And We're Back!

Sorry for the radio silence last week. Between finals and starting three summer internships/clerkships (yes, three and yes, I'm crazy), I wasn't able to update last week. But don't worry, I'll be back to posting twice a week tomorrow with more about my recent trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Thanks for Noticing!

Much to my continued surprise, people actually read this blog. Even more surprising, they really like it and put me on travel blog lists. Most recently Zen College Life put me on their list of 50 Best North American Travel Blogs. Then I was truly honored and astounded that OnlineCourses.net named me #3 on their list of 50 Best United States Travel Blogs.

I originally started this blog upon moving to Kansas as a way to get to know all the weird and wonderful things around me and to have an excuse for regular road trips. Now the blog is in its third year and I continue to be astounded that you - my kind readers - actually enjoy reading about my adventures. So thank you for reading and I will keep writing, traveling, and (hopefully) being generally awesome.

Much love,

Kris the Educated Vagabond

My Favorite Road Trip Blogs

I don't just write a travel blog, I read them as well. I love reading blogs about road trips because they give me great ideas for my own adventures and also provide me with an opportunity to interact with others who enjoy writing about their time on the road. Since I know you, my reader, also enjoy reading travel blogs (obviously) I thought I would share with you some of my favorites:

A Traveler's Library:

This blog was a recent discovery about I have been working my way through the archived posts pretty quickly. This blog combines books, movies, and travel into one amazing experience that captures the influence of media on our destinations. If you're looking for something to read, something to watch, or somewhere to go - this blog has some of the greatest suggestions you can find. She recently inspired me to read "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote (I know, it's embarrassing I haven't already read it) in preparation for a road trip to Holcomb, Kansas where the crime was committed.

Eccentric Roadside:

If you enjoy the old-school roadside attractions like I do, then this blog is a must-read. Want to know about weird museums? Read about their trips to the Museum of Bad Art or the Spam Museum. Want to know about Jim Napors (aka Gomer Pyle)? Well they have been to his hometown and can tell you all about it. Whether it is a funny sign, a weird roadside attraction, or a restaurant shaped like a racial stereotype, this couple has been there and done that. This blog will tell you about all the strange things out there and make you want to hit the road in search of more.

Solo Road Trip:

Tammie Dooley gave up a career in financial planning to live as a freelance writer. As someone who spent many years as a struggling freelance writer, I know how big a transition that can be. She has embarked on some amazing adventures around the country and the world, including an awe-inspiring mountain climbing feat. If you only read a couple of her posts, read about her climb of Grand Teton. Her stories and pictures are absolutely inspiring.

The Unplanned Misadventures of MirMir and Bess:

I am lucky enough to actually know the MirMir and Bess of this blog - we went to college together. And I have also been lucky enough to accompany them on a few road trips, including one adventure to a little town called Hell in Michigan. After college, MirMir and Bess traveled the country. Then MirMir took to the sea as a cook for a tall ship while Bess went to California and now is living in Canada. They continue to have adventures and share them with their lucky readers and also share their thoughts on a variety of topics from movies to books to steampunk. Reading the blog is like sitting down for a drink with two of the most interesting people I have ever met.

Wandering Off:

In this blog, a mother writes about her adventures with her husband and young daughter in Texas and beyond. While I tend to travel alone or with a friendly companion, I love reading about their heart-warming family adventures. For those who are looking for some family road trip ideas, this is a must read. And for those who simply like to enjoy feel-good stories about a family that loves to hop in the car and hit the road (like me), this is also a must read.

Grand Opening of Vagabond Vestments!

Instead of a regular post today, I'm going to make a couple major announcements.

First, some amazing news! Apparently there are more of you reading this blog than I thought. The Yellow Brick Road Trip was ranked #16 on the 50 Best North American Travel Blogs! I am genuinely surprised and genuinely honored to be on the list, because there are some great blogs on there. So thank you to everyone who has been reading and I encourage you to check out the list for some other travel blogs.

My second major announcement is that I am opening Vagabond Vestments, a store for the Yellow Brick Road Trip where I will be selling handmade items to help fund my travels. I started knitting years ago, just for something to keep my hands busy while I was watching television. But eventually, my family and friends got tired of receiving knitted presents for every possible occasion. So I decided to sell my items here and use the money to continue my travels for The Yellow Brick Road Trip. Right now, I'm selling just knitted items but I enjoy other crafts - for example, I'm currently learning to cut glass - so you may see some other types of items available here soon!

Thank you to everyone who has been reading! Check out Vagabond Vestments and come back on Tuesday when I will have a post about the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas (the home of the KU college basketball team).

We Will Return September 28th!

