A Travel Path Podcast

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Banff National Park Travel Guide Welcome back to Travel Tips! We joined Dedra and Garron to talk about one of the gems of their home country: Banff National Park in Canada. Nestled in the heart of Alberta, Canada, lies a natural wonderland waiting to be explored – Banff. Having grown up not far from this pristine here, they had the privilege of visiting Banff numerous times, each visit revealing new adventures and hidden treasures. With insider knowledge and tips garnered over the years, they are here to guide you through an unforgettable Banff experience. Outdoor Adventures Galore Banff isn't just a destination; it's an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Whether you're into hiking, camping, snowboarding, skiing, backpacking, or simply exploring with your furry friends (yes, Banff is dog-friendly!), there's something here for everyone. Duration of Stay While a weekend getaway is feasible for locals, they recommend dedicating at least two weeks to truly immerse yourself in all that Banff has to offer. If time permits, extend your stay to three weeks to explore the surrounding area. The Enchantment of Blue Waters Banff boasts stunning azure waters that captivate visitors from around the globe. While Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are iconic spots, they can get crowded. For a more serene experience, head to lesser-known gems like Saskatchewan Crossing in the northern part of the park, where you'll find equally mesmerizing blue waters minus the crowds. Best Time to Visit Timing is key when planning your Banff adventure. Summer, particularly July through August, offers ideal weather for outdoor activities. However, be prepared for potential snow in June and forest fires in August. For winter sports enthusiasts, the period between December and February promises snowy escapades. Getting There and Around Calgary serves as the gateway to Banff, with a scenic drive of about 1 hour and 40 minutes. While Banff town is easily navigable on foot, renting a car is advisable for exploring attractions further afield. Shuttle services are also available for those who prefer not to drive. Currency Exchange and Budgeting Ensure you exchange your currency for Canadian dollars (Loonies and Toonies) before arriving, as foreign denominations are not accepted. Budget around $100-150 per day for a comfortable experience, but savvy travelers can save by cooking meals at campsites and stocking up on supplies in Calgary to avoid inflated prices in Banff. Accommodation Options Finding free lodging in Banff can be challenging, but the national parks offer a plethora of campgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts. Tunnel Mountain Campground is a prime choice for its proximity to town, while the Canmore area boasts more budget-friendly options. Embracing Banff's Nightlife Banff has a small nightlife with bars, great dining, and clubs. That said, many visitors opt for quiet evenings by the campfire, soaking in the starlit sky and relishing the tranquility of nature Chasing Sunrises and Sunsets For unparalleled views, ascend Sulphur Mountain via the Banff Gondola or embark on a mountain hike to witness breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Each vantage point offers a unique perspective of Banff's majestic landscape, so don't miss the opportunity to capture these magical moments. Money-Saving Strategies Maximize your Banff experience without breaking the bank by prioritizing free activities like hiking and stargazing. Limit dining out to a few special occasions, opting instead for budget-friendly meals around the campfire. Stock up on groceries and fuel in Calgary to avoid inflated prices in Banff. Banff isn't just a destination – it's an invitation to connect with nature, embark on thrilling adventures, and create unforgettable memories. So pack your bags, lace up your hiking boots, and get ready to unlock the wonders of Banff. Your next great adventure awaits! 3, 2, 1 Countdown 3 Things to Pack: ·        Marshmallow Sticks ·        Tent ·        Hiking Boots ·        Water ·        Swim Shorts ·        Sunscreen ·        Bear Spray ·        Passport 2 Complaints: ·        Crowds ·        Limited Parking ·        Costs 1 Thing You Can’t Leave Banff Without Doing: ·        Beaver Tails ·        Mount Yamnuska   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        03:30 How Long Should Someone Visit Banf? ·        04:45 Where to find Blue Water? ·        05:30 Best Time to Visit Banff ·        06:45 Transportation ·        08:30 Currency and budgeting ·        10:30 Sleeping Arrangements ·        14:15 Nightlife in Banff ·        15:30 Sunrise/sunset ·        16:45 Money Saving Tips ·        19:30 Restaurants ·        20:45 Nearby Activities ·        23:15 Delicioats ·        24:00 3, 2, 1 Countdown ·        22:45 3,2,1 Countdown   Connect With The Route to Happiness ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/route_tohappiness/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theroutetohappiness ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671668523352712 ·        Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroutetohappiness   Near Banff ·        Canmore: https://www.canmore.ca/ ·        Yoho National Park: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho ·        Lake Louise: https://www.banfflakelouise.com/ ·        Icefields Parkway: https://icefieldsparkway.com/ ·        Kananaskis Mountains ·        Mount Yamnuska Hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/mount-yamnuska-traverse-and-west-col-descent   Blue Water ·        Lake Louis and Moraine Lake: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/les10-top10/louise ·        Saskatchewan River Crossing   Transportation ·        Calgary Airport: https://www.yyc.com/en-us/ ·        Shuttles: https://www.banfflakelouise.com/explore-the-park/transit-shuttles   Camping ·        Tunnel Mountain: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/camping ·        Canmore: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-CA/d/canada/alberta/canmore/camping/all ·        Very inexpensive camping at Abraham Lake   Sunrise ·        Sulphur Mountain: https://www.banfflakelouise.com/experiences/sulphur-mountain-trail ·        Any mountains or hikes ·        Banff Gondola: https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/banff-gondola/ ·        Lake Louis   Restaurants ·        Park Distillery: https://parkdistillery.com/ ·        Grizzly House ·        Fairmont Hotel: https://www.banff-springs-hotel.com/dine/ ·        Beaver Tails: https://beavertails.com/   Music Music • Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

Links   www.atravelpath.com   https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Pushing Past Discomforts To Do What Makes You Happy @ The Route to Happiness   Welcome back, Pathfinders! We have an incredible show in store for you today. We sat down with Dedra and Garron from “The Route to Happiness.” Learn about their incredible story overcoming financial, physical, and emotional obstacles to live the life they love. Facing Adversity and Embracing Change In the midst of college life, a frightening cancer scare in Dedra’s thyroid forced them to confront mortality and make difficult decisions. Dropping out of college became a necessity as they focused on their health and began pondering the direction of their future. Embracing uncertainty, they sold off their possessions and embarked on a spontaneous journey to Victoria Island, where the seeds of their nomadic spirit were planted. Van Life: A Fusion of Freedom and Responsibility With a longing for freedom and a deep bond with their canine companions, van life emerged as a natural compromise. Beyond mere travel, it represented a lifestyle centered on autonomy, spontaneity, and a connection with nature. Exploring various job opportunities, they eventually found their stride in entrepreneurship, establishing a successful dog-walking business that provided both financial stability and a sense of purpose. Crafting Their Sanctuary on Wheels The decision to purchase a Ford Transit and undertake its conversion into a mobile home marked a significant milestone in their journey. Despite lacking prior experience, they dove headfirst into the challenge, dedicating two years to meticulous planning, construction, and problem-solving. Along the way, they encountered setbacks and frustrations, yet each obstacle served as a lesson in resilience and adaptability. Conquering Fear through Exploration Despite grappling with anxiety and self-doubt, the Route to Happiness refused to let fear dictate their path. Instead, they embraced the unknown, finding solace and empowerment in the act of exploration. From hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to flying a small plane over majestic landscapes, they continue to push past their comfort zone, discovering newfound strength and courage with each adventure. Navigating the Road Ahead As they contemplate the future, the road ahead stretches before them, ripe with possibilities and opportunities. Whether settling down or continuing their nomadic lifestyle, one thing remains certain: their journey towards happiness is an ongoing pursuit, filled with twists, turns, and unexpected joys. As they continue to chase their dreams and explore the world, they serve as a beacon of inspiration for all those who dare to embark on their own path to happiness. Final Five 1 Thing You Can’t Live Without: ·        Toilet ·        Travel insurance 1 Thing You Don’t Need: ·        A negative attitude Question For Your Past Self: ·        Where Do You Sleep? The Route to Happiness were pretty fearful about where how and where they would sleep during van life. They have since learned that if you are on the road for a while, you stop worrying about whether you will get a knock and have to move. They have also found that finding places to stay was easier than they expected. ·        How Do You Get Mail and Packages? This one took them some time to figure out, but now they ship via UPS to a UPS store they are headed to. 1 Thing Someone Can Do Now: ·        Learn online skills. It doesn’t mean you have to start your own business, but learning online skills is helpful. And start getting creative by thinking outside of the box. Don’t just listen to how everyone else does it, think about what would work best for you. YouTube channels ·        Amen and Bec: https://www.youtube.com/@eamonandbec ·        Divine On the Road: https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad ·        Kara and Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@KaraandNate     Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        02:45 How Did You Get Started Traveling? ·        10:45 The Route to Happiness ·        12:30 Funding Their Travels ·        20:45 Buying a Ford Transit ·        23:00 Conversion Process ·        27:15 Mistakes ·        29:15 Hiking the PCT ·        30:00 Delicioats ·        35:00 Pushing Past Discomforts ·        42:45 Travel Frustrations ·        44:30 Traveling with 3 Dogs ·        46:30 Honest Cost of Van Life ·        49:45 The Barriers of Traveling from Canada ·        52:30 Starlink ·        55:00 Coolest Travel Experience ·        57:15 How Long Do You Plan Continuing This Lifestyle For? ·        60:00 Final Five   Connect With The Route to Happiness ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/route_tohappiness/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theroutetohappiness ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671668523352712 ·        Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theroutetohappiness   Past Episodes Mentioned ·        18 Chad and Eileen: https://atravelpath.com/show18/ ·        Travel Tips: Alaska: https://atravelpath.com/alaska/   YouTube channels ·        Amen and Bec: https://www.youtube.com/@eamonandbec ·        Divine On the Road: https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad ·        Kara and Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@KaraandNate   Kantishna Air Taxi Through Alaska ·        https://www.katair.com/   Internet ·        Starlink: https://www.starlink.com/ ·        Weboost: https://www.weboost.com/     Music • Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/rocky-mountains   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

