On The Road Again - Part 2 10.10.12

Road trips can be a lot of fun or a total nightmare. It all.depends on how you do go and what you do along the way. Last week I gave you some tips we always follow when we load up the car to drive to a destination and back. This week I'd like to give you a few more to help you road trip right and on a budget.

Coupons, coupons, coupons! Along the road you're bound to stop at a few rest stops or greasy spoons (including Denny's) and when you do, grab one of those highway magazines that is full of coupons for dining and lodging. You can.save a ton off already affordable necessities. Sometimes, you may find discounts for roadside attractions. If not, make sure to browse that rack in your hotel/motel lobby before you do anything nearby.

Dress comfortably. It is so easy to dress comfortably and still look like a person nowadays with fabrics like jersey, bamboo and rayon. Just because you've been in the car for 10 hours, doesn't mean you have to look like a slob. Not only are these fabrics comfy, but they also resist wrinkles and breathe well, too. If you can't live without your trusty jeans, invest in some nice ones with stretch. I have three pair that I paid a pretty penny for, but they are some of the best ones I own for travel: James Jeans, Hudson and Lolë. Yes, I know they may have been expensive, but they are well made and will last me many years.

Don't forget about easy-on, easy-off shoes. Like on the plane, you don't want to have crampy feet that you also have to untie and retie every time you get in and out of the car. Throw on some loafers or flats, which will keep your feet happy and save you time.

Photo credit

Bring tunes from home. Don't rely on just the radio, otherwise you'll have times were the only thing you get are Christian and deep country music, if you can pick up anything. I swear there must be radio towers built into the mountains for these stations. If you're a fan of either, you are probably okay, but I still suggest loading up your iPod with some good road tunes, podcasts or e-books. That way you have a variety of things to listen to and aren't forced to listen to Jesus Rock in between static if you don't want to.

Don't forget non-digital entertainment. Another case of batteries failing or just using your brain. Never underestimate the awesomeness of good old fashioned road trip games, like license plate bingo and 20 questions. Of course, bringing physical games, books and magazines are always a smart idea. Not only can you use them in the car, but in the hotel room and once you get to your destination. I like a selection of card games, but this might also be a great time to bust out your travel-size games, like magnetic Parcheesi, Scrabble or Connect 4.

I know not everyone loves to pack the car up and drive for hours or days to get to their real vacation destination, but by doing more to make the time fly and have a better time along the way, a road trip can be an amazing experience for your family or friends.

Do you have a favorite way to make road trips more fun or budget-friendly?

48 Fun Hours on a Budget in San Francisco 10.6.12

In this blog series we look at how easy it is to budget travel anywhere and give you a quick overview of a new city each time in a brief 48-hour itinerary. Today’s 48 hours post is brought to you by Nancy, who usually works behind the scenes at STC, doing editing and marketing.

I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area all my life, so choosing things to do on the cheap in just 48 hours was pretty tough. But if this is your first visit and you want to get a good sampling of The City by the Bay, I’ve come up with a list of affordable activities for you!

This photo of Golden Gate Bridge is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Day 1

Start your day off with breakfast at a San Francisco institution, The Java House, down at Pier 40 next door to AT&T Park. This historic waterfront restaurant has been around since 1912 and offers reasonably priced breakfast and lunch items all day, most in the $7-$9 range. It’s a great way to start your day and take in the incredible views on the water.

This photo of Ferry Building Marketplace is courtesy of TripAdvisor

You might think world-famous Pier 39 would be right next to Pier 40. But it’s not! It’s actually two and a quarter miles down Embarcadero. Depending on your energy level and your desire to walk off breakfast, you can take a leisurely stroll along the water or you can jump on Muni, San Francisco’s transportation system. I suggest the stroll, since halfway from The Java House to Pier 39 is The Ferry Building Marketplace, home to an incredible farmers’ market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and at all times featuring restaurants and storefronts from some of the most famous local food purveyors, such as Scharffenberger Chocolates, Hog Island Oyster Company, Stonehouse Olive Oil and Cowgirl Creamery. Many offer free samples!

