We’re celebrating one year of full-time RVing by sharing our top surprises, challenges, highlights, and tips. We’ve already shared our biggest surprises and challenges, and last but not least will be tips. For now, we’re focusing on highlights from this past year.
You would probably think that our entire first year of living in an RV full-time would be a highlight. For the most part it has been! But we want to get down to the moments, places, and people that created the most joy for us on our adventure so far. It was hard to choose just three each, but we ended up picking the same top highlight! Read on for some of what has made this year so memorable.
Kriste’s Top 3 Full-Time RV Highlights
- Time with friends & family. It’s no secret that I’ve found the RV lifestyle to be a bit lonely at times. That’s why the times that we were able to spend with friends and family are definitely my most cherished. Like I’ve said before, this lifestyle is making me realize that life is really about sharing it with people you care about, more than just chasing the next best Instagrammable spot (though we’re doing a lot of that too).
The times that we have been able to spend with friends and family have been so sweet and fulfilling. It’s been really nice to see friends and family all along our route that we otherwise wouldn’t see for years. And another highlight has been friends and family reaching out and suggesting people to visit that we haven’t met before or wouldn’t have otherwise thought to visit. That’s how we ended up having a wonderful meal with a friend’s mom on Jekyll Island in Georgia, and dinner with a friend’s aunt in a beautiful spot just outside of Myrtle Beach that we never would have known about otherwise. And with checking in on social media and other apps like RVillage, we’ve been able to connect with new friends and old that we didn’t know were in the same place as us at the same time. - Food. It’s likely also not a surprise that one of my top highlights on this adventure is food-related. We’re self-described foodies, and obviously spend a lot of time thinking about food with our food business consulting jobs. That’s why we’re constantly seeking out new and exciting foods and drinks everywhere we go. We’ve had A LOT of amazing culinary experiences, but I’m listing some of the most memorable, that we would highly recommend trying if you’re in any of the areas:
- New Orleans – Beignets at Cafe du Monde
- I have been dreaming of trying the beignets at Cafe du Monde for years. I’m not exaggerating when I say that going there was my most anticipated experience since we left. I was a little nervous when we finally got to New Orleans, and were waiting in line for a table. What if these doughy delights didn’t live up to the hype and anticipation? Cafe du Monde has been serving up french-style donuts since 1862. The French Quarter staple is open 24 hours a day and only serves donuts, their signature cafe au lait with chickory flavor, and a few other beverages. Note* It is cash only at the French Quarter location.
So do they live up to the hype?! Absolutely! We were in New Orleans for 14 days, and I had 15 beignets in that time. Admittedly some batches were better than others, but I was not disappointed by the pillowy dough covered in mounds of powdered sugar. Learn more about the institution that is Cafe du Monde.
- I have been dreaming of trying the beignets at Cafe du Monde for years. I’m not exaggerating when I say that going there was my most anticipated experience since we left. I was a little nervous when we finally got to New Orleans, and were waiting in line for a table. What if these doughy delights didn’t live up to the hype and anticipation? Cafe du Monde has been serving up french-style donuts since 1862. The French Quarter staple is open 24 hours a day and only serves donuts, their signature cafe au lait with chickory flavor, and a few other beverages. Note* It is cash only at the French Quarter location.
- Austin – Brisket at Franklin Barbecue
- This place has been regarded as having the “best barbecue in the known universe.” It’s not hyperbole. It’s true. We have been seeking out bbq and particularly brisket for me the entire time we’ve been traveling. This is no comparison to the the melt-in-your-mouth meat that this place is smoking day after day. We had an incredible experience there as well. They warn you to get in line hours before they open at 11. This is no joke. People line up before dawn just to try this mouthwatering barbecue for themselves. We went on a “slow day” and waited in line for 2 hours before we got up to the carving station. You order by the pound, and it isn’t inexpensive, but it is absolutely worth it. I even got Noah to try a bite of my brisket (he doesn’t eat beef) and I’ve never seen him react to food like that. His eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Aaron Franklin, the pitmaster behind the joint is widely regarded as one of the most influential pitmasters in the U.S. He even had his own show on PBS exploring barbecue all over the country. We were very fortunate to be able to see where the magic happens after we ate, when one of the employees that we were greeted by when in line invited us into the room where they run the smokers 24 hours a day. The two pitmasters showed us the 4 massive propane tanks turned on their sides, and heated by a wood fire on the end of each.
