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So, tell me about what you are doing...
We are a newly nomadic, location-independent, digital, homeschooling, unschooling, roadshooling, family, finding our way in this great big world. We love to travel and adventure; what better way to learn and explore than out on the open road. Follow us on our journey.
"So, are you buying an RV?" Initially, we thought this was the way to go. However, Slim has to work and we have to learn and play, in the same space. Alternatively, we've decided to slow travel in our van, staying with friends, family, AirBnB's, and VRBO's. We recently returned from our first real trip out from the grasp of the pandemic. We have been in a micro-bubble, with one other homeschooling family, for the past year and a half. Without any other family or friends, we spent the last year taking time to really explore where we want to be in life. Life is too short and can be taken away so easily. It's time to get out there and see the world, if not now, then when?
We had a roof rack installed on the van, bought the cargo bag, loaded up, and took off on our month-long adventure. Our first stop was in WV to visit with (Nana) Slim's Mom, Grandparents, and his brother's family. It was so wonderful to be reunited, we finally got to meet our new niece! We also had Nana's help in releasing 17 tadpoles back to their home, ha!
527 miles later we landed in Midway, GA for the week. Midway sits right below Savannah. We crabbed off our dock, kayaked, swam in the ocean at Tybee Beach, walked through beautiful Savannah, and had some of the most amazing Ice Cream at the famous Leopold's.
We left Midway and headed toward St Pete (329 miles) to be reunited with some of my side of the family. We pit-stopped in Jacksonville for a bite to eat at The Bearded Pig, which had amazing BBQ, outdoor seating and they're dog friendly!
Within minutes of arriving in St Pete, the kids were in the pool at Nala & Opi's. These kids haven't been in a pool since the Summer of 2019! Next, we visited Uncle Craig’s Horse Ranch. The kids got to brush and ride Sockets, my brother's beautiful Barrel Horse. From there we visited Papou, he also has a pool, the kids were like fish! We ate outside at The Hanger in St Pete, which is a really cool place to watch private helicopters and planes take off and land while you eat on a balcony overlooking the runway.
We left summer heat and sunshine behind in St Pete and traveled back up the coast back to Jacksonville (221 miles), and made another stop at The Bearded Pig. We finally landed in Hot Springs, NC at Paint Rock Farm. (476 miles).
Paint Rock Farm was truly magical. Off-grid (other than satellite wifi in the barn) Glamping near Asheville in Hot Springs, NC. It’s a working hemp farm over the Pisgah National Forest on the French Broad River. Mother Earth was really showing off here, absolutely gorgeous.
We stayed for 2 nights. The first night we had a fire dinner, hot dogs and Italian sausages. The second evening, we ventured out into the adorable town of Hot Springs. The Appalachian Trail, which is one of the longest continuously marked footpaths in the world (2185 miles in length), runs directly through town. We had amazing tacos from The Grey Eagle Taqueria at Big Pillow Brewing. The kids purchased gemstone necklaces from a local street vendor on the way to Artisun for Ice Cream. At both food establishments, we sat outside and had Redd along for the ride. Love a dog-friendly town!
On the way out of NC we stopped for a bite and stretch our legs at Bristol Gardens and Grill in Bristol, VA. (Also ate outside, also dog friendly). Fantastic BBQ, the owner came out to greet us and tell us about his restaurant, super friendly and inviting place tucked back in a residential neighborhood.
We landed back in WV, with Slims Mom, for an overnight. Then headed back to Ohio the following day. We had such an amazing trip. Finally got to see and hug some of our family! This was a reunion trip, peppered with travel stops for adventuring and exploring.
We’re back home and ready to travel again. The plan is to rent the house for 6-8 months and take off in August to hit the East Coast. Our trip will start in Maine, head down through Massachusetts, hopefully visit Paint Rock Farm again, then land for a month in Banner Elk, NC. I just booked our stay there overlooking the Winery! From there we will head back up to WV, then down to Florida by December. As we continue to chase summer, we’ll start heading West through Louisiana, toward Dallas TX by February, up through TN, and back home in the Spring of 2022.
Our hopes are to share our journey with you. I’m interested in posting a few articles about food along the way, tips on packing for such a long trip on the road, how to travel in a van with kids, meals on the road (without stopping for fast food), cool finds, fire dinners, adventures, hikes, waterfalls, and many, many pictures. I hope you’ll enjoy tagging along on our journey!
