Road Trippin'

2009-10-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

If you're familiar with our site, you know we're fans of the National Parks. So, naturally, we've been glued to the TV while PBS is airing it's new Ken Burns mini-series called "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" A lofty title (personally, I think separation of church and state, and the system of checks and balances were pretty good ideas too), but nonetheless, a great show.

Maybe they'll do a follow-up program on the national monuments and other non-nature sites in the NPS; those could use a PBS marketing blitz too.

2009-08-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

$25 to check a bag? That's only one of the reasons why I fly with only my carry-on and no checked bags. Of course, being able to pack a week's worth of clothes and gear into a single small bag is a useful skill for road trippers too. It gives you more room for that cooler full of sodas & snacks, and more room to bring back souvenirs. I recently came across this site; chock full of tips and tricks to help you pack it all in just one bag. Very useful info!

2009-08-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

So driving long distances between cities can be tedious, especially when you do the same route often. And cheap airfare can make flying look like the better option. But is it smarter?

Well, if you figure in travel time to the airport, then waiting the hour before takeoff, does it save you any time? What about price? Can you save money by flying, when you factor in airport parking, taxis or public transportation to/from the airport and of course, the fact that if you're hungry, you have to buy food beyond the security checkpoint.

This article from MSN takes a look at all the costs for two sample trips and tries to figure out when flying is the better option. If you're debating this right now, it might be worth reading.

2009-08-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

If you're a road tripper, you're probably familiar with the good folks at America's Best Value Inn. I've had nothing but good experiences with the chain, and think that it's great they're running this contest. Send them your best story of something wacky you've seen on the road, along with a photo, and you could win a stay at one of their properties - and you can win prizes just by voting too! Hey, maybe we should work with them on next year's eTravelogue photo contest...

2009-07-21T14:38:00.001-07:00

D'oh! I wonder if this means we should all go back.

2009-07-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

I found the second part of an article on MSN I recently mentioned, about weird roadside attractions across the US. This time there's route 66 landmarks, giant woven baskets, and some classics of the road, like the Cadillac Ranch. Some of these should be on the must-see list, like Salvation Mountain for example, and the recently renovated Blue Whale.

2009-07-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

We've talked about foodie road trips in the past, so I figured I'd share this list of regional "delicacies" with you. From muffulettas to provel cheese, there are a lot of regional goodies out there to discover while road tripping.

2009-06-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

So Microsoft recently rebranded it's search engine as "Bing", but you've probably seen the ads for it. Well, I had found an article on roadside attractions on MSN Travel that I wanted to share, but before I could, they rebranded the travel site as Bing too, and in typical Microsoft fashion, broke inbound links to their content. I was able to dig it up though (here), but for older posts that go to MSN Travel, you might have to do a little web hunting (my theory is that they sort of strongarm you into using Bing in order to find your article. Yeah, that's how you win mindshare, how about a browser redirection instead?)

2009-06-25T07:37:00.001-07:00

We always make it a point to stop at some of the region's best food spots when road tripping, but never really gave much thought to taking a road trip just for the food. Recently though, I came across this piece, that sure makes it sound like a good idea. I mean, why not tour some of the best cheese makers in Vermont, or BBQ in any of the country's famous areas... and would it get any better than microbrews in the pacific northwest? (although you might want to figure out alternative transportation than driving for that one).

2009-06-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before how I am a fan of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, so I figured I'd post about their list of the most endangered historic places. Evey year they publish this list, and even if you're not a fan of their efforts, it's worth a look to see if any of the sites should be put on your "see it soon" list, because as the name suggests, they may not be there much longer.

2009-06-11T06:26:00.001-07:00

Not exactly helpful in planning road trips (although if you pull it off, I want to know), but if you're a map geek like me, you might dig this site. My personal favorite is "The Best Beer in America" - some bizarre stuff.

2009-06-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

With road trip season finally here, I'd bet many of you are looking to visit a national park or two. I found this article recently, with secrets spots in the national parks as picked by the rangers and staff. Seven of the most popular parks are listed and if you're heading to one of these parks during the busy season, you might want to have a look.

2009-05-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Vegas is a great road trip destination, especially for you west coast folks. After a long trek across the desert, stuffed into a cramped car under the hot sun, wouldn't a little pampering and luxury be nice? Well, I came across this article from Budget Travel about one man's quest to cash in on this economic downturn that has hit Vegas so hard. He tries three different methods to get the most luxurious rooms, meals and services for as little cash as possible. So if you do your research, know where to look, and have a little luck (always helpful in Vegas), maybe you can cash in on some pretty sweet deals too.

2009-04-28T06:53:00.000-07:00

Looking for roadside oddities for your next trip? I recently came across this site that lists the "What's Large Where" by state. Sometimes it's just a name and a city, and sometimes it has more info. For example, the listing for the World's Largest Baked Potato in Blackfoot, Idaho has a link to its website, but the listing for the World's Largest Set of Teeth just says that it's in St. Louis, Missouri. So you might get all the info you need from them, and in some cases, it might be a starting point for more research. Either way, worth a look.

