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Photo from Mike Tiga's photo stream

While not technically the first state of the Great Plains, Nebraska is the beginning of flat roads and corn fields.

Knowing that it was about to be a few days of hypnotic straight driving, we didn’t make many stops in this state.  Our most interesting find was the Mormon Island State Recreation Area.  Immediately off highway 80, it’s a roadside motel version of camping.

Unlike the Koa campsites you see advertised at highway exits across America, this is not a corporate chain, rather it’s run by the State. And at $6.00 a night for a basic campsite the price is unbeatable.  To use the showers you’ll need to ask for the code for the bathrooms found in the RV area- but the staff seems more than happy to give out the information to any paying guests.  And there’s even fishing available if you happen to be traveling with gear!

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Home to Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, and Monument Valley, Utah has a crazy other-planet kind of landscape- and sky high campsite fees to match it.

Make sure you have a camera on hand- the landscapes are out of this world!  One of my favorite views along the road was after we left highway 15 and got on 70.  We had been driving through the hot dry desert towards portentously black clouds dramatically gathering over the San Rafael “Reef.”  We pulled into a turnout to get a better look at what seemed like a promising viewpoint.  Getting out of the car we were assailed with a heavy gust of wind followed by a burst of hail.

But despite the intense weather, the stop was totally worth it.  The landscape was beautiful- although with the all hail we couldn’t take any photos once we got out of the car.  There’s a trail that goes through the canyon with rock art along the canyon walls and we didn’t get out the bikes at this stop, but it looks like it could be fun to ride through with a view of the chasm at the end.

We didn’t know it at the time, but this may also be a good place to camp if you have a vehicle that can go off road.  Instead we camped a ways before we got to the canyon at the Fremont Indian State Park.  The sites were 13.00- a good deal compared to the 20+ you’ll pay at some of the sites off of highway 15.  The sites were nicely spaced out, not too many people, but not empty either, and surrounded with plenty of neat sandstone formations to keep you busy for an afternoon of exploration.

As a side note- after writing up this post, I found out I’m not the only one who thought Utah was a little “otherworldly” – the Mars Society set up a desert research station here to simulate a mars habitat.

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Before you get on the road go through the checklist.  Yeah, I know, it can be seem like a pain because it takes a little time and you already have plenty of packing to get done.  But this is just a basic list and it’s worth the time.  Just think, rather than sitting by your overheating car in the blazing sun, hungry and phoneless, surrounded by miles of Kansas cornfields, you could spend 20 minutes making sure everything’s ready to run smoothly before you get on the road.

1.) Get to know your engine- check your fluids.

• You may know how to check your oil, but do you know what kind of oil to buy when its low, or where to put washer fluid to clear away the thick layer of bugs that will coat your windshield each day? For starters take a look at this video (okay, the guy isn’t exactly thrilling, but it’s under 2 min- you can handle it)

2.) Find out if you have roadside assistnace and whether or not it’s still valid.

• Invariably, if you’re on the road long enough you’re bound to lock yourself out of the car, get a flat, or whatever.  And when you’re 500 miles from home, on-call road side assistance is a life saver.  You can go through AAA, your insurance provider, or if you have a relatively new car, it may have come with this service.  Some services allow you a certain number of calls a year, or offer the service up until you’ve hit a certain mileage on your car, so find out the details of your service.

3.) In case you do get stuck somewhere, be prepared: Cell phone, phone charger, and flashlight.

• Even if you have road side assistance, it won’t do you much good if you can’t call them. So have your phone and have it charged.  If you get a charger for your car with a USB connection you’ll be able to charge you Blackberry, iPhone, iPod, or camera.
• Also, carry a flashlight- don’t expect AAA to have one.  I once spent an hour searching around in the dark on the side of a Vermont interstate highway for a role-away spare tire because neither I nor the triple A guy had a flashlight.

4.) Make sure your tires can get you to the other side.

