Get Outta Here!

Lonely Planet has just launched an easy-to-use new app called Trips that lets you turn a few photos, video and text into a gorgeous story about your travels. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks with the company’s CEO Daniel Houghton about the new app and how it works. Houghton also discusses what it was like to take over the brand at the relatively young age of 24 and also shares a little bit of his own story, including his mom’s idea of a great vacation when he was a kid.

A total solar eclipse will take place Aug. 21, and it will be visible in a 60-mile-wide band across the United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” hosted by AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz, Associated Press science writer Marcia Dunn tells us everything we need to know about destinations, events, eye protection and more to experience “totality,” as that darkness-in-daylight phenomenon is called.(This episode originally aired May 17, 2017, but was republished Aug. 14, 2017.)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve surely heard that there’s going to be a total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 visible from coast to coast across the U.S. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks with AP reporter Gillian Flaccus, who covers Oregon for The Associated Press, about why so many eclipse-chasers are heading to Oregon to see it and what events are planned. We’ll also share warnings and tips about everything from cloudy weather to traffic to eye protection.

Eating at authentic local places and checking out a destination’s best restaurants are a huge part of how we travel these days. But how do you find good restaurants? In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks with “Bizarre Foods” host Andrew Zimmern to get his tips on finding great food, whether it’s fine dining or a local hole in the wall. We also learn about ZImmern’s new show, “The Zimmern List,” debuting next year on the Travel Channel.

Packing your bag can be such a drag: the hassles, the mistakes that get you in trouble with the TSA, the impossibility of ever learning to travel light for a change. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks with two AP journalists who’ve spent a lot of time in the air, Scott Mayerowitz and Lisa Lerer, to get their advice on how to pack the perfect bag. We’ll hear about luggage considerations, tricks like using the space inside your packed shoes to stuff in socks, and how your packing style changes once you have kids.

There’s a reason the great state of Maine is nicknamed Vacationland. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz and Patrick Whittle, who covers Maine for The Associated Press, share their favorite Maine destinations, from Acadia National Park to Old Orchard Beach, from whitewater rafting to shopping, the arts, and of course, where to get a seafood dinner. We’ll also talk about Maine’s new national monument, Katahdin Woods and Waters - why it’s controversial and how to experience it.

It was July 12, 1967, when riots erupted in Newark, New Jersey, scarring that city for decades. But the city says it’s coming back, and it’s even launched a tourism campaign. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks with Lauren Craig, the “glambassador” of Newark, about the guidebook she’s written for Newark visitors called “100 Things to Do in Newark Before You Die.” We’ll hear about some of her favorite things to do, including the arts, dining and shopping. We’ll explain how easy it is to get to Newark from Manhattan, and we’ll talk about the city past and present.

Two Associated Press reporters took the same trip from New York to an Orlando theme park. One traveled with elite status, one did not. One got a front-of-the-line pass, one did not. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks to Scott Mayerowitz and Candice Choi about their very different experiences, comparing the frequent flier with the last to board, the points-and-club membership with waiting your turn, and the endless line for a roller coaster in the Florida heat with walking right into the ride ahead of the sweating masses. But all that begs the question, “Is it worth the money to upgrade or skip the line?”

Summer is the most popular time to travel, but it’s also hot, crowded and expensive. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks with travel expert Rick Steves, the guidebook author and host of public radio and TV shows, about strategies for handling the challenges of summer travel.

The results of a new poll on summer travel may surprise you. The survey found that the thing most people want to do on vacation is… nothing. Rest and relaxation were ranked high by more people than any other vacation activity. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel editor Beth Harpaz talks with Associated Press polling editor Emily Swanson about that and other findings from the survey.

AP’s Tamara Lush shares the details about an annual list of America’s best beaches. (This episode originally aired on June 14, 2017 but was republished on June 16, 2017 to reflect the new podcast title.)

Chicago is home to a major new museum celebrating writers. But the new American Writers Museum isn’t just about poets and novelists. You’ll find everyone there from Thomas Jefferson to Tupac Shakur. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP travel editor Beth Harpaz speaks with Associated Press writer Hillel Italie, who covers the book industry, about this new museum. How did the museum decide who to include and who to leave out, and how do you create compelling visuals when your subject matter consists of words? We’ll also talk a little bit about what else there is to do in Chicago nearby the new museum. (This episode originally aired June 7, 2017, but was republished July 7, 2017 to reflect the new podcast series title.)

One of the biggest theme park openings this year is at Disney World outside Orlando, Florida, where the lush alien jungle world of the movie “Avatar” has been brought to life with two rides, plants that glow at night and sounds of the jungle. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz talks with Associated Press reporter Michael Schneider in Orlando describes what it’s like. (This episode originally aired June 1, 2017, but was republished June 22, 2017 to reflect the new podcast series title.)

A total solar eclipse will take place Aug. 21, and it will be visible in a 60-mile-wide band across the United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. In this episode of “Get Outta Here,” hosted by AP Travel Editor Beth Harpaz, Associated Press science writer Marcia Dunn tells us everything we need to know about destinations, events, eye protection and more to experience “totality,” as that darkness-in-daylight phenomenon is called.(This episode originally aired May 17, 2017, but was republished June 22, 2017 to reflect the new podcast series title.)

Detroit has made headlines in recent years with its bankruptcy and blocks of abandoned homes. But while the city is still a gritty place, it offers a surprisingly rich array of options for tourists. Tops on any visitor’s list should be the Motown Museum, where you can dance to “My Girl” in the studio where it was recorded. Don’t forget coney dogs and a stop at the museum to see the art that was nearly sold to save the city from bankruptcy. Associated Press travel editor Beth Harpaz interviews Jeff Karoub, who covers Detroit for the AP, to get his take on what a visit there might entail. (This episode originally aired May 2, 2017, but was republished July 7, 2017 to reflect the new podcast series title.)