2009-04-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

If California isn't the weirdest state of the 50, it's gotta be close. And I recently found this site, that reinforced my opinion. It's got lots of roadside distractions, haunted sites, and just plain weird things (honestly, a banana museum?), so it's worth a visit if you're planning a trip out that way.

Ok, so maybe California is second to Florida. The keys have some weird, wacky stuff too.

2009-03-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

What is there to do in Cleveland?
Or Spokane?
Or Dulith?

I came across this site not that long ago, and it seems like a site to check - I didn't have the first clue what there was to do in Portland, and they had a quick list of the top attractions. It turned out to be a good starting point for my research. Maybe it will help you too.

2009-03-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

I came across this article on MSN the other day, talking about the newest way airlines are going to nickel-and-dime us: a fee just to buy tickets. Apparently, Spirit Airlines is working on adding a $5 or $10 fee just for buying a ticket by any method other than the counter at the airport. Paying the fee probably makes more sense than buying at the airport - the last time I tried to buy a ticket at the airport was for a free flight credit that I wanted to redeemm, and I ended up paying more for airport parking just to get the ticket than the fare would have been. Sounds to me like just another reason to road trip instead!

2009-02-24T05:52:00.000-08:00

I've always had a dream to cruise the American blue highways in a vintage Airstream. Unfortunately, this is probably going to stay a dream for many reasons, least of which is that I don't exactly have the means to pick up and properly restore a piece of history like a vintage Airstream. But I recently found what might be the next best thing: three KOA campgrounds are adding lodging in Airstreams - that's right, just arrive in your own vehicle and spend the night in an Airstream provided by the campground. How great is that? I hope it takes off and they add this option to all of their campgrounds!

2009-02-10T06:46:00.001-08:00

So I was recently reading this article about the world's "tallest and biggest" travel sights, and thought I'd share it. It's not entirely road trip material, but some of the locations are sure possible on a road trip, like the world's tallest monument (St. Louis' Gateway Arch) or the tallest casino (the Stratosphere in Las Vegas)... might be worth a read if you, like me, try to visit these sorts of places on your trips.

2009-01-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

I recently read this article on Yahoo about zoos, aquariums and parks that are close to shutting down due to rising costs and lack of funds. These "living museums", as the article calls them, are always good road trip stops, especially for those traveling with little ones. I hope this doesn't become a national trend. Perhaps we should make it a point to stop at these types of places on our next trips.

2009-01-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Happy new year everyone!

Here's something I came across during the election season that I thought would be useful, and with it being transition time in Washington, I figured I'd share it. A big deal was made during the campaign about "earmark" spending, those little hometown projects that get slipped into budgets and legislation. Well, apparently, some portion of those earmark projects are for small, relatively unknown tourist attractions. One author did some research into what sorts of attractions were getting this money, and handpicked a few actually worth visiting. After reading this, I'm going to do some research myself and see if any more are worth a visit (even though they already get my tax dollars).

Here's wishing you great road trips in 2009!

2008-12-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

I was reading this site, a bulletin board type site of great restuarants across the US, while planning a road trip. It's always fun to find those little gems of local eateries when road tripping. Also, you might want to check out these guys, who have lots of restaurant listings for local delicacies, and a bunch of food festivals nationwide. Some of you more seasoned road trippers (heh, get it? Seasoned?) might already be familiar with them, but just in case you're not, I figured I'd share the links.

2008-12-15T07:52:00.001-08:00

Route 66, gost towns of the gold rush, and the American west.... I recently came across this site, which isn't road trip themed, per se, but is all about traveling the historic west. It's full of history, ghost legends, and nostalgia about the old west - worth a look when planning a road trip out that way. Be sure to check out their "roadside attractions" page.

2008-12-09T08:58:00.001-08:00

I was reading this blog post about a new service that lets you plan trip itineraries collaboratively. I thought this was interesting. Have any of you heard about it, or tried using it? I'd love to hear your comments. Supposedly you can plan your itinerary with your traveling companions and directly book your trip together. Sounds promising.

2008-12-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this site when doing a bit of trip planning and thought I might share it. It's a bit heavy on the hotels, and for some states it's a bit light on attractions, but it seems they make their money off reservations and tour companies, so that's not too out of the ordinary. Overall, I thought it would be a good site to visit when doing research.

2008-11-20T05:47:00.000-08:00

After visiting Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle many years ago, I became interested in finding weird museums and shops everywhere I travel. If you've never been to the Seattle institution, maybe you've visited Philly's fantastic Mutter Museum, or maybe you've seen the collection of Questionable Medical Devices in Minneapolis. If you're a fan of this sort of oddball stuff, you might want to check out this list on MSN. It's got a few obscure ones I'd never even heard of.

2008-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Ever visited the biggest chair in New England? Or maybe the 5th longest-named place in the world? New England has some pretty oddball attractions and locations, and those two are just in Massachusetts! I recently came across this slideshow of Massachusetts locations, and this story about weird stuff all over New England that I thought I should share. The lists even include the Big Blue Bug and Lenny the Chocolate Moose! Two of my favorites!

By the way, lots of books include the house in Salem that's "not a church, get over it" - if you know what I'm talking about, then you might be interested to know that it's been sold, repainted, and turned into, yes, a church!

