Touting Time: On This Very Spot

There's something oddly universal about the desire to plant our feet where giants once did; if we're superstitious enough, maybe we think that walking in the same footsteps as John Lennon in Strawberry Fields will allow us to capture something magical like the Beatles did. Or perhaps our being there binds us to his music and circumstances more than we thought could happen.

Whatever the case, On This Very Spot recognizes this innate human desire, and they're doing all in their power to help us realize its possibilities. On This Very Spot compiles hundreds of landmarks throughout history, from historical events to death sites to film locations, and gives you a handy scorecard of why each spot is significant and how to get there.

Most travel guides might give you a rundown of some ruins on a historical site, and that's all fine and good. But how about the spot where Harry Potter boarded the Hogwarts Express? Or the exact place where the ice cream cone was invented? Or, if you're feeling particularly morbid or want to pay your respects, the hotel where Anna Nicole Smith died? They've collected a comprehensive rolodex for virtually any point of interest.

In a way it feels like it could morph into an obsessive read for hobbyists and celeb-o-philes, and the user-generated content platform may welcome such folks. But it seems like the the keepers of On This Very Spot enact good judgment, so hopefully it's a way's away from "Visit where Jennifer Aniston got her mocha latte a few days ago." There is plenty of valuable information for curious travelers organized simply and intuitively. The site's design is nothing flashy, which (sadly) almost makes it hard to trust before we click. But a quick peek at each entry shows a great deal of care went into accurate storytelling and pinpointing where to go, with the city's top airports, public transit and geography all mapped out alongside pictures of the site.

The left sidebar on the site groups events, people and places in a wide variety of categories, which is almost begging for an hour of click-throughs. Like a lazy day on Wikipedia, it can be a blast getting lost in different places and personalities, learning about countless triumphs and tragedies.

If you've always wanted to walk in the footsteps of legends, there's no shame in it--On This Very Spot wants you to know it's a fully human trait. And who knows--maybe the spot you're sitting in right now will soon merit an entry in the site's hallowed archives.

Don't forget to follow @whereivebeen on Twitter.

Touting Time: The Global Traveller

Here's a blog that has been chugging along under the radar: The Global Traveller. Since 2006, this site has been dispensing valuable tips and commentary on the travel industry. And just this year, they've kicked it into high gear with their new series, "How to Get To..."

It's simple in theory but it's massive in scope: The Global Traveller is breaking down the ways to visit the most treasured destinations, noting the airlines that fly there and the lowdown on the airports you'll have to encounter along the way. There's considerable knowledge to be gleaned from here, and the voice behind the writing seems to have a wide range of firsthand experience. Let's say you wanted to know about the easiest methods to travel to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. The guide comes from some serious know-how, which can be surmised from the first paragraph:

Saudi Arabia can be reached by ferry across the Red Sea, by land across most borders, or by air. Due to the great distances involved, bus travel to/from Riyadh or Jeddah and all neighbouring countries is long and slow. The trip between Dammam and Kuwait, Doha, Qatar or United Arab Emirates is comparatively much shorter. Visitors with evidence of having visited Israel are denied entry. There are no roads across the border with Oman (but travel via United Arab Emirates is fine), and the road across the Iraq border may or may not be open.

The Global Traveller has either made a few go-rounds of the Middle East or has done some extensive research on the subject; regardless, this is someone who knows what they're talking about, and the "How To Get To" guide is the ideal primer for someone looking to plant the seeds of a journey. At the end of each rundown of the relevant air carriers and stops, there's an extra handful of legitimately helpful tips--for example, did you know marketing companies offer cheap airfare package deals to Saudi Arabia during the season of the Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca?

While the How To Get To guides have been a considerable chunk of the Global Traveller's recent content, there's plenty else the site offers in between. To wit, the cautious among us will want to check out the site's update on the world swine flu pandemic. Every so often, TGT will put forth an extensive look at important tools for travel fiends, called "Flyer Tips." I found the bit on airline revenue management to be particularly enlightening as it hashes out the economics of why our flights cost what they do, and it gives a funny imagined conversation to set the scene (and highlight just how ridiculous the booking process is).

