YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE By Jim McCafferty Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a veteran of many years of mortgage payments, chances are your home is your most expensive budget item and most valuable investment. But few ever think twice about the insurance that protects their investment. Knowing what is covered and what's not can make all the difference when disaster strikes. WHAT'S COVERED Standard homeowners insurance customarily covers damage to both structures and personal property caused by fire or lightning; windstorm (including hurricanes and tornadoes) or hail; explosions; riot or civil commotion; aircraft; vehicles; smoke; theft or vandalism; falling objects; weight HEALTH INSURANCE CHECKLIST When choosing the right individual health insurance policy here are a few basic tips: 1. Know your share - What are your co-pays and coinsurance? What is outof-pocket? Check with your agent. 2. What must you have? What is your medical history and your dependents'? What medications do you take? Do you need maternity coverage? 3. Are your providers in the network? Make sure your doctors and providers are in your policy's network. 4. Check the formulary - Make sure the policy's list of covered drugs include your medications. Policies may vary on medications. 5. Premiums - Check out costs and di erent bene t combinations to meet your budget but provide needed protection. AAA Insurance Agency is a full service Life & Health brokerage. For health insurance information, call 800-333-4242 or visit AAA.com/Insurance. of ice, snow or sleet; and freezing of plumbing, heating, air conditioning or other household systems. It also covers personal liability - if you, your family or your property injures someone. Homeowners insurance also covers your personal property, including the contents of your home and anything members of your household use, own, wear or carry. WHAT'S NOT COVERED Although floods and earthquakes are widespread in the U.S., the damage they cause is not covered by the standard policy. Of course, the cost of flood and earthquake coverage reflects the high risk involved. Other exclusions can include neglect, intentional loss, earth movement, general power failure and even damage caused by war. A costly exclusion is the ordinance or law exclusion, which refers to changes in building codes that can drive up the cost of rebuilding or repairing. QUESTIONS? Still have questions? Most people do - that is why AAA has more than 500 insurance professionals throughout North and South Carolina to help you. For more help, contact your local AAA Agent (see page 5) or call us at 800-974-1222. AAA members who switched to AAA Insurance saved $466 on average. Jim McCafferty is President of The Members Insurance Company and Universal Insurance Company. For a complete review of your insurance coverage, call 800-974-1222. BILTMORE.COM/TIMELESS AAA.COM | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 9 THE RICHARDS TRG JOB: BLT-12-00 CLIENT: Biltmore PUB(S): AAA NC INSERTION Nov. 2012 TRIM: 4.625 x 4.8 LIVE: none BLEED: none COLOR/LS CMYK/133 QUESTION Todd Gutm 214-891-3

10 There is no doubt I'm far from home - in sultry Cambodia, a deeply Buddhist land of timehonored tradition and ancient superstition. I'm on a 15-day Uniworld Boutique cruisetour: a perfect way to delve deep into a culture because a river is often a country's lifeblood, such as Southeast Asia's Mekong, along which more than 60 million people depend for food, water and transportation. (Mekong means "Mother River.") Our trip begins in Hanoi, Vietnam, where we explore the capital city, much NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 | AAA.COM Mother River: Mekong By Lucinda Hahn Uncover the "Jewel of the Atlantic" 3 NIGHTS FROM $440 PER PERSON* changed since the Vietnam War (though dark memories come alive during a tour of the infamous Hanoi Hilton, where U.S. soldiers were held and tortured). THEN AND NOW Opening to the West in 1994, Vietnam has vaulted onto the world stage as one of Southeast Asia's "Little Tiger" economies. The cacophonous Old Quarter reveals the juxtaposition between old and new: a glass storefront reveals chic minimalist furniture; women burdened by shoulder yokes carry vegetables to market. Beyond its famous pink-sand beaches, shockingly blue waters, playful pastel-colored homes and world-class golf courses, Bermuda has an abundance of things to do and places to see. With seven golf courses spread over 22-acres, Bermuda is a golfer's paradise. Beautiful weather year-round lets golfers tee off with outstanding ocean views surrounding them. Refresh and recharge yourself with a deep massage or facial at one of Bermuda's luxury spas before exploring Bermuda at night. Your dream vacations