Traveling With Your Pet

My friend Laura (from Georgia) sent me an email about putting up some tips for traveling with a pet:

"i have a suggestion for you, this is something jeff and i have been
having to deal with recently... traveling with your dog!!... i think pet owners
would be interested to read about your tips for that kind of travel. it was just
an idea i had because it is a pain in the ass finding pet friendly hotels and
dealing with the restrictions they have..."

Well, I have never traveled with a pet, and I (unfortunately) don't have one with which to make a test run. Since I can't personally help you out, I decided to turn to my friends at ehow.com, as I've been very impressed with a lot of the travel articles I've found on that site. Lo and behold...

• How to Find a Dog-Friendly Hotel
• How to Find Pet-Friendly Vacation Destinations

There are also a slew of state-specific "pet-friendly travel" articles,
if you just look around on the site.

Hope this helps, Laura! Thanks for the input and for your support.

=)

P.S. I love getting these types of emails! I am here to help my readers in any way possible, so keep them coming.

Milwaukee, WI (10/20/07 - 10/21/07)

Milwaukee, WI

My trusty, and always amiable, travel companion, Brown, and I visited Milwaukee, WI last weekend. We booked hotel accommodations ahead of time, but aside from that we made no plans. We like to wing it, and we're generally pretty good at it, too.

We started out the trip with an impromptu car karaoke sesh of theALTERNAtraveler's unofficial theme song, "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night. You can check out the video below...

theALTERNAtraveler (Milwaukee 10/20/07) Car Karaoke

Add to My Profile More Videos

Once we arrived in Milwaukee, we had some coffee, got lost a lot, had a delicious Italian dinner, and were misled to a dance club by a well-intentioned cabbie. In between all these events, we also took a lot of photos and a couple more videos, which you can find posted throughout this entry.

Date(s): 10/20/07 - 10/21/07
Airfare/Gas: $35 in gas
Other Transportation: Approx. $50 in taxi rides
Spending: Approx. $60
Lodging: $92 for one night in a hotel
TOTAL COST: $150 each (all expenses were split evenly between both travelers)


REVIEWS:


Super 8 Motel - Milwaukee Airport
5253 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 481-8488
www.the.super8.com/milwaukee03384

Price Details: $92 per night (2 queen beds, smoking)

This hotel is what it is - a Super 8. Our room was clean and the staff was polite - when requested, they called a cab for us, and they also put up with our late night pizza delivery inquiries. The only problem with this place was that it was very close to the Milwaukee Airport, which is not that close to downtown. All hotels located in the downtown area ran between $150 to $250 per night, so we decided to go with the cheaper option. Did you know that cheaper is not always more cost effective? I do now. Next time I would think of springing for a more conveniently located hotel, considering we spent over $50 in cab fares to be transported to and from the Super 8 and to multiple bars downtown. You travel, you learn.

TIP!!! Compare the price to book your hotel directly, as well as through a 2nd party website...

We were originally going to book this Super 8 through priceline.com, but after checking the hotel's website, we found that it was a couple dollars less expensive to book directly through them; sometimes it can run the opposite way, however. Check all your options before charging that card!

EXTRA [TRIVIAL] NOTE: They only had a pencil, not a pen, provided in the room. What's up with that?

theALTERNAtraveler Stalks Some Dudes (Milwaukee, WI 10/20/07)

Add to My Profile More Videos

Jackpot Vintage Clothes & Collectibles
435 E. Center St.
Milwaukee, WI
Jackpot Clothing on MySpace

We stopped into Jackpot Vintage because it was across the street from a coffee shop that we decided to hit up (Fuel Cafe, see next review). It's a cute little store with nice quality clothing at low prices. I wanted nearly every dress I laid my eyes on! Great stuff. Bonus! While at the coffee shop across the street, I came up with a new slogan for Jackpot: "Best priced vintage - for fatties!" Although they had mostly "regular" sized clothing, there was quite a selection of plus sized mixed in. As a voluptuous lady, I found a lot in there that I could have fit my big, sexy buns into, which is very unusual for a vintage clothing store. Extra kudos to them!

