WVA May 2013 by AAA East Central

SEE PAGE 3

Vol. 18 No. 3

OHIO/WEST VIRGINIA • WEST VIRGINIA/STEUBENVILLE REGION MAY/JUNE 2013

‘BUCKET LIST’ AAA FEATURED VACATIONS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

AAA Member Rewards Visa® Credit Card is Miles Ahead!

MEMBERS SAVE UP T0

$1,200! PER ROOM, BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

SOUTHERN AFRICA!

SEE CHART ON PAGE 8!

LANDS DOWN UNDER!

2 thrill-filled dream vacations pack ‘WOW! factor’ sights...and savings

OUR HEART FLUTTERS. Your jaw drops. Your breath intake deepens. You’re experiencing a travel WOW — an extraordinary, life-affirming, awe-inducing moment of the kind we all revel in, strive to remember and can’t wait to share with the folks back home. Whether WOWs involve wildlife, amazing scenery (natural or manmade) or unique experiences or activities, they’re the hallmarks of unforgettable vacations. Such thrilling moments of goosebumps & giddiness abound on 2 very special AAA Featured Vacations — “Spectacular South Africa” and “Australia & New Zealand.” And, AAA members who book & make a deposit by May 31 will be wowed by savings of up to $1,200 per room (discount tied to your membership level; see savings chart on page 8 for details).

SPECTACULAR SOUTH AFRICA

Culture & Harmony in Nature

From the Outback to the Glaciers

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

“Oz-some” perfectly describes this very popuSafari! Swahili for “journey,” this one word lar and awesome AAA adventure April 24–May readily conjures up images of exotic animals, peo14, 2014! It’s a dream-fulfilling exploration of the ples & places. And, with the abundance of “wows” unique and diverse wonders Austraon AAA’s April 24–May 9, 2014, escorted lia & New Zealand offer. Travel down tour, you won’t be disappointed! Each tour under with an experienced AAA Tour Explore wild & wonderful areas comincludes Manager on a 21-day grand tour of citfortably and confidently as a group AAA-exclusive ies & countryside and see more and do with your fellow AAA travelers and an excursions at more than you can on most other tours experienced AAA Tour Manager from no extra cost! — from meeting Aboriginal Australians the moment you arrive in South Africa. to visiting a koala sanctuary to viewing This unique 14-night tour is jama sheep shearing. You’ll even experience unique packed with opportunities to view — and in some dining; among the 30 included meals are dinners cases, meet — wildlife “up close & personal.” Sideep “in the bush” with entertainment under dle up to penguins braying like donkeys, enjoy a star-studded sky, on a cruise around Sydney safaris (from an open-air vehicle and from atop Harbour and with a New Zealand family in their an elephant’s back!) and “capture” lions, leopards home. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! and rhinos with your camera! It all begins at Cairns, tropical gateway to the From Johannesburg to Soweto to Cape Town to Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site. First, Victoria Falls, you’ll meet local people (children glide over & into the rainforest canopy at a township school, adults in a Zimin a cabled gondola, then enjoy a AAAbabwean village) and gain a better unA AAA Tour exclusive inclusion — an evening of derstanding of southern Africa’s diverse Manager is indigenous cuisine, entertainment and cultures, social challenges and unique by your side storytelling. Zip on a high-speed cataways of life. while you’re maran to a pontoon on the reef, where The places you’ll visit! In the wealthithere! you can snorkel or scuba if you wish. est province, cosmopolitan Jo’burg Fly to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Outbustles as a gold & diamond center and back. Tour the base of this huge monolith and, South Africa’s largest city. A visit to the informal as the sun sets, enjoy a Champagne toast watch settlements of the South West Townships (SoweUluru change colors! to) includes lunch with locals continued on page 8 continued on page 8

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

TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT TRAFFIC SAFETY

The AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit card is putting a lot of distance between itself and the competition. No other fee free credit card even comes close. In addition to earning rewards on regular purchases the AAA Member Rewards Visa features a lucrative assortment of redemption offers and benefits, including cash, travel perks, gift cards and merchandise. And because you’re a AAA member, the AAA Member Rewards Visa® has no annual fee! Unlike some cards that set complicated rules in order to make it harder to earn rewards, using the AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit card could not be any easier. You earn genuine rewards for the things you have to buy everyday. Card members receive one point for every dollar they spend, double points on gas, grocery and drug store purchases and triple points on AAA and all travel purchases. There’s no maximum on the amount of cash back you can earn, and your rewards will be there for as long as your account remains open. And, you can combine points from multiple AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit cards! Members can redeem points for cash, travel or gift cards. Why wait? Apply for the AAA Member Rewards Visa® credit card today at AAA.com/creditcard or your nearest AAA Branch. (For more information on the rates, fees and benefits of this card, visit AAA.com/creditcard.)

AAA’s Automatic Renewal Option Automatic renewal is a great way to make sure you never get stuck without your AAA membership. Your membership renewal will be charged to your credit card each year, and we’ll even send you a reminder. Just call or visit your local AAA office, or call our 24-hour service center at 1.800.441.5008 (412.363.5100 in Pittsburgh). Sign up for automatic renewal at anytime, regardless of your membership expiration/renewal date. In fact, you can call us right now, to take advantage of this convenient, time-saving option. Then, rest easy knowing your AAA membership will continue providing uninterrupted service and benefits. Plus, you always have the option of canceling at any time. (Automatic renewal is valid for credit cards only; we cannot accept ATM or Debit cards.)

AAA Deposits top $4 billion in member savings Members boosted their investments in AAA partner Discover Bank funds past the $4 billion mark this spring, usually saving at advantageous rates compared to those offered by other institutions. This unprecedented success speaks to the appeal of AAA’s preferred member rates, excellent customer service and FDIC-insured certificates of deposit, money market accounts, IRA CDs and online savings account products. When you invest with AAA and Discover Bank, you can feel confident knowing your hard earned dollars are invested with a trusted financial institution. Discover Bank received Bankrate.com’s Top Tier award for consistently high yields. Discover the AAA difference in high-yield savings accounts. Call 1.888.728.3230 or go online to AAA.com/Deposits for more information.

Set sail for Hawaii aboard NCL Cruises

Scattered like pearls around the Pacific, Hawaii is the ideal cruise destination. And there is no better way to experience the “the misty seas of the high heavens” than island hopping aboard NCL’s Pride of America, combined with a 2-night AAA land package at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa. Pride of America embodies all the attributes of NCL’s innovative Freestyle Cruising, and the 7-night cruises from visit all of Hawaii’s main islands, including overnights on Maui and Kauai. Passengers will have more time in port than any other cruise line. Plus, receive special Aloha Gifts from AAA Travel, valued up to $200, when you book and deposit by May 31, 2013. SEE PAGE 9

PAGE 2

AAA MOTORIST

Make sure your insurance coverage goes with you Protecting your vacation and financial peace of mind

INTERNET WEB SITE: www.AAA.com AAA MEMBER SERVICES

412-363-5100 or 1-800-441-5008 AAA MOTORIST: 412-365-7017 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: PA/WV: 1-800-207-7947 OH: 1-800-589-8308.

MEDIA RELATIONS: 412-365-7157 PUBLIC AFFAIRS: 216-606-6701 SAFETY: 412-365-7211 DRIVER EDUCATION 800-329-2415

Trip Cancellation Insurance

TDD for the hearing-impaired: 412-363-7144

AAA BRANCH OFFICE LOCATIONS

STAY COVERED — Many travelers do not carry the appropriate insurance protection.

ATHENS, OH 130 E. State St. ...................740-593-6677

Travel Health Insurance

from home for a long time, or will be engaging in adventure activities such as scuba diving or hang gliding. If you have health insurance in the United States, find out if it will cover emergencies that happen abroad. Ask if your policy has any exclusions, such as for preexisting conditions or adventure activities. If your health insurance coverage is not adequate, consider buying a short-term supplemental policy. Look for a policy that will make payments to hospitals directly.

BRIDGEPORT, WV 169 Barnett Run Rd............304-842-2221

Medical Evacuation Insurance

HILLSBORO, OH 125 W. Main St. ..................937-393-3489

If you need medical treatment overseas, you will probably be asked to pay out-of-pocket, which could be very expensive. Even countries with nationalized health care may not cover people who are nonresidents. Before you go, consider your insurance options in case you need care while you’re abroad, especially if you have existing health conditions, will be away

Give Yourself an Upgrade— to the highest level of protection available! Get more from your membership. Upgrade to AAA Premier. With expanded roadside assistance — and a host of other benefits — AAA Premier is a smart choice. To upgrade your membership, call or visit your local AAA office or AAA.com, or call the Member Service Center at

1-800-441-5008

AAA DIRECTORY triptiks, tourbooks, maps, license, address change

hether your idea of a summer break is sipping a cocktail by the pool, mountain biking a double black diamond, or touring the capitals of Europe, travel insurance can provide valuable assistance and financial protection. “Emergencies are rare, but everyone should have a contingency plan,” says Jim Lehman, president AAA East Central. “Unforeseen illnesses and medical emergencies are the number one reason trips are canceled.” If you’re planning an international trip, there are three types of insurance you should consider: trip cancellation insurance, travel health insurance, and medical evacuation insurance.

Trip cancellation insurance covers your financial investment in your trip, should you have to cancel a trip due to sickness, a death in the family, bad weather, delayed luggage or another disaster listed in the policy. In addition, if you or an immediate family member become seriously ill or are injured during the trip some travel insurance policies will reimburse you for the unused portion of the vacation. There may be exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so check your policy carefully. Depending on the policy, trip cancellation insurance might not cover any medical care overseas, so you may need a separate travel health insurance policy.

MAY 2013

If you are traveling to a destination where care is not up to U.S. standards, consider buying medical evacuation insurance. This can be purchased separately or as part of your travel health insurance policy. This insurance will pay for emergency transportation from a remote or poor area to a highquality hospital. Make sure that the policy provides a 24-hour physician support center. When deciding whether travel insurance is right for you, compare companies, policy coverage, benefits and prices. Find out what is included and what is excluded and check your current health and homeowners insurance policies to see what coverage you already have. Having the right insurance will help you prepare for the unexpected in the event your trip is canceled, interrupted or delayed.

CHILLICOTHE, OH 141 W. Main St. ..................740-702-3838 COLUMBIANA, OH 118 South Main Street.......330-482-3836 EAST LIVERPOOL, OH 516 Broadway ....................330-385-2020 GALLIPOLIS, OH 360 Second Ave. .................740-446-0699

HUNTINGTON, WV 1126 Sixth Ave. ..................304-523-6423 IRONTON, OH 624 S. Fourth St..................740-532-3242 JACKSON, OH 126 E. Gay St. .....................740-286-5077 LOGAN, OH 82 W. Main St. ....................740-385-8595 MARTINSBURG, WV 284 Retail Commons Parkway. .............................304-263-4619 MORGANTOWN, WV Morgantown Commons 6520 Mall Rd.......................304-983-6480 PORTSMOUTH, OH 1414 Twelfth St. ................740-354-5614 VIENNA, WV 1100 Ninth St., Unit D........304-295-7101 WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OH 334 E. Court St. ..................740-335-3950

BEFORE YOU GO

If long- or short-term foreign travel is in your plans speak with your AAA travel or insurance representative about travel insurance coverage that you can take with you wherever you go. Call 800.354.8761 or visit AAA.com/Insurance to purchase travel medical insurance online.

WAVERLY, OH 217 W. Emmitt Ave. ...........740-947-7775 WEIRTON, WV 3126 West St. .....................304-748-1616 WHEELING, WV 846 National Rd. . ..............304-233-1810

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 3

Teaching your children about traffic safety Ohio/West Virginia West Virginia - Steubenville Edition Official publication of AAA East Central Published bi-monthly by AAA East Central 1414 Twelfth Street Portsmouth, OH 45662-5614 USPS 0016-186 ISSN 1074-097X Periodicals Postage Paid at Portsmouth, OH and additional mailing office Postmaster: Send address changes to AAA Motorist South Central Ohio 1414 Twelfth St., Portsmouth OH 45662-0371 Subscription Rate: $1 included in Primary Membership dues. All others: $2/year.

