Traveling with furry friends can be a great adventure—when you’re prepared for it They can get carsick on the highway, bolt at the airport, or eat something they shouldn’t while you’re distracted by a beautiful view. The difference between a smooth trip and a stressful one almost always comes down to what you know before you leave home.

Host Angie Orth sits down with Scott Taylor, president of Spot Pet Insurance, at the company's Miami headquarters. Scott brings industry expertise and hard-won personal experience, including what happens when a Labrador gets his paws on a club sandwich, toothpicks included.

You’ll hear how to prepare for traveling with pets, including pre-trip vet visits,airline policies, and destination research. He shares on-the-road safety tips and explains how financial planning makes it easier to say yes when your pet needs emergency care.

What You’ll Learn:

1:19 How a $10,000 vet bill made the case for pet insurance

8:17 Road trip packing essentials for pet owners

13:57 What to actually ask when booking a pet-friendly property

20:10 Why a GPS collar is worth it when you're far from home

29:02 How to choose the right pet insurance policy

Connect with Scott Taylor:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotttaylor714

Spot Pet Insurance: https://spotpet.com/

Have you had a pet emergency while traveling? How did you handle it? Tell us about it in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

The best summer trip might be one you’ve never considered. From a pedestrian-only mountain village in British Columbia to a cabin on the edge of the Shenandoah Valley, some of North America's most rewarding summer destinations rarely make the usual shortlists.

Host Angie Orth sits down with family travel expert Tykesha Spivey Burton, founder of Mama Wanderlust, for a rapid-fire rundown of five unexpected summer destinations with great outdoor access, local culture, great food, and bang for your buck. 

You'll find out which small towns offer a quieter alternative to the summer crowds,  which cities punch above their weight for foodies, and why the obvious pick isn’t always the best one. 

What You’ll Learn:

0:31 Why Whistler, BC is a standout summer pick for outdoor adventure and cultural connection

2:00 The Maryland ski town that's surprisingly peaceful in peak summer

2:39 A Shenandoah Valley cabin getaway that keeps costs low and the pace slow

3:20 Two underrated picks for culture seekers  

4:55 The foodie destinations worth a special trip, including one with a UNESCO gastronomy distinction

Connect with Tykesha Spivey Burton:

Website: https://tykeshaspiveyburton.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewanderlustmomma/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MommaWanderlust

What’s your favorite off-season summer destination? Tell us about it in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Cool summer temperatures, a mountain view, and no waitlist for dinner—that's what a summer vacation can look like when you trade the crowded beach for somewhere unexpected. Ski towns, lakeside cabins, and quiet small towns don't just shine in their off-season; they offer families more room to breathe, more flexibility, and the kind of unhurried togetherness that's hard to find at a peak-season hotspot.

In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with Tykesha Spivey Burton, founder of Mama Wanderlust and a family travel expert who has taken her kids from the mountains of British Columbia to the shores of Kauai. A self-described slow traveler and mid-Atlantic local, Tykesha brings a practical, multi-generational perspective to family trips that work across every age and travel style.

You'll hear why ski resort towns make surprisingly good  summer destinations, how to navigate trips when your kids want completely different things, and why off-the-beaten-path spots tend to be easier on the budget than the usual summer hotspots. This episode is full of fresh ideas and smart strategies for a summer trip worth remembering.

What You’ll Learn:

0:39 Why less-crowded destinations give families more flexibility, better upgrades, and room to be spontaneous

3:16 How ski resort towns like Deep Creek, Maryland and Whistler, BC transform into low-key family havens in summer

6:03 How to keep everyone happy when traveling with kids at different ages 

11:28 Why Kauai is one of the best summer island escapes

17:44 Budget strategies that work

Connect with Tykesha Spivey Burton:

Website: https://tykeshaspiveyburton.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewanderlustmomma/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MommaWanderlust

What are your favorite under-the-radar summer destinations? Share them in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Before the guidebooks, the PBS show, and 60 published titles, there was a 23-year-old piano teacher with a hard-bound journal, a Pentax camera, and a one-way ticket to Istanbul. In 1978, Rick Steves  traveled the old overland route  from Istanbul to Kathmandu. The notes and photos he brought home  became the seed  of  a career  spent showing Americans a smarter way to see the world. 

