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Travel
Much more than free TourBooks, maps and TripTiks. AAA Domestic Travel Counselors can help plan your road trip. AAA Travel Professionals understand national and international travel, from guided tours to independent adventure. AAA Colorado's travel store (in most offices and online) contains books, atlases, luggage and other travel items. Call 866-235-7070, visit a AAA office or www.aaa.com
Wine Train delivers relaxing, tasty weekend
The expectation levels were definitely high—a train trip through the Colorado Rockies and wine tastings at eight Grand Junction vintners. Promised bonuses included jazz on the train, talks from wine experts and learning about pairing food with wine.
Would the weekend live up to the hype?
At Denver's Union Station, parking and train check in were surprisingly easy. The wait to board was filled with a modest continental breakfast and greetings from the trip hosts: AAA Colorado, the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau and Amtrak.
When my wife and I boarded, we were impressed with the comfortable seats and substantial leg room. In today's busy travel world, we had forgotten that the enjoyment of the journey should be a part of any trip. That enjoyment was reinforced en route as we marveled at the scenery, listened to the live band (not really jazz), learned about wine from two vintners, and conversed with members of our group.
The group included nearly every adult age range, married and single. Judith and Sandy, sisters in their early 40s, were celebrating Judith's birthday. “We left our husbands behind,” Sandy said with a twinkle in her eye. “Next year, we want to bring our daughters.”
The train arrived in Grand Junction on Friday afternoon, giving everyone a chance to explore. Nestled near 11,000-foot Grand Mesa and the 7,500-foot Book Cliffs, Grand Junction is a peaceful community of 88,000 with a vibrant downtown.
Drier and warmer than Denver, the area has a climate and soil composition ideal for growing grapes. In the early 1900s there was a thriving wine industry, but Prohibition ended that and the vines were replaced with fruit trees. Vines returned in the 1960s, but it wasn't until the late 1980s/early 1990s that the industry took off again.
Today, 16 wineries dot the region. As part of the tour, small vans shuttled us to four wineries on Saturday, four on Sunday, providing a great snapshot of the diversity of wineries, and a good feel for the countryside.
Each winery offered something different, from its wine and ambiance, to its food pairings and tours. At one stop we tasted different grapes off the vine; at another we saw bottling and labeling; at a third we learned about the chemistry of wine. Throughout, we sampled surprisingly good wines while admiring the dramatic southwestern scenery.
Did the trip live up to its advertising?
It definitely did for me, my wife and every person we talked to. Taken altogether, it made for a fascinating, relaxing, fun—and tasty—weekend.
AAA Colorado has two spring tours, March 31 and April 7. For details call 866-235-7070 or visit your local AAA Travel professional.
— Jeff Miller, editor, EnCompass
AAA returns to the Indy 500
This year, AAA has become the official auto club, travel agency and auto insurance company of the Indianapolis 500—known worldwide as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
AAA sanctioned the famous event from 1911 to 1955. It is the longest-running auto race in the United States. The race has taken place on Memorial Day weekend every year since 1911, except during World Wars I and II, and attracts the largest single-day crowd of any sporting event in the world.
“Motorsports are a large part of AAA's heritage, and the company is proud to return to its historical roots at the Indy 500,” says Marshall Doney, national vice president of AAA Automotive. “Over the years AAA has remained an advocate for the American driver, for improved traffic safety and for expanded leisure opportunities.” Many advances in safety for everyday motorists, from the rear-view mirror and hydraulic brakes to traction and stability control, have come from auto racing.
Tickets for this year's event can be ordered online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com or by calling 800-822-INDY.
INSURANCE
AAA Colorado's independent insurance agency offers auto, home, life, umbrella and long-term care products from several highly rated national insurers, as well as its exclusive brand, “AAA Insurance.” For a competitive quote, call 866-399-9836, or click on “Insurance” at www.aaa.com. AAA Colorado also offers financial services like the AAA Visa card, certificates of deposit and money market deposits. Call 303-753-8800 or click on “Financial” at www.aaa.com for Visa card information. For deposit products, call 800-526-7120.
Affinity programs offer member benefits
Many AAA members might not be aware that AAA Colorado sells a variety of insurance products including car, home and long-term care. These products come from several highly rated national insurers, as well as AAA's exclusive brand, “AAA Insurance.” Six insurance carriers offer affinity programs providing exclusivity or a discount to AAA members:
1. “AAA Insurance,” auto & home—For members only.
2. Safeco, auto—Approximately 3% off non-member rates; also available to non-members.
3. Travelers Insurance, auto & home—For members only, approximately 10% off non-member rates.
4. Hartford Insurance, auto & home—Approximately 5% off non-member rates; also available to non-members.
5. John Hancock Insurance and GE Insurance, long-term care—For members only, approximately 10% off non-member rates.
AAA Insurance agents can advise members on which insurance product is best for their needs. Call 866-831-1367.
Preventing water damage
Most homeowners' policies cover damage from accidents and failures, such as water damage from a burst pipe. What is not usually covered is damage caused by a lack of ongoing maintenance. Most water damage claims start with a simple leak or drip and can be prevented. Routine checks may catch problems before they happen.
