Pa february 2014

SEE PAGE 3

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Vol. 61 No. 2

Wunderbar! ¡Fantástico!

YOU CAN SAVE $100!

Magnifique!

Touring Europe with select AAA Travel partners

translates into extra savings & benefits!

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he varied countries, cultures & cuisines of Europe coax ever more AAA members to “cross the pond” for unforgettable vacations. And now AAA Travel makes it easier and more affordable to enjoy a European escorted tour with several of our travel partners.

Traveling on a fully packaged tour from a well-known, well-respected AAA Travel partner may save you as much as 40% of what you would pay if you invested the time and energy to plan, reserve and purchase the exact same vacation experience on your own.

You’ll save $100.00 per room when you book and make a deposit on a 7-nightor-longer air-inclusive 2014 Europe escorted tour from a selection of AAA Travel partners by Feb 28, 2014.

Because many escorted tours sell out months before their departure dates, it’s always advisable to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Booking early enables you to take advantage of the best availability in tours, accommodations and transportation options; the longer you wait, the greater the chance that the hotels, flights or excursions you really want won’t be available.

But the best reason to book early is to save money. The farther away from the departure date, the less you pay.

With some travel partners,

you can save up to 10% off the land-only portion of select tours by booking and paying in full in advance. So

SAVE $100.00

off a 7-night-or-longer air-inclusive 2014 Europe escorted tour from a selection of AAA Travel partners.*

*Savings per room, double occupancy. Book & deposit by 2/28/14. New bookings only. Not valid on AAA Featured Vacations. Not combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply.

pay early and save more.

Choose now from hundreds, if not thousands, of exciting European tour packages from AAA Member Choice Vacations,® General Tours, Insight Vacations and Trafalgar.

From additional savings to vouchers valid toward optional tours and excursions, AAA members are entitled to exclusive benefits on select packages (see page 19).

Also, some AAA Travel partners have frequent-travel programs for those who’ve toured with them in the recent past; the partners offer additional savings on the land-only portion of select itineraries to those who travel with that same partner again.

Why an Escorted Tour?

What are the benefits of an escorted tour? No need to worry about language, finding your hotel or missing a train. No need to rent a car, to drive yourself along unfamiliar terrain, to decipher maps instead of appreciating the passing scenery. Professional guides provide history and cultural context as well as a personal touch that you’d never experience on your own. All in all, you’re free to enjoy because the hassles have all been taken care of for you. And most tour operators have spent years developing a perfect balance between organized activities and the freedom to continued on page 19

FEBRUARY 2014

Go green with the AAA Green Car Guide

Travel | Insurance/Financial | Automotive | Member Savings | AAA.com

AAA URGES CAUTION ON EXPANSION OF E15 GASOLINE

Consumers looking to “go green” and lessen their environmental impact through vehicle ownership have a new resource in AAA’s Green Car Guide on AAA.com.

Designed to help consumers find efficient vehicles that best fit their needs, the publication enables users to search vehicles based on criteria such as fuel economy and type of powertrain. It also provides an assessment — the “Green Leaf” rating — that takes into account real-world factors such as comfort, overall performance and cargo space.

Additionally, users can compare vehicles, learn how technology has improved vehicle efficiency and understand differences between electric, hybrid and clean-diesel models.

The guide, which is optimized for desktop and mobile access, was developed by the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center. It is designed to help consumers find efficient vehicles that best fit their needs, based on various criteria.

Members save at PensGear team stores Hockey fans can show their card and save when they stock up on the latest Pittsburgh Penguin clothing and merchandise at PensGear Team Stores. AAA members can celebrate the 2014 season in style and receive 10% off their total purchase with their valid AAA card. The Penguins team store in the CONSOL Energy Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The SouthSide Works Store is located at 442 27th Street, and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. This discount is valid at CONSOL Energy Center and SouthSide Works locations, and excludes Penguins Foundation items.

AAA Mobile Battery Service If your battery is failing you AAA Battery Service offers convenient mobile battery testing on the roadside, using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. The diagnostic service confirms whether your battery will hold a charge, or if the problem lies deeper in the electrical system. Best of all, the service is free to AAA members.

And each AAA Battery is covered by an unprecedented nationwide 72-month warranty, with a 36-month free replacement warranty. Our Insta-Quote battery price calculator on AAA.com will give you a price for your vehicle’s battery before requesting service. Prices displayed include the $25.00 member discount. Over one million AAA members have already enjoyed the convenience of having a AAA Battery delivered and installed on the spot.

Take the AAA Train this summer & fall Great rail journeys transcend mere travel to become the stuff of legend. This year, it’s all aboard with AAA Travel and Amtrak on two extraordinary rail tours. Travel to where the West is still wild aboard the Glacier National Park Discovery Aug. 9-18, running from Chicago to Seattle. The Sept. 26-Oct. 4, 2014 Jazz, Blues & Rock ‘n Roll tour runs from Chicago, home of the Blues, to the musical Mecca of Memphis, and New Orleans, birthplace of Jazz. Plus, book by Feb. 28, 2014 and enjoy exclusive AAA member level discounts of up to $700 per room. SEE PAGE 7

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AAA MOTORIST

Data breaches a growing target for identity thieves ProtectMyID® Essential a new, no cost member benefit

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illions of Americans have their identities stolen every year, often through no fault of their own. According to Javelin Strategy & Research card breachrelated fraud has increased 340% since 2010. Recently, over 70-million credit and debit card accounts were stolen during a massive security breach at retail giant Target, using a technique called data scraping. The stolen data quickly turned up on the black market, where it was sold world-wide.

Hackers are increasingly targeting U.S. credit card accounts because of their relatively insecure magnetic strip technology, first introduced in the 1970s. Many other countries, particularly in Europe, have converted to credit cards with EMV (EuroPayMasterCard Visa) technology that uses an embedded microprocessor to encrypt and store account information.

AAA recently rolled out EMV technology on its AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit card through our partner Bank of America. The chip-enabled cards expand purchase options, add convenience and transaction security for Americans traveling abroad and also include the traditional magnetic stripe, used by U.S. merchants.

Identity thieves are relentless in their pursuit of your most private information, but now AAA East Central members have another way to protect themselves. Protect MyID® Essential, a

FEBRUARY 2014

AAA DIRECTORY INTERNET WEB SITE: www.AAA.com AAA MEMBER SERVICES • ADDRESS CHANGE triptiks, tourbooks, maps, license 412-363-5100 or 1-800-441-5008 APPROVED AUTO REPAIR 412-365-7411 or 1-800-233-9733 EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE 412-362-1900 or 1-800-222-4357 EXPRESS TRAVEL RESERVATIONS

airline tickets, tours, cruises, rental cars

412-363-7283 or 1-800-354-8761

INSURANCE SERVICES: 1-800-207-7947 MEDIA RELATIONS: 412-365-7157 AAA MOTORIST: 412-365-7017 SAFETY: 412-365-7211 TDD for the hearing-impaired: 412-363-7144

AAA BRANCH OFFICE LOCATIONS

LACK OF SECURITY — Hackers target U.S. credit card accounts because of their relatively insecure magnetic strip technology. new, no cost benefit available exclusively for AAA members. Comparable to plans costing $7.95 per month, it includes these important features: • Daily Credit Monitoring of your Experian® Report — Your credit report is monitored daily to detect key changes.

• Email Alerts — Receive email alerts when key changes are detected on your credit report. If no changes are detected, you’ll be sent a monthly all-clear email.

•

Dedicated Fraud Resolution Support — Agents are available to walk you through each step of resolving identity theft—from beginning to end.

• Lost Wallet Card Protection — Securely store your debit and medical card numbers in one safe place.

If your wallet is lost or stolen, it only takes a single call to a ProtectMyID® agent for assistance in canceling and replacing your cards.

In addition, ProtectMyID® Essential also provides AAA Premier members with $10,000 in no cost identity theft insurance.

ProtectMyID® Deluxe, available to members at just $8.95 per month, adds an extra level of protection with these advanced tools: • Comprehensive Daily Monitoring — Checks all three national credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax ® and TransUnion® for new credit cards, loans, delinquent payments and more.

• Experian Credit Report and Score — Lets you review your credit history to catch inaccuracies, potential fraud and suspicious activity even sooner.

• ChildSecureSM — Monitors children’s personal information, and alerts you if someone applies for credit or opens credit accounts in their names.

• Internet Scan — Conducts confidential, daily scans on illegal websites and chat rooms for signs your identity is exposed.

• Identity Theft Insurance — $1 million identity theft insurance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

AAA’s ProtectMyID® can help catch identity theft and fraud when it happens and help you restore your credit and your good name. To register for your free subscription to ProtectMyID® Essential, or to upgrade to ProtectMyID® Deluxe at a special members-only price of just $8.95 a month, simply go to AAA.com/ ProtectMyID or call 1.877.440.6943.

