Living on the road is a study in minimalism. As we covered in preparing your rig for boondocking, weight is the enemy, and storage is at a premium. Because of this, we’ve really gotten away from “stuff” as gifts for birthdays and instead, we’ve gone almost exclusively to experiences. We’ve chronicled a couple of these, from a pirate cruise to a horseback ride, and today is no exception. When we
Of the many routes to experiencing Balloon Fiesta, our favorite has to be volunteering for the event. It opens many doors not available to the public, and significantly lowers the financial bar for participation! How Do I Become a Volunteer? Volunteering for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is as simple as navigating to the festival’s web page and selecting the volunteering menu. From there, you can apply for any available position.
The southwest of the United States may seem like a desert today, hosting only small dispersed cities and towns without much going on. This hasn’t always been the truth. This area was home to a diverse and booming population of people for over 10,000 years. No place showcases this better than Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. While many national parks and monuments can be defined by a singular access
One of our destinations while we toured the Las Vegas area was the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Having toured several national parks at this point, we thought it would be an experience similar to what we’ve seen before. And in ways it was, and in others … not so much. Complaints and Concerns From the get-go, this looks like a “national park” experience. However, as soon as you
While staying at the Lake Mead Recreation Area, we were well-placed to spend some time in the nation’s entertainment capital, Las Vegas! While “Sin City” has traditionally been a playground for adults, we were surprised and elated to find just how accessible it was for families, especially those on a tight budget. So read on if you’re interested in tackling Vegas with kids! The Strip It’s hard not to imagine
While we stayed at Ironwood Monument Access outside of Tucson, Arizona, we were ideally poised to visit Saguaro National Park. Saguaro National Park is another unique National Park as there are two distinct parts to one park. The park is split between the west side and the east side with Tucson, AZ sitting in between. A bit like Hot Springs in reverse. The Visitors Center at Saguaro National Park The
After staying for half a year in Virginia, and driving through North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico, we were nearly at our winter base in Arizona. Tanque Rd BLM was the perfect spot for us to get out and recharge for a few days. It’s far away from cities and noise, but close enough to get supplies. Of all the spots we stayed at on our trip
One of our goals on the road is to see as many national parks as possible. While passing through New Mexico, we got the opportunity to explore Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This massive complex of caves is stunning. Of the many nicknames this cave system has gotten over the years, my favorite is “The Grand Canyon with a lid on it,” and it fits. Pictures and video can’t capture its
We initially stayed at Chosa Campground to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Its location gave us the bonus opportunity to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Part of the same mountain range as Carlsbad Caverns, the Guadalupe Mountains host a stunning array of different microbiomes, thanks to the natural springs and mountain terrain shading areas from the intense New Mexican sun. Each visitor center acts as a gateway to unique and
When you imagine a national park, what do you see? Remote wildernesses, probably. Hot Springs National Park is a bit of an odd duck, as it’s a national park surrounded by a city! Hot Springs National Park: A Tale of a City’s History A tour of Hot Springs National Park is a tour of the history of the city. The city started as a sacred healing site visited by the