Get Your Delicioats Discount Today! https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Welcome back Pathfinders. In this podcast we broke down every fee we paid when we purchased our RV, and how we are unfortunately underwater as a result. The moral of the story: Do your research AND don’t let emotions get the best of you during the buying process. Follow along with this blog for a more accurate breakdown of the buying fees: https://atravelpath.com/buying-an-rv/   Other blogs mentioned during this show: RV Tech: https://atravelpath.com/mobile-rv-technician/ How Much We Made Renting Our RV: https://atravelpath.com/renting-camper-van/ How We Saved Money to Buy an RV: https://atravelpath.com/become-the-ultimate-house-hacker-by-buying-an-rv/   Episodes Mentioned Chris and Sara: https://atravelpath.com/chris-and-sara/   Music Music • Music from  #Uppbeat  (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   00:00 Introduction 03:00 Why They First Visited Thailand 03:45 How Long Should You Visit Thailand For? 05:15 Best Time to Visit Thailand 06:15 Flying a Dog to Thailand 07:00 Transportation 09:15 Lodging 10:15 Nightlife 12:00 Cost 13:00 Delicioats Ad 14:45 Internet 15:00 Experiences 16:45 Food        21:00 Exploring Thailand 27:30 3, 2, 1 Countdown   In today’s show we welcome Chris and Sara back to Travel Tips. Join us as we take that far journey across the world to learn all about visiting Thailand!   Why Thailand? While Thailand is renowned for its breathtaking beaches, it's the digital nomad lifestyle that truly captured Chris and Sara's hearts. The abundance of coworking spaces, high-speed internet, and affordable living costs make it an ideal destination for remote workers and entrepreneurs alike. With a plethora of outdoor activities, from surfing and kayaking to exploring majestic mountains and ancient temples, Thailand offers a diverse range of experiences for adventurous spirits.   Planning Your Visit For those considering a trip to Thailand, timing is key. The months of November to February offer the most favorable weather conditions, with cooler temperatures and minimal rainfall. However, it's essential to avoid the burn season, typically occurring in April, when air quality deteriorates due to agricultural practices. Planning a visit during the winter months ensures optimal conditions for exploring Thailand's natural wonders and bustling cities.   Transportation Getting around Thailand can be an adventure in itself, particularly for first-time visitors. While motorbikes and mopeds offer a convenient and affordable mode of transportation, they also come with risks, as traffic can be chaotic and accidents are not uncommon. For those less confident in their driving skills, alternatives such as songthaews (shared taxis) and tuk-tuks provide a more relaxed way to explore the country's diverse landscapes.   Accommodation and Nightlife Finding accommodation in Thailand is relatively easy, with options ranging from budget-friendly hotels to cozy Airbnb rentals. Chris and Sara recommend staying near popular areas of town to maximize convenience and accessibility to amenities. As for nightlife, Thailand offers a vibrant array of experiences, from bustling night markets to lively clubs and bars. Exploring local night markets provides an opportunity to sample delicious street food, shop for unique souvenirs, and immerse oneself in the vibrant atmosphere of Thai culture.   Embracing Thai Time One of the unique aspects of Thai culture is its relaxed attitude towards time. Visitors are encouraged to embrace the concept of "Thai time," where schedules are flexible, and patience is key. Whether waiting for a restaurant to open or navigating transportation delays, adopting a laid-back approach to time management enhances the overall travel experience and allows for a deeper immersion into the local way of life.   3,2,1 Countdown 3 Things to Pack to Thailand ·        Sunscreen ·        Modest Clothing ·        Bug Spray 2 Complaints or Things to Be Prepared for in Thailand ·        Bugs ·        Heat ·        Culture: shoes off, lots of bowing, land of smiles, be respectful ·        Thai Time: Don’t be in a rush 1 Thing You Can’t Leave Thailand Without Doing ·        Any of the temples   Chris and Sara Online ·        Website: https://www.chrisandsara.com/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisandsara ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisandsara_ ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisandsaratravel       Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chris-and-sara     Flights ·        Going: https://www.going.com/ ·        Google Flights: https://www.google.com/travel/flights   Travel Hack Resources ·        Lisa and Josh: https://www.youtube.com/c/LisaJosh   Thailand Locations ·        Phuket Beaches: https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-best-beaches/ ·        Ko Chang ·        Thailand Water Festival (Songkran)   Music Music • Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        08:45 Remote Work ·        11:15 Transitioning to Van Life ·        16:00 Money Tips ·        17:45 Delicioats Ad ·        18:30 Home Base ·        21:45 Renting Their House Out ·        25:45 Current Travel Frustrations ·        29:45 Expenses ·        33:30 Medical Tourism ·        38:00 Traveling with a Dog ·        42:15 Final Five   Hello Pathfinders! What a great show we have in store from Chris and Sara. Chris and Sara have been documenting their travels for many years and have traveled all over the world. It was interesting to learn that although they had remote jobs, they weren’t sold on the fact they could travel until they ended up in Thailand and had an AH-HA moment that they could work from anywhere. In this episode, learn all about:   Routines While Chris prefers a routine, Sara likes to mix things up. Living in a van or truck camper allows Chris and Sara the best of both worlds. Since they can fit most of their routine essentials in their vehicle (workout and cooking equipment), they can still follow a routine throughout their day. At the same time, they are mobile and can pick up and move to a new location. Chris and Sara found that this style works best. When they are in hotels or Airbnbs, they have a difficult time keeping up with their routine because they have to venture to a gym or find a new place for breakfast and a cup of coffee.   Van Life Chris and Sara pointed out that van life isn’t as glamorous as it is made out to be. They are glad that more and more influencers seem to be showing the not-so-pleasant sides of this lifestyle. Their biggest struggle used to be internet, but Starlink has been a game changer for them. One of their biggest pieces of advice before starting out is to rent something. This way, you’ll be able to figure out exactly what you need and how big your van needs to be. They quickly realized their first van was more space than they needed, so they swapped that for one that was 5’ shorter.   Money Tips Like most travelers, fuel is their largest expense. To combat this, Chris and Sara have found that staying put can lower their expenses by reducing or eliminating their fuel cost. On top of that, they like to hunker down in remote areas in the west, and in those dispersed camping areas they often don’t have to pay to camp. These two strategies have made van life very affordable for them.   Renting Their Home During the pandemic, Chris and Sara bought a house because they weren’t sure what was going to happen with the world. They also needed a space to build their second van. Since they travel so often, they have used their home as a source of income by renting it on Airbnb. We shared stories of some of the headaches with renting your home out as well as some systems you can put in place to ensure you bring in the right guests. Chris and Sara are also in favor of the idea renting their home out on a more medium-term basis, using Furnished Finder to host travel nurses. Medium or short-term renting allows them flexibility to get back their home if they need to, as opposed to someone who has a year-long lease.   Having a Home Base Chirs and Sara mentioned that it is nice to have a home base even they though travel full time. Being able to reset, have their own shower and laundry facilities, and just a place to veg out for a bit is refreshing. Plus, it reignites some of that excitement before they head back out, as opposed to if they were constantly traveling.   Current Travel Frustrations One of their top travel frustrations for Chris and Sara is the language barrier when they are visiting foreign countries. To combat this, they take advantage of apps such as Google Translate or Pimsleur. Another frustration is dealing with a few clients who see that they are posting on social media. Although the pandemic helped bring familiarity with remote work, there are still some clients who give them a hard time because they believe they should be focusing on their project. Although they meet all their deadlines and Latergram, they can’t make everyone happy. One piece of advice Chris offered was to separate this as much as they can, and even block your clients from seeing your social media posts.   Expenses Balancing finances while traveling requires careful planning and budgeting. Health insurance premiums, coupled with the added expense of travel insurance, can quickly escalate costs. Chris and Sara have learned to prioritize their health and safety by investing in comprehensive insurance coverage. Additionally, they've encountered unexpected expenses, such as windshield repairs and tire replacements, due to extensive driving. By equipping themselves with the necessary tools and preparation, they mitigate financial burdens and ensure a stress-free journey.   Medical Tourism Seeking medical care while abroad can be daunting, but Chris and Sara have discovered the benefits of medical tourism. Some people retire to countries like Costa Rica and Mexico, where healthcare is more affordable. Whether it's routine check-ups or specialized treatments, they've found peace of mind knowing that they can receive professional care without breaking the bank. Through careful research and planning, they've embraced medical tourism as a viable solution for their healthcare needs. Of course, do your own research before deciding on which country you wish to get your medical care done.   Traveling with Pets As pet owners, Chris and Sara understand the challenges of traveling with furry companions. Certain destinations impose strict regulations, particularly regarding rabies-free policies. While navigating these restrictions can be cumbersome, they've found solace in pet-friendly countries like Korea, Brazil, and Mexico. Prioritizing their pet's comfort and well-being, they opt for car travel whenever possible, ensuring a stress-free journey for both themselves and their furry friend. By selecting airlines with pet-friendly policies and adhering to standard restrictions, they navigate pet travel with ease and confidence.   Final Five What Can’t You Live Without? ·        Shower ·        Passport What Have You Learned You Don’t Need? ·        Extra clothes When Is the Right Time to Jump into Traveling? ·        There is no perfect time and everything is changeable. People can plan for an entire year, but they miss the spontaneity that comes with travel. What Could Someone Start Doing Today? ·        If you don’t have a remote job, start working your way there. If you have a job where you can work remotely, you can maintain a travel lifestyle even longer. It’s harder to prove to current job or boss that you can do it remotely if it isn’t already remote. YouTube Channels ·        The Dangerz: https://www.thedangerz.com/ Travel Tips ·        Thailand       Chris and Sara Online ·        Website: https://www.chrisandsara.com/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisandsara ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisandsara_ ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisandsaratravel       Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chris-and-sara   Videos Referenced ·        Auto Rickshaw Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFKEiQ9Hu2g&t=904s   Past Episodes Mentioned ·        18. Chad and Eileen Miles: https://atravelpath.com/show18/ ·        9. Linnea and Akela: https://atravelpath.com/solo-female-van-life/ ·        19. Courtney and Dakota: https://atravelpath.com/travel-nursing/   Renting Platforms ·        Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/ ·        Vrbo: https://www.vrbo.com/ ·        Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/   Language Apps ·        Google Translate: https://translate.google.com/ ·        Pimsleur: https://www.pimsleur.com/ Music ·        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/rocky-mountains   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

Hey, Pathfinders! Surprise Friday episode, anyone? We thought we'd shake things up a bit and bring you some bonus travel content to fuel your wanderlust. Not sure what to call it yet or how often we'll do these, but we're excited to add a little extra travel talk to your lives, straight from our adventures. But first, let's kick things off with a quote that really resonated with us from our recent chat with Jeremy from the RV Atlas.   Quote of the Week "It's about getting outside for me... making memories with my family. It is not about the features of the RV." This quote got us thinking about prioritizing experiences over material possessions, whether it's choosing an RV or making any big purchase in life. Every dollar saved means more opportunities to explore new places and create lasting memories. So before splurging on fancy features, ask yourself if they align with your travel goals or if you're just buying into the hype. Learning from Personal Experiences Take it from our own experiences, like the time I bought a flashy truck fresh out of college, only to realize later it wasn't the smartest financial move. It's easy to get caught up in the allure of new gadgets or bigger, better things, but often, simplicity reigns supreme. Whether it's a vehicle, a home, or even just everyday purchases, consider the long-term impact on your finances and travel aspirations. Our Southern Adventure: North Bend Park Upgrade Speaking of travel, let's dive into our latest adventure down south to the Florida Keys. Currently, we're situated in Raleigh, North Carolina, catching up with family while we get some work done. But before that, we scored a sweet campsite upgrade at North Bend Park in Southern Virginia. How we did it? Hope asked the park staff at check in if there were any better sites available. We lucked out with a waterfront spot overlooking a serene cove, perfect for fishing and soaking in those sunrise views. Best of all, it cost us nothing more! Planning Your Own Epic Road Trip And hey, if you're itching to hit the road like we did, we've got you covered with a step-by-step guide for your own epic road trip. Shoot us an email or sign up for our newsletter for your free copy. Fueling Your Adventures with Delicioats Now, let's talk sustenance. Have you tried Delicioats yet? These overnight oats are our go-to travel fuel, packed with great ingredients and NO ADDED SUGAR. Use the link below and the discount code “PATH” to claim your discount! ·        https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code “PATH” Transcript Hey, Pathfinders, surprised to hear me on a Friday? So we decided to add another segment to our show, not sure entirely what it's gonna be called or how often these little Friday extras are gonna be, but we figured it's a great way to add a little extra travel content to your lives with some helpful details from our lives to help you reach your travel goals. And who knows, maybe at the end of this segment, we will reveal our guest for next Monday and we can keep that our little Friday secret. I wanted to start by sharing one of our favorite quotes from the show earlier in the week with Jeremy from the RV Atlas, where he talked about choosing experiences over features when considering buying an RV. And I'll play that quote right now.   - It's about getting outside for me. For me, it's getting outside, making memories with my family. It is not about the features of the RV. And I say that as somebody, I love RVs. And a lot of times when you get a more expensive RV that has tons of features in it, you end up messing with them a lot or this doesn't work or that doesn't work. I have just really come to appreciate simple, basic, straightforward RVs that work well and are priced well. –   Now, one thing that resonated with me about that quote, and I think you can look at it both like it's implied with RVs, but also with everything you're buying in life in general. And listen, every time you can save a buck or save a dollar or more, travel's expensive, right? So if you can find ways to save here and there, that's more opportunity for you to travel and explore and get to the places you wanna get to. And every little bell and whistle and feature of these newer RVs, they add up, right? I think it was a great segment of that podcast where we just talked about, it's about getting outside. Once it's raining outside, we're really not spending time in RVs at all. We wanna be outside exploring, whether it's hiking trails, hanging out at the campground, exploring the towns we're visiting. And I related to that a lot about when you're at an RV dealership and all these new things have all these new, bigger, smarter things that you can do and features to your RVs. First of all, you're really not going to use them that much, right? I remember we had this swivel chair, and now currently I'm using it because we're traveling full-time and working on it, but originally bought our van to travel and vacation and to not work. And we wanted to just make this recreation vacation type thing. And we thought it was so cool how the seat swiveled backwards and we didn't use it once. So it's important to really think about, are you going to use these things? And Jeremy did a great job explaining that point, geared towards RVing, and when you're buying an RV, you can relate a lot of that to things in real life.   For instance, if you're buying a car, right? A lot of times, you work with your car, do you have a certain car or truck you wanna buy? And it reminded me of a time when I was graduating college, I wanted to buy this F-150. At 2013, at the time, it was three years old, it was my motivation to graduate college, right? And looking back on that, it was a terrible financial decision because I had graduated school, had nothing in my bank account, had to have my father co-sign my truck for me, and I had a $500 payment for a pickup truck. And when I didn't even need a pickup truck to begin with, I didn't have a job or wasn't doing anything that I needed a truck for, but I had this massive $500 payment I was paying each month because it was new, I liked it, I was a truck guy. And after about a month or so, that novelty wears off fast. Before long, I just viewed it as a truck, as a normal car, I didn't think anything much of it. Obviously the first few weeks, I'd raise the current, raise the blinds and look out at it, and I'd be so proud and happy the fact that I have it, but after a while, I was stuck with a payment, and I could have been just as happy driving a much older truck, a car that was much less expensive. And that reminded me, when Jeremy had mentioned that during our show, it kinda reminded me of that where you really need to consider long-term, especially if you're financing or buying really expensive things, how much of an impact is buying this extra piece or buying this extra fancy car going to have on you other than you paying more for it? And I saw the same thing a lot with real estate. When you're buying a house, I would always tell my clients now selling houses, you wanna offer what you can, but just because you can afford something bigger and better, it doesn't mean you need one, right? If you're listening to this podcast, you're trying to reach your travel goals. That's what we were trying to do for a while, and if you're listening to this podcast, you're trying to do the same thing, right? So in a lot of instances, I see people, they buy houses that all they're going to do after a while is fill rooms they're not using with stuff they don't need. They're paying extra heating costs, extra moving costs, extra costs for things that they don't need. All this money could be used for something else. Really ask yourself how much of that is it a need versus how much of it is you want to impress others or is it just a keeping up with the Jones type thing? Because like I said, I mean, travel is not cheap. Travel is expensive no matter what form of travel you're doing. The more money you can save, the more opportunity you have with travel. So just really think about those things before you buy anything really expensive because especially if you're financing those monthly payments, they do not go away for a long time. And picture yourself five, 10 years from now having that extra payment and really think about am I going to be using these extra features, these extra space, is this extra payment versus something I could get and have the same use for half the price, is it worth that extra? Again, not saying don't go after it but it's just something to really, really consider before you pull the trigger and make a purchase. So I wanted to share that a little bit because that kind of stuck to me.   So maybe we'll keep this a segment of the podcast kind of sharing our favorite quotes, things that resonated with us and putting our little twist and spin on it. I will fill you in currently. So right now, Hope and I were traveling south towards the Florida Keys. We're hunkered down in Raleigh, North Carolina right now, visiting family, getting some work done. A couple of things we've learned, some tips for your travels in the future. Always check in with the camp staff to figure out or to find out if there's any better sites available. So we had booked a site at the North Bend Park in Southern Virginia, had a site that was, it was pretty secluded in the woods, a smaller site. Hope had the really, really an idea of asking the park staff when we went to check in if there were any other better sites available. He gave us a few sites, said they were a little bit better than what we currently had. Nothing was really direct waterfront or anything like that, but they were basically a step up from what we had. So we decided to go check out those two other sites he gave us. The first site we saw, site number 196, huge, it was a big site and it had waterfront not overlooking the lake, but overlooking a cove in the lake, which was just perfectly fine for

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Like we mentioned in the show, this episode of Travel Tips is a little different. Jeremy and his wife, Stephanie are authors of several books in the camping world, and today we discuss their latest release: “Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping.” Tune in to learn all about: How The Price of Camping Has Changed Since the pandemic, RVing and camping has become increasingly popular. As with everything, pricing comes down to supply and demand. With the increase in demand for camping, the cost of camping went up. Jeremy explains how many new and existing private campgrounds have raised their prices over the years, so they wrote this book to inform campers that there are still budget friendly choices out there. Types of Campgrounds When it comes to camping, there are two broad categories: Public and Private. Public campgrounds feature anything from national forests, state and national parks, and basically any dedicated public camping site. These sites often lack amenities, utilities, and hook ups, but they tend to be in the more beautiful locations. Public camping sites are more budget friendly. Private campgrounds are smaller and either owned by large corporations or mom and pop. They tend to have more amenities such as pools, playgrounds, and dog parks, and RV sites usually have hook ups. Because of all these extras, this type of camping comes with a higher price tag. Memberships We also chatted about the different types of camping memberships that a variety of campgrounds offer. Most privately owned campgrounds have a $20-40 reward system where you can pay an annual fee to receive discounted stays. We also discussed some of the more expensive memberships, that can cost thousands of dollars, but can be worth it if someone is camping full time. Renting Sticking with the budgeting theme, renting your RV and gear can save you some money as well. Renting an RV isn’t cheap, but if you aren’t completely sure what you want, or if you don’t plan on doing a ton of camping, starting with a rental could be a good choice. We also briefly touched on the idea of renting camping gear. This hasn’t become popular quite yet, but it is something worth looking into before you buy a ton of stuff you only use once. Camping Mistakes We went over a few mistakes that new campers make. For one, most people overpay on their first RV. We went into a lot more detail with this during Part 1. We also talked not making your first trip be too far away. It’s always best to do some sort of local “shakedown trip” after you first buy or at the start of the season to make sure everything is working well. Lastly, planning last-second trips to iconic locations can be a mistake. These places get booked up far in advance. If you are planning on hitting a popular destination within the next year, you should check out the availability window and be ready whenever it opens. 3, 2, 1 Countdown 3 Favorite Camping Activities: ·        Cooking ·        Hiking ·        Surfing/kayaking 2 Camping Complaints: ·        Sites are too small ·        Camper lights 1 Favorite Campground ·        Fort Wilderness, Disneyworld Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        02:15 How Has the Camping Price Landscape Changed Over the Years? ·        05:30 How Can People Control Their Costs? ·        07:30 Campground Categories ·        10:00 Camping Memberships ·        16:30 Renting Camping Equipment ·        18:00 Budget Friendly Camping Gear ·        19:15 How Far in Advance Should Someone Book a Campsite? ·        19:45 Common Mistakes First Time Campers Make ·        22:00 Other Camping Books ·        28:00 Delicioats ·        28:45 3,2,1 Countdown   The RV Atlas Online ·        Website: https://thervatlas.com/ ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thervatlas/ ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rvfamilytravelatlas ·        TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thervatlas   Get The Book ·        Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping: https://amzn.to/3Qu0eQf   More Camping Books by The RV Atlas ·        RV Vacations: https://amzn.to/3Q6cTs8 ·        See You at the Campground: https://amzn.to/49Foo0E ·        Where Should We Camp Next? 50 State Guide: https://amzn.to/4cYagCB ·        Where Should We Camp Next? National Parks: https://amzn.to/3xONm0f   Camping Rewards ·        Jellystone: https://www.delawarejellystone.com/special-offers/camping-deals/ ·        KOA: https://koa.com/rewards/ ·        Spacious Skys: https://spaciousskiescampgrounds.com/spacious-skies-loyalty-program/ ·        Thousand Trails: https://thousandtrails.com/membership-info   Camper Renting ·        Cruise America: https://www.cruiseamerica.com/ ·        Road Bear: https://www.roadbearrv.com/en ·        El Monte RV: https://www.elmonterv.com/ ·        Outdoorsy: https://www.outdoorsy.com/ ·        RVshare: https://rvshare.com/   Budget Camping Gear ·        LL Bean: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/915?page=camping-and-hiking-gear&bc=29&csp=f&nav=gnro-29 ·        Cabela’s: https://www.cabelas.com/c/camping ·        Lodge Cast Iron: https://www.lodgecastiron.com/ ·        Blackstone: https://blackstoneproducts.com/ ·        Weber Q: https://amzn.to/4cXXWSX   Future Camping Books ·        Where Should We Camp Next? Journal ·        Where Should We Camp Next? Children’s Journal ·        Children’s Book on Camping ·        Children’s Book on Hiking   Camping Locations Mentioned ·        Cape Hatteras: https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm ·        North Bend Park, Virginia: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233563 ·        Woodford State Park, Vermont: https://vtstateparks.com/woodford.html ·        Assateague Island Campground: https://www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/marylandcamping.htm ·        Lower Pines, Yosemite: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232450 ·        Fort Wilderness: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/campsites-at-fort-wilderness-resort/ ·        West Glacier KOA: https://koa.com/campgrounds/west-glacier/ ·        Delaware State Parks: https://destateparks.com/Camping   Previous Episodes Mentioned ·        Laura and Jason: https://atravelpath.com/road-trip-with-kids/   Delicioats ·        https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Music • Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   We have an excellent show in store with Jeremy Puglisi from The RV Atlas. In this show, we break down ALL things RV. The RV Atlas is a website, blog, and is celebrating 10 years of their highly renowned podcast with the same name. They have been camping for over a decade and The RV Atlas podcast keeps listeners informed of campground reviews and current trends in the RV space. The RV Atlas has also written several best-selling books and tune into Travel Tips where we discuss their latest release. In this episode you’ll learn all about:  Camping with Kids When should you start? How young is too young? How is it possible to plan trips as a family when everyone’s schedules are so busy? If you are travel seeking parent, you have probably had these thoughts. The RV Atlas shares how they had similar feelings many years ago when the birth of their twins pumped the brakes on their passion for travel. They saw an ad for RVing, and the rest is history. RVing provided them with an outlet where they could escape with their children at a very young age, and they continue this today while their kids are in high school. Buying an RV When you buy an RV, do you know exactly what you are getting? After you sign that stack of papers at the RV dealership, your monthly payment can add up very quickly. We actually pulled up our RV purchase contract to reflect on everything else we paid for: ·        State Sales Tax ·        DMV Fees ·        Documentation Fee ·        Vehicle Service Contract (Warranty) ·        Paint/Fabric Protection ·        Roadside Assistance ·        GAP Insurance ·        Tire/Road Hazard Gee, that sounds like it could be a blog post of it’s own! (Stay tuned) On top of that, if you are financing, the majority of your payment DOES NOT go towards principle. That means you could be making expensive monthly payments without seeing your balance being reduced by much. On top of that, RVs are a depreciating asset, so you can very quickly be underwater. Buying vs Renting Your RV Gear Like I mentioned, The RV Atlas has been doing this for many years. One of their favorite camping hobbies is kayaking or paddleboarding, yet they don’t bring these items with them. They have found that they are big, clunky, and a hassle to move. If the stumble across an area that is ideal for these activities, there usually are rental places available. Experience > Features The RV Atlas made it clear that they got into the RV life to make memories and share experiences. RVs continue to get newer, bigger, smarter, and most would call better. The RV Atlas shares a good point that when you RVing, you are going with the idea to spend time OUTSIDE. All the bells and whistles are cool, but the novelty wears off fast and soon you are stuck with all these gadgets that you paid extra for and don’t use. Plus, people like to fidget with things. The more you fidget, the more likely it is for something to go wrong. And More! Final Five What Is One Thing You Can’t Live Without? ·        North Face Recon Backpack ·        Cabela’s Hiking Boots ·        Blackstone Griddle What Is One Thing You DON’T NEED While Traveling? ·        Kayaks ·        SUPs (Stand Up Paddleboards) What Question Would You Ask? ·        How much should you spend on an RV? Other Influences ·        RV Love ·        The Fit RV Where Are We Headed for Travel Tips? ·        Stay Tuned! Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        04:45 How Did You Start Off Traveling? ·        07:00 How Did Having Children Originally Limit Your Travels? ·        11:00 How Were You Able to Start Camping? ·        12:00 When is a Good Age for Children to Start Camping? ·        15:15 What Lessons Has Camping Taught Your Kids? ·        17:45 Packing and Preparing an RV ·        19:15 Delicioats ·        23:15 What RV Mistakes Have You Made? ·        26:45 Current Frustrations with RVing ·        30:00 How Far Out Should You Plan a Family Trip? ·        32:00 What Do You Love Most About RVing? ·        34:15 RVing Expenses ·        35:45 How Can Someone Know What to Expect at a Campground? ·        38:45 What are Your Future RV Plans? ·        40:45 Final Five   The RV Atlas Online ·        Website: https://thervatlas.com/ ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thervatlas/ ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rvfamilytravelatlas ·        TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thervatlas   Get The Book ·        Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping: https://amzn.to/3Qu0eQf   More Books by The RV Atlas ·        RV Vacations: https://amzn.to/3Q6cTs8 ·        See You at the Campground: https://amzn.to/49Foo0E ·        Where Should We Camp Next? 50 State Guide: https://amzn.to/4cYagCB ·        Where Should We Camp Next? National Parks: https://amzn.to/3xONm0f   Marc and Julie (RVLove) Books ·        400 Travel Hacks: https://amzn.to/3JnhDWM ·        Living the RV Life: https://amzn.to/4aUKIED  (Commissions earned through purchases made on this page)   YouTube Channels ·        The Fit RV: https://www.youtube.com/@Thefitrv   Past Episodes Referenced ·        Laura and Jason: https://atravelpath.com/road-trip-with-kids/ ·        Marc and Julie: https://atravelpath.com/rvlove/   Delicioats ·        https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Music •        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/rocky-mountains   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   What an exciting episode about Sedona, Arizona! We welcomed back Marc and Julie from RVLove and they told us all about one of their favorite places to visit. In this episode you’ll learn all about: Camping Unbeknownst to many (including us during our first visit to Sedona), Sedon has a strict policy regarding sleeping in your car or RV. They told us about their favorite campgrounds near Sedona, as well as an incredible boondocking location.   Hiking There is no shortage of beautiful hiking trails that offer spectacular views of the surrounding red rock in Sedona. Marc and Julie named a few of their favorites, including Boynton Canyon and Bell Rock.   Sunsets in Sedona You can’t leave Sedona without experiencing a sunset, and how the fading sun casts growing shadows across the vast landscape. They shared a view of their favorite sunset locations in Sedona, although they also mentioned that as long as you have views overlooking west, you can’t go wrong!   Restaurants Whether you are looking to fuel yourself for a long hike, or catch dinner with amazing views, Marc and Julie listed several of their favorite restaurants and Sedona. And don’t miss their tip on how you can sometimes find the best tasting food at popular destinations.   3, 2, 1 Countdown 3 Things You Should Pack to Sedona: ·        Hiking Boots ·        Layered Clothing ·        Bikes ·        Sunscreen 2 Complaints or Things You Should be Prepared For in Sedona: ·        Crowds ·        Planning Ahead & Limited Camping Options 1 Thing You Can’t Leave Sedona WITHOUT Doing: ·        Boynton Canyon ·        Watch sunset over the red rocks   00:00 Introduction 03:30 Favorite Activities in Sedona 07:30 How Long Should Someone Plan to Stay in Sedona? 09:30 How Far in Advance Should You Plan to Visit Sedona? 12:45 Is Sedona Dog Friendly? 15:45 Boondocking or Campgrounds? 18:30 Restaurants 22:45 Internet and Cell Service in Sedona 26:45 Overall Cost in Sedona 28:00 Nearby Attractions 32:00 Delicioats 33:00 3, 2, 1 Countdown     RVLove on Social ·        Website (take the quiz!): https://rvlove.com/ ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvlovetravel/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rvlove ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RVLoveTV   Hiking in Sedona ·        Boynton Canyon Trail (with Subway Tunnel): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/boynton-canyon-trail ·        Bell Rock Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/bell-rock--3   Sunsets Locations ·        Boynton Canyon ·        Enchantment Resort: https://www.enchantmentresort.com/ ·        Airport Overlook   Nighttime ·        Sedona UFO Tours: https://visitsedona.com/things-to-do/tours-sightseeing/ufo-tours/ ·        Restaurants   Restaurants ·        Mariposa: https://www.mariposasedona.com/ ·        Pisa Lisa: https://www.pisalisa.com/ ·        Cucina Rustica: https://www.cucinarustica.com/ ·        The Vault: https://www.thevaultuptown.com/ ·        The Indian Gardens: https://www.indiangardens.com/ ·        Steakhouse 89: https://www.steakhouse89.com/   To Do ·        Holy Chapel of the Cross: https://chapeloftheholycross.com/ ·        Vortex ATV Rentals: https://www.vortexatvrental.com/ ·        Our Sedona Video: https://youtu.be/mXY8S3Fhg_k ·        Our Sedona Blog: https://atravelpath.com/sedona/     Nearby Attractions ·        Jerome Ghost Town: https://azjerome.com/ ·        Grand Canyon: https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm ·        Flagstaff: https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/   Camping ·        Cottonwood Campground ·        Verde Ranch: https://verderanchrvresort.com/ ·        Verde Valley Fairgrounds: http://www.vvfair.com/camping-and-rentals.html ·        Campground INSIDE Sedona: https://ranchosedona.com/ ·        Dead Horse State Park: https://azstateparks.com/dead-horse   Dogs ·        Bring Fido: https://www.bringfido.com/   Music ·        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.   Transcript: Host: Marc and Julie, welcome back to the Travel Path Podcast. It's great to have you here again.   Guest: Great to be back.   Host: So, if anybody missed part one, we got a crash course on everything RV. You guys have been traveling for 10 years, talked about all the five different types of RVs you've been into or five different types of RV you guys have had over the years, talked about budgeting, planning, preparing—a whole bunch of information. Everybody, check out part one. For part two, travel tips. We're talking about one particular destination. So, Marc and Julie, where are we talking about today?   Guest: I say we talk about Sedona. I say we talk about Sedona too. Sedona, Arizona. It's one of our favorite places that we've visited multiple times on our travels. And, yeah, yeah, we were just there last month. Actually, we're not currently there. We're in AR-Iona, but we're not in Sedona right now. But we do love it. In fact, in all of our years of travel before we actually got a home base back a few years ago, when people would ask us where we thought we would settle, it was on our short list of places because that surrounding area, yeah, that it's getting really expensive now and very touristy now too—very touristy, very busy.   Host: So, obviously, you've been to Sedona multiple times. It's something that's very special to you. What made you decide to talk about Sedona out of all the places you've been?   Guest: There's just something magical about it, you know? And anyone that's been there knows. And it is actually known for having what they call vortexes of these, and I should have looked up what's the proper explanation of what they, these special magical energy. It does attract a lot of people that are healers or spiritual teachers and authors and people that are going through major life changes and reinvention. There's something about it that just envelops you. And it's just incredibly scenic. It's very beautiful—red, scenic, very beautiful. If you like that kind of thing. If you're somebody who prefers like the keys and trees, maybe not. But we happen to love Red Rock scenery and landscape. And it's just quite stunning and in different times of the day, so beautiful. Amazing hiking, fantastic biking, yeah, biking, off-roading, Jeeping. And there's even some, if people—there's some Rivers there too. And it's also reasonable proximity to get up into altitude into the mountains, so there's a lot of really cool stuff with a reasonable too.   Host: Yeah, yes, that's a perfect opportunity to talk about all the different activities that you can do. I know when we were there, we did atving through the Red Rock, which was amazing. Have you guys done anything specific that you've really enjoyed?   Guest: You know, one of my favorite memories of Sedona is when we actually boondocked. We weren't in a campground. We were off a road called Forest Road 525. And we probably took—it was our first RV. It was the one, I think we showed in the last episode actually where that picture was taken. Right, so that is actually where we were parked. This is not a Photoshop of the RV in this scenic spot. This is the whole big photo that Marc took with the Drone. But we found this parking spot right with this 35t class A Motorhome that is not really well, not at all designed for off-roading. And we ended up with this fantastic spot. We did have to do a little bit of slow and yeah, get a little creative and slow to get in there. But what I think, I know what you're gonna say is what was so fun is we were at the day after we were there. You know those Jeep tours in Sedona, they have the pink Jeep tours, you know, and then the yellow ATVs. This road we're on is one of their popular exit points for one of their big tours, right? So they go on this big long super technical off-roading Trail, and then they come up to our RV. And because we came, we backed in from the end where they come on the big long route. And then so they see us and the looks on their faces were so classic because they're like, how in the world did you get that here? So that was a really fun memory. But we came in from the road, they came in from the trail, so we saw a lot of that there. We actually, funnily enough, haven't done Jeep. Well, we have done Jeeping, not one of the Jeep tours, but we do have a Jeep, and we did do some of the trails with our Jeep. Yeah, we've done a lot of biking and hiking out there too, though. Just the trails are so amazing and just even just watching a sunset or a sunrise because the land is so textured with all the red rocks and so much texture in the shadows. It's really dramatic for sun when the sun is setting while it's still craning the shadows and even just from the airport is actually one of the good spots for vantage points. There's a lot of great vantage points in town, but that's one of them. And in the last episode, we talked about sunsets, right? So any RV would be familiar with this. It's something we talk, we as RVers as a community talk about a lot. And it's like there are so many vantage points just to get an amazing sunset view from Sedona. So that can just be a fun thing, especially if you're there for a week or two, go to a different spot every night to see the sunset. That's actually one of the things we love about RVing is people can still enjoy the same sunsets, the same experiences of an area, whether you're driving a $5,000 motorized or if you're driving a $3-4 million bus conversion. That a lot of that lifestyle can be had

