Table of contents for Forty-Three: June/July 2024 in ROVA

Minnie (RV), Maizie (Dalmatian) and Renee In October of 2021, I bought my RV. I traded in my car and my lease, and I haven't even glanced back. Adventuring far from home without leaving my house has been my greatest joy. I would encourage all women, of any age, to venture out. Don't let fear get in your way. Don't let being solo get in your way; the only thing worse than traveling alone is not traveling because you're alone. But you're never really alone, anyway—the RV community is amazing. I love making new friends everywhere I go! Instagram: @renee.with.an.ee Alicia I had dreamed of van life for a long time and always loved traveling. After my long-term relationship ended, I took the leap and got my van. I've been…

On the road, when experiences arise that combine several of your favorite things, it's a major win, saving you time and enriching your experiences of the places you visit. Mini golf and beer? Amazing. Hiking and theater? Incredible. But what if I told you that you could add wine to some of your favorite things? Across the US, some winemakers offer a lovely drop along with experiences that range from outdoor adventure to artistic appreciation and ghostly encounters. Get your fill of good wine while enjoying experiences that are unique to each vineyard, and learn more about the regions that you visit. Not a bad way to road-trip, if you ask me. Washington Abeja Winery & Inn, Walla Walla There are more than 120 wineries in the stunning countryside surrounding…

Embarking on a journey across the tapestry of America's landscapes, the essence of adventure merges seamlessly with the spirit of the open road. This is where the rubber meets the road, quite literally, for enthusiasts of outdoor sports who have turned their vehicles into vessels of exploration, carrying their passion for adventure on their backs and in their trunks. The allure of the American road trip, a cultural icon steeped in the desire for freedom and discovery, has found a new dimension with the integration of adventure sports such as hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing. And as you embark on these journeys, ensuring that your vehicle is properly outfitted becomes paramount, facilitating the seamless transition from road to adventure and back again. Imagine waking up to the soft hues of…

Early summer, Montana. I'm standing in a pioneer cemetery just outside of Bannack State Park. The wind howls lonesome over the scrubby brush of the high desert plain; the sky soars blue overhead, dotted with fat clouds. I'm singing an old Sacred Harp song softly to a gravestone. And am I born to die? To lay this body down And must my trembling spirit fly Into a world unknown? Tears are dripping off my chin into the dirt. The gravestone is so destroyed that no name can be made out. Something—the bleakness of the area, the impending end of the trip, the lonesome and timeless aspect of this cemetery, situated a ways out of the town—is breaking my heart. How Did I Get Here? Two weeks ago, the day before…

A Photo Essay I grew up in Los Angeles, and every year my father and I would take a road trip. Often, the trip took us up Highway 395, which runs along the base of the eastern slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. As we cruised north along what was (at the time—the late 1950s) a two-lane highway, we could see where dirt roads intersected with the highway and trailed off into the distance, cutting through a carpet of sagebrush for as far as you could see. Some of these roads continued up the sides of the mountains that rimmed the east and west sides of the Owens Valley. To the west were the Sierra Nevadas, and to the east the Panamint and White Mountain ranges. We were always…

Where do you think you can find the best view of the Grand Canyon? From the North Rim? From the South Rim? Or from the Colorado River at the bottom? Well, you'd be right no matter what you choose, as each of these perspectives is uniquely magnificent. We experienced all three, but the view from the bottom was the most special one for our family. Planting the Seed When my husband, Tiger, and I first met almost 20 years ago, he told me about one of the best adventures he had ever experienced. He went river rafting inside the Grand Canyon for a week. It was the most epic adventure for him, sleeping under the stars and eating ice cream at the end of the trip. It piqued my interest…

One hundred and thirty miles of squeaky white sands, nature reserves, southern hospitality and shrimp boats—this is Forrest Gump country, where Forrest made his fortune as a shrimp boat captain. The Coastal Connection Scenic Byway route almost completely circumnavigates Mobile Bay, starting just northwest of Bayou La Batre on the western shore, and ending at Spanish Fort on the eastern shore. The greater area has been controlled by the French, British, and Spanish at various points in history, producing a distinctive mishmash of culture, cuisine, and architecture. This is a high-risk hurricane zone, where most locals have survived a disaster or two. The area was battered by Hurricane Katrina. At Bayou La Batre, storm surges reached 18 feet, pushing cargo and fishing boats ashore. Local businesses were destroyed. Homes were…

Summertime road trips are a rite of passage for most Americans—whether it's a quick trip from Manhattan to the beach for a day at the Rockaways, or a cross-country odyssey with a playlist of bangers and no real destination in mind. Road trips are best taken in places with jaw-dropping scenery, of course, but the best road trips are those where a culture or a movement has brought character and atmosphere to a region. Here, we look at three summer road trips that combine unique landscapes with deep-rooted culture. A Literary Journey, California Okay, no rolling your eyes, please. We know—the California coast is not a particularly left-field idea for a summer road trip. You've got the hills that tumble right down to the ocean, the wide horizons stretching out…

One recent summer, I was feeling restless. I had just moved back to my hometown of Grants Pass, Oregon, after living in New York City for a short while, and I was getting itchy feet again. I decided the best way to combat this feeling was to visit my older cousin, Cody, and his fiancé, Amy, in Portland. Excited to work on my amateur photography skills with the new Nikon I had just bought, I packed a backpack with my laptop, camera gear, and enough clothing for a weekend, got in my red 2004 Chevy Blazer, and headed north. I spent a week with Cody and his fiancé in Portland, and on the final day of my visit, we all packed into Cody's car with their massive dog, Brutus, and…

At first glance, the landscape looks barren—almost empty. But, upon closer inspection, the prairie is alive. Woolly verbena, showy milkweed, and black-eyed Susan accent the grass with flashes of violet, salmon, and gold. Prairie dogs surface suddenly to scan the horizon, then disappear underground just as quickly. Beside the road, a lone bison rolls in a patch of dust, his comically short legs flailing. I feel like I am driving through a postcard of the American West. In the southern portion of South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest, we've found an ecological time capsule. Here, the Great Plains gradually melt into the Black Hills. Shaded by stubbly forests of ponderosa pine are the ancient granite peaks named for their dark silhouette, and it's an apt description—the mountains truly do appear…

In the three years that our family (myself, my wife, and our two kids) spent traveling the country in our fifth wheel, we only revisited three places: Missoula, Montana; the Florid Keys; and Lancaster, Pennsylvania Each one was so very different in its geography, culture, weather, and overall experience, but there was something about Lancaster, and the peace and charm of Amish Country, that really stuck with us. If you're planning a trip up the east coast, I highly recommend spending some time among the farms, and exploring quiet towns with interesting names like Bird-in-Hand, Paradise, and Fertility. Understanding Amish Culture One of the things we love so much about the Amish community is that it is deeply rooted in traditions. Visiting Amish Country is a great way to get…