Table of contents for Twenty-Nine: February/March 2022 in ROVA

Bob, Grace and Bailey We’re retired veterans traveling the country in our 2018 Montana fifth wheel. We love discovering new cities, exploring national parks, and making connections throughout the amazing RV community. We’ve been full-time traveling for three years and plan to continue until it’s no longer fun for us, or we feel steered in a new direction. Instagram: @onthemovervtravel Megan and Paige We live with our Pomeranian, Mia, in our built-out ProMaster. We met at a rock-climbing gym and realized that we had so much more in common, including a love for golf and travel. Paige is a professional golfer, and Megan has a remote tech job, so we decided to move into a van and travel the world, going from one tournament to the next. Instagram: @in.the.moment.with.you Kylie…

It can be difficult to build friendships on the road, given the impermanence of the lifestyle. And even once you’ve begun to develop a sense of community, there are things you need to do to maintain it while you’re on the road. Luckily, with a bit of intention and effort it’s possible to cultivate communities everywhere you go, and with the help of various mediums, you can maintain those friendships while you’re on the move. From gatherings to spontaneous encounters and classes, you need never feel lonely on the road. Van Life Gatherings As van life is growing in popularity, it’s becoming easier to find nomad-specific events, like the Open Roads Festival, which brings nomads together for a weekend of educational events, outdoor adventure, and plenty of socializing. Other events…

After a day spent hiking, ogling grizzly bears and getting drenched by a waterfall, my seven-year-old son was eager to splash around some more—this time in the hot springs located on-site at our campground. Set against a backdrop of craggy Rocky Mountain peaks and giant pine, spruce and fir, the 12 pools of varying temperatures, ranging from 59 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, at Bozeman Hot Springs made for the perfect wind-down spot to relax and soothe sore muscles after a day of epic Big Sky adventure. I had originally suggested Bozeman as a destination for me and my husband to explore as a romantic getaway (without the kiddo in tow), but despite my enthusiastic sales pitch, my spouse remained unconvinced that this once-sleepy mountain town was truly as trendy as…

While most areas of the United States have suffered some tourism decline in recent years due to the pandemic, COVID is just one element of the raft of difficulties that Louisiana has faced. The state has been hit by a torrent of hurricanes in recent years—the latest being Ida, which devastated communities, echoing 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. As other states are cautiously reopening to tourism, Louisiana is dealing with its latest natural disaster setback, rebuilding its communities and tending to its locals while trying to maintain its appeal to visitors. In short, the state is doing what its Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says it does best: “Dig in. Fight. Endure. Survive. Rebuild. Thrive.” Louisiana has long been a mainstay on the must-see lists of travelers from around the world, with its…

There’s plenty to see and do on an east-coast RV trip to Salem, Massachusetts, from touring mansions in the McIntire Historic District to shopping for trinkets and souvenirs along eccentric Essex Street. Salem honors its hallowed history with indoor and outdoor attractions fit for the whole family. If you’re just visiting for the day, RV parking is permitted at Salem Willows Arcade and Park, and along Fort Avenue; from here, you can access the downtown area via the Salem Trolley. If you’re planning a longer stay, RV camping is also available seasonally at Winter Island Maritime Park. Salem Willows Park Before catching the trolley into downtown Salem, stroll the 35 acres of trails and beaches, and get a good look at the beautiful scenery of Salem Willows Arcade and Park.…

“But how will you make money?” Anyone who’s decided to live on the road full-time has heard this question, and while it’s tempting to give a smart-aleck response like “Traveling hitman,” or “Online gambling,” the truth is that many folks don’t realize that having a full-time job and traveling the country are not mutually exclusive. In fact, that whizbang invention called the internet is increasingly providing ways to make money from wherever you are, and there are in-person jobs that you can do on a temporary basis around the country—things like travel nursing, or campground hosting, which you can do in exchange for free accommodation. We spoke to a few folks who have managed to find a way to live full-time on the road while earning the cash to keep…

