Updates!

I'm not in much of a writing mood today, but I wanted to give you all some updates on what's been going on with me, my travel plans, theALTERNAtraveler's funds, and some more sh- uh, stuff.

If you're wondering why I haven't posted any reviews lately, it's because I haven't taken a trip anywhere since December. As you hopefully recall, theALTERNAtraveler's main goal is to save $10,000 to take 25 trips in one year. The reviews I've posted since theALTERNAtraveler began (in May of 2007) have been "practice runs" and have provided me with some interesting content for my site; content to keep people reading and browsing and donating to the project. I intend to resume taking some practice trips soon, but right now I have to be very frugal if I expect to put anything into the travel savings account for the future. I am looking into some side work that will hopefully **crosses fingers** up my monthly income by quite a bit. Wish me luck and remember, donations are ALWAYS welcome and just $5 will get you a free gift in the mail. Every little bit helps!

Another way you can help keep my site traffic flowing is to GUEST BLOG! If you've been somewhere awesome and feel like writing a brief synopsis of your trip or a helpful review of a cool venue or attraction you visited, please PLEASE do it. theALTERNAtraveler project is for everyone, and there's nothing I love more than posting a witty email or article written by one of my fellow anti-tourists. Link love all around, too! Get some hits on your blog from me, and I'll get some from you, all well you get the chance to show off your writin' skillz and help others to find some unique entertainment possibilities. You can submit through my MySpace mail at www.myspace.com/theALTERNAtraveler or through my regular email at theALTERNAtraveler@yahoo.com.

Mainly, I just want to assure everyone that this project has not been abandoned. As soon things improve monetarily, I will be back to posting deposit updates every two weeks. Until then, don't leave me! I'm working my butt off to give this project the time, money and interest it deserves. I can't wait until the day that I take off for my first of 25 vacations. I know it's going to be the most amazing feeling I've ever had. I know it.

In the meantime...

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Ooh! Ooh! I almost forgot - I finally uploaded all the videos from my trip to Omaha and Iowa City (December '07). See below. Reviews from Iowa City are in the works, too.

theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City (Part 1)


theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 2


theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 3


theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 4


theALTERNAtraveler Kisses the Black Angel of Iowa City

Omaha, NE (12/14/07 - 12/15/07)

Omaha, NE

I got a late start on my weekend trip to Omaha and Iowa City, not leaving my home until nearly 2:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. I decided to make a video diary of the whole trip, which you will find in chronological pieces, inserted between my reviews. Unfortunately, the audio on them isn't too great, being that I filmed most of them while driving... I know, how safe! And speaking of driving, don't look at my speedometer readings in the videos - I had a bit of a lead-foot all weekend. Haha! Oh, and did I mention that about an hour into my trip I realized that I forgot my business cards in my other purse? Yeah, guess I should have listened to my own advice about making a list and checking it twice.

theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City (Part 1)


Date(s): 12/14/07 - 12/15/07
Airfare/Gas: Approx. $30 in gas (thanks to the new Prius!)
Spending: Approx. $70
Lodging: $65 for one night in hotel
TOTAL COST: Approx. $165


REVIEWS:


Super 8 Motel - Omaha Aksarben
7111 Spring St.
Omaha, NE 68106
(402) 390-0700
www.the.super8.com/omaha03824

Price Details: $65 per night (2 double beds, smoking)

Like I've said before, a Super 8 is a Super 8. The beds were comfy and the staff was friendly. I ended up getting caught in a snow storm as soon as I arrived in Omaha - and let me tell you, there's nothing more exciting than being stuck in a small hotel room all night, watching Something About Mary and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and ordering Pizza Hut. C'est la vie! I made the best of it and used the time to look over travel guides and make an entry in my video diary (see below). I'm very thankful that I decided to stay in and didn't risk braving the storm outside, because over the course of the next two days, I counted 21 cars in ditches between Omaha and Illinois.

theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 2



Sapp Brothers Truck Stop
9905 Sapp Brothers Dr.
Omaha, NE 68138
(402) 895-2121
http://www.sappbrosts.com/

Amenities: Restaurant, Gift Shop, Service Center, Gas Station, Health Center, etc.

** FEATURING: Giant Water Tower Coffee Pot **

After a nice long sleep on Friday night, I headed to the Sapp Brothers Truck Stop to eat lunch at their cafe and check out the giant coffee pot that I'd read about on http://www.roadsideamerica.com/.

