Find the Best Fuel Prices in Your Area

Don't let your road tripping dreams die because you're feeling the effects of rising fuel prices! Go to http://www.gasbuddy.com/, then type in your zip code. In no time at all, you'll be ready to fill 'er up while using the least amount of your hard earned greenbacks as possible.

ATTN: Aspiring Nomads

I just found an amazing article on www.vagabondish.com about how to work long-term travel into your life with little or no cost out of pocket. This is something I would love to do someday... after I've taken my 25 trips in one year, I think it'd be great to get away, write those memoirs, and not have to worry about bills for a while! It's really a wonderful article with tons of helpful links for any aspiring nomads out there. I highly suggest you peep it. :)

8 Tools to Travel Long-Term & Live Rent Free

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!

Want to know more about RSS feeds?

I know there are many people out there who aren't familiar with the modern wonder that is an RSS feed, so when I found this great video today I had to share it! Watch the short video below, then subscribe away to all the blogs you love (including mine, I hope)!

Subscribe in a reader

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!

Traveling With Your Pet

My friend Laura (from Georgia) sent me an email about putting up some tips for traveling with a pet:

"i have a suggestion for you, this is something jeff and i have been
having to deal with recently... traveling with your dog!!... i think pet owners
would be interested to read about your tips for that kind of travel. it was just
an idea i had because it is a pain in the ass finding pet friendly hotels and
dealing with the restrictions they have..."

Well, I have never traveled with a pet, and I (unfortunately) don't have one with which to make a test run. Since I can't personally help you out, I decided to turn to my friends at ehow.com, as I've been very impressed with a lot of the travel articles I've found on that site. Lo and behold...

• How to Find a Dog-Friendly Hotel
• How to Find Pet-Friendly Vacation Destinations

There are also a slew of state-specific "pet-friendly travel" articles,
if you just look around on the site.

Hope this helps, Laura! Thanks for the input and for your support.

=)

P.S. I love getting these types of emails! I am here to help my readers in any way possible, so keep them coming.

Milwaukee, WI (10/20/07 - 10/21/07)

Milwaukee, WI

My trusty, and always amiable, travel companion, Brown, and I visited Milwaukee, WI last weekend. We booked hotel accommodations ahead of time, but aside from that we made no plans. We like to wing it, and we're generally pretty good at it, too.

We started out the trip with an impromptu car karaoke sesh of theALTERNAtraveler's unofficial theme song, "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night. You can check out the video below...

theALTERNAtraveler (Milwaukee 10/20/07) Car Karaoke

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Once we arrived in Milwaukee, we had some coffee, got lost a lot, had a delicious Italian dinner, and were misled to a dance club by a well-intentioned cabbie. In between all these events, we also took a lot of photos and a couple more videos, which you can find posted throughout this entry.

Date(s): 10/20/07 - 10/21/07
Airfare/Gas: $35 in gas
Other Transportation: Approx. $50 in taxi rides
Spending: Approx. $60
Lodging: $92 for one night in a hotel
TOTAL COST: $150 each (all expenses were split evenly between both travelers)


REVIEWS:


Super 8 Motel - Milwaukee Airport
5253 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 481-8488
www.the.super8.com/milwaukee03384

Price Details: $92 per night (2 queen beds, smoking)

This hotel is what it is - a Super 8. Our room was clean and the staff was polite - when requested, they called a cab for us, and they also put up with our late night pizza delivery inquiries. The only problem with this place was that it was very close to the Milwaukee Airport, which is not that close to downtown. All hotels located in the downtown area ran between $150 to $250 per night, so we decided to go with the cheaper option. Did you know that cheaper is not always more cost effective? I do now. Next time I would think of springing for a more conveniently located hotel, considering we spent over $50 in cab fares to be transported to and from the Super 8 and to multiple bars downtown. You travel, you learn.

TIP!!! Compare the price to book your hotel directly, as well as through a 2nd party website...

We were originally going to book this Super 8 through priceline.com, but after checking the hotel's website, we found that it was a couple dollars less expensive to book directly through them; sometimes it can run the opposite way, however. Check all your options before charging that card!

