Epic Road Trip Recap
The last seven months have been Epic! Here are a few numbers to sum it all up:
207 days as digital nomads
27 US states visited (plus the District of Columbia and 2 Canadian provinces)
13,000+ miles driven - every single one with Steve at the wheel of our two-seater convertible!
We lived and worked for about a month each in 7 different states in 4 different time zones. We stayed in hotels, motels, apartments rented through VRBO, AirBnB, and a couple of short-term rental startups, and the house of generous friends. (The glamping tent was canceled, due to bad weather.)
Kudos to the National Park Service! We visited 5 National Parks and 14 National Historical Parks, Parkways/Trails, Recreation Areas, and Memorials. They were all phenomenal.
Many friends ask us, "What was your favorite place?" We agree that it's impossible to name a single favorite. But here are the top places we particularly loved:
5. Walla Walla, Washington. Wonderful wines, intriguing wineries, friendly founders, and a lovely bed and breakfast - we thankfully missed the heat dome, and felt welcome and pampered all around.
4. Cortez, Colorado. We were charmed by this small town in the shadow of Sleeping Ute Mountain and the cliff faces of Mesa Verde National Park. It was sandwiched by two of our favorite scenic drives (from Santa Fe, and to Monument Valley).
3. Bryce Canyon. We hiked the rim, then down to the canyon floor, and back up. Seeing that strange and wonderful forest of hoodoos first from above, and then up close and from below, was truly memorable. And having a friend as our park ranger guide was the best.
2. Coyote Cantina, Santa Fe. This rooftop bar above the famous Coyote Cafe was perfect for us - great food, great margaritas, great views, and a laid-back vibe. In a city packed with excellent restaurants, this was the place we kept going back to.
1. Mount Rainier National Park. We went in late July and hiked in perfect weather, amid an abundance of wildflowers. We walked across a snowfield and saw an avalanche on the mountain. Overnighting at the historic Paradise Inn was icing on the cake.
In a category of their own, here are the top two all-around destinations of our Epic Road Trip:
2. Seattle. Perfect summer weather with no rain; an apartment near Pike Place Market with sweeping views of Puget Sound; and time with our wonderful kids Amy and Danny. Great food, great walks, and great company. Heaven!
1. New York. An entire month to pack in as many Broadway shows, restaurants, and museums as possible; an apartment just steps from Times Square and Hell's Kitchen; time with Maria's sister Marg and her family; and visits from Amy and Maria's mom. Also heaven!
Looking back on our Epic Road Trip, it was exactly what we needed as the pandemic entered its second year. It was a relatively low-risk way to satisfy our need for travel and adventure. It introduced us to the simplicity and rewards of a nomadic lifestyle. It enabled us to try living (instead of just vacationing) in some of our favorite cities. And it gave us the opportunity to reunite with family and friends, to meet a variety of new people, and to experience the beauty and wonder of our own country. We definitely appreciate "slow travel" and plan to do more of it in the future.
