Stay Overnight in a Real Ghost Town

With Halloween coming, it's hard not to have your mind on ghosts and goblins. I had the opportunity to meet with some reps from Montana's visitor board this week and learned about a fantastic little ghost town that is very unique. One, they let you stay when the sun goes down. Two, if you visit when there's snow, you can only reach it by skiing or snowmobiling in. That's pretty cool, right?

Garnet, Montana used to be a thriving gold mining town and now it's the state's most intact ghost town that is said to come alive at night. Garnet, gold and quartz was found in the area, which is how the town got its name. It was a great place to live, especially for miners and their families, but once the gold started waning, so did its population. After the war, looters came in and stripped the town of anything that wasn't nailed down, and some things that were! The upkeep and preservation of this cute little historical town is now dependent on public donations/contributions and volunteers.

Stay in an off-the-grid cabin ,where you can really get the feeling of living in Garnet. You may hear a raucous party in the saloon or the Miners Union Hall, which was also used as a dance hall. Visitors have been said to hear footsteps. Entrance fees are just $3 per person and you can stay in a cabin overnight for a mere $19 per night, so it's really budget-friendly, potentially creepy, plus totally fun and educational.

When you aren't exploring the town's rich history, taking amazing pictures or listening for ghosts, you have the option of nearby fishing, including ice fishing in the winter, hiking, hunting and mountain biking. Make sure you have the proper permits for the recreation that requires it.

June brings with it warmer weather and Garnet Appreciation Day. The third Saturday of the month is reserved for visitors to come explore the town, enjoy live music and interact with Garnet's "inhabitants" who want you to understand what life was like a hundred years ago. In addition to the interpretative aspect, get lunch, try your hand at gold panning, cool off with homemade ice cream, get in on some games and more. Commemorate your visit with a trip to the Visitors Center and a purchase from their gift shop.

Garnet makes a great side trip to your visit to Glacier National Park and Missoula, which I'll be talking about more soon. It's even made it on the Travel + Leisure list of America's Coolest Ghost Towns. Have you ever had a paranormal experience, in a ghost town or anywhere else? Tell us about it!

Want to know more? Check out Garnet, Montana online: website | Facebook | YouTube | Flickr

Photo credits: Garnet Ghost Town | Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I'm just excited about Montana's budget options.

Super Useful Travel Posts

Happy Friday, all! Apparently, it's a week of learning what not to do when you travel, as that seems to be the theme to today's SUTP (with the exception of a few). Sometimes knowing what not to do is more helpful than knowing the opposite. Be kind, courteous and enjoy your trips that you're properly prepared for. I hope you enjoy my round-up of links this week.

Have you taken a look at your passport lately? If it is damaged, you may not be able to get on the plane. This woman on her honeymoon ended up paying thousands to replace her passport to actually go on her trip with her new husband. Huffington Post shows you what to look for before heading to the airport.

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And speaking of honeymoons, they can be expensive. After dropping all your savings on the ultimate wedding, it's unlikely you'll have money leftover for that trip of a lifetime (unless you register for your honeymoon like I did). If you're looking to take a memorable and luxurious-feeling trip after your nuptials, maybe head to one of these 7 destinations that feel more expensive than they are.

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Because they aren't at home, some people think it's okay to act like a-holes when they are traveling, especially when they're in a hotel and don't have any courtesy for others who want to relax, too. Please remember that you aren't the only one away from home and trying to cut loose. You still need to be aware that other people exist, and are pretty close to you and your screaming kids or loud music. Travel + Leisure takes a look at annoying hotel habits. {I've encountered some of these people in rentals as well.}

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I'm always looking for interesting places to eat, and there's no more interesting place than a commune living in what they hoped would be a future utopia. In the middle of the Arizona desert, you can find such a place with a homemade buffet spread and open arms to visitors. Trade work for food or put down cold hard cash. Both work for this community. Eater gives you more details.

I wrote something to help you all travel better for the fall and winter. I know you have issues with packing light, even in the summer, so my new partnership with Travel-Wise is allowing me to give even more travel tips to you and a whole new audience. Usually, I don't include my own posts in this segment, but I'm kind of excited about this new website and want to share.