Altoona 1634 Valley View Blvd. ............................. 814-946-1277 Butler 138 Clearview Circle .................................... 724-287-2713 Cranberry The Village Shoppes, 20510 Rt. 19 .......... 724-772-1122 Erie 6660 Peach St. Unit #2 .............................. 814-866-0246 Franklin 102 Sugar Creek Town Center Rd. ........... 814-432-3960 Greensburg Eastgate Shopping Center 5142 Route 30, Suite 135 ......................... 724-834-8300 Grove City 24 Pine Grove Village Dr. .......................... 724-458-8930 Harborcreek 4430 Buffalo Rd. ........................................ 814-897-9508 Hermitage 1749 E. State St.......................................... 724-981-9141 Indiana 1169 Wayne Ave........................................ 724-349-4193 Jamestown (New York) 111 W. Fifth St., Jamestown, N.Y.. ........... 716-488-1981 Kittanning Franklin Village Mall. ............................... 724-543-1924 Lewisburg 530 1/2 North Derr Drive . ....................... 570-524-7455 Lower Burrell/New Kensington Area Crossroads Plaza 2503 Leechburg Rd.................................... 724-339-4440 McKean County (Bradford) 587 South Ave. .......................................... 814-368-3113 Meadville 18939 Park Avenue Plaza Unit #7 ............ 814-724-2247 New Castle 40 East St.................................................... 724-658-8551 Niagara-Orleans 7135 Rochester Rd, Lockport, NY. ............ 716-434-2865 Pittsburgh–Century III Area (Pleasant Hills) 9 Clairton Blvd. (RT 51). ........................... 412-655-6100 Pittsburgh–Downtown 538 Smithfield St. ...................................... 412-338-4300 Pittsburgh–East Liberty/Shadyside 5900 Baum Blvd. ........................................ 412-365-7196 Pittsburgh–Monroeville 2725 Mosside Blvd. .................................... 412-858-4640 Pittsburgh–North Hills Area (Ross Township) 4790 McKnight Rd. .................................... 412-367-7600 Pittsburgh–Robinson Township Robinson Town Centre 1760 Park Manor Blvd. ............................. 412-809-2800 Pittsburgh–South Hills Area (Bethel Park) 160 Ft. Couch Rd. ...................................... 412-833-5203 Rochester 300 Adams St. ............................................ 724-775-8000 St. Marys 1375 Bucktail Rd. ...................................... 814-834-7838 Somerset 110 N. Center Ave. .................................... 814-443-6526 Sunbury 1001 Market Street. .................................. 570-286-4507 Uniontown 111 W. Main St. ......................................... 724-438-8575 Warren 2285 Market St. ......................................... 814-723-6660 Washington 196 Murtland Ave. .................................... 724-222-3800 Waynesburg 184 Greene Plaza, US 21 & I-79 ................ 724-627-3434 White Oak/McKeesport Area Oak Park Mall, 2001 Lincoln Way ............ 412-675-3400

FEBRUARY 2014

AAA MOTORIST

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Hitting the “blend wall” may hit motorists where it hurts E15 is too much of a good thing for most vehicles Western Pennsylvania Official publication of AAA East Central Published monthly (except bimonthly Aug./Sept., Nov./Dec.) by AAA East Central 5900 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh PA 15206-3854 412-363-5100/1-800-441-5008 USPS 0679-240 ISSN 1066-6869 Periodicals Postage Paid at Pittsburgh PA Postmaster: Send address changes to AAA Motorist Western Pennsylvania c/o AAA, 5900 Baum Blvd Pittsburgh PA 15206-3854 Subscription Rate: $1 included in Primary Membership dues. All others: $2/year.

Publisher..................................... James E. Lehman Managing Editor ............................ Douglas O’Neil Editorial Office 5900 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh PA 15206-3854 e-mail: motorist@aaaec.com

AAA EAST CENTRAL Chairman: ................................................Richard S. Hamilton Vice Chairman:....................................... James E. Broome, Jr. Vice Chairman:....................................... Douglas W. Caldwell Vice Chairman:.........................................Mary Lynn Laughlin Vice Chairman:.................................... Martha Hartle Munsch OFFICERS: President: ....................................................James E. Lehman Treasurer & CFO: ............................................Michael R. Pratt Secretary: ................................................ Robert H. Compton GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS James E. Broome, Jr., Steve D. Bullock**, Douglas W. Caldwell, Charles O. Casto, Edward C. Coaxum, Jr., Robert S. Collins, Robert H. Compton, Jon E. Denney, Debra A. Dinnocenzo, Pamela C. Fritz, Richard S. Hamilton, James H. Kanicki, Mary Lynn Laughlin, Richard D. Linderman**, William Duff McCrady, James M. McDonnell, Thomas V. McKernan Jr., Martha Hartle Munsch, Gary K. Munsie** EAST CENTRAL REGION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Debra A. Dinnocenzo, Chairman, Neil D. Bassi, Vice Chairman, Carol Asam, Christian Asam, Jack A. Barkley, William E. Bierer**, Ellsworth T. Bowser**, Peter Burton, Marianne B. Campbell, Charles O. Casto, Michael A. Cochran, Daniel J. Collins Jr.**, Robert S. Collins, Robert H. Compton, James J. Dodaro, Jack G. Ellis, Mona N. Generett, Charles W. Groce , Richard S. Hamilton, Mark Henschen, Luke Howe, Richard Kallenborn, Herbert G. Koenig, Mark S. Mansour, W. Duff McCrady, Martha Hartle Munsch, W. Lee Oswalt, III, Michael Parkes, John D. Petruso, Louis Pomerico, Leonard L. Scheinholtz**, James C. Stump, Jr., James F. Ward *ex officio **emeritus directors Allegheny Regional Board of Directors William C. Bradley, Jr., John Fuller, Wilfred Lippert, John D. Petruso, Adam J. Preston, B. J. Smith, John D. Whitehill Butler Regional Board of Directors Jack A. Barkley, John W. Conway, Joseph D. Davidson Jr., Kenneth W. McKinney, John E. McNallen, Merril Moses, Raymond J. Nicklas, John E. Whitmer, John H. Wise Indiana Regional Board of Directors Thomas Brice, William B. Hastings, Joseph N. Mack, Herman Sledzik Jefferson/Clarion Advisor Edwin Snyder McKean County Regional Board of Directors Elizabeth M. Costello, Thomas Frederick, Richard Kallenborn, David J. Malone, Josephine A. McCord, Stanley Pecora Mercer Regional Board of Directors R. Glenn Adams, Robert E. Davis, Merton W. Hutton, C. L. McCandless, Ralph Q. Steadman, William R. Sumners Mon Yough Advisory Board Robert W. Baum, James J. Dodaro, Jacob N. Skezas, Al Thomas, Dom Toretti Warren Regional Board of Directors Gail Cobb, H. Robert Hampson, M. Dennis Hedges Jr., Luke Howe, Gerald A. Huber, Linn Hyde, James J. Jordan, Donald E. Lewis, James F. Miller, Ralph D. Pasquino Jr., James H. Young Jr. Washington/Greene Advisory Board Neil D. Bassi, E. Paul Day Copyright ©2014 by AAA East Central.

By Richard Hamilton Chairman, AAA East Central AA has long endorsed the use of alternative fuels including ethanol. We believe that ethanol-blended fuels have the potential to support jobs, promote American energy independence and reduce transportation costs. More than 95 percent of the gasoline sold in the United States is E10, which contains up to 10 percent ethanol, while E85 is designed for use by flex-fuel vehicles.

Despite ethanol’s benefits, AAA is concerned with the way the industry has introduced and marketed E15 to consumers. Despite objections by auto manufacturers, the EPA officially approved the sale of E15 — gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol — in 2012, after receiving a waiver request from producers interested in expanding the use of this corn-based fuel.

Most drivers are unaware, or have not been properly informed about the potentially negative effects of this relatively untested gasoline/ethanol blend.

In vehicles not designed to run on it, sustained use of E15 could result in significant problems, such as accelerated engine wear and failure, fuel-system damage and false check engine lights.

The only vehicles currently certified by automakers to use E15 are flex-fuel models, 2001 model-year and newer Porsches, 2012 model-year and newer GM vehicles and 2013 and newer model-year Fords. That means more than 90 percent of vehicles on the road today are not approved by manufactur-

A

Richard Hamilton ers to operate on E15. Considering that the average vehicle remains in use for more than 11 years, it will take at least another decade before the bulk of the fleet will be E15 compatible.

Ethanol producers have promoted E15 as a solution to help meet a federal requirement called the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The RFS requires renewable fuels such as ethanol to be blended into gasoline in greater volumes each year, from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022. When Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, experts predicted that U.S. gasoline consumption would continue to rise, supporting correspondingly higher amounts of ethanol. Instead, gasoline consumption has

remained relatively static.

The net result is that the volume of ethanol required to meet the 2014 Renewable Fuels Standard is likely to exceed the 10 percent barrier. This is known in industry parlance as hitting the “blend wall,” the safe level of ethanol approved for most vehicles. Confronted with the skyrocketing price of renewable fuel credits and the challenges of creating an infrastructure capable of dispensing an expanded range of ethanol blends, the EPA has proposed reducing RFS requirements.

AAA endorses the EPA’s common sense approach to lowering volumetric ethanol requirements in 2014. The Renewable Fuels Standard was based on the flawed hypothesis that gasoline consumption would continue to increase and these adjustments will better reflect market realities.

Under current regulations blenders unable to meet RFS requirements would be subject to significant fines, which could incentivize gasoline exports, or burden producers with unsustainable costs. These unintended consequences could restrict gasoline supplies and result in significant increases in pump prices paid by consumers.

It is for these reasons that AAA is joining with the EPA in calling for a reduction in requirements to the Renewable Fuels Standard in 2014 and its adverse effects on consumers.

Ethanol does have the potential to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, but it is irresponsible to mandate more ethanol than vehicles can safely use.

membersonly Customize your level of protection with travel insurance options Cancel Anytime and other add-ons maximize your trip coverage

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hen protecting a prized possession – whether it is a car, a boat, or a home – a “one-size-fits-all” policy just won’t do.

The same applies when it comes to protecting a travel investment. You’ve worked hard to earn the money and plan that dream getaway, so the last thing you’d want is to lose everything if the unexpected happens. The best way to stay protected is with a madefor-you travel insurance package.

AAA offers a variety of travel insurance policies and add-ons, so members can select a customized package that best fits their particular lifestyle and travel plans.

Cancel Anytime

Trip cancellation insurance is one of the most popular types of travel coverage. It reimburses your travel expenses if your trip is delayed, interrupted or cancelled for a valid reason, such as severe weather or major illness.

AAA now offers Cancel Anytime, a cancellation insurance option that reimburses you no matter why

your plans change. With the Cancel Anytime package, travelers receive 100 percent cash back if they cancel their trip for a covered reason like those mentioned above. They receive 80 percent cash back if they cancel their trip due to almost any other reason.

Cancel Anytime coverage offers travelers a lot more flexibility than a traditional trip cancellation policy.

It’s a great option for anyone whose travel plans may change for a variety of reasons not covered by most trip cancellation plans.