2008-10-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

I was looking for an overview of Madison, WI, for a recent trip, just to get an idea of what there is and where to go. I found this site, which has a lot of info on various cities. I thought it was a good place to start researching, and that I should share it here. Maybe you'll find it helpful too.

2008-10-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Ever read "Zippy the Pinhead"? It's a rather wordy comic syndicated in newspapers across the country. My personal opinion is that it isn't all that entertaining nor very though provoking (two things it sets out to be as a "non-traditional" comic -- and yes, I "get" it, I just don't think it's all that good - not bad, just not that good either), but some people sure do like it. I find the strip interesting because Zippy visits some of the offbeat roadside attractions across the US. I found this page where a bunch of these strips are listed by state -- if you're a fan of Zippy, it might be worth a look. Maybe he's visited your favorite roadside attraction.

2008-10-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

Here's an oldie that I figured I'd share: World's Largest Roadside Attractions. The site doesn't seem to have been updated in quite a while, and the gallery is a little hard to use, but they do have a bunch of photos and descriptions of where to find giant fiberglass animals, yo-yos, Indians, and other oversized roadside Americana.

2008-09-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

If you're ever curious which exit something is, or better yet, what there is at a particular exit, I recommend checking out this site. They've got tons of roads - highways, backroads, you name it - all over North America, with exit listings, photos, and where each leads. I have no idea how they got their info, maybe somebody had to drive all over the continent writing down each exit sign on every hundreds of highways. Wow, that'd take some time!

2008-09-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

I was reading this piece on MSN about classic, historic movie houses (including one of my personal favorites, the Coolidge Corner Theater in Boston), and I remembered this great site, that lists hundreds of drive-ins all over the country (including those on Route 66) and includes a great zip code based search so you can find what's playing at drive-ins near you. I highly recommend you check 'em out for a little nostalgia.

2008-09-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a site that I thought was interesting. This fellow has documented all of his road trips since 1990 into a well organized set of photo essays. I thought it made an interesting trip planning resource, since you can look at the routes he chose and what stops he decided to make. Could come in handy when thinking through your next road trip.

2008-09-09T11:57:00.001-07:00

Here's something that I found interesting. Amtrak's website has walking tours for seven cities to which they travel. I'm always on the lookout for good walking tours, as they can be a great primer for a city on your first visit. The site has DC, Chicago, Boston, Seattle... pretty good choices, although the amount of info is a little light. I hope they expand the list and beef up the existing tours.

2008-09-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

Always wanted to visit a ghost town, but you don't get out to the deserts of the south west too often? Well, I found this great website, that lists ghost towns all over the country. I was suprised to find how many were right in my backyard in New England. Sounds like a good road trip stop to me.

Of course, should you go out on any ghost town adventure, make sure to bring a GPS (or at least a map and compass) and respect private property.

2008-08-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Apparently Mt. Horeb, WI, isn't only famous for it's incredible mustard museum, but it's also the troll capital of the world! Yes, trolls. Although, I've been there twice and never seen one. I learned of that little tidbit from this MSN story, which also lists the earmuff capital of the world, and even the cow chip throwing capital of the world... and cow chips are just what you think they are. Pick up an “I Flung Dung” T-Shirt next time you're in Beaver, OK.

Honestly folks, I don't make this stuff up.

2008-08-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Would it be a good idea to have wifi hotspots on planes? Apparently Delta is in the process of rolling it out, according to this WSJ article. From what I understand, they're going to limit it, so that VOIP doesn't work -- to me, it seems like it should be all or nothing. For one, I like having the a few hours of downtime, and from what I've been reading, I'm not the only one who feels this way. But, airlines are struggling to make a buck these days. I guess it was just a matter of time.

2008-08-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

This MSN slideshow got me thinking. Normally, I can't stand "fake" destinations. I mean, why can't Las Vegas use a theme other than existing cities (Paris, New York, Venice, etc.)? Of course, when it's done tongue-in-cheek like Carhenge, well, that's a different story. But I think the winner (if it could be considered a contest) is Disneyland's California Adventure Park. It's located in California, and it has a replica of Santa Monica Pier, but the real pier is only 40 miles away. Why is it that we need a homogenized, sanitized, Disney-fied version practically next door?

2008-08-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

It's a triple-shot today, three pieces (here, here and here for the slideshow) about all the new attractions in amusement parks across America. Apparently this year, the thing is to name or style the rides with pop culture. Apparently you can ride a Led Zeppelin or Spongebob Squarepants ride, or Simpsons fans can visit the real life "Krustyland" (ride the tooth-chipper!) If you can tear yourself away from the Olympics, some of these are probably worth the road trip.

2008-08-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

Casinos: love 'em or hate 'em, you can't deny the tourism dollars they bring in. Could it be that Erie, PA is the next Las Vegas? Maybe, according to this AP article. I can tell you that, for me, Pennsylvania is a much shorter road trip than Vegas! (although it still may be "bat country")

2008-08-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

More and more people are planning "staycations", or short trips near home, this year. We figure we'll help you get plan your staycation, and give you great day trip ideas using the 65,000 attractions in our database. Try out our new staycation planner for great ideas for staycations and day trips.

