Innholdsfortegnelse for Twenty-Eight: December/January 2021-2022 i ROVA

Megan, Brandon, Autumn, Nixon and Leia (fur baby) The last year and half changed the game for everyone, and we were no exception. We decided to take advantage of our situation to pursue our dream of traveling full time. So, we sold it all, bought our rig, and hit the road. We are absolutely loving—and thriving in—this new lifestyle. Instagram: @theroamingcrew Scott and Sasha We’ve been traveling full time in our truck camper for almost two years now. This lifestyle allows us to see the United States and have our home with us. Before we hit the road back in 2019, we thought that the places would be the highlights of our travels. Although we’ve stayed in some amazing places, we feel like the highlights have always been people. We…

I met 50-something Roy in a campground dotted with saguaro cacti whose two curving appendages gave them the impression of arms. Given the choice between seeing him again or embracing a cactus, I would’ve leapt at a spiky squeeze. “Seems we’re on the same schedule,” Roy said when we “happened” to meet several days later at Tonto National Monument. Above us, the sunset turned the sky an embarrassed pink. I emitted a hope-this-asshole-gets-that-I-don’twant-to-talk mumble. He didn’t. “So, where are you staying tonight?” “With my boyfriend, who’s down in the campground,” I said. “Well, guess I’ll head down, too,” Roy said. It never ceased to amaze me that the most surefire way to get rid of one guy was to pretend you were with another. Then he said, “If you ditch…

We couldn’t talk about national parks (see the previous article) without also giving some of the country’s state parks some love. These state-run protected areas can provide an ideal addition to your park-visiting itinerary, with natural campgrounds, sensational hiking trails, and plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation and adventure. They’re often cheaper and easier to access than national parks, and the likelihood of hitting a bottleneck when trying to enter is pretty slim. There are 10,234 state parks in the United States, and while we considered listing them all, we didn’t think you’d want to hire a truck to get your magazine home. So, we’ve put together a mini guide to some of the nation’s state parks that we think have the goods for a visit, if you’re in the…

I am confident that the road-travel junkies reading this fine publication are familiar with the numbering system for US Highways (even numbers run east–west, odd numbers north–south). But only one even-numbered route in the United States Highway System stretches all the way from Canada to Mexico: US Route 62. Route 62 never received the sort of pop-culture recognition that Route 66 once did—and to a certain extent still clings to today. I have never heard a song about Route 62, never watched a movie in which it’s featured—I haven’t even seen it discussed in road-tripping blogs or niche literature. Route 62 is Main Street in my hometown of Frewsburg, New York; and it’s South Park Avenue outside the apartment in Buffalo where I currently live, 80 miles northeast. When I’m…

Hi, can you take a picture of us standing there?” Passing the camera up to the next in line the “ ” on diving platform, a couple clusters closely together to have their picture snapped. “It’s kind of a tourist trap,” says Nick from Oklahoma City, handing the couple their camera and passing his to the next person in line. “But I wouldn’t have missed getting this picture here for anything.” He hops over the railing and joins his family for the photo. “Here” is the only place on earth where the gang can stand in four states simultaneously. Four Corners Tribal Park in the Navajo Nation, New Mexico Route 597, is where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah all snuggle together under a bold brass monument. Spending an hour…

Roam in Redmond When winter hits, you can either run as far as possible from the cold, or you can fully embrace the new season and experience all that it has to offer. Both are fine choices, but if you’ve never experienced a “true winter,” you’re missing out—what’s winter without snow angels? Up-and-coming places like Redmond, Oregon, offer you a chance to make the most of everything the cold season brings: ice-skating, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, winter hiking trails, and sledding. Afterwards, grab a cozy country-style breakfast, or a warming wood-fire pizza, and you’ll kick yourself for chasing the sun for all those years. roamredmondoregon.com Find the Magic Even if you don’t identify as one, most travelers are amateur photographers. And whether you know it or not, there’s a special time…