- This place has been regarded as having the “best barbecue in the known universe.” It’s not hyperbole. It’s true. We have been seeking out bbq and particularly brisket for me the entire time we’ve been traveling. This is no comparison to the the melt-in-your-mouth meat that this place is smoking day after day. We had an incredible experience there as well. They warn you to get in line hours before they open at 11. This is no joke. People line up before dawn just to try this mouthwatering barbecue for themselves. We went on a “slow day” and waited in line for 2 hours before we got up to the carving station. You order by the pound, and it isn’t inexpensive, but it is absolutely worth it. I even got Noah to try a bite of my brisket (he doesn’t eat beef) and I’ve never seen him react to food like that. His eyes rolled into the back of his head.
- Savannah – Margaritas at Tequila’s Town
- If you know me well, you know that I’m on a constant quest for a good margarita. Most restaurants ply what should be a refreshing cocktail with sugary sour mix, lemon juice, or – worst of all – orange juice. A true margarita should not be too sweet, and should taste like fresh limes (that’s how I make them!). So imagine my delight when we came across a restaurant called Tequila’s Town in Savannah, GA that not only made a delicious margarita… but that served them in a GIANT mug! I enjoyed all 20+ oz of that drink. The food was excellent too. Needless to say, Noah drove home that night.
- If you know me well, you know that I’m on a constant quest for a good margarita. Most restaurants ply what should be a refreshing cocktail with sugary sour mix, lemon juice, or – worst of all – orange juice. A true margarita should not be too sweet, and should taste like fresh limes (that’s how I make them!). So imagine my delight when we came across a restaurant called Tequila’s Town in Savannah, GA that not only made a delicious margarita… but that served them in a GIANT mug! I enjoyed all 20+ oz of that drink. The food was excellent too. Needless to say, Noah drove home that night.
- Cape Charles – Ice Cream at Brown Dog Ice Cream
- Ice cream is what brought Noah and I together, and it’s also frequently what keeps us going (a nice scoop after a long hike, please!). We’ve been searching for amazing homemade ice cream shops in every state we visit. There have been a number of really good ones, but our favorite remains Brown Dog Ice Cream in the bayside town of Cape Charles, VA. The ice cream is smooth, made from local ingredients, and handcrafted in small batches. Why was it my favorite? Well, I don’t love waffle cones, but I DO love Belgian waffles and here you can get two scoops in a freshly made waffle.
- Honorable mentions, because we really are ice cream-obsessed:
- St. Augustine, FL – Mayday Ice Cream. This airplane themed shop serves up unique flavors, and you can get complimentary homemade cookies or sprinkles on top!
- Austin, TX – Lick Honest Ice Creams serves up some seriously delicious and unique flavors. We read that we had to try the Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey flavor, and guess what, it was amazing!
- Savannah, GA – can you tell I liked the food scene here? Leopold’s traditional scoop shop has been around since 1919! The current owner is a Hollywood producer and the walls are adorned with movie memorabilia.
- Ice cream is what brought Noah and I together, and it’s also frequently what keeps us going (a nice scoop after a long hike, please!). We’ve been searching for amazing homemade ice cream shops in every state we visit. There have been a number of really good ones, but our favorite remains Brown Dog Ice Cream in the bayside town of Cape Charles, VA. The ice cream is smooth, made from local ingredients, and handcrafted in small batches. Why was it my favorite? Well, I don’t love waffle cones, but I DO love Belgian waffles and here you can get two scoops in a freshly made waffle.
- Sedona, AZ – Pizza at Pisa Lisa
- The most recent addition to our top foods list comes from an unexpected, understated restaurant at the foot of the red rocks in Sedona. We weren’t out to taste great pizza that night; we were just hungry. Come to find out that the restaurant is a part of a group owned by a renowned and award-winning area chef, Lisa Dahl. We should have known it would be so good when we saw them tossing the homemade dough as we walked in. We ordered the Justino (ricotta, provolone-mozzarella, San Danielle prosciutto gold, organic arugula and white-truffle oil). It was incredible! Not like many dishes where truffle oil is gratuitous. Here, it was well-balanced and I can’t believe that Noah loved a pizza without tomato sauce so much!