Publisher.....................................James E. Lehman Managing Editor ..........................Doug O’Neil Ohio Editor ............................Babbette L. Bays Editorial Offices 1414 Twelfth Street Portsmouth, OH 45662-4235 5900 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh PA 15206-3854 412-365-7017

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 Glenn B. Bachman, 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, Floyd R. Ganassi**, Richard S. Hamilton, James H. Kanicki, Mary Lynn Laughlin, William Duff McCrady, James M. McDonnell**, Thomas V. McKernan Jr., Martha Hartle Munsch, Gary K. Munsie, Terrence L. Walton** 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, J. Terrence Farrell, Floyd R. Ganassi**, 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

Huntington Regional Board of Directors William H. Blenko, William C. Campbell, Noel P. Copen, Earl W. Heiner Jr., Samuel Kapourales, Charles Lanham, Robert M. Levy, Thomas J. Maxwell, James H. Morgan, William D. Stark, Maurice G. Taylor Jr. Marion County Regional Board of Directors Robert H. Martin Northern West Virginia Regional Board of Directors Carol Asam, Christian Asam, Forest Bowman, Nikki Bowman, James B. Bruhn, Wayne J. Northey, Sharon Sakacsi, Harold J. Shamberger, Thomas Shamberger, Thomas H. Van Landingham, Monte Williams Parkersburg Regional Board of Directors Charles O. Casto, Joe C. Hushion, Art Oliver Jr. Weirton Regional Board of Directors George J. Anetakis, George M. Molnar, Joyce C. Pashke, James White

Good safety habits will last them a lifetime By Wayne Northey President, AAA West Virginia riving always demands our full attention, but it is especially important at this time of year. After nine, long months of school, children will soon be celebrating the freedom of summer vacation. The warm sunshine beckons them to play ball, ride bikes, or cool off in the sprinkler. Children may be so distracted by the pastimes of summer, they become oblivious to the risks of traffic rolling by. Parents should never forget that children often have very little concept of the speed, weight, and power of a vehicle. They are particularly vulnerable because they are harder for motorists to see and their actions can be unpredictable. Children also tend to think that if they see a driver, the driver also sees them. Young children may not have the cognitive maturity to judge when it’s safe to cross a street and are less likely to understand the consequences of their misjudgments. They may not stop and think before darting between parked cars or chasing a ball into the street. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 300 children 15 and younger are hit and killed each year while walking in what should be their safe haven — their neighborhood. In 2010, the last year that statistics are available, almost one fifth of the children between the ages of age 5 of 9 killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.

Wayne Northey The majority of preschool and elementary-school-age pedestrian injuries and deaths usually occur near the child’s home. Darting out into the street without looking is one of the most common mistakes children make, and one of the most deadly. Parents should never expect too much, too soon. NHTSA research psychologists report that parents’ or caretakers’ unrealistic expectations are a contributing factor in many child pedestrian tragedies. Learn to recognize a child’s limitations. Their peripheral vision for example, is approximately one-third narrower than an adult’s. They may have difficulty judging a vehicle’s speed or believe that a car can stop instantly.

While children may not have the judgment to cope with traffic by themselves, they can learn safety rules. Teaching children how to cross the street properly is essential. Parents must work with their kids to get them in the habit of always stopping at the edge of the street, looking left, then right, then left again to make sure the road is clear. This is the golden rule of traffic safety and it is essential for children to learn it at an early age. Find places away from streets, driveways, and parking lots for children to play. Fenced yards, parks, and playgrounds are good choices. Children also should be taught to ask an adult to retrieve any toys that roll into the street. Establish where young children can use wheeled toys such as tricycles, bicycles, wagons, or scooters. AAA recommends that parents set age- appropriate limits on where their children can walk or bike safely. As in all parenting, the do-as-I-say method works best when parents set a good example. Children will recognize when you are obeying the speed limits and giving right of way to pedestrians. Chances are, if you obey traffic signals, cross the street properly, and wear a helmet when riding a bike, so will your children. These are good safety habits that will last them a lifetime. Our children need the best protection we can provide. As a motorist you can make a real difference just by staying alert and taking extra care in residential areas or while driving where children are present.

membersonly

Let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat With exclusive members-only discounts and benefits

ummer vacation season is nearly here, and travelers will soon be shopping for rental cars for their travel destinations. One of the benefits of AAA membership is the special package of savings available when you rent from Hertz. Members receive up to a 20 percent discount on car rentals, free Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership, plus an array of money-saving opportunities, including special upgrades, dollars-off coupons, and more. Their Member Satisfaction Guarantee is your assurance that the rate and car class, or a higher car class, will be available as reserved. The key to these exclusive Hertz savings and benefits is the CDP#. Your Hertz CDP number is the same as your club code, which appears on the front of your membership card. It’s your gateway to savings and value. The Hertz system will automatically assign the best rate available within the chosen channel of distribution at the time of reservation.

Exclusive AAA member benefits include free unlimited mileage on most rentals. Families receive free use of one child, infant or booster seat with every rental, and there’s no charge for an additional driver if that driver is a AAA member with a credit card in their own name. Hertz frequently offers AAA members special single and double upgrade coupons in addition to dollars off coupons. These coupon or couponless offers are available from AAA travel offices, in your club publication and on AAA.com. While most leisure and/or promotional weekly rates require that a car be rented over Saturday night, AAA members won’t have to worry. They qualify for low weekly rates without having to keep the vehicle over a Saturday night. And when you return, a Hertz agent will be waiting to give you an Instant Return receipt before you even leave the vehicle. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership is free to AAA members. But

that’s not all. Basic and Plus members receive 600 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Bonus Points. That’s enough for one free rental day after the first Gold rental. Join at AAA.com/HertzGold. AAA Premier members receive 1,000 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Bonus Points enough for two free weekend rental days! Join at AAA.com/HertzPremier. Plus, your Hertz Discount Code (CDP#) is automatically included in your reservations. Hertz’ premier frequent renter program entitles you to membership privileges at more than 40 major airports and 1,000 locations around the world. Just get in, show your driver’s license at the exit gate and drive away. There’s no waiting in line, nothing to sign. Your car will be waiting in a weather-protected #1 Club Gold area. AAA demands the best for its members. That’s why Hertz is the only car-rental company endorsed by AAA. The next time you need a rental car let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat.

PAGE 4

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 5

PAGE 6

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013

Answering the questions you never thought to ask Why you need a professional insurance agent

veryone needs insurance and consumers are barraged by a myriad of insurance company offers all claiming they can provide what you need. Many suggest going on line; picking your own coverages and buying insurance. Easy! Quick! Cheap! With an almost unlimited number of choices, why are more people turning to professional agents to do their planning? Time-challenged consumers may be one reason for the shift. If you’re not familiar with the terrain finding the right information can be time consuming and challenging. Why struggle with websites that are convoluted, confusing and filled with vague and unfamiliar terminology? Whether you are a teenager just starting to drive or a multi-millionaire with multiple homes and vehicles it’s very important to purchase insurance to adequately protect your interests. The types of insurance, the coverages, what you need and how much you need are difficult questions to answer without some help. What are your needs for the future? What happens if you’re in an accident? How much insurance do you need to adequately protect yourself? A professional insurance agent can help you answer those questions. Insurance is a highly regulated industry. All professional agents are

you decide on the adequate coverages to protect yourself and your family. During a comprehensive insurance review an agent will take into account your income, your assets, your responsibilities, as well as your plans for the future, to determine what your insurance needs may be. The agent will then review your current coverages to help you evaluate whether it is appropriate for your current situation. An agent will know the questions to ask; be able to answer any of yours and help you decipher insurance jargon. By the time the conversation ends, you’ll be able to make an informed choice about your insurance coverage options. You’ll also know, that every time you have a significant life change, that you can confidently reach out to that agent you trust, to make important decisions regarding your insurance coverage.

TALK TO A PRO — Many people find it easier to deal with an insurance professional rather than do all the work themselves. licensed by the state they work in to sell insurance after taking a comprehensive class and passing a state-issued exam. Insurance professionals also are required to keep up-to-date with the many changes in the industry by taking continuing education classes prior to license renewals. In addition, when an agent is hired by AAA East Central to sell auto and home insurance (or Property and Casualty in insurance

jargon), they are required to take a month-long, in-house training class to become experts on the products they sell. They are taught how to interpret the policy language and how it applies to the person purchasing that coverage. Contrary to what some insurance companies try to tell you in their advertising, purchasing insurance should not be a quick transaction. It takes some time for a good insurance agent to help

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.

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 7

Introducing Club Rewards on AAA.com Prepare to be WOWED by deep discounts and savings

ow more than ever, AAA members are looking for ways to save. And the savings are sensational at AAA Club Rewards. It’s an exciting new online discount program that significantly expands discounts and savings available to AAA members! This innovative new shopping experience on AAA.com, features deep discounts, limited offers and everyday savings on electronics, home improvement, apparel, entertainment, pet care and more, from approximately 30,000 participating merchants nationwide — including big time national retailers like Kohl’s, Macy’s, Best Buy, Walmart and The Home Depot. Members can access these new discounts simply by visiting the discounts section of our website at AAA.com. The AAA Club Rewards shopping portal features an intuitive, easy to navigate interface to help you find exactly what you are looking for with just a few simple clicks. Check out the Hot List for local offers, or use the AAA Club Rewards Shopping Engine to select your favorite brands. AAA members can also customize their shopping experience to receive personalized recommendations based on their interests. In addition to discount offers, you’ll earn WOWPoints on most purchases, a unique online currency, that you can “burn off” at your favorite participating

Save $10 on a new AAA Gift Membership through May 31st

the AAA Club Rewards page from www. AAA.com/discounts. Members will be able to browse through offers, however, they must first register at the time of transaction. Registration is completely free — a valid AAA membership and email address are all you need. Offers are available online, by phone, and sometimes in-store via a printed coupon and include limitedtime offers, deep discount offers and everyday offers. Members can even buy local restaurant gift certificates and earn WOWPoints at the same time. Why wait any longer? Register online at AAA.com/discounts. Then shop, save and earn on national and local brands, restaurants and retailers.

DOUBLE UP ON DISCOUNTS — Save serious cash and earn WOW PoInts at the same time when you shop at AAA Club Rewards. merchants. The majority of merchants will give at least one WOWPoint for each dollar spent, with many of them giving two, four, or more times the WOWPoints per dollar spent. One hundred WOWPoints equals $1 and members can start burning their points with as little as $2 or 200 WOWPoints. • WOWPoints are as flexible as cash; • 100 WOWPoints earned = $1.00; • No limit to the points you can earn;

• No blackout dates, no inflated redemption prices and no restrictions; • WOWPoints never expire. They remain valid as long as you are a AAA member; • Double Dip — WOWPoints can be earned on top of your points from your AAA Member Rewards Visa credit card. AAA East Central members can access

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about the AAA Discounts program including Show Your Card & Save and AAA Prescription Savings, or to sign up free for AAA Club Rewards visit AAA.com/Discounts.

The Perfect Gift! Graduations, Father’s Day, Birthdays, Weddings … Whatever the occasion, it’s the perfect time to give a AAA Gift Membership. With roadside assistance, vacation planning, maps, travel guides, exclusive savings, and much more, you can trust AAA membership to be a perfect fit.

EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE ????????? ????????? ????????? ????????? All Other Areas (800) AAA_HELP (800) 222-4357

To purchase a AAA Gift Membership, call or visit your local office or AAA.com.

PAGE 8

AAA MOTORIST

Southern Africa

continued from page 1

at a shebeen (house tavern). At the Apartheid Museum, take an in-depth look at the nation’s divisive past. Travel through the Drakensburg Mountains to South Africa’s largest game reserve, Kruger National Park. A local expert leads you in search of the Big 5 — elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino. Watch carefully from your open-air safari vehicle; you may also see impala, zebra and giraffe. Save enough film or memory to capture the stunning beauty of the Garden Route, a scenic stretch of coastline between mountains and the Indian Ocean on the way to Tsitsikamma Forest, home to hundreds of species of birdlife. At Featherbed Nature Reserve, cruise a lagoon to the Heads, sandstone cliffs near Knysna, culinary capital of oysters and other delectable seafood. Then visit the national ostrich capital; tour a working farm and, if you choose, ride these flightless and largest of living birds. Afterward, a goblet of great wine may be in order. Fortunately, the Cape Winelands region is your next stop! South Africa has produced wine since 1659; visit a wine farm and sample a blend at a winery restaurant among the vines. One of the world’s most multicultural cities, Cape Town hugs a visually stunning harbor with a mountain forming a dramatic backdrop to the City Bowl. With its plateau more than 3,300 feet high, Table Mountain is surrounded

continued from page 1

AAA MEMBER SAVINGS

April 24–May 9, 2014 • AAA Member Rate: $8,699 Rate per person (double occupancy) is before savings, is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Pittsburgh-Johannesburg), in-Africa flights, roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, sightseeing per itinerary, accommodations, hotel luggage handling (1 bag per person), taxes/gratuities/government fees for included features, 28 meals, in-Africa guide, cancel-for-any-reason protection and the services of a AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met). AAA Member Choice Vacations® door-to-door transfer service is unavailable on this departure. Visit AAA.com/ GoAfrica for complete itinerary and important pre-travel information. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Kruger National Park: Safari drive Port Elizabeth: Garden Rte gateway Garden Route: coastal scenery Tsitsikamma Forest: birdlife Knysna: resort town, school visit

