There’s something about standing at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Adams Street in downtown Chicago, staring at that green “Begin Route 66” sign, that makes your chest tighten a little. I’ve driven a lot of highways in my life — coast to coast, border to border — but this one hits different. This year, … Read more
There’s a stretch of highway in the American South where the air changes. Somewhere around mile forty on US-17, between Charleston and Savannah, the Spanish moss thickens, the marsh grass turns impossibly green, and you realize you’ve entered a part of the country that doesn’t need to try hard to be beautiful. It just is. … Read more
There’s a moment about two hours east of Duluth when Highway 61 narrows, the birch trees crowd close, and Lake Superior opens up on your left like something out of a painting you didn’t know existed. I’d driven a lot of American roads by that point — the Pacific Coast Highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway, … Read more
Why Spring is Prime Time for Black Hills and Badlands There’s something magical about hitting the Black Hills and Badlands in spring. After months of winter quiet, the landscape transforms into a canvas of newborn wildlife, blooming wildflowers, and dramatic weather that makes photographers drool. I’ve spent years exploring South Dakota’s iconic destinations, and I’ve … Read more
Why Spring is Prime Time for Black Hills and Badlands There’s something magical about hitting the Black Hills and Badlands in spring. After months of winter quiet, the landscape transforms into a canvas of newborn wildlife, blooming wildflowers, and dramatic weather that makes photographers drool. I’ve spent years exploring South Dakota’s iconic destinations, and I’ve … Read more
The Memorial Day Camping Crush Is Coming. Here’s How to Outsmart It. Last Memorial Day, I learned the hard way what happens when you leave campground reservations to the last minute. After three hours of scrolling through Recreation.gov at 11 PM on a Tuesday—refreshing, searching, and watching every decent site within 200 miles vanish—I ended … Read more
Why Florida Deserves More Than Just Theme Parks Let me be straight with you: I used to think Florida was all about mouse ears and overcrowded beaches. Then I spent two weeks road-tripping the state, driving over 1,500 miles from the Panhandle to the Keys, and I realized I couldn’t have been more wrong. Florida’s … Read more
The Day America Took My Breath Away I’ve driven thousands of miles across this country, from California’s coastal cliffs to Maine’s rocky shores, but nothing prepared me for the Beartooth Highway. This 68-mile stretch of U.S. Route 212 between Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Wyoming, isn’t just a road—it’s a transformation. In less than … Read more
Why Door County’s Coastal Loop Captivated My Heart This Spring Let me be honest with you – I never expected Wisconsin to steal my heart like it did. I’ve driven coastal highways from California’s Highway 1 to Maine’s Acadia Loop, but there’s something utterly magical about Door County’s 70-mile peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan … Read more
I’ve driven most of America’s scenic coastlines, but the Oregon Coast hits different. There’s something raw and untamed about this 363-mile stretch where towering evergreens meet crashing waves, where every bend reveals another vista that makes you pull over and gasp. After spending two weeks exploring Highway 101 this spring, I’m convinced it’s one of … Read more