My wife and I are well suited to one another. We align on several fronts: politically, and in sharing our love for dogs, beer, the outdoors, and used bookstores; however, when it comes to risk, we’re split. On the road, this difference often shows up in how we respond to the gas light. On more than one occasion, the need to fill up (me) or the preference to delay (Caroline) has led to an argument. Nothing pleases me more than having a full tank of gas. I stop for fuel early and often, and I’ve been known to “top off” when the tank is still half full (half empty, to some). Caroline, on the other hand, likes to wait until the last minute. We’ve had more than one close call,…

It seems as though I’ve been to these places before, before this life and before life was imagined—as if it was here all along waiting for me to re-remember what has been long forgotten for most. Vortexes. There are geographical locations that suck us in, with no logic or rationale; days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months. Moab is a place that has magnetically swallowed me multiple times. Each time, she reveals more layers of herself and encourages me to do the same. We dive deeper into all that could possibly be discovered within and without. Once she takes hold, there’s no option but to surrender. Where does this insatiable pull to roam come from? Maybe we don’t align with the life society planned for us. Maybe we’re…

If you want to fit in in Hot Springs, Arkansas, instead of “Bye!” try “Have a blessed day!” But make sure “blessed” has two syllables. I was only in Hot Springs for 48 hours and I never worked up the nerve to try it. I’m too raised-on-the-East-Coast, too unaccustomed to blessing anyone who hasn’t recently sneezed. I had no choice but to sound like a tourist. Maybe you had no idea that people went to Arkansas for tourism. But that means you’re forgetting about the Ozarks, and the past—from Indigenous history to Civil Rights, gangsters and Bill Clinton. And maybe you don’t know about the hidden oasis that is Hot Springs. A city in the Ouachita Mountains where 148-degree thermal water has been flowing for 4,000 years, it’s the site…

Whether you’re looking to rent or purchase a motorhome for your upcoming epic road trip, you’ll likely have some questions as to which class of motorhome is best. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with the seemingly endless buffet of sizes, styles, and options on offer—and we all know that we tend to make ridiculous dining choices at buffets, so it’s important to assess all options before making a choice that you might regret (potato salad, anyone?). While you might think that the classification of A, B, and C motorhomes progresses in a natural fashion—where Class A is bigger than Class B, and C is the most diminutive of all—that’s not the case. Don’t ask us why, but whoever chose the letters to correspond with the motorhome classes was…

In a hurry to get to your destination? There’s more to a road trip than just hitting the major tourist traps. If you slow down and take the time to look around, you’ll find historic gems no matter what your destination. So, jump off the highway, take the back roads, and discover what this traveler likes to call “Life in the Past Lane.” A Trip to the Crystal Coast Many people have heard of the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a vacation spot, but the 85-mile stretch of sand and sunshine located just below it may be the state’s best-kept secret. Known as the Crystal Coast (and sometimes referred to as the “southern Outer Banks”), this strip of land is made up of 11 distinct communities that offer visitors…

Joshua Tree National Park is undeniably magical. It is a “rugged” getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life that COVID has taught us we need more of. But it’s not too rugged; it’s still comfortable. In fact, it’s more comfortable than some may like. In Joshua Tree, you can somewhat disconnect from technology, and connect with nature in body and in mind as you wander around the desert. Once your mushrooms have worn off, you head back to your vibey Airbnb filled with thoughtfully curated decor and enveloped in the scent of a santal candle. For a brief moment, you become a free-spirited artist whose muse is the desert lands and massive rocks of Joshua Tree. Now, don’t get me wrong; this all sounds lovely, and it’s admittedly…

Niles, Michigan, isn’t the sort of place that rings many bells. In fact, I’ve only ever heard people describe my hometown as “that stop along the Amtrak, somewhere outside Chicago.” I can’t fault them, though. It isn’t like we’re known for anything ... big. But, like many small cities in modern-day America, there’s been a revitalization; a sort of “putting the town on the map” mentality. For those familiar with the area, it’s been a long time coming. Up until recently, if you had asked me what made Niles special, or requested recommendations on what to do here, I might have immediately pointed you to one of the many more popular cities surrounding us. “South Bend is close,” I’d pivot. Perhaps I just wasn’t listening during those academic field trips…