Lands Down Under

by near-vertical cliffs, Devil’s Peak and In Alice Springs, meet an Aboriginal Lion’s Head. Ride a thrilling cable car to musical group and dine in the bush its top for breathtaking views. (When a with entertainment under the stars. On thin strip of cloud forms over the mouna special Dreamtime tour, you’ll learn tain, locals call it their “tablecloth.”) about Aboriginal culture, meet individOn Cape Peninsula, visit with penuals and even visit a school. guins at Boulder Beach; explore KirstenOften characterized as Victorian, Melbosch Botanical Gardens. Take an afterbourne is lively and cosmopolitan; tour hours tour of the African Gold Museum its lovely Fitzroy Gardens and then travbefore enjoying a traditional African el to Phillip Island Nature Park, home of dining experience. the world’s largest Not yet wowed colony of Little (or, enough? Fly to as they’re known Book & make a deposit Zimbabwe’s Victorto Aussies, Fairy) by May 31, 2013, to save! ia Falls (its indigpenguins, just 13" enous name means tall, the smallest SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRALIA & NZ “smoke that thunpenguin species. $700 ...... Premier .... $1,200 ders”), where the Watch hundreds of $600 ..... AAA Plus ... $1,100 Zambezi River falls these lovable birds in a single vertical waddle from sea $550 .........Basic ....... $1,050 drop into a chasm to beach burrow, a Savings per room, based on double occupancy. To qualify, you must purchase air through AAA. 5,604 feet wide; the fascinating parade depth of the chasm sure to make you varies from 260 to 354 feet. Stay at the smile and one you’ll never forget! 5-star Victoria Falls Hotel, the “grand Next, you’ll air-hop to the “most Engold lady” built in 1904. Take a leisurely lish city outside of England” — Christcruise on the Zambezi at sunset. Then church, New Zealand’s “Garden City.” enjoy a full day — including a safari on Then ride on the Tranz-Alpine Express the back of an elephant! — at Botswathrough the scenic Southern Alps. Exna’s Chobe National Park, home to an perience Franz Josef Glacier Region’s dyabundance of wildlife and game. namic and spectacular glacial landscape. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime travFor even more wows, you can opt for a el opportunity no lover of wildlife and thrilling flightseeing tour of the region. natural scenic beauty should miss. Visit Later, at the West Coast Wildlife Centre, AAA.com/GoAfrica and contact a AAA learn about the endangered kiwi bird. Travel Agent today! “The Lord of the Rings” fans will

SPECTACULAR SOUTH AFRICA

Sandton/Johannesburg Soweto: “house tavern” lunch Blyde River Canyon The Three Rondavels Bourke’s Luck Potholes

MAY 2013

Featherbed Nature Reserve Oudtshoorn: ostrich “capital” Stellenbosch/Winelands Cape Town: Table Mtn Gondola Victoria Falls/Zambezi River

AAA-EXCLUSIVE INCLUSIONS AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU! At Knysna lagoon, enjoy oysters & sparkling wine dockside, a paddle boat ride, an onboard local-specialties cooking demonstration and a delicious 3-course dinner! Enjoy a full-day adventure in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, featuring a river cruise and a memorable wildlife-viewing safari from atop the back of an elephant!

Enjoy an entertaining 30-minute ONLINE PRESENTATION on your computer — the first step of your AAA adventure! Ask real-time questions, learn from travel experts and marvel at incredible images. Register at 1-800-354-8761. South Africa — May 29 @ 7pm Australia & NZ — May 15 @ 7pm

EARN TRIPLE POINTS on your next AAA trip! Book your vacation using the AAA Member Rewards Visa® and earn triple points for each dollar spent on qualifying AAA Travel purchases. That means you could earn enough points to enhance your vacation with an unforgettable beachside horseback ride, amazing snorkeling tour or any of the hundreds of great adventures available. You’ll also get 2,500 bonus points after your first qualifying purchase. Apply at any AAA branch. For more information on the costs and benefits of this card, visit a AAA branch.

absolutely love the voyage to “Middle Earth.” See primeval, mystical landscapes where Tolkien’s powerful trilogy was filmed; vast panoramas of unspoiled wilderness on South Island made it an ideal setting. Trek by 4x4 Range Rovers into the aptly named Remarkable Mountains and across the Arrow River. Visit an 1800s gold rush boomtown, then enjoy a tasting at one of NZ’s famous wineries. Spend ample time exploring the splendor of Mt Cook National Park. Stop at a working farm for a riveting demonstration by a sheep herding dog followed by a sheep shearing. Afterward, sit down to dinner in the home of a friendly local family, getting to know them and their culture. Fly to Sydney for a unique Epicurean tour, savoring each course in a different restaurant. Extensively tour this fun-loving city; see the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, the Botanic Gardens and fashionable Paddington. After a guided tour of the instantly recognizable Sydney Opera House, enjoy time to explore the city’s many other sites. On your final day, wallabies, kangaroos, dingoes and the namesake “stars” of Koala Park will enchant you, as will the gems of the National Opal Collection. End this Oz-some tour with a farewell dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour! An optional 3-night post-tour stay in Fiji is available — a perfect ending to a perfect journey. Contact AAA Travel!

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND April 24–May 14 2014 • AAA Member Rate: $9,849 Rate per person (double occupancy) is before savings, is subject to availability at time of booking and includes flights (Pittsburgh-Sydney, Sydney-Christchurch, ChristchurchPittsburgh), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, hotel luggage handling (1 bag per person), taxes/gratuities/government fees for included features, 30 meals, professional guide in Australia & New Zealand, cancel-for-any-reason protection and the services of a AAA Tour Manager (if minimum-participation goal is met). AAA Member Choice Vacations® door-to-door transfer service is unavailable on this departure. Visit AAA.com/GoAustralia for complete itinerary and important pre-travel information. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Cairns Rainforest Cableway Great Barrier Reef Uluru/Ayers Rock Alice Springs Aboriginal Dreamtime tour Melbourne

Little Penguin colony Christchurch Tranz-Alpine Express ride Franz Joseph Glacier Queenstown Milford Sound cruise “Middle Earth” 4x4 trek

Winery tour & tasting Mt Cook National Park Herding/shearing demo Dine with a NZ Family Sydney & Opera House Koala Park & Opal Collection Sydney Harbour dinner cruise

AAA-EXCLUSIVE INCLUSION AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU! In Cairns, at the beginning of your adventure, embrace Australia’s ancient indigenous culture with an evening of entertainment, discovery, delicious cuisine and storytelling that brings Dreamtime legends to life.

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 9

Member Benefits • Exclusive Offers

1-800-354-8761 • AAA.com/travel

AAA + NCL = The very best way to see the most of Hawaii...and get Aloha Gifts!

It all adds up to a 7-night, 4-island cruise plus 2 nights on Waikiki and a Pearl Harbor excursion!

The formula for a fantastic, fun and free-of-hassles Hawaiian vacation is the simple addition of a 2-night AAA land package and a 7-night NCL cruise! What you get is the convenient, comfortable and unforgettable experience of visiting 4 islands of America’s own slice of paradise over 9 nights, minus the annoyance of repeatedly packing & unpacking, flying from island to island, transferring from hotel to hotel. In fact, it couldn’t be easier. Start with 2 nights on Oahu in Waikiki, Honolulu’s beachfront district known for placid waters, spectacular views of Diamond Head and unlimited opportunities for entertainment, dining, nightlife and shopping. Lounge in luxury at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa right in the middle of it all! An included 5-hour excursion to Pearl Harbor includes a moving visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. NCL’s Pride of America is a vibrant US-flagged, Americana-themed “floating resort hotel” full of choices to maximize the enjoyment of your cruise. Its friendly American crew is ready to assist you and make sure your cruise is just that — yours. Freestyle Cruising® starts with a wide DAY

PRE-CRUISE HONOLULU LOCATIONS

range of dining options included in your cruise price and available on your schedule. Freestyle Dining means sitting down to a 4-course meal and a fine wine...or grabbing a burger hot off the grill. Dressing up. Dressing down. Sitting with friends or making new ones. You’ll find more dining options than days of your cruise, and you’re free to enjoy them all on your own schedule. For even more memorable experiences, cover-charge specialty restaurants provide refined choices; experience a Brazilian churrascaria or a Chicago steakhouse (both new in 2013) or dine on expertly prepared sushi, traditional French bistro or Italian trattoria fare — it’s all onboard. And it’s all delicious. The freedom continues with entertainment for all. From Broadway shows to adults-only clubs where you can dance ’til dawn to supervised activities for kids & teens. Pools with slides, WiiTM on 2-story screens, modern fitness centers, expansive spas, fun kids & teens programs, wine tastings, an always exciting casino and more are all waiting for you onboard. When it’s time to recover from the excitement, retreat to accommodations de-

1 .... Arrive Honolulu Airport, transfer to your room at Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa 2 .... Enjoy all of the fun & sun of Waikiki at your leisure; do as much or as little as you like! 3 .... Pearl Harbor excursion, then afternoon transfer to ship at Pier 2, Port of Honolulu

DAY

CRUISE PORT, ISLAND

ARRIVE

DEPART or OVERNIGHT

3 ....Honolulu, Oahu.................7pm 4 ....Kahalui, Maui ........8am ...overnight in port 5 ....Kahalui, Maui ...................6pm 6 ....Hilo, Hawaii ...........8am ...6pm 7 ....Kona, Hawaii .........7am ...5:30pm 8 ....Nawiliwili, Kauai ...8am....overnight in port 9 ....Nawiliwili, Kauai ..............2pm 10 ...Honolulu, Oahu......7am....transfer to airport

signed for the way you cruise. Bring your sweet dreams to a balcony stateroom, a 2-bedroom family suite or a stylish studio for solo travelers (new in 2013!). There’s a large selection of oceanview & inside staterooms; NCL has a higher percentage of balcony rooms than any other line. After settling into your at-sea digs, get set to visit 3 other Hawaiian isles — Maui, Hawaii (the Big Island) and Kauai. A surplus of natural splendor and the genuine hospitality of its people help to make Maui Hawaii’s second most popular island. Explore the fascinating history of Lahaina. Picnic at a plantation, plant yourself on a pristine beach or play one of the world’s most beautiful golf courses. Hilo is like one giant greenhouse with spectacular tropical flowers at every turn. Visit well-preserved historic buildings, dating to the turn of the 20th century and showcasing Hawaii’s unique architecture. Nearby Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home of the active volcano, Kilauea. Kona offers the quintessential Hawaii experience. Sunny, warm weather and crystal-blue waters entice visitors to partake in a variety of surfside fun. Snorkel

BOOK & DEPOSIT BY MAY 31, 2013, AND GET THESE AAA ALOHA GIFTS! BALCONY STATEROOM

$200.00 Target Gift Card AAA Travel Beach Towels 2-towel set valued @ $35

OUTSIDE STATEROOM

$100.00 Target Gift Card AAA Travel Beach Towels 2-towel set valued @ $35

INSIDE STATEROOM

$50.00 Target Gift Card AAA Travel Beach Towels 2-towel set valued @ $35

1 each per new booking — May 1-31, 2013

among a kaleidoscope of tropical marine life, take a surfing lesson, enjoy a kayaking trip or head out for deep-sea fishing. Named after wiliwili trees which once lined its picturesque harbor, Nawiliwili is your gateway to what many believe to be Hawaii’s most beautiful island, Kauai. On the “Garden Island,” nature is truly the star, from the dramatic mountains of Kokee to the cool rain forests of Haena. Looking for the best Hawaiian vacation experience? Just calculate this simple equation: AAA Travel plus NCL equals great times, great value and great gifts!

3 HOT WINTER DEPARTURES IN 2014! JAN 9-18 from $1,705 • JAN 30–FEB 8 from $1,809 FEB 27–MARCH 8 from $1,809

AAA MEMBER RATES are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability at time of booking and include airport/hotel transfers (for flights purchased through NCL), 2 nights at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona Memorial excursion, hotel/pier transfers, 7-night cruise accommodations/entertainment, most onboard meals, government taxes/fees, port charges and pier/airport transfers (for flights purchased through NCL). Ship’s registry: USA. Ask about available add-on airfare.

PAGE 10

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013

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

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

Princess Cruises & AAA Vacations offer some of the best values at sea & great benefits unavailable elsewhere! ®

Preferred Check-in does not grant priority boarding

Up to $75 Onboard Credit per stateroom

Wine Tasting DATE

NTS

SHIP

7/7

Golden

Alaska Inside Passage: Roundtrip from Seattle

7/22 7

Island

Alaska Northbound: Vancouver to Whittier

8/4

Golden

Alaska Inside Passage: Roundtrip from Seattle

ITINERARY

8/18 10

Grand

Alaska: Roundtrip from San Francisco

8/19 7

Island

Alaska Northbound: Vancouver to Whittier

9/7

Diamond

Alaska Southbound: Whittier to Vancouver

9/15 7

Golden

Alaska Inside Passage: Roundtrip from Seattle

10/24 11

Coral

Panama Canal: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

11/10 15

Grand

Hawaii: Roundtrip from San Francisco

11/14 15

Island

Panama Canal: Los Angeles to Ft Lauderdale

11/19 10

Emerald

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/5 15

Star

Hawaii: Roundtrip from Los Angeles

12/9 10

Emerald

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/15 7

Royal

Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/15 7

Sapphire

Mexico: Roundtrip from Los Angeles

New bookings only. Offers listed available only on AAA Vacations departures. Combinable with exclusive AAA Member Benefits; ask your AAA Travel Agent or visit AAA.com/travel for details & restrictions. ®

Enjoy 2 valuable benefits EXCLUSIVELY for members BEST-PRICE GUARANTEE

If you find a better rate for the exact same cruise itinerary & experience within 24 hours of booking, AAA Vacations ® will match the lower rate...and you’ll receive a $50.00 future-travel credit certificate.