is only a short flight away. Ask about your Travel Impressions AAA Member Benefits. Travel With Someone You Trust ® . Contact your local AAA Travel Agent or www.AAA.com An Apsara carving from Baphuon Temple, Angkor entices visitors who travel via the 30-cabin River Saigon riverboat. We fly the next day to Angkor, Cambodia, ancient capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of Southeast Asia for six centuries, until the 1400s. A glorious archaeological feat remains: some 70 stone temples, tombs and intricately carved ruins amid dense, green forests and rice paddies. Angkor leaves travelers swooning - from the vast Angkor Wat complex, which we enter on the backs of elephants to the gigantic smiling faces of the Bayon temple to magical Ta Prohm, where mammoth tree roots seem to strangle sacred ruins. Ask your agent for the latest offers for your travel dates SAMPLE PACKAGE IS PER PERSON AND INCLUDES: 3-night hotel accommodations Roundtrip hotel transfers Hotel tax Tours operated by Travel Impressions. *Rate is based on The Fairmont Southampton and is land only, per person, based on double occupancy in Moderate room category. Offer is valid on a minimum stay of 3 nights for bookings made and traveled 1/1/13-3/31/13. Advertised rate is valid for travel 1/1/13-3/31/13. Blackout, weekend, holiday and peak season surcharges apply. Promotion is accurate at time of printing and is subject to changes, exceptions, cancellation charges and restrictions. Additional higher priced packages available. Valid for new bookings only. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the printing of this ad. CST #2029006-20, IOWA #758, NEVADA #2004-0029, Washington UBI #602 425 801. LU036-12_VK_9.24.12 Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

From left to right: Angkor Wat stuns at sunrise, the Mekong River winds amongst an impressive landscape and a seasoned farmer sells her wares at a floating market. After three days exploring Angkor, we arrive at the river city of Kampong Cham to board the three-deck, 30-cabin, teak River Saigon, our home for seven days. LAND AND SEA Each day features forays ashore, where we walk on dirt roads in villages, past stilt houses surrounded by mango trees and chickens pecking in the dust, through markets where women sell everything from eggs and cabbage to passion fruit and pigs' heads - all laid out before them on blankets or wooden tables for display. Between ship activities and shore visits, we enjoy passing views of river life For an expanded story and video tour of a Mekong River Cruise, visit AAA.com/Go. and regional natural beauty. We visit a local school and during one trip ashore, I spend time at a makeshift café where a family visits with me. None speak English, but between pen and paper we share names and ages, and using the iPhone, I teach curious children to use the camera and make a connection - and a memory I treasure. Crossing into Vietnam, the waterway crowds with rice barges, sampans (fishing canoes) and colorful floating markets. These are ancient souks of the Mekong, where yams, coconuts and other produce dangle from the sampans' upright staffs, advertising wares to passing buyers, who paddle out on skiffs. Stilt homes line the banks, where families bathe, wash dishes and swim. A MEMORABLE MOMENT After a night in Ho Chi Minh City, we drive to Cu Chi and explore the immense network of tunnels the Viet Cong used as a base of operations during the war. We meet a former Viet Cong soldier, now in his 60s, who lived and fought in the tunnels and an American doctor who was stationed nearby during the war says: "I'd like to shake his hand." The two ex-soldiers grasp hands and embrace. The moment is like the river: quiet, moving, unforgettable. AAA members save up to $250 per person on Uniworld River Cruises in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong. Call 800-398-0379 to book your trip today! Alaska is coming to the Carolinas. Join your local AAA Vacations for a fun and informative presentation on Alaska & the Yukon. Join AAA and Holland America Line as they present On Stage Alaska™ featuring Alaska experts, stunning film footage and exclusive travel benefits. For specific times, locations and to RSVP please call 1-800-398-0379 and ask about the show in your area. Asheville - 1/14/2013 Hendersonville -1/15/2013 Greenville, SC - 1/16/2013 Charlotte - 1/19/2013 Gastonia - 1/20/2013 Greensboro - 1/21/2013 Raleigh - 1/22/2013 Exclusive Member Benefits like: Alaska Glacier Bay Exclusive Savor & Swirl Culinary Event, Cookbook & Pinnacle Grill Dinner * Alaska Direct to Denali Tour $25 per person shipboard Credit, Photo & Pinnacle Grill Dinner * Alaska Explorer Exclusive Savor & Swirl Culinary Event, Cookbook & Pinnacle Grill Dinner * AAA.COM | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 11