Rental Car Protection

Another optional coverage to add to your travel insurance policy is rental car protection. This option is typically less expensive than the rental car insurance offered by the rental car provider, but it can offer greater coverage

should you get in an accident.

Rental Car Protection is perfect for trips of seven days or longer, such as cross-country summer road trips.

It covers both domestic and international car rentals, and is a flat rate of $9 a day. Most insurance plans through rental car companies cost an average of $12 to $15 a day.

The biggest benefit of adding Rental Car Protection to a travel insurance package is that it is a primary policy.

If you are in an accident, it will not count against your personal auto insurance.

There are several factors affecting the cost of any travel insurance policy, including the age of the travelers, the length of the trip, and the distance they are traveling.

Before deciding on any travel insurance plan, be sure you understand what you’re buying and what each policy does and does not cover.

For more information on protecting your next getaway – whether you purchased your trip through AAA Travel or not – visit aaa.com/travelinsurance.

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AAA MOTORIST

FEBRUARY 2014

FEBRUARY 2014

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AAA MOTORIST

FEBRUARY 2014

February is Universal Month at AAA Travel Get ready for even more wizardry, Transformers and family fun

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here are countless ways to enjoy your Orlando vacation, but only one place where a vacation becomes an adventure. Universal Studios Florida takes you beyond the silver screen to experience an incredible array of rides, shows and sets from your favorite movies.

Islands of Adventure — Universal’s next generation theme park — features five spectacularly themed islands with innovative attractions, shows, and rides. Enter the cartoon world of the Simpsons; movies like Spider-Man and the off kilter creations of Dr. Seuss.

For nighttime excitement, there’s nothing like Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre entertainment complex located at the entrance to the two parks.

And everyone is wild about Harry, especially The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal Orlando’s incomparable mega attraction is a revolutionary, multi-sensory melding of live-action, advanced robotic technology and innovative filmmaking that has become the most talked about theme park experience on the planet.

Now Universal is adding a whole new level of Harry Potter adventures.

Scheduled to open this summer, Diagon Alley and London expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando parks.

Diagon Alley will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee

a brand new attraction, takes “foolish humans” on an intergalactic spin designed to send them into orbit.

Transformers: The Ride–3D — one of the most highly anticipated theme park experiences in years — opened last June. Based on the popular Transformers films, riders are recruited for a high-tech, good versus evil battle in which they must save Planet Earth.

Riders dodge explosions and missiles and burst into battles between “lifesized,” three-story-tall Autobots and Decepticons. It’s a spectacular fusion of HD 3D media and Flight Simulation technology, that may make you lose sight of the difference between fiction and reality.

IF YOU GO

PREPARE FOR BATTLE — Transformers: The Ride-3D has changed the very definition of thrill rides. attraction based on Gringotts Bank.

Guests will travel between London and Hogsmeade aboard an actual Hogwarts Express — just like in the books and films. Instead of windows passengers will be looking at virtual screens that make it seem as if you’re traveling through the English countryside.

The hometown of The Simpsons, America’s favorite animated family,

has been brought to life in Springfield.

For the first time ever, anywhere, fans can live and breathe the places that helped Springfield stake its claim as “Shelbyville by the Sea.” Springfield is anchored by The Simpsons Ride, designed to duplicate the Simpsons home-viewing experience, only at high speed and with lots of screaming. Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl,

February is Universal Month at AAA Travel and that means big savings on a vacation to Universal Orlando Resort.

Purchase any 4-night or longer vacation that includes both hotel and theme park admission during the month of February and receive a $50 Universal Orlando gift card, plus an additional $25 per room discount.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please see your Departures Guide or log on to AAA.com/Universal for more information about Universal Orlando vacations.

Voice-to-text apps offer no driving safety benefit New study finds reaction times still double

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exting drivers may believe they’re being more careful when they use the voice-totext method, but new research findings suggest that those applications offer no real safety advantage over manual texting.

The study, which is the first of its kind, was sponsored by the Southwest Region University Transportation Center and conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).

While other research efforts have evaluated manual versus voice-activated tasks using devices installed in a vehicle, the TTI analysis is the first to compare voice-to- text and manual texting on a handheld device in an actual driving environment.

Researchers first navigated a closed course without using a cell phone.

Then, they traveled the course three more times performing a series of texting exercises — once using each of two voice-to-text applications (Siri® for the iPhone and Vlingo® for Android), and once texting manually. Researchers then measured the time it took each driver to complete the tasks, and also noted how long it took for the drivers to respond to a light, which came on at random intervals during the exercises.

Major findings from the study included:

DRIVING BLIND — Using a mobile device roughly quadruples your risk of being in a crash.

•

Driver response times were significantly delayed no matter which texting method was used. In each case, drivers took about twice as long to react as they did when they weren’t texting. With slower reaction times, drivers are less able to take action in response to sudden hazards.

• The time that drivers spent looking at the roadway ahead was significantly less when they were texting, no matter which texting method was used.

•

For most tasks, manual texting required slightly less time than the voice-to-text method, but driver performance was roughly the same with both.

• Drivers felt less safe when they were texting, but felt safer when using a voice-to-text application than when texting manually, even though driving performance suffered equally with both methods.

“AAA believes the new voice-to-

text study done by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is a step in the right direction,” notes Peter Kissinger, President & CEO AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Past research confirms what we’ve known for many years, that hands-free driving isn’t risk-free driving. Most people understand the risks of distraction and other risky behaviors but refuse to apply what they know to their own behavior.”

According to new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than one-in-four motorists reported sending a text or email while driving within the past month. Adults ages 25-39 reported texting and driving most frequently, while those age 60 and up reported doing it the least.

The data was collected as part of the AAA Foundation’s 2013 Traffic Safety Culture Index.

RISKY BUSINESS

In 2013, the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that at any point during the day, about 660,000 drivers are using a cell phone behind the wheel. The NHTSA estimates that one out of every ten fatal crashes involves distraction, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths per year.

FEBRUARY 2014

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AAA MOTORIST

Member Benefits • Exclusive Offers

1-800-354-8761 • AAA.com/travel

AAA MEMBERS SAVE UP TO $700!

Premier ..............$700 Plus ....................$650 Basic ..................$625

2 SPECTACULAR ESCORTED VACATIONS — 1 EXCEPTIONAL AAA OFFER CHICAGO

NEW ORLEANS

CHICAGO

Book & make a deposit by 2/28/14. savings per room, double occupancy

Glacier NP Discovery CHICAGO to SEATTLE

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GLACIER NP

GLACIER NP

MEMPHIS

GLACIER NP

©LOGAN / FOTOLIA.COM

Jazz, Blues & Rock ’n’ Roll

CHICAGO to MEMPHIS to NEW ORLEANS

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lick-clack, click-clack! The metronomic rhythm of your Amtrak® train will set you in the right frame of mind on this 7-night northto-south music-inspired sojourn through America’s midsection. Visit 3 fascinating cities where 3 authentically American music genres were born and continue to flourish. Train by night and day; be soothingly rocked to sleep on the overnight Chicago-to-Memphis leg (after enjoying an evening meal in the Dining car) and observe the ever changing landscapes passing by your window on the Memphis–to–New Orleans portion.

In the Windy City, settle into the luxurious Palmer House Hilton Hotel right in the heart of the Loop, close by many of Chicago’s attractions & institutions.

Meet your escort and fellow travelers at a wine-&-cheese reception. Tour the city’s landmarks, browse the Magnificent Mile and enjoy a Chicago River cruise to observe the city’s renowned architecture.

Overnight on the train on your way to the Westin Hotel right on Beale Street, the official “Home of the Blues.” Blues clubs and restaurants are just steps away.

Tour Graceland, the unique home of Elvis Presley; then, with musicians aboard (and audience participation absolutely welcomed!), you’ll tour other sites of this city on the Mississippi named after the ancient Egyptian capital on the Nile. See Sun Studios, the Staxx Museum and the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum.

Settle into a very comfy reclining seat for a relaxing journey to the Big Easy.

Larger-than-life windows enable you to watch grand panoramas along the way.

There’s room to roam on board; chat with fellow passengers or visit the Café car.

Be welcomed into New Orleans by a jazz brunch at the The Court of Two Sisters in the French Quarter. Take a guided tour of the Crescent City, including the Garden District. Top it all off by boarding the paddlewheel steamboat Natchez for a grand finale dinner cruise! continued on next page

GLACIER NP

GLACIER NP SEATTLE

etrace portions of the Lewis & Clark Trail on Amtrak’s Empire Builder from the “Windy City” to the “Emerald City” and explore the “Crown of the Continent” in between!

Begin with a reception at Palmer House, a worldclass hotel steps from Chicago’s best attractions. Sleep where every President since Grant has slept! Enjoy a city tour and a cruise on the Chicago River.

Start your rail journey with Mississippi River views and glimpses of the Twin Cities skyline. Awaken in your private sleeping accommodations to cross North Dakota’s plains and traverse Gassman Coulee Trestle.

Enjoy breakfast and lunch onboard as you cross into Montana’s Big Sky Country to Glacier National Park.

This vast ice-carved terrain of serrated ridges, jutting peaks (6 more than 10,000 feet high), waterfalls, dramatic hanging valleys, 50 glaciers, dense forests and more than 200 lakes is one of the world’s most pristine natural environments.

Designated a national park (the 10th) in 1910 by President Taft, the park covers some 1.2 million acres.

Deer are among the most commonly spotted wildlife, but elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, wolves and bears (grizzly & black) are seen.

Tour in a 1930s red “jammer” with a canvas roll-top; rebuilt in 2001, these vehicles ply the park’s primary route — Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Cross the border into Canada to visit Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park, site of the Canadian Rockies’ deepest lakes. The park is part of the WatertonGlacier International Peace Park, a World Heritage Site.

Enjoy 2 nights at Glacier Park Lodge, built by the Great Northern Railway. The lobby’s massive fireplace invites fireside chats, and there’s an outdoor pool, a golf course, a pitch-n-putt and a day spa on site. Your other in-park home for 2 nights is the Swiss-themed Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake. Its balcony offers 180º views of the lake, 3 glaciers and serrated peaks. This secluded Old World–style hotel, is a oneof-a-kind national park lodging experience.