- The most recent addition to our top foods list comes from an unexpected, understated restaurant at the foot of the red rocks in Sedona. We weren’t out to taste great pizza that night; we were just hungry. Come to find out that the restaurant is a part of a group owned by a renowned and award-winning area chef, Lisa Dahl. We should have known it would be so good when we saw them tossing the homemade dough as we walked in. We ordered the Justino (ricotta, provolone-mozzarella, San Danielle prosciutto gold, organic arugula and white-truffle oil). It was incredible! Not like many dishes where truffle oil is gratuitous. Here, it was well-balanced and I can’t believe that Noah loved a pizza without tomato sauce so much!
- New Orleans – Beignets at Cafe du Monde
- Fun. There are so many highlights, that we’re cheating a bit by having categories. I went with fun so that we could try to capture the many different activities we’ve been able to enjoy since moving into the RV. Obviously, we can’t include everything on this list, but one of the main themes we’re following this year is to get outside and try to be more active than we were at home, especially when it was cold out in the winter. Our two big new activities have been kayaking and hiking.
- Kayaking
- When we set out on this adventure, we knew that it would often be focused around being on or near water. The goal, after all, is to eventually live aboard a sailboat. So how could we start exploring the water now? We weren’t going to tow our boat behind the trailer (although we’ve seen this crazy set up a few times!). Our friend Tyler kept reiterating that we need to be able to share perspectives from on water. But what was the best way to do this while full-time RVing? We didn’t want to deal with a canoe or two kayaks, or even a tandem kayak. After quite a bit of research we found the perfect solution: an inflatable kayak!
I never thought I’d enjoy a blow-up boat so much. We got it while staying in a state park in the everglades of Florida, and one of our first trips was down a creek that was full of alligators! I was of course freaking out the whole time, but now I’m glad we did something so unique. We’ve also been able to explore the gulf coast of Florida, the mangroves of the Keys, and the Chesapeake Bay. Now that we’re a bit landlocked and it’s actually cold in the desert, I find I’m really missing the kayak and looking forward to using it again as soon as we can!
- When we set out on this adventure, we knew that it would often be focused around being on or near water. The goal, after all, is to eventually live aboard a sailboat. So how could we start exploring the water now? We weren’t going to tow our boat behind the trailer (although we’ve seen this crazy set up a few times!). Our friend Tyler kept reiterating that we need to be able to share perspectives from on water. But what was the best way to do this while full-time RVing? We didn’t want to deal with a canoe or two kayaks, or even a tandem kayak. After quite a bit of research we found the perfect solution: an inflatable kayak!
- Hiking
- Our most recent outdoor endeavor has been going hiking more (maybe in part because we can’t go kayaking). It’s great exercise and we’re able to really appreciate where we are by exploring nearby trails. Our first big hike was at Oliver Lee State Park in New Mexico, and now we’re hooked! That hike took us up a big canyon, with incredible views the whole way. The most surprising and really challenging hike was at Picacho Peak State Park in Arizona. We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. I read before we left that gloves were recommended. Now I know that any hikes that recommend gloves means you’re going up, up, UP! I’ve never done something that difficult before, climbing up crevices with the assistance of cables bolted into the side of the mountain walls. The effort was worth it though, for the reward of the views, and now any hike seems easy (well easier) by comparison. Most recently we’re enjoying the breathtaking views of hiking the red rocks of Sedona, and I can’t wait to see what else we’ll discover on our travels. A tip: use the app AllTrails to plan your hikes! It gives distances, directions, popularity, and likely hiking times.
- Our most recent outdoor endeavor has been going hiking more (maybe in part because we can’t go kayaking). It’s great exercise and we’re able to really appreciate where we are by exploring nearby trails. Our first big hike was at Oliver Lee State Park in New Mexico, and now we’re hooked! That hike took us up a big canyon, with incredible views the whole way. The most surprising and really challenging hike was at Picacho Peak State Park in Arizona. We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. I read before we left that gloves were recommended. Now I know that any hikes that recommend gloves means you’re going up, up, UP! I’ve never done something that difficult before, climbing up crevices with the assistance of cables bolted into the side of the mountain walls. The effort was worth it though, for the reward of the views, and now any hike seems easy (well easier) by comparison. Most recently we’re enjoying the breathtaking views of hiking the red rocks of Sedona, and I can’t wait to see what else we’ll discover on our travels. A tip: use the app AllTrails to plan your hikes! It gives distances, directions, popularity, and likely hiking times.
