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.

Marlo Scott of Sweet Revenge

Over 100 hours spent attempting to perfect the art of mini cupcake making lead me to one big realization: It ain’t easy.

And so, I set out on a journey to find the perfect cupcake with a delicious taste, magnificent appearance and a quirky marketing concept.

And then I found Sweet Revenge. The utopian cupcake shop for adults.

Located in New York City’s West Village, Sweet Revenge (32 Carmine St.) is a bar and cupcake shop that couples wine or beer with your cupcake of your choice.

Try a Not So Dirty Cupcake (Valrhon Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate Ganache)  with a Sweet Revenge Mojito or indulge in a Crimson & Cream (Raspberry Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting).

The space is very cozy (approx. 350 sq. ft. of seating space) and so I wouldn’t recommend checking this out with more than three people as we did.

As for the prices, you are looking at about $ 3.50/cupcake and a $7-8 drink.

This is standard for the Village but not the most frugal place to relax in.

…Perhaps it is the perfect alternative to “grabbing a cup of coffee” with your boss (who will proceed to pay for this outing).

View from The Roof

THE ANCHORAGE is a new place in DUMBO for those seeking a moment of stability intermingled with some creativity in Brooklyn, NY

After moving around the country for a year and a half we recognized the need for a place where artists, friends, travelers, and all those with positive energy and good intentions could meet new people, express their thoughts, and lay their heads. And so, we put aside our serious case of wanderlust for a moment to provide the community (local and global) with THE ANCHORAGE.

THE ANCHORAGE offers 2,000 sq. ft. of whimsical enjoyment and is a place to drink, buy vintage clothes, and meet great people. Stop by for our  happy hour bar night, Monday – Thursday, 6 – 10pm and make sure to try our infamous mini cupcakes.  Or, if you need a place to stay, check out our B&B.

For more information visit, http://www.theanchorage.wordpress.com or follow us on Facebook, Anchorage inDumbo.

Moving to NYC should not slow down your travel adventures and yet, it has for the editors of So Elsewhere. And so, in an attempt to escape the confines of our overly priced apartment, we ventured into bank-breaking Soho for a stroll.

Our wallets only came out once to nurture our curiosity of a mini cupcake shop we discovered crammed between a luxury soap shop and coffee shop.

Melissa of Baked By Melissa, has created a smart and fun business making beautifully decorated mini cupcakes straight out of an Alice in Wonderland tea party.

Unfortunately, the word delicious, does not suit this invention as they taste like pure sugar and are a little too small to enjoy but they might make for a whimsical present for a travel host.

Expect to pay $3/3 thumbalina cupcakes. It might be a little step for the frugal traveler so just stop by and take a picture.

As much as you appreciate your parents’ gratitude while you search endlessly for a well paying job in this recession, its okay to need a break from them.

Luckily you live in a city that is surrounded by exciting cheap getaways.

Catch the greyhound bus ($35 round trip) and head to Atlantic City, the Jersey Shore or Cape May for a few days. If you aren’t one of the lucky few that knows someone who has a summerhouse in the area, you can find some incredibly cheap motels.

If you are itching for a little politics and dig a mile of free museums then take yourself down to 122 Allen St. (on the Corner of Delancy St) and pay $40 (round-trip) for the Washington Deluxe bus to take you to the heart of the United States Government, Dupont Circle.

Boston anyone? Though perhaps one of my least favorite “cities” in the east coast most of us know someone we can stay with for a much needed escape from our parents’ house. If you do happen to visit, make sure to take the Chinatown bus ($40 round trip) and avoid spending money by doing the (free) historical trail throughout the city. It’s a long walk so big your sneakers.

If you have access to a car, now is the time to start heading up to New England. Ever heard of leaf peeping? Neither had I until my co-editor and girlfriend, Alexandra, divulged in this seasonal activity of admiring fall foliage. Whatever you call it, this picturesque phenomenon should not be missed.

If you are willing to splurge a little, make a stop in Saratoga Springs where you can enjoy the natural hot springs for a day. As for housing, try your luck at small college towns like Middlebury or Dartmouth.  Unless you are well beyond your college years, you can probably find your way into a lounge to sleep in. If that’s a little too raunchy, sleep in your car, pack a tent and sleep in the woods or find the nearest and cheapest motel using your smart phone.

…. I think you get the idea. No more complaining about not being able to leave your parents house. There are a heap of options.

I’m heading to D.C. as we speak. We have all been there.