AAA Editors’ Top Picks for Kids – Miami

UNDER 13

Miami Seaquarium: At this AAA GEM attraction, kids enjoy the antics of Salty the sea lion, Flipper the dolphin and Lolita the killer whale. Between-show activities include saltwater exhibits with sea turtles and reef fish. There’s even a pirate ship playground with water guns and a spiral slide.

Monkey Jungle: What could be more fun than a whole park filled with monkeys? A fenced-in path through this subtropical forest keeps humans and monkeys safely separate while allowing visitors to get really close to these wonderful animals.

TEENS

Duck Tours South Beach: If you want to tour South Beach and get a taste of its rich Art Deco legacy without hearing choruses of, “I’m bored,” hop on an amphibious vehicle. The entertaining and educational 90-minute excursion concludes with a big splash into Biscayne Bay.

La Carreta Restaurant: Enjoy a delicious introduction to home-style Cuban cuisine, a big part of the Miami experience, at this local institution, a AAA One Diamond Restaurant, on Little Havana’s Calle Ocho (8th Street), sample charbroiled meats and chicken-and-rice dishes, and snap a family photo with the giant metal chicken outside.

ALL AGES

Beaches: You’re in Florida after all. Miami Beach is the obvious choice, particularly if you are staying there. There is also nearby Key Biscayne with its two public beaches: Crandon Park – a 2-mile stretch of sand noted for its calm waters and rental cabanas – and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, with its postcard-worthy historic lighthouse.

Everglades National Park: Drive down to South Florida’s wilderness jewel, a AAA GEM attraction. This endangered “River of Grass” is a haven to birds as well as alligators, snakes, turtles and manatees. Drive the 38 miles from the entrance to the Flamingo Visitor Center and enjoy the views from your car. Trailheads radiate out from the road at several spots, inviting short hikes. A thrilling high-speed way to explore the park is by airboat ride, offered at Everglades Alligator Farm and Everglades Safari Park.

You can find all of the AAA Editors’ Top Picks for Kids in the AAA.com Travel Guides, the downloadable AAA eTourBook® guides available at AAA.com/ebooks and the printed AAA TourBook® guides available at AAA/CAA offices.

So when you get in the car, it’s best to keep distraction to a minimal level. Taking your eyes off the road for just a moment could spell disaster and it’s those few quick seconds you may end up regretting forever. So, don’t multitask in the car. If you avoid accidents, no matter how big or small, you will also avoid making insurance claims. The less claims you have riding on your policy, the lower your premiums. This means more money in your wallet. So while it may simple at first, small distractions can have a ripple effect that last long after you’ve hung your phone up. Distracted driving can cause your insurance rates to go up, just as this site suggests.

Cell Phones
It’s hard to imagine the days before cell phones when you had to actually be home to talk to somebody. But now that’s a thing of the past and we are not only in touch with each other but the rest of the world on a 24-7 basis and this can all be done through your phone. So, it’s easy to understand why so many people are glued to the tiny screen but it also requires a certain amount of attention. When you’re driving, the focus needs to be on the road and not your cell phone. Many states have created laws that specifically forbid talking and texting on cell phones. That conversation you were having with your best friend may seem important enough to continue in the car but it’s not. Don’t use a cell phone while driving.

-Children
As a parent, you have the responsibility of caring for your child and this means making sure they are safe under all circumstances. But we all know how rambunctious children can be and when they are strapped into a car, sometimes it only gets worse. Add a few other kids to the mix and you’ve got a loud daycare in your car. Talk about distracting! Your first instinct may be to try to discipline the children as you drive but this requires a huge amount of attention from a driver. If your children are misbehaving or playing too loudly while in the car, try to pull over to the side of the road to address their behavior. It may take some time out of your day but you will be ensuring their safety as well as yours.

-Eating and Drinking
For someone with a busy schedule, the to-go order is a heaven-send. You can drive to your destination and eat your meal at the same time, killing two birds with one stone. The only problem is that your delicious cheeseburger is taking your attention, both mentally and physically, off the road. To eat your burger or take a sip of your drink, you have to remove at least one hand from the steering wheel. One study even claims that eating on the go is just as dangerous as using a cell phone and can lead to a “greatly reduced ability to deal with other events.” If you’re eating on the go, you’re eating faster than normal and run the risk of choking. This will obviously deter your driving ability so if you’re pressed for time but starving, try not to combine the two activities for safety measure.

