GUIDE

ready

for (almost)

anything

CREDIT HERE

1. Have a plan. Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do in the event of a natural disaster: How to evacuate the home, where to go, how to get there, and who will grab what on the way out. Practice your plan regularly. Create a wallet-sized emergency contact list for everybody to carry that includes at least one out-ofstate relative or friend. Such lists are useful not only to you, but also to rescue workers (who can use them to get in touch with someone on your behalf when you can’t).

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Stock your emergency kit. You should have a cache of emergency supplies to keep you safe and sound for at least three days after a disaster. Ideally, these supplies should be packed in sealed, waterproof bins that are stored somewhere cool, dry, rodent free, and easy to access. Make sure everyone knows where the kit is, and check it twice a year to replace out-of-date items. Ready .gov recommends that every kit include these basics:

□ Water (one gallon per person for three days).

□ Food (nonperishable, enough for three days).

□ Can opener (if the above includes canned food).

□ Radio (battery powered or hand cranked).

□ Headlamp or flashlight. □ Batteries for all electronic items in your kit.

□ First aid kit. □ Whistle. □ N95 respirator masks. □ Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties (for personal sanitation).

□ Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

CREDIT HERE GULCIN RAGIBOGLU/ ISTOCK

□ Local maps.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also want to pack:

□ Medically necessary prescriptions (three days’ worth).

□ Copies of vital personal documents, including ID cards that verify your address.

□ Cash. □ Sleeping bag or blanket for each family member.

□ Waterproof tarp. □ Clothes (one change per person,

appropriate for wherever you live).

□ Sturdy shoes such as a pair of retired sneakers.

□ Water-purifying tablets or chlorine bleach (with a medicine dropper) to disinfect water.

□ Waterproof matches in a waterproof container.

□ Fire extinguisher. □ Personal hygiene items (including

soap, hand sanitizer, and feminine care products).

□ Other medications (aspirin, diarrhea remedies, etc.).

□ Spare eyeglasses or contact lenses and solution.

□ If you have a baby: formula, bottles, diapers, and wipes.

□ If you have older kids: books, puzzles, games, and snacks.

□ If you have a pet: food (three days’

worth), water, food bowl, medicine, blanket, copies of important paperwork (pet adoption contract, microchip number, and vaccination and medical records), and a recent photo of you and Fluffy, should you need to prove ownership.

In addition, make sure the emergency kit you keep in your car is up to date. (You do keep one in your car, right?) It should include jumper cables, tire-pressure gauge, portable tire inflator or patch kit, jack, and road flares.

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SMART GUIDE

3 40

Pack a go bag for work. Emergencies also happen when you’re on the job, so you’ll want have supplies on hand there, too. You can buy a basic preassembled go bag (AAA Members save up to 30 percent on select Ready America kits purchased online), or you can put together your own. It should include enough food, water, and necessary medicines to last 24 hours, plus a pair of shoes that are comfortable to walk in if your work shoes aren’t, all stored in a brightly colored, waterproof duffel bag or backpack.

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5. Brush up on first aid. CPR and basic first aid lessons may teach you the most important skills you’ll ever learn. “If a family member or neighbor is injured during a disaster, this knowledge could save a life,” says Gary Russell, senior catastrophe claims manager for AAA. Go to redcross.org or cpr .heart.org to find a class near you or to enroll in an interactive online course. The average CPR class takes just two to five hours.

LEFT: P_WON / SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT: WELLPHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK

Prepare for sheltering in place. As we all now know, pandemic preparedness is just as essential as being ready for fires, floods, and earthquakes. That means staying up-to-date on vaccines and stocking up for hunkering down (with hand soap, hand sanitizer, face masks, electrolyte drinks, and a backup supply of medications). You should also have paper copies of, or online access to, your family’s medical records. Think ahead about who will care for your kids or elderly relatives if you get sick.

6 Know what you own.

PHOTOGRAPHEE.EU / SHUTTERSTOCK

To assist with insurance claims, create a home inventory and store it in the cloud. Make your own spreadsheet or use a dedicated app. At minimum, walk through your property with your smartphone and record a video of your belongings, then email that video to yourself and close relatives.