Now you are ready to continue your walk (or jump back on Muni) to continue your trip down Embarcadero to the tourist mecca, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Like oddities, mazes and wax replicas of famous people? You’re in luck! Here you will find Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Ripley’s Mirror Maze and The Wax Museum of San Francisco, which features 240 “lifelike personas” in 50 different scenes. You can do all three of these activities at a discounted price of $34 for adults and $18 for children, which is a great deal. Does the idea of wax people scare you? Swap that attraction out for the Aquarium of the Bay at the same pricing.

This photo of Pier 39 is courtesy of TripAdvisor

When you are ready for lunch, there is no shortage of restaurants in the area to choose from. Local seafood is in abundance, and for an economical taste of the catch of the day, head on over to one of the seafood stands. Think of them as a precursor to the food cart. There you’ll find the best seasonal choices, including the famed Dungeness crab. The start of crab season is almost like a holiday in San Francisco.

When you have had your fill of seafood and done all three of your attractions, take a moment to check out some of San Francisco’s most popular celebrities: The Pier 39 Sea Lions! From late July to mid-May, hundreds of the bipeds hang out and bark and bask in the sun. You look at them, they look at you…it’s a good arrangement.

This photo of Lombard Street is courtesy of TripAdvisor

By now you are probably asking, “When do I get to ride a cable car?” The answer is, right now! Make your way to Victorian Park & Bay Streets and jump on the Powell-Hyde Line and ride it to Lombard Street, the “Crookedest Street in the World”. The Powell-Mason line will also take you to Lombard Street, but it drops you off at the bottom. Take your pictures and walk the steep, winding lane if you are so inclined, and then jump back on the cable car and continue on toward Union Square. Cable car rides run you $5 each way or $13 for the whole day.

This is probably a good time to discuss transportation. San Francisco strives to be a “transit first” city. You’ll know why if you have ever tried to negotiate its many one-way streets or had to drive blocks out of your way to be able to turn in the direction you hoped to go. Not to mention finding a parking space…it might be easier to find a unicorn. Luckily, the city offers a very user-friendly transportation system, known as Muni. The system fleet includes historic streetcars, buses, electric trolley coaches, light rail vehicles and those iconic cable cars. If you are going to ride the cable car and take the bus or rail to get around, a pass is going to be your cheapest option. One-day unlimited Muni passes are $14 (you can get a seven-day pass for just $27) and considering a single ride on a cable car will cost you $5, that’s a bargain!

This photo of Osha Thai Noodle Cafe is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Okay – back to Union Square. Yes, it is home to Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, stores not known for their budget wares. Window-shopping is free! And there are plentiful stores catering to tourists and budget shoppers as you head down Powell toward Market Street. If you are an art lover, there is no shortage of galleries to peruse. And when you have worked up an appetite…again…how about some tasty Thai at one of San Francisco’s most popular families of restaurants, Osha Thai Noodle Café on Geary. There you can find a huge assortment of delicious dishes, with entrees mostly running in the $10-$14 range.

Now that you are full and tired, head on back to your hotel and get ready for your Day Two adventure.

This photo of Posh Bagel is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Day 2

Start your day off deliciously and affordably at The Posh Bagel over in 4 Embarcadero Center, near the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Their unique offerings will energize you to start your day. A bagel and drink will cost you around $6, but if you choose to get a sandwich instead, look to spend around $10. Once you have noshed, head over to California and Market Streets. Again you have the choice of transit on wheels or on your feet. The California line cable cars start their “journey to the stars” here, so you can jump on one and take the ride to Grant Street, our first stop of the day. Or you can walk the eight blocks up to Chinatown. Peruse the exotic and inexpensive wares offered at storefronts all up and down Grant Street from Bush Street to Broadway.

This photo of Yerba Buena Gardens is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Next up, head down Grant and across Market and go two blocks down Yerba Buena Lane to the Yerba Buena Gardens, two city blocks of gardens, a meadow, a 120 thousand-gallon waterfall and more all with free admission. After you have explored the garden area, you have a variety of choices, including what to eat for lunch. Choose from a nice variety of options in and around Yerba Buena Center.

Now you are ready to fill up the rest of your day. Feel like some culture? Check out the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (Admission $18 for 12 and over). Have little ones with you that have a curious nature? Treat them to the Children’s Creativity Museum ($11 entrance fee for everyone over 2 years old) – or “Zeum” – and a nearby carousel. Like high-tech shopping (or window-shopping) experiences and IMAX movies? Metreon is for you!