Fuel Cafe
818 E. Center St.
Milwaukee, WI
(414) 374-FUEL
http://www.fuelcafe.com/

Fuel Cafe. Gulp.

I was mega excited to stop into Fuel Cafe, as I'd visited it two years before with other friends and I'd loved it. Unfortunately, it has changed since then. First of all, it went non-smoking. I guess for some people that will be a plus, but not in my book. And not just because I'm a smoker, either... atmospheres change when smoking goes away. Secondly, I'm a big fan of "greasy spoon" diners, and I remember this little indie/hipster cafe smelling of foot the last time I was there, with poor ventilation and dingy table tops... and all of those aspects, when rolled together, gave Fuel a feeling like no other coffee shop I'd ever been to. No more stank. I also remember the coffee being quite tasty, and this time Brown and I were both disappointed with our drinks. On a couple positive notes, the walls were still covered with fliers of local events, and they were kind enough to let me put a stack of my business cards by their register (which I'm sure they'll throw away after reading this...). Eh. Things change.

Why should you visit Fuel? Because they're a small business who really cares about and supports their local community and indie scene. If you're a smoker, just go in the spring so you can sit outside.

In addition to Fuel, I'd suggest a visit to their sister cafe, Comet, which is also non-smoking, but has a clean, modern look to match their clean, modern air.

The Shops of Grand Avenue
275 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
http://www.grandavenueshops.com/

Brown and I wanted to search for new outfits for the evening, so we stopped by the mall in downtown - The Shops of Grand Avenue. It's a great mall (I've been there before), but we didn't realize until paying for parking and walking in that all but two of the stores close at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. So much for our 6:05 p.m. arrival time! We had to stop by the nearest Target instead. Boo.


Dino's Pizza Restaurant
4252 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 744-0990

After driving around town for an hour or so and getting lost numerous times, we finally found a restaurant that looked enticing - Dino's Pizza Restaurant - a small, casual Italian restaurant near our hotel.

We each tried an Italian margarita, which adds amaretto to the classic formula. It was a bit sweet for my tastes, but it made for a nice dessert drink after our meal. Then we dug into some fried cauliflower, which came with a homemade cheese sauce. Honestly, what would a trip to Wisconsin be without a little cheese? We finished dinner with our entrees, chicken parmesan and mostacolli with Italian sausage. The marinara sauce that came with each had a unique sweet flavor. All in all, our meal was awesome, as was our waitress, who we chatted with for some time.

Oh, yes, and our entire feast, including drinks, was only $28! You can't beat that.

NOTE: We had a group of drunken adults at the table next to us, and one of them had a hilarious "beer call" that he repeated over and over again throughout the night: "P.B.R. me A.S.A.P.!" Nice.


Art Bar
722 E. Burleigh St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 372-7880
http://www.artbar-riverwest.com/

I love me some Art Bar! Art Bar is a bit of a hike from the downtown area, but it's worth the trip. Inside, you'll find rotating art and photography exhibits from many local artists. The atmosphere in this place is amazing - it's dark, but not too dark, alive with color, and friendly and welcoming as can be. In addition to having all sorts of art to gaze upon, you can also play a board game or utilize the pool table. Last time I was there, they had a game of "Beer Bong B-I-N-G-O" going. From what I've seen and heard, there are always special events happening here (you can find a very comprehensive listing of such events all over the city in their free entertainment guide mke, which you can pick up at malls, gas stations, etc.).

Unfortunately, by the time Brown and I arrived at Art Bar, it was pretty dead inside (and it was only 11:00 p.m.). We stayed for a drink, checked out the artwork, then called a cab to head back downtown.

Franklin's???
N. Michigan Ave. (near corner of E. Wisconsin St.)
Milwaukee, WI

Well, according to the entire internet, the bar our ever-so-helpful cabbie took us to does not exist. Perhaps I have the name wrong... because I disliked it too much to remember. If anyone reading this knows of a bar named Franklin's, please let me know so I can add some more info here.

