Yellowstone National Park

By Kristina Malsberger

See the erupting geysers! Hear the hissing fumaroles! Smell the sulfurous mud pots! For sensory stimulus, Yellowstone is a destination like no other: a threadbare patch in the planet’s carpet where the earth’s crust is just a few miles thick. As a result, half the geothermal marvels in the world—more than 10,000 hot springs and steam vents—bubble up within the park’s confines. Some, such as Old Faithful, are as famous as any celebrity (and at upwards of 350ºF, definitely hotter). No wonder Yellowstone was set aside as the first national park in the United States back in 1872. It’s also no surprise that more than 3 million visitors travel here every year to gaze up at the world’s tallest geyser (Steamboat, almost 400 feet); photograph bison; fish for rainbow trout; straddle the Continental Divide; and—even in the dead of winter—soak in the soothing heat of Boiling River. Who knew that the planet’s thin-skinned spot could be so much fun?

The nine-day AAA Sojourns National Parks & Monuments tour departs August 10 and 18. For details, call (888) 586-4222 or visit AAA.com/sojourns.

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Pack animals: Pet travelers in history

By Erin Klenow

1274 B.C. Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II brings his pet lion, Slayer of his Foes, into battle against the Hittite army.

218 B.C. Hannibal ferries 37 elephants across the Rhône River on wooden rafts, marches over the Alps, and stomps the Romans in several battles.

1960 Stray Russian dogs Belka (Squirrel) and Strelka (Little Arrow) crew Sputnik 5, becoming the first creatures to survive space flight.

1964–67 Patricia Highsmith, author of Strangers on a Train, attends parties with pet snails in her handbag. She later smuggles them into France.

1953 Author Truman Capote flees Sicily with his pet raven, Lola, when the people of Taormina accuse her of casting malocchio—the evil eye.

2005 Wisconsin kitty Emily hides in a box bound for Nancy, France. An airline returns her for free.

Save 5 percent on Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook when you purchase it online at AAA.com/barnesandnoble.

Myth The cars in the next lane are going faster than mine.

Reality Drivers in simulations thought their own lanes were slower even when they moved at the same speeds as other lanes overall.

AAA auto insurance protects you from an impatient world. For information, call (800) 922-8228 or visit AAA.com/insurance.

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Battery Service takes charge

If you have trouble starting your car or recently needed a jump start, it may be time to replace the battery. Contact AAA and we’ll send a technician to test your car’s electrical system and determine the condition of the battery. If it does need replacing, you can buy a new battery on the spot and enjoy a member discount of $25. We will then install it, recycle the old one, and provide a three-year, free-replacement warranty valid throughout North America. Call (800) 222-4357 or visit AAA.com/battery.

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Travel Planner

March

Save Enjoy exclusive benefits on Hawaii vacation packages of five nights or more when you reserve through AAA by April 30.

Plan ahead Book that summer cabin rental or white-water rafting trip before the end of winter to avoid a last-minute scramble.

Don’t forget Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date before traveling abroad. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/travel.

April

Save Through May 31, get $10 off a general admission ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood and enjoy a second day free. For details, check out AAA.com/universal.

Plan ahead Reserve your spot aboard a fall or winter cruise to ports along the Mexican Riviera such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and
Puerto Vallarta.

Don’t forget Before starting on an extended road trip, be sure that your vehicle’s tires—including the spare—are properly inflated.

Let AAA help you get where you’re going safely and on budget. Call (888) 586-4222 or visit AAA.com/travel.