Shoe Leather: Behind the seams of Shoestring Magazine

Shoestring Travel: Free Things for Campers

A few weeks ago, at my local Goodwill, I found this awesome, (I think) out-of-print book by Jeffrey Weiss, touting "over 250 for enjoying the outdoors — yours for the asking at little or no cost!" And for just $0.49. Score.

Originally, I was drawn to the illustrations, which immediately sent my flying back in time to my childhood in the late '70s/early 80's, but as I flipped through this book in wonderment, I realized it was even more than a quirky throwback — it was an artifact proving how people saved money and got resourceful before the Internet and Google research.

I vaguely remember, especially as a Brownie during Girl Scouts, sending away for free things with a simple a "SASE" — self-addressed stamped envelope. Outside of infomercials, you don't hear much about SASE's anymore, but this book is full of tips and tricks for sending away for everything from free Smoky the Bear stickers to free plans for building your own tipi, many of them from stalwart oudoor institutions and retailers such as the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Sierra Club, American Youth Hostels Inc. (aka Hostelling International) and the Coleman Company.

A quick search revealed that some of these guides and freebies are now available postage-free by filling out forms on various websites, and many of these outdoor organizations offer daily blogs and weekly newsletters packed with invaluable (and free!) preparatory information for campers and others who love the outdoors.

But, this book still remains priceless, if for nothing else than the unintentional humor in its illustrations, some of which Meghan has graciously scanned and I've posted below.

Enjoy.

 

First of all, why are the fish in this lake/stream three times the size of the boy (and second of all, why is he peeing a fishing line?) Forget Nessie, I'm scared of Lure Boy, the amazing human fishing pole, even if he is already walking the plank to certain demise. Guess he forgot to request his free wilderness guide to fishing safety from the Cortland Line Company...

 

I never was much good at drawing. (I failed stick figures, hence no art school for me...) But, I think even I could do better at perspective than this illustrator. The fishes swimming head-on look more like something out of Swamp Thing than a simple carp or trout. You'll need more than a free wildlife guide from the US Forest Service to escape this beast's wrath. (I suggest staying out of the water entirely. From the looks of it, the fish are spitting algae bubbles/black eyed peas of the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes persuasion...)

All kidding aside: what are your favorite camping freebies and camping tips? Share them with us by posting a comment below!

~ Melissa

Jellystone Park: Smarter Than Your Average Campground

I don't know about you, but as a kid, I was slightly obsessed with Yogi Bear. Even more so with his adorable and perennial sidekick, Boo Boo. (Children of the 70s and early 80s, I know you feel me here.)

One thing I'm obsessed with now (professionally, but hate personally) is Facebook ads. Professionally, I'm fascinated by their micro-targeting and relevance algorithms, which enable small businesses to fine-tune their advertising campaigns with such precision that formerly million dollar results can now be achieved with just a few hundo. (Soooo Shoestring.) Personally, though, I think they're not only annoying but creepy, in a Big Brother sort of way, since the hyper-relevancy starts to feel a little like stalking, despite the fact a computer, not a human, is behind them. So, where am I going with all this?

Well, after posting a link to our road trips issue of Shoestring on my Facebook profile, I started seeing ads for a campground called Jellystone Park, in upstate New York. Of course, as any card-carrying acolyte of Hanna-Barbera knows, Jellystone is the home of Yogi and Boo Boo Bear, as well as the crime scene for many a stolen picnic basket. There, to my delight, was an actual, real website for an actual, real Jellystone Park.

The campground and family camp and theme park, complete with costumed characters, is just hours away from Boston and New York City in the Catskills. There's a water park (including 21+ jacuzzi for mom and dad), canoeing and paddle boating, badminton and tennis — all the fun things you'd expect from a campground, but you get to hang out with Yogi and Boo Boo. The kid in me is cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs with this revelation. (Because, let's face it — they *are* smarter than the average bear.)

Sadly, Ginger and I don't have any kids (and will be in Seattle) for Memorial Day weekend, but if you're looking for wholesome family fun with a serious dose of nostalgia, check out Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Birchwood Acres.

Hey, Boo Boo? Just don't forget to send me a postcard, OK?

~ Melissa

Shoestring Travel: Fly the Frugal Skies

Yesterday, we posted on Twitter about our love affair with Budget Travel's recently published and fabulous guide to turning your tax refund into the vacation or getaway you've been craving. Plus, celebrities and airlines seem to be following suit, with the royal family flying economy and cheap flights galore. A recap of the week in vacationing on a Shoestring budget:

- Britain's Prince William flies coach in an effort to reduce his overall travel budget (The Daily Telegraph)

- Southwest Airlines announces expanded, non-stop service to Baltimore, Boston, and Chicago, with fares as low as $49 (Baltimore Sun)

- Virgin America kicks off its non-stop, transcontinental service between the East and West coasts with airfares advertised as low as $69 each way from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Boston or New York, according to billboards at South Station terminal in Boston, although the AP put the fares only as low as $109... (Forbes)

What do you think about these new fare specials? Have you capitalized on the trend by buying a ticket? Got a cheap flight or airfare special we missed? We want to hear from you!

Shoestring Travel: Be our friend on TripAdvisor

 After years of using TripAdvisor.com (and, more frequently, their newly-acquired sister site, SmarterTravel.com) as a resource for researching hotel, flight, and destination information for our cheap-chic vacations, Meghan and I have finally taken the plunge and created a member profile for Shoestring, so that we can share our favorite budget travel recommendations with the entire TripAdvisor community.

If you're a TripAdvisor member, check out ShoestringMag's new TripAdvisor profile and add us as a friend!

Stay tuned in late September for the Shoestring Magazine feature story on the best e-newsletters and websites for finding last-minute airfare and hotel deals and the best resources for researching travel on a shoestring.

What are your favorite sites and sources for budget travel? Talk to us, Goose.

Shoestring Travel: Premium all-inclusive vacations

Back in May, Meghan and I jet-setted down to Miami to celebrate one last bachelorette weekend with our friend (and fellow Bargainista) before her wedding. We were stoked for the sun, sand, and sexy nightlife scene, but were convinced that, no matter how fun, we were doomed to spend a fortune.

In a fabulous twist of fate, however, we ended up getting a firsthand look at the value- and hospitality-packed service that is the Ritz-Carlton Club Level. Unlike cheesy "all inclusive" vacation packages and resorts (ahem, "flip flops"), our experience at the Ritz defined The Good Life for Less in a nutshell.