Anywho, on with the review...

I told our taxi driver that we wanted to go to a regular bar downtown - not a dance club, not too crowded, just a laid back hang-out. He agreed and seemed quite happy to help, but then he dropped us off at Franklin's...

Brown and I walked in (pessimistically, I should add, after seeing the crowd gathered outside the door) and found ourselves surrounded by ladies in short skirts and men with frosted hair. The line, or rather, the cattle yard-like herd, to get to the bar was so thick that it took me 20 minutes to get a drink. I automatically felt "out-hipped," which I don't take kindly to. We decided to give it the old college try and stayed for two drinks, watching drunken idiots bump and grind on the small dance floor. All in all, neither of us could wait to get out of there and back to the comforts of our hotel room.

Our short time at Franklin's did have two entertaining points - (1) the music was hip-hop-o-licious and (2) we witnessed a scene straight out of the Encyclopedia of Stereotypes - four fantastic black dancers trying to teach a bumbling white girl some moves, to no avail.

We flagged down a cab at about 1:30 a.m. and made a bee-line for the hotel, where I got to watch 54 before drifting off into a well-deserved sleep.


Copper Kitchen Family Restaurant
3935 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-1315

We rounded out our trip with breakfast at a local diner. The prices were as good as the food, which was delicious. Check out the video below for a little taste...

theALTERNAtraveler Eats Breakfast (Milwaukee, WI 10/21/07)

Add to My Profile More Videos


...AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THE PHOTOS!!!

My first press recognition!

I've had one of my articles reposted by a band that I reviewed - that's my first recognition as a credible press source!

Happy, happy, happy am I.

Wanna see it? It's at www.myspace.com/katvictoriamusic (as their latest blog entry).


P.S. Milwaukee reviews are nearly done! I'll have them posted ASAP.

I've got their blessing.

I finally told my parents about theALTERNAtraveler project and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they are both 100% supportive of the idea. In fact, my dad told me that about 20 years ago he considered creating a travel magazine of his own. Who knew?

You didn't think I pulled this wit, charm and intelligence from the back of my trousers, did you? It's genetic.

Silvie's Lounge, Chicago, IL (10/12/07) & XO Underground, Morris, IL (10/13/07)

My friend Daniel's band, The day after..., paid a visit to the Chicagoland area a couple weeks ago. I got the chance to check them out at two venues I've never been to before, including Silvie's Lounge in Chicago and XO Underground in Morris, IL. You can find reviews of both below...



Silvie's Lounge
1902 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 871-6239
http://www.silvieslounge.com/ (which they apparently don't update very frequently...)

Silvie's had a very nice atmosphere - it was clean, dark, and larger than many Chicago venues I've experienced. It was divided in half, with one side being the bar and the other side housing the stage. The cover was only $5, but I assume it varies depending on which bands are playing. I don't have too much to say about Silvie's, except that I liked it. There was nothing spectacular or awful about it, and the drink prices were of average pricing for a big city bar.

The stand-out part of my evening at Silvie's was the singer (and her amazing band) that went on after The day after..., named Kat Victoria. Their soulful, funky melodies and harmonies blew me away. Their stylings didn't match with the rest of the bands on the bill, but for once this was a blessing. I picked up a CD, and will definitely be listening to the singer's buttery voice often. They are local to Chicago, and will be playing another show in November. I urge you all to check it out - their tunes made me shake my thang, which I am not easily prone to do. You can find them here on the web.


XO Underground
425 E. Rt. 6 (located in Evergreen Plaza)
Morris, IL
(815) 416-1050
http://www.xounderground.com/

XO Underground is an all ages venue. Normally, this is a big turn-off for me (as a 25 year old), but they had so much going for them that it didn't matter. Just look at their website, and you'll see that they are truly jacks (or jills) of all trades there. They are a store (akin to Hot Topic), a hookah lounge, a music venue, and much more. They have a "cereal bar" (see photo below), which was pretty cool, and they also serve pizza. Between the high ceilings, the chain link fences, and the comfy couches, they've got the atmosphere nailed, too. Did I mention that they also had a great sound man and accoustics?

