Our Favorite Great American Road Trips

All of these extraordinary expeditions offer the opportunity to see the USA while still maintaining safe social distancing. Looks like that will be the way to travel in 2020.
We all recall those glorious days of yesteryear with the station wagon packed to the gills, miles of billboard bingo, and endless Are we there yet?s.
Whether we were the kids, or when we had the kids, those memories are an indelible part of our American summers. Guess what? Those intrepid explorations don’t have to end just because the offspring have moved out… CONTINUE READING >>

All of these extraordinary expeditions offer the opportunity to see the USA while still maintaining safe social distancing. Looks like that will be the way to travel in 2020.
We all recall those glorious days of yesteryear with the station wagon packed to the gills, miles of billboard bingo, and endless Are we there yet?s.
Whether we were the kids, or when we had the kids, those memories are an indelible part of our American summers. Guess what? Those intrepid explorations don’t have to end just because the offspring have moved out… CONTINUE READING >>

Utterly Unexpected Palo Duro Canyon

It isn’t hard to keep your social distance out on the lone prairie, in fact it might be harder to find someone to get too close to. Still, there are some big surprises and here’s one of the biggest! Out of nowhere the Texas prairie drops one thousand feet down into the second largest canyon in the United States. CONTINUE READING >> 

It isn’t hard to keep your social distance out on the lone prairie, in fact it might be harder to find someone to get too close to. Still, there are some big surprises and here’s one of the biggest! Out of nowhere the Texas prairie drops one thousand feet down into the second largest canyon in the United States. CONTINUE READING >> 

Road Trip! Toolin’ Down Illinois’ Great River Road

Driving is a great way to travel and still maintain safe social distancing. With that in mind, here is another fantastic drive from a few years ago…
The Mighty Mississippi in all of its glory – the history, the lore, the beauty and the quirkiness.

Join us as we head down the Great River Road with stops in beautiful, historic Galena, Wine Country (yup, there’s wine in Illinois!), Moline, where David traces his roots (he’s John Deere’s g-g-g grandson!),  amazing Nauvoo, and Quincy, where we meet the self-proclaimed “Nutroll Nazi.” And that’s just the… CONTINUE READING >>

Driving is a great way to travel and still maintain safe social distancing. With that in mind, here is another fantastic drive from a few years ago…
The Mighty Mississippi in all of its glory – the history, the lore, the beauty and the quirkiness.

Join us as we head down the Great River Road with stops in beautiful, historic Galena, Wine Country (yup, there’s wine in Illinois!), Moline, where David traces his roots (he’s John Deere’s g-g-g grandson!),  amazing Nauvoo, and Quincy, where we meet the self-proclaimed “Nutroll Nazi.” And that’s just the… CONTINUE READING >>

Picture This: The Petrified Forest


As we continue to seek out social distance friendly destinations the wide open spaces of Arizona offer an intriguing option… ancient, petrified trees!
When we heard forest, we expected large groups of upright trees. We felt kind of dumb. The petrified trees are all laying on the ground – alive with vibrant color – left there about 225 million years ago during the Late Triassic… CONTINUE READING >>


As we continue to seek out social distance friendly destinations the wide open spaces of Arizona offer an intriguing option… ancient, petrified trees!
When we heard forest, we expected large groups of upright trees. We felt kind of dumb. The petrified trees are all laying on the ground – alive with vibrant color – left there about 225 million years ago during the Late Triassic… CONTINUE READING >>

Peering at the Pier in Santa Monica

Have you ever wondered where Route 66 ends?

Rather than dumping travelers into the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica offered a better solution – a pleasure pier.

Chase us around a place full of Americana kitsch at its finest, California style… CONTINUE READING >> 

Have you ever wondered where Route 66 ends?

Rather than dumping travelers into the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica offered a better solution – a pleasure pier.

Chase us around a place full of Americana kitsch at its finest, California style… CONTINUE READING >> 

The Grand Canyon Three Ways: Mules, Helicopters and Bicycles

A staggering 90 percent of visitors to The Grand Canyon never venture beyond the South Rim.

Very much like the time we stopped by with our three kids (one still in diapers and the other two under six) on a crazy cross-country camping adventure. We took a peek over the rim, snapped a shot or two and then got back in the car and left. All in all a successful visit — not a single toddler toddled over the edge.

But now that our offspring are grown and on their own, we decided to take the canyon a little more seriously, and add some adventure beyond child catastrophe prevention… CONTINUE READING  >> 

A staggering 90 percent of visitors to The Grand Canyon never venture beyond the South Rim.

Very much like the time we stopped by with our three kids (one still in diapers and the other two under six) on a crazy cross-country camping adventure. We took a peek over the rim, snapped a shot or two and then got back in the car and left. All in all a successful visit — not a single toddler toddled over the edge.

But now that our offspring are grown and on their own, we decided to take the canyon a little more seriously, and add some adventure beyond child catastrophe prevention… CONTINUE READING  >> 

Getting Elevated in an Airplane Hanger in Santa Monica

Join us in California where we had the opportunity to see what happens when a new car is launched!

We were blown away by the wildest performance art group ever, drank liquid nitrogen cocktails, supped on fare from THE Top Chef – then chatted with him – and were among the first to see a brand spanking new car design! What a night!.. CONTINUE READING >> 

Join us in California where we had the opportunity to see what happens when a new car is launched!

We were blown away by the wildest performance art group ever, drank liquid nitrogen cocktails, supped on fare from THE Top Chef – then chatted with him – and were among the first to see a brand spanking new car design! What a night!.. CONTINUE READING >>