Reboard the Empire Builder for Seattle. See the city’s many gems, including lively Pike Place Market. Then ascend the iconic Space Needle for breathtaking views and then, all too soon, it’s time to fly home! continued on next page

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Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

AAA MEMBERS SAVE UP TO $700!

continued from previous page

Exploring America’s splendor by rail is a must-do milestone on the “bucket lists” of many travelers.

Whichever Amtrak Vacation you choose, you can be sure it will be one you’ll never forget...especially if you take advantage of the AAA savings at right!

Premier ..............$700 Plus ....................$650 Basic ..................$625 Book & make a deposit by 2/28/14. savings per room, double occupancy

Jazz, Blues & Rock ’n’ Roll: Chicago–Memphis–New Orleans Sept 26–Oct 4 •

AAA Member Rate: $4,489

Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Pittsburgh-Chicago, New Orleans–Pittsburgh), train (Chicago–New Orleans) roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, 7-night hotel accommodations, 1-night train roomette accommodations, 12 meals, meal gratuities (except on train), welcome reception, Chicago river cruise & evening activity, motorcoach tours (Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans), hotel baggage handling (1 per person), air & hotel taxes and services of an Amtrak Vacations® tour escort (Chicago–New Orleans). Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

Glacier National Park Discovery: Chicago-Seattle Aug 9-18 •

FEBRUARY 2014

AAA Member Rate: $5,079

Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Pittsburgh-Chicago, Seattle-Pittsburgh), train (Chicago-Seattle), roundtrip airport/hotel, 7-night hotel accommodations, 2-night train roomette accommodations, 17 meals, meal gratuities (except on train), welcome reception, 4 tours & 1 cruise in Glacier NP, sightseeing per itinerary, hotel baggage handling (1 per person), air & hotel taxes and services of an Amtrak Vacations® tour escort (Chicago-Seattle). Visit AAA.com/travel for complete itinerary. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

FEBRUARY 2014

PAGE 9

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Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

Fly to Calgary and drive into the Canadian Rockies to Banff. Enjoy 5 nights at Brewster’s Mountain Lodge. Ride Banff Gondola for panoramic vistas. Visit thundering Bow Falls and cruise serene Lake Minnewanka.

Enjoy a day in Banff on your own; play a Brewster’s Mountain round on Banff Springs’ golf course, take Lodge an unforgettable helicopter sightseeing tour or relax on a river float trip. Banff offers shopping and dining opportunities – as well as an occasional moose! Cross the Continental Divide on the way to Yoho and Banff national parks. See Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake and Lake Louise (“Jewel of the Rockies”), where you RELAX IN 1 HOTEL “HOME” FOR 5 NIGHTS! may ride the gondola.

Brewster’s Mountain Lodge offers premier comfort in the heart of downtown Banff. Handcrafted Spot wildlife along Columbia Icefields log furnishings, Western décor, historic photos Parkway to Athabasca Glacier and turquoise and cowboy art enhance its ambience. Relax in Peyto Lake. Cap off the week at the worldthe whirlpool & sauna. Enjoy complimentary famous Calgary Stampede, a celebration continental breakfast and in-room high-speed of cowboy life, chuckwagon races, rodeos, internet. Explore lobby-level boutiques. parades, fireworks and more. Enjoy the thrilling Grandstand Show from reserved seats.

DOWNTOWN BANFF BANFF SPRINGS LAKE LOUISE

Canadian Rockies and the Calgary Stampede

July 6-12 •

AAA Member Rate: $2,979

LIMITEED! SPAC

ALASKA

BY LAND! See the incredible, inspirational interior of the Last Frontier on this 9-night escorted tour — unforgettable experiences not on cruises!

Traditional salmon bake & a sternwheeler river cruise in Fairbanks 4-hour adventure flying over the Arctic Circle,the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the Yukon River 7-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park, looking for grizzlies, moose & more... with an overnight in the park Meet a 4-time winner of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and his canine crew Visits to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation & Begich Boggs Visitor centers 2-hour river float trip in Kenai Fjords National Park A ride on Girdwood’s Alyeska Tram — from sea level to 2,300 feet!

Special welcome & farewell dinners with your fellow travelers

July 8-17 •

AAA Member Rate: $4,999

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Pittsburgh-Fairbanks, Anchorage-Pittsburgh), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, motorcoach sightseeing, accommodations (Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, Seward: 2 each, Girdwood: 1), 16 meals, luggage handling (1 bag/person), gratuities for included features (includes driver, escort), in-Alaska escort and AAA Tour Manager (if minimumparticipation goal is met). Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Pittsburgh-Calgary), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, services of a AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met), 9 meals, motorcoach sightseeing and baggage handling (1 per person).

Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Passport required.

Discover the Best of the West with AAA! DISCOVER GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

© SNEHIT / FOTOLIA.COM

JUNE 22-28 • $3,425

Tour a silver mine in Wallace ID (once the “Silver Capital of the World”) and the Smokejumpers Aerial Fire Depot. Visit artsy Big Fork MT and enjoy a float trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Stay at an Old World–style lodge in Glacier National Park.

Cruise on 2 lakes. Travel “Going to the Sun” Road amid snowy peaks and virgin forest. Ride a vintage Red Jammer Touring Car. Cross the Continental Divide. Take America’s longest gondola up to Silver Mountain. Visit Lake Coeur d’Alene. Dine on Spokane’s River Queen paddle boat. 10 meals.

YELLOWSTONE EXPERIENCE

AUG 11-17 • $2,695

BEST OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

© SCOTT BUFKIN / FOTOLIA.COM

JULY 24–AUG 1 • $3,699

So many delights in 1 tour — from the endless charms of San Francisco to the natural splendor of the redwoods at Muir Woods to the opulence of Hearst Castle. Cross Golden Gate Bridge, enjoy the Mediterranean ambiance of Sausalito, sample wines at Napa Valley vineyards, savor lunch aboard the Napa Wine Train. Ride Amtrak’s scenic California Zephyr to Lake Tahoe. Visit the ghost town of Virginia City NV. Dine & dance on a riverboat paddlewheeler.

Marvel at Yosemite National Park’s wonders. Explore coastal Carmel, Big Sur and Monterey. 14 meals.

THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

AUG 3-10 • $3,619

From San Francisco to Seattle, see wonders along the Pacific. Explore the City by the Bay and California’s Wine Country. See redwoods on the Avenue of the Giants and in Redwood National Park. Enjoy rides on a jet boat on Oregon’s Rogue River and a dune buggy at the National Dunes Recreation Area. Tour Portland and its renowned rose gardens. Marvel at the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls and Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument. In Seattle, dine atop the Space Needle and tour the world’s largest building, a Boeing assembly plant. 10 meals.

AMERICAN MAJESTY

COLORADO TRAIN ADVENTURE

GRAND CANYON & ARIZONA ADVENTURE

CANYON COUNTRY EXPERIENCE

AUG 30–SEPT 7 • $3,619

SEPT 13-20 • $2,789

SEPT 21–28 • $2,559

OCT 8-14 • $2,399

© ANDREANITA / FOTOLIA.COM

AAA Member Rates are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability at time of booking and include roundtrip flights from Pittsburgh, roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, sightseeing admissions, taxes/gratuities for included features, baggage handling (1 bag per person) and meals as indicated. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/travel for itinerary details.

PAGE 10

AAA MOTORIST

FEBRUARY 2014

1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

CONVENIENT MOTORCOACH CRUISING FROM PITTSBURGH Avoid potential airport hassles. Motorcoach to your cruise! Park for free, then relax & ride AAA’s convenient “Cruise Express” motorcoach to Baltimore to board Grandeur of the Seas!

BAHAMAS

BERMUDA May 23-30 from $1,225

King’s Wharf, Bermuda 3 full days at sea

Aug 8-15 from $1,144

Port Canaveral, Florida CocoCay, Bahamas Nassau, Bahamas 3 full days at sea

NEW ENGLAND & CANADA

BERMUDA

CARIBBEAN

Nov 11-21 from $1,094 Oct 16-24 Oct 10-16 from $1,076 Labadee, Haiti; Juan,and AAA MEMBER RATES are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability at time ofSan booking from $885 Puerto Rico;most Charlotte Amalie, Portland &cruise Bar Harbor, Maine include roundtrip motorcoach transportation, accommodations/entertainment, onboard meals King’s Wharf, Bermuda St Thomas USVI; Philipsburg, Saint John, NewVisit Brunswick and government fees. Ship’s registry: Bahamas.

AAA.com/motorcruise for itinerary details 2 full days at sea St Maarten Halifax, Nova Scotia & Western Pennsylvania pick-up points.

3 full days at sea

5 full days at sea

VISIT AAA.COM / MOTORCRUISE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Car-free, carefree adventures

Rates are per person, are subject to availability at time of booking and include roundtrip motorcoach transportation from the Pittsburgh area, accommodations (for multiday tours, based on double occupancy), sightseeing/admissions, taxes/ gratuities for included features, baggage handling (for multiday tours), meals as indicated and the services of a AAA Tour Manager. Visit AAA.com/USA for complete itinerary details and pick-up points.

LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME!

Moses: Lancaster PA

Springtime in the Smokies

Leave winter blahs behind and head to PA Dutch country. Unwind at Kitchen Kettle Village; wander through shops picturesquely nestled in a village setting. See the production of Moses at the Sight & Sound Theatre. Enjoy a traditional PA Dutch dinner at Hershey Farm Restaurant, an attraction on its own. Stay at the on-site inn, with easy access to shops & attractions. Be sure to visit the bakery, country store, farm animals and more. Visit an Amish house & farm.

Explore the countryside on a tour through rolling hills and farmland. In Lititz, visit Sturgis Pretzels; try your hand at pretzel making! Stroll the streets during free time provided for lunch and shopping on your own. 2 meals.