Check it out at http://staycation.etravelogue.com.

2008-07-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

Road trippers these days are pretty concerned about saving money, with the price of gas and all this summer. Well, I recently came across this piece on MSN about money saving tips for travel, and figured I'd share it (although I don't necessarily agree with what it has to say about Kansas!)

2008-07-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Now, if we build a large wooden badger...

If you're planning on road tripping through Wisconsin anytime soon, you may want to check out this article I found on Wisconsin roadside attractions. You may already know about the Mustard Museum and the House on the Rock, but what about the world's largest wooden badger, or a giant can of chili?

2008-07-22T11:27:00.001-07:00

eTravelogue was recently mentioned as one of the best sites for planning a summer road trip, along with a handful of other great planning sites, in an article by theonlinefamily.net.

Read the full interview and article here.

2008-07-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here's one that I thought you'd all enjoy: "12 Distinctive Destinations" - This AP article lists the 2008 recipients of the "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" designation (say that three times fast) from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, an organization I am a very big fan of. I've been to a handful of these places like Portland, OR, and Portsmouth, NH and can tell you that they are in fact worth a visit for the history and architecture alone.

2008-07-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

So here's something I thought was interesting. You probably already know about Wikipedia, and you might know of its off-shoot, WikiTravel. Basically WikiTravel is user-contributed like Wikipedia, and of course, that can be good and bad. Be careful if you rely on it, it can be less than objective sometimes, and can be nothing more than a thinly veiled commercial for some business in the city you want to visit - but the thing that I thought was really cool is that you can now get their guides as printed books! They've now got guides to Paris, Cairo and Helsinki that are updated monthly. Print-on-demand is just the coolest thing.

2008-07-08T07:05:00.001-07:00

When planning for a recent trip that took us through Iowa, I came across this site. It's a bit light on the info, but it did help me plan a couple of rest stops on I-80 in Iowa. It might not be terribly helpful until they get some more data up there, but if you're going to be in the area, it might be worth checking out.

2008-06-24T09:16:00.001-07:00

We've added a new function to the Traveler Info section on eTravelogue.com - a campground finder! We heard that you wanted a quick and easy way to find campgrounds in an area - instead of finding them along your route like our road trip itinerary planner does. Please give it a try, all 2,500+ campgrounds in our database are listed!

2008-06-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

What do you think: keep the ban on cell phone usage on airplanes, but allow for in-flight Internet access? Of couse, that would mean no VOIP or voice chat. This piece from PC World talks about airlines adding Internet access to their flights, but it makes me wonder. With airlines charging $15 to check a bag and $2 for a soda, how much are they gonna charge you to send an email?

2008-06-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article from Budget Travel about the classic American tourist trap. This one's based on reader picks, so it's got some good suggestions. And, of course, Wall Drug is on the list. Is there really a better tourist trap than Wall Drug?

2008-06-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Recently, I wrote about food related museums for a road trip. I just found this article that has another bunch of foodie stops. Oddly enough, some of these we were already planning on visiting on our summer road trip. Our $5/gallon, 4500 mile road trip... ugh.

2008-06-03T06:46:00.001-07:00

It's nice to be able to get on the Internet while you're on the road, something that many of us can do with our cell phones these days. Of course, that little screen can make looking up directions and maps a little difficult. Wouldn't it be nice if you could connect your laptop to your cell and get online that way? Well, apparently you'll soon be able to, according to this article on MSN, by letting your cell phone be a Wi-Fi hotspot!

2008-06-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

With the high cost of gas, we need to think creatively about how to cut costs on our road trips. One thing worth considering is camping instead of expensive hotel rooms. Did you know that at eTravelogue, there are over 2500 campgrounds listed all over the US. Just plot out your route, and choose campgrounds from the attraction category list. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

2008-05-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

Picnicking on a road trip is a great way to save a few bucks on food costs, but sometimes your food can be the attraction. What about a stop at the Spam museum in Minnesota or the Mustard Museum in Wisconsin -- or better yet, Hershey, Pennsylvania? Check out this piece on MSN for a bunch of good ideas.

2008-05-26T10:11:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that our FREE GAS contest is now in full swing!

In case you haven't heard, we're giving away a FREE $100 ExxonMobil gift card in our summer photo contest! To enter, just send us a picture of you, your family or traveling companions displaying the eTravelogue.com logo on a road trip somewhere in the USA.

Snap a photo while someone holds up our logo next to the world's largest ball of twine. Or wear an eTravelogue T-Shirt and pretend to be the fifth face on Mt. Rushmore. Surf our website from the bottom of the Grand Canyon. You get the idea. How's that for easy?

Check out the contest page on eTravelogue.com for the full scoop.
http://www.eTravelogue.com/contest.asp

2008-05-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

I came across this article, about a service that I think needs to be shared with the road trippers out there. Trapster takes reports of speed traps all over the country and makes them available on their website and to your mobile device via WiFi or cellular. It uses your device's GPS or WiFi info to determine your location, and lets you know where the speed traps in your area. And the data is constantly updated, so you can be sure that it's pretty accurate (and you are encouraged to add your findings too, which can be easily done by pressing just a couple of buttons on your cell phone!).