-Radio
Whether you’re still using the standard FM radio, have satellite radio or use your iPod or other device, a radio is distracting. We all enjoy listening to our favorite music while riding down the road. If you get into the car and can leave it on one station for the duration of your trip, that’s not very distracting. But if you are the kind of person who changes the channel rapidly or tries to switch CD’s en route, your hands and eyes are not focused on the road. Csaba Csere, editor of Car and Driver magazine puts it simply, “Don’t tune the radio when you’re negotiating traffic in a complicated intersection.” In fact, try not to do it at all.

-Passengers
Although you might feel as if having a passenger can keep you focused on the road by keeping you awake, studies have actually proven that a passenger can be more distracting. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that in 2010, conversations with passengers in a car was “the leading distraction in 7,000 crashes.” It’s easy for a conversation to become extremely enveloping and cognitively, the driver is not focusing on the road. This means that in an unexpected event, your reaction time will be much slower than if your full attention was focused in the right direction. It may seem odd to drive in silence but at least try to avoid encompassing conversations. Luckily, with a passenger, you now have someone to tune the radio.

If you’ve been driving for years, it can feel as natural as walking so it’s easy to forget the responsibility you hold. This is why many people have no qualms about driving while eating or trying to tune the radio but it’s those little things that can cause your entire life to change. It’s always important to remember that driving is a privilege and not a right so you need to treat it with the care and concern it deserves. Check with your insurance company to see if they offer any rewards for safe drivers. It may be the push you need to avoid those pesky distractions.

The 3rd generation 2014 Toyota Highlander mid-size SUV has been recently unveiled at the 2013 New York Auto Show. The exterior design conveys both refinement and strength, complementing a new interior that will raise the bar in the mid-size SUV segment.

With three-row seating for up to eight, an array of standard features, a host of available in-cabin technologies, and increased cargo capacity, the new Highlander will offer a nuanced balance of style, comfort and utility. The total package is capped off with three powertrain choices: a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine a powerful V6 with a new six-speed transmission that will produce excellent all-around capability, and a V6-powered Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain for enhanced mileage and fewer emissions.

The new Highlander will be available in three powertrains. A 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine is equipped with a variable intake manifold and dual Variable-Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which controls phasing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts to optimize torque and fuel efficiency. The 2.7-liter engine is teamed with a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.

All Highlanders are assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) in Princeton, Ind. The all-new Highlander will reach dealer showrooms in early 2014.

2014 HIGHLANDER PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

POWERTRAIN
2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with VVT-i
Transmission: Six-speed ECT-i
Drive System: Front-Wheel-Drive

3.5-liter V6 engine with VVT-i
Transmission: Six-speed ECT-i
Drive System: Front- and All-Wheel-Drive

Hybrid Synergy Drive with 3.5-liter V6 Engine and Electric Motor
Transmission: Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Drive System: All-Wheel-Drive

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS (inches)

Overall Length:
191.1

Overall Width:
75.8

Overall Height:
68.1

Wheelbase:
109.8

Ground clearance:
8.0-inches

Wheels:
18-inch alloy wheels
19-inch alloy wheels (Limited)

Tire Size:
18-inch: 245/60R18 (LE and XLE)
19-inch: 245/55R19 (Limited)

Towing Capacity:
5,000 lbs. (V6 only)

Seating Capacity:
7 or 8

Kia University, the training arm of Kia Motors America (KMA), hosted the biennial Kia Skill National Cup competition at the company’s headquarters in Irvine, Calif., to determine the top master-level technicians from each of the company’s four regions (eastern, southern, central and western). The winning technicians on the national level will represent their respective dealerships and the U.S. at the Kia Skill World Cup, June 11-15 at the Chonan Technical Service Training Center in Seoul, South Korea. Kia’s Skill Cup competitions encourage technicians to hone their technical skills to keep pace with the company’s engineering advancements while promoting customer-care excellence and professional conduct.