24 / 7 MEMBER CARE

Get peace of mind whenever you need emergency assistance while traveling — a toll-free domestic number and collect-call instructions for international travelers.

A special kind of cruise stands apart from all others — a AAA Vacations ® cruise available only from AAA Travel. It delivers unique features designed to ensure you have the best vacation experience. Compare a AAA Vacations ® cruise against the same cruise offered elsewhere; see how much more your vacation dollar gets you at AAA. Even if you find the same cruise (without AAA Vacations ® benefits, of course!) at a lower price some-where else within 24 hours of booking your AAA Vacations ® cruise, AAA will match that rate and give you a $50.00 future-travel voucher... guaranteed!

CONVENIENT MOTORCOACH CRUISING FROM PITTSBURGH Avoid potential airport hassles. Motorcoach to your cruise! Park for freet, then relax & ride AAA’s convenient “Cruise Express” motorcoach to Baltimore to board Grandeur of the Seas! 2013 BAHAMAS Aug 2-9 • from $1,088

2013 CARIBBEAN Dec 14-24 • from $1,024

Port Canaveral, Florida Coco Cay, Bahamas Nassau, Bahamas 3 full days at sea

Basseterre, St Kitts Tortola, British Virgin Islands San Juan, Puerto Rico; Labadee, Haiti 5 full days at sea

2013 NEW ENGLAND & CANADA Sept 19-27 • from $1,115

2014 CARIBBEAN Jan 21-31 • from $1,029

2014 CARIBBEAN March 18-28* • from $1,132

2014 BAHAMAS Aug 8-15 • from $1,144

Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas USVI Philipsburg, St Maarten 5 full days at sea

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

2014 BERMUDA May 23-30 • from $1,225

2014 BERMUDA Oct 10-16 • from $885

King’s Wharf, Bermuda 3 full days at sea

King’s Wharf, Bermuda 2 full days at sea

Portland & Bar Harbor, Maine Saint John, New Brunswick Halifax, Nova Scotia 3 full days at sea

San Juan, Puerto Rico Tortola, British Virgin Islands Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas USVI Philipsburg, St Maarten 5 full days at sea

2013 CARIBBEAN Nov 26–Dec 6 • from $1,082

2014 CARIBBEAN Feb 18-28 • from $1,132

2014 BAHAMAS June 27–July 4 • from $1,244

2014 NEW ENGLAND & CANADA Oct 16-24 • from $1,076

Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas USVI Philipsburg, St Maarten 5 full days at sea

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

Portland & Bar Harbor, Maine Saint John, New Brunswick Halifax, Nova Scotia 3 full days at sea

AAA MEMBER RATES are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability at time of booking and include roundtrip motorcoach transportation, cruise accommodations/entertainment, most onboard meals and government fees. Ship’s registry: Bahamas. Visit AAA.com/motorcruise for itinerary details & Western Pennsylvania pick-up points.

*WEST VIRGINIA MOTORCOACH from Morgantown & Bridgeport available for the March 18, 2014, departure.

DON’T MISS THE BOAT — VISIT AAA.COM / MOTORCRUISE

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 11

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

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

THE AMERICAN WEST

Where the sun sets and the fun rises! AAA MEMBER RATES are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability at time of booking and include roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, motorcoach sightseeing & admissions as indicated, services of a AAA Tour Manager and more. Ask about available add-on airfare. Visit AAA.com/USA for complete itinerary details.

LAST CHANCE TO BOOK THESE 2! Southwestern Canyonlands

Best of Northern California

Eroded for eons by wind & water, the colorful canyons of Arizona, Utah & Nevada captivate all who visit. See the stunning Red Rocks of Sedona, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, the backcountry of Monument Valley, the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park and the sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park. Enjoy Grand Canyon National Park lodging, guided tour and IMAX Theater. Take an “adventure cruise” through Antelope/ Navajo Canyon. Visit Lake Powell and spend 2 fun nights in Las Vegas. 11 meals.

Explore San Francisco, the redwoods at Muir Woods, Mediterranean-style Sausalito and the wine country of the Sonoma and Napa valleys (and dine on the Napa Valley Wine Train). Ride Amtrak’s California Zephyr to the scenic shores of Lake Tahoe and cruise its crystal-blue waters aboard a paddlewheeler. Venture to Yosemite National Park, then take the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17-Mile Drive, Big Sur, San Simeon (Hearst Castle), Salinas Valley and Silicon Valley. 14 meals.

June 12-20 • $2,725

July 25–Aug 2 • $2,859

American Majesty

Grand Canyon Adventure

Napa Valley & San Francisco

New Mexico Balloon Fiesta

From Salt Lake City to Denver, take in some of America’s favorite landmarks. Visit Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone NP (Old Faithful & Mammoth Hot Springs), Devil’s Tower National Monument, Mt Rushmore National Memorial (evening light ceremony), Ft Laramie National Historic Site and Buffalo Bill Historic Center. Float down the Snake River and ride a Jeep safari in the Black Hills. Hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (schedule permitting). See Crazy Horse Monument. 15 meals, including a chuck wagon dinner.

Luxuriate in Red Rock Country at the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa. Take a Pink Jeep backcountry tour. Ride first class on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to your national park lodging just a quarter-mile from the South Rim. Visit Glen Canyon Recreational Area and a night at Lake Powell Resort. A tour highlight is your guided half-day float trip on the Colorado River! Motorcoach to the Luxor Hotel on the Strip in Las Vegas. Flirt with Lady Luck, relax by the pool or take in a top-notch show on your free full day in Vegas. 9 meals.

So many delights in one tour — from San Francisco’s endless charms to the natural splendor of the Muir Woods redwoods. Cross Golden Gate Bridge to enjoy 5 vineyards (participate in a “Blend Your Own Merlot” event) and 3 nights at Tuscan-style Vino Bella Resort in Napa. Savor an exquisite 4-course dinner on the Napa Valley Wine Train. With your hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf as your base, tour San Francisco’s famous landmarks, cruise by ferry across the bay and enjoy free time for shopping and exploring. 2 meals.

Explore Albuquerque, the Land of Enchantment’s largest city. At the International Balloon Fiesta, witness the mass ascension of hundreds of balloons. Explore landmarks along Route 66, visit Old Town & its Plaza and tour the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Ride Sandia Peak’s Aerial Tramway and visit an artisanal winery. See the Balloon Fiesta’s evening “Glowdeo” & fireworks. Explore historic Chimayo village, artistic Taos and charming Santa Fe. Take a guided desert wilderness hike with llamas! 14 meals.

Aug 31–Sept 8 • $2,735

Oct 4-10 • $2,195

Oct 7-12 • $1,949

Oct 9-15 • $2,309

PAGE 12

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013

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

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers AAA, The Preferred Travel Agency of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Bring the kids for more than just a game! • 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 PER GAME! atFulltimepayment of booking. Saturday June 1 @ 7:15pm vs Cincinnati Reds

FanJam featuring Kool & the Gang in concert • Scratch’n Win

Saturday June 29 @ 7:15pm vs Milwaukee Brewers Zambelli Fireworks Night • Scratch’n Win

Thursday July 4 @ 1:35pm vs Philadelphia Phillies Saturday July 13 @ 7:15pm vs New York Mets

Zambelli Fireworks Night presented by PPG Industries • Scratch’n Win

Saturday Aug 31 @ 7:05pm vs St Louis Cardinals

Skyblast featuring Zambelli Fireworks and Third Eye Blind in concert presented by Iron City Beer • Scratch’n Win

Saturday Sept 21 @ 7:05pm vs Cincinnati Reds

Skyblast featuring Zambelli Fireworks and Neon Trees in concert presented by Iron City Beer • Scratch’n Win • 2014 Magnetic Schedule

Celebrity Cruises & AAA Vacations offer some of the best values at sea & great benefits unavailable elsewhere! ®

Priority Check-in does not grant priority boarding

Up to $100 Onboard Credit per stateroom

DATE

SHIP

ITINERARY

11/7 15

NTS

Infinity

Panama Canal: Miami to San Juan

11/9 7

Summit

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan

11/16 7

Reflection

Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami

11/23 7

Reflection

Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami

11/30 7

Summit

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan

11/30 14

Eclipse

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/7 7

Summit

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan

12/9 11

Equinox

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/14 7

Summit

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan

12/15 7

Silhouette

Western Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/20 10

Equinox

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/21 7

Reflection

Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami

12/22 7

Silhouette

Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale

12/28 7

Reflection

Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami

12/28 7

Summit

Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan

ART!

•

FOOD!

•

WINE!

includes 4 nights in a Tuscan villa!

Enjoy 2 valuable benefits EXCLUSIVELY for members BEST-PRICE GUARANTEE

24 / 7 MEMBER CARE

Get peace of mind whenever you need emergency assistance while traveling — a toll-free domestic number and collect-call instructions for international travelers.

The romance of Italy comes to life on this tour. Explore the lakes region your way when you choose between a scenic boat ride on Lake Maggiore or a visit to a local farm for a cheese & wine tasting. Explore the rugged coast and remote fishing villages of the Cinque Terre. Spend 4 relaxing nights in a Tuscan villa. Discover the hilltop town of San Gimignano. Experience medieval life at the Palazzo Davanzati. Visit a winery in the countryside and learn the secrets of Tuscan cuisine. Wander a Florentine food market. Spend 2 wonderful nights in Venice. Explore Lake Orta, one of Italy’s hidden treasures. Travel by boat to your welcome dinner on Isola dei Pescatori. Explore Lucca’s piazzas and medieval streets. These are Italy’s treasures! Special inclusion: A serenaded gondola cruise — with Prosecco! — on Venice’s canals! Experience the benefits of Whisper headsets, designed for better communication between you and your guides. Enjoy regional wines included with every dinner.

Aug 31–Sept 11 AAA Member Rate: $5,610 Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Pittsburgh-Milan, Venice-Pittsburgh), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, hotel accommodations, guided motorcoach sightseeing, entrance fees, 17 meals, inItaly tour director, air & hotel taxes (subject to change) and vendor travel protection. Visit AAA.com/GoItaly for itinerary and more information. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

AAA MEMBER BENEFIT SAVE $50.00 PER PERSON

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

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

PAGE 13

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

AAA Featured Vacations are specific cruise, motorcoach or air tour vacations created or selected by AAA Travel for their value, amenities and/or inclusions. Look for the AAA Featured Vacations logo to identify out-of-the-ordinary offerings.

This year, the people of Ireland are hosting an unprecedented year-long celebration of everything that is unique & great about Ireland. It’s called The Gathering. Communities, villages and towns are organizing gatherings, festivals and events to welcome visitors. With the focus on Ireland’s vibrant living culture, heritage and people, it’s a chance to experience Ireland like never before. • Bunratty Folk Park • Medieval banquet in a 15th-century castle • Cliffs of Moher

Altoona PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bridgeport WV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brookville PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 814-849-4000 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 304-983-6480 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• Flying Boat Museum 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.

• Killarney National Park, including Muckross House • Ring of Kerry drive, including the Skellig Experience & Moll’s Gap • Waterford Crystal tour • Russborough House mansion • Dinner & song at a real pub • Dublin: city tour & free time ...AND MUCH MORE!

Oct 13-20 • AAA Member Rate: $1,399 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 more information.

HUDSON VALLEY

BOSTON COMMON

PORTLAND

POCONOS

Avoid potential airport hassles and leave the driving to AAA! Park for free, relax and ride our convenient “Cruise Express” motorcoach to NY’s Hudson Valley, Boston MA and the Poconos of eastern PA. And, in the middle of it all, enjoy a relaxing 7-night Canada/ New England cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas! 9/20 .........Travel to Lower Hudson Valley for overnight & dinner on grounds of a historic estate. 9/21 .........Tour a Hudson River Valley landmark. Head to Boston for a special dinner. 9/22 .........Tour Boston and enjoy some time on your own. Board Brilliance of the Seas. 9/22-29 ...Cruise to Halifax NS, St John NB and Bar Harbor & Portland ME. 9/29 .........Motorcoach from Boston to a Poconos resort for lunch, dinner & overnight. 9/30 .........Breakfast. Motorcoach to Pittsburgh.

Sept 20-30 • AAA Member Rate: from $1,948 Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip motorcoach transportation, 3-night hotel accommodations, 7 on-land meals, cruise accommodations/ entertainment, most onboard meals, government fees and services of a AAA Tour Manager. Ship’s registry: Bahamas. Visit AAA.com/motorcruise for itinerary details & pick-up points.

Edinburgh: welcome drink & dinner • Spean Bridge Woolen Mill • Loch Ness cruise • Scottish Highland evening • Culloden Battlefield • Whisky tasting/tour at Blair Athol Distillery • Edinburgh Castle & city tour • Ferry to Northern Ireland • Belfast: city tour, Titanic Center • Dublin: city tour, Book of Kells, canal dinner cruise with live music • Rock of Cashel • Blarney: Castle & Woolen Mills • Killarney: national park “jaunting car” ride • Ring of Kerry • The Skellig Experience • Sneem • Moll’s Gap • River Shannon ferry • Cliffs of Moher (pictured) • Bunratty Castle medieval banquet • AND MUCH MORE!