So if you have your sights set on world domination or just a quick jaunt across the pond, the Global Traveller provides the perfect launching pad.

Check out the Global Traveller on Twitter (@globtrav), and don't forget to add us too (@whereivebeen).

Touting Time: Simon Seeks

Where I've Been firmly believes in the concept of travel endorsed by familiar faces, which is the new foundation of our site. Guidebooks can be helpful, but there's something about attaching a name and picture to a chunk of advice rather than a brand name. And it looks like that's what the beta launch of Simon Seeks has in mind, too.

With a mantra of "Travel guides for you, by you," Simon Seeks gives anyone the platform to create and publish their own personalized travel guides however they see fit--and get paid for their work.

It sounds almost too good to be true, right? For one, since there are fewer barriers to entry than a typical travel guidebook, you might expect the quality of writing to be inferior. But just a quick browse through the content dashes this notion--take this guide on Chicago neighborhoods by Emma Sturgess, for example. It's simple but thorough, friendly but erudite--almost like a new resident learning the ins and outs of the area from a friendly neighbor. And frankly, that's the way it should be. Simon Seeks allows anyone to contribute to the site, but they also pledge a review process to ensure each guide is accurate and helpful.

Since we dig Emma's tone and style, we're interested in seeing what other hot spots she recommends. Thankfully, there's a handy snippet of her most recent works on the sidebar of the same article, as well as some relevant links if we want to learn more about Chicago neighborhoods. The site's interface is clean and inviting, allowing users to rate and add commentary to each guide. If we're finished checking out Emma's guides, the "Writers" tab on the top has a list of the travel experts, ranked by rating, and nearly all provide informed advice.

So what if you think you can outdo these experts? Then hop on board, pilgrim. For those unsure of their writing chops, they offer some helpful tips on getting your thoughts across clearly and concisely. And yes, you can get paid--Simon Seeks offers a commission-based program where income is accumulated from advertising click-throughs on your guide's page. If you're interested in the ins and outs and what-have-yous of the payout process, check out their Terms of Service.

Simon Seeks is new to the travelsphere, but it's hard not to like their mission: Advice for the people, by the people. Where I've Been commends them for a helpful site that is simple to use.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@whereivebeen)!

Touting Time: Travel Rants

Make no mistake: Traveling is fantastic, but until you arrive at your dream destination your trip can be saddled with stress and red tape. You can often sense the palpable confusion and frustration from the moment you step into the airport. But does it always have to be this way? That's where Darren Cronian at Travel Rants comes in.

The bitter, neglected voice for the afflicted traveler, Travel Rants acts as a consumer reporter and gut-check for companies who don't fulfill their promises. His watchful eye feels especially necessary during the recession, where travelers are probably more inclined to have expectations for their hard-earned money.

No one is immune from Cronian's criticism, including fellow bloggers, travel agents or passport agencies, which makes him a trustworthy voice for the latest happenings in the travelsphere. He also conducts informative interviews with travel experts and company representatives.

Perhaps the most helpful feature of Travel Rants is its handy selection of personal travel guides, such as Coping With Jet Lag, tips on traveling alone and How to Travel Green. Each guide is thoughtful and fairly comprehensive and seems to come from a well-weathered traveler.

But Cronian doesn't want to be the only watchful consumer--he fully encourages his readers to let go on a rant when the spirit moves them. In this post he provides all sort of potential outlets for travelers to step on the soapbox.

And so we salute Darren Cronian's Travel Rants blog for remaining steadfast and fearless in his pursuit of a stress-free journey--is that so much to ask?--as well as his undying dedication to his fellow consumers and travelers. Cheers, Darren.

Picture above courtesy of Travel Rants.

If you are a Twitter-a-holic like myself, then be sure to follow @Travelrants

Oh yeah, and follow me, too. Pretty please.

Thank you muchly.

Touting Time: Travelogged

The advent of the blog has given a much-needed voice to the world's finest unsung travel experts. We at Where I've Been take great pride in getting in touch with many of these nomadic sages, and we won't hesitate to tout our favorites throughout the travelsphere.

