Ardent Camper is Back
The blog is back after a 4-year hiatus, and things have changed. Here's what I've been up to and wha…
Read MoreOver Bridges & Mountains: Venturing to Vancouver
Vancouver is an emerald gem. I walked on bridges, hiked up mountains, drove along the coast, and mar…
Read MoreYear Two Retrospective: Where We’ve Been
Two years of full-timing! It's an exciting and humbling milestone to reach, and the places I've visi…
Read MoreA Change of Pace
Full-time RVing has led to burnout, so it's time to slow the pace and get off the road for a while. …
Read MoreEating Our Hearts Out Along Oregon’s Coast
The food in the Tillamook area was off the charts good, and the scenery certainly didn't disappoint,…
Read MoreBeaches & Redwoods on Northern California’s Coast
Coastal Northern California offers lovely, rocky beaches, picturesque lighthouses, and towering redw…
Read MoreRelaxation and Reunions in California’s Central Valley
The California Central Valley can get some flack, but everything is better with friends, arboretums,…
Read MoreFive Things to Know Before Making a Death Valley Day Trip
Death Valley is an iconic, gorgeous national park, but it's not for the faint of heart. Here are my …
Read MoreTraveling California’s Route 395 Along the Eastern Sierras
Route 395 in California's Eastern Sierras is one of the most stunning drives in the country. Here ar…
Read MoreAvoiding Los Angeles
I was near LA, but I was citied out. So I found ways to avoid the traffic in outskirts and Palm Spri…
Read MoreHow to Spend a Day at Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree is a beautiful national park, and even though it's not huge, there can be an overwhelmin…
Read MoreFive Things to Do in Quartzsite, Arizona Beyond the RV Show
Among RVers, Quartzite, AZ is a winter gathering spot due to its annual RV show. But there's a lot m…
Read MoreMuch-Needed R&R in Southwestern Arizona
I met up with a bunch of RVing friends near Quartzsite, Arizona for some winter off-grid camping and…
Read MoreChilling in Las Cruces, New Mexico
I spent some time exploring Las Cruces, New Mexico around the holidays, enjoying delicious food and …
Read MoreHome for the Holidays in Texas
I spent the holidays in Texas, with Thanksgiving in Amarillo and Christmas in Houston. I hiked in Pa…
Read MoreHatchery Boondocking in Idaho
I spent a peaceful time boondocking at a scenic fish hatchery near the Sun Valley area of Idaho.
Read MoreExploring Western Washington’s Rural Landscape
I loved hiking around rural Washington, mostly in the Snoqualmie region. I found the little towns c…
Read MoreYear One Retrospective: Where We’ve Been
These are my favorite places I visited during my first year of full-time RVing, from 2014-2015. I ho…
Read MoreYear One Retrospective: Five Lessons Learned
With a year of full-time RVing under my belt, here are the top lessons I've learned and what I'm pla…
Read MoreCity Kids: Adventures in Seattle
I spent a gorgeous autumn in the Seattle area, going to museums, eating seafood, exploring Lake Unio…
Read MoreA Little Mishap and Some Everyday Heroes
On the drive back down to the Continental US from Alaska, the RV broke down. I was so grateful for t…
Read MoreValdez, Alaska: Land of Waterfalls and Glaciers
The drive to Valdez, Alaska is dotted with stunning glaciers and waterfalls. The town, itself, is ch…
Read MoreMoose, Yaks and an Alaskan Conservation Lesson
I met an interesting yak farmer (and his interesting yaks!) at Circle F Ranch in a quiet stretch of …
Read MoreExperiencing the Alaska Frontier in McCarthy and Kennecott
McCarthy and Kennecott, Alaska might be the most fascinating places I've ever been. The best way to …
Read MoreRafting and Mountain Views in Talkeetna, Alaska
I took a leisurely rafting trip down the Talkeetna River in Alaska, with stunning views of Denali in…
Read MoreSightseeing on Alaska’s Sterling Highway
The western part of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is accessible via the Sterling Highway, which travels a…
