Page 6 - AAA Now! – AAA Shelby County – September/October 2020

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PLAN YOUR NEXT ROAD TRIP WITH AAA’S TRAVEL INSPIRED BY SAMANTHA BROWN
By Samantha Brown
Host of “Samantha Brown’s Place to Love”
COVID-19 has turned the travel and hospitality industry upside down. In this unprecedented time, I’m finding solace knowing travel comes back.
That may be hard to believe
at this moment, when you’re anxious about the daily news, still heartbroken over a cancelled vacation and stuck inside watching “Frozen 2” for the 867th time. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but we really will be able to travel again.
This year, a big international trip may no longer be in the cards. Don’t let that discourage you – it’s not the distance you travel that makes a trip special. It’s about the journey, the stories you uncover, the people you’re with and meet along the way.
In 2020 I’m planning on exploring my favorite country: the United States. The U.S. offers some of the most exciting, beautiful and rewarding travel experiences on the planet. I’ve teamed up with
AAA Travel to create memorable and affordable trips that deliver adventure, fun, and – most importantly – meaningful connection with the people and places we’re currently missing.
Check out AAA Travel’s “Inspired by Samantha Brown” itineraries. These trips were
inspired by my Emmy-winning series, “Samantha Brown’s Places
to Love,” and allow viewers to walk in my footsteps. Enjoy the same restaurants, sights, and experiences as I did, and enhance your experience by letting AAA Travel connect you to the local Diamond designated hotels, restaurants and AAA GEM (Great Experience for Members) attractions. Currently, AAA’s “Travel Inspired by Samantha Brown” vacations include the Florida Keys, Phoenix, Sonoma County and Maine – all fabulous destinations that offer plenty of
opportunities to get outdoors, enjoy fresh air, taste local flavors and support the incredible mom-and- pop businesses that make a destination unique.
In anticipation of your vacation, watch the
corresponding “Places to Love” episode. Did you know it’s scientifically proven that just planning a trip puts you in that same happy state of mind you experience while actually on one? Finally, some good news. It’s the perfect time to start planning where you will go when travel comes back.
Samantha Brown’s “Places to Love on PBS” takes viewers on a discovery of the emotional heart of travel by highlighting the people who are changing, challenging and strengthening a destination to deliver a decidedly refreshing and enriching travel experience.
Learn more at AAA.com Samantha Brown.
TRANQUILITY FOUND IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
Grand Cayman’s colorful history, shaped by pirates, buccaneers, adventurers and shipwrecked mariners, tells tales of buried treasure. Even today,
visitors occasionally find gold coins and other long- forgotten treasures washed upon the island’s white sand shores. But the true treasure of Grand Cayman won’t be found on its beaches, but beneath the glassy surface of the turquoise Caribbean Sea.
For decades, divers the world over have flocked to the warm Caribbean waters to delve into the ocean’s crystal-clear depths, spectacular coral reefs and interesting marine life. What they have discovered surrounding Grand Cayman are miles of breathtaking sheer coral walls, brilliantly colored tropical fish, canyons, coral tunnels, caves, wrecks and seemingly endless visibility.
Twenty-two-mile-long Grand Cayman is actually one of three exposed summits of a submerged mountain range (the other two are Little Cayman and Cayman Brac). Over eons, the mountainsides below the water have been covered with an unbelievably beautiful coral reef, with water in some spots as shallow as 12 feet, and drop-offs as deep as an estimated 15,000 feet in others. Divided into six dive regions, Grand Cayman boasts
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more than 70 named boat and beach dive sites.
But there’s more to Grand Cayman than water. Seven Mile Beach is
defined by its long stretches of
soft, very white sand. This pristine expanse of land is lined with resorts, restaurants and shops. In northern Grand Cayman, the National Trust’s Salina Reserve is a combination of woodlands and wetlands that offer visitors glimpses of rare blue iguana habitats, caves and unusual herbs.
The Cayman Turtle Farm is home to thousands of sea turtles, and the 65- acre Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
is an endless sea of vibrant color blooms.
In George Town, Grand Cayman’s main city, visit the Cayman Islands National Museum to learn a bit about the history and culture of the island. Savor delicious Caribbean-style meals at excellent restaurants, browse through duty-free shops and enjoy the nightlife — dance to a disco beat or simply soak up the moonlight on the beach.
If you’re thinking about taking a cruise to the Western Caribbean, you may find sailing from Galveston, Texas to be fun and convenient. Situated on Galveston Island in the Gulf of Mexico, this historic city charms visitors with its Victorian architecture, amusement parks, shopping, and seafood restaurants dishing up scrumptious Gulf shrimp, Louisiana crawfish, Galveston Bay oysters, and soft-shell crabs.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020
Now!