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