Nov 2-12 • AAA Member Rate: $1,698 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, 16 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/GoIreland for itinerary and more information.

PROGRAMS OPERATED BY CIE TOURS INTERNATIONAL

PAGE 14

AAA MOTORIST

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

MAY 2013

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

cheerio, STEELERS FANS! cross “the pond” and BE A PART OF HISTORY! SEE THE Steelers BATTLE THE Minnesota Vikings IN wembley stadium in London, England! travel with YOUR HOST Larry Richert, kdka radio personality, sept 26–oct 1. Enjoy 4 nights at the perfectly located 4-star deluxe Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, just steps from the original Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Aquarium, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and restaurants, shops and nightspots. Also included are... Roundtrip Pittsburgh-London flights • Accommodations Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers & hotel/stadium transfers English breakfast daily • 2-day London sightseeing pass Cocktail reception & dinner with Larry Richert Pre-game party (open bar & hors d’ouerves) with Larry Game ticket (Sept 29) • Hospitality staff on-site Taxes & gratuities AAA Member Rate: $3,399 per person (double occupancy) Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

BIG BEN X 2!

SPACE IS LIMITED!

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

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

PAGE 15

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

ATLANTIC ADVENTURE

Since the inaugural race in 1994, this annual 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup points race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has become one of NASCAR’s most-attended events and its second highest paying race in dollars (behind the Daytona 500). Don’t miss it!

Reserved paddock seating with views of turns 1 & 4, the pit road & the winner’s circle 2-night accommodations, daily breakfast & tax at Embassy Suites Indianapolis–North A $50.00 gas card

Hug the rugged shores of — and never venture far from — the Atlantic Ocean on this exciting exploration of coastal Canada & New England. Witness the influence the sea has on life & land in Massachusetts, Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. From big cities to tiny villages, experience cultural differences, visit fascinating attractions and taste unique regional cuisines. The combination of spectacular natural beauty, insightful guides and inevitable camaraderie that AAA motorcoach sightseeing tours are known for make this a journey you’ll not soon forget.

July 12-20: Roundtrip from Pittsburgh • AAA Member Rate: $2,439 Boston MA • Portland ME • NB: St John, Reversing Falls Rapids, Fundy National Park PEI: Green Gables, PEI National Park • NS: Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Alexander Graham Bell site, Anne Murray Centre • NB: St Andrews by the Seas, Kingsbrae Gardens • AND MORE! Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (PittsburghBoston), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, super-deluxe motorcoach (wi-fi, leather seats, video screens, seatback trays, seatbelts), sightseeing/admissions, 17 meals, taxes/gratuities on included items, baggage handling (1 per person), services of a AAA Tour Manager. Visit AAA.com/travel for complete itinerary details. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

AAA Member Rate: $375 per person, double occupancy LIMITED AVAILABILITY! LIMITED AVAILABILITY! LIMITED AVAILABILITY!

Eastern Caribbean Cruise

with Pittsburgh personality Bob Logue Nov 15-23 Independence of the Seas

Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale ST MAARTEN (pictured): The Dutch and French left their marks on this heavenly slice of tropical delight. Its beaches are some of the most breathtaking in the Caribbean region. ST KITTS: What’s a town square fashioned after London’s Piccadilly Circus doing in the middle of the Caribbean? It’s just one of many surprises St Kitts has in store. SAN JUAN: Step back in time when you stroll Old San Juan’s narrow cobblestone streets lined with brightly hued shops, houses, restaurants and nightspots. LABADEE: Surrounded by beautiful mountain slopes and exotic foliage, Royal Caribbean’s private paradise offers pristine beaches, breathtaking scenery and fun water activities...even an Aqua Park for kids. PLUS 3 FULL DAYS OF CRUISING AT SEA!

AAA Member Rates from $769

ALSO INCLUDES ONBOARD COCKTAIL PARTY $25 SHIPBOARD CREDIT PER STATEROOM Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes cruise accommodations/ entertainment, most onboard meals and government taxes/fees. Ship’s registry: Bahamas.

Ask about available add-on airfare.

COLORS, COASTS & COVES Experience Canada aboard the elegant, sophisticated ships of Oceania. Its midsize vessels can journey off the beaten path to boutique ports and yet provide all the amenities of larger ships. Overnight stays and late-evening departures FREE FLIGHTS allow you to fully explore each fascinating AND $50.00 IN destination, while exemplary service, gourmet ONBOARD CREDIT cuisine and opulent accommodations ensure your onboard experience is defined by luxury and comfort. Canada & New England ignite in a blaze of color each autumn. A foliage tapestry of fiery reds, brilliant oranges, delicate yellows and exotic purples blankets the land, attracting “leaf peepers.” And the best seat for viewing the drama is on Regatta. Best of all, the backdrop changes daily for the maximum effect of nature’s glory. Opportunities for adventure ashore are as spectacular as the scenery. Tour the Gilded Age mansions in Newport. Ride the funicular to Dufferin Terrace for the best view of Québec City. Marvel at seafaring artifacts in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax and amazing seascapes in Rockland’s Farmsworth Museum. Indoors & out, the show goes on forever.

Sept 12-24: Montréal to New York

Québec City QC • St Lawrence River (cruising) • Corner Brook NF • Charlottetown PE Sydney NS • Halifax NS • St John (Bay of Fundy) NB • Bar Harbor ME Rockland/Camden ME • Gulf of Maine (cruising) • Newport RI

Oct 6-18: New York City to Montréal (reverse itinerary of departure above) AAA Member Rate: from $4,797 (including FREE FLIGHTS!) Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (SEPT: PittsburghMontréal, New York–Pittsburgh) (OCT: Pittsburgh–New York, Montréal-Pittsburgh), roundtrip airport/pier transfers, cruise accommodations/entertainment, most onboard meals, government fees/taxes and $50 onboard credit per stateroom. Ship’s registry: Marshall Islands. Visit AAA.com/travel for complete itinerary details. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details.

PAGE 16

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013

1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME!

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

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.

DC & Marine Corps Parade: Aug 9-10

AAA Member Rate: $345

Girls’ Spa Getaway: Aug 16-18

AAA Member Rate: $475

“Noah!” in Lancaster: Aug 27-28

AAA Member Rate: $315

Chautauqua Wine & Dine: Aug 29-30

AAA Member Rate: $335

BEST OF MONTRÉAL & QUÉBEC Aug 4-10

The USMC Evening Parade is a moving tradition. Watch precision drills and listen to patriotic tunes. Tour DC and visit the Smithsonian. 3 meals.

AAA Member Rate from $1,885

Head to Wilkes-Barre’s Woodlands Inn & Resort for this girls’ weekend. Onsite spa treatments (manicure, pedicure, 45-minute massage included), dining venues, hip cocktail lounges, exciting entertainment venues and more! 3 meals. Travel to PA Dutch country for a live performance of the biblical story of Noah; visit Kitchen Kettle Village, Central Market, an Amish farm & more. 2 meals. Discover the elegance & culture of NY’s Vintage Trail and Chautauqua Institution. Winery visits, mansion tour, lake cruise and more. 4 meals.

Deep Creek Wine & Art Festival: Sept 6-8

Member Rate: $555

Stay lakeside in a condo-hotel with private beach; enjoy a gourmet wine-paired dinner and the festival’s tastings, artisans, entertainment & more. 2 meals.

Michigan Lighthouses: Sept 9-13

AAA Member Rate: $1,095

Cape Cod Adventure: Sept 15-21

AAA Member Rate: $1,195

Explore the best of Michigan’s coastline — picturesque small towns, Thunder Bay Resort, an elk preserve, boat cruises, 5 lighthouses and more. 9 meals.

This seaside escape features waterfront lodging in Cape Cod and visits to Newport RI; Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard & Plymouth MA; and more. 9 meals.

Niagara & Beyond: Sept 22-25

AAA Member Rate: $459

Stay in the heart of Niagara Falls, Canada, with guided touring of the falls area, Welland Canal, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto and more! 6 meals.

Gettysburg & the Civil War Trail: Sept 24-27

Member Rate: $775

Visit Civil War sites with guided tours of Harper’s Ferry, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Manassas, Antietam and our most well-known battlefield, Gettysburg. 6 meals.

1-DAY FUN-DAY TOURS!

The Wright Kind of Summer: July 16

AAA Member Rate: $119

Enjoy a summer day exploring 4 Frank Lloyd Wright architectural gems (including Fallingwater) in PA’s scenic Laurel Highlands. 1 meal.

Easy Float on the Yough: Aug 24

AAA Member Rate: $105

Float safely on the Yough River as a Colonial-garbed guide points out sights on this “soft adventure.” Lunch & free time in Ohiopyle. 1 meal.

Lights & Sights along the Lake: Sept 30

Member Rate: $139

Explore Lake Erie’s picturesque shoreline, charming Dunkirk, 2 lighthouses, a waterfront luncheon, the Boardwalk Market and more. 1 meal.

Western Maryland Rail & More: Oct 17 AAA Member Rate: $159 Ride the Western MD Scenic Railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg. Visit the site of Fort Cumberland & an Underground Railroad “stop.” 2 meals.

A Haunting We Will Go: Oct 26

AAA Member Rate: $129

This “spooky” eastern Ohio excursion features a guided Lisbon Cemetery & Funeral Walk as well as a riding tour of Spruceville Ghost Town. 1 meal.

© Prod. Numérik - Fotolia.com Travel to Canada and some of its fascinating cities — Ottawa, Québec City, Montréal, Toronto and Niagara Falls. French-Canadian cities are featured extensively, allowing you to experience one of North America’s truly unique cultures! Journey to Alexandria Bay and cruise through the enchanting Thousand Islands. Overnight in the heart of the islands on the shores of the St Lawrence River. Cross the USA-Canada border to Ottawa, Canada’s national capital; a tour here includes Confederation Boulevard, Parliament Hill, Supreme Court, Library & Archives, Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Prime Minister’s Residence, Governor General’s Residence, National Art Gallery, Notre Dame Basilica and Rideau Canal. Bustling Byward Market offers bargains and local culture. Travel to Québec City, then take a guided walk to Paillard Café-Boulangerie, a provincial institution; its homemade products of the highest quality make it a must-see. Experience the European charm of North America’s first French settlement with a tour of the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, Ramparts, National Assembly, Basilica, City Hall, Place-Royale, Citadelle and a bit of the modern city. After a tour and lunch at the world-famous Château Frontenac overlooking the St Lawrence, enjoy time to explore Old Québec. Experience a unique dinner at a traditional sugar shack; visit the Maple Museum, showcasing the syrup industry through the years. Enjoy a full-day tour of Baie St-Paul; travel back in time to rural Québec as you pass through many traditional villages. In Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, take time to visit this world-famous shrine. Stop at impressive Montmorency Falls, 1.5 times higher than Niagara. Follow the route of Canada’s first carriageway, the Chemin du Roy, through typical French-Canadian villages & towns. Tour Montreal, the world's second-largest French-speaking city; it encapsulates Canada’s 2 founding cultures and boasts a blend of history, museums, fine galleries and shopping. Savor dinner at one of Old Montréal’s famed steakhouses. Say au revoir to Québec and hello to multicultural Toronto on Lake Ontario. Always a favorite for visitors, it boasts clean streets, top-notch cultural sights/events, sports venues and a diverse population. Enjoy a farewell dinner at 360 Restaurant atop CN Tower, more than 1,150 feet tall. Tour downtown with a guide; see Eaton Centre, old & new City Halls, Casa Loma, Yorkville and the University of Toronto. Pass by Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome), CN Tower and drive along the harbor. Lunch at Table Rock in Niagara Falls, Canada, with time to enjoy the falls.

Discover the Hamptons: Sept 30–Oct 4

AAA Member Rate: $915

Pennsylvania Grand Canyon: Oct 3-4

AAA Member Rate: $375

New England Rails & Trails: Oct 6-13

AAA Member Rate: $1,805

Rail to Rail in West Virginia: Oct 9-11

AAA Member Rate: $509

Discover the beauty of Long Island NY; visit Southampton, Montauk Point, East Hampton & Sag Harbor and end in Pennsylvania’s Poconos. 9 meals.

Enjoy northwest PA’s fall foliage and natural landmarks from a motorcoach, the Tioga Central Railroad and even a horse-drawn covered wagon. 3 meals. Take in autumn splendor in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont & Connecticut from several trains, a schooner & your coach. 17 meals. Two scenic rail excursions are the highlight of this fall adventure that also features resort lodging, Blackwater Falls, Branson-style show & more. 6 meals.

Myrtle Beach: Oct 21-27

AAA Member Rate: $1,055

Enjoy the area’s nice weather and beaches without summer’s crowds! Plus oceanfront lodging, 4 live shows, Brookgreen Gardens and more. 9 meals.

Virginia Beach USO Show: Oct 22-25

AAA Member Rate: $769

The 1940s USO shows of Bob Hope and the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band come to life! Enjoy other entertainment & Virginia Beach attractions. 7 meals.