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com/discount/PATH Use Code PATH   Welcome back to the show Pathfinders and holy smokes, Marc and Julie from RVLove did not disappoint! This was an information packed, nearly hour long episode on all things RV. Whether you are a newbie or seasoned RVer, there is something here for everyone. Listen in as RVLove shares all about:   Buying an RV Over the past 10 years, RVLove has been through all sorts of RVs, and they offer many, many tips on the buying process. Instead of asking “How much can you afford?” RVLove frames the question, “How much can you afford to lose?” RVs depreciate and they are expensive, so it is important to know how much everything can cost you. They offer specific tips on why you shouldn’t wrap  your warranty into your loan, as well as the pros and cons of the many different types of RVs. How Has the RV Life Changed You? RVLove shares how they have become changed individuals after spending so much time traveling. The more things they see, the more perspective they have about the world, which results in more of an open mind. How to Get the Right Information About RVing? With so much clickbait and distractions available online, it is tough know whether you are getting the right information. You can watch 10 different videos and hear 10 different opinions on why you should or shouldn’t do something, so it can be overwhelming. While you don’t want to over-analyze, you definitely want to do your homework before you buy an RV. RVLove shares some tips on how you can verify the information you are receiving. Remote Income In order to make the most of full or part time travel, having a remote income source is key. RVLove shares their story on how they were able to achieve remote income positions at the beginning, before transitioning to their own business. Learn about all this and much more in this episode of A Travel Path Podcast!   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        03:45 How Did You Get Started RVing? ·        09:15 Living Out of Two Suitcases ·        11:45 Downsizing and Letting Go ·        14:30 Delicioats ·        15:15 Pros and Cons of Different RVs ·        21:00 All 50 States in 3 Years ·        23:00 Biggest Challenge to Get on the Road ·        24:45 Buying a New or Used RV ·        38:00 How Much Someone Some One Save Up Before RVing Full Time? ·        41:45 Books by RV Love ·        44:00 How to Get the Right RV Information ·        48:45 What Is Your RV Type? Quiz ·        51:00 How Has the RV Lifestyle Changed You? ·        52:45 What Is the First Step Towards Full Time RVing?   RVLove on Social ·        Website (take the quiz!): https://rvlove.com/ ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvlovetravel/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rvlove ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RVLoveTV   Books By RVLove ·        Living the RV Life: https://rvlove.com/book/ ·        RV Hacks: https://rvlove.com/rv-hacks-book/   Blogs by RVLove ·        Cost of Rving: https://rvlove.com/planning/cost-of-rving-full-time-vs-part-time/   eBook Chris and Cherie ·        The Mobile Internet Handbook: https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/book/   Past Episodes ·        #17 Phil and Stacy: https://atravelpath.com/show17/ ·        #6 Jim and Michelle: https://atravelpath.com/retired-full-time-rv-living/   RV Rental ·        Outdoorsy: https://www.outdoorsy.com/ ·        RVshare: https://rvshare.com/ ·        Cruise America: https://www.cruiseamerica.com/     Music •        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/rocky-mountains   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.   Transcript: Host: Marc and Julie, welcome to the Travel Path Podcast! Thank you for joining us.   Guest: Thanks for having us.   Host: Yeah, so we know you as RVLove. You guys sold your home in 2014 and have spent the past 10 years traveling full-time and part-time in a variety of different RVs. You're also bestselling authors with a focus on educating RVers. I just want to remind our audience to pay attention; I feel like there's going to be a lot of great information here. Also, I want to give a shout-out to Phil and Stacy from "Today is Sunday," who were on episode 17. I mentioned you guys were a huge influence on going full-time. Before we dive too deep, why don't you share a little about yourselves and then tell our audience what your current travel lifestyle looks like?   Guest: Alright, sure. Well, as you mentioned, we hit the road in 2014 to go full-time because we wanted more time together and had limited time off from work. We thought it would be a great way to go. I had some limited travel experience before that, doing some RVing with my family when I was growing up, but hadn't done any extensive RV travel. And Julie had not either. My family, when I—just for anyone listening—I'm originally Australian, but I've been in the States since '08, so I'm a citizen here now. But we met in Boulder, Colorado, in 2010, married in 2011. Yeah, met in 2010 and then we hit the road. And actually, it was funny because we hit the road in 2014, and then for the next over six years, so we actually spent way more time those first eight years of our marriage and our life together in the RV than we did in a regular house. So that was unique as well—still living in a small space, yeah, and working—still married, still even working together. That's great. And then you asked what type of travel we're doing right now. So we were full-time travel from 2014 to 2020; we bought a home base in 2020 and started doing part-time travel. Um, but some years more than others, but this year, right now, I mean, we've been out every month for quite a few of the months. We've been six of the last seven months; we're out since early October. We've only spent one month at home. So we all have been out for I think seven months by the time we get back, so yeah, might as well be full-time travel, right? Well, with the current rig we're in, you totally—this.   Host: Yeah, yeah. So Mark, you had mentioned on your website that you worked a 40-hour-a-week job with very limited vacation time and you said RVing was a solution that made you feel like you had more time off. Can you elaborate on that and then how did you get started RVing?   Guest: Yeah, sure. Well, I wanted to have a remote job for a long, long time, and I was having trouble finding an employer that would do that. And so I just made it my mission to find an employer that would allow remote work. And once I did that, it was only about three months that went by before I realized, well, I never go to an office, they don't really know where I'm at, so we could be anywhere. And that's when it started opening the idea of doing some more travel. Julie and I did some vision boarding and visualizing what we wanted out of our life, and a lot of it revolved around travel, not possessions. And so that's when we decided to make travel a bigger priority and started doing a lot more research. And in about nine months of heavy, extensive research is when we bought an RV, sold the house, and launched on the road. I had a full-time job at the time that was remote, that was paying all the bills for that, and that allowed that freedom and that remote lifestyle. And I actually didn't tell many people at all at my work that I was going to be doing that because I felt confident that I'd have internet connectivity if we made it a high enough priority and that the longer I went without telling anybody, as long as I didn't have any hiccups, then I would have lots of evidence to say, "Hey, it's totally how long?" Oh, you just—you noticed I'm traveling? How long? Oh, the last two days. Well, I've been doing it for four months. So that was a really great way to come back and say, "This is totally doable; you had no idea I'm doing this for all this time." And I even later went to Australia and didn't tell anybody either. Wouldn't recommend that; the time zone—time hurts; it crushes you. Yeah, but Marc was uh doing remote work before CO made it cool.   Host: Yep, funny. Yeah, Australia—you might be showing up a little bit late to work or early depending on what the time difference over there is—brutal.   Guest: You would—yeah, to work my 8-to-5 job, I had to work midnight to 9 a.m., and he's not a—not a—and I'm not a night person, and so it was actually really tough because we were also visiting friends and family in Australia. We'd spend a lot of time with them during the day, so I'd work midnight to 9 a.m., have a couple-hour nap, go hang out with friends and family, have a couple-hour nap, and then go back to work. I never got big chunks of time to sleep for a month, and by the end of the month, we would both be delirious. We were literally—wouldn't recommend doing that very often. Just take the time off and just have a vacation; that's our recommendation.   Host: Yeah, it is hard to balance, especially if you're traveling that far to balance working full-time with travel and getting those experiences in. So that's probably one of the first lessons you learned was to just separate those a little bit.   Guest: Yeah, even domestic travel, the time zones are still a factor, you know. If you have a job that has specific hours and not an asymmetrical or asynchronous job, you know, when you're on the Pacific coast, it's amazing in the summer because you can be off work at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, the sun doesn't go down till 9, you have this whole evening—it's almost like every day is two days. But when you're on the East Coast, unless you'd have to either try and get some stuff done before work or your evenings are short, s

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com?sca_ref=2606128.heLxZNHtFuUse code “PATH”   Wow! What an information-filled episode this was as we welcomed back Joe and Kalyn from Open Roading to Travel Tips! We learned a ton about Mackinac Island in Michigan, and after speaking with them, it sounds like such a fascinating place to visit. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they spent a full season as Joe worked at a campground near the island (more on that in Part 1.) In this episode you’ll learn all about:   Mackinac Island First of all, it is pronounced MackinAW, and Joe informed us pretty quickly that if your pronounce it they way it is spelled, the locals will be quick to correct you. The small island offers an escape from the modern world, as there are no cars on the island. Everything is either on foot, horseback, or bike.   Biking Bike rentals are a popular activity at Mackinac Island, and the eight-mile loop along the edge is a scenic and peaceful ride. They shared the tip of renting a bike on the island as opposed to renting one and bringing it on the ferry. This way, if something happens with your bike, the company is on the island to fix it. We also cover the best time to visit, nearby attractions, where to stay, and so much more! You’ll definitely want to listen to this episode a few times if you plan on making a trip. And if you haven’t heard of Mackinac Island or weren’t considering visiting it, after listening I’m sure it will be on your list.   3,2,1 Countdown 3 Things to Bring to Mackinac Island: ·        Bike ·        Warm Clothes ·        Comfortable Walking Shoes 2 Complaints or Things You Should Be Prepared For: ·        Smell of Horse Manure ·        Dress Code at Grand Hotel ·        Bonus: Bugs 1 Thing You CAN’T Leave Mackinaw Island Without Doing: ·        8 Mile perimeter bike ride   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction to Mackinac Island ·        05:30 How Long Should Someone Plan to Spend on Mackinac Island? ·        06:30 When is Mackinac Island Shut Down/Best Time to Visit? ·        09:15 Dog Friendly/Kid Friendly Activities on Mackinac Island? ·        11:30 Bike Rentals ·        12:30 Lodging & Transportation ·        15:00 Activities ·        16:30 Overall Cost of Mackinaw Island ·        18:45 Planning and Reservations ·        20:00 Favorite Food Spots ·        21:30 Nearby Attractions ·        23:00 Delicioats.com use code PATH ·        24:00 3, 2, 1 Countdown     Ferries ·        Shepler’s Ferry: https://www.sheplersferry.com/ ·        Mackinac Island Ferry Company: https://www.mackinacferry.com/     Lodging ·        Mackinac Mill Creek Camping: https://www.campmackinaw.com/ ·        Grand Hotel: https://www.grandhotel.com/#   Restaurants/To Do ·        Millie’s On Main: https://www.milliesonmain.com/ ·        Sanders Fudge: https://sanderscandy.com/pages/stores ·        Ryba’s Fudge Shops: https://ryba.com/ Mackinac Family Heritage Pass (gets you into multiple locations in the area) https://tickets.mackinacparks.com/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=MSHP&c=3 ·        Butterfly House: https://www.originalbutterflyhouse.com/     Fireworks ·        Saint Ignace: https://stignace.com/event/fireworks-over-the-bay/2024-05-25/ ·        Mackinac City: https://www.mackinaw-city.com/mackinaw_city_events_bak.php     Nearby Attractions ·        Wilderness State Park and Beach: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=509&type=SPRK ·        Harbor Springs: https://www.michigan.org/city/harbor-springs ·        Petoskey: https://www.michigan.org/city/petoskey-area ·        Charlevoix: https://www.michigan.org/city/charlevoix ·        Drummond Island: https://www.visitdrummondisland.com/   Previous Podcast Episodes ·        Indian Lake State Park and Upper Peninsula: https://atravelpath.com/michigan-upper-peninsula/   Music ·        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): ·        https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever ·        License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.   Transcript Host: Hey Joe and Kalyn, welcome back to the Travel Path podcast. Thanks so much for being here again.   Guest: Thank you for having us.   Host: So, if anybody missed part one, we delved deep into your full-time travel lifestyle with your fifth-wheel RV. We covered everything from your work camping life to budgeting and all the other aspects of living on the road. Today, for travel tips, we're focusing on one particular destination. Where are we talking about today?   Guest: Yeah, we're going to Northern Michigan and specifically Mackinac Island. Surprisingly, a lot of people haven't heard of this little island up there.   Host: That's awesome. How much time have you guys actually spent on Mackinac Island?   Guest: On the actual island, I think we've done four trips, four days in total. But we spent the entire summer in Mackinac City, which is just a ferry ride away from the island. So, the entire area is kind of immersed in Mackinac City, Mackinac Island, this whole space. And as a public service announcement to your listeners, it is spelled M-A-C-K-I-N-A-C Island, but when you go there, make sure you pronounce it "Mac" or the locals will be very eager to correct you.   Host: That's a great travel tip. You always need to know exactly how to pronounce where you're going, otherwise that can happen. What made you guys want to share about this destination today?   