Start with a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge TN. Attend the Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show and America’s Funniest Family Variety Show at the Comedy Barn Theater. See Blackwood’s Morning Variety Show before embarking on a Moonshine & Mountain tour; taste “white lightnin.’” End on a high note at the Smokies’ largest musical variety show — the Smoky Mountain Opry! 6 meals.

April 9-10 •

AAA Member Rate: $299

Cherry Blossom Parade: Washington DC April 11-13 •

AAA Member Rate: $625

Ride to the nation’s capital for the Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual event that attracts visitors from around the world! Take a fascinating journey through the city with commentary & insight along the way. Enjoy a reserved seat for great views of the Cherry Blossom Parade.

See colorful floats, giant balloons, marching bands and more! Visit the National Mall on your own, stopping in the Smithsonian Museums and taking in the sights of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Dine in Georgetown on the waterfront. View the illuminated monuments on an evening tour. Walk the streets of historic Alexandria VA and enjoy a brunch with exceptional views and scrumptious favorites; explore the quaint shops & sights of the town’s picturesque waterfront and side streets. 4 meals.

Military Pride & Parades: Norfolk VA April 24-26 •

AAA Member Rate: $535

Enjoy a military-themed weekend in North America’s NATO headquarters — Norfolk. Stay at a hotel with easy access to many area attractions. Enjoy a unique dining experience in a 140-year-old former-church-turned-restaurant; the food is “heavenly”! Visit Nauticus and the battleship USS Wisconsin. Sail aboard the Victory Rover for a 2-hour tour of the US Naval Base.

Attend a private dinner at your hotel before departing for the Virginia International Tattoo; this rousing event features top military bands and precision drill teams with more than 800 performers. In Norfolk’s Town Point Park, the “Parade of Nations” features floats, marching bands and specialty units from around the world. Attend the NATOfest outdoor festival to enjoy entertainment, food and visiting ships. 4 meals.

Holland Tulip Festival

May 5-8 •

AAA Member Rate: $729

Get a taste of Europe in western Michigan! Visit a tulip farm and a wooden-shoe factory. See klompen dancers, gardens and Dutch architecture at Nelis’ Dutch Village. Tour Holland’s historic areas, parks, windmill and tulip lanes. Marvel at the tulips at Windmill Island Gardens. Watch the Volksparade and a dinner show. Take a sand dune buggy ride at Saugatuck. 7 meals.

May 12-15 •

AAA Member Rate: $709

Preakness Stakes: Baltimore MD May 16-18 •

AAA Member Rate: $795

This Thoroughbred horse race at Pimlico Race Course is the middle jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown.

Visit a horse farm for an up-close and personal look at the horses and their training. This premium package features a buffet, drinks and reserved seating at the Terrace Dining Room. Stop by the Pimlico Museum. End race day with an evening cruise in Baltimore’s Harbor. 4 meals.

Pirates vs Yankees on the Road: NYC May 16-19 •

AAA Member Rate: $1,125

See 2 games in New York City! Watch the Bucs take on the Yanks in their new stadium in the Bronx.

Stay in Midtown and do as you please on your first full day. The Top of the Rock observation level and an interactive experience called “The Ride” are included. Then, it’s game time again. Afterward, enjoy an opportunity to take in a Broadway show at your leisure or to do as you please. 2 meals.

Deluxe Spring in NY’s Hudson Valley May 19-22 •

AAA Member Rate: $1,015

Close to New York City but feeling like a million miles away, the Hudson River Valley is full of history and charm. Glimpse into FDR's life at Springwood estate. Cruise aboard the Rip van Winkle. Dine at Hyde Park, home of the Culinary Institute of America. Cross a 212-foot-high walkway over the Hudson. Overnight in castle-like Mohonk Mountain House in the Catskills. Tour West Point. 8 meals.

Mackinac Lilac Festival

June 10-14 •

AAA Member Rate: $1,049

Relax in German-flavored Frankenmuth MI, home of Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Ferry to car-free Mackinac Island, where transportation is only by bicycle, foot and horse & buggy! Stay at a historic hotel, enjoy the Lilac Festival, take a buggy tour and experience the legendary Grand Hotel buffet. Cross Mighty Mac Bridge to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. 8 meals.

Chesapeake Summer Retreat .................... June 22-25......... $899 DC Fireworks Spectacular ........................... July 3-5 .............. $599 Girls’ Summer in NYC ..................................... July 18-20 .......... $585 Chautauqua House Tour................................ July 15 ............... $149 Boston & Cape Ann MA ................................ Aug 3-8.............. $999 Just Wright in NY ............................................. Aug 9 ................. $165

FEBRUARY 2014

PAGE 11

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Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

NEW SHIPS! NEW ITINERARIES!

Carnival Dream® from New Orleans — 7 nights to East or West Caribbean Carnival Sunshine from Pt Canaveral — 5, 7 & 8 nights East or West Caribbean TM

Beijing

INTRO to CHINA AN ESCORTED EXPERIENCE

Sept 11-18 • AAA Member Rate: $3,249

Walk on the GREAT WALL! Enter the FORBIDDEN CITY! Explore one of the world’s most important capitals and meet BEIJINGERS at home & in school!

And so much more!

Enjoy the comfort & security of an escorted experience — a comprehensive, informative & personal look at this rapidly growing city and an in-depth introduction to its fascinating culture.

See landmarks & learn customs for nearly a week; then enjoy an entire day independently exploring & indulging your interests — art, history, cuisine, shopping, photography, parks & zoos — it’s all up to you, with suggestions, advice, directions, etc, from your expert guide!

Escort & driver gratuities included!

EXTRA-SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS include...

• A traditional PEKING DUCK DINNER in one of Beijing‘s best restaurants renowned for the preparation & presentation of this world-famous delicacy • An up-close & personal FAMILY-HOME VISIT & HOME-COOKED MEAL in one of Beijing’s ancient and fast disappearing hutong neighborhoods, with an opportunity to question and interact with your hosts • An entertaining KUNG FU ACADEMY VISIT & DEMONSTRATION by its students — whom you may meet afterward and try your hand at learning a move or two!

• A traditional, interactive & fun “HOTPOT“ DINNER, where spearing & dipping your meats & veggies in a tabletop “vat“ of broth makes for a very social experience!

Marvel at ancient & modern, urban & rural, rich & poor, simple & sophisticated, serene & chaotic. Beijing’s unique combination of seemingly contradictory elements may well change your understanding of this city & nation...and provide moving memories that last a lifetime.

Meet your Experienced Guide A favorite of AAA guests on previous China tours, professional guide & Beijing resident Duan Fangming proudly shows you his city. With more than 20 years of guiding Americans through his country, he offers fluent English and extensive knowledge, insight & humor to enhance your Beijing experience with an authentic personal element rarely available anywhere else!

DUAN FANGMING

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Pittsburgh-Beijing), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, 12 meals, in-China guide, sightseeing/admissions, baggage handling (1 per person), driver/escort gratuities, AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met) & government taxes/fees.

Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

Visit AAA.com/GoAsia for the complete itinerary!

4 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES — THE GREAT WALL AT BADALING, THE IMPERIAL PALACE (FORBIDDEN CITY), THE SUMMER PALACE AND THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN TIANANMEN SQUARE • 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS SITE • LAMA BUDDHIST TEMPLE • HUTONG MARKET VISIT, HOME VISIT & HOME-COOKED MEAL • BELL & DRUM TOWERS TEA CEREMONY JADE FACTORY • PEDICAB RIDE • KUNG FU DEMONSTRATION & STUDENT INTERACTION • TRADITIONAL PEKING DUCK & HOTPOT DINNERS • & MORE!

PAGE 12

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Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

Been there? Done that? Here’s a 17-night escorted getaway for those “tired” of Europe or “over” the Caribbean. This all-too-unsung continent boasts some of the world’s most fascinating natural & man-made landmarks, a colorful tapestry of native & Europeaninfluenced cultures and unique travel experiences that rival or surpass destinations you’ve already seen.

Rio de Janeiro • Iguazu Falls • Mendoza Buenos Aires • Lima • Cuzco • Machu Picchu

Sept 10-27 •

FEBRUARY 2014

TREASURES OF

SOUTH AMERICA

Jeep tour of Tijuca Forest National Park! • Workshop where Carnival floats are born! • Rio samba & jazz club! • Inca terraces & salt mines! • Jeep & Zodiac safari to base of Iguazu falls!

AAA Member Rate: $8,768

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Pittsburgh–Rio de Janeiro, Cuzco-Pittsburgh), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, hotel accommodations/taxes/service charges/baggage handling (1 piece per person), 26 meals, 5 “experiences,” air taxes & fees/surcharges and in–South America tour director. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent. Visit AAA.com/GoSouthAmerica for details.

Altoona PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bridgeport WV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Butler PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Columbiana OH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cranberry Township PA . . . . . . . . . . . . .

East Liverpool OH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Erie PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Greensburg PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Harborcreek PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Indiana PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kittanning PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lower Burrell/New Kensington Area PA . .

Martinsburg WV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meadville PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Morgantown WV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Castle PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

814-946-1277 304-842-7676 724-282-8810 330-482-3836 724-772-1122 330-385-2020 814-866-0246 724-834-8300 814-897-9508 724-349-4193 724-543-4244 724-339-4440 304-263-4619 814-724-3157 304-598-7470 724-658-8551

Pittsburgh PA area Century III (Pleasant Hills) . . . . . . . . .

Downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

East Liberty/Shadyside . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monroeville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Hills Area (Ross Twp) . . . . . . . .

Robinson Township . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

South Hills (Bethel Park) . . . . . . . . . .

White Oak/McKeesport . . . . . . . . . . .