A card you cAn be Thankful for. $75 Receive a statement credit* after your first qualifying transaction. For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this card, visit a local branch or AAA.com/creditcard. This credit card program is issued and administered by FIA Card Services, N.A. *You will qualify for a $75 statement credit if you use your new credit card account to make any Purchase, Balance Transfer or Cash Advance transaction that posts to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit (one) statement credit per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to new customers opening an account in response to this offer. Allow 8‐12 weeks from qualifying for the statement credit to post to your account. The statement credit will be applied to your existing balance with the highest APR before being applied to any balances with lower APRs. Receipt of a statement credit does not affect your responsibility to pay your Total Minimum Payment shown on each statement you receive from us. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. Bank of America may issue an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) to you that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither Bank of America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide tax advice. Offer expires 12/31/12. Sc-04123-12 Visit a AAA office or AAA.com/CreditCard 12 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 | AAA.COM -04123-12 Nov/Dec Visa Ad.indd 1 10/10/12 4:06 PM A tranquil scene at Dunn's River Falls before the crowds scale its rocks. The Caribbean island of Jamaica may be best known for powder-sand beaches, Bob Marley's reggae music, notable waterfalls, Blue Mountains of coffee fame, the Olympiad bobsled team and now Usain Bolt, officially the world's fastest man. Jamaica is one of the larger islands in the Greater Antilles - just a little smaller than Connecticut - and home to 2.7 million people. Well-known are Kingston, the bustling capital; Montego Bay's popular bars and resorts; Negril, with its stunning seven-mile beach, cliffside hotels and worldfamous Rick's Café; and Ocho Rios, home to Dunn's River Falls and eco-adventures. SANDY BEACHES For many, Jamaica is all about the beaches - there are 200 miles of them, including popular Doctor's Cave Beach in Montego Bay - and they are often patrolled by serenading troubadours seeking donations for their efforts. Adventures include hand-in-hand trekking up Dunn's River Falls; watching cliff divers at Rick's Café, touring plantation homes and rainforests or exploring caves where pirates hung out or Green Grotto caves with intricate rock formations and blue-green water. You can horseback ride in the surf or inland at spots like White River with its 17th century Spanish bridge, go river tubing, swim with dolphins, bamboo raft down the Martha Brae River (a practice started by screen legend Errol Flynn) or mimic the Jamaican bobsled team on a thrilling ride in the rainforest. Many chose to bus to where reggae king Marley was born and buried. The Bob Marley Museum is in Kingston. TOP ATTRACTION Dunn's River Falls & Park remains Jamaica's top-grossing attraction with guides leading the adventurous up the falls in a human chain - everyone holding hands - for an incredible view. Jamaica Still Entices By Kathy M. Newbern and J.S. Fletcher Dolphin Cove, with locations in Ocho Rios and Negril, specializes in tours to swim with dolphins and sharks, interact with stingrays, captain a mini-boat, paddle a glass-bottom kayak and ride the Wild Fun Jet Boat. In motorized boats, Black River Safari on the South Coast gets visitors up close to the famous Black River crocodiles on Jamaica's longest navigable river. Sun worshippers enjoy the beach at Ocho Rios. Rick's Café on Negril's West End Cliffs maintains its '70s/'80s vibe despite being destroyed twice by hurricanes. You can dive from the cliff platforms - highest is 35 feet - or tip professional divers while sipping a cool concoction. Sunsets are famous here. Firefly was Sir Noel Coward's vacation home where he wrote several plays and offers spectacular views from its hillside perch in Port Maria. MANY PLACES TO STAY Accommodations run the gamut from apartments for rent by locals to boutique hotels like the AAA Four Diamond Round Hill and the Three Diamond Jamaica Inn, the latter included in "1,000 Places to See Before You Die." The all-inclusive Sandals brand started here and thrives with seven Jamaican properties, including flagship Sandals Montego Bay. Visit AAA.com/Go for an expanded story and video tour of Jamaica's hidden gems. AAA Members get 5% off the land portion of a 5-night or longer AAA Sun & Sand Vacation to Jamaica. Call 800-398-0379 to book your trip.