Guest: It's actually one of my favorite places because there are no cars allowed on the island at all. So, it really feels like you're stepping back in time. Everything is either accessed by walking, biking, or taking a horse taxi. Even the "garbage trucks" are horses pulling wagons to pick up the bins. It's just a quaint little place we've fallen in love with.   Host: Sounds amazing. So, Mackinac Island is a great destination for someone who likes what type of experience?   Guest: I would say a more laid-back experience, obviously. You're not rushing from place to place because you don't have a car. But if you want to be a bit more active, there are walking and biking options. And if you enjoy quaint shops, popping into boutiques, and indulging in the fudge, it's perfect. There are around 15 to 20 fudge shops on the island. And if you're into history, there's a fort and other old structures to explore.   Host: The Grand Hotel sounds fascinating. It must be quite an experience.   Guest: Definitely. It's very old and still functioning.   Host: Sounds like a place where you'd really be stepping back in time when you visit. How long do you think someone should plan a trip for to get the full Mackinac Island experience?   Guest: You can do the full experience in a day. But something we really want to do is spend the night sometime. We hear that it's a different atmosphere after the last ferry leaves for the day. The foot traffic builds up throughout the day, but you can see everything you want in a day or even an afternoon. It's a place you want to come back to and experience again and again. I think it's not just like one and done and yeah forget about it.   Host: Perfect, so you could do it in an afternoon and just make it part of your trip to the Michigan Upper Peninsula. But of course, you could keep going back there every day, just taking the ferry over. I think it's nice to have that versatile type of trip. Now, I know that Mackinac Island does shut down for part of the year, correct?   Guest: Yeah, yeah, I believe it's October. I mean, shut down, quote-unquote, if they can get through the ice, they will run a ferry. But most people are not taking that back and forth unless they're locals. There is an airport on the island, so if you're living on the island and can't get out via ferry, you can pay, which is pretty pricey, to take a flight out. And then you have to pay weight actually in the grocery and items that you bring back, in addition to the trip.   Host: Wow. So, what would you say is the best time of year to visit to avoid the ice and flying situation?   Guest: Yeah, July and August are probably going to be my favorite. I know people are like, "Oh, go maybe in the spring or the fall to avoid crowds." But the problem with the springtime is there are these things called midge flies, and they are like clouds of black flies all over the place, specifically by the water. And Mackinac Island is surrounded by water. So, if you go in May and June, expect to have that experience, which may color your entire view of the island. July and August are really the best, and then September, it's just getting really cold because, again, it's on the water. And so that breeze coming off the water is pretty cool. And when she's saying black clouds of midge, she is not exaggerating. Like, they are clouds. And if there's any white surface, the white surface just becomes black with these flies. They don't bite, but they are just a pain. Along with the time frame though, if you really want to enjoy the island, there's two ferry companies, Shepler's and Star Line, and Shepler's is the main ferry company. And you want to get on one of the first two boats out to the island because if you jump off one of those first two boats, you're one of the first people on the island, except for anybody who's spent the night the night before. And the streets are quiet and clean and, yeah, and clean. Everything is horses. And so, you really get the peaceful downtown. And there's a courtyard in front of the castle, and you can really just kind of walk through the courtyard, take pictures, and there's nobody around. And like I said, throughout the day, the amount of foot traffic builds, everything starts

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com?sca_ref=2606128.heLxZNHtFuUse Code “PATH” Welcome back Pathfinders! Today we have a great episode in store with Joe and Kalyn from Open Roading. Going Full Time Open Roading originally only planned on traveling for a year, but they soon fell in love with the lifestyle. Learn about how they were able to continue traveling and some of the obstacles they had to overcome that almost sent them back home. Workamping From python catching to gate guarding to a beet harvest, we discuss a ton of information about getting into workamping. We discuss the requirements to get into this industry as well as websites you can use to find jobs. And of course, I couldn’t change the subject without asking them their favorite and least favorite workamping jobs! Budgeting If you are familiar with their Instagram or YouTube, you’ll know that Open Roading are very detailed and open about their budget. We break down what a typical month looks like for them, and talk about some of the things they are spending most of their money on, like health insurance, fuel, and internet. Open Roading also shares their favorite budgeting app to make budgeting easier for them. The biggest takeaway I found here was that they meet with each other once a week to go over their budget. Most people will sit down on a monthly basis to go over this. You could almost hear the glass shatter as I came to the realization that if you only sit down once a month and are setting a monthly budget, it really doesn’t do you any good… Routines We talk about the importance of having routines while traveling. Although it can be difficult because they are never in the same place for long, Open Roading provides us with some insight on some things you can do stay consistent. For example, you can always wake up early, schedule a meeting, and exercise or take the dog for a walk (weather permitting!) YouTube Open Roading has made three attempts with YouTube after getting burned out and pumping the brakes a few times. In their latest effort, they have been met with some pretty big success. We discuss what they have done differently this time around as well as some of the reasons they believe their channel didn’t take off at first.   And much more!   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        04:30 What is Work Camping? ·        08:00 Gate Guarding ·        09:15 Work Camping Requirements ·        13:00 Favorite/Least Favorite Work Camping Jobs ·        16:00 Balancing Work Camping with Exploring ·        17:15 Biggest Challenges to Start Traveling ·        18:45 How Did You Know When You Were Ready to Hit the Road? ·        20:30 What Adjustments Did You Make to Continue Traveling? ·        23:30 Delicioats “PATH” ·        24:30 What Are Your Biggest Travel Frustrations? ·        26:15 What Are Your Most Helpful Travel Routines? ·        27:30 What Do You Love Most About Your Travel Lifestyle? ·        29:45 How Long Do You Plan on Continuing Full Time Travel For? ·        30:45 Budgeting ·        35:00 What Are Your Favorite Money Saving Travel Hacks? ·        39:30 What Is It Like Traveling with a Bunny & Dog? ·        42:00 What Has Been Your Coolest Travel Experience? ·        45:15 What Can You & Can’t You Live Without? ·        48:15 What Tools Should Every RV Owner Have? ·        49:15 How Have You Been Successful Your 3rd Time Around with YouTube? ·        53:00 How to Start Planning ·        54:45 Influential YouTube Channels   Open Roading on Social ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OpenRoading ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openroading   Videos From Open Roading ·        5 Years of RV Life Cost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVHSnw-1jI4 ·        Solar Setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5De9SPEddfc ·        Clouds Rest Hike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX0dv05Z6yA&t=683s ·        Gypsum Cave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ajkUK1Iarg&t=135s ·        How Much We Make on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5h49_LH4Ag   Work Camping ·        Kamper News: https://www.workamper.com/ ·        Workamping Jobs with Wages: https://www.facebook.com/groups/workampingjobswithwages/ ·        Workampers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloveworkamping/ ·        The UNBEETABLE Experience: https://www.theunbeetableexperience.com/ ·        Mackinac Mill Creek Campground: https://www.campmackinaw.com/   Budgeting ·        You Need a Budget: https://kalynbrooke.com/refer/YNAB   Camping/Boondocking ·        Harvest Host: https://www.harvesthosts.com/ ·        Boondockers Welcome: https://www.boondockerswelcome.com/   Internet ·        Starlink Roam Plan: https://www.starlink.com/roam   Favorite Experiences ·        The Presidential Chain Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-hampshire/presidential-traverse-trail ·        Channel Islands National Park: https://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm   What Can’t You Live Without? ·        Portable Waste Tank ·        Solar Panels   What Have You Learned You Don’t Need? ·        Extra Clothes   YouTube Channels ·        Less Junk More Journey: https://www.youtube.com/@LessJunkMoreJourney ·        Kara and Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@KaraandNate ·        Flying the Nest: https://www.youtube.com/@flyingthenest   Books ·        Alyssa Padgett RVing Across America: https://amzn.to/43bcV7B ·        (Commissions may be earned through purchases on this page)   Music ·        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/rocky-mountains   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.   Transcript Host: Joe and Kalyn, welcome to a travel path podcast.   Guest: Thanks so much for having us on. Yes, it's so exciting to be here with you.   Host: Yeah, we're looking forward to getting to know you guys. Um, so we know you guys on Instagram as Open Roading. You guys turned a year-long road trip into just about five years full-time in your fifth wheel. You post content on your YouTube channel, everything from RV how-tos to work camping, and very detailed budgeting videos, which I'll tell our audience right now to make sure they pay close attention to once that part comes. Um, but no pressure on you guys. Um, and I know you're very hard to miss driving down the road with your fifth wheel and your setup with your motorcycle attached to the front of your truck, so clearly, anything is possible. Um, but yeah, why don't we start by having you share a little about yourselves and letting your audience know what your current travel lifestyle looks like.   Guest: Sure. So, we both grew up in Upstate New York. That's where we met, and then we ended up transitioning down to Florida, just love the Sunshine State, and that's when we started thinking about a potential travel lifestyle. She says "we," she means her; I was the one that started the conversation, like, "Hey, wouldn't this be cool?" And Joseph was still working at the time, so he was in the news industry as a videographer. And um, eventually, I was, you know, working on my online business. I had a blog that I was writing on different articles and starting to earn some money with that, and it got to the point where it was a full-time income, and Joseph could come home and work on it with me. And that was kind of the catalyst for like, okay, like, can I convince you now that we can get an RV? We don't, you know, have jobs that are tied outside our house. We can work from anywhere with a good cell phone connection. And so in 2019, that's when we started off. Yeah, and it was a whirlwind for that first year. We were traveling like every five days, and because we didn't have much black tank capacity, basically, we always had to dump and fill, so it was like every five days, why not move somewhere else? And we were trying to do the YouTube content all at the same time, and we really got burnt out over that first year. And then we tried again with YouTube a little while later, got burnt out again. So, our travel style now is a lot different than it used to be. Like now, we are trying to settle into a travel style where we only move every about two weeks, maybe 10 days if there's a reason. But two weeks is kind of what we're trying to get into, where we can kind of settle into a place, still do our work, you know, do a 30, 40-hour-a-week job from the RV, and then continue on.   Host: Very cool. I'm not sure if you noticed there was a thumbs-down sign that got sent. I don't know if that was you or me, but that we were not giving you a thumbs down. I don't know where that came from, but that was weird.   Guest: We have somebody watching, so weird.   Host: Yeah, well, great. So, every two weeks or so, that's the path we want to take on this next trip. Is it... it would be a lot more relaxing going at that pace as opposed to getting up and going every... I mean, we were going every like two days when we were traveling. But our next approach will be closer to a week, maybe two weeks if we're lucky. Um, but you guys do a lot of work camping. What is that? Or maybe not so much anymore 'cause you guys are done with that now. We'll get into that later on, but what is work camping?   Guest: We didn't actually start out work camping. We actually... because we were self-funded by my online business, and then Covid hit and the economy tanked, and we realized that our funding was not working and not as much anymore. And so that's where we started to look at how can we stay on the road as much as possible and also earn money with it. So, work camping is basically you work for someone else, like a campground, a state park, or even agricultural work with the beet harvest. And they