EXTRA [TRIVIAL] NOTE: They only had a pencil, not a pen, provided in the room. What's up with that?

theALTERNAtraveler Stalks Some Dudes (Milwaukee, WI 10/20/07)

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Jackpot Vintage Clothes & Collectibles
435 E. Center St.
Milwaukee, WI
Jackpot Clothing on MySpace

We stopped into Jackpot Vintage because it was across the street from a coffee shop that we decided to hit up (Fuel Cafe, see next review). It's a cute little store with nice quality clothing at low prices. I wanted nearly every dress I laid my eyes on! Great stuff. Bonus! While at the coffee shop across the street, I came up with a new slogan for Jackpot: "Best priced vintage - for fatties!" Although they had mostly "regular" sized clothing, there was quite a selection of plus sized mixed in. As a voluptuous lady, I found a lot in there that I could have fit my big, sexy buns into, which is very unusual for a vintage clothing store. Extra kudos to them!

Fuel Cafe
818 E. Center St.
Milwaukee, WI
(414) 374-FUEL
http://www.fuelcafe.com/

Fuel Cafe. Gulp.

I was mega excited to stop into Fuel Cafe, as I'd visited it two years before with other friends and I'd loved it. Unfortunately, it has changed since then. First of all, it went non-smoking. I guess for some people that will be a plus, but not in my book. And not just because I'm a smoker, either... atmospheres change when smoking goes away. Secondly, I'm a big fan of "greasy spoon" diners, and I remember this little indie/hipster cafe smelling of foot the last time I was there, with poor ventilation and dingy table tops... and all of those aspects, when rolled together, gave Fuel a feeling like no other coffee shop I'd ever been to. No more stank. I also remember the coffee being quite tasty, and this time Brown and I were both disappointed with our drinks. On a couple positive notes, the walls were still covered with fliers of local events, and they were kind enough to let me put a stack of my business cards by their register (which I'm sure they'll throw away after reading this...). Eh. Things change.

Why should you visit Fuel? Because they're a small business who really cares about and supports their local community and indie scene. If you're a smoker, just go in the spring so you can sit outside.

In addition to Fuel, I'd suggest a visit to their sister cafe, Comet, which is also non-smoking, but has a clean, modern look to match their clean, modern air.

The Shops of Grand Avenue
275 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
http://www.grandavenueshops.com/

Brown and I wanted to search for new outfits for the evening, so we stopped by the mall in downtown - The Shops of Grand Avenue. It's a great mall (I've been there before), but we didn't realize until paying for parking and walking in that all but two of the stores close at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. So much for our 6:05 p.m. arrival time! We had to stop by the nearest Target instead. Boo.


Dino's Pizza Restaurant
4252 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 744-0990

After driving around town for an hour or so and getting lost numerous times, we finally found a restaurant that looked enticing - Dino's Pizza Restaurant - a small, casual Italian restaurant near our hotel.

We each tried an Italian margarita, which adds amaretto to the classic formula. It was a bit sweet for my tastes, but it made for a nice dessert drink after our meal. Then we dug into some fried cauliflower, which came with a homemade cheese sauce. Honestly, what would a trip to Wisconsin be without a little cheese? We finished dinner with our entrees, chicken parmesan and mostacolli with Italian sausage. The marinara sauce that came with each had a unique sweet flavor. All in all, our meal was awesome, as was our waitress, who we chatted with for some time.

Oh, yes, and our entire feast, including drinks, was only $28! You can't beat that.

NOTE: We had a group of drunken adults at the table next to us, and one of them had a hilarious "beer call" that he repeated over and over again throughout the night: "P.B.R. me A.S.A.P.!" Nice.


Art Bar
722 E. Burleigh St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 372-7880
http://www.artbar-riverwest.com/

I love me some Art Bar! Art Bar is a bit of a hike from the downtown area, but it's worth the trip. Inside, you'll find rotating art and photography exhibits from many local artists. The atmosphere in this place is amazing - it's dark, but not too dark, alive with color, and friendly and welcoming as can be. In addition to having all sorts of art to gaze upon, you can also play a board game or utilize the pool table. Last time I was there, they had a game of "Beer Bong B-I-N-G-O" going. From what I've seen and heard, there are always special events happening here (you can find a very comprehensive listing of such events all over the city in their free entertainment guide mke, which you can pick up at malls, gas stations, etc.).

Unfortunately, by the time Brown and I arrived at Art Bar, it was pretty dead inside (and it was only 11:00 p.m.). We stayed for a drink, checked out the artwork, then called a cab to head back downtown.