This photo of Tropisueno is courtesy of TripAdvisor

To finish up your day and your 48 hours, how about some popular Mexican fare at Tropisueño? Bottomless chips and three kinds of salsa start you off, and then you can go for small plates starting at $6 on up or entrees, mostly in the $12-$16 range. People rave about their moles and margaritas.

And there you go! Forty-eight hours of food, culture, sightseeing and shopping. I hope you enjoyed this taste of the streets of San Francisco!

{Thanks for these fun ideas from Nancy. This itinerary would cost you around $150. Save some bucks on activities and transportation by purchasing a CityPASS for just $69 per person, and also relax a bit by taking a cruise around the Bay on Blue & Gold Fleet, which is included in the cost of your PASS.}

What are some of your must-do activities in San Francisco?

On The Road Again - Part 1 10.3.12

I don't know about you, but Fall always seems like road trip season to me instead of Summer. The leaves are changing and you don't necessarily have to bundle up to get out and enjoy a picnic on the side of the road, but stopping to get pie and coffee at a diner to warm up in the early evening is a welcome break, too. My family was the master of road trips. Granted, there were only three of us, so fighting was often short-lived and I had the backseat all to myself. Most of the time. We sometimes brought friends along, so I would have someone to annoy and ride roller coasters with. As I got older, I still had a thing for road tripping. I attribute it to my younger years and how we learned to make them as fun as possible.

Road trips aren't for everyone, but I just think people hate being trapped in the car with their family because they don't plan, set ground rules or know how to make them fun along the way. Let's talk about how to make them enjoyable and as pain-free as possible.

Don't drive straight through! The number one rule of road trips is we don't talk about road trips! Wait. No. That's another post for another blog maybe. The real golden rule of road trips is that you stop along the way and stop often. Driving for 4+ hours straight is BORING. Even if you play games or sleep, people will get grumpy, your legs will get stiff and you won't be happy. Plan a route that has interesting stops - a funky diner, a cool cave, the largest ball of twine. Something. Your stops don't have to be expensive, just fun and memorable.

On our many road trips, we've stopped at sea lion caves, a gift shop in a tree, oceanfront viewpoints, the world's largest thermometer and a mystery spot where things roll uphill. We never had dull trips, even if we were low on cash.

Bring foods! Eating out frequently is really going to take a bite out of your budget and totally ruin your diet. I don't know about you, but I also don't want to come back from vacation hating chicken strips or cheeseburgers either. Sure, eating out is fun, but choose your stops wisely and bring a cooler stocked with homemade stuffs – like fried chicken, potato salad and muffins – along with fixings for sandwiches, sides, drinks and snacks to nibble on in between stops.

Make reservations. We've learned this the hard way several times. You'd think we would have it all figured out by now and listen to our own advice. Though the fun of road tripping is spontaneity, you can't always just pull over and stay wherever looks good. We have been screwed over by unknown conventions and sporting events more than a few times. Now we plan our endpoints and make reservations for destinations we can reasonably get to each day. Trust me. You do NOT want to end up eating a Subway sandwich in your car in the dark and finally stopping at a campsite at two in the morning because it's your only option for sleep.

If you DO decide to go with the flow, when you get close to when you want to stop and you see an affordable hotel/motel with a vacancy, STAY THERE. Don't listen to the voice that says, "We can make it further..." You may either have to double back or drive way further because there are no vacancies for many miles afterwards.

A paper map is a must. Yes, you have a smarty phone and your fancy GPS, but batteries die and not all roads show up on satellites. (Just ask those kids from Cabin in the Woods - "This road isn't even worthy of global positioning.") You never know what might happen, so an old-fashioned map is great for those unforeseen circumstances. If you don’t buy one before you leave home, pick one up at a gas station, convenience store or rest areas.

Stay tuned for more road trip tips next week where I’ll discuss more ideas to keep you sane and from killing your friends or loved ones. In the meantime, you can read about how to spend 48 hours in San Francisco in our next post from STC editor/proofreader/marketing guru, Nancy, and also give me your best tips for a successful road trip.