The North American road network consists of 4,965,181 miles of opportunity. Traveling at 60 miles per hour, it would take more than nine years of constant driving to travel its total length, with each inch offering something new to discover, and something fresh to explore. Realizing the opportunity that life on the road can afford an individual is one of the most liberating epiphanies you can have; in a world emerging from months of lockdowns, it can also provide the freedom we all so fervently crave. This story tells the tale of a loose group of twenty-something-year-olds living life on the road, taking each moment as they come. The term “snowbird” no doubt brings to mind images of wealthy retirees—couples in their later years who worked hard their whole lives,…

It was almost springtime, getting close to my wife’s birthday, and I had some commercial work that I needed to do some planning for. So, naturally I decided to take a trip that could take advantage of all three of these things. My wife and I have always been adventurous people, so each year we make a goal to make it to a certain number of new places that neither of us has been to before. I figured that the Oregon Coast, where neither of us had been, would be a great place to start the year off, as well as being a perfect birthday spot, and a fantastic place to shoot some of my commercial work. This series of images comprises my favorites that I was able to capture…

Mention the name “Houston” and it will likely conjure images of glitzy high-rises, oil tycoons and even Mission Control. But just outside the ever-expanding confines of America’s fourth-largest city is a wilderness oasis where nature lovers can visit Texas as it used to be: a place where waterfowl and alligators abound and where the stars at night are big and bright (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas. Well, technically a little over to the right. The place in question is Brazos Bend State Park, and, as you’ll see, road-trippers in the know should be fixin’ to visit on their next East Texas itinerary. Getting There Brazos Bend State Park is located outside of the modest town of Needville, well to the southwest of Houston’s urban sprawl.…

If you’re like me, you count the dogs when folks ask how many children you have. While my husband, Josh, and I haven’t reared any human kiddos, our two gremlin-like pups, Alfie and Daisy, require all sorts of patience, finances, and commitments that mirror the responsibilities of parents of humans. One of those responsibilities includes 24-hour care. Alfie and Daisy go everywhere with us; they have their own Starbucks orders, go on playdates with their best friend Teddy the German shepherd, and even vacation with us. Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Great Sand Dunes—pick a place, and Alfie and Daisy have their own memories to share. Naturally, when Josh and I purchased our ’96 Bluebird skoolie, Bonnie, we knew that in order to convert this massive vehicle into our on-the-road camper/hotel/house,…

It’s a well-known fact that sometimes the most difficult journeys lead to the most magical destinations. For me, Strawberry Mountain was well worth the struggles it took to get there. Strawberry Mountain is one of those destinations that very few people take the time to visit—or even consider—when on the road. You have to navigate a long, gravel road to reach your destination, which is smack dab in the center of the forest, and the cars you do see parked up there almost look like they’re from the intro credits to a horror movie. And did I forget to mention the trailhead bathroom that carries the musk of dead dreams and broken promises? The forest is named Malheur, which means “misfortune.” Appealing, right? Despite all this, when you approach the…

Growing up, my family took Griswold family–style vacations each summer. On the last day of school, Dad loaded up the family Truckster, crammed us kids into an overpacked backseat, pulled out of our driveway in rural Connecticut, and set off for multi-week road trips across the United States. Admittedly, my memories of these childhood pilgrimages are hazy, muddled with visions of musty motel rooms, hours spent watching the pavement roll by, and educational park ranger talks that felt an awful lot like being in school. I had a modest, middle-class upbringing, and as a child I didn’t appreciate these extended family vacations, which were an incredible luxury that my blue-collar parents saved for doggedly throughout the year. By the time I reached adulthood, I had visited 45 states. Though some…

Tell someone you’re going to Georgia, and it’s usually assumed that you’re headed to Atlanta, or Savannah. But why are we conditioned to only visit the places that get the most attention? I guarantee that for every national park or tourist city that you visit in any state, there will be oodles of smaller towns, overlooked because they’re not famous, offering just as much exploration and discovery as you can find anywhere else. Sure, they might not be as glamorous as some of the big-ticket destinations, but that’s part of their charm. Georgia’s Magnolia Midlands are tucked into the southeast of the state; the region doesn’t touch any beaches, it doesn’t border Florida, and it’s three hours south of Atlanta. So, if you find yourself there, it’s either on purpose,…