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Do you love wine? Do you seek out some of the best regions for tasting when you travel? If so, check out this post on Gogobot that shines a light on six unexpected, but seriously good wine regions. You'll find a more budget-friendly trip and enjoy wines that you never heard of before.

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Now there's a new way for thieves to steal your identity. Boo, right? When you travel, you need a boarding pass. What do you do with them after you've gotten on the plane? Do you toss them out like many people do? I always keep mine, but only because I like souvenirs from my travel and use them for photo shoots for this blog. Techlicious looks at why we should really use e-tickets as much as possible. We used them this last trip and it was super easy. You just need to keep your phone charged enough to bring up the airline app at security and the gate.

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What are your travel pet peeves? I can't stand it when people are so busy texting or looking at their phone that they run right into you. What about those people who just stop in the middle of the walkway, like they have no idea where they are or how they got there? And am I the only one that wants to smack an iPad out of someone's hand that is using it to take pictures? I know it takes great pictures, but you're annoying iPadder. Use your phone. Travel + Leisure reveals the top 5 travel pet peeves of 2015. Do you have others? Tell us in the comments.

That's all I got for this week. If you found something cool, interesting or just plain entertaining that is travel-related, leave a link in the comments, so we can all check it out.

Metromile: The Insurance Company That Fits Your Driving Style

In this world of high-priced everything, it can be hard to find ways to save for that awesome trip you want to take. Metromile wants to help you by giving you comprehensive pay-as-you-drive insurance. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars a month to insure a car you may not drive everyday, or one you only drive to and from work, why not pay only for the miles you actually drive? I work from home and probably drive 300 miles a month on average, because I only make trips to the grocery store, the hair salon and the movies. Of course, if we go out of town, we take my car, but that is only a few times a year. 

Metromile starts you off with a base rate that can be as low as $30 per month and then your cost per mile depends on your driving record, car, age and the things you want your policy to include. Add those together and your car insurance can save you big over your current policy. If you drive less one month, you save more than months you drive more. Pretty awesome right? That money you're saving can go into your vacation fun.

So, how does this effect you when you go on a road trip? It's not necessary to leave your vehicle at home and rent a car to save money anymore. There is no charge after 150 miles per day (or 250 miles per day if you live in Washington State), so you may be spending less on gas and insurance than paying for a rental. When I got a free quote, I did the math and 150 miles came to less than $9 per day (everyone's cost per mile will be different, but all should be pretty reasonable). Can you imagine going on a long distance trip and still paying less on insurance than you do with your traditional policy? Even budget travelers can stay on track. Those months you drive less can help pay for the times you drive long distances.

You're probably thinking that Metromile cuts corners somewhere to bring you such affordable service, but they don't. You can call them 24/7 and keep track of your mileage and more with their app that is available on both Apple and Android devices. Metromile sends you the fancy little Metromile Pulse that you plug into your car and simply calculates and transmits your miles to them. Unlike other insurance companies, they don't keep track of how you drive, because you only pay for how much you drive. They treat you like the responsible drive you are.

The Pulse works with your app to help you be a better and more responsible driver and car owner. Are you in a street sweeping zone? The app will alert you! Does your car need a check-up? The app will alert you! When do you need to stop to get gas to get the most from your tank? The app will tell you! Forgot where you parked your car? The app will direct you!

The only bummer to Metromile is that it isn't available everywhere yet, but they are growing and rolling out nationwide as quickly as possible. At present, if you live in California, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Washington, you can sign up right away. If you don't, you can put your email on a waiting list to be notified when you can sign up. Sounds pretty good, right? What if I also told you that you can win a fancy little swag bag from Metromile? Enter to win below and the go get a quote to see how much Metromile could save you!

Your Metromile swag bag includes this sweet t-shirt and sunglasses, plus: a reusable shopping bag, notebook with pen, mousepad, phone charger for your car, tire gauge, air freshener, a travel tumbler for hot or cold beverages and a $50 gas card! That'll get you started on that road trip you've been planning.

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Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by Metromile, but all opinions are 100% my own, Metromile comes highly recommended and, as always, I never blog about companies whose products/services I don't stand behind.