www.atravelpath.com   Hello Pathfinders, in today’s show we welcomed back Kyle and Renee from Happily Ever Hanks! They shared their insight after spending ONE MONTH at a campground in San Diego, California and exploring everything it had to offer. In this episode learn about:   Time We covered everything from the best time of year to how long you should spend in San Diego. Although they spent a month, Kyle and Renee shared that you could spend 1-2 weeks and feel fulfilled. As far as the time of year, Kyle and Renee were there for the month of February. They shared that the weather was nice, but not “swimmable” and traffic was manageable. It was definitely the off-season during this time.   Price It’s no surprise that San Diego is expensive. They shared how much they spent at their campground for the month and offered some tips so that you can prepare yourself for the prices.   To Do We discussed the San Diego Zoo, beaches, some historical activities, places to eat, and several other activities you can do in the area. They also offered some insight on things they would have done, such as roller blading or bringing bikes if they had thought about it beforehand.   Transportation Ride-sharing is expensive, but they shared that there is a transit system that is very affordable that they used a few times. We also discussed traffic, parking, and the complications of driving a larger vehicle through downtown.   3, 2, 1 Countdown 3 Things to Pack ·        Sunscreen (even if you visit in February) ·        Jacket ·        Bike 2 Complaints ·        Cost ·        Traffic/Parking 1 Thing ·        USS Midway Museum   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:00 How long should someone plan on spending in San Diego? 02:45 Where did you stay? 04:00 How was driving a large rig through San Diego? 07:15 How close was your campground to San Diego attractions? 08:30 How expensive was San Diego? 10:45 What was nightlife like in San Diego? 12:15 Daytime activities in San Diego? 16:30 What did you use for internet? 18:00 What are three things you should bring to San Diego? 20:15 What are two complaints someone might have about San Diego? 24:15 What is one thing you can’t leave San Diego without doing?   Happily Ever Hanks on Social ·        Website: https://www.happilyeverhanks.com/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappilyEverHanks ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happilyeverhanks/ ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happilyeverhanks ·        TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happilyeverhanks   Happily Ever Hanks YouTube Videos Referenced ·        San Diego Cost Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhWvcWyW87A   Camping Sun Outdoor Chula Vista: https://www.sunoutdoors.com/california/sun-outdoors-san-diego-bay   Driving Apps RV Life: https://www.rvlife.com/app/ Truck Map: https://truckmap.com/ All Stays: https://www.allstays.com/apps/ Google Maps   To Do USS Midway Museum: https://www.midway.org/ San Diego Zoo: https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/ Coronado: https://coronadovisitorcenter.com/ 19 Mile Biking/Walking Path: https://missionbaygateway.org/biking-walking-paths   Kids/Pets Sesame Place: https://sesameplace.com/san-diego/ Dog Beach: https://oceanbeachsandiego.com/attractions/beaches/dog-beach   Beaches Ocean Beach: https://oceanbeachsandiego.com/ La Jolla: https://www.sandiego.org/explore/things-to-do/beaches-bays/la-jolla.aspx Mission Beach: https://www.sandiego.org/explore/things-to-do/beaches-bays/mission-beach.asp Imperial Beach: https://www.sandiego.org/explore/things-to-do/beaches-bays/imperial-beach.aspx   Restaurants La Puerta: https://lapuertasd.com/ Queens Town Public House: https://queenstownpublichouse.com/   *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.   Transcript Host: Kyle and Renne, welcome back to the Travel Path podcast.   Guest: Tyler, Hope, Thanks for having us.   Host: So if anybody missed part one, they're happily with the hangs we talked about. They're happily ever hangs. We talked about everything from RV tips, budgeting, their travel nurse career. And today in part two, we're talking about travel tips and one particular destination. So guys, what are we talking about today?   Guest: Well, we just visited this destination. So it's fresh in our brain.   Host: First time?   Guest: First time. San Diego, California.     Host: Just to clarify, you're in California. So how much time did you guys actually spend there? Cause you said this was your first time visiting, right?     Guest: Yeah, we've always wanted to visit. So we gave ourselves like an entire month there, which we were nervous about because it's expensive. You know, a lot of people say you got to really make sure you have some money in the bank if you're going there, but we were ready after spending a whole summer in Alaska where there was maybe a few days of sunshine. I just said to him, like, Hey, we're doing San Diego this winter and we're going to book like a really nice resort down there and do the whole shebang.     Host: That's awesome. Good for you guys. So to get that full San Diego experience, obviously you guys spent a month there, but how long do you think someone should actually plan if they want to just go and enjoy the area?     Guest: I'd say anywhere from about one to two weeks, I would imagine would be a great amount of time to kind of get some city life in, see the surrounding areas. You know, we were ready to go about after a month. I don't know if that speaks to the RV life itself and that's always like in the pickup and go see something new or that was just applicable to the area. I'd say one to two weeks.     Host: Now you guys obviously went in February.     Guest: Uh, yeah, it was like a month of February. Whole month of February.     Host: And is that good weather for you or did you talk to anyone and find out, you know, there's other times of the year that maybe are better to go?     Guest: It's pretty funny because we thought it was like the busy time of year. We're used to when you go to Florida for say in, you know, February's boom and so many people, so we assumed it was like that in San Diego, we were in Northern California and Reading and it was cold and raining a lot. So we were really excited, but then we get there and it's not busy at all. And then we talked to some locals and they're like, Oh yeah, this is not considered the busy season the summer is. So we kind of felt like we scored because we're like, it's for us. It's nice weather. I mean, it wasn't swimmable beach weather, but if you're looking to go somewhere South where it's still decent weather, if you're used to snow, it's pretty much nice all year there is what I'm trying to say. You can go anytime of year and it's nice. And your pipes don't freeze in the RV. So that's always a plus.     Host: Yeah, there you go. That's definitely a plus for you guys. Now you said that you stayed in a resort. Is that an RV resort?     Guest: Yeah, we stayed at the Sun Outdoors in technically is in Chula Vista, just a little bit South of San Diego, but just a really quick drive to downtown.     Host: Awesome. Now, did you stay there for the entire time or did you move any spots?     Guest: No, we stayed there. Yeah, we ended up staying there, which was nice. And, um, it was a little bit more pricey, like Renee had said, but it was well worth it. So they had like a nice pool there. Like they go all out. It's Sun Outdoors. So it's a huge company that buys a bunch of, well, they pretty much build their own RV resorts across the nation, but they kind of have like that margarita feel to them, you know, they always have music playing events going on. So even though it was a slower time of the year, it's still made for a great time to get out and meet people out in the park. Still plenty. It was pretty about halfway full, I would say. So yeah.     Host: Yeah. Awesome. Yeah. We can attest to Sun Outdoors being a good RV park. We have spent the last three summers or seasons, I guess, living in an RV in a Sun Outdoors. So nice.   Guest: Yeah. You know, you're getting a pretty nice place when you book with them.     Host: Yeah, exactly. You know what to expect, which is nice, especially if you're going to be there for so long. So as far as you guys have a larger rig, so as far as transportation and getting your rig through San Diego to the campground, how is that process for you?     Guest: Not bad at all. We'd like to rely on a lot of apps on our phone. Basically, they are go-to for checking high clearances and making sure that the route we're taking is going to accommodate our fifth wheel because it does the height of our fifth wheel is about 6 feet, 6 inches. So we do run about the same height as most tractor trailers that you see out on the road. So you've got to be really careful to not just take any road and hope that it can accommodate your RV. We've gotten in some scary situations where you had a back out. I don't know if you guys ever seen the random YouTube videos where people are knocking their ACs off their RV roof. I mean, it happens a lot.     Host: But not to you guys.     Guest: Not to us. Knock on wood.     Host: So, you said you used some apps to check clearances. What apps are you using?     Guest: Our main GPS is Google Maps just to kind of see, you know, Google Maps is great. It shows like everything. But then like he was saying, we kind of have to dig into some other apps. So one of those is RV Life. It's like trip planning for RVs. And I'm sure maybe you guys use it with family too. You could do like it gives you like a radius of your travel day, like tells you kind of how far you want to go, where you pull over. It has all the re

www.atravelpath.com We were so glad to be able to chat with Kyle and Renee Hanks from HappilyEverHanks! They shared their inspiring story of how they uprooted their lives to pursue full time travel in order to get the most fulfillment out of life. In this episode you’ll learn all about:   Getting Out Of Debt Kyle and Renee attribute much of their Freedom to the habits they developed to getting out of debt and not having to constantly pay large bills and debts every month. We learn some actionable steps they took to get themselves out of $230k in debt!   How to Seek Fulfillment Tired of the mundane 9-5 work life with only two weeks off out of they year, they wanted to pursue something different. They discussed how the loneliness of the road can be nerve-wracking at times, but it’s also proved to be a great source of fulfillment, knowing they are out on their own and getting through everything. They discuss chasing the addiction of finally getting one whole month off from work, and how they turned it into a game so that they could find ways to take even more time off.   When Things Go Wrong Kyle and Renee shared a few things that cause them frustrations while they are on the road, and how they have learned to just laugh at times. They make a really good point about how when things go wrong, they have two choices: They can either get upset about it, or stay positive, share a laugh, and get through it.   Learn all this and much, much more during this inspiration-filled chat with Happily Ever Hanks!   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        04:30 What was some of the skepticism you faced when you started out in your RV? ·        06:15 How did you balance work and travel when you were travel nursing? ·        07:45 How long have you been out of travel nursing for? ·        09:30 How were you able to get out of $230k of debt? ·        11:45 When did travel become a priority for you? ·        12:45 What are the biggest frustrations you face currently while traveling? ·        15:45 Saying goodbye to family for the first time. ·        16:45 Any mistakes or embarrassing stories you’d like to share? ·        21:00 How do you handle it when things go wrong? ·        21:30 What do you love most about your RV lifestyle? ·        22:45 RV Techs ·        23:30 Do you have any advice for someone looking to buy an RV for the first time? ·        25:45 How do you get internet while traveling? ·        29:15 What does your budget look like while traveling? ·        32:30 What is it like traveling with a cat in your RV? ·        34:00 What has been your coolest travel experience? ·        36:15 What is one thing you need & don’t need while traveling? ·        38:30 What tools should every RVer have? ·        41:00 Using the trucker lanes. ·        43:00 Who influenced you to travel?   HappilyEverHanks on Social ·        Website: https://www.happilyeverhanks.com/ ·        YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappilyEverHanks ·        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happilyeverhanks/ ·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happilyeverhanks ·        TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happilyeverhanks   Videos from HappilyEverHanks ·        Financial Independence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlIOjC7eyl0&t=182s ·        Avoid These Mistakes When Buying an RV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VolVHbO1_L0   Past Episodes ·        Travel Nursing with Dakota and Courtney: https://atravelpath.com/travel-nursing/ ·        Part 1 with Laura and Jason: https://atravelpath.com/road-trip-with-kids/ ·        Part 2 with Laura and Jason: https://atravelpath.com/florid-keys/   Resources ·        Dave Ramsey Books: https://store.ramseysolutions.com/books/all-books/ ·        RV Dealer Mentioned: https://www.tomschaeffers.com/   Camping ·        Bahia Honda Campground: https://www.floridastateparks.org/BahiaHonda   Budgeting Tools ·        Tiller: https://www.tillerhq.com/ ·        Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets   RV Tools ·        VIAIR Air Compressor: https://amzn.to/3TBoIrn ·        Pole Buddy: https://amzn.to/3xjiRQ4 ·        (Commissions may be earned from purchases made on this page)   YouTube Channels Reference ·        Long Long Honeymoon: https://www.youtube.com/@LongLongHoneymoon ·        Keep Your Daydream: https://www.youtube.com/@KeepYourDaydream ·        Kara and Nate: https://www.youtube.com/@KaraandNate   Most Popular Blogs: • Most Popular Travel Hacks: https://atravelpath.com/money-saving-travel-tips/ • Travel Gear: https://atravelpath.com/travel-gear/ • How to Budget For Gas on a Road Trip: https://atravelpath.com/how-to-budget-for-gas-for-a-road-trip/ • Our Favorite RV Upgrades: https://atravelpath.com/rv-upgrades/ • How Much We Made Renting Our RV: https://atravelpath.com/renting-camper-van/ • Never Run Out of Gas on a Road Trip: https://atravelpath.com/road-trip-tip/     Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/rocky-mountains   *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.       