Best of all, it is truly a passionately run small business. The owner was there collecting money at the door (the cover charged ranged from $7-$10, depending on what time you arrived for the show) and helping to set up the bands. I got to talk to her for quite some time and her heart is truly with the XO Underground.

NOTE: Since this is an all ages venue, they do not serve alcohol. It is, however, B.Y.O.B.! My advice? If a band you like is playing there, don't skip their show just because it's an all ages place - you'll miss out.

Milwaukee, here we come...

I'll be walking out the door to go to Milwaukee in about 20 minutes. No plans in mind yet, but we did book a hotel. It was $91!!! Damn. But it's very close to downtown, and the last time I went there I sprung for the much cheaper alternative and ended up paying the difference in cab fares.

See you tomorrow... most definitely with reports of an awesome trip!

10% of Goal Acheived!!!

theALTERNAtraveler is now officially over 10% of goal savings!

TOTAL BALANCE: $1004.00 (10.04% of Goal)

** $9.10 from Donations **

I've given out my first free gift. You could be next! Just donate $5 or more and I'll get that bad boy out to you. Click here to donate.

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $8996.00

It's all happening. I can't believe I'm already at 10% of my goal. Thank you, thank you, everybody. Keep reading, keep passing along the word. Ficky ficky now.

P.S. Two more posts should be up by the end of the day - reviews from last weekend and plans for the upcoming weekend trip to Milwaukee.

P.P.S. Want theALTERNAtraveler delivered right to your inbox everytime there's a new post? Subscribe below.

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

What an awesome weekend!

I had my dear friend's Vegas band, The day after..., in for a visit over the weekend. They are currently on an east coast tour, so I got to see two of their shows at two venues I've never visited before. I'll be adding some new reviews in the next couple days.

In the meantime, check out their MySpace here.

Also, I am hitting up Milwaukee, WI with my friend this upcoming Saturday. I'm looking forward to that, for sure. I'll keep all you awesome readers posted.

Jazz & Wine @ Walter Payton's Roundhouse, Aurora, IL (10/10/07)

Aurora, IL - Jazz & Wine @ Walter Payton's Roundhouse

My friend Missy won tickets to Jazz & Wine night at Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora. It was my very first wine tasting and it was a blast! Read all about it below.

Date(s): 10/10/07
Airfare/Gas: It's right down the street from me...
Spending: $0 (Since my friend won the tickets, they were free. Normal admission is just $10!)
Lodging: N/A
TOTAL COST: $0
REVIEWS:

Jazz & Wine
Walter Payton's Roundhouse
205 N., Broadway
Aurora, IL 60505
(630)892-0034
http://www.walterpaytonsroundhouse.com/

Admission: $10 (tickets in advance or at door)

It was by chance that I stumbled across such a fun and inexpensive activity to fill an otherwise mundane Wednesday night...

First of all, let me tell you a little about Walter Payton's Roundhouse. It is a restaurant, bar, micro-brewery and entertainment venue in downtown Aurora, IL, right next to the train station. (Too young to know who Walter Payton is? Read a little about him here.) It has a very nice atmosphere, but the drink prices tend to be a little out of my price range so I usually only go there for special events or to attend their comedy club, ComedyComedy.

Anywho, on the last occasion that my friend Missy went to their comedy club, she won tickets to a monthly event held there called Jazz & Wine. Being the lovely friend that she is, she invited me along. Jazz & Wine night includes, you guessed it, jazz and wine! A wine tasting is held from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., then a jazz concert begins in the room next door.