Recently we've been drawn to the work of Liz Borod Wright, who heads the excellent journal Travelogged. The site's interface is simple and easy to navigate, but the content is extensive and her journeys span the globe. It's a refreshing read in many ways. For one, her tone is light and conversational; she flashes knowledge but comes off more like a friendly guide than a stodgy curmudgeon lording over their opinion. Her posts come once daily or once every two days, which reflects the thoughtfuless of her content--you can tell she gave each post careful consideration before publishing, and each post is adorned with vivid photographs that add nice color to her travel logs.

Recently, Liz wrapped up a ten-day jaunt in California and brought back some insight into the lesser-known corners and scenic coastline drives of the state, and the trip is representative of her comforting style. Her document of the drive on Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz has some particularly enlightening material, noting the area as a top spot for food nuts who wish to sample the famous artichoke soup. She also dropped us this dashing photograph to the left, a surprisingly wonderful view from the highway.

Elsewhere in her trip, she might have taken the ultimate Sunday drive--the roads that snake around the valleys of Big Sur, with some incredible pictures and video. They're too stunning to put in thumbnail form here, so do yourself a favor and click over. Her fascination with seals led her to a winsome batch of the creatures in the area of Carpinteria, between Santa Barbara and L.A. Her affinity for scenery of all kinds led her to conclude that the views of the Napa Valley are a tad more enjoyable than the eats there.

All in all, Liz comes off as calm and assured in her writing, which makes her a trustworthy stop if you're looking for an unadorned, unpretentious travel journal to add to your bookmarks. Her Where I've Been map is expanding by the day, and we're happy to count her among our favorite travel experts. Check out Travelogged.

Love Travelogged as much as we do? Then follow Liz on Twitter here: @Travelogged

Cheers!

Gas station greatness

It's part of the cement fabric that binds the country together. It's an oasis of ceramic, grease and Little Debbie snacks. But the gas station store is often overlooked for its most wonderful offering: Inexplicable, unmarketable and just plain bizarre merchandise. For many of us, the "gifts" section feels more like a museum of "Who the heck would actually buy this?" And everything is touted on the box as a "collectible." Trash is also collectible.

No matter where you go in the Midwest, your gas station stop will have some sort of merchandise from its state of residence. It's a fair gamble someone might want an "Arkansas is for Lovers" shirt or shot glass, unironically or ironically. But some of the name-branding goes overboard:

1. Does anyone on this planet collect miniature spoons with state symbols?
2. Even for its practical purpose, the spoon can probably feed a baby a pea and a couple fingernails, tops. Trying to use this spoon could probably be considered child abuse.

The men of St. Louis-based spazz-rock band So Many Dynamos cut their teeth playing Midwestern venues, a region that prides itself in useless convenience store gear. Here's a gem from their road journal (click there for some more):

"What's that, you say? You want your morning breakfast to be shaped like a weapon?"
"Yes. Preferably sunny-side up."

Then there's the stuff they don't keep in the storefront windows. They're nestled on the tile walls of the restrooms, only asking for a quarter or two for a product that will change your world. Kris Heding, an artist based in Minneapolis, MN, might be the only person on the planet who keeps a watchful eye on the bathroom vending machine market, but we're all enriched for her findings. We'll show you a couple and let you click over to her for the rest (they're much more racy/fun):



This post will only end when bad gas station merchandise does, so feel free to contribute your own on @whereivebeen or in our Facebook fan page.

Cheers!

WIB at the 'Roo

Eddie from Where I've Been here, and I'm finally clean and well-rested enough to report on my jaunt to the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Last week I tried to spout off on some music festival-going tips like I was some sort of hippie sociologist. But now that I've returned from Bonnaroo and had just a small window of time to reflect, it goes to show that no bullet-pointed wisdom can really prepare you for this event.

From the minute the Dirty Projectors tore into their jarring new song "Cannibal Resource" on Friday and until the final moments of Bruce Springsteen joining Phish for a rollicking rendition of "Glory Days," the weekend was nothing but peaks. Forecasts of more rain had crowds on edge as the clouds held sway, but nothing happened, which led to more than a few of my neighbors proclaiming a MIRACLE!--surely bestowed upon us by the almighty Jerry Garcia in the heavens.