Transcript Host: Kyle and Renee, welcome to the Travel Path podcast.     Guest: Thank you for having us.     Host: So we know you on YouTube as Happily Ever Hanks. You built a very large community with your mission of both educating people in the RV life and inspiring your audience to break free from their comfort zone. Before we start, I do want to give a shout out to Laura, Jason, and Alexis. One episode of our podcast mentioned that they had watched so much of your content that their younger daughter, Alexis, has been inspired to become a travel nurse herself when she grows up. So here we are talking now full circle. But why don't we start by having you guys share a little about yourselves and then letting our audience know what your current travel lifestyle looks like?     Guest: Sure. Well, first of all, that's really inspiring to hear. Yeah, that's really cool. That's neat that we're bringing up the younger generation and inspiring them. That's like kind of why we started all this. We first started as your nurses back in Pennsylvania in around 2015. We just got tired of the mundane lifestyle and wanted to explore life on the road a little bit. So we started looking at travel nursing and in 2016, we started applying for our licenses. Actually, in late 2016, we started applying for a California license for our nursing. And from there, we just kind of hit the road. And then we had no really idea where we were going. We went to San Francisco for our first travel assignment and then thereafter is kind of up in the air. But basically, over the time being, I'm sure we'll get more into this later on in the podcast, but around 2019, something there, you'd say we were kind of hit a hiccup with nursing itself and we laid off for a little bit. And then that's what inspired us to start documenting our adventures and the RV lifestyle, sharing all the things. When we worked in the ER, man, how many times we were asked by our coworkers and other patients, they were so fascinated with us living in an RV or like, how does that work? It doesn't make sense. You're not living in a house. You're living in an RV. And yeah, we were just educating. We had people gathered around and we were talking about how they can get into like RVing with travel nursing.     Host: So I feel like that's probably maybe we've got the ball rolling for you guys starting your YouTube. Was it everyone asking you questions in your career as travel nurses that kind of got your head scratching? Well, maybe there's a void here we can make start a channel and actually inform a larger audience.     Guest: Yeah, pretty much. We just we learned that there's people who are RV and there's travel nursing. And, you know, when you think of an RV or you tend to focus more on people who are retired, so to have these travel nurses who were younger, just so interested, they're like, I've never even heard of this. I never even thought to get an RV. It's just it's like we were teaching others. But, you know, we didn't know it was a thing either until we found it on the Internet. We were just going to do housing, like apartment housing that the travel nurse company gives you until we stumbled upon some article that talked about, hey, you can live in an RV and do this. And we were like, no. And then here we are.     Host: Now, the purpose of the podcast is to help people, you know, get started traveling and ultimately reach their travel goals. So I do want to dial it back a little bit on your website. You had mentioned that when you made this transition, you fought some skepticism and then also you were, quote unquote, bucking the trend when you sold your house and went to travel full time. What was some of that skepticism and how are you able to overcome that?     Guest: Well, I guess the skepticism was jumping into a different way of life. See, when we were working as nurses back in Pennsylvania before we even started living in an RV, we were kind of just doing the mundane nine to five. And it just like one week flowed into another. And we were having to wait for those two week vacations. You know, you work all year to get those two weeks off. And it's like once you get those two weeks, it's just like, where do we go? What do we do? It seems so condensed into one time frame where we just didn't know we were kind of fumbling around. We're like, why don't we just kind of make a lifestyle out of this? And then through working in the ER, you know, we met a lot of other travelers there and it just blew my mind immediately that nurses could bounce around the country and live this different lifestyle filling in the gaps within schedules across the cou

https://atravelpath.com/   Hey Pathfinders, join us as we welcome back Dakota and Courtney to the show. After hearing about their inspirational story of travel nursing and doing two van conversions, they sat down with us to share on of their favorite destinations. We chatted about Juniper Springs Campground in Florida and some of the nearby attractions. Learn all about:   ·        What makes Juniper Springs such a great destination ·        Paddleboarding and kayaking in the area ·        Nearby airports and transportation ·        Destinations within an hour including Kings Landing, Devils Den, and Daytona ·        Swimming with manatees And more!   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction ·        01:15 What makes Juniper Springs such a great destination? ·        04:00 How far away are nearby attractions? ·        04:45 How long should someone stay there for? ·        06:30 How was it bringing your dog? ·        08:30 Juniper Springs campground amenities? ·        09:45 Nighttime activities? ·        11:45 How was the overall cost in Juniper Springs? ·        12:30 How was the food scene? ·        14:00 What are three things you need to pack when visiting Juniper Springs? ·        15:30 What are two complaints someone might have about Juniper Springs? ·        17:00 What is one thing you can’t leave Juniper Springs without doing?   Links ·        Ocala National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/florida/recarea/?recid=83528 ·        Juniper Springs Recreation Area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/florida/recarea/?recid=83676 ·        Ian and Ana’s video (featuring Devils Den, 3 Sisters Springs, and Kings Landing): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2ZK09Jd5g&t=1057s ·        Lectric eBikes: https://lectricebikes.com/ ·        iOverlander: https://www.ioverlander.com/   Nearby Attractions ·        Kings Landing (1 Hour): https://www.kingslandingfl.com/ ·        3 Sisters Springs (1.5 Hours): https://www.threesistersspringsvisitor.org/sisters ·        Devil’s Den (1.5 Hours) https://www.facebook.com/DevilsDenSpring/ ·        Daytona (1 Hour: https://www.daytonabeach.com/ ·        Disney World (1.5 Hours): https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/   Podcasts Mentioned ·        Disney World: https://atravelpath.com/disney-world/ ·        Florida Keys: https://atravelpath.com/florid-keys/   Nearby Airports ·        Orlando International Airport (about 1.5 hours): https://orlandoairports.net/ ·        Gainesville Regional Airport (about 1.5 hours): https://www.flygainesville.com/     *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.   Transcript Host: Hi Guest and Guest, welcome back to the travel tips segment of the Travel Path Podcast. So for those of you who missed part one, Guest and Guest came on. They're on Instagram as Kota and Court. They've done two van conversions now. Um, Guest works as a travel nurse. We got into very specific details about getting into travel nursing and also their van build. Um, so if you haven't listened to that one, definitely check it out. But for part two, travel tips, where are we talking about today?   Guest: We're talking about Florida, specifically Juniper Springs area in the Ocala National Forest, and um, some of the stuff is kind of a broad range of surrounding areas, yes. So surrounding areas, there's a lot to do in Florida, there's a lot to do in that area.   Host: Awesome. Now, what made you guys want to share about Florida and the Juniper Springs area today?   Guest: So, we watched it. It was always like a bucket list trip for me. Um, I watched a video on it from Ian and Anna, and at the time theirs was called the other side, and uh, it looked really, really cool. It just looked almost like it was out of this world. So it was always a bucket list trip for me, and um, you know, we finally got to do it and so it was, it was really fun.   Host: What makes Juniper Springs such a great destination? Like, what type of activity should go there?   Guest: Just being outside. So, it's really cool. It's in the middle of the Ocala National Forest, it's a campground. Juniper Springs is a campground. And so, they've got like a neat little area that you can pull in and um, they got like a fire pit and tables, but it's really neat because they have the spring area and it's just really beautiful. It's blue water, it's clear, and it's close to Three Sisters, was the other part of that trip that I wanted to take, uh, so you can go and swim with the manatees. It's certain times of year they have them, uh, over there where you can swim with them, uh, swimming, kayaking, yeah, kayaking, hiking is a big one. There are lots of trails, um, actually when we checked in, there was somebody who was lost in the forest and emergency vehicles were pulling up and someone's like, yeah, somebody's like lost or hurt or something, we were like, oh my, so you know, hiking is a big one. I think probably backpacking, there's a lot of land over there to cover but we didn't go backpacking really or hiking, I don't think. We rode our bikes around a lot, um, just explored the area, but definitely like outdoorsy things. And I mean, there's, I think there's off-road trip around there too if you want to take like a dirt B, horses, ATVs, all different, it's really broad, you know, spectrum of things to do.   Host: So a lot of outdoor stuff though, that's perfect, and pretty much anyone going with their camper or their van, that's what they're going for is that outdoor experience. So that sounds awesome. Now did you guys bring your own bikes or did you rent them when you were there?   Guest: Um, we brought our own. We have, um, the electric e-bikes, so we brought those. We brought, um, I don't know if we brought our paddleboard, but we brought our kayak, um, which we used at King's Landing, a little like river flow type thing, um, so yeah, we brought, we did bring our own bikes, and the bikes we bought, they were like, she said the electric e-bikes, so they folded up and they fit in the back underneath the bed, so they're pretty compact and we could get them out and unfold them and ride around nice.   Host: Do you know if you saw anywhere around that you could rent like paddleboards or kayaks or bikes from?   Guest: So like when we went to King's Landing, I know that they had rentals there, you could take your own and that one was a really, really cool place to see as well. It's spring-fed and all the water's super clear, you can walk through lots of it, um, there are gators and stuff so there's like two different parts of that where you can go up one, um, just to see, you know, the scenery and then there's like a wildlife part of it where you're going to see more, um, like gators and stuff like that.   Host: Now, the campground Juniper Springs is in the National FL, and then in these other little areas, how far away are they? How far are you driving?   Guest: Oh, I mean, I think, like, I think like an hour or I think, yeah, yeah, 30 minutes to an hour, um, not super, not super long, all in our opinion, maybe an hour, yeah, which we're used to driving a lot. I mean, right now we're driving 1,500 miles a week and so I mean, our not very far to us can be a lot further to other people.   Host: But I think it's nice especially for the RV community to have somewhere that you can go that does only take, you know, an hour and a half to get to because then you can either just bounce the next day or stay over there. Um, or you can go and enjoy stuff and then head back to that campground if that's really where you just want to be staying now to get the full experience. How long did you guys stay there for?   Guest: We stayed, I think it was a week and, um, I mean it was more than enough to kind of see what was in the area but we moved pretty fast so, um, I mean there's plenty to do for longer than that. Uh, we kind of went in the off-season. Even when you're heading down, there's stuff to do along the way, like Devil's Den is, um, you know, along the way but there's a lot, there's a ton of springs, ton of places to kayak and stuff like that. There's a lot to do around the area.   Host: You said you went in the off-season, when was that? Like early March?   Guest: Yeah, so it was before, you know, all of the, before the summer crowd really. They were just kind of getting things started, even like the spring break crowd. Like I don't even think that we saw a lot of like, but Al weren't by the beach either so, um, we didn't, you know, it was, it was really pretty chill. We went to the beach but it was closed down, like not closed down but there wasn't like a whole lot of stuff going on.   Host: And in March, did you guys have good weather in this area?   Guest: Yeah, I mean for the most part. There were some days where it was kind of cloudy and I mean the, the April-May showers type of thing but it cleared up pretty fast. I mean I think it's not uncommon for it to rain and then be sunny in Florida so, it was, it was good. It was decent.   Host: And how was the temperature of the water in March?   Guest: It was cold. We put our feet in, let the little fish bite our toes but, um, I think it stays around the same temperature most of the year or if not all the year so it, I mean it's pretty chilly but it's not like you can't enjoy it, yeah, absolutely.   Host: Now, you guys do have a dog, did you have your dog when you went?   Guest: Yes, yeah, he was a puppy, trying to think. I was like, yes, we were afraid that the bears, we had to walk out in the dark a few times and we were afraid that the bears were going to come in, which I mean we're not from an area that there are bears, yeah, so like every sound we heard or even like in the