• How’s the tread on those tires? If the tread isn’t deep watch out for wet conditions where you can hydroplane, but if the rubber is cracking its a heads up that the tires are getting ready to blow out.  And while you’re out their check the air, under inflated tires will cost you up to 5 cents more per gallon of gas!

5.) It’s gonna be a long ride. Get ready to settle in and get comfy.

• Music – Get a car adapter and charger for your iPod if you don’t already have one. Remember you’re going to be in the car for about a week. So think over your music selection. Make some playlists, and find some new albums- a road trip is a great time to get a feeling for an entire album at a time
• Tooth brush and essentials-  After a week in the car things get a little grungy. Do yourself a favor and put together a small and accessible bag with the essentials. Tooth brush/paste, tampons, and face/hand wipes.
• Snacks- There’s gonna be  long stretches of road with nothing but gas stations and cornfields. So consider packing a variety of affordable non-melting semi-healthy snacks so you don’t waste a ton of money on over priced candy bars along the way.

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From Etsy Ketsy's photo stream

The summer is coming to an end and its about time you get in that summer road trip.  Every summer we’ve done a road trip series here at soelsewhere- and we’re not about to stop now.

This time we’re featuring a California to New York adventure for those West Coast ladies getting reading to head back East for the Fall.  We’ll be taking the 15 to 70 to 76 to 80 and a few side roads along the way. We have a few good campsite to  recommend, some places to be avoided, and phone apps to get you through it.

Enjoy!

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In my last blog, Roadtrip America, I gave Eat Local as my number one piece of roadtrip advice. First, there’s the obvious reason that it just tastes better; nothing beats some home made eggs, real sausage, and fresh hash browns before a long day of driving through the Kansas cornfields.

But more importantly, there’s the issue of the endangered state of the mom&pop diner.  Driving through rural America, it is becoming more and more difficult to find any local diners.  On this last trip of mine, there were more than a few stops where the only option in town were the Arby’s, Subways, and Waffle Houses.  It’s true, it’s more expensive to support local, and I don’t expect everybody can do it, but if you have a little extra money please treat yourself and the local economy- buy a fresh unfranchised meal.  Otherwise, next time you drive through that little Indiana town, you won’t have the option.

Plus, if you’re doing a coast-to-coast trip you can then balance out your budget by buying from the 99c Only Store in California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas.  I personally make the moral leap by recognizing that in California most stores, including this one, carry local produce because most everything can be grown in this state.

On the one hand, the 99c Only Store would be an issue if it were competing in a small town; but I get the sense that it probably wouldn’t exist in small town because it keeps prices low in part by buying the excess and unwanted goods from other stores.  It therefore requires other stores in order to exist.

For some people more troubling than the moral issues, is the question of quality: How can food so cheap be edible? (yes they sell all sorts of produce too). As a seasoned 99c Only Store shopper I can vouch for the quality of this food as long as you follow a few simple rules.  Only buy what you can eat in the next 48 hrs; if you’re in an area like LA where there’re multiple stores shop around as different stores carry different produce; get there in the first half of the day closer to when the produce arrives to ensure the best pick.

The road trip season is over for the year. Having just completed my third cross US trip I thought that I’d share some of the tips that I’ve gathered in this last season.

1.)   Support Local: Buy food at local stores and restaurants.  If you can’t do that, then bring a camping stove, shop ahead, and cook your meals.  In fact, I feel so strongly about this one it will have a whole blog all to itself in a day or two.

2.)   Bring Blankets: If there’s any possibility of sleeping in the car, bring one warm blanket for each traveler. Never know when you might turn a corner in the Rockies or the Redwoods to find a beautiful turnout to camp in.  Even if daytime weather is bearable, you’ll be thankful for a little warmth in the night.

3.)   Use Facebook:  Line up hosts along the way. It’s affordable and it allows you more freedom to stop a few days to explore.  Find 3- 4 hosts, plan ahead, and break out Facebook.  Announce it on your status update; give people warning that you might be in their area. Then kamakze drive (14hrs) in between stays (make sure you have plenty of great music and a good companion), and rest up at your planned stop.  That way there’s no need to eat out (or futz w/the camping stove) and you have the luxury of a local to recommend interesting/cheap sites in the area.