The music is what ultimately makes Bonnaroo a rousing success, but there is so much in between that adds to the cauldron. Standing in line is rarely a passive experience--these are, without hesitation, some of the most intriguing people you will ever see or meet. Regrettable tattoos, painted breasts, burnt-orange tans, glazed-over eyes, guys with parrots--it's impossible to encapsulate the crowd in text. But for as much fun as it is to stare, the atmosphere at Bonnaroo is one of the most undeniably welcoming and non-judgmental you will ever encounter. It's impossible to convince you until you visit yourself, but when the weekend's over and you try to convey the feeling you can't help but descend into cliches (GOOD VIBES, BRAH!). There's a good reason people visit Manchester every year regardless of the lineup--it's a seemingly lawless, makeshift utopia in the middle of nowhere.

I got to represent Where I've Been and hand out some free goodies when I was there, and the reception was pretty great--after all, hippies love free stuff. The picture above pretty much captures the wonderment of the weekend. Look out for Where I've Been at festivals throughout the summer.

Eddie, Intern
Where I've Been
eddie@whereivebeen.com
http://www.twitter.com/whereivebeen

Tweet it forward

If the social e-world often leaves you feeling cold and passive, you probably haven't been part of a Tweet-Up. And tomorrow evening, TweetNetworking will be employing the power of the Tweet-Up to ensure that social media users can make real contributions to society.

Tweet-Ups mend the disconnect caused by sites like Twitter and Facebook by using the popular social networking sites to bring real social networking to your local pub or park. It's become a wildly successful way for individuals to start their own in-person chat rooms, creating a relaxed atmosphere for professionals from all realms to create and foster relationships.

Whether you're a newcomer or a veteran of the social media experience, on June 17, TweetNetworking welcomes networkers of all stripes to TweetNetworking (For a Cause). Drop by Catalyst Ranch, 656 W. Randolph St., around 6 p.m., and a $10 general admission at the door will not only get you your share of drinks, pasta, pizza, sandwiches and conversation, but also will help raise money and awareness for the local Chicago non-profit Dreams For Kids. Dreams For Kids hopes to "empower young people of all abilities through dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities that inspire them to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world."

Here's your chance to prove Tweeters have a heart. All are encouraged to register here. Where I've Been will be there to chat and answer any questions you might have about social media, too. Register today, and we'll see you tomorrow!

Follow us on Twitter now: http://www.twitter.com/whereivebeen

Divas unite

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This Monday, June 15th, presents you an excellent opportunity to meet some of Chicago's leading ladies. Stop by this Monday's Diva Tweet-Up, a networking event bringing together the best and the brightest of Chicago social media-sphere. And you won't be limited to just 140 characters. :)

The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at District Bar. Be sure to register on the Diva Tweet-Up Facebook group here. Look forward to seeing you there!

Here's a rundown of the fantastic host divas:

Katy Lynch is the Community Manager of Where I've Been, the travel industry's leading social application. She manages the company blog, twitter, fan pages and the Where I've Been active travel community. Follow her on Twitter @whereivebeen.





Shannon Smith is president of blueye, a local leader in web development, graphic design and social media applications. She's also the operator of Always Be Social, which places companies and individuals firmly into the social media realm and help establish a following . Follow her on Twitter @alwaysbesocial.


Sarah Vargo, the original diva-owner of Maven LLC and publicist/promoter/socialite extraordinaire, was recently named one of the city's Top 5 Nightlifers to Watch by Chicago Magazine. Maven has helped organize countless social events in Chicago since its inception, and this Monday's Tweet-Up is another event in her ongoing and successful Diva Series. Read more about Sarah here, and follower her on Twitter @MavenLLC.



Hope Bertram founded Windy City Social, which plans networking events that connect the best and brightest in whatever venue best fits their professional, social, intellectual or physical needs. She's organized for everyone from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Follow her on Twitter @windycitysocial.