Until last night, I had never been to a wine tasting. On the way there, I commented to Missy that I just hoped they didn't make us spit it into a bucket like I'd seen on T.V. (Hey, a little wine buzz never hurt anyone...) I was a little nervous, but relaxed once I got there, seeing some people dressed to the nines and others in jeans, all scuttling about from table to table. There were six different wineries featured, and we tasted a bit from each. We spoke to all of the hosts and hostesses and they were great about answering all of our wine-related queries. After a half an hour or so, we were toasty warm and mingling like pros (No limit on the number of samples you were allowed. Uh-oh!). We both found a few wines and a champagne that we enjoyed a lot, and Missy walked out with two purchases - the wines ranged in price from $8.95 (one of our favorites, White Cin from the Fox Valley Winery) to $23.99 (from Planeta Winery, which we both found to be the most knowledgeable and extremely friendly to boot.) The most unique flavors we found were at the table for the Napa Ridge Winery, where we found a spicy picante wine from Chile and an almond champagne.

After the tasting, we moved to the adjoining bar to watch the Nick Besisi Groove Project, which was pretty standard easy jazz. They were all great musicians, but nothing new or exciting to brag about.

All in all, it was an extremely fun, inexpensive and relaxing evening.

NOTES: I spoke with the manager, Nick, who informed me that Jazz & Wine takes place the 2nd Wednesday of every month, excluding December through March. During the summers, it is held outside in the courtyard area. See the website for more info.

My biznazz cards arrived!

When I went home for lunch today, what should I find waiting for me on my kitchen counter??? My business cards! They look great and I can't wait to start circulating them.

* You can click on the images below for a larger view.

Front:


Back:



If I've got business cards, that must mean that I'm a professional now. Right?

How to Make the Most Out of Your Vacation

I just wrote my first advice article on www.eHow.com. The copy is below, along with a direct link to the article. Feedback is welcome, of course!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2098142_vacation.html

Introduction

Everyone has taken a vacation and come home feeling more worn out than before they left. Learn to get the MOST out of your future travels...

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need
Only the desire to have a little more fun than usual!

Steps

Step One
First and Foremost, Remember That You're on Vacation to Have Fun!

Before you go on vacation, it's always a good idea to research the location and make a list of places you'd like to visit or things you'd like to do. However, if you don't get to everything on your list (or ANYTHING on your list), that's okay! Taking a vacation gives you the chance to get away from the time constraints and pressures of your everyday life - there is no need to make a strict itinerary and stick to it minute by minute. Let loose!

Step Two
Talk to Locals.

No one can give you more valuable insight into local hotspots than the locals themselves! Challenge yourself to talk to people everywhere you go. Most people are more than happy to put in their two cents, and sometimes two cents can be worth a lot. After someone gives you a good tip, put it to use. No website or travel book can compare to a real, face-to-face recommendation.

Step Three
Take the Time to Do a Little Bit of Nothing.

There is no rule that says every minute of your day needs to be outwardly productive - a little "me time" can go a long way. Relax, take a nap, read a book... appreciate your exciting new surroundings and drink them in with all of your being.

Step Four
Break Free from Your Normal Routines.

Do you work out every morning at 7:00 a.m.? Eat dinner at 5:30 p.m. every evening? Eat a sandwich for lunch everyday? Whatever it is that you normally do, DON'T DO IT ON YOUR VACATION! Vacations should be special, and this is the simplist way to insure that they feel that way. Even a night spent in the next town over can be amazing if you just let it.

Step Five
Lose Your Inhibitions.

Now, I'm not recommending that you go out, get drunk, and end up in Tijuana at noon on a Friday with no recollection of the previous three days... but I am recommending that you take some risks and leave your comfort zone for a bit. If you've always wanted to go to a nightclub but think you dance like an idiot, go anyway. Keep in mind that you'll probably never see most of the people you meet on a vacation ever again. And who knows? Maybe you'll win a dance contest and come home with more confidence in your moves than you ever thought possible. If not, nothing is lost. A vacation is a chance to live your unlived life.

Step Six
Treat Yourself.