Not that I condone speeding, but it's easy to lose track of your speed on those long road trips. With Memorial day right around the corner, this is definitely good info to have in hand. You can get more info about this great FREE service on their website.

2008-05-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Gas prices might be three feet high and rising, but I don't think that'll stop many people from taking summer road trips. We'll just have to find other ways to cut costs. This article I recently came across gives a few good ideas, like filling up in the morning and picnicing whenever possible.

Of couse, fuel costs aren't so bad if you're lucky enough to have a CNG-powered car in Utah, where you can fill up for $5 - no, not $5 per gallon, $5 per TANK. It's apparently gotten to the point where people are adding second and third fuel anks to their cars to take advantage of it.

2008-05-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

Whenever we road trip, we always plan lunch or dinner stops at places interesting enough to visit even if we weren't going to get a meal there. In fact, this year's road trip includes stops at the BBQ Mecca of Arthur Bryant's, the Sander's Cafe where it all began, and the home of the "throwed" roll!

That's why this article on MSN got me thinking - what about a road trip specifically ABOUT the food? A Napa Valley wine trip isn't too much of a stretch, but what about a BBQ road trip through the south? Or a cheese-themed trip through Wisconsin or Vermont? An interesting idea...

2008-05-06T05:42:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this piece on Yahoo about keeping secure while using public hotspots and other 'net connections from the road. Now, it's not exactly what I'd call a complete set of rules to follow (a consensus with the readers too, based on the comments left on the article), but it's a good starting point and worth a look.

2008-05-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

$100 in FREE GAS from eTravelogue.com

How would you like to get $100 in FREE gas for your next road trip? We're giving away a FREE $100 ExxonMobil gift card in our summer photo contest! To enter, just send us a picture of you, your family or traveling companions displaying the eTravelogue.com logo on a road trip somewhere in the USA.

Snap a photo while someone holds up our logo next to the world's largest ball of twine. Or wear an eTravelogue T-Shirt and pretend to be the fifth face on Mt. Rushmore. Surf our website from the bottom of the Grand Canyon. You get the idea. How's that for easy?

Check out the contest page on eTravelogue.com for the full scoop.

http://www.eTravelogue.com/contest.asp

2008-04-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

I found this round up from Conde Nast on the Today Show's MSNBC page. It's the results of a handful of tests they performed comparing one travel website to another. For example, which site had the lowest last minute airfares, or the best site for renting a car in Europe.

Typically, I think we've all got our favorite travel booking sites, and it's probably best to stick to the ones you feel most comfortable with - even if it costs you a buck or two more - but, who knows, maybe you'll find the article worthwhile.

2008-04-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it's tax day. In the spirit of the unfortunate day where we have to give up a chunk of our paychecks in what was supposed to be a temporary supplement to offset the costs of the World War II, I figured I'd share this article about taxation and travel. It's an interesting read. For example, did you know that in Atlanta, your car rental helps pay for the statium? Or that in Kansas City, MO, taxes on your car rental add a whopping 63% to your fee? And maybe you heard about Ryanair shutting down for 3-days because of tax related price changes? Luckily the article has some suggestions on how to offset those outrageous taxes.

2008-04-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

A while back, a friend gave me a book listing factory tours all over the country. It's turned out to be pretty valuable information for road trip planning. Well, I recently stumbled across this website, FactoryTourUSA.com, that lists over 500 factory tours all over the USA! Factory tours are a great way to break up a long day of driving and we might as well support the country's manufacturing industry, while we still have one. I can tell you that visiting this site is now part of my routine for road trip planning!

I feel just like John Ratzenberger!

2008-04-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

Just what the heck is going on with air travel these days? First we find out Southwest missed inspections and three other airlines grounded their planes because they had too.

Then Aloha shuts down a few days ago, and now ATA up and quits, leaving people stranded! I am a huge fan of US Airways (I choose them whenever I can), and I'm glad to share that they are helping clean up Aloha's mess by offering standby tickets to the customers Aloha screwed. I'm flying in a couple of weeks and boy am I glad it's on US Air. Man, I wish they had bought Delta when they tried.

All this, though, is frustrating to travelers, and going through security is even more of a hassle. But now, the TSA has started a blog where you can give the TSA your feedback (here's the link to the page for Boston's Logan Airport). It's a nice thing, but maybe if we can just keep the airlines from going under, security screening won't seem so bad!

...yet another reason to road trip!

2008-03-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

The ultimate family road trip? Sponsored by Disney?? What?!!
I think I'll stick to the offbeat and leave the homogenized for other people, thanks.

2008-03-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

We couldn't find a quick and easy way to calculate driving times, mileage and costs, so we built our own! Check out CityDist, a new website and Windows Mobile application for just that. Load it on your Pocket PC and it can come in very handy to determine how far away your next destination is!