e our guest with this enchanting offer! ith all the magical, new things there are to see and do throughout the entire Walt Disney World® Resort, there's never been a better time to visit. with the purchase of this 5-Night/6-Day AAA Vacations ® Stay, Play, Dine anD Save uP to $600* room, ticket and dining plan package at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels (based on a family of four). Plus, enjoy Exclusive AAA Vacations ® Benefits. For stays most nights /-//. Book /-//. For more information about this offer, dining plan details, participating restaurants and Exclusive AAA Vacations ® Benefits, visit wdwstayplaydine.com/AAA. call Your aaa traVel professional at 800-398-0379 or Visit us online at aaa.com/DisneY * The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price of the same package for 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. Excludes campsites, 3-Bedroom Villas and is not valid at Disney's Art of Animation Resort - The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms. Children ages 3-9 must choose from the children's menu, if available. Excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase. GS2012-8452-5 ©Disney AAA.COM | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 13

Surrounded by the gorgeous Alaska wilderness, passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's newly revitalized Rhapsody of the Seas raved about the experience. "Having seen programs on television about Alaska, I expected the area to be beautiful, but I had no idea it would be sensory overload," said Felicia O'Neal of North Carolina. "Observing the wildlife, seeing the glaciers, the snowcovered mountains," echoed Kristi Horne of Charlotte, NC. "At times I was left The Sea is calling. Answer it Royally. 14 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 | AAA.COM An Alaskan cruise can provide awe-inspiring encounters with wildlife and breathtaking vistas with a daily respite to luxury. EXPLORING ALASKA By Judy Koutsky speechless at the natural beauty of this part of the country . We saw whales, seals, bald eagles - things you don't see every day in North Carolina. A cruise is one of the best ways to see the region." ey were passengers on a recent 7-night Alaska summer cruise aboard the Rhapsody that started and ended in Seattle, WA, after spending three days in port - Juneau, Victoria and Skagway - and three days at sea. Excursion o erings included biking 5-NIGHT WESTERN CARIBBEAN FROM $309* 7-NIGHT EASTERN MED FROM $699* Call 1-800-398-0379 or visit us at AAA.com Prices are per person based on double occupancy, cruise only select dates. Taxes, Fees and Fuel Surcharges not included in rates. Subject to availability and specific dates. Prices current at time of printing and subject to change without notice. Ships Registry Norway/Liberia. to the Mendenhall Glacier, a railroad ride through Skagway's White Pass, a seaplane ying over ve glaciers and whale watching in Juneau. "I expected to see a whale or two, but I did not expect to see quite the number I saw," said O'Neal of the Juneau sail. "At one point, there were three humpback whales near our catamaran, and then a pod of seven orcas appeared. Watching them swim in unison was amazing." Rhapsody recently underwent a $54 million revitalization upgrading staterooms, creating ve new dining options (one was "time-dining" that allows guests to dine when they want, not at a set time), and renovating the spa and tness center. DINING & MORE " e service aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas was the best I've ever experienced," said Mark Fox of Charlotte, NC. " e employees were fantastic, the food was very good and the ports were amazing." "Our waiters in the main dining hall were fantastic," said Horne who used "timedining" and spent days at sea in the spa and tness center. "My favorite experience aboard the ship, aside from the breathtaking views, was the tness center and spa amenities," said Fox. " e steam room and sauna were amazing." Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean program gives adults a break with agespeci c programs, starting at six months and going up to 17 years. Tweens and teens have their own arcade and dance area. For an expanded story or to see a video tour of the Rhapsody of the Seas, visit AAA.com/Go. AAA members receive $100 Onboard Credit for select Alaska Cruisetours sailing on 5/17/13 with Royal Caribbean International. Call 800-398-0379 to book your cruise today. Royal Caribbean Cruises