To qualify for the competition, technicians are given a 50-question online test, which requires comprehensive knowledge of Kia’s powertrain designs, electrical systems and onboard vehicle management software. Only the top four test-takers in each of the four regions are selected to participate in the National Skill Cup challenge, a hands-on contest, in which technicians are judged on their ability to accurately execute Kia’s five-step diagnostic process and successfully repair vehicles within specified time limits. While focusing on several diagnostic areas, participants most notably demonstrated their troubleshooting skills with Kia’s latest drivetrain technologies, including that of the popular Optima Hybrid. In addition, finalists were judged on customer service criteria such as professionalism, safety and clean-up.

Of the 16 national finalists, only four will travel to Korea to compete for the honor of Kia’s top technician in the Kia Skill World Cup. They are Jason Powell, Fox Kia; Michael Schwartz, Kia of Lynchburg; Ken Winders, Gene Messer Kia; and Christopher Cooley, Salazar Kia. See below for the full results of the 2012 Kia Skill National Cup.

Central Region

1st Jason Powell, Fox Kia, Grand Rapids, Mich.
2nd Max Umbs, Dick Brantmeier Kia, Sheboygan, Wis.
3rd Tim Clark, Jeff Belzer’s Kia, Lakeville, Minn.
4th William Barcklay, Montrose Kia, Sheffield, Ohio

Eastern Region

1st Michael Schwartz, Kia of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Va.
2nd Robert Worman Jr., Lehighton Kia, Lehighton, Pa.
3rd Blair Vile, Steven Kia, Harrisonburg, Va.
4th Thomas Cinque, Auto World Kia, East Meadow, N.Y.

Southern Region

1st Ken Winders, Gene Messer Kia, Lubbock, Texas
2nd Eddie Miller, Grindstaff Kia of Johnson City, Johnson City, Tenn.
3rd Dean Dewitt, Bob Dance Kia, Merritt Island, Fla.
4th Tommy Latulipe, Rusty Wallace Kia of Knoxville, Knoxville, Tenn.

Western Region

1st Christopher Cooley, Salazar Kia, Avondale, Ariz.
2nd James Baker, Christopher Kia, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City
3rd Thomas Cruz, The Kia Depot, Santa Ana, Calif.
4th Robert Laursen, Larry H. Miller Kia Lakewood, Lakewood, Colo.

The SoCal Test Drive Expo is the nation’s first-ever event that pairs a traditional auto show with the opportunity to drive virtually every car on the show floor. Taking place in the Long Beach Convention Center over Father’s Day Weekend, the show will feature new makes and models from more than a dozen manufacturers and brands. Toyota and Acura are new additions to the previously announced lineup of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, Ford, Ram, SRT, Subaru and Volkswagen.

The show’s unique, one-stop registration process will allow visitors to test drive dozens of different vehicles from competing brands with a single $10 admission. Some of the eco-friendly cars expected to be available for test drives include the Chevrolet Cruze Eco; Chevrolet Malibu Eco; Chevrolet Volt; Toyota Prius C, Prius V, and third generation Prius; and the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The test drives begin inside the convention center before exiting onto the course of the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

On the show floor, Subaru will showcase the West Coast premiere of the Subaru XV Crosstrek and bring the 2013 Subaru BRZ sports car for display viewing. Guests also can ride with professional 4×4 drivers on the Camp Jeep test track, an interactive adventure zone where riders experience Jeep’s on- and off-road capabilities.

Using the new Mercedes-Benz In-Vehicle Hot Spot, passengers, including those in the rear-seat, can use their laptop, tablet or smartphone as they would in their home or office – from gaming and streaming movies to surfing the net. The In-Vehicle Hot Spot is enabled by a router securely installed in the vehicle trunk and allows up to four devices to connect at once.

The Mercedes-Benz In-Vehicle Hot Spot can be ordered with new vehicles or installed in existing models and comes with a six-month complimentary service, courtesy of Autonet Mobile. After the initial six-month complimentary service, Autonet Mobile offers convenient additional services that customers may choose from.

Below are the highest and lowest manufacturer and brand rankings by TrueCar.com:

Overall, the top manufacturers on the Scorecards in February were Hyundai, BMW, and Ford. Near the bottom of the list were Mazda, Jaguar and Smart. The brands that received the highest grades were Hyundai, Scion, Kia, and BMW. The brands with the lowest grades were Mazda, Jaguar, and Smart.