2008-03-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

My better half is a big American Idol fan, so I've been known to sit and watch a bit with her. I'm pretty sick of the show, but that's another topic for another venue. I saw this absolutely horrible rendition of Tainted Love, one of my favorite 80s songs... (the Soft Cell version that is, not the original version) and after a bit of complaining about how this boy ruined it, I had to go listen to the original. But when I searched our CDs and MP3 colletion and couldn't find it! SeeqPod to the rescue. Two clicks later I was basking in all it's synthpop goodness :)

If you're not familiar with SeeqPod, you should check them out. The only way to get a song out of your head is to hear it, and with SeeqPod, all you have to do is search for it, and the music starts playing. Sweet. We even used it for RoadTrip.FM to put together a great playlist of road tripping songs. Another cool thing about it is that you can hit it with your iPhone or other portable 'net device and get your playlists from the road! How cool is that?

2008-02-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

Ever been to Hell, Michigan? Or what about Chicken, Alaska? This story on MSN goes into the history of some of the strangest town names in the country. My personal favorite has to be Hot Coffee, Mississippi. Imagine, staring blankly ahead after many long hours on the road when you spot the sign, "Hot Coffee, 5 Miles" - what better marketing for a pit stop?

2008-02-07T05:12:00.000-08:00

Allow me to announce a new section at eTravelogue.com. You can now get destination ideas based on drive time from your hometown with our new with our new road trip destination suggestions tool. Because it might be half the fun just getting there, but it's good to have at least an idea of where you're heading!

If you haven't been to the site in a while, swing by and give it a try. You just enter your location and maximum drive time, and we'll give you a list of ideas on a map, each with their own destination guide.

2008-01-31T12:45:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, happy new year!

One of the topics of conversation with all the politics going on lately is the environment, global warming in particular. I was thinking about it the other day, that while one person's daily mileage can be substantial, it's the cummulative effect of all of us that's such a problem; and that cutting the emissions of the rental cars on the road everyday would make much more of an impact. Then I came across this piece from MSNBC, about how hybrids are making their way into the rental fleets of Enterprise, Hertz and others. Sometimes you have to pay a premium for them and sometimes you have to make special requests when you make the reservation. Interesting stuff.

One added benefit of a hybrid rental car: that astronomical fuel surcharge for bringing the car back with less than a full tank of gas. I think the next time I rent a car I'll get a hybrid and tell them they can charge me the $5/gallon for the gas I use, since I'm not likely to even use the internal combustion engine!

2007-12-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

I talked a little bit last time about Frommer's series of articles highlighting good places to take your kids before they grow up. This piece in that series is about Nashville, TN, the home of country music. Now, while this isn't exactly a road trip article, Nashville is a good place to visit on a road trip. We did this a couple of years back, combining it with Memphis and Gatlinburg. Quite the trip and all within a short drive from each other. Worth doing as, especially out Gatlinburg, it's beautiful country.

2007-12-04T08:24:00.001-08:00

I recently came across this piece from Frommer's 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up, about the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. I have to agree that kids will definitely enjoy this museum. While it's not exactly hands-on, it's also no stodgy art museum. And, much like the music, it's fast paced and full of exciting things to keep them entertained. I arrived for my visit about 30 minutes before they closed and I was able to whip through without feeling ripped off - so you can definitely spend a kid-appropriate amount of time and see the exhibits without wiping the little ones out. Plus you'll get the opportunity to have that conversation about the "establishment" and what "counter-culture" is...

It also makes a good stop on a road trip, since there sure ain't a whole lot else to do in Cleveland.

2007-11-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

Considering the holiday season, this one is appropriate. I came across this article from Food & Wine talking about Louisiana cajun food - an interesting topic for a road trip - written by a native Louisiana man. If you're into road trips, boudin and head cheese (And, hey, who isn't, right? Anybody?) then this one might be worth a read.

2007-11-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

Lately, there have been a number of historic buildings being turned into new upscale hotels. Sometimes, these are places like those mentioned in this article, where old hotels are being rejuvinated. In some cases, though, these aren't buildings you'd expect to be hotels, such as the Charles Street Jail in Boston, mentioned in this article.

I think these sorts of places have a lot more character than the typical off-ramp chain and are worth considering for your next road trip.

2007-11-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

Bourbon and hot ginger ale?

This piece from Travel + Leisure is written by a couple of cookbook authors on an east coast road trip. Finding good eats along the way is a highlight of any road trip. The article gives a handful of good ideas if you're traveling the southeast.

2007-10-31T05:59:00.001-07:00

I was going through some of the archives and I came across this piece from Travel + Leisure about a cross-country road trip. The reason I wanted to post about it wasn't because of its content, but instead about its format. When I plan a road trip, this is the sort of thing I put together: a list of stops, ordered by how I visit, along with pertinent info on each and the driving distance between them. I thought this was a good example of start a trip plan, and it might be useful to some of you out there when putting together your next road trip.

2007-10-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

If I were to put together a list of the best, wackiest, tackiest roadside distractions in the country, the 350-acre South of the Border in South Carolina would definitely be on the list. The massive, kitchy, Mexico-themed complex is an icon of American road trip culture. From the giant sombrero-wearing Pedro (in fact, every employee's nametag reads "Pedro") to the Mexican restaurants, the place is like a beacon to weary I-95 travelers crossing the North Carolina/South Carolina border.