In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with legendary travel writer and TV host Rick Steves to discuss his newest book, On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer. Rick shares the stories and lessons from that trip, and what they still have to offer travelers today.

You'll hear Rick's take on the difference between a tourist, a traveler, and a pilgrim; why culture shock is something to seek out rather than avoid; and how the world has changed since the days of money belts and bus tickets from bucket shops. He'll also point you toward the destinations where that original spirit of adventure is still very much intact.

What You’ll Learn:

1:24 Rick's life before the guidebooks, and the trip that set everything in motion 

7:26 Tourist, traveler, or pilgrim: how to raise the bar on any trip

9:29 Istanbul then and now and why it's still one of the world's most underrated cities

13:45 The travel lesson from 1978 that Rick still teaches today

21:54 Where to find that hippie trail spirit in the modern world

Connect with Rick Steves:

Website: https://www.ricksteves.com/

Monday Night Travel free webinars (archived + live): https://www.ricksteves.com 

On the Hippie Trail (book): https://www.ricksteves.com/about-rick/hippie-trail-book

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ricksteveseurope/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ricksteves

LinkedIn:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricksteves

X: https://twitter.com/RickStevesEur

What’s the most profound travel experience you’ve had? Tell us about it in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

You don’t need specialized training or extra time off to make a meaningful environmental impact while you travel.  Wherever you’re headed—whether it’s  a national park, a coastal town, or a dark-sky destination—there's a meaningful volunteer experience waiting.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with sustainability and travel writer Amy Brecount White, who counts down her top five voluntourism experiences perfectly suited for every traveler.

You'll hear about the easiest entry points for giving back, including beach cleanups to trail restoration events, and how to find opportunities wherever your travels take you. Amy shares why even a short morning of volunteering can become the most memorable part of a trip, and how showing up for a place you love might just change the way you travel forever.

What You’ll Learn:

0:35 How to look for volunteerism opportunities 

2:09 Trail maintenance events at national parks, including Yosemite's annual facelift

3:32 Wildlife monitoring and citizen science opportunities for repeat visitors

5:11 How to get involved in native plant restoration and invasive species removal

9:48 Amy's most meaningful voluntourism experience and why it still stays with her

Connect with Amy Brecount White:

Website: https://amybrecountwhite.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amybrecountwhite/

Ready to give back on your next trip? Tell us what you want to do in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

What if your next \ vacation was about more than just recharging your batteries—what if you could leave the place a little better than you found it?? A little intention can turn any trip into a chance to protect the places we love.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is joined by sustainability and travel writer Amy Brecount White, a self-described citizen scientist whose passion for the natural world takes her from her own backyard to beaches and marine reserves around the globe. Together, they explore the growing world of voluntourism and what it really means to travel with purpose.

You'll hear about Amy's most memorable wildlife encounters, practical tips for finding legitimate conservation opportunities both at home and abroad, and how a simple shift in perspective can transform an ordinary trip into one that gives back. From sea turtle nest watches to invasive species removal in national parks, this episode is full of inspiration for the traveler who wants to leave every destination a little better than they found it.

What You’ll Learn:

1:06 What voluntourism is and why it's more accessible than you think

5:53 How to participate in sea turtle conservation

11:39 Beach voluntourism options when your trip doesn't align with turtle season

16:26 Red flags and green lights for finding legitimate opportunities at home and abroad

24:22 What it means to be a citizen scientist and how to get started

Connect with Amy Brecount White:

Website: https://amybrecountwhite.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amybrecountwhite/

What kind of voluntourism opportunity excited you the most? Tell us in the comments! 

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Switzerland is known for precision, with trains that arrive to the minute, watches accurate to fractions of a second, and chocolate engineered to perfection. So what's a hot air balloon doing in the mix? Turns out, the country that prides itself on timeliness also embraces drifting wherever the wind takes you. 

In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes back travel writer Crai Bower to count down his top five most unexpected discoveries in Switzerland, each one worth a spot on your itinerary.

You'll hear about the food traditions worth seeking out, a cultural obsession hiding in plain sight, and what Crai believes best captures Switzerland's quirky spirit.