Get yourself a massage or play nine holes on a world famous golf course. Eat an expensive French meal or throw down $100 on the roulette table. As I've said before, a vacation should be special. Don't break yourself, but don't miss out on something you really want to do. Give in to an impulsive desire and appreciate every second of your experience.

Step Seven
Dress Up.

Need a special occasion to wear that new dress? This is special. Make yourself feel beautiful and take an extra half hour to get ready before walking out that hotel door. You'll hold your chin a little bit higher and you'll have an extra bounce to your step - guaranteed. And don't be so hard on yourself - feel gorgeous, without shame.

Step Eight
Support Local Businesses.

Do you know who built the town you're enjoying? The guy that owns the corner coffee shop and the lady who opened the antique store down the street. Big tourist attractions get most of the attention, but they wouldn't even exist if not for small business owners. Treat them with the respect and appreciation that they deserve - you'll enjoy a more personal experience while helping others who really deserve it.

Step Nine
Finally, Bring Your New Attitudes, Stories and Experiences Home with You.

There is no better souvenir of a great time than a wonderful memory, a new hobby or a different outlook. Allow your vacation to change you, and share your stories with others to inspire them as well. Now that you've had the best vacation of your life, don't waste all that you've learned - apply it to your everyday life and smile a little more.

MOOLAH Update!

Not only did I make another deposit today, but someone else did, too - I got my very first donation!!! I ordered some schwag yesterday from my personal savings... theALTERNAtraveler business cards and the first in the series of free gifts (for you!) should arrive at my doorstep any day now.

Here are the updated totals:

TOTAL BALANCE: $792.83 (8% of Goal)

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $9,207.17

In other news, I have a friend who's moving to Texas soon, and I'm planning on taking a trip down there sometime in the first half of next year. I've been through Texas a couple times on road trips, but I've never really stopped to look around. Planning, planning, planning...

FREE Gifts from theALTERNAtraveler!

FREE Donation Gifts at www.theALTERNAtraveler.com!

theALTERNAtraveler merchandise is here!!!

With each donation of $5 or more, you will receive a FREE gift! Over time, a series of free gifts will be offered, changing as I run out of their limited quantities. After each gift series is finished, the item will only be available for full price through my new online store (opening as soon as Series 1 closes). New items will be added often, so donate today!

All profits will be deposited directly into theALTERNAtraveler fund.

As a reminder of why theALTERNAtraveler project deserves your hard-earned buckaroos, please see the Mission Statement below and take a look at www.theALTERNAtraveler.com.

theALTERNAtraveler Mission Statement

theALTERNAtraveler is committed to showing the "anti-tourist" how to have a great vacation, particularly when they are under strict time constraints, are lacking in funds or will be traveling alone. In 2009, theALTERNAtraveler plans to take 25 trips in one year, with a total budget of only $10,000. Until her "launch date," she will take you through every step of her journey, including choosing her destinations, saving money, arranging travel time and seeking out unconventional points of interest. theALTERNAtraveler wants to share all of her resources and stories with you through her blog – www.thealternatraveler.com – and plans to write a complete memoir of her travel experiences, with the hopes of having them published in 2010.

Just click the link below to make your $5 (or greater) DONATION and get your FREE GIFT ASAP!!!

Donate Here!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, fellow ANTI-TOURISTS!

- Rice -

How to Keep a Travel Journal (Great article!)

I found a great article at www.eHow.com about how to keep a travel journal. It's a quick read with lots of great tips. Peep it here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_13115_keep-travel-journal.html

I'm planning another trip to Milwaukee!

My friend Brown and I are going to head up to Milwaukee, WI on October 20th. I'm so excited! We're going to to leave on Saturday morning and come back Sunday evening. I haven't been there in ages and I'm PSYCHED. I'll let you know how the hotel booking and itinerary planning comes along.

ALSO! I added a sweet little calendar over on the left hand side so all of you can see my upcoming trips. No effort stalking? You got it.

Any awesome spots in Milwaukee that you'd like to recommend?