4.)   Cheap motels: In a stretch where you just don’t know anybody and you’ve forgotten blankets, cheap motels can be a godsend.  But don’t take the 1^st thing off the highway.  Look out for places like the Budget Host Inn where 2 people should be able to stay for $50 or less, or the Casinos outside of Vegas (areas like Mesquite) for under $30.  If you have the resources, ask for a cash discount- that can take another $10 off.

5.)   Camp outside of state/national parks: If you’re trying to see some of the American Wilderness sleep just outside of the parks.  It’s safe, it’s free, and in the morning you can just walk into the park.  I never went so far as to pitch a tent, but sleeping in the car in these spots has never caused me any trouble.

Malibu Pier, ©luxurylink.com

Malibu is a relatively small town.  For all its Hollywood allure, you’ll quickly figure out why it’s the place that the stars retreat away from the city.

The most popular beaches to check out are Surfrider and Zuma.  In the summer you’ll find hoards of people from all over LA congregating in these two spots. If you find yourself at one of these beaches and want a little peace and quiet, keep in mind that the “private” beaches are open for you to stroll along.

At both Zuma and Surfrider, walk north along the beach and  you’ll come to the area lined with big beautiful (or gaudy, depending on your taste) houses.  The trick is that you’re not supposed to sit around and set up camp in front of the houses but you are allowed to walk along and take a break in Hollywood’s back door (though, try not to be too obnoxious about it).

For a quieter more secluded beach, go up to El Matador and Staircase beaches.  They’re at the top end of Malibu near the western side of Highway 23.  You can park across Highway One and walk over. Be careful not to get in the way of the heavy traffic.  Also, be ready to walk down a steep little path.  There aren’t as many lifeguards here, so this is another good place to have that breakfast picnic we suggested in the last Malibu post.

There are at least two really great hikes in Malibu.  The first is at the middle of Malibu’s stretch of Pacific Coast Highway.  Across from the over-priced (and over-rated) Geoffrey’s restaurant is Winding Way (not to be confused with W. Winding Way to the north). Take this road to the top and you will find a nice two-waterfall hike.  You may have to park your car at the bottom of the road (the walk up is practically another hike all on its own).

The second hike is in Decker Canyon (aka Highway 23).   Make a left from Pacific Coast Highway and go up Decker, make a left onto Decker School Road (if you hit Lechusa you went to far), and then follow that to the end, staying to the right, you’ll find the trail head.  As you hit the dead end, the trail is to the left, not the right.  There you’ll find a nice variety of trails.  If you take the path and make the first right and then the first left, you’ll find yourself at a nice little lake with a beautiful view out to the sea.

©artistrising.com

Malibu. It sounds classy… it sounds out of our price range.  But if you’re in SoCal you may want to check it out.  Here we’ve gathered a few tips on how to do it without breaking the bank.

For some (movie) star-watching you’ll want to spend a little time down at Cross Creek shopping center. It’s the “run-to-the-corner” stop for a quick bite, a few loose things, or a coffee.  If can’t swallow the notion of supporting the local Starbucks, and Coffee Bean isn’t going to hit the spot, then Howdy’s is your best bet.  It’s got easy outdoor seating right by the entrance of the shopping center so you’ll see all the big Hollywood names trying to be inconspicuous as they pull up in that bright red Ferrari or in the flashy yellow Ducatti.  Howdy’s is somewhat overpriced Mexican food, but it’s all under ten dollar’s and it’s the most affordable meal in Cross Creek. For more authentic, and slightly cheaper Mexican food try Lily’s next to the Pavilions grocery store at 29211 Heathercliff Rd # 10, Malibu, CA)

If you can skip the stars and are ready for the beach pick up a pizza at D’Amores as you drive north on the Pacific Coast Highway on your way into Malibu.  Its the Malibu local’s favorite pizza spot.  Then take your hot pie with you to Surfrider Beach.  If the street side parking is packed and you don’t want to pay the parking fee for the lot, just park across the street in the Cross Creek parking lot.  Watch out for the seagulls, the will steal your food if you’re not watching.