Before I made it into the cafe, I stopped and looked around in the gift shop. First, I located the CD section, hoping to find a Willie Nelson disc... it was there that I found all types of musical genres represented, including, but not limited to, classic country, contemporary country, holiday country, blues country, etc., etc.... and yet, no Willie Nelson. Damn. Next, I found a whole display rack of Jesus shirts, based on popular commercial logos. I thought these were hilarious, so I took a few photos of my favorite ones. In fact, I liked them so much that after breakfast, I went back to the shop and purchased one (tongue in cheek, of course). Check out the photos - I think they could induce a laugh in anyone (except the guy who designed them).

I wandered into the cafe and ordered up a "plain ol' grilled cheese and fries," seeing as the one on their menu came with a few different types of cheese and was made on a fancy marble rye bread. I also ordered coffee, and it turned out that this restaurant is one of the smart ones that actually puts the pot on your table - I know Colonial and IHOP do this, too. Genius. The service was friendly and the food was great (even though my sandwich still arrived on the marble rye, despite my request). The menu was standard for a diner, but most recipes had a home-cooked flair to them.

Before I left, I took some photos of the giant coffee pot. I've heard that it lights up and steam comes out of the spout, but, unfortunately, I didn't get to see it in action. It was cool, though!


Durham Western Heritage Museum
(located inside Union Station)
801 S. 10th St.
Omaha, NE 68108
(402) 444-5071
http://www.dwhm.org/

Admission: $7 Adult (senior/child discount, members free)

Originally, I had planned on visiting the Joslyn Museum, but while I was sitting at Sapp Brothers waiting for my grilled cheese to come, I made a last minute decision to check out the Durham Western Heritage Museum instead. I can go to an art museum in Chicago any time I want, but when can I visit a museum inside a beautiful, historic train station in downtown Omaha? Not very often.

As soon as I pulled into the train station's parking lot, I knew I had made the right decision. The building was amazing! It was built in 1931 and is credited as being one of the midwest's finest examples of art deco architecture (and rightly so). Upon heading inside, I saw that its interior was just as magnificent as its exterior. There was a giant Christmas tree on display, and the giant windows added to the magical sight. From the ceilings to the floors, I could have spent an hour admiring the decor.

After my awe ceased, I paid a $7 admission fee and checked out the museum. They had a temporary exhibit that I was very interested in, called "The Enemy Within: Terror in America - 1776 to Today." Honestly, I went in expecting it to be biased, pro-Bush, and anti-Islamic... what I found was quite the opposite. The exhibit featured a comprehensive look at the history of domestic terrorist and foreign agents, dating all the way back to 1776, including communist groups, radical hippie associations, and the Ku Klux Klan (which I found to be the creepiest and most moving installment). I found the whole exhibit so interesting, in fact, that I didn't get to the rest of the museum! It will remain open until January 6, 2008.

The photos I've included in this post are merely a snippet of what I took while in Omaha. You can view the rest of my photos on my Flickr account, on my MySpace, or as a slideshow in a previous post, titled "Omaha & Iowa City Photos."

Omaha & Iowa City Photos

Here are the photos from Omaha and Iowa City. I am in the process of writing reviews and editing videos, so those will not be posted until tonight or tomorrow.



(Mouse over photos for captions.)

Be back on Sunday...

I got my new car last night, which means I'll be taking off for Nebraska and Iowa tomorrow, as planned. I'm going to leave around 10 a.m., because unless I have to make it to an airport, I want to sleep in on my days off! It is a vacation, after all.

I'll be staying in Omaha on Friday night, then I'll head to Iowa City to stay Saturday night. I printed out a bunch of possible places to check out on the trip, but mainly I'll be playing it by ear. I was really hoping to book on night at a cute bed and breakfast-style place in Iowa City, called the Bostick Guest House, but I've called twice, left a message, and never heard back. Looks like I'll be checking in somewhere on a whim, which is fine with me. Super 8's have never done me wrong.

I also wanted to include a list of travel supplies that I like to bring with me on trips. Maybe this will help some of you out the next time you're packing for a weekend getaway:

Clothing Items

1. TWO OUTFITS PER DAY
One comfy outfit for daytime sightseeing, and one a little dressier, should the occasion arise. As I've said in the past, I like to look pretty on my vacations. No one is imposing a time limit on you, so give yourself a few extra mirror minutes. It always makes me feel better.
2.TWO PAIRS OF SHOES
Again, one VERY comfortable pair and a nicer pair for evenings. Vacations are not the time to try out new shoes - you don't want to end up with blisters and sore feet the first day of your trip.
3. PLENTY OF UNDERWEAR
Need I say more? Remember when your mother used to tell you to put on clean underwear before you left the house? Yeah, don't take that advice lightly.
4. SOCKS/NYLONS/TIGHTS
I always forget these, for some reason.
5. SWIMWEAR
Bringing a swimsuit is always handy (and sunscreen, if that applies to your destination). It seems that whenever I don't bring my swimsuit, I end up in a hotel with a sweet pool or hot tub that I wish I could use.

