Late December 2020 to mid-January 2021 Before we jumped back on the Parkway, we paid a return visit to Elvis Presley’s birthplace in Tupelo, MS. His rags to riches story took place in the span of a few short years, and his impact on music was profound. Fans still come by the thousands to tour the museum and see the small, one-room house where he was born. We spent New Year’s Eve in Trace State Park, just outside of Tupelo….
December 2020 During our early December stay on Santa Rosa Island, we were fortunate to reconnect with the Campbells, a couple we met last year. During our first trip to Fort Pickens, Judy and I bumped into each other in the laundry room. We chatted and discovered that we were on similar paths. They’d sold their house, too, and were also traveling full time in a conversion van. (In camping speak – a Class B) With some people, you just…
December 2020 We wish everyone Happy Holidays and a bright, sparkling New Year! We aren’t exactly sure where our travels will take us in 2021, but we’re looking forward to the journey! Hoping that happiness is a big part of your 2021! Cheers! John and Sally (View this post under Travels, if you don’t see photos here…)
December 2020 After several months of repairs following hurricane season, Fort Pickens campground reopened. We were surprised that the campground was only partially filled. After so much hullabaloo about reopening, we thought it would be packed. I guess the word about reopening was slow to be believed. This was one of the first places we camped last year, and it remains a top pick. The campsites are kind of close together, but the location is stellar. The beach is a…
November 2020 Making our way south, we spent a night near the Florida border at Walkabout Campground in Woodbine, Georgia. I’m pretty sure that Walkabout is the only Aussie-themed campground east of the Mississippi. Turns out that the owners actually moved from Australia in 2011, so the theme is genuine. Their friendly attitude and sparkling clean facilities were welcome indeed after a long day of driving. After our one night stopover, we drove on and entered the Sunshine State. Staying…
Early November 2020 Much of this area on South Carolina’s coast was land owned by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Archer Huntington was the son of railroad magnate and industrialist Collis P. Huntington. The family’s vast wealth provided Archer with opportunities for education, travel, and philanthropy. When Anna and Archer met and married (he was in his fifties and she in her late forties), both were very accomplished. Anna was already a groundbreaking sculptor of significant means; this at a…
October 2020 When we scheduled this quick trip through Vermont, we weren’t thinking about fall foliage. We planned to reconnect with dear friends now living in Burlington, and then continue south. It was a serendipity that we found ourselves viewing one of the best foliage seasons in recent memory. The weather was unseasonably warm, too – the icing on this unexpected cake. Grand Isle, VT We crossed into Vermont via the ferry from Plattsburgh, NY to Grand Isle, VT. Grand…
Late September 2020 When you say you’re going to New York, everyone’s first impression is that you’re talking about New York City. Granted, NYC is fabulous, but New York State, especially northern New York, holds natural wonders and some very decent wineries and breweries – if you know your way around. The Finger Lakes We have been going to the Finger Lakes area for years, but we used to go the B and B route. This was our first time…
Late-August to Labor Day 2020 With only ten days for our Michigan adventure, we carved out a loop that took us up the eastern side of the Lower Peninsula into the Upper Peninsula, and then back down part of the western side of the Lower Peninsula. We planned to at least dip a toe into each of the five Great Lakes. The map of Michigan looks like a left hand mitten, with the thumb off to the right. In the…
Punderson State Park 8/24/2020 This was a quick, one-night stop on our way to Michigan, but we would gladly have stayed longer. We met a new friend, a special lady who invited us to visit her in Corpus Christi this winter as we start our trek west. We had a great campsite along the water’s edge and a nice dinner in the old-timey Punderson Lodge across the lake. The lodge is rumored to be haunted, but further exploration of that…