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For 500.00 Jet Blue will let you fly to any collection of their destinations as many times as you want between September and October!

But don’t waste time reading about it here- get to the Jet Blue page a book your adventure before the offer runs out: http://www.jetblue.com/aycj/?intcmp=HPHero1Eng_AYCJ2010

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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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Photo by Markushartel. From www.markushartel.com

Anybody who spent the past week in NYC knows about the record breaking temperatures we’ve been experiencing this week.  Over 100 F and humid.  Home Depot, Target, Sears, and Costco are all sold out of Air Conditioners- leaving Craigslist and Ebay as the only option if you don’t have an AC and want to stay cool in a hot little apartment.

That being said, the resourceful traveler should be able to keep cool without the AC and enjoy NYC  without spending too much money.

Here are a few of So Elsewhere’s tips:

When you get ready to go out, wrap icy cold cloth/towel around your wrists or ankle area.  This will bring down your body temperature 3 degrees or so for about an hour.

Stop by the bodega (not a Whole Foods if you plan to have any money left over)and pick up some coconut water. Either drink it cold or make ice cubes for your water bottle (if you have access to a freezer).  It’s better than gatorade for your electrolyte levels.

When the summer weather gets intense in the city, community centers are turned into public “cooling centers.” Dial 311 to find the one nearest you.

On the other hand you can also retreat to a public library or Barnes and Nobles.

Also look out for the NY “water holes” at hydrants where the city is setting up six- faucet sinks for people and metal bowls for pups.

Better yet, stop by a fire-station and ask them to install a free spray cap on a hydrant near you. (Then take a picture as you participate in one of those iconic urban summer scenes of kids playing by an open hydrant).

On your way home pick up a pack of Yuengling.  True, beer isn’t the best way to hydrate, but after a long day out and all the coconut water hydrating you’ll be ok.  It’s the best of the “cheap” American beers.

And while your shopping if you have a few extra dollars pick up some watermelon, lime and salt.  Slice the watermelon, squeze the lime juice on it, and sprinkle salt on it.  It may not be the best for hydrating, but its delicious, and between the beer and watermelon you might actually be able to fall asleep despite the outrageous heat! (remember to drink water though!)

4th of July in New York (Photo from www.dumbonyc.com)

If you plan on spending July 4th in New York City you probably know about the free concert at Governor’s Island.

Here are few other free events that you might not have heard about:

Nathan Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest: What could be more American than a hot dog eating contest to celebrate US independence?  Held at Coney Island, this NY tradition dates back to 1916.

Free Midday Jazz Show at Louis Armstrong House Museum: Turns out Louis Armstrong and the US share a birthday, different years but both Cancers.  This year British artist Gwyn Jay Allen will be preforming for this free annual event.

Rooftop viewing of Macy’s firework show: This super-secret event is a gathering of frugal hipsters and veteran Brooklyn artists to watch the fireworks across the East River.  Usually the fireworks are directly above the East River, however this year they’ll be across it, but still in view.  Come to 135 Plymouth Street say the password, and after climbing seven flights of stairs you’ll find 100-200 people. BYOB/BBQ.

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Once a year, Beer lovers gather at TAP New York Beer Festival at Hunter Mountain to indulge in hops grown, bottled and sold all over the world.

The entrance fee is a steep $55 and $25 for designated drivers. Yup, that means NO alcohol but it’s easy to sneak a few sips of your friends if you can only afford this ticket.

As frugal travelers, we did the math and the entrance fee its actually worth it as it gets you an unlimited supply of food, drinks and outdoor entertainment.

We arrived an hour into the four-hour long-event on Saturday without much difficulty. Despite the crowds, the lines move rapidly and we were able to enjoy a multitude of different food and drinks from over forty breweries.

Supposedly the Sunday crowd is much smaller, but we wouldn’t recommend missing the energy of a packed outdoor festival.

We were a little disappointed that the event was primarily indoors and under tents on a small patch of concrete, but all-in-all, it was the perfect way to bring in the summer.