Rochester PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

St Marys PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Uniontown PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Warren PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Washington PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Waynesburg PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wheeling WV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weirton WV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

412-655-6105 412-338-4305 412-365-7272 412-858-4640 412-367-7625 412-809-2803 412-833-5060 412-675-3404 724-728-6230 814-781-3003 724-438-8575 814-723-6660 724-225-3600 724-627-3434 304-233-1810 304-748-1616

GENERAL TRAVEL DISCLAIMER: AAA Travel Agency makes every effort to provide accurate, up-to-date prices as of press time and cannot assume responsibility for typographic errors. Rates/offers are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise indicated, and are subject to availability and airline/operator changes. International rates/ offers are subject to currency fluctuations and additional tax & security charges. Rates that include airfare include all taxes, government fees and surcharges. Additional restrictions may apply. Rates/offers are available at all AAA East Central travel agency locations. For tour details, contact AAA or visit AAA.com/travel. AAA FEATURED VACATIONS are specially priced, unique departures; therefore, tour operators, cruise lines and other travel providers often exclude them from additional discounts or specials they offer. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for more details or visit the air carrier’s website for baggage allowance and fee information.

FREE MOTORCOACH included with 2 AAA Featured Vacations The largest steamboat ever built, the grand American Queen is a gracious and elegant triumph of American ingenuity. Although filled with today’s modern amenities, her rooms and accommodations display all the opulence of America’s Victorian era.

Glistening woodwork, fresh flowers and antiques © OKALINICHENKO/FOTOLIA.COM adorn her interior spaces. Outside, lacy filigree evokes memories of the many stately river steamers that preceded her and so inspired her designers.

The paddlewheel has its own rhythm but so does the music of the river as you float through the myriad melodies of blues, gospel, folk, rockabilly, ragtime, Dixieland jazz and zydeco. You’ll quickly discover that the river has a rhythm all its own.

CINCINNATI to PITTSBURGH: June 27–July 4 Motorcoach from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati for an overnight hotel stay. Board the Queen next day and cruise the Ohio River, with stops in Maysville KY, Huntington WV, Point Pleasant WV, Marietta OH and Wheeling WV. Disembark in Pittsburgh; coach to your drop-off point. AAA MEMBER RATE: from $2,738

PITTSBURGH to CINCINNATI July 4-9

Motorcoach from pick-up point to the pier in Pittsburgh. Cruise the Ohio River, with stops in Marietta OH, Point Pleasant WV and Portsmouth OH. Disembark in Cincinnati; ride coach to drop-off point in Pittsburgh.

AAA MEMBER RATE: from $2,328 Rates are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability and include FREE roundtrip motorcoach transportation from Pittsburgh, cruise accommodations, all meals, nightly showboat-style entertainment, port charges, taxes, $50 per stateroom shipboard credit, specialty coffees, bottled water & soft drinks, beer & wine with dinner, all regular shore excursions, daily historical lectures. Ship’s registry: USA. Visit AAA.com/travel for more information and pick-up points.

California Wine Country & More with Jon Burnett Pittsburgh TV personality Jon Burnett joins you on this tasty tour of Northern California — from scenic Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Monterey Peninsula to San Francisco and Napa Valley. See landmarks of the City by the Bay — Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park, Cliff House, the Presidio and Fisherman’s Wharf. Cross Golden Gate Bridge to visit Mediterranean-flavored Sausalito and the towering redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument; ferry back across San Francisco Bay. Tour & sip samples at 4 wineries (and enjoy a chef-prepared picnic lunch at one!), blend your own Merlot and savor an elegant dinner aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train.

© CAN BALCIOGLU / FOTOLIA.COM

3 nights at Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf 2 nights at a Napa all-suite resort June 26–July 1 AAA Member Rate $3,079 © ANDY DEAN / FOTOLIA.COM

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Pittsburgh–San Francisco), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, taxes/gratuities for included features, baggage handling (1 bag per person), 7 meals, local tour director and in-California AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met).

Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/travel for itinerary details.

FEBRUARY 2014

PAGE 13

AAA MOTORIST

1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

CRUISE VACATION PLANNING EVENTS Discover the exciting world of Royal Caribbean with an RCI representative who shows you all the ways to save and enjoy exclusive AAA member benefits!

Pgh East • Feb 18 • 7pm Comfort Suites Hotel 2731 Mosside Blvd • Monroeville 15146

Pgh North • Feb 21 • 6pm Borough of Seven Fields Community Center 380 Castle Creek Dr • Seven Fields 16046

Pgh South • Feb 24 • 6:30pm Bethel Park Community Center 5151 Park Ave • Bethel Park 15102

RSVP by Feb 8: 1-800-354-8761

AAA: The Preferred Travel Agency of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Get a lot more than just a game ticket!

• Pirates baseball cap • Autographed baseball • Game ticket — outfield box seating • Pre-game behind-the-scenes tour of PNC Park • Pre-game food & drink in the PNC Pirates Deck • Opportunity to watch batting practice if it takes place that day due ALL OF THIS FOR JUST $69 PER PERSON! atFulltimepayment of booking.

Saturday May 10 @ 7:05pm vs St Louis Cardinals

see the PENGUINS WITH AAA ®

WATCH HOME-ICE ACTION from THE COMFORT OF A PRIVATE canadian club party suite AT CONSOL ENERGY CENTER! • p arty suite game ticket AND buffet • co mfortable leather seating • nonalcoholic beverages • TV monitor with live game feed • co mplimentary access to 3 clubs

FanJam post-game concert with the Goo Goo Dolls

Friday July 4 @ 5:05pm vs Philadelphia Phillies Free Shirt Friday presented by AAA Auto Insurance

Saturday July 19 @ 7:05pm vs Colorado Rockies Zambelli Fireworks Night

Saturday Aug 9 @ 7:05pm vs San Diego Padres Zambelli Fireworks Night

Saturday Aug 30 @ 4:05pm vs Cincinnati Reds FanJam post-game concert with Gavin DeGraw

HOME

LEXUS, CAPTAIN MORGAN & FIRST NIAGARA

PhilADELPHIA flyers: March 16 @ 7:30 PM Tampa Bay lightning: March 22 @ 1 pm

GAMES, TIMES & OPPONENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

AAA Member Rates are per person per game and are based on double occupancy when accommodations are included.

Zambelli Fireworks Night

Saturday June 7 @ 4:05pm vs Milwaukee Brewers

AAA member rate: $299 each game

AWAY

Go ON THE ROAD! enjoy AN AWAY-GAME PACKAGE WITH Roundtrip TRANSPORTATION, HOTEL room, RESERVED-SEAT TICKET, aaa gift & much MORE. columbus: MARCH 28-29

Motorcoach to Columbus. Stay at a downtown hotel within walking distance of Nationwide Arena.

Visit Easton Town Center, a unique shopping & dining destination. Enjoy a pre-game party in the hotel. Savor a lunch buffet at Schmidt’s in German Village.

2 meals. March 28: $469 ®

PAGE 14

AAA MOTORIST

FEBRUARY 2014

1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

Wunderbar! ¡Fantástico!

YOU CAN SAVE $100!

Magnifique!

Touring Europe with select AAA Travel partners

translates into extra savings & benefits!

SAVE $100.00

off a 7-night-or-longer air-inclusive 2014 Europe escorted tour from select AAA Travel partners:* AAA Member Choice Vacations® General Tours • Insight Vacations • Trafalgar See article on page 1 for more information. *Savings per room, double occupancy. Book & deposit by 2/28/14. New bookings only. Not valid on AAA Featured Vacations. Not combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply.

YOU’RE INVITED TO...

AN EVENING All about

Ireland!

7pm • March 14 • RSVP by 2/17 to 1-800-354-8761 Treesdale Golf & Country Club • 1 Arnold Palmer Dr • Gibsonia PA

SPECIAL BOOKING OFFER THIS NIGHT ONLY!

Portugal & its Islands It’s hot — and fast becoming Western Europe’s last “undiscovered” destination!

Lisbon: Alfama Quarter, Jeronimo’s Monastery, Monument to the Discoveries, Tower of Belem • Sintra, summer residence of kings • “Riviera” • Silver Coast villages, vineyards & castles • Fatima Basilica • Batalha Monastery • Azores Islands • Madeira Island

Sept 12-24 •

©STEVANZZ/FOTOLIA.COM

AAA Member Rate: $4,619

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Pittsburgh-Lisbon), in-Portugal flights, roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, hotel accommodations/taxes/ service charges/baggage handling (1 piece per person), 19 meals, air taxes & fees/surcharges and an inPortugal tour director. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/GoEurope for details.

FEBRUARY 2014

PAGE 15

AAA MOTORIST

1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers ESCORTED TOUR OPERATED BY CIE TOURS INTERNATIONAL

Bunratty Folk Park • Medieval banquet in a castle • Cliffs of Moher • Flying Boat Museum • Killarney National Park • Ring of Kerry • Skellig Experience • Moll’s Gap • Waterford Crystal • Dinner & song at a pub • Dublin: tour & free time ...AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Oct 5-12 • AAA Member Rate: $1,459

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, guided motorcoach sightseeing, entrance fees, 11 meals (including Bunratty Castle medieval banquet/entertainment & Merry Ploughboy pub dinner/ entertainment), in-Ireland tour director, hotel luggage handling (1 piece per person), hotel taxes & service charges. Ask about available add-on airfare. Visit AAA.com/GoIreland for itinerary and information.

ESCORTED TOUR OPERATED

BY CIE TOURS INTERNATIONAL

Glasgow • Spean Bridge Woollen Mill • Loch Ness cruise • Highland evening • Blair Athol Whisky Distillery • Edinburgh & its Castle • Ferry to Northern Ireland • Belfast: Titanic Center • Dublin: Guinness Storehouse, canal dinner cruise • Rock of Cashel • Blarney Castle & Woolen Mills • Killarney: “jaunting car” • Ring of Kerry • Skellig Experience • Sneem • Moll’s Gap • River Shannon ferry • Cliffs of Moher (pictured) • Bunratty Castle medieval banquet • AND MORE!

Nov 1-12 • AAA Member Rate: $1,799

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip airport/ hotel transfers, accommodations, guided motorcoach sightseeing, entrance fees, 17 meals (including medieval banquet, canal dinner cruise), in-Ireland tour director, hotel luggage handling (1 piece per person), hotel taxes & service charges. Ask about available add-on airfare. Visit AAA.com/Ireland for itinerary and more information.

s a i s t n V i l a Ita

AAA MEMBERS SAVE $200.00!