The manufacturers with the largest gains, from January 2012 to February 2012 were:

Ford moved from a C to an A-
GM moved from a B- to an A
BMW moved from a B to a A

The manufacturers with the steepest declines, from January 2012 to February 2012 were:

Porsche moved from an A to a C-
Mazda moved from a C+ to a D+
Honda moved from an A to a B+
Subaru moved from a B+ to a B-
Daimler moved from a B to a C+

Generation Opportunity focuses on issues related to increasing economic opportunity and advancing American competitiveness and organizes young people through online voter registration, online training guides, and other tactics.

Generation Opportunity’s grassroots team has heard first-hand in several states how rising gas prices have already forced young adults to change behavior and make financial sacrifices. For example, during recent organizing trips in Michigan and Virginia, Generation Opportunity met and listened to young people from a wide range of backgrounds and occupations including young parents, college students, young entrepreneurs and those working in various trades. Overwhelmingly these young people cited rising gas prices as the reason why it costs more to get to work, get to school, see family, and pay other bills.

Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16-22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and a highlighted result for all young Americans ages 18-29 appears below:

Energy Dependency is Top National and Economic Security Issue:

– Greatest threats to national security: National Debt (62%), Energy Dependency (61%) and Indebtedness to Foreign Powers (50%)
– 70% would increase production of domestic energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal.

Delayed Dreams from a Poor Economy and the Lack of Opportunity:

– 77% of young people ages 18-29 either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to economic factors:
– 44% delay buying a home;
– 28% delay saving for retirement;
– 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt;
– 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
– 26% delay changing jobs/cities;
– 23% delay starting a family;
– 18% delay getting married.

Washington Out-of-Touch on the Economy:

– Just 31% of 18-29 year-olds approve of President Obama’s handling of youth unemployment.
– 69% say the current leadership in Washington fails to reflect the interests of the younger generation.
– 59% of overall Millennials agree the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference.

New cars usually mean new car insurance costs. But while most consumers are prepared to pay a little extra for auto insurance when they get a new car, some are surprised to see their insurance rates continue to rise with each policy renewal — usually either because the driver had an accident or the insurance company increased its rates.

Erie Insurance says enough is enough. ERIE Rate Lock gives customers control over their auto insurance, potentially for years, by locking in insurance rates until they change a driver, vehicle or address. That means a driver’s rate stays the same even if overall insurance rates rise, or he or she gets a ticket or files a claim.

According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 12th largest automobile and homeowners insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 20th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has over 4.3 million policies in force and operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Insurance Group is a FORTUNE 500 company. Erie Insurance is proud to be named a J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 40 companies so named in the U.S. Erie Insurance has also been recognized on the list of Ward’s 50 Group of top performing insurance companies. The Ward’s 50 award analyzes the financial performance of 3,000 property and casualty companies and recognizes the top performers for achieving outstanding financial results in safety and consistency over a five-year period (2006-2010).

News releases and more information about Erie Insurance Group are available at www.erieinsurance.com.

Elements of the partnership include a mentoring program between Jeep brand employees and students, field trips to several Chrysler Group facilities, including the Jefferson North Assembly Plant and the Jeep Design Studio, development of a marketing project and sponsorship of the academy’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams.

The program kicked off in February and will continue for the next seven months. The Jeep brand also will award $100,000 in college scholarships to the first graduating class of the academy.

Focusing on educational empowerment and the development of leadership skills, Jeep brand employees will partner with select students from the school to participate in a seven-month long mentorship program. Each session will focus on personal improvement skills such as goal setting and career planning.

Participating students also will embark on a series of educational excursions that will include a trip to the Chrysler Group’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit and a trip to the company’s World Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., where the students will visit the Jeep Design Studio and meet the designers.

Select academy students will participate in a marketing competition where they will be given an assignment to compete amongst each other and win an all-expense paid trip for a family of four to a USA Basketball exhibition game in Washington, D.C.

The Jeep brand will also sponsor the school’s boys’ and girls’ basketball team. The sponsorship will provide funding to support their team fees, uniforms and equipment.