Franklin's???
N. Michigan Ave. (near corner of E. Wisconsin St.)
Milwaukee, WI

Well, according to the entire internet, the bar our ever-so-helpful cabbie took us to does not exist. Perhaps I have the name wrong... because I disliked it too much to remember. If anyone reading this knows of a bar named Franklin's, please let me know so I can add some more info here.

Anywho, on with the review...

I told our taxi driver that we wanted to go to a regular bar downtown - not a dance club, not too crowded, just a laid back hang-out. He agreed and seemed quite happy to help, but then he dropped us off at Franklin's...

Brown and I walked in (pessimistically, I should add, after seeing the crowd gathered outside the door) and found ourselves surrounded by ladies in short skirts and men with frosted hair. The line, or rather, the cattle yard-like herd, to get to the bar was so thick that it took me 20 minutes to get a drink. I automatically felt "out-hipped," which I don't take kindly to. We decided to give it the old college try and stayed for two drinks, watching drunken idiots bump and grind on the small dance floor. All in all, neither of us could wait to get out of there and back to the comforts of our hotel room.

Our short time at Franklin's did have two entertaining points - (1) the music was hip-hop-o-licious and (2) we witnessed a scene straight out of the Encyclopedia of Stereotypes - four fantastic black dancers trying to teach a bumbling white girl some moves, to no avail.

We flagged down a cab at about 1:30 a.m. and made a bee-line for the hotel, where I got to watch 54 before drifting off into a well-deserved sleep.


Copper Kitchen Family Restaurant
3935 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-1315

We rounded out our trip with breakfast at a local diner. The prices were as good as the food, which was delicious. Check out the video below for a little taste...

theALTERNAtraveler Eats Breakfast (Milwaukee, WI 10/21/07)

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...AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THE PHOTOS!!!

Jazz & Wine @ Walter Payton's Roundhouse, Aurora, IL (10/10/07)

Aurora, IL - Jazz & Wine @ Walter Payton's Roundhouse

My friend Missy won tickets to Jazz & Wine night at Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora. It was my very first wine tasting and it was a blast! Read all about it below.

Date(s): 10/10/07
Airfare/Gas: It's right down the street from me...
Spending: $0 (Since my friend won the tickets, they were free. Normal admission is just $10!)
Lodging: N/A
TOTAL COST: $0
REVIEWS:

Jazz & Wine
Walter Payton's Roundhouse
205 N., Broadway
Aurora, IL 60505
(630)892-0034
http://www.walterpaytonsroundhouse.com/

Admission: $10 (tickets in advance or at door)

It was by chance that I stumbled across such a fun and inexpensive activity to fill an otherwise mundane Wednesday night...

First of all, let me tell you a little about Walter Payton's Roundhouse. It is a restaurant, bar, micro-brewery and entertainment venue in downtown Aurora, IL, right next to the train station. (Too young to know who Walter Payton is? Read a little about him here.) It has a very nice atmosphere, but the drink prices tend to be a little out of my price range so I usually only go there for special events or to attend their comedy club, ComedyComedy.

Anywho, on the last occasion that my friend Missy went to their comedy club, she won tickets to a monthly event held there called Jazz & Wine. Being the lovely friend that she is, she invited me along. Jazz & Wine night includes, you guessed it, jazz and wine! A wine tasting is held from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., then a jazz concert begins in the room next door.

Until last night, I had never been to a wine tasting. On the way there, I commented to Missy that I just hoped they didn't make us spit it into a bucket like I'd seen on T.V. (Hey, a little wine buzz never hurt anyone...) I was a little nervous, but relaxed once I got there, seeing some people dressed to the nines and others in jeans, all scuttling about from table to table. There were six different wineries featured, and we tasted a bit from each. We spoke to all of the hosts and hostesses and they were great about answering all of our wine-related queries. After a half an hour or so, we were toasty warm and mingling like pros (No limit on the number of samples you were allowed. Uh-oh!). We both found a few wines and a champagne that we enjoyed a lot, and Missy walked out with two purchases - the wines ranged in price from $8.95 (one of our favorites, White Cin from the Fox Valley Winery) to $23.99 (from Planeta Winery, which we both found to be the most knowledgeable and extremely friendly to boot.) The most unique flavors we found were at the table for the Napa Ridge Winery, where we found a spicy picante wine from Chile and an almond champagne.