Book & make a deposit by 2/28/14.

SAVINGS PER PERSON

This 13-day escorted adventure features visits to 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Pisa, Venice and Verona! Enjoy included extra-special “moments” you’d have to research & add on at your own expense & effort: •

•

•

•

Guided visits to St Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City’s museums, including the Sistine Chapel A 4-course dinner with wine in Rome, with live performances of arias from the best operas After-hours visit to a 14th-century monastery, followed by a family-style feast of Tuscan dishes, with wine!

A serenaded gondola cruise on the canals of Venice — one of the world’s most famous travel experiences

Enjoy relaxing multiple-night stays in Rome (3), Sorrento–Amalfi Coast (2), Florence (2), Venice (2) and Stresa–Lakes District (2).

Oct 18-30 • AAA Member Rate: $5,329 Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Pittsburgh-Rome, Milan-Pittsburgh), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, hotel accommodations/taxes/service charges/baggage handling (1 piece per person), 20 meals, air taxes & fees/surcharges, in-Italy tour director.

Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/GoItaly for details.

Get up to $100.00 savings!

AAA MEMBERS ONLY!

NOW’S THE TIME!

Book & make a deposit by April 30 on a 2014 7-night-or-longer air-inclusive Pleasant Holidays vacation to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico or Europe and enjoy:

$50.00 SAVINGS FROM AAA TRAVEL (per room, based on double occupancy • new bookings only)

PLUSEXCLUSIVE

THESE ENEFITS! MEMBER B

EUROPE

$50.00 SAVINGS off package price, per booking

HAWAII THE CARIBBEAN MEXICO

$50.00 CERTIFICATE

toward purchase of optional sightseeing or activity, per booking

PAGE 16

1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

AAA MOTORIST

FEBRUARY 2014

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

FEBRUARY 2014

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 17

Flying down to Rio, Buenos Aires and Peru It takes three to tango in South America

S

outh America conjures up images of golden beaches, languid evenings, and lost cities suspended in the clouds.

From the beaches of Ipanema to the dark margins of the Amazon, this vast continent extends from the equatorial tropics to the outskirts of Antarctica.

Framed by stout granite peaks and fabulous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, Rio de Janeiro is a city that lives for the sun. High above the city Christo Redentor watches over the cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city).

Visitors can ride the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain and watch the city lights twinkle around Guanabara Bay. One of the best views of the bay is from the ferry to Niteroi, that sails every few minutes from downtown.

The 13-square-mile Tijuca National Forest forms the lush backdrop to Rio’s romantic beaches. The world’s largest urban forest is filled with quiet paths and shady cinnamon trees.

Considered the most beautiful waterfall in the world, spectacular Iguazú Falls is located at the crossroads of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The falls are actually made up of 275 individual cascades, each up to 275-feet high. Best known is Devil’s Throat with its 100-foot cloud of spray and perpetual rainbow. The incessant roar is so overwhelming it seems to shake the very foundations of the earth.

Cusco was the capital of the Incan Empire, and one of Peru’s most important destinations. Hatun Rumiyoq, known as the “Street of the Old Rock,” is home to the Stone of Twelve Angles, a masterpiece of ancient stonework.

From Cusco, you can board the train to Machu Picchu, about 50 miles northwest of the city. The most important legacy of ancient Peru, the citadel is perched in a high saddle between two peaks in the Andes. This Lost City of the Incas was discovered in 1911, centuries after being forgotten by time. The cloud shrouded ruins are filled with palaces, baths, temples and houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation.

IF YOU GO

LOST IN THE CLOUDS — Huayna Picchu mountain overlooks the ruins of Machu Picchu.

With its broad avenues, charming sidewalk cafés, carefully tended parks, elaborate monuments, and splendid rococo buildings, Buenos Aires is known as the “Paris of the Southern Hemisphere.” Visitors can wander down tree-lined boulevards, or take in the colorful Casa Rosada (Pink House) presidential palace and museums near the Plaza de Mayo. The Bosques de Palermo — the city’s major green space

Person with Disability license plates and placards now at AAA offices

A

AA East Central Pennsylvania Branch Offices can help Pennsylvanians obtain a Person with Disability license plate. All that is required is a completed MV-145 application and the appropriate state and AAA service fees.

The MV-145 can be obtained at your local branch, or by calling 1.800.441.5008.

Once you have the form, you will need to take it to your physician to have him/ her complete the certification section.

PennDOT does require that the person with the qualifying disability, as listed on the back of the MV-145, appear in front of a notary public, with current government issued ID and the physician certified form to have his/her signature witnessed and notarized.

The form can be notarized and the plate issued immediately at Pennsylvania AAA East Central Branch Offices. This procedure may seem complicated, but a visit to your local AAA Branch Office or a call to our 800 number will put you in touch with one of our experienced Auto Travel or Member Service Counselors, to answer any questions and assist you in obtaining the Person with Disability license plate.

Another option is the Person with Disability Parking placard using form MV-145A. This form has the same requirements for issuance as the license plate, but will allow the person to travel in any vehicle. It can also be issued to someone with a temporary disability of less than six months.

This is an option for someone who does not own or co-own a vehicle in Pennsylvania, or travels in multiple vehicles. Placards are to be displayed only when the vehicle is parked. It is permissible to have the license plate on the vehicle and carry the placard for those times when riding in a different vehicle. While not issued on the spot, AAA will be happy to assist you in the application process using our messenger service.

The Person with Disability plate and placard privileges are valid only when the vehicle is being used for the transportation of the person with disability.

AAA title and license services are available to the general public, but are offered to AAA members with substantial discounts off the AAA service fees. Visit your local AAA branch today for more information, or call 1.800.441.5008.

— is home to three artificial lakes, dozens of gardens and the celebrated “Garden of the Poets.”

Peru is a magical destination, filled with cloud forests, and the enigmatic ruins of lost civilizations. Lima the capital, was once the most important city in the Americas. Situated in the heart of the city are the great archeological monuments and temples known as huacas.

Join AAA Travel on their September 10-27, 2014, Treasures of South America escorted tour. This AAA Member Choice Vacation flies you down to Rio, Iguazú Falls, Buenos Aires, Lima, Cuzco, The Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and more. Tour includes 16-nights accommodations; 26 meals; roundtrip air, sightseeing per itinerary and all on-tour transportation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please see this month’s Departures Guide or log on to AAA.com/travel for great vacation ideas from AAA.

PAGE 18

AAA MOTORIST

FEBRUARY 2014

Portugal has a passion for the streets In Lisbon, even the sidewalks are a work of art

L

isbon is filled with the mementos of twenty centuries of history. Wisteria vines cascade from balconies and pots of geraniums hang from every window of the tidy, whitewashed homes.

Castelo de Sao Jorge — the city’s emotional and geographic center — is a 12th century fortress that sits atop St. George’s Hill. The castle was built by the Moors on the site of an old Roman fort. The White City’s Moorish influence is also evident in the red clay roofs and unique bell shaped chimneys.

Just below Castelo de Sao Jorge are the grid-like streets of the Baxia, constructed after a massive, 1755 earthquake. The sidewalks are unlike anything you have ever seen. “Calçada Portuguesa” is an ancient paving art based on Roman mosaics, that transforms mundane walkways into masterpieces — all by hand-placing small black and white stones.

The Baxia is flanked by two squares, and the historic Santa Justa lift, an outdoor cast-iron elevator that connects the downtown to Bairro Alto, the highest point in the city.

The Alfama, or Old Quarter, is an ancient labyrinth of tiny alleys. In the evenings, tiny taverns are filled with the mournful laments of Fado, Portugal’s plaintive folk music sung unaccompanied, or to the strains of a single guitar.

Belém — Lisbon’s most historical area

Cascais. The warm coastline is bathed by sunlight much of the year and dotted with beaches. Inland, the steep wooded hills lead to Sintra, a place the ancient Celts called Mountain of the Moon. Lord Byron wrote “the little town of Sintra is perhaps the most beautiful in the world,” and countless artists have paid homage to its almost perfect synthesis of parks, gardens, squares and architecture.

Sintra was the favored summer residence of Portugal’s aristocracy and the Palácio Nacional da Pena perches on a hilltop overlooking the town.

Commissioned by King Ferdinand II, the fanciful, pastel-washed palace presides over Pena Park, a 500-acre mantle of greenery filled with grottoes, pergolas, fountains, and rare plants.

CASTLE IN THE AIR — The Palácio Nacional da Pena was completed in 1854.

— is where the Tagus River flows into the Atlantic. Portuguese navigators like Vasco da Gama and Magellan set sail from here during the Age of Discovery.

The Monument to the Discoveries, constructed in the shape of a ship with a gigantic sail, commemorates the feats of Portugal’s seamen.

The great voyages influenced Portugal’s Manueline architectural style, a uniquely Portuguese variation of northern gothic and southern exuberance, with details like carved nauti-

cal symbols and anchors and ropes.

In Lisbon, examples of the Manueline style include the Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém, constructed in 1515.

North of Lisbon, Portugal’s Costa de Prata or Silver Coast is an uncrowded region of sleepy villages, vineyards and ancient castles. The vast white Basilica at Fatima attracts thousands of pilgrims each year.

A short drive west of Lisbon are the stylish resort towns of Estoril and

WINTERFEST AT NEMACOLIN — (Feb. 8) Get ready to make fun of winter at Nemacolin’s Annual WinterFest, the Laurel Highlands region’s premier winter adventure event! Compete in activities like the “Nemacolin Polar Bear Classic” Golf Tournament or take a jump into the snowmaking pond during the “Polar Bear Plunge.” WinterFest offers a full day of adventure sports, family fun activities, live entertainment, kids’ snow activities and much more! For a full schedule of events, visit www.nemacolin.com or call 866-344-6957.

