Our last program of 2019 fondly recalls a wonderful man named Foster Braun who passed away in February: he was a warm-hearted professional whose love of broadcasting and long support of the American Road family left an inspiring Trip Talk legacy. Some honorable mentions of stories from the magazine round out an appreciation of 2019 even as we look ahead to the open road and more adventures to come in 2020.

Exploring the back roads in a state like North Carolina reveals an endless treasure trove of inspiration for artists and photographers like Tony Craig and his buddy on the road, Cotton Ketchie. For them, the next great discovery is just up the road or around the bend.

Exploring the back roads in a state like North Carolina reveals an endless treasure trove of inspiration for artists and photographers like Tony Craig and his buddy on the road, Cotton Ketchie. For them, the next great discovery is just up the road or around the bend.

Exploring the back roads in a state like North Carolina reveals an endless treasure trove of inspiration for artists and photographers like Tony Craig and his buddy on the road, Cotton Ketchie. For them, the next great discovery is just up the road or around the bend.

Exploring the back roads in a state like North Carolina reveals an endless treasure trove of inspiration for artists and photographers like Tony Craig and his buddy on the road, Cotton Ketchie. For them, the next great discovery is just up the road or around the bend.

Exploring the back roads in a state like North Carolina reveals an endless treasure trove of inspiration for artists and photographers like Tony Craig and his buddy on the road, Cotton Ketchie. For them, the next great discovery is just up the road or around the bend.

100 Dream Cars: The Best of "My Ride" is the latest book by car culture aficionado, New York Times best-selling author and Wall Street Journal "My Ride" columnist, A.J. Baime. It was hard to choose but A.J. selected one hundred cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles to fill the dream garage.

Road trips offer an endless array of amazing encounters. Write them down! Book publicist and Road Warrior Julia Brown maintains a journal of all the places she and her husband visit in North America. More than a keepsake, her copious notes prevent memories of great times and great places from fading. (San Antonio Riverwalk scene at aarp.org)

A landmark that takes visitors back to Early California days, Rancho Buena Vista Adobe is a beautiful legacy of the Mission-to-Rancho transition period in what is now the Golden State. Nicole Strickland guides tours of the historic (and reportedly haunted) locale in the city of Vista, 30 minutes north of San Diego.

A landmark that takes visitors back to Early California days, Rancho Buena Vista Adobe is a beautiful legacy of the Mission-to-Rancho transition period in what is now the Golden State. Nicole Strickland guides tours of the historic (and reportedly haunted) locale in the city of Vista, 30 minutes north of San Diego.