Great Destinations Great Vacations Great Deals It's Time to Travel! AAA VACATIONS Exclusive Travel Values ALASKA CRUISES Tracy arm Fjord cruise Roundtrip Seattle. May 31, 31, 2013 Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Solstice. Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Inside Passage, Skagway, Victoria, BC BC AAA EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT: Priority Check-In; $50 per per stateroom onboard credit 7 7 nights from $1019* per per person, Inside souThbound alaska cruise Seward to to Vancouver. September 6, 6, 2013 Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Millenium. Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Inside Passage AAA AAA EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT: Priority Check-In; $50 $50 per per stateroom onboard credit. 7 7 nights from $649* per per person, Inside sawyer Glacier cruise Vancouver to to Seattle. May May 24, 24, 2013 Royal Caribbean. Rhapsody of of the the Seas Seas Inside Passage, Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Tracy Arm Arm Fjord, Fjord, Ketchikan AAA AAA EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT: Priority Check-In; Champagne on on arrival; $50 $50 per per stateroom onboard credit. credit. 7 7 nights from from $999 $999 per per person, Ocean View View norThbound alaska cruise Vancouver to to Seward. May May 17, 17, 2013 2013 Royal Royal Caribbean. Radiance of of the the Seas. Seas. Inside Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Icy Icy Strait Strait Point, Point, Juneau, Juneau, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier Glacier AAA AAA EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT: Priority Priority Check-In; Champagne on on arrival arrival $50 $50 per per stateroom onboard onboard credit credit 7 7 nights nights from from $659* $659* per per person, person, Inside Inside RIVER CRUISING enchanTinG danube danube Budapest Budapest to to Passau. Passau. June June 2, 2, 2013 2013 Uniworld Uniworld Boutique Boutique River River Cruising. Cruising. River River Beatrice Beatrice Budapest Budapest (2-overnights), Vienna, Vienna, Durnstein, Durnstein, Wachau Wachau Valley, Valley, Melk, Melk, Linz Linz (Salzburg), (Salzburg), Passau Passau (overnight) (overnight) AAA AAA BENEFIT: BENEFIT: $225 $225 savings savings per per person; person; $50 $50 onboard onboard credit credit per per stateroom stateroom 8 8 days days from from $3549* $3549* per per person, person, Category Category 55 Paris Paris & normandy normandy Roundtrip Roundtrip Paris. Paris. May May 17, 17, 2013 2013 Uniworld Uniworld Boutique Boutique River River Cruising. Cruising. River River Baroness Baroness Paris, Paris, Les Les Andelys, Andelys, Rouen, Rouen, Normandy Normandy Beaches, Beaches, CaudebecCaudebecenCauxenCaux (Honfleur), (Honfleur), Vernon Vernon (Giverny) (Giverny) AAA AAA BENEFIT: BENEFIT: $225 $225 savings savings per per person; person; $50 $50 onboard onboard credit credit per per stateroom stateroom 10 10 days days from from $4049* $4049* per per person, person, Category Category 3 3 TIS THE SEASON NEW YORK new york city city holiday December 13-16, 2012. Join Join AAA AAA for for our our annual trip trip to to NYC NYC for for the the holidays. Perfect for for last last minute shopping or or just just as as a a special treat. Includes: Accommodations at at Sheraton New New York; York; Wine Wine & & Cheese Welcome Reception; Radio Radio City City Music Hall Hall Christmas Spectacular; Dinner at at Carmine's; Special gift gift and and shopping coupons from from Macy's. 3 3 nights from from $1079* per per person, land land only only new new year's eve eve in in nyc nyc December 29, 29, 2013 2013 Stay Stay at at the the Affinia Shelburn Murray Hill Hill Hotel, Hotel, includes Holiday Lights Tour Tour and and Welcome Packet 4 4 nights from from $729* per per person, land land only only ASHEVILLE renaissance asheville hotel, hotel, Asheville, NC NC 2 2 nights from from $161* $161* per per person, land land only only The The Grove Grove Park Park inn, inn, Asheville, NC NC From From $269* $269* per per night, night, plus plus tax, tax, Resort Resort View View Room Room comfort suites suites biltmore, Asheville, NC NC 2 2 nights nights from from $120* $120* per per person, person, King King Suite Suite HILTON HEAD Westin Westin Hilton Hilton Head Head Island, Island, Hilton Hilton Head, Head, SC SC Participate in, in, or or support support your your favorite favorite runner runner at at the the Hilton Hilton Head Head Jingle Jingle Jingle Jingle 5K 5K on on December December 22, 22, then then celebrate celebrate Christmas Christmas at at the the beach! beach! 