- Historic Sites
- Another broad category, but I’ve really enjoyed being able to visit some interesting and historically significant places along our travels. Whenever we arrive somewhere new, one of the first things I like to do is look up local attractions, so that we can get a real sense of the place. The Angel Oak outside of Savannah, GA was a highlight. What was even more meaningful was a private tour at the McLeod Plantation Historic Site. We didn’t intend for it to be a private tour, but no one else showed up at the scheduled tour time, and the enthusiastic guide walked around with us for 2 hours instead of the normal 40 minutes. It was one of the most impactful, educational 2 hours I’ve ever experienced. While beautiful, he gave us the unadulterated history of the plantation, and how the enslaved people were treated, and all about the Gullah culture of enslaved people in the region. I would highly recommend visiting this site, rather than the glossy experience you get at most plantations open to tourists.
We also decided to do a driving tour of New Orleans. This was well worth the trip to get a real sense of the city and how it has evolved over the past few centuries, up to and including the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
On a lighter note, we made the hour and a half drive with our friends from Nashville to tour the Jack Daniels Distillery. It was a truly surprising experience to see where this world-famous spirit is made, and it is incredible to see how the traditional process has continued into modern times and at such high levels of production. The tasting at the end was a lot of fun too.
- Another broad category, but I’ve really enjoyed being able to visit some interesting and historically significant places along our travels. Whenever we arrive somewhere new, one of the first things I like to do is look up local attractions, so that we can get a real sense of the place. The Angel Oak outside of Savannah, GA was a highlight. What was even more meaningful was a private tour at the McLeod Plantation Historic Site. We didn’t intend for it to be a private tour, but no one else showed up at the scheduled tour time, and the enthusiastic guide walked around with us for 2 hours instead of the normal 40 minutes. It was one of the most impactful, educational 2 hours I’ve ever experienced. While beautiful, he gave us the unadulterated history of the plantation, and how the enslaved people were treated, and all about the Gullah culture of enslaved people in the region. I would highly recommend visiting this site, rather than the glossy experience you get at most plantations open to tourists.
- Kayaking
Noah’s Top 3 Full-Time RV Highlights
Noah shared his thoughts with me while we drove from New Mexico to Arizona, and I’ve summarized his highlights below.
- Seeing friends and family. This is the highlight that Kriste and I have in common. Time with friends and family is nourishing to the soul, and we’ve had some of our best experiences when we connect with people while on the road. This includes catching up with people that we ordinarily don’t stay in great touch with, but then form a stronger bond after a visit. It’s amazing how many people we know along our route!
For example, we spent some time with the man who helped us plan and officiate our wedding while in Virginia (hi Mark!). We shared some beers with a friend from Concord and his fiance (now his wife — congrats again Justin and Hayley!). We were fortunate to stay for a week with a childhood friend and his amazing wife and kids in New Jersey (hey Tim & Tracy!). We randomly ran into a friend from New Hampshire while in New Orleans and shared beignets, and then bumped into more of my childhood friends in New Orleans at a different Cafe du Monde location! We had a blast visiting Jack Daniels with some family friends in Tennessee (hi Heidi & Bobby, aka My Buddy). We visited my cousin Greg and his girlfriend in San Antonio, and got to see my Aunt Lori and Uncle John when they came to see Greg. As you can probably tell, time to connect with family and friends is so meaningful for us both. - Places. We often get asked what our favorite place was on our trip. That’s a really hard question to answer, because everywhere we go is so different and interesting. I’ve narrowed it down to my top three, and included what set these places apart.
- Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in Alamogordo, NM – This was one of the first campgrounds we stayed at once reaching the Southwest, and it felt like an entirely different landscape than we had experienced before. The park is located above the valley floor, but at the base of a huge canyon (I called it a mini Grand Canyon), meaning we had some of the most incredible views of our travels. We were only there for a few nights, and I wished we had been there for at least a week or two. The park is well-run, with numerous activities. We joined a group of stargazers one night, led by one of the camp hosts who is an amateur astronomer. They also give tours of the park’s namesake’s ranch, and host educational seminars (like identifying desert wildlife). We hiked up the canyon wall, and were in awe of the views the whole way up. It’s also where we officially decided to become hikers.