This recent MSN article talks about the place, its history and what you might come across if you visit. Ya know, you can even get married there by a "Pedro of the peace."

2007-10-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

I saw this piece on MSN this morning, about new Microsoft technology called "Sync" to allow you to control your media player and other devices in your car. Apparently, a couple of new Ford models are going to use it. The article talks about using voice commands to control your USB-connected MP3 player, text on your phone using Bluetooth, and some navigation capabilities. This all got me thinking, since most of these technologies exist already, either out of the box or through techie add-ons like the "carputer" crowd uses.

I maybe in the minority, but it seems to me that Microsoft has a bad track record of "helping" people do the things they already do - I always find that when a Microsoft product tries to simplify some task I do, it seems to make my life harder. I don't think I want them doing that to me while I'm on the road, trying to drive at the same time. I think I'll hold off on this, especially since it's still in its infancy.

2007-10-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

A lot has been written about the baseball road trip. With the ALCS on Friday, I figured it'd be worth mentioning this AP story. Its got some good tips (like taking the Chinatown busses between Boston, NY, and Philly). Plus, it's never too early to start thinking about next season - since that's what most of the teams are doing too. Go Sox!

2007-10-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

In this piece from MSN, the author goes into, what he calls, the "Art" of the road trip. Basically, this entails the planning process: where to go, where to stay, how to budget, and who to bring along. A seasoned road tripper (as many of you are, I'm sure) probably have this process down to a science, but the novice might find it useful.

2007-09-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Is there anything more quintessentially American than a road trip through the western desert? Not too long ago, I myself did a bit of a trip out that ways, but it's difficult to drive to the Grand Canyon or any of the other wonders in the "Big Rectangle States" on a long weekend, since I live in New England. One of these days I'll take a month or two off and explore all the national parks out that way...

I recently came across this piece from Sherman's Travel chock full of pointers for such a trip, from Sedona to Mesa Verde and all the high-and-dry in between. This will definitely help in the planning.

2007-09-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that we're giving away a FREE GPS over at eTravelogue.com? Just check out our photo contest - all you have to do is email us a qualifying photo to be entered. The contest has just been extended through the end of September, so make sure you check it out!

2007-09-04T08:08:00.001-07:00

RoadTrip.FM is back! RoadTrip.FM is a collection of great driving music and road trip tunes so that you can feel like you're on the road even when you're tethered to your desk. Give it a try, you'll almost be able to feel the wind in your hair.

And now you can stream from the page or listen & get the tracks from iTunes!

2007-08-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this Travel + Leisure piece about road tripping through California, Connecticut and Arizona. Not a bad little guide, might make for a good jumping off point in planning your next road trip through these areas.

2007-08-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Maybe the way to save cash on road trips is to not travel too far from home. Of course, I did just back from a 6,000 mile journey myself, but according to this article, that might not have been the best tactic.

2007-08-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

OK, does anyone else think it's ridiculous that a one-way airline ticket costs just as much, if not more, than a round trip in many cases? Doesn't booking a one way means an extra seat they know will be empty and sell beforehand or fill through Priceline or some other discounter? For a while, I thought you'd be OK with buying a round trip and only using half of it... I mean, if I no-show they can offer to a stand-by passenger, right? I mean, they oversell these flights anyway...

Well, according to this piece from MSNBC, they get pretty testy at that sort of thing. In fact, the article says that Northwest can even confiscate your miles and deny you entry.

2007-08-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

I came across this site not too long ago - roadwarriortips.com - and figured it'd be good to mention here on the blog. The site is run by Extended Stay hotels, and it's basically a list of events, reviews and blog posts about travel in general. My guess is that Extended Stay is hoping to use it to get some of their weeklong guests to stay the weekend too by giving them some ideas for staying in town. Not that there's anything wrong with the chain trying to boost revenue a little, the site is very good and full of ideas.

2007-08-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

With the cost of gas these days, road tripping can actually end up costing you more than flying. I know that on a recent road trip I went on, fuel was over 60% of my expenses, more that attraction admissions and food! So, since we can't control the price of gas, we must cut back the cost of some of the other components of the trip. But how to do that and still keep the trip fun? Well, for one thing, fill that picnic basket or cooler, like this MSN piece says, and remember the virtues of free continential breakfast and in-room coffee pots ;)

2007-08-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

Being road trip fans, we at eTravelogue always looking for the next great roadside distraction. Things that follow the form "World's Largest..." usually fit the bill. In fact, a couple of years back while doing research for the site, I myself visited the World's Largest Bottle of Catsup in the nice Illinois town of Collinsville. The bottle tends to be one of the better known examples of roadside architecture.

Last week I came across this article about the Catsup bottle, and it's town, going for the record of World's Largest Ketchup packet! I have to say, they deserve it, especially now that they've got both spellings covered!

2007-08-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have a list of things that I always take on long road trips - cell phone & its car charger, GPS & paper maps just to be safe, spare batteries, a gallon of water, and an extra set of wiper blades, etc. Then when I'm packing up the car, I just check off the list items one by one. So, needless to say, when I stumbled upon this article from Consumer Reports listing good items to take on your road trip, I was intrigued. They had some good ideas that I hadn't thought of, like spare fuses and a disposable flash camera in case you need to document a fender bender. Good advice!