TN Music Express: Oct 27–Nov 3

AAA Member Rate: $1,505

From the Grand Ole Opry to Graceland, this tour celebrates country music and Tennessee’s past & present as well as its natural beauty. 15 meals.

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 17

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

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers Independent travel with AAA Vacations®

On your own but never alone

Even more than a cruise hugging its spectacular shoreline, a comprehensive land journey into the heart of Alaska’s awe-inspiring interior can deepen your understanding and enrich your overall experience of our 49th state. AAA’s July 8-17 Alaska by Land 9-night adventure starts in Fairbanks. An Italian immigrant’s 1902 gold strike coincided with the building of a trading post on the banks of the Chena River — and the Gold Rush to Fairbanks was on! This “Golden Heart City” pulsed once again as a boomtown in the early 1970s during construction of the 800-milelong Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Learn how the Gold Rush affected Alaska’s interior on a tour that includes a visit to the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Museum. Enjoy shopping, walking or dining on your own downtown. Cruise on a sternwheeler to experience the thrill of river travel. Enjoy a salmon bake dinner at Pioneer Park; savor salmon, prime rib and Bering Sea cod and all the fixings. Then fly above it all on an Arctic Circle air adventure! This thrilling 4-hour tour soars over the Brooks Range and crosses the Arctic Circle; the narrated adventure includes a visit to Wiseman and views of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and Yukon River. Motorcoach to Denali National Park to explore at your leisure or participate in a park service activity. Then enjoy the Denali Education Center’s “Welcome to the Subarctic” talk at Sheldon Center; learn about Denali from the ground up before overnighting in the park and touring it some more the next day. Travel deep into Denali on a full-day Tundra Wilderness Tour, looking for grizzly, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and more; get insights into this vast park’s flora & fauna. Travel to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city; tour its historic downtown and visit the kennel & home of a 4-time Iditarod Sled Dog Race winner, and learn about the art of mushing dogs. Visit the Native Heritage Center, a gathering place celebrating, perpetuating and sharing Native cultures. Dine in the center’s Athabascan House. Motorcoach to coastal Seward, keeping an eye out along scenic Turnagain Arm for Dall sheep, moose, bear and eagle. Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage Valley to see critters up close. Tour along scenic Seward Highway to Begich Boggs Visitor Center; enjoy an award-winning movie, “Voices from the Ice.” Explore Seward on your own; the coastal town is known for scenic views and as gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Transfer to Cooper Landing for a 2-hour scenic float on the Kenai River. Drift through Chugach National Forest and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. At Girdwood, ride the Alyeska Tram from sea level to 2,300 feet. An observation deck provides breathtaking views of majestic mountains, hanging glaciers and often an array of wildlife. Descend and explore Girdwood on your own. Enjoy a farewell seafood buffet dinner.

July 8-17 • AAA Member Rate: $4,979 Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Pittsburgh-Fairbanks, Anchorage-Pittsburgh), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, 9-night accommodations, motorcoach sightseeing, 16 meals, in-Alaska local guide, services of a AAA Tour Manager (if participation goal is met), Arctic Circle air adventure (small aircraft; group will be staggered; departure is weather-dependent) & more. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/Alaska for itinerary details.

You want to travel to Europe, but you don’t care to be with an organized tour group. And yet you’d like the convenience & value of pre-arranged elements (like hotels, sightseeing, intercity rail/ferry transporation and airport transfers) at lower-than-market rates only a travel industry power-buyer can offer. AAA Vacations® answers the call! If you prefer a flexible vacation with limited structure, pre-packaged Independent Vacations from AAA Vacations® are the perfect solution for you. Choose from more than 20 exciting vacation combinations, all offering a choice of trip and hotel standard. In addition, you’ll have 24/7 access to a local host in each city. These hosts know the “lay of the land” and can provide advice and answer any qestions for you throughout your trip. With guaranteed daily departures, you can travel any day you wish. Your package will include private roundtrip airport/hotel transfers and a choice of 4- or 5-star centrally located hotels in each city, including hotel taxes and service charges. You even get breakfast daily! Also included is rail transportation with reserved seats between each city

(standard class on 4-star-hotel option or first class on 5-star-hotel option). If you travel between islands in the Mediterranean, your ferry transportation is also included. Of course, a city sightseeing tour in your featured city(ies) is included. AAA members enjoy a wide range of helpful services & money-saving benefits, including 24/7 Member Care, a Best Price Guarantee and a $40 per person dining credit redeemable at select restaurants popular with locals. And don’t forget the AAA Member Benefit of $40 per person off packages totaling $2,000 or more per person. Here’s a sample of some 5-day vacations (other day-lengths available): Dublin & Killarney — from $1,109 London & Paris — from $1,275 Rome & Venice — from $944 Barcelona & Madrid — from $1,007 Prague & Budapest — from $835 Self-drive Ireland vacations featuring bed & breakfasts, hotels, castles & manor stays are also available; contact a AAA Travel Agent! Rates are per person double occupancy, land only. Restrictions apply to the AAA Vacations® 24/7 Member Care and Best Price Guarantee.

AAA’s Travel Partner Spotlight: DISNEY Each year, AAA uses its purchasing power as one of the country’s leading travel agencies to negotiate for discounted rates & exclusive member benefits.

AAA MEMBER-ONLY BENEFITS

• Disney Magic Moments® Savings — AAA members can save up to 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% off the nondiscounted rate of the room portion on selected packages on selected dates (subject to availability; savings based on the nondiscounted price for the same room at a participating hotel paid by non-AAA members, and is applicable to the room-only portion of the package; limited number of packages available with these savings; guests must be AAA members with a valid AAA membership number when booking; valid membership card must be presented at check-in).

• 200 Disney Dollars — These are included on packages of 7 nights or more at the Walt Disney World® Swan and Walt Disney World® Dolphin Hotel (can be combined with AAA Disney Magic Moments® Savings; voucher required at check-in to receive Disney Dollars).

AAA VACATIONS® BENEFITS

• EXCLUSIVE AAA Vacations® Diamond Savings Card — This special card offers savings of 10%, 15% or 20%, and other values, at participating locations throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort (one card per package; nonstransferable and void if sold). • EXCLUSIVE AAA Diamond Parking — Conveninet preferred parking spaces at all 4 Walt Disney World® Theme Parks (subject to availability; voucher with Guest name required; block-out dates apply; nontransferable and void if sold). • Preferred Fireworks Viewing Location at Magic Kingdom® Park — When you purchase select AAA Vacations® packages that include a Disney Dining Plan, enjoy a special viewing location for WishesTM nighttime Spectacular, the biggest, brightest fireworks extravaganza in Magic Kingdom® Park history (advance reservations, reservation voucher and valid Theme Park admission required; one viewing per person; space is limited and subject to availability; fireworks schedules vary by season and certain block-out dates apply for this benefit during holiday periods; inclement weather conditions may affect outdoor entertainment).

• EXCLUSIVE Disney’s Story Time Experience — When you purchase select AAA Vacations® packages that include a Disney Dining Plan, enjoy a special storytelling experience that features a character from a classic Disney animated feature film and takes place in Epcot® (advance reservations, reservation voucher and valid Theme Park admission required; one viewing per person; seating is limited and subject to availability; operates on select days of the week and certain block-out dates apply; one voucher per room).

These benefits only apply to AAA Vacations® packages purchased at a AAA Travel Office. Ask your AAA Travel professional for more details. Offer subject to change. Valid 1/1/13 through 12/31/13.

PAGE 18

AAA MOTORIST

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

MAY 2013

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

Skip long admission lines at some of Europe’s must-see sites on “SKIP THE LINE” tours with Pleasant Holidays AAA Travel partner Pleasant Holidays now offers unique “SKIP THE LINE” tours in 3 of Europe’s most popular cities — Rome, Paris and Florence. Choosing these optional tours lets you enjoy priority admission to famous — and often crowded — attractions like the Colosseum in Rome, the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Accademia Gallery in Florence. Forget about waiting for hours — sometimes in hot summer temperatures — and wasting precious vacation time. These really “cool” “SKIP THE LINE” tours let you feel like a VIP at places like Versailles in Paris or the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, among others. “SKIP THE LINE” tours are just some of the many optional tours that the Europe activity experts at Pleasant Holidays offer. In London, for instance, you can opt for the intriguing Jack the Ripper Evening Tour or how about Champagne Tea at Harrod’s? And kids will love the private tours of Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios. When it comes to vacationing in Europe with Pleasant Holidays, the possibilities are endless. Pleasant Holidays can easily arrange all of your transatlantic and inter-Europe flights, hotel accommodations, transfers, car rentals and an extensive array of in-city tours & activities. And during 2013 you can take advantage of a AAA Member Benefit of $50.00 off each booking! Contact AAA for Pleasant Holidays flights, hotels, car rentals, tours & more.

PASADENA

SAMPLE 5-NIGHT EUROPE CITY VACATION PACKAGES ROME • $1,204 per couple includes hotel accommodations, daily breakfast & 2 tours below

Frascati Wine Tasting: The only tour of its kind in Rome. Visit one of the oldest, most beautiful vineyards in the Frascati region. An expert illustrates local wine-producing methods from antiquity to today. Tour the property and talk about the fascinating history of wine in ancient Rome, followed by a tasting of 3 wines and freshly pressed olive oil. Rome in 1 Day “SKIP THE LINE”: Visit the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum with “Skip the Line” access. Take a lunch break (not included) in the historical center of the city before wandering its picturesque streets & piazzas, seeing Piazza Navona and its Bernini fountain. The guide brings sites to life with stories and myths that make Rome unlike any other city.

PARIS • $1,762 per couple includes hotel accommodations, daily breakfast & 2 tours below

Famous Graves of Paris: A must-see cemetery? Père Lachaise is well worth it; it’s home to 70,000 dead, including some of the world’s most famous artists, writers and musicians. Most know this place for Jim Morrison, but Chopin, Wilde, Piaf and many, many others rest across this magnificent hilltop setting. Meander through the labyrinth of elaborate crypts and overhanging trees. Louvre Museum “SKIP THE LINE”: This all-inclusive small group explores the world-famous collection of paintings, sculpture and architecture with an English-speaking guide. Gaze on some of the world’s most recognizable masterpieces. Seeing all the Louvre has to offer is impossible; this tour makes the most of your time, leading you through the best!

FLORENCE • $2,293 per couple includes hotel accommodations, daily breakfast & 2 tours below Best of Florence “SKIP THE LINE”: This walking tour visits “Porcellino,” Ponte Vecchio, Leather Market and the Duomo. Enjoy artisan gelato. “Skip the Line” at Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s 17-foot “David” and at Uffizi Gallery to see works by Italian Masters; hear stories about artists, architects and patrons. View the city center from a rooftop terrace.

Best of Tuscany in a Day: A guided tour of Siena visits its medieval center, a World Heritage Site, and the Duomo, one of Italy’s most impressive Gothic cathedrals. Visit the estate of Niccolò Machiavelli and the Chianti wine region (lunching in a vineyard). Also tour well-preserved Lucca and take a mini-train in Pisa to the cathedral and the Leaning Tower.

VENICE • $2,037 per couple includes hotel accommodations, daily breakfast & 2 tours below

Best of Venice: On this tour of 10 people maximum, see the best of Venice from water, land and the St Mark’s Basilica terraces. Start on Grand Canal; the city’s main waterway snakes past 50 palaces, 6 churches, 4 bridges and 2 markets. Visit Bovolo staircase, stop by Marco Polo’s house (outside), see lively Campo San Luca and Campo SS Giovanni & Paolo. View mosaics at St Mark’s. Secret Venice by Night: Start at Rialto Bridge. As you stroll, your guide tells stories, myths & legends, giving you a local’s perspective. Pass Peggy Guggenheim’s museum and hear about the patroness who lost her father to the Titanic but gained the means to build one of the world’s most notable art collections. End with an unforgettable 40-minute gondola ride as the sun sets.

LONDON • $2,212 per couple includes hotel accommodations, daily breakfast & 2 tours below

Total London: Begin at the Tower of London before it opens to the public. View the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace & take a panoramic drive featuring the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Downing Street and a photo stop at Westminster Abbey. Cruise on the River Thames. Tour St Paul’s Cathedral, including the Whispering Gallery, and take a “flight“ on the London Eye. Stonehenge, Lacock & Bath: Enjoy a sunset viewing of 5,000-year-old Stonehenge, the world’s most popular prehistoric monument. Bath, a World Heritage Site, is a Georgian city with delightful crescents, terraces & architecture; tour its Roman Baths. Visit Lacock, a Saxon village where many dramas (Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice“) were filmed. Dine at George Inn, a pub built in 1361. Rates shown are for July 15-20, 2013, and are subject to availability at time of booking. Other dates/rates available. Ask about available add-on airfare.

CALIFORNIA New Yearʼs Getaway including reserved seats for the worldfamous Tournament of Roses Parade!