5 5 nights nights from from $394 $394 per per person, person, Island Island View View Room Room NEW ZEALAND The The lands lands down down under under AAA AAA Member Member Choice Choice Vacations. Vacations. Cairns Cairns to to Auckland Auckland Guided Guided tour tour includes: includes: Great Great Barrier Barrier Reef, Reef, Uluru, Uluru, Barossa Barossa Valley Valley Wine Wine Region, Region, Sydney, Sydney, Sydney Sydney Harbor Harbor Dinner Dinner Cruise, Cruise, Queenstown, Queenstown, Milford Milford SOund, SOund, Tamaki Tamaki Maori Maori Village, Village, Rotorua Rotorua 17 17 days days from from $4599* $4599* per per person, person, land land only only new new Zealand Zealand cruise cruise Roundtrip Roundtrip Melbourne. Melbourne. March March 16, 16, 2013 2013 Princess Princess Cruises. Cruises. Dawn Dawn Princess. Princess. Auckland, Auckland, Tauranga, Tauranga, Napier, Napier, Wellington, Wellington, Akaroa, Akaroa, Dunedin, Dunedin, Fjordland Fjordland National National Park, Park, New New Zealand. Zealand. 13 13 nights nights from from $2499* $2499* per per person, person, Balcony Balcony 800-398-0379 AAA.com *Rates *Rates are are per per person person based based on on double double occupancy, occupancy, land land or or cruise cruise only. only. Rates Rates valid valid at at time time of of print. print. Not Not responsible responsible for for errors errors or or omissions omissions in in the the printing printing of of this this ad. ad. Rates Rates are are subject subject to to availability availability and and terms terms and and conditions conditions may may apply apply on on select select promotions. promotions. Call Call your your AAA AAA Travel AAA.COM Travel Specialist Specialist for | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER for full full details. details. 2012

16 Holiday Lights Illuminate the Season Throughout the holiday season, the Carolinas glow with dozens of light festivals, when parks, homes and historic sites shimmer with thousands - even millions - of holiday lights. Many boast they're the biggest and best in the Carolinas - perhaps even in the Southeast - although that distinction is best left to an unbiased public. Some court families; others offer a cozy, romantic escape. Most charge a fee; some are free. BILTMORE ESTATE Biltmore Estate, North Carolina's number one attraction, sparkles from Nov. 9-Dec. 31 with tree lights, glowing candles and cozy fireplaces throughout the more than 250-room home and surrounding gardens. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 | AAA.COM By Angela Vogel Daley and Jovy Kim DANIEL STOWE In Belmont, NC, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden celebrates the season with gorgeous light displays at Holidays at the Garden from Nov. 23-Dec. 31. New this year is a 16-foot-tall Orchid Tree, featuring more than 300 orchids, as well as a 30-foot-tall Norway Spruce. The grounds of Biltmore Estate decorated for the holidays. American Music Jubilee CHRISTMAS SHOW Nov 2 - Dec 21 visitSelma.org SELMA, NC ★ I-95, EXIT 98 For a free visitors guide 1-800-441-7829 One of the homes at McAdenville's Christmastown display. Visitors can snack on s'mores while sitting around a glowing fire. MCADENVILLE For free, consider McAdenville's Christmastown USA, held nightly Nov. 30-Dec. 26. Since 1956, residents of this small, former North Carolina mill town have decorated their homes, trees, businesses and public areas with lights. More than 300,000 cars pass through each year and visitors are welcome to park their cars and walk. CAROLINA PARKS Visitors wind along a three-mile drive from Nov. 9-Dec. 31, through Charleston's James Island County Park, ablaze with millions of lights. The park offers BOONE, NC Holidays Are Cooler Here! Choose & cut your own Christmas tree at a Boone area tree farm, then visit our unique shops to find gifts for everyone on your list. Visit us online for holiday events & lodging. 800-852-9506 www.ExploreBooneArea.com