2007-07-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

How to make a family road trip a fond lifelong memory for your kids? Well, start by leaving the electronics at home -- or so says this MSN piece. The article brings up other good ways, including a family planning session and generally slowing down the pace.

2007-07-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

A 400 mile road trip from New York to Portland, Maine, all in search of old-timey baseball? Well, that's what this die hard Red Sox fan did in this story for Travel+Leisure. I found this particularly interesting once the author mentioned how you can get a ticket to a minor league game for the price of a Coke at Yankee Stadium. Baseball and a summer road trip: could there be a better combination? Makes me want to go put Tessie on the stereo.

2007-07-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

Picture it, a bunch of college kids drop everything, get in their camper and travel the country meeting interesting people and havign adventures along the way. No, I'm not talking about Scooby Doo & the gang, I'm talking about a PBS series coming in September called Roadtrip Nation. The show has a pretty good companion website following the three "teams", where they've been, who they've met, and the like.

Even though the routes they've taken are a little weak, it should be interesting to watch. Maybe if the show does well, next season they'll have one team go cross country or at least have someone follow Route 66, for crying out loud. How any self-respecting program on the topic can not focus at least one trip on the mother road is beyond me. I guess last season they had a coast-to-coast trip, but shouldn't that be a staple? I mean, there's quite a few ways to get across this great land, and this year's team could've taken a different path.

2007-07-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas may be a grown-up's Disneyland, but did you know that there are 13, yes 13, national parks in the area? Everybody knows about the Grand Canyon, but Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Joshua Tree and many more are all in a short (relatively speaking) drive from Sin City. I recently came across this great piece with details for those of you who'd like to get away from the neon of the strip.

2007-06-28T06:19:00.001-07:00

Summer road trips aren't always about packing the SUV and taking the kids to Wally World. Let's not forget about our two wheeled travelers out there. But, just what are the best motorcycle road trips? Well, according to this piece from Forbes Traveler, the top trip is the Tail of the Dragon route in Deals Gap, NC, with its sharp curves and cliff-hugging roads. The article and accompanying slideshow goes through ten of the top motorcycle routes in the US.

2007-06-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this article on Yahoo, talking about how Route 66 has been named as one of the world's most threatened cultural treasures. The World Monuments Fund's 2008 watch list contains sites including St. Petersburg, and Machu Picchu along with Route 66. According to the Fund, the National Parks Service is operating the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to help save the Mother Road, but the program will end in 2009 without action by congress. Let's hope they get it right and allow the NPS to save Route 66.

2007-06-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned a couple of times in the blog now that I'm in the process of planning a summer road trip. As a good, patriotic, red blodded American, visits to our National Parks are, of course, a big part of my plan. In the past, I've purchased the $50 annual parks pass and found it to be quite worth it. In most cases it'll get you entrance without having to pay the fees (unless you're visiting Mammoth Cave, those bastards).

Well, I found out that the $50 annual pass, and a few other options are no more -- you now have to buy an $80 "America the Beautiful" pass. Some might say its worth it, because you can also get access to other government lands (Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife, etc.), but if you'd never use these lands, you're basically shelling out an extra $30 for nothing.

It's part of a larger expansion and rehabilitation project, which of course, means additional or higher fees at many parks just in time for summer. It's all spelled out in this article on MSN. I can tell you one thing, what was once an inexpensive and entertaining way to spend your summer vacation is slowly slipping away. I myself will not be buying a pass this year because, after I did the math, it's no longer in my best interest to (and I'm visiting over a dozen parks on this trip). I'm sure many people will find the same thing.

So, go see your national parks while they're still cheap. I mean, we already pay for them in our taxes, there's no reason for the entrance fees for Mt. Rushmore or Yellowstone to be approaching the fees at an amusement park.

2007-06-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

In planning out my summer road trips, I came across this piece on MSN. It's about the southwest - not where I'm heading this summer, but interesting nonetheless. Have a look if you're heading out that way, it's got some pretty good suggestions.

2007-06-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

I was recently planning a road trip and was worried that I'd not make it to a particular attraction by sunset. So in my planning I stumbled across SunriseSunset.com - a website that calculates the dawn, dusk and twilight times for cities all over the world. I figured it wouldn't have the city I was near (I was traveling through the middle of nowhere in Nebraska), but there it was.

Because of this site, I was able to determine that I'll make it to my attraction before dark and therfore not have to cut it out of my trip. I was very impressed by this site and I am going to add it to my frequently used resources for planning road trips.

2007-06-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Department of Energy released their Short-Term Energy Outlook, a report that focuses on, among other things, fuel prices in the coming months. I was recently planning a road trip and needed to estimate how much fuel costs in early July - and in this report I found their projections.

..and for the record, the estimate for this summer is $3.05 USD on average per gallon of regular gasoline. They go on to say that May was at $3.15, in late June/early July that will decrease and in August it is expected to spike to $3.11.

The report's highlights and the entire report can be found here.