The Yellow Brick Road Trip will return Tuesday, September 28th!

My apologies for the lack of posts the past few days. I have been suffering from the pure hell of seasonal allergies. I've spent the past several days confined to my couch making a cocoon out of tissues and blankets. But never fear, the Yellow Brick Road Trip will return with posts about my road trip to Kansas City to see a concert at the Record Bar and my upcoming trip to Bonner Springs for the Buzz Beachball Concert at the Sandstone Amphitheater.

So I'll see you on September 28th and in the mean time, I raise my bottle of cough syrup to you!

Road Trip Music - "Away We Go" (100th Post Soundtrack)

Well, it's official! This is the 100th post on The Yellow Brick Road Trip! And in honor of this momentous occasion, I thought I would share my new road trip soundtrack.

I haven't made a road trip soundtrack in a while, just soundtracks to long hours of studying evidence procedure. So it was nice to think about the music I want to listen to while driving as quickly as I can away school. Some of the songs are repeats from previous mixes, but I think this is a nice way to celebrate 100 posts of vagabonding!

"Away We Go" (100th Post Soundtrack)

1. "Hell on Wheels" Betty Blowtorch

2. "Thelma & Louise" HorrorPops

3. "The Get Away" Pretty Girls Make Graves

4. "Highway 55" HorrorPops

5. "Satan is My Motor" Kaiser Chiefs

6. "Oh My God" Kaiser Chiefs

7. "Take Me Anywhere" Tegan & Sara

8. "A Change Would Do You Good" Sheryl Crow

9. "I Saw a Cop" Jill Sobule

10. "God's Country" Ani DiFranco

11. "All American Girl" Melissa Etheridge

12. "North Carolina" Melissa Ferrick

13. "Everyday is a Winding Road" Sheryl Crow

14. "Nowhere to Go" Melissa Etheridge

15. "LA Song" Beth Hart

16. "Westbound" Melissa Ferrick

17. "Giggling Again For No Reason" Alanis Morissette

18. "I Drove All Night" Cyndi Lauper

19. "Vegas" Sara Bareilles

Road Trip Philosophy – Five Rules of Road Trips

In addition to traveling and writing about traveling, I also like reading about traveling. (I’m sort of one dimensional that way). One of my favorite blogs to read about traveling is Vagabonding Life by Greg Rodgers. Back in 2005, Greg quit his corporate job and took off for the wild blue yonder. Since then, he’s been sharing his amazing stories with us.

One my favorite posts by him is Unofficial Rules of Vagabonding. He offers brilliant advice, such as: “When life gives you lemons, throw them back at the harlot!” Inspired by him, I thought I would share my five rules of road trips.

1. Bring a Map or GPS…

Before I take a trip, I map it out on Google Maps. I figure out all the possible roads I could take there and back, what towns I will pass through along the way, and anywhere I might want to stop on the road. Once I’m on the road, I keep my Garmin GPS handy and a back up map in the glove compartment. Kansas is full of one lane highways that pass through fields without anywhere to stop for hours. One bad turn and you’re heading through Western Kansas for hours before you realize you’ve gone the wrong way. Also, some roadside attractions are small and not advertised. You have to know what you’re looking for and where it is if you’re going to find some roadside attractions.

2. …But Plan on Getting Lost Anyway!

A common mistake about GPS is that it will always work. But I can guarantee when you are out on that one lane highway that runs along the railroad tracks, you’re going to hear that annoying little chirp and monotone voice saying, “Lost satellite reception.” This also assumes that your GPS is completely updated, which also seems to rarely happen. Roads change over time and there will always be construction and detours blocking your path. You can keep your GPS on and try to negotiate around it, but it will keep trying to take you back down the road you can’t take and all the while saying, “Recalculating… Recalculating…” At that point, the only sane thing to do is turn it off.

Without a GPS, you can turn to your map or just trust your inner sense of direction (both of which are highly fallible). On my way back from Oklahoma to Kansas, I spent a good half hour driving around little towns, following a detour that never seemed to end through a torrential downpour. It was unpleasant, but it was an adventure. And isn’t that why you take a road trip in the first place?

3. Talk to Locals…

When you stop in a town of less than 1,000 people, you have to ask yourself one question: Where can I eat that I won’t get food poisoning? Food poisoning and even indigestion can make a long car ride pretty awful for you and anyone who might be in the car with you, so I always take some care with where I eat. But at the same time, I don’t really want to go to a fast food chain. I may know what I’m getting, but where is the fun in eating the same thing at the same place you could go to at home? That’s when its time to talk to locals. There’s always someone friendly around who will tell you where the good greasy spoon diner is. Locals are tour guides: they know what there is to see and how to get there. And you can make some interesting new acquaintances.