If you have a little extra money and want to do something classy to fit the Malibu feel (at least in our opinion, it’s classy).  Stop at the Albertson’s super market and grab bagels and lox, along with the cheapest carton of orange juice and some $3 Andre’s Champaign. Throw together a little picnic in the car (mix your mimosa’s together before you get on the beach, technically you’re not allowed to bring alcohol onto the sand).  Walk over to Surfrider and have a delicious morning treat while you watch the surfer’s and keep an eye out for the dolphins.

Alexandra Garcia, Editor/Writer

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Los Angeles is full of interesting housing accommodations and yet I have found that they are incredibly difficult to find. Luckily we have stumbled upon a reasonably-priced, wacky and spiritual space just 15 minutes (by car) from the beach. Welcome to The Circle.

The Circle, owned by the fashion designer, Sanni, is a spiritual and artistic bazaar of a B&B. For those seeking to relax, you have come to the right spot.

Though I have never met Sanni in person, she comes off as an artist who is both down-to-earth and incredibly business savvy. Take a look at her site and you will understand what I mean.

Everyone has access to the main house living room, kitchen and dining room. You may also enjoy the makeshift outdoor fire pit, avocado trees and delicious plums and nectarines that decorate the backyard. If you happen to have a lot of time on your hands, pull out your bathing suit and sunbathe by the large koi pond.

Like a hostel you may find yourself completely alone or surrounded by people from all over the world. We lived at The Circle for four months and lived with a twenty-something year old from Ireland, a 60+ year old woman who prided herself on being an “actress back in the day,” an insightful lesbian woman from Australia who worked for an LGBTQ group, a photographer, a practically invisible Canadian (he was never around), an auto car dealer/theft, and a wonderful woman whose serious case of wanderlust forced her to move to Bali and leave all of her things behind.

…This is by far a space that you will never forget.

THE CAVE
If you are daring and take pleasure in confined spaces, perhaps you should try out the Cave. The owner must have converted this pool with the intent of creating the ideal playroom for her young children. Perhaps it was even prepared to reflect a meditation cave. Either way it surely is an interesting initiative but, to be honest, I would never put anyone that I truly cared about in such tight quarters. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t give it a try for a few nights. If you freak out about the spiders, you can always sleep in the main house.
Price per night: $45

THE TREE HOUSE
The Tree house is the most affordable and unique space at The Circle, maybe even in Los Angeles. Located in the back of the property, the tree house hovers harmoniously over the Koi pond. Though the space is a little tight (2 people max.) you always have the option of lowering the side wall/deck to let some air in (and sunbath).
Price per night: $65

THE FLOATING BED ROOM
At first glance the floating bed is enticing. You quickly imagine being rocked to sleep in this contraption… among other things. This space is the largest offered at The Circle, with a private backyard, which also doubles as the owner’s design studio. The only downside, as the owners designs are housed in this space you will have to be creative about where you store things during your stay.
Price per night: $85

THE MAIN HOUSE
And then there is my personal favorite room, the main house which comes with a private bathroom. This is one of the smaller spaces and yet it reminds me of a true home, a nice stable bed, a window to let air in, no clutter, and direct access to the main house kitchen, living room, and dining room.
Price per night: $100

The Greyhound Bus
Do you miss road trips on Greyhound buses? Sanni has converted a massive 40 foot bus into a functional living space with two bunk beds and a futon. Though the space emits less light then the other rooms in The Circle, it is the perfect place to hang out and watch a movie… There is a movie projector hook-up inside!
Price per night: $85

You will be happy to know that the owner, Sanni, is incredibly generous and flexible with the cost of each room. If you are planning on staying for an extended period of time (a week or more), don’t hesitate to ask for a better deal. This is one of the major highlights of staying here.