Dec 29–Jan 3 AAA Member Rate: $3,255 Start in LA, touring historic Farmers Market, glitzy Rodeo Drive and star-studded Hollywood. At the Chinese Theatre (née Grauman’s, then Mann’s), see celebrity signatures immortalized in cement. Follow the bronze medallions studding Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. At Hollywood & Highland, a shopping & entertainment complex housing the new home of Academy Awards extravaganzas, enjoy a great view of the iconic HOLLYWOOD sign from the upper level. Continue to downtown LA if time permits, then relax and get acquainted with your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner at at a bayfront restaurant in Long Beach. Day 2 takes you to Pasadena to see floats in the final stage of parade preparation; watch volunteers & professionals hand-apply flowers. Tour Burbank’s Warner Brothers Studios for a behind-the-scenes look into making films and TV shows; be alert for star sightings! Return to your hotel to relax poolside or enjoy beachside paths for walking, jogging and biking. Dining on your own allows you to explore Long Beach. On Day 3, drive to Simi Valley’s Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, the nation’s largest and most elaborate; see a full-scale Oval Office replica, Air Force One, a re-created White House state dinner and numerous videos & displays. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway through exclusive Malibu to fun & funky Santa Monica; explore its

variety of sights in your free time. Attend an exclusive New Year’s Eve party in Long Beach on the magnificent Queen Mary — a luxurious setting for sophisticated dining, dancing and bidding farewell to 2013 in grand style. Usher in 2014 with a toast from the best seat in Long Beach for a gigantic fireworks display off the ship’s stern! Day 4 finds you in Pasadena, at your reserved seat for the Roses Parade — 60 flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians. Stop at Victory Park to view the floats up close. Enjoy lunch in see-&-be-seen West Hollywood, then drive to your all-suite hotel on San Diego’s waterfront. Explore this unique city on Day 5; see Cabrillo Monument atop Point Loma, with commanding views of the Pacific, the harbor and the city skyline. Drive through Mission Bay, continue to Old Town (California’s birthplace) and La Jolla, a chic beachside hideaway where you’ll have time to explore. Established in 1868, Balboa Park is the country’s oldest and one of its largest city parks. Take a guided tour on a doubledecker bus at San Diego Zoo, then board the luxurious Lord Hornblower, designed to resemble the grand steamships that once plied the harbor; enjoy entertainment, dancing and a sit-down dinner while cruising past glittering harbor lights under radiant stars in the sky before debarking at the Embarcadero. All too soon, fly home on Day 6.

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Pittsburgh– Los Angeles, San Diego–Pittsburgh), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, hotel luggage handling (1 per person), 10 meals (including 2 dinner cruises), 2 cocktail parties, reserved parade seat, taxes/gratuities on included items, local tour manager and services of a AAA Tour Manager (if participation goal is met).

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 19

AAA supports primary seat belt law in West Virginia Set to become 35th state with primary seat belt law

new primary seat belt law in West Virginia has the unqualified support of AAA East Central. House Bill 2108 recently passed the Senate on April 10 and was awaiting the signature of the governor at press time. If the bill is signed as expected, a motorist could be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt. Currently, a driver can only be cited for not wearing a seat belt if they’re pulled over for another violation first. The bill sets a $25 penalty for failure to buckle up. Primary laws are estimated to boost seat belt use by up to seven percent. West Virginia is one of 16 states where seat belt violations are not a primary offense. “Seat belts have saved more lives than any other safety system in today’s passenger vehicles and their usage maximizes the potential of other safety systems within vehicles,” said Brian Newbacher, director of public affairs for AAA East Central. Despite rapid advances in technology like more air bags, crumple zones, stability control, and better tire technology, seat belts are still the single most effective safety device. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), lapshoulder belt systems reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the

SAVED BY THE BELT — Lap-shoulder belt systems reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent. risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. In 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives. Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them. If you don’t wear a seat belt, you could be thrown into a rapidly deploying frontal air bag, which could injure or even kill you. “Abundant research has shown that an upgrade to primary enforcement will

significantly raise belt use rates when combined with education and adjudication,” added Newbacher. “Improving the law would help to decrease trafficcrash related health care costs, many of which are incurred by the state.” By eliminating the secondary enforcement provisions in the state’s existing seat belt law, law enforcement officers would be able to stop and ticket

seat belt violators as they can for any other traffic infraction. Nationwide, 34 states and the District of Columbia have primary laws on the books. Jurisdictions with stronger seat belt enforcement laws continue to exhibit higher use rates than those with weaker laws. The nationwide seat belt use was 85 percent in 2010 as measured by NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). NOPUS results for West Virginia for 2010 show a seat belt usage rate of 82 percent, which is a decrease of five percent from 2009. Studies of primary law upgrades have resulted in significant increases in usage among young males, drivers of pickup trucks, rural occupants, drinking drivers and occupants killed in late night crashes. “We strongly support primary seat belt laws in all states,” said Newbacher, “because they increase usage, save lives and reduce the societal and economic consequences of a crash.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Looking for the latest information on driving and traffic laws? The digital version of AAA’s popular Digest of Motor Laws, available at DrivingLaws.AAA.com, puts nearly everything you want to know about laws, rules, and fees related to driving just a few mouse clicks away.

PAGE 20

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013

Discovering the romance of riverside America Big wheel keeps on turning on the American Queen

rowing up in the 1840s, Mark Twain fell in love with the Mississippi River and the steamboats that were its floating palaces. Today, steamboating and the sheer adventure of what Huck Finn called “lighting out for the Territory” might seem like a time capsule from a bygone era, but you can still experience riverside America the way Twain did — aboard the American Queen. The largest steamboat ever built is rolling on the river again. The whistle blows, a calliope plays, the big wheel keeps on turning in a thrilling blend of Americana, acclaimed cuisine, and showboat-style entertainment. The $65-million showcase of Victorian splendor features six delicately filigreed decks and 222 staterooms and suites. Handsomely appointed public rooms are furnished in polished hardwoods, fine antiques and gleaming brass details. The elegant J.M. White Dining Room features floor to ceiling windows topped with stained glass, and menus designed by culinary superstar Regina Charboneau. A two-story Grand Saloon reflects the opulence of a Gilded Age Opera House with private box seats on the mezzanine. On deck, settle into a rocker on the Front Porch of America and watch a continent go by. From the wild rice marshes of Minnesota to Louisiana bayous,

steep bluffs, wooded islands and hilly, leaf-mottled landscapes. Enjoy daily lectures by a Riverlorian, or shore excursions that offer an in-depth immersion into the history, culture and cuisine of America’s heartland. By any measure, the Ohio is a mighty river coursing nearly 1,000 miles. American Queen brings the Ohio River to life sailing through brawny industrial cities and pastoral towns. American Queen sails between St. Louis and Cincinnati and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh with a pair of cruises that travel between Memphis, Chattanooga and St. Louis. Here too are the great Wilderness Rivers coursing through Bluegrass country, conjuring up tales of Davy Crockett, and Daniel Boone.

FIT FOR A QUEEN — American Queen is the largest steamboat in the world. American Queen transits the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee rivers. Lower Mississippi itineraries include New Orleans roundtrips and New Orleans to Memphis, where guests will be immersed in the hospitality of the Old South. Here legends gather like driftwood with tales of brawling keelboat men, daring river pilots and wily gamblers. Fertile fields wrap around whitecolumned mansions, and lightning bugs glow in the warm midsummer nights. Special Southern Culture theme cruis-

es will let you soak up the Delta Blues in Helena, Arkansas; learn about the siege of Vicksburg in Vicksburg, Mississippi; visit the beautiful plantation homes in Natchez, and St. Francisville, and sample plenty of Southern cooking. Upper Mississippi cruises travel between Minneapolis/St. Paul and St. Louis, with special theme cruises like Lewis and Clark, and Fall Foliage. Autumn drapes the riverbanks in a coat of crimson, orange and gold. You’ll pass by serene villages perched on

IF YOU GO

American Queen is operated by Great American Steamboat Company, which invested more than $5 million to update the vessel. Amenities include a one-night luxury hotel stay and transfers before or after your voyage, and complimentary wines and beers with dinner. All shore excursions are included in the fare. FOR MORE INFORMATION

See the Departures section or visit the AAA Travel Agency for exclusive offers for AAA members on cruises.

Nation’s infrastructure gets a D+ Grade Point Average AAA agrees with engineers: Roads and bridges needs work

he American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently issued its 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which is a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s infrastructure across 16 sectors, including roads, bridges and transit systems. Updated every four years, the Report Card uses a simple A to F school report card format to provide a comprehensive assessment of current infrastructure conditions and needs, by assigning grades. This year’s Report Card found that America’s grade for infrastructure rose slightly to a “D+” from a “D” in 2009. Of importance to AAA members, roads saw a slight improvement to a “D” up from a “D-” four years ago, bridges improved to a grade of “C+” from a “C” last time and transit systems remained at a “D.” The Report Card also contains statespecific reports that have individual conditions and needs numbers for each state. Since 1998, the grades have been near failing, averaging only Ds, due to delayed maintenance and under investment across most categories. “The good news for drivers is that the condition of the nation’s roads and bridges has improved slightly since the last report card was issued. The bad news is grades like these aren’t

CROSSING THAT BRIDGE — One in nine of the nation’s bridges is structurally deficient. going to get us where we need to go in terms of safety or mobility,” said Brian Newbacher, director of public affairs for AAA East Central. Key trends cited in the report as contributing to the improvements on roads and bridges include: • Renewed efforts in cities and states, to address deficiencies; • Expanded private sector investment in upgrades and adding capacity to the system; • Short-term boosts (since previous

2009 report) like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, Recovery Act or Stimulus Bill). Other findings from the report of interest regarding roads, bridges and transit include: • One third of the nation’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition, costing motorists $324 each per year in additional repair costs; • One out of 4 (151,497) of the nation’s bridges are deficient and one in 9

(66,749) of the nation’s bridges are structurally deficient; • ASCE estimates there is a $112 billion investment gap per year for roads, bridges and transit to keep up with needs; • Average age of bridges is 42 years; • Forty-two percent of major urban highways are congested; congestion costs over $100 billion annually; • There has been a 9.1 percent increase in transit riders over the past decade; • Forty-five percent of Americans lack access to transit and the economy lost $90 billion in 2010 due to deficient transit systems. “AAA encourages Congress to take the lead, work toward a long term funding solution and ensure the American public understands the importance of investing in our transportation system before we fall further behind,” Newbacher added. GRADING THE SYSTEM

An Advisory Council of leading civil engineers appointed by ASCE assigns the grades according to the following eight criteria: capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation. The Report Card is available online at www.infrastructurereportcard.org.

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 21

AAA offers breakdown advice for stranded motorists Responded to 28 million roadside assistance calls in 2012

ar problems are always an inconvenience, and can sometimes put you in harm’s way. Your first consideration should always be for the safety of yourself and your passengers and knowing how to react is something you should prepare for in advance. In 2012, AAA received more than 28 million roadside assistance calls and while 58 percent of those breakdowns were resolved at the roadside by AAA technicians, nearly 12 million vehicles needed a tow. AAA offers the following guidelines and general suggestions for motorists experiencing a breakdown. While driving, be aware of and know how to respond to warning signs such as brake or steering problems, or steam or smoke billowing from under the hood. If your car is clearly experiencing a problem but can still be driven a short distance, drive to a safe location such as a parking lot. If it’s a flat tire, the first rule is not to panic. Signal, slow down gradually and carefully pull onto the shoulder of the road, avoiding any sudden maneuvers. If you run out of gas or your engine stops, switch on the emergency flashers, carefully steer your vehicle out of traffic. Use the car’s momentum to get you off the road and to a safe place. Avoid applying the brakes until necessary.

• Your location — exact address or nearest intersection or exit number; • A description of your vehicle — color, make, model and year; • License plate number. Android and iPhone users can also download the AAA Mobile app at AAA. com/mobile, which provides easy access to roadside assistance, vehicle battery quotes, and Approved Auto Repair (AAR) locations. AAA roadside technicians can provide fuel, change tires, boost a battery and employ basic roadside problemsolving techniques to get the vehicle going. If the AAA technician is unable to remedy the problem at the roadside, the car will need to be towed to a repair facility.

RIDING TO THE RESCUE — AAA was able to resolve 58% of all breakdowns at the roadside in 2012. If your vehicle cannot get completely off the roadway, switch on the emergency flashers. Occupants should not remain in the vehicle if there is a possibility it may be struck by other traffic. For the same reason, it is generally not a good idea to attempt to push a disabled car off the road. Make sure your vehicle is visible to other motorists especially in inclement weather. In addition to turning on the emergency flashers, drivers can signal

they have a problem by raising the car hood, tying a brightly colored scarf to the antenna or door handle, or setting out flares, warning triangles or emergency beacons to help direct traffic away from your vehicle. Once everyone is in a safe location, request assistance from AAA and have the following information ready: • Your AAA membership number; • The phone number where you can be reached;

APPROVED AUTO REPAIR

Garages that participate in AAA’s Approved Auto Repair (AAR) program offer qualified technicians, a wide range of professional repair services and guaranteed quality. Repairs, parts, labor, and components are guaranteed for 12 months or 12,000 miles under normal operating conditions. Visit www.AAA.com to locate the AAA Approved Auto Repair facility nearest you. Approved Auto Repair facilities also can be quickly found using the AAA Mobile app, a free download for iPhone and Android at the AAA Mobile solutions page at AAA.com/mobile.