• Clean up mold, rot and mildew before it becomes a hazard.
• Check that the dishwasher hose is secure, and examine the base of the dishwasher after use for leaks.
• If your refrigerator has an ice maker, check its water line. Wet spots on the floor may simply be melted ice cubes, or can indicate an ice maker line about to burst.
• Fix sink blockages promptly when they occur. Check under the sink for signs of leaks.
• Discoloration or soft areas near showers or bathtubs may be your first indication of a leak. If you find cracks or mold around joints, clean and replace the caulking.
• Using too much toilet paper can clog toilets and lead to leakage. In addition, some chlorine tablet cleaners may corrode internal components, leading to a leak.
• Inspect washing machine hoses for wetness around hose ends and signs of bulging, cracking or fraying. Replace the hose if a problem is found, or every three to five years.
• Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a problem.
• To check for hidden leaks, turn off all faucets and water-using appliances, and do not flush toilets for one hour. Record your water meter reading. If the flow indicator (a triangular or diamond-shaped rotating button) is spinning, or the meter reading has changed while no water is being used, a leak may exist.
• Know where your main water shut-off valve is and check it regularly to make sure it is operational.
AUTOMOTIVE
AAA Colorado offers a wealth of automotive services, beginning with AAA's famous roadside assistance program that follows the member, not the vehicle. Other services include Approved Auto Repair and Auto Body Repair facilities, automotive products at AAA Colorado offices, and auto sales and leasing through AAA Colorado AutoSource. All can be accessed through www.aaa.com, including AutoManager, which manages the maintenance of your vehicle.
Bring out your batteries Do you have old car batteries lying around your yard or garage? Many of the components in automotive and marine lead-acid batteries can be recycled, including 99% of the lead.
On April 22, in conjunction with Earth Day, AAA Colorado has organized this year's Great Battery Roundup. This annual event is an opportunity for members and the public to drop off their used lead-acid batteries for shipment to recycling plants.
Since 2001, the Great Battery Roundup has gathered more than 77,000 old batteries nationwide and in Canada.
Locations for this year's event are:
• Marv's Quality Towing, 4790 Pearl St. , Boulder. 303-444-4460.
• Auto Towing, Inc, 50 Cascade Ct., Colorado Springs. 719-635-4288.
• O.S.T. Towing, 5789 S. Curtis St., Unit D, Sheridan. 303-909-5949.
ADVOCACY
Did You Know?
AAA and highway history
This year will mark the 50th anniversary of President Dwight Eisenhower's signing of legislation to create the 46,500-mile Interstate Highway System. The advent of interstate highways forever changed the way people live and work, and had a major influence on the development of U.S. commerce, travel and tourism.
AAA was one of the leading advocates that worked to push interstate highway legislation through Congress in 1956, playing an integral role in its creation.
WEBSITE
A new look for aaa.com Members who have recently visited www.aaa.com will have noticed major changes. The website has been completely redesigned, with a new look and improved navigation, making it much easier to find the information and services you need.
More upgrades will continue to be added over the coming months, including improved hotel and airline search functionality.
AAA Colorado trusts that you enjoy the new site and find it a useful resource for your AAA membership and planning. Feedback is welcome; email webmaster@colorado.aaa.com.
MEMBER SAVINGS
This is the member savings program of AAA. Simply show your AAA membership card to save money at hundreds of retail and service shops, travel-related companies, lodging and automotive facilities. Various restrictions apply; for details visit your local AAA office, click here to go to www.aaa.com, call 877-244-9790, ext. 2054
Giving the gift of sight
One of AAA's Show Your Card & Save partners does a lot more than just offer savings on your glasses and contacts.
LensCrafters, through its “Give the Gift of Sight” charitable foundation, conducts optical mission trips to developing countries, providing free eye care and glasses to people in need.
Marci Schoenmaker, a program coordinator with AAA, accompanied a LensCrafters team on a recent mission to Paraguay . Its first clinic was in Concepcion, a very poor town with a population of about 50,000. Most people there had never seen an eye doctor, and a pair of eyeglasses normally costs the equivalent of a month's salary.
Local volunteers worked in advance to get the word out to the community. When the mission team arrived, the street was filled with people waiting to get into the free vision clinic. During five days in Concepcion, the team served 16,000 people.
Eyeglasses are donated by people in the USA . A computer database locates the best match of the glasses on hand—more than 20,000—to the recipient's prescription.
“It was just amazing to be able to impact a person's life in such a powerful way,” said Marci. “The ability to read, drive, work, play, or even to see your loved ones' faces requires clear vision, something we take for granted if we have access to affordable eye care.”
SAFETY
Car safety seats are vitally important (and required by law) for babies, toddlers and older children who aren't tall enough for an adult seat belt. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is coordinating with Babies ‘R' Us to help parents and caregivers meet these requirements.
Call Jaime Weisbrod at 303-753-8800, ext. 8105 to order a coupon for $10 off any child's car seat over $40 at Babies ‘R' Us. The coupons are available only while supplies last, and are valid until the end of April.
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