7. Stay informed. Keep at least one old-fashioned batterypowered radio in the house, so you can follow news reports and instructions from officials. NOAA radio stations, which broadcast weather-related emergency information, are also good to monitor; find your local one at weather .gov/nwr. The Nixle community warning system can send you text messages from local agencies. To sign up, text your zip code to 888777.

Make sure you’re covered. After taking inventory, confirm that you have enough insurance to cover all of your belongings. Calculate replacement costs for your most valuable items, then talk to your insurance agent to be sure you have adequate coverage for them. Government payouts, if any, will

be scanty. Few disasters meet the threshold to warrant federal assistance, and even then, it isn’t intended to make you whole. On average, FEMA offers between $3,000 and $6,000 in assistance. Remember that standard homeowners policies don’t cover quake damage. “Earthquake coverage is available in the form of a separate policy or an endorsement from most private insurers,” says Gary Russell. “If you’re in a high-risk area, ask your agent.”

A A A | VIA

SMART GUIDE

● For natural gas, it’s best if your

utility does the shutoff. If you must do it yourself, use a wrench to turn off the main valve by rotating it so that it’s perpendicular to the pipe. ● For electricity, go to the circuit

box and flip off all the individual circuits before turning off the main circuit, then unplug your appliances to keep them from shorting when the power returns. ● For water, go to the main shutoff

valve and turn the knob or handle clockwise until it’s off.

Protect the irreplaceable. Store cherished heirlooms somewhere secure. Don’t keep them in vulnerable spots: Low shelves are bad for paper treasures (such as photo albums) during floods, and high shelves are bad for fragile items during earthquakes. Have a plan for getting them out of the house if there’s time to do so safely. Put important documents in a fireproof, waterproof safe after you upload digital scans of them to the cloud. Finally, suggests Neal Stern of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, “If you use a safe-deposit box at a bank, consider one that’s not near your house, since a disaster can impact the entire area.”

11. Prepare mentally. While you’re setting yourself up physi cally for a possible disaster, make sure you get mentally ready, too. Realistically acknowledging the possibility of an earthquake, fire, or flood—whichever your home town is prone to—without stress ing about it is step one. Step two is doing everything you can do be

V I A | M AY+ J U N E 2 0 2 0

ready. (Hence this guide.) “Prep aration is as useful as stress is use less,” says psychologist Talya Miron-Shatz. “Identify what needs to be done—and do it. Living with the constant inner noise of ‘What if there’s a flood?’ is like inflicting that flood upon yourself constantly. Prepare for the worst, then stop thinking about it.”

LEFT: JIM LAMBERT / SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT: NIRADJ / SHUTTERSTOCK

Learn to shut off utilities. You can protect your home from gas leaks, electrical fires, burst pipes, and contaminated water by shut ting off utilities after a disaster.

Fire

LEFT: GERISIMA / SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT: FALCONA / SHUTTERSTOCK

12. Evacuate immediately. If you get an evacuation order, don’t dawdle. “The sooner you can leave your home and clear the roads, the easier it will be for firefighters to get their trucks in,” says Russell. Trapped? Call 911.

13. Check your alarms. Make sure that your house has smoke alarms in and just outside any room where people sleep. Test them monthly, change their batteries yearly, and replace them every decade. Buy a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.

14 Establish a fire-resistant zone.

If you’re in an area prone to wildfire, clear the area around your home—at least 100 feet from its walls— of anything flammable. Use fire-resistant Class A-rated materials for roofing, siding, and landscaping. Find or establish an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any area of your property. Keep your roof and gutters free of leaves and debris.

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SMART GUIDE

15 Quake-proof your home.

Earthquake

16 44

Avoid fallen lines. After an earthquake strikes, be careful about venturing outside. If you encounter a fallen power line, stay at least 35 feet away from it. Don’t touch any objects the line may be touching, such as a fence or a car, to avoid getting shocked or electrocuted.

