This was one of AAATravelViews' first posts back in December 2008 but here it is again for any of you planning a road trip....

Growing up, my parents never put on the radio in the car when we went on family road trips.  I'm guessing that me punching my little sister in the arm was enough of a driving distraction.  (Sorry, Lyds!) Now, as a commuting adult, I couldn't imagine a single drive (even down the block!) without music.  So when my wife and I set out from New York on an overnight drive to visit friends in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the radio died two hours into the trip - dread set in. ... Read More

If you’re still planning your mid-to-late summer getaway, or need some ideas for family fun at your vacation destination, consider taking the bus. No, not the local one.... one of the many interesting, entertaining and really fun group tours offered via bus and sometimes trolley in many of the top tourist destinations.

Typically I’m not a great prospect for anything involving organized group travel. So why do I love taking bus tours and theme tours of interesting cities and attractions? How can I enjoy these group tours so much, in fact, that I’m recommending it to my fellow travelers?... Read More

 I visited a long stretch of empty beach along Lake Erie last September on the Tuesday following Labor Day. It was a cloudless 80-degree day: blue skies, blue water, and not a single soul in sight. Absolutely perfect. I set up my beach chair and umbrella, then took a dip in the water. While I was swimming, a woman strolled onto the beach and set up—guess where? Yes, about three feet away from my chair! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ... Read More

News and trends from around the Web:

Farm Vacations
Farmers produce everything from flowers to fleece and are opening their barn doors to give travelers the chance to spend time down on the farm, where families can experience bottlefeeding calves and kids (the goat kind) and collecting fresh-laid eggs. Full story from ABC News
... Read More

I have an embarrassing admission to make — although I consider myself a responsible and loving dog owner and go to great lengths to ensure the safety and health of Hope, my 70-pound, yellow-lab mix best friend, I had never used a pet harness on her when we traveled by car, until recently. She’s over five … years, not months. I know, I know, not very smart, but it just hadn’t occurred to me.... Read More

We get quite a few questions about what's needed for a cruise, especially with new passport regulations. Here are some answers from our AAA Travel experts:

Do I need a passport?
For cruises departing outside your country of origin, of course. A passport is not required for U.S. citizens on a “closed loop” cruise embarking froma U.S. port, i.e. a Caribbean round trip ... Read More

It seemed like an ordinary room. Well, not completely ordinary. I sat in a warehouse-like building in California’s San Fernando Valley, dining with a handful of other journalists in a mock-up of Animator’s Palate, one of the dining rooms being created for Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, ... Read More

 From the Q&A mailbox:

Question:  Candy asks, Is there a AAA parking area at Disney World?

Answer: Nancy Woodard, AAA Disney expert, answers: AAA Diamond Parking provides preferred parking in convenient spaces at all four Walt Disney World Orlando theme parks.... Read More

It’s about time you finally took a vacation, and your heart is set on Europe. Even though you’re already aware that the dollar is weak and prices on many travel services have risen, you're determined to enjoy a quality vacation without going overboard with costs. Besides 'packing light,' here’s some tips to manage the cost of your European vacation:... Read More

The results are in for the latest annual AAA PetBook® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western. Five top dogs from Massachusetts, California and Colorado will enjoy a year of fame as “cover dogs” on the 12th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook.

First-place winners Rosie, Belle and Ortiz, a family of mixed-breed dogs from Fairhaven, Mass., are pictured on the book’s back cover visiting the Cape Cod Canal. “We travel with our pets because they are our family and we enjoy traveling with them,” said the winners’ human companion, Wendy... Read More