We would absolutely love to see you all there. Don't forget to visit our Facebook group here to register and get more information.

The event is also a pre-party warm-up for the Official Social Media Summit Preview Party, hosted June 23rd by Windy City Social.

WIB on the Web

Where have we been? On the news wire, that's where. Where I've Been has been on the upswing after we struck a partnership with Joyent Cloud, the host of our MySQL database, in March 2008, and we've got the block quotes to prove it:

Since then, the Whereivebeen.com application has completed 47,921,072,680 queries to its MySQL database without a single reboot and with no downtime.

Accomplishing nearly 48 billion of anything is probably some kind of an achievement. But in simpler terms, this means that any time a user on our site posts a review, uploads a picture, adds a friend--interacts with our site in any way, really--a query is sent to Joyent Cloud, our MySQL database host, and they get a response. In that span of over a year, the nearly 2 million-plus users of our Where I've Been Map application never faced a second of server downtime. Boo-yah. Here's our very own developer Craig on the matter, who knows more about this kind of thing than any of us ever will:

"We were particularly brutal to that server, at one point we were doing well over 7000 queries per second. It is impressive how well one machine handled that much load," said Craig Ulliott, Where I've Been Founder and CTO.

This news is particularly exciting for us in that despite our rapid growth and our re-launch of a more powerful site in late April, our users haven't faced any unnecessary headaches when they indulge their desires to share travel stories, write reviews, connect with friends, plan a trip, use our special Travel Bucks to donate to a cause, or utilize any of the other countless features on Where I've Been. Where I've Been is the world's leading travel application, allowing you to find places you want to go, travel to those places, and share all you've found and learned when you get back, pinpointing your travels on our map and interacting with other friends and travelers.

But since we're still in our beta version, this is where you come in: What do you want Where I've Been to be? We want to grow with the user in mind, and thus hearing any and all input that can make our site experience more enjoyable for you makes it much more enjoyable for us. What are we doing wrong? Right? What should be added or subtracted? If you have any questions about how to use our site, what we're all about, or any feedback at all, do not hesitate to fire up your email client and drop us a line at support@whereivebeen.com.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter today! http://www.twitter.com/whereivebeen

Fest-iquette

Hello... Internet? I'm not great at introductions, but since it'd be kinda weird if I just started posting about things like everything's normal when clearly IT ISN'T it's probably best to get the awkward niceties out of the way. (Deep breaths): My name is Eddie, I'm a lowly intern at Where I've Been, revolutionaries of the travelsphere, and we just might change your life. Yes, you. I'll let that sink in.

Since I've already failed to prove my worth, I'm going to just skip the "Tell us sum fun factz!!" portion and get right into the dirt of this post. Literal dirt. I'm going to my second Bonnaroo festival this weekend, which has made it hard for me to focus on anything life-related at the moment. But back to the dirt: Bonnaroo is a dirty place with dirty, filthy people. Music festivals are as much about the dirt as they are the music. You're going to be rubbing up against people who embrace dirt, who live in dirt, bathe in it, and wouldn't hesitate to put it in a pipe and inhale it if they heard it carried "medicinal" qualities. And these dirt creatures are only the beginning. Since these festivals can and should become a staple of your summer--and might become a culture shock for the uninitiated--I thought any prospective travelers could learn from the good and bad vibes I've picked up along the way.

• You can't hear it while you're flailing your arms to that totally sweet band you read about on that one sweet blog, but during those rare moments of silence, raise your ear to outer space: Can you hear that? It's the sound of hundreds of cell phone company satellites crashing into one another, unable to grasp the concept that 80,000 people in one deserted corner of the United States need to make constant calls for just one weekend in the summertime. If you can plan it well enough, it's preferable to avoid the phone hassle altogether. But if you're traveling from stage to stage in a few clusters of people, it can be handy to carry around a couple walkie-talkies instead. Besides the obvious benefit of friend communication, you'll have the absolute pleasure of listening to festies trying to solicit illegal substances and truckers trying to tell them to shut the hell up. It will also make you feel really important, and that cannot be underestimated. You can find walkie-talkies for pretty cheap at RadioShack or Target.
  