4. …But Know When to Keep Your Mouth Shut!

The first time I drove through Atchison, Kansas, I was shocked at some of the bumper stickers. It seems someone had been handing out bumper stickers that expressed political views in the most volatile and violent language possible. That was one of those moments when I knew it was best to keep quiet. If you are on a road trip to voice your opinions and beliefs and every stop, then you’re taking a road trip for the wrong reason and you’re going to spend most of your time in heated arguments. At a certain point, you have to know when to shut up and keep your head down.

Also, know when to walk away. I met a very friendly guy in St. Joseph, Missouri who gave me directions to some places I was looking for and told me a great place to grab dinner. Of course, then he wanted to buy me a drink and wasn’t too interested in taking no for an answer. I made some quick excuses and then I made my escape. Locals are friendly…sometimes too friendly. So know when it’s time to walk away.

5. Be Flexible!

This is the greatest rule of road trips. No one likes the driver on a road trip who won’t stop for food or bathroom breaks, who keeps insisting on sticking to some pre-ordained schedule, and who won’t let you turn the radio up as loud as it goes. Also, if you’re not willing to stop or explore now and then, you’re missing out on some great adventures! My best road trip stories with friends all came about because we were willing to stray from the narrow path. Be willing to take the risk or the long road or the short cut. Be willing to have something go terribly wrong because at least then you’ll have a great story to tell when you get back on your way. As Greg Rodgers would say, “When life gives you lemons, throw them back at the harlot!”

Photo Source

The Triumphant Return of the Educated Vagabond!

After a long hiatus, The Yellow Brick Road Trip will begin posting new blogs on July 1, 2010.

There have been many reasons for the hiatus and many changes that have occurred in the meantime. As some readers may know, I have been completing my first year of law school in Kansas. The sheer amount of time and energy that goes into completing first year law courses does not leave a lot of time for anything – let alone road trips. When I wasn’t working, I was exhausted. The first year of law school drains you completely – emotionally, spiritually, and physically. From the stress and physical demands of school, I actually suffered a number of bizarre physical ailments such as plantar fasciitis, severe muscle fatigue, and most recently carpal tunnel.

This summer, I have finally had free time to relax and recuperate. Not that I have been lying around. I am currently working two summer internships. But unlike my first year of school, the schedule for my internships has allowed me some free time to start thinking about The Yellow Brick Road Trip again. Most importantly, it has allowed me the time to start making lists of places to visit and doing the research necessary to plan a trip.

It has also given me time to work on an extension of The Yellow Brick Road Trip. As many of my friends know, I am a craft fiend. I love arts and crafts. For the past three or four years, I have been particularly smitten with knitting. But after a while, friends and family get really tired of receiving knitted presents. So I am working on a shop for the blog, tentatively titled “Vagabond Vestments,” where I will hopefully sell some of my homemade creations.

But perhaps the biggest change is a change of address. I am currently living in Lawrence, Kansas. I love my new hometown. For the first time ever, I am unpacked. I have even renewed a lease on an apartment – something I have never done in my entire life. If I even stayed in one place a full year, I never stayed longer and so I have never really had a permanent address as an adult. Now, I am happily working toward my future career and happy with my (for now) permanent home.

That doesn’t mean I’ve lost the spirit of a vagabond. I’ve just found a new place to start my trips from. And, oh! Will there be trips!

Come back on July 1, 2010 to join the rejuvenated Yellow Brick Road Trip!

New Blog Layout!

Hey, everyone! What do you think of the layout for The Yellow Brick Road Trip? Sorry for the radio silence the last couple of weeks. I'm embarking on some life-changing adventures and fell behind on my posting.

In about two weeks, I'll be moving into my own apartment. No roommates for the first time! Just me and the cat in a tiny one-bedroom apartment. But still in Kansas of course. Also, I am about to become a full time law student. I am leaving behind my multiple jobs to pursue intensive higher education.

As I result of my impending exit date, I have spent the last several weeks hunched over a keyboard furiously trying to finish all my projects before I take off for good. Rest assured though, I may be leaving my cubicle behind but I won't be leaving this blog! I am going to a new place with new curious attractions and still have many more stories to tell from my adventures this summer.

In the meantime, enjoy the new layout and check back later today for a new adventure on The Yellow Brick Road Trip!

Vote Yellow Brick Road Trip!

Remember that video I made from my trip to the Glore Psychiatric Museum? Well, it is currently posted on Watchblogvideos.com as part of a blog video contest!

Watch my video here!

Go visit the site and rate my video or leave a comment! Help me rack up some stars!