YOUTH & FAMILY WELLNESS FAIR — (Feb. 9) The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh will host its fifth annual Youth and Family Wellness Fair. Learn about local nonprofit groups focusing on the arts, music and sustainable well-being. The fair includes activity booths and demonstrations from a variety of groups, with yoga, hula hoops, and other fun activities to get your family moving. Location: JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, Kaufmann Gymnasium, 5738 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. Free admission. Visit www.jccpgh.org or call 412-521-8011.

SWAN LAKE — (Feb. 13-16) One of Tchaikovsky’s most famous ballets, Swan Lake symbolizes more than 100 years of tradition and some of the most revered roles in classical ballet. In a performance of emotional intensity and technical mastery, the ballerina captures the essence of both eternal love and deception. Location: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, 719 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh.

For show times and tickets, visit www. pbt.org or call 412-456-6666.

HARMONIEFEST — (Feb. 15) Harmony Museum’s annual Harmoniefest dinner program commemorates 260 years of rich area history including Harmony’s 1804 founding by the communal Harmony Society of German Lutheran Separatists. Program begins at 6 p.m. at Harmony Museum’s Stewart Hall, 218 Mercer St., Harmony. Reservations required by Feb. 11. Call 724-452-7341 or visit www.harmonymuseum.org.

WOODVILLE – MILITARY MINIATURES DAY — (Feb. 16) Woodville, Southwestern Pennsylvania’s principal link to the late 18th century, is reopening after extensive restoration work, and will display an

IF YOU GO

Join AAA Travel on a Portugal & its Islands Tour, September 12-24, 2014. This AAA Featured Vacation includes 4-nights in Lisbon, Portugal’s Riviera with visits to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril, and the remote islands of the Azores and Madeira. Tour includes roundtrip air, hotel accommodations, in-Portugal tour director, baggage handling, sightseeing, 19 meals and more.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

See this month’s Departures Guide or log on to AAA.com/GoEurope for great European vacations values from AAA.

aroundtown BABY PENGUINS AT NATIONAL AVIARY — (ongoing) Visitors to the National Aviary can now see the newest additions to Penguin Point.

Two African penguin chicks – a boy and a girl – hatched in late 2013, and are now part of the Aviary’s penguin colony. See more than 500 birds of 150 species. Admission: $13; $12, seniors; $11, children; free for children under 2. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Location: National Aviary, Allegheny Commons West, 700 Arch Street, Pittsburgh.

Call 412-323-7235 or visit www.aviary.org.

PITTSBURGH HOME SHOW — (Feb. 7-9) Get a start on this year’s home improvement project at the 24th annual Pittsburgh Indoor/Outdoor Home Show. Attend seminars, visit vendors, play games and meet special guests like Anthony Carrino, cohost of HGTV’s “Kitchen Cousins”. Location: Monroeville Convention Center, 101 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville. Hours: Friday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $9; $6, military, emergency personnel and seniors; free for kids 10 and under. Visit www.pitthomeshow.com.

amazing collection of military miniatures. The time is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Woodville Plantation, 1375 Washington Pike Rt. 50 Bridgeville.

Contact: 412-221-0348, or www.

Woodvilleplantation.org.

CELEBRATION OF CHOCOLATE — (Feb. 22-23) Bring your sweet tooth to the Celebration of Chocolate, a familyfriendly event featuring chocolate competitions, food and drink pairings, live demonstrations, chocolate-related vendors, kids’ events and more. Admission: $10; $5, children. Location: Pittsburgh Marriott North at Cranberry Woods, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township. Event runs Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call 724-234-4619 or visit www.visitbutlercounty.com.

JUDGE JACKIE JUSTICE — (Through April 25) The musical courtroom of Judge Jackie Justice is now in session at the Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret.

In this new musical comedy, watch as a TV judge rules on cases involving zombies, spaceships and more!

Tickets start at $34.75. Location: Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. Visit www.pittsburghclo.org or call 412-456-6666.

FEBRUARY 2014

AAA MOTORIST

European Escorted Tours spend time on your own. So save yourself valuable time & money and get the most out of your hard-earned vacation. You may even develop new friendships among your fellow travelers — all the more reason not to go it alone!

AAA Member Choice Vacations® AAA Member Choice Vacations combine the flexibility of independent travel with the convenience of an escorted tour. Itineraries are designed by experts to maximize your time. Accommodations are chosen to enhance your experience; most feature abundant amenities and are near attractions, so you may spend your leisure time relaxing in the comfort of your hotel or exploring the destination at your own pace. Most itineraries already include many of the attractions, special tours and features that some tour operators only offer as optional add-ons requiring separate fees. And look for distinctive memberonly extra inclusions on select tours.

General Tours General Tours has delighted Americans for more than 60 years. Its promise of groups no greater than 16 guests (often just 4 or 6 guests!) ensures that you get to see and do more, and at a leisurely pace; and you’ll develop deeper relationships with your Trip Leader and fellow guests. Traveling more efficiently with less time waiting, you can enjoy authentic encoun-

continued from page 1 _____________________

ters with locals, planned and serendipitous, and stay in small boutique hotels that won’t accept larger groups.

Insight Vacations Insight’s difference? Style and comfort. Because its average tour group has just 32 guests, spare seats on its customized deluxe touring motorcoaches have been removed. That generously roomy legroom and personal space really makes a difference.

Insight has an international following and provides outstanding service and quality tour packages to savvy travelers. Look for authentic insights that can only be experienced on its tours. Many tours include a special Highlight Dinner reflecting local culture or a Dine-Around (based on your dining style, your tour director reserves your choice of several quality restaurants just for you — or for you and new friends from the tour).

Trafalgar Trafalgar seeks to provide a “deeper” experience. Local experts and specialties allow you to better appreciate the places visited. Enjoy home-cooked dishes and stories from local families at “Be My Guest” dinners. Encounter secret spots (“Hidden Treasures”) found and shared by your Travel Director. Choose itineraries focusing on just 1 country or up to as many as 12 on a tour. Tours often include trains, cruises, cog railways, cable cars and other fun ways of seeing the sights.

PAGE 19

SAVE $100.00 off a 7-night-or-longer air-inclusive 2014 Europe escorted tour from a selection of AAA Travel partners.* Contact your local AAA Travel, call 1-800-354-8761 or visit AAA.com/travel. *Savings per room, double occupancy. Book & deposit by 2/28/14. New bookings only. Not valid on AAA Featured Vacations. Not combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply.

SOME OF 2014’S MOST POPULAR ESCORTED TOURS ENGLAND’S TREASURES: Celebrate the storied charm of destinations right out of history books. Manchester, Liverpool, Lake District, Wedgwood, Cotswolds, Steam Train, Glastonbury, Plymouth, Cornwall, Salisbury, Stonehenge. 10 days from $2,099. AAA Member Choice Vacations.

GEMS OF CENTRAL EUROPE BY RAIL: Enjoy train journeys and discovering the charms of imperial cities. Budapest, Vienna, Prague. 10 days from $2,799.

General Tours.

EUROPEAN BREAKAWAY: Be captivated by cultures and cuisines — from England to the Continent. London, Eurostar Chunnel Train, Amsterdam, Rhine Valley, Heidelberg, Black Forest, Lucerne, Paris. 11 days from $3,365. Insight Vacations.

BEST OF ITALY & SICILY: Savor la dolce vita on this comprehensive exploration of Italia! Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi, Pompeii, Naples, Cruise to Sicily, Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina, Sorrento, Capri. 16 days from $4,165. Trafalgar.

Rates are land-only; ask about available add-on airfare.

EXCLUSIVE 2014 AAA MEMBER BENEFITS AAA MEMBER CHOICE VACATIONS®: $25 to $100 per person savings based on purchase price GENERAL TOURS: $115 per person savings on all Small Group Escorted Tours INSIGHT VACATIONS: $40 voucher per person toward payment of select optional tours on escorted motorcoach tours (with exceptions) TRAFALGAR: $40 credit voucher per person toward an optional excursion

What you should know about flood insurance Protecting your home and yourself from water damage

W

hile we’re still in the midst of winter, it may be time to think about the devastation that can be caused by melting snow in spring. Floods contribute to a number of weather-related fatalities each year. Flooding is also the most common weather-related cause of property damage.

During the famous Hurricane Sandy super storm, many property owners saw their homes wash away, suffered injuries or lost their businesses.

Sandy resulted in more than $6.5 billion in flood insurance payouts, by

the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This was less than half of the $16 billion or more in payouts from Hurricane Katrina.

their local or state government offices for information. Even if an area is not listed as a high-risk flood zone, keep in mind that floods are still possible.

Know your flood risk

Base flood elevation

Experts say that people should learn about the flood risk where they live or work and take the necessary steps to reduce those risks. Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s web site (https://msc.fema.gov) to learn about local flood zones. Site visitors check out maps and look up their properties by address to learn if it is in a flood zone. They can also contact

If you discover your property is in a flood zone, it is important to find out what the base flood elevation is. This is the location at which a structure has a one percent chance of being flooded each year. The BFE number for a property is listed on flood maps, but it is also possible to contact an agent to look up the number. Buildings should be at least three feet above the BFE level to ensure they are protected against waves or higher-than-usual flooding levels.

it is helpful to become familiar with changes approved for the NFIP by the government. These can differ from one year to the next, so it is best to discuss recent changes with an agent. Flood insurance rates are required by law to show the true risk of a particular area.

The most recent changes mean that a significant amount of property owners will see increases in their flood coverage premiums.

Flood coverage

Once you understand what the risks of flooding are, it is important to buy or review insurance. People who have flood coverage should review it to ensure it is sufficient. People who do not have insurance should obtain it immediately. This coverage is offered by the NFIP, but it can be purchased through insurance agents.

People who have federally-backed loans for their properties should also know that their lenders often require them to buy flood insurance if they are close to or in a high-risk flood area. For those who live in high-risk flood zones,

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Trust AAA to steer you right on all your current and future Auto, Home and Life insurance needs. Combining your coverage with one insurance company could make a significant difference in your premium. Call 800.207.7947, or visit AAA. com/ insurance for more information or to schedule a comprehensive insurance review. AAA – your trusted insurance advisor.

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AAA MOTORIST

FEBRUARY 2014