We used this park to explore nearby White Sands National Park (no longer just a National Monument as of December 2019!). This place was on our radar for a while, and we knew we wanted to check it out on our way to the west coast. It’s $20 per vehicle to enter, but then you have miles of white sand dunes to explore! The dunes are 275 square miles, and it is the largest gypsum sand dune in the world. We took a sunset tour and learned all about how the dunefields were formed, and what plants and animals call this landscape home. The best part was taking time to explore on our own, taking pictures and sledding down the sandy hills on sleds we borrowed from the campground. A place not to be missed! - San Carlos RV Resort & Marina – we only stayed in this RV park for a weekend, but it was enough time to leave a big impression. This was mainly because our site backed right up to a mangrove-filled bay that we could see from the back windows. This was our only truly water-front site on our trip, and it was spectacular. That whole area of the Gulf Coast of Florida was great. We saw some friends from New Hampshire and their adorable daughter who moved to Florida (hey Dino & Karissa), and connected with someone from my past that had also gone a tall ship for a semester during high school. We had a great day with Lexi, her husband John, and their two boys on the island of Sanibel. There’s a reason that it’s such a popular beach destination! We went swimming and spotted dolphins, and had some drinks while sticking our toes in the sand. The island also has one of the best Farmers’ Markets we’ve ever been to, and we picked up some really tasty treats.
- Austin, TX – Kriste suggested that I include this on the list, because it was the first city I have ever visited where I didn’t feel overwhelmed and wanted to head out of as soon as possible. Normally cities are too congestion- and concrete-filled, and I just like visiting them before heading back out into more natural places. Austin was the first city I said I could see myself living in. That’s in big part because there is a lot of natural beauty right in or around the city. Barton Springs Pool, just outside of downtown, is a spring-fed municipal pool that we were able to swim and enjoy in while visiting in January. There are numerous parks around town, and a dammed river that creates a lake that runs through the city. With all of the outdoor activities I felt right at home. That was on top of the incredible vibe of the city. It’s very entrepreneurial, with independent shops, breweries, and restaurants all over the city. And the food was incredible!
- Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in Alamogordo, NM – This was one of the first campgrounds we stayed at once reaching the Southwest, and it felt like an entirely different landscape than we had experienced before. The park is located above the valley floor, but at the base of a huge canyon (I called it a mini Grand Canyon), meaning we had some of the most incredible views of our travels. We were only there for a few nights, and I wished we had been there for at least a week or two. The park is well-run, with numerous activities. We joined a group of stargazers one night, led by one of the camp hosts who is an amateur astronomer. They also give tours of the park’s namesake’s ranch, and host educational seminars (like identifying desert wildlife). We hiked up the canyon wall, and were in awe of the views the whole way up. It’s also where we officially decided to become hikers.
- Views from my hammock. Kriste was a little skeptical when I wanted to bring along my hammock. It has ended up being one of my favorite things to set up at every campground (well, ones that allow hanging things from the trees). I’ve been able to sit outside and take in the views from at many varried and beautiful places. I also try to work out in the hammock as often as I can. I enjoy being able to appreciate my surroundings while I’m working, rather than constantly seeing the same thing within the camper. I even got Kitty to enjoy rocking back and forth with me on a few occasions. This simple thing has simultaneously given me a sense of place everywhere we go, and allowed me to experience lots of different perspectives and reflect on all the amazing places we’re visiting. Now, if I could only figure out how to hang it up in the desert…
Barton Springs Pool, Austin 
Austin, TX 
Oliver Lee Memorial Park 
Oliver Lee Memorial Park 
White Sands National Park 
Sanibel Island 
San Carlos RV Resort & Marina
We could go on and on about highlights from this past year, and look forward to sharing more as we go. Next up and to round up our 1-year anniversary posts will be tips on the full-time RV lifestyle.
Happy Travels!
Thanks for sharing, I loved seeing the special places you have been!!!!
It was nice to see you with Audrey and that you mentioned our visit to Greg that we also got to see you guys!!!!
Love how you can mix work with pleasure!!!!!!
Hope to bump into you again soon,
Laurie