Get More... Out of Your Membership with

AAA Plus!!

s a AAA basic member, you enjoy countless valuable benefits — from roadside assistance to travel services, member discounts, and access to financial and insurance services. And there’s more! When you sign up for AAA Plus membership, you’re eligible for all of the benefits of basic membership, plus enhanced and extended services, including:

n Up to 100 miles of free towing n Free emergency fuel n Up to $100 emergency locksmith services n Extended extrication service

Get more out of your membership

Call or visit your local AAA office or AAA.com, or call our Member Service Center at 1-800-441-5008

PAGE 22

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013

Following the north star to the Baltic rim Baltic cruises offer a magical view of northern Europe

ven experienced travelers sometimes confuse the Baltic with the Balkans. The two regions could not be more dissimilar. Stretching from southern Denmark to near the Arctic Circle, the Baltic region refers to the area around the Baltic Sea. Countries bounding the Baltic Sea and its arms include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany. A Baltic cruise is characterized by a variety of landscapes — low, rocky islands called skerries along the coasts of Sweden and Finland, Norwegian fjords, lagoons, inlets, and some of the world’s most fabled cities. On the far eastern edge of the Baltic Sea is St. Petersburg, Peter the Great’s “window to Europe.” On the western side is Elsinore, home of Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Baltic Sea cruises are typically port-intensive. Copenhagen and Stockholm are the region’s primary turnaround ports (where most cruises begin or end) and are conveniently connected to the rest of the world. Visitors will discover lively cosmopolitan cities like Oslo, and Helsinki. They’ll set foot in lands once inhabited by mad princes, Viking warriors and Tsars. Medieval town walls and ancient cobblestone streets are reminders of a time long ago, while palaces and muse-

Cruising through the 6,500 islands that make up the Åland archipelago is an awe-inspiring experience. The smooth red granite islets are set in an ice blue sea and seem to shimmer in the midnight sun. Oslo, Norway’s capital city lies in the heart of Scandinavia and at the head of the 61-mile long Oslo Fjord. Dominating the port is the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle and royal residence built in 1299. In Copenhagen, it’s the life-sized things that count. Visitors marvel that the Little Mermaid is so little. Just 4-feet tall the pensive maiden waits on the rocks at Langelinie Harbor on the port city’s north side.

DAUGHTER OF THE BALTIC — Helsinki was built as a miniature version of St. Petersburg, Russia. ums house a vast patrimony of art and cultural treasures. During the summer the sun sets in Helsinki for only a few hours each evening. The “Daughter of the Baltic” has been the Finnish capital since 1812, when it was rebuilt by Russian Tsars as a kind of miniature St. Petersburg, a role it has played in many a Cold War movie. Suomenlinna known as the “Gibraltar of the North” was once the greatest sea fortress in the Baltic. Constructed in the mid-1700s, today the sprawling fortifications and catacombs house trendy

cafes, theaters and museums. Stockholm is situated on 14 islands and known as “the city that floats on water.” Cruise ships make a spectacular 50-mile transit to the city center through archipelago of 24,000 islands, gliding past castles, fortresses and traditional red and green Swedish cottages. With more than 100 institutions, Stockholm boasts the world’s highest concentration of museums. Visitors will not want to miss the Vasa Museum, which houses a warship that sank in 1628 and recovered in 1961.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

In 1154, an Arabian geographer marked Tallinn on the world map. Early settlers came to the region more than 3,500 years ago, and the heart-shaped Old Town in Estonia’s capital is the best-preserved medieval city in northern Europe. St. Olaf’s church, once the tallest building in the world, was used by the KGB to block Finnish TV signals during the Soviet era. FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please see your Departures Guide or log on to AAA,com/cruises for special member values on Baltic Cruise vacations.

Make a smooth move with Penske Truck Rental Penske upgrades website ahead of peak moving season

bout 20 million American households move every year and you might be surprised at just how much you can save by doing the job yourself. Whatever the reason for your move, you can make the task more pleasant by planning ahead and taking advantage of resources designed to make moving easier. Whether you’re moving out of a just-the-basics apartment or a large family home, you’ll probably need a moving truck. Penske Truck Rental has just introduced an enhanced version of www.pensketruckrental.com to improve the online experience and speed up reservations for its customers. “We’ve redesigned this site so that our customers can enjoy a better online experience when reserving trucks and purchasing moving supplies,” said Don Mikes, Penske’s Senior Vice President of Rental. “Our mover’s marketplace also provides customers with access to a host of great discounts and vendors ranging from AAA discounts and hotel stays to locating and reserving selfstorage facilities.” The retooled www.pensketruckrental.com has streamlined the rental quote price experience and introduces a comparative analysis mechanism so that do-it-yourself movers can better understand what size trucks and supplies are required for their DIY move.

MORE CONVENIENT THAN EVER — Penske Truck Rental locations now include more than 430 Home Depots. Do-it-yourself movers can pick up a free moving guide at any Penske Truck Rental location, which now includes more than 430 Home Depot stores. Or use their online Truck Wizard to quickly and easily find the right truck for your move. They’ve also got a complete moving kit to help you manage your move efficiently and effectively, complete with a personal packing tips, check lists, safe driving instructions and supplies you’ll need to make your move as easy as possible. Penske also

rents tow dollies and car carriers and provides all the accessories needed for a self-move, such as pads, boxes, labels and hand trucks. With more than 40 years experience, the experts at Penske Truck Rental have a few tips to get you started: Reserve Early — Book your rental truck at least two weeks in advance. Pack Wisely — Load your heaviest items first. Avoid injury by always bending your knees and lifting with your legs.

Use Accessories — Boxes, bubble wrap, moving blankets and hand-trucks are essential to protect your items and make your move more enjoyable. Mark Boxes — Label as you pack. It makes it easier to put the boxes in the right room while unloading. Penske moving truck rentals come with a locked in low rate even if you change your move date — no deposit required. And only Penske offers free unlimited miles on one-way rentals anywhere in the United States. Your moving rental will be clean, prepped and ready for pickup. Penske also offers emergency road service for its trucks, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rent the industry’s newest fleet of comfortable, fuel-efficient trucks with Penske and move with peace of mind.

MEMBERS SAVE UP TO 20%

Whether you need a truck for moving across the country or down the street, Penske Truck Rental offers significant savings for AAA members. Save 12% on one-way & local truck rentals and 12% off moving supplies and accessories. Offer only applicable to daily fixed rate and any mileage charges. Book online and save up to 20% on one-way rentals at PenskeTruckRental.com.

MAY 2013

AAA MOTORIST

PAGE 23

Lighter than air in the Land of Enchantment New Mexico takes you up, up and away

alking about New Mexico used to be easy. Sante Fe had its style. Taos had its Hum. Roswell had little green men, while Albuquerque had balloons. For nine days each October, the skies, which often mirror the native turquoise, are festooned with hundreds of hot air and gas balloon lifting off from Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park. The evening Glowdeo® — when all the balloons fire their burners and light up the desert night like giant holiday ornaments — is one the most spectacular man-made sights on earth. It’s all due to the high-desert climate and a phenomenon known as the “Albuquerque Box” The “box” is a set of predictable wind patterns that can be exploited to navigate the notoriously hard-to-steer balloons. A skilled balloonist can use the box to return a balloon to the exact same spot they launched from. Visitors can learn this and a whole lot more at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. Located on the edge of Balloon Fiesta Park, it features interactive displays, an expansive collection of memorabilia and historic gondolas like the Breitling Orbiter 3, the first balloon to fly nonstop around the world. But Albuquerque is much more than just a bunch of hot air. The city sprawls across a desert basin with the Sandia Mountains erupting like a row of dragon’s teeth across a parched, terracotta plain. The Rio Grande River meanders through town flanked by an oasis-like ribbon of green known as the Bosque. Some of Old Town’s squat adobes date back to the town’s beginnings in 1706. Dozens of ochre, mud and brick structures fringe a tidy, green plaza anchored by the historic San Felipe de Neri church. Visitors can explore the brick paths and hidden courtyards, browse the galleries, or bargain for Native American jewelry and crafts under the low-slung portals. For a real peak experience hop onboard the nearby Sandia Peak Tramway. The 15-minute ride ascends 2.7-miles to the top of 10,400-foot Sandia Peak. One of the longest, most spectacular aerial tramways in the world, passengers glide over a lush, green ponderosa forest and steep canyons that at dusk, glow a deep, rosy pink. Early explorers named them Sandia, Spanish for “watermelon.” The view from the top affords spectacular vistas of Albuquerque and some 11,000 square miles of New Mexican countryside. And when the lights begin to twinkle down below, it seems like the evening is filled with nothing but stars. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center showcases the history and accomplishments of the Pueblo people. Located about a mile northeast of Old Town, the museum is modeled after Pueblo Bonito, a 9th-century ruin in Chaco Culture National Historic Park. Exhibits include displays of handcrafts and tools

the galleries along Canyon Road showcase an array of Southwestern, and indigenous American art. The city boasts half a dozen major museums including the recently opened New Mexico History Museum and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, dedicated to the work of the influential American artist. The Palace of the Governors on the Plaza of Santa Fe, is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the United States and was constructed in 1610.

IF YOU GO

Experience the best of New Mexico during AAA’s October 9-15 New Mexico Balloon Fiesta escorted tour. This AAA Featured Vacation features tours of Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos, visits to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center; Chimayó; and the Turquoise Museum. Package includes motorcoach transportation; 6-nights accommodation (three in Albuquerque, two in Taos and one in Santa Fe); admissions, taxes and gratuities for included features; baggage handling; 14-meals; and services of a AAA Tour Manager. Ask about additional add-on air transportation from your departure city.

HIGH PLAINS DRIFTING — Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta in October may be the most photographed event on earth. and Native American dancers perform on weekends. There are 19 Pueblos in the region, where Native Americans still pursue a more traditional lifestyle. Wooden Kiva ladders tilt toward the heavens against the adobe structures which reveal expert masonry techniques. Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated as both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The Pueblo is made entirely of adobe — earth mixed with water and straw, then made into sun-dried bricks. The walls are often several feet thick. About 40 miles south of Taos is Chimayó, New Mexico’s most visited religious shrine. The El Santuario de Chimayó church is said to have been built on sacred earth and possess miraculous healing powers. The drive along Highway 76, is called the “High Road to Taos” — a spectacular route through Old Spanish villages and gorgeous Georgia O’Keeffe-style landscapes. Nestled in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, the old storefronts in historic Taos Plaza have been transformed into galleries, restaurants and boutiques. The Kit Carson Park and Cemetery is the final resting place of the famed frontiersman and other mustsees include the historic San Francisco de Asis Church, and the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, towering 650-feet above the river. Santa Fe is an intoxicating blend of Anglo, Indian and Hispanic cultures that mingle like the scent of piñón wood with the evening air. Dozens of

historic sites transport visitors back to the Spanish Colonial era, and remnants of the Wild West. A haven for artists,

FOR MORE INFORMATION

See the Departures Guide or log on to AAA.com/USA for great vacation ideas from AAA.

AAA Approved Auto Repair Centers OHIO Columbiana County East Liverpool GRAND FORD ............................................ 330-386-6120 East Palestine BRITTAIN MOTORS ................................... 330-426-9449 Salem SALEM TIRE .............................................. 330-337-9993 Jefferson County Steubenville EXPERT TIRE............................................. 740-283-4648 Washington County Marietta FIRST QUALITY COLLISION ...................... 740-373-9303 GARY’S TOWING & AUTO REPAIR............. 740-374-8144 WEST VIRGINIA Berkeley County Martinsburg COUNTRY ROADS TIRE AND AUTO ........... 304-263-7569 FELTNER’S AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE........... 304-264-0024 MARTINSBURG SERVICE CENTER ............ 304-267-8810 Cabell County Barboursville FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE ......... 304-733-0003 Huntington FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE ......... 304-525-5149 Harrison County Clarksburg EXPERT TIRE............................................. 304-624-5621 HARRY GREEN CHEVROLET/JEEP ............ 304-624-6304 WHOLESALE TIRE & AUTO INC ................. 304-624-8473

Jefferson County Charles Town AUTOSERV, INC. ........................................ 304-728-2221 CREAMER’S AUTO SERVICE ..................... 304-725-2589 Shepherdstown BROWNS TIRE........................................... 304-876-6835 Marion County Fairmont WHOLESALE TIRE & AUTO INC ................. 304-367-1555 Marshall County Wheeling BOB ROBINSON CHEV/CAD ...................... 304-233-8000 Monongalia County Morgantown MORGANTOWN AUTOMOTIVE REP............ 304-296-2128 SOUTH PARK EXXON ................................ 304-292-2620 WHOLESALE TIRE & AUTO INC ................. 304-292-5200 Purseglove ERVINS AUTO REPAIR .............................. 304-292-2586 Randolph County Elkins COLONIAL COURT SERVICE STATION ....... 304-636-0447

PAGE 24

AAA MOTORIST

MAY 2013