Personal Supplies

1. SHOWER SUPPLIES
I always use whatever is in the hotel, but keep in mind that body wash, face wash, and apricot exfoliating scrubs will not be there waiting for you.
2. TOOTHBRUSH and TOOTHPASTE
I have an extra toothbrush and toothpaste in my travel bag at all times. If I bring my regular one, I'm sure to leave it at the hotel.
3. TAMPONS AND/OR PADS (for ladies and thoughtful boyfriends/husbands)
Getting your period on vacation sucks, but it happens. Be prepared!
4. HAIR STUFF
A hair dryer is usually in the hotel bathroom, but I always bring one, just in case. I use the shampoo they provide, but there may not be conditioner there. Also, hair ties and clips can be invaluable when crappy weather strikes.
5. MAKE-UP
I bring the minimum - foundation, powder, mascara, eyeliner, lip gloss. That's my minimum (in fact, I keep those items in my purse at all times), which I've heard is still a lot. Do your thang.
6. PURSE AND/OR WALLET
It may seem obvious, but it's very easy to forget in the midst of all the other vacation excitement. I like to move to a more organized purse before I leave for vacation, and that leaves me wide open for forgetting money, I.D., tickets, and things of that nature. Just like Santa, you should make a list and check it twice.

Other

1. CAMERA
Don't leave home without it! Don't forget extra batteries or a charger.
2. PHONE
Even if you're going to keep it turned off, you should still have it with you in case of emergencies. Don't forget the charger!
3. NOTEBOOK & PENS
Memories, ideas, phone numbers, directions, cool places... these are all things you may want to write down.
4. BOOK
I like to bring a book with me, especially if I'm traveling alone or taking a plane. It's great for solo meal times at restaurants, coffee sessions, and nighttime in the hotel room.
5. MUSIC
If you're driving somewhere, make a travel mix on CD, tape, or iPod! See mine at the bottom of this page for an example. And if you're using a portable device, don't forget to bring extra batteries or a charger.

If you can think of anything I forgot, let me know! Comment away, fellow anti-tourists.

I borrowed my mom's digital camera, since mine has been missing for nearly six months now, so I should return with plenty of photos and hopefully a video or two. I'll talk to you all next week!

What about Omaha AND Iowa City???

After surfing the web all afternoon, I'm well on my way to planning a fantastic trip to Omaha. Not only that, but I've decided to add another stop to my itinerary - Iowa City, IA.

I know, I know... Omaha and Iowa City... how exciting! Trust me, I've gotten plenty of emails all week saying "Why Omaha?" so I understand that most of you probably think I'm out of my mind to add another exciting hotspot to this trip. Well, here's the thing, kids - part of theALTERNAtraveler's philosophy is that EVERY town has something cool to check out.

Anywho, I found a great website today - www.roadsideamerica.com - that has all the info you could ever need on "odd" tourist attractions throughout the U.S. For instance, did you know that Omaha houses the world's largest ball of stamps, as declared by Ripley's Believe It Or Not? Neither did I, until today. In the midst of my website surfing, I found something that sounded neat - the Black Angel of Iowa City. So guess what? I've decided to stay one night in Omaha and one night in Iowa City, seeing as it is on my way home.

I also found an all-night truckstop that features the "World's Largest Coffee Pot" and what looks to be a beautiful art museum in Omaha.

My trip is coming together nicely and I'm getting very excited. I'll keep you posted...

Omaha it is!

Omaha, NE and Buffalo, NY have been the two most recommended places for me to visit next month, and out of the two, I chose Omaha.

Why, you ask?

First of all, it's closer. It should only take me about seven hours to get there, as opposed to nine or nine and a half to get to Buffalo; seven hours of solo driving time should be plenty for me. Secondly, I know next to nothing about Omaha, which makes it that much more exciting for me to visit.

From what I've heard, Omaha has some neat little shops and venues and museums. Anyone ever been there? I'd love some recommendations of places to visit and things to do. I did order a visitor's kit today, but that will take about 2-3 weeks to arrive.

TIP: You can order FREE visitors' guides from the tourism websites of most major cities.

To add to my excitement, I should be getting a new car in the next week or two. I've decided to purchase a Toyota Prius hybrid. It should be perfect for all the road trips I will have coming up in the next couple of years. It's maiden voyage should be this trip to Omaha. Sweetness!