After the tasting, we moved to the adjoining bar to watch the Nick Besisi Groove Project, which was pretty standard easy jazz. They were all great musicians, but nothing new or exciting to brag about.

All in all, it was an extremely fun, inexpensive and relaxing evening.

NOTES: I spoke with the manager, Nick, who informed me that Jazz & Wine takes place the 2nd Wednesday of every month, excluding December through March. During the summers, it is held outside in the courtyard area. See the website for more info.

How to Make the Most Out of Your Vacation

I just wrote my first advice article on www.eHow.com. The copy is below, along with a direct link to the article. Feedback is welcome, of course!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2098142_vacation.html

Introduction

Everyone has taken a vacation and come home feeling more worn out than before they left. Learn to get the MOST out of your future travels...

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need
Only the desire to have a little more fun than usual!

Steps

Step One
First and Foremost, Remember That You're on Vacation to Have Fun!

Before you go on vacation, it's always a good idea to research the location and make a list of places you'd like to visit or things you'd like to do. However, if you don't get to everything on your list (or ANYTHING on your list), that's okay! Taking a vacation gives you the chance to get away from the time constraints and pressures of your everyday life - there is no need to make a strict itinerary and stick to it minute by minute. Let loose!

Step Two
Talk to Locals.

No one can give you more valuable insight into local hotspots than the locals themselves! Challenge yourself to talk to people everywhere you go. Most people are more than happy to put in their two cents, and sometimes two cents can be worth a lot. After someone gives you a good tip, put it to use. No website or travel book can compare to a real, face-to-face recommendation.

Step Three
Take the Time to Do a Little Bit of Nothing.

There is no rule that says every minute of your day needs to be outwardly productive - a little "me time" can go a long way. Relax, take a nap, read a book... appreciate your exciting new surroundings and drink them in with all of your being.

Step Four
Break Free from Your Normal Routines.

Do you work out every morning at 7:00 a.m.? Eat dinner at 5:30 p.m. every evening? Eat a sandwich for lunch everyday? Whatever it is that you normally do, DON'T DO IT ON YOUR VACATION! Vacations should be special, and this is the simplist way to insure that they feel that way. Even a night spent in the next town over can be amazing if you just let it.

Step Five
Lose Your Inhibitions.

Now, I'm not recommending that you go out, get drunk, and end up in Tijuana at noon on a Friday with no recollection of the previous three days... but I am recommending that you take some risks and leave your comfort zone for a bit. If you've always wanted to go to a nightclub but think you dance like an idiot, go anyway. Keep in mind that you'll probably never see most of the people you meet on a vacation ever again. And who knows? Maybe you'll win a dance contest and come home with more confidence in your moves than you ever thought possible. If not, nothing is lost. A vacation is a chance to live your unlived life.

Step Six
Treat Yourself.

Get yourself a massage or play nine holes on a world famous golf course. Eat an expensive French meal or throw down $100 on the roulette table. As I've said before, a vacation should be special. Don't break yourself, but don't miss out on something you really want to do. Give in to an impulsive desire and appreciate every second of your experience.

Step Seven
Dress Up.

Need a special occasion to wear that new dress? This is special. Make yourself feel beautiful and take an extra half hour to get ready before walking out that hotel door. You'll hold your chin a little bit higher and you'll have an extra bounce to your step - guaranteed. And don't be so hard on yourself - feel gorgeous, without shame.

Step Eight
Support Local Businesses.

Do you know who built the town you're enjoying? The guy that owns the corner coffee shop and the lady who opened the antique store down the street. Big tourist attractions get most of the attention, but they wouldn't even exist if not for small business owners. Treat them with the respect and appreciation that they deserve - you'll enjoy a more personal experience while helping others who really deserve it.

Step Nine
Finally, Bring Your New Attitudes, Stories and Experiences Home with You.

There is no better souvenir of a great time than a wonderful memory, a new hobby or a different outlook. Allow your vacation to change you, and share your stories with others to inspire them as well. Now that you've had the best vacation of your life, don't waste all that you've learned - apply it to your everyday life and smile a little more.

How to Keep a Travel Journal (Great article!)

I found a great article at www.eHow.com about how to keep a travel journal. It's a quick read with lots of great tips. Peep it here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_13115_keep-travel-journal.html