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

Your group tour is booked and departure day is approaching. Then the reality hits: you're about to spend nine days with a group of strangers. For many travelers, the built-in social time and structured schedule of group travel can feel overwhelming—before you’ve even left home.

In this episode, host Angie Orth continues her conversation with award-winning travel journalist Sheeka Sanahori, who shares five practical tips drawn from her recent European group tour. Whether it’s breaking the ice with strangers or communicating your needs clearly, Sheeka offers straightforward strategies to help nervous first-timers feel confident and prepared.

You'll hear Sheeka's journalist trick for more comfortable social interactions, how to ensure your dietary needs are recognized, and how to position yourself for iconic photos—without getting the rest of the tour group in the shot. If you're anxious about the social dynamics or worried about maintaining your travel style within a group setting, these tips will help you make the most of your group travel experience.

What You’ll Learn:

0:35 The journalist-mode trick that makes socializing with strangers easier

1:31 Why communicating your needs to the tour guide benefits everyone

2:07 How to confirm dietary restrictions so nothing slips through the cracks

4:24 The positioning strategy for capturing photos on group excursions

5:43 The one piece of advice Sheeka wishes she knew before her first group trip

Connect with Sheeka Sanahori:

Website: https://www.sheekasanahori.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheeka.sanahori/

What’s your advice for taking the group-travel plunge? Tell us 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

If you’re a traveler who loves to craft detailed itineraries, group travel may sound like your worst nightmare. But what if it’s exactly what you need? Surrendering the logistics can feel scary at first—but it may be the most reliable way to secure the mental break a vacation is meant to provide.

In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes award-winning travel journalist Sheikha Sanahuri, who recently took her family on a group tour through Europe. As someone who typically plans every detail of her family trips, Sheikha shares what it was like to experience travel from the other side—as a participant rather than the planner.

You'll discover how group trips solve common multi-generational travel challenges, from accommodating different accessibility needs to handling dietary restrictions across language barriers. Sheikha breaks down tour packages, reveals the biggest misconceptions about group travel, and explains how to find flexibility within structured itineraries.

What You’ll Learn:

2:04 Why group travel feels like a vacation for the family planner

8:13 How traveling with people from around the world adds cultural perspective

14:33 The way tour companies accommodate multi-generational families with different needs

20:20 How tour operators' local relationships eliminate decision fatigue

24:52 The essential questions to ask before booking any group tour

Connect with Sheeka Sanahori:

Website: https://www.sheekasanahori.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheeka.sanahori/

Have YOU been on a group tour? Where did you go? 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

Maybe it’s the aisle seat passenger who reaches across you to adjust the window shade. Or the stranger who wants to trade your carefully selected seat for their middle seat in the last row. How about the tuna-and-egg sandwich enthusiast who seems oblivious to the issue in an enclosed space? These are the scenarios that test even the most patient traveler's resolve.

In this episode, host Angie Orth is back with Nick Leighton and Leah Bonnema, co-hosts of the etiquette podcast Were You Raised By Wolves? Together, they count down the top five trickiest air travel etiquette dilemmas—the ones that spark the most heated debates and leave polite travelers wondering what's actually acceptable.

You'll hear their verdict on bringing pungent food aboard, strategies for deflecting chatty seatmates without being rude, and why you're never obligated to give up your seat. They'll settle the window shade war once and for all, explain the concept of staying in your bubble, and share the single most important reminder every passenger needs before boarding.

What You’ll Learn:

0:32 The "scent bubble" rule for airplane food

2:22 How to politely signal you don't want conversation

5:12 Why you're never obligated to switch seats

7:01 Who controls the window shade

9:00 The most important etiquette advice for every flight

Connect with:

Nick Leighton

nick@wereyouraisedbywolves.com

https://www.instagram.com/nicholasleighton/

https://www.nickleighton.com/

Leah Bonnema

https://www.instagram.com/leahbonnema/

https://www.leahbonnema.com/

Were You Raised By Wolves?

https://www.wereyouraisedbywolves.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wereyouraisedbywolves

https://www.facebook.com/wereyouraisedbywolves

https://www.youtube.com/wereyouraisedbywolves

What’s the biggest airline etiquette violation you’ve experienced? 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

Whether you’re taking in world-class entertainment, strolling gallery-lined streets, or heading out on the ocean in search of marine life, Orange County has something for everyone. Its diverse communities each tell their own story, reflecting a distinct and dynamic side of California that demands a closer look.

In this episode, host Angie Orth explores three Orange County communities with locals who know them best. Chris Do, Entertainment Manager at Knott's Berry Farm, discusses Buena Park's central location and the evolution of one of America's first theme parks. Logan Crow of the Frida Cinema shares how Santa Ana's collaborative arts culture creates a vibrant downtown unlike anywhere else. And Donna Kalez, owner of Dana Wharf Sport Fishing and Whale Watching, explains how Dana Point earned its title as the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World.

You'll hear about Knott's Berry Farm's growth from a roadside berry stand to an amusement park with seasonal festivals and incredible food. You'll discover Santa Ana's monthly Art Walk, the Frida Cinema's mission as Orange County's only nonprofit cinema, and the city's expansive mural program. You'll also learn why Dana Point's unique coastline attracts whales and dolphins year-round, what to expect on a whale-watching excursion, and the best times to spot whales, dolphins, and maybeeven orcas.

What You’ll Learn:

3:40 Why every boysenberry in the world traces back to Buena Park

19:36 The monthly Art Walk that transforms downtown Santa Ana into a creative hub

35:07 Inside Santa Ana's diverse gallery scene46:43 Why Dana Point is the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World

58:07 Expert tips for your first whale watching adventure

Connect with:

In Santa Ana:

Logan Crow

The Frida

Art Walk

In Dana Point:

Donna Kalez

Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

In Buena Park:

Chris Do

Knotts Berry Farm

What are YOU most excited to see and do in Orange County? Tell us 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