• Another thing that cannot be underestimated: The infinite power of an extra roll of toilet paper. A lot of port-a-johns will provide it for you, but imagine the terrifying scenario where you're at your most vulnerable and you are without wiping materials--it's tough to wish that on your worst enemy. And for as cheap as I am, I've learned to do myself a favor by skipping out on the one-ply rolls and ponying up some extra change for the quilted stuff. When you're in a small plastic building and people are violently knocking for you to finish, the last thing you'll want is a sheet of papyrus touching your sensitive bits.
• When it gets dark, you will almost certainly face a maze of spun-out wooks. Don't be alarmed--they're real-life human beings, and they're not dead. Step over and around the hibernating wooks and move on.
  
• If you're a dork like me, you have already painstakingly mapped out your arrival at certain stages for your favorite bands up to the millisecond. While it's a fun exercise, unfortunately it's also wholly unrealistic: You will miss a few bands you were dying to see, and there's a good chance it will be because you and/or your friends are absolutely exhausted. Don't get too hard on yourself or your friends if you need to take a nap or a water break--you won't be able to plan for it, but it will be essential. Which brings me to the next point:
• Don't be afraid to ditch your friends. The chances your itinerary perfectly corresponds with a pal's is astronomical, and this really is not that big of a deal. At the very least, make sure you plan an ultimate meeting place by the end of the night. Even if you're painfully shy, it's hard to avoid interaction with some unfamiliar faces when you're walking around, and this can be a great thing. There's some sort of cosmic alignment of camaraderie that occurs at the larger festivals--probably the collective experience of living in filth for music--that feels entirely natural and genuine, even though you may never speak to the people ever again. The (gulp) "good vibes" can infect you when you least expect it, and it's pretty jarring when it happens.
  

If this provides you with a modicum of perspective or advice, color me pleased. Be sure to hit up Where I've Been upon return from each of your festival jaunts to tell stories, write reviews, upload pictures and video and chat about it with your friends. In the meantime, I've got a few 90-degree hot dates with Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, David Byrne and Animal Collective to catch.

Eddie, Intern
Where I've Been
eddie@whereivebeen.com
http://www.twitter.com/whereivebeen

Where I've Been Channel on YouTube!

Hi everyone!

Check out the new Where I've Been channel on YouTube! Get great travel tips and watch our fun videos like question of the day and local WIB. Also if you have videos of your travels email them to katy@whereivebeen.com and we can add them to the site!

www.youtube.com/whereivebeen

Around Chicago: Wicker Park (part II)

The following video was recorded by Abby Westcott, Where I've Been team member! Do you have any restaurants, cafes, or bars in Wicker Park that you wish to add of your own? Write a comment or two below!



"Vella is an awesome cafe right at the L stop for Western Ave. in Bucktown! I went here with some friends from work and their menu is always changing and the baristas are super nice. Definitely heading back there soon!" -Abby



Cheers,
Katy Lynch
Community Manager

Around Chicago: Wicker park!

The following post is written by Abby Westcott, Where I've Been team member.


Hey everyone!

So yesterday I went to Wicker park and explored all the fun restaurants, bars, shopping, and parks there are to go to! I've lived in the city for over a year and I had never just taken the time to explore these places by myself! The atmosphere is very young, hip, and alternative. (great place for people watching lol) They have a variety of different restaurants and all have a very unique feel. My favorite restaurants were Ear Wax and Pint.


Ear Wax is nuts! The walls are decked out with posters of concerts and the place is filled with bright, vibrant colors. They have all kinds of foods but their specialty is vegetarian. Pint was also very fun. It have a very european feel and all there dishes and drinks are the favorite dishes of England. It's a beautiful room and the atmosphere was very young and hip.


Another great place in Wicker park is Reckless Records. They have other locations in Chicago, but I had a blast wandering through the store and looking around and listening to some of my favorite artists on records. Even if you don't intend to purchase anything, the store is still a fun place to hang out and talk about music.

Katy Lynch
Community Manager
katy@whereivebeen.com