festival train rides, carousel rides, marshmallow roasts, sand sculptures and the Enchanted Forest Walking Trail. Another county park, Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC, is transformed into a winter wonderland Nov. 17-Jan. 1, with more than one million lights highlighting holiday themes and scenes from well-known children's books. CAROLINA BEACHES For the nautically inclined, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla Nov. 23-24 features illuminated boats large and small glimmering along Wrightsville Beach's coast, along with fireworks and a festival at Wrightsville Beach Park. The Island of Lights at Carolina Beach and Kure Beach includes Light Up the Lake on Nov. 23, a Christmas Parade Nov. 30, the Holiday Flotilla Dec. 1 and fireworks for the New Year's Eve Countdown Dec. 31. The skies at Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head, NC, light up Nov. 24 with Kites with Lights, where 19-foot delta kites with twinkling lights soar over the dunes. Nearby, the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island is filled with illuminated garden structures such as peacocks, butterflies and deer. The 22-night event kicks off with the Garden's Grand Illumination Dec. 1 with holiday food and drink in the Embellished Hall and cozy fire pits on the Great Lawn. OTHER Wildlife lovers can find zoos sparkling with lights throughout the Carolinas, including the Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia (Nov. 17- Dec. 30) and the Holiday Lights Safari Benefit (Nov. 17-Jan. 1) at Hollywild For a comprehensive list of holiday light festivals throughout the Carolinas - including dates/times, contact information and more details - visit AAA.com/Go. AAA members save up to $22 on tickets to Biltmore Estate. Contact your local AAA Vacations offi ce for ticket discounts or order online at AAA.com. To see a video tour of Biltmore Estate's Candlelight Evenings, visit AAA.com/Go. Animal Park, just west of Spartanburg. If you have the need for speed, take a spin around Concord's Charlotte Motor Speedway during its Carolina Christmas display Nov. 20-Dec. 30, which includes 4.5 miles of LED displays. Capturing traditions from Christmas Past, Old Salem, Historic Brattonsville Celebrate the Season Request your FREE holiday guides today! (888) 702-1320 · visityorkcounty.com Funded in part by York County H-Tax N O V E M B E R 2 3 r d T O D E C E M B E R 3 1 s t The sights and scents of a winter's eve will envelop guests as Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden celebrates this special season. Our annual holiday display promises surprises aplenty with a new festive display of Christmas trees, a lighting display with a natural flair, and a touch of warmth offered by tasty s'mores enjoyed beside a glowing fire. There is, of course much more, but you have to visit Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden this holiday season to discover how warm winter can be. Hours: noon to 9 p.m. daily 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC 704.825.4490, www.DSBG.org The entrance to Old Salem under glowing Moravian stars. and Middleton Place offer Christmas Candlelight Tours, where costumed interpreters depict holiday life in the 18th and 19th centuries. In historic Cheraw, SC, experience an old-fashioned Christmas at its Christmas Fest Dec. 1, featuring carousels, children's games, live music, a festival of trees and Santa Claus. Seagrove, Handmade Pottery Capital of the United States November 16-18 * 5th Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters November 17-18 * 31st Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival HeartofNorthCarolina.com 800-626-2672 AAA.COM | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 17

18 'Tis the Season for Festivals Galore By Angela Vogel Daley From the mountains to the coast, communities in the Carolinas celebrate the magic of the holiday season. Beginning in mid-November until after New Year's, hundreds of festive events welcome families to grand parades, culinary festivals and reenactments of Christmas from the region's early history. We've included an overview of a few events. For a complete list, go to AAA.com/Go. PARADES Considered the fourth-largest Thanksgiving parade in the country, the Carolinas Carrousel Parade has been a tradition since 1947. With marching bands, decorated floats and beauty queens, the parade runs down Tryon Street through the heart of uptown Charlotte, NC, and attracts more than 100,000 spectators each year. Another parade, the Carolina Carillon in downtown Columbia, SC, Dec. 1, features floats, marching bands, classic and vintage vehicles, popular performing groups and Santa Claus. Held annually the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the quaint community of Salley, SC, gathers for the Chitlin' Strut to celebrate the Southern delicacy, which is actually fried pig intestines. The event, held Nov. 24 this year, includes a parade, hawg-calling and strut contests, food and craft vendors, a beauty pageant, carnival rides, an antique tractor show and even an Idol Contest. COMPETITION! Asheville's Grove Park Inn recognizes both cuisine and craftsmanship with its annual National Gingerbread House Competition. Held from Nov. AAA members save up to $5 off admission to Tryon Palace in New Bern. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 | AAA.COM The Carolinas Carrousel Parade in Charlotte, NC. 17 to Jan. 2, the competition attracts tens of thousands of visitors, who can take a self-paced stroll or a guided tour to see original creations. Grove Park Inn celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2013. FARMERS MARKET The town of Mount Pleasant, SC, opens its Holiday Farmers Market and Craft Show Dec. 8, with Christmas ornaments, crafts, glasswork and pottery, as well as local food vendors. The weekend celebration culminates Dec. 9 with an evening tree lighting, fireworks and lighted holiday parade. TRAIN RIDE From Nov. 9 through Dec. 30, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City, NC, is transformed into The Polar Express. Kids dressed in pajamas can experience a 75-minute ride with readings from the book, music from the movie soundtrack, cocoa and cookies. GARDENS AND ESTATES North Carolina's Outer Banks celebrates the holidays with OBXmas Weekends from Thanksgiving to Old Christmas (Jan. 6). Weekend events include lights at the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Yuletide Cheer in Duck, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Climb, Kites with Lights on Jockey's Ridge sand dunes, parades and beach celebrations. For historic Christmas traditions, experience Holidays at Tryon Palace in New Bern, which re-creates the decadent party Gov. William Tryon threw at his Georgian-style home in 1770. Candlelight and fireworks illuminate the estate, For a comprehensive list with hundreds of holiday events throughout November and December, visit AAA.com/Go and click on Calendar of Events. and cider is served in place of the liquor offered up at Tryon's party. The event runs Nov. 23 to Dec. 31. At the Colonial Christmas in Camden, SC, Dec. 8, guides dressed in period clothes lead visitors through the decorated Colonial Georgian Kershaw- Cornwallis House and share traditions and customs of the season. Visitors can pen a season's greeting with a quill and play Colonial games. NATURE Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, NC, offers a new take on one of the holidays' favorite songs with 12 Birds of Christmas, which runs Dec. 1 to Jan. 3. Waterfowl reenact scenes from the beloved song - such as swans-a-swimming and geese-a-laying - and other birds join a holiday scavenger hunt. The 18-acre park is home to 170 species of waterfowl from six different continents, many rare and endangered, Known for his skill at scaling chimneys, Santa Claus elevates his game for North Carolinas' 315-foot monolith Chimney Rock at Santa on the Chimney. For the past 20 years, Santa has rappelled down the iconic natural landmark at Chimney Rock State Park, which overlooks scenic Hickory Nut Gorge and lovely Lake Lure. You can see the red-suited man in action Dec. 8 and 15. RACE After all the holiday eating, burn off those extra calories at the Hilton Head Jingle Jingle 5k Dec. 22. Holiday prizes are presented to winners, and all participants are encouraged to bring new unwrapped toys to donate to a local charity. To see a video of Santa scaling Chimney Rock, visit AAA.com/Go.