What's the biggest assist in locating your roots through genealogy?

Question:

What's the biggest assist in locating your roots through genealogy?

I've hit a road block. Aside from traveling 1500 miles to the locaton I'm stuck at what's the best way to locate ansestors prior to coming to America? Or really any of your best experiences where you were stuck and had an epiphiny, that got you unstuck. Please keep advice to low $'s, if I spend anymore cash my wife will turn me into an ansestor!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hi there. If your family came to the United States during the immigration boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s, you have some great options. If your family came through Ellis Island, you can go on www.EllisIslandRecords.org and search virtually thousands upon thousands of names of people who passed its gates. There you can also find pictures of the ships they were on, and view the actual ship manifests! And best of all, it's completely free!

You can also use the internet to your advantage in another way. You can post on a genealogy website (try to find one that caters to people from the part of the world from which your ancestors came) asking for help, sort of like you did here. I hope you find what you're looking for.

Good luck!!