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17. Get educated. Check FEMA’s earthquake hazard maps (fema .gov/earthquake-hazard-maps) to find out your level of risk. If you’re in a shaky zone, have your family practice the quake drill: Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with your arms, and, if possible, get underneath and hold onto sturdy furniture. (Contrary to popular belief, the doorway is no stronger than the rest of the building.)

CARLA NICHIATA / SHUTTERSTOCK

Bolt or brace heavy objects such as bookcases, refrigerators, TVs, water heaters, and gas appliances to studs in the walls. Set heavy objects on lower shelves. Don’t put your bed near items that can topple over or glass that may break. Keep your floors and walkways as clear as possible so that you don’t stumble over clutter while trying to make a quick escape; those extra few seconds could make all the difference.

Flood

Know your risk. In the United States, floods are the most widespread weather-related disasters. To find out whether your home is vulnerable to them, go to msc .fema.gov/portal/home and enter your street address. Areas near recent burn zones, construction sites, rivers, streams, and storm drains are at greatest risk.

KICHIGIN / SHUTTERSTOCK

Contact AAA to learn more about preparing for natural disasters and to make sure you have the right insurance coverage. Call 855-424-8639 or go to AAA.com/insurance.

18 Stay out of the water.

Never drive in floodwater. A mere 12 inches of moving water can sweep most cars off the road. Try not to walk in floodwater either; it may be electrified. If you absolutely must, use a stick to test its depth: Six inches of moving water is enough to knock down an adult.

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#VIAADVENTURE

AAA MEMBER PHOTO

View from here Sheltering in place isn’t easy, but a nice view can help lift the spirits. From her home in Tiburon, Calif., AAA Member Leela Voges can look out over Belvedere Island and see all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Tiburon’s rolling hills and vivid green trees inspired Voges to get outside and explore the town on many spring walks with her dog, Cody. Following small nondescript trail markers from neighborhood streets, she found herself in a delightful maze of hidden walkways, alleys, and staircases leading to open space along the ridge. She says, “It’s such a simple pleasure to discover what’s been right there all along.” — l e e a n n e j o n e s

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Share your adventure. Post an original photo of a memorable trip on Facebook or Instagram using #ViaAdventure. Your image may be published in print, or online at AAA.com/via.

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Save $56 on AAA Membership renewal fees each year plus extra savings on unlimited data plans.

Save up to 85% on prescriptions at over 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including pet medications.

Save 10% on select auto parts and accessories, plus earn $5 for every $100 you spend with NAPA Rewards.

Save 50% on lenses with a frame purchase, plus save on contacts, sunglasses, and more.

Save 12% on truck rentals and moving supplies. Free unlimited mileage on one-way rentals.

AAA.com/AAADiscounts

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Certain conditions and restrictions apply to all offers, are subject to availability, and are only good at participating locations and/or based on online purchase as indicated. Offers require an active AAA Membership Card, and are not valid with other discounts, promotions, or coupons unless specified otherwise. All offers are subject to change and may expire without notice. Some offers require advance purchase, and may have age and/or usage restrictions. For additional offer terms and conditions, visit AAA.com/restrictions. Shell: Restrictions apply. See AAA.com/Shell for full terms. At participating Shell stations only. Limit 20 gal. GoodRX is not insurance. ©2020 AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah. All rights reserved.

Save smarter this summer. Get more out of your AAA Membership.

AAA is more than the most recommended* road service. It’s also a great way for Members to save money this summer and all year long.

Save up to 20% with online discounts—from flowers and gifts to home office deals.

AAA.com/SummerSavings

Hundreds in savings on auto repair—plus car battery and windshield repair at home.

FREE essential identity theft protection—only for AAA Members. Enroll today.

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Certain conditions and restrictions apply to all offers, are subject to availability, and are only good at participating locations and/or based on online purchase as indicated. Offers require an active AAA Membership card, and are not valid with other discounts, promotions, or coupons unless specified otherwise. All offers are subject to change and may expire without notice. Some offers require advance purchase, and may have age and/or usage restrictions. For additional offer terms and conditions, visit AAA.com/restrictions. *2017 U.S. Market Track Survey. ©2020 AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah. All rights reserved.