What You’ll Learn:

0:23 Why watching raclette melt over an open fire is a can't-miss Swiss food moment

1:50 The pickled food culture that surprised even a seasoned traveler

3:05 The facade paintings of Lucerne and why they're worth slowing down for

3:43 How a timekeeping-obsessed culture also became the birthplace of hot air ballooning

7:20 What Switzerland's four national languages and cultural mix  feel like on the ground

Connect with Crai Bower:

Instagram

What are YOU most excited to experience in Switzerland? Tell us in the comments! 

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Switzerland is famous for precision watches, world-class skiing, and secretive banking—but there's a stranger, more fascinating side to this small, landlocked country that most travelers overlook. 

This episode digs into the Switzerland that doesn't make it into the guidebooks—like a carnival where crowds are rewarded with root vegetables, and  a train called "Express" that takes its time on purpose. 

Host Angie Orth is joined by award-winning travel writer Crai Bower, who recently covered the country for Westways and AAA Explorer magazines. This journalist's eye for the offbeat will have you looking at Switzerland in a new way. 

You'll hear how Switzerland's four official languages and cultural influences shape each city's personality, why the country is more budget-friendly than its reputation suggests, and which experiences make it worth visiting year-round.

What You’ll Learn:

05:53 The Swiss museums worth adding to your itinerary

09:03 What makes the Glacier Express one of the world's great train journeys 

12:23 The folklore and mythology rooted in Switzerland's Alpine landscape

20:31 Inside Basel Fasnacht: a three-day carnival unlike anything else in Europe

26:43 Why Switzerland is one of the easiest countries to navigate without a car

Connect with Crai Bower:

Instagram

What’s the quirkiest thing you’ve experienced in Switzerland? Tell us in the comments! 

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

What kind of destination for deepening a friendship? And when the goal is reconnecting with someone you love, does it really matter where you go? 

In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with actor, director, and New York Times bestselling author Andrew McCarthy. His 10,000-mile journey across America to rekindle foundational friendships is chronicled in his latest book, Who Needs Friends.

McCarthy offers  practical advice for anyone hoping to reconnect through travel, including  the one thing that instantly changes the dynamic between two people, and why the destination itself may matter less than you think

What You’ll Learn:

00:32 – The ideal type of destination for deepening any relationship

00:54 – The simplest thing you can do to set the stage for a real, meaningful conversation

01:13 – Why where you go matters far less than you think when the goal is reconnection

01:37 – The unexpected everyday experience McCarthy swears by for fostering genuine connection on the road

03:02 – Why building a small routine while traveling changes the way you experience a place

Connect with Andrew McCarthy:

Website: https://andrewmccarthy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewtmccarthy

Episodes Mentioned:

The Art of Pilgrimage with Andrew McCarthy: https://podcast.show/travelingwithaaa/episode/132461820/

Top 5 Tips for Walking the Camino de Santiago with Andrew McCarthy: https://podcast.show/travelingwithaaa/episode/132461821/

What’s your BEST travel connecting story? Tell us about it in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaa-auto-club-enterprises

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

When was the last time you actually saw your closest friends? Texts and social media can help you stay connected, but chances are, it’s been too long since you’ve been together in person. 

The same was true for actor, director, and New York Times bestselling author Andrew McCarthy. A pointed question from his teenage son sparked an unplanned, 10,000-mile road trip across America; Without GPS or an itinerary, he packed a bag and an old-school map, determined to reconnect with the people who helped shape him.

In this episode, host Angie Orth sits down with Andrew McCarthy to explore the deeply human themes behind his latest book, Who Needs Friends, which chronicles his journey across back roads to reignite decades-old friendships.

What You’ll Learn:

01:22 – The moment that launched a 10,000-mile journey

08:35 – How to pitch a travel story

15:26 – Why showing up in a friend's world fosters reconnection

23:45 – Andrew's pick for America's most overlooked destination

32:22 – An incremental approach to getting out of your comfort zone

Connect with Andrew McCarthy:

Website: https://andrewmccarthy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewtmccarthy

Episodes Mentioned:

The Art of Pilgrimage with Andrew McCarthy: https://podcast.show/travelingwithaaa/episode/132461820/

Top 5 Tips for Walking the Camino de Santiago with Andrew McCarthy: https://podcast.show/travelingwithaaa/episode/132461821/

Where would YOU go to reconnect with old friends? Tell us about it in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaa-auto-club-enterprises

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises