Page 7 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2020

Take a Road Trip with Hertz
AAA Travel Editor Sherry Mims
Surrounding yourself with natural beauty sounds like the panacea for wanderlust when you’re feeling cooped up and wondering what to do. Consider renting a vehicle to add to the novelty. Whether you’re wanting something for show or simple practicality, Hertz Car Rentals have never been better and there are numerous options within the category of SUV, Minivan and 4x4. Along with the usual AAA member perks, such as free additional AAA drivers,
a complimentary infant or child booster seat and reduced fee on GPS, Hertz provides additional options with safety in mind. The Hertz Gold Standard Clean 15-step sanitization process follows CDC guidelines to ensure every vehicle is guaranteed clean, sanitized and ready to go.
With Hertz taking care of the pretrip work – no predrive maintenance needed – there’s plenty of time to set your road trip up for success. AAA.com/RoadTrips will detail fun places to go.
Smoky Mountains Road Trip Itineraries
Though most destinations in Southeastern Appalachia offer abundant mountain views, you might want to take a multiday drive through the Smoky Mountains, which navigates through mountain communities as well as the natural wonders in Smoky Mountains National Park,
the nation’s most popular national park. Too much
of a commitment? Here’s where to go for shorter or last-minute travel ideas.
A veritable time capsule, Cades Cove Loop Scenic Road Trip features 19th-century buildings nestled in the woodlands, where wildlife sightings are not uncommon.
The 10.5-mile trip, also encompassing picnic areas and campsites, is terrifically family-friendly.
Nearby Rich Mountain Road is recommended by Great Smoky Mountains National Park in particular for its “less- traveled” reputation; the one-way, 8-mile gravel road on a dry ridge goes north from Cades Cove over Rich Mountain toward Tuckaleechee Cove and Townsend, Tennessee.
The thrilling 21.5-mile Tail of the Dragon Scenic Highway features 300 hairpin turns in an 11-mile portion. In addition to Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
the road passes Nantahala National Forest and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
Longer, though no less beautiful, is the 86.5-mile Great Smoky Mountains Scenic Expressway. The tree-lined passage by the Nantahala River is especially colorful in the fall and spring.
With a little preparation, you can find the best road trip in the Smoky Mountains for you. The road ahead beckons, promising awe-inspiring scenery and, above all, adventure.
Disinfect Your Car: AAA adds
PermaSafe System to its Car Care Plus services
Effective on all interior surfaces, a PermaSafe System installation starts with an initial sanitization of your vehicle’s passenger cabin, air ventilation system and ductwork, trunk and other cargo areas. The proprietary, EPA-registered, broad-spectrum, hospital-grade disinfectant eliminates more than 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, mildew and other harmful microbes that can be hazardous to passenger health, while also removing allergens and odors.
Once clean, sanitized and deodorized, the spaces and surfaces are then blanketed with PermaSafe SHIELD, a semi-permanent, antimicrobial surface protectant. This process remains effective for up to 90 days.
This service is available at all AAA Car Care Plus locations. The cost for the service is $39.99 for non-members and $29.99 for members. The service takes 20-30 minutes, depending on the type of vehicle.
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Photo: iStock/ Dave Allen