Read MoreSeward, Alaska and Kenai Fjords National Park
The Kenai Peninsula of Alaska is one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been. I walked the beach,…
Read MoreAttractions Along the Parks Highway in Alaska NEAR DENALI
Under the shadow of America's tallest mountain, Denali, the Parks Highway is a gorgeous route throug…
Read MoreChristmas in June at North Pole
I spent some time celebrating Christmas early at North Pole, Alaska. I enjoyed the lake and Santa's …
Read MoreEndless Days in Fairbanks, Alaska
The first Alaskan city I had a chance to explore was Fairbanks, home of the Midnight Sun baseball ga…
Read MoreNorth to Alaska: The Road Trip of a Lifetime
Driving through British Columbia and Yukon Territory was a singular experience. It's so gorgeous, an…
Read MoreWild Dash from Utah to Washington
I was in Phoenix, Arizona when I decided to spend the summer in Alaska. Three thousand miles with a …
Read MoreJourneying from Sedona, Arizona to Salt Lake City, Utah
On the way from Sedona to Salt Lake City, I stopped in Page, St. George, and Leeds. This gorgeous ar…
Read MorePetrified Sand Dunes and Lava Tubes at Snow Canyon State Park, Utah
"Blown away" is really the only way to describe my reaction to Snow Canyon near St. George, Utah. It…
Read More15 Tips for Driving Your RV to Alaska
Planning to drive your RV from Washington to Alaska? Learn from my experience! Here are my 15 top ti…
Read MoreBasking in the Beauty of Sedona, Arizona
Nestled under towering red and white striped rock formations, Sedona, Arizona is a haven for outdoor…
Read MoreZion National Park: A Lush Oasis in Utah
Carved by the Virgin River, above its placid banks rises Zion Canyon. Explore the Emerald Pools Trai…
Read MoreHot Springs Relaxation in the Arizona Desert
El Dorado Hot Springs in Southern Arizona was a lovely setting to relax in the desert.
Read MoreGrand Canyon National Park: A Spectacular Lesson in Geology
1.8 billion mind-boggling years ago, the Earth was beginning to shape itself in ways that would lead…
Read MoreA Great Home Base: Flagstaff, Arizona
I'd heard of Flagstaff before we visited, but I knew absolutely nothing about it. That's the best wa…
Read MoreHighrise Apartments: Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well, Arizona
600 years ago, the Sinagua people built homes at sites that were as beautiful as they were defensibl…
Read MoreTrees Turned to Stone: Petrified Forest National Park
How does wood petrify? What does it look like? Is it really as beautiful as they say? During my time…
Read MoreExploring Hopi Heritage at Homolovi State Park, Arizona
Homolovi is the largest of Arizona's state park archaeological sites, featuring a kiva and 1,200 roo…
Read MoreTwo Guns, Arizona: A Route 66 Ghost Town
Two Guns, Arizona is an expansive, easily-accessible ghost town with a fascinating history and ever-…
Read MoreWeek 2 in Albuquerque: Southwestern Art, Tent Rocks and Vintage Style
From Albuquerque, I explored Santa Fe one day, and went hiking at the gorgeous Kasha Katuwe Tent Roc…
Read MoreWeek 1 in Albuquerque: History and Friends
I loved Albuquerque's Southwestern charm, tasty eats, vintage style, and easy access to beautiful pe…
Read MoreGoing Underground in Carlsbad, New Mexico
After passing by the frosty Guadalupe Mountains National Park, I descended underground to explore Ca…
Read MoreScenic Drive through Big Bend National Park
Driving through Big Bend National Park is sure to stun and amaze. I hit some of the main attractions…
Read MoreMiles of Mountains at Marfa
Marfa, Texas is known for being remote and artsy. And it was. But it was also full of so much natura…
Read MoreAdventures on the Border: Del Rio, Texas
Del Rio, Texas is home to the lovely Amistad Reservoir and pictographs at Seminole Canyon State Park…
Read MoreRV Plumbing Repairs and an Unfortunate Surprise
A trip to Texas Hill Country turned into a repair shop-o-rama. But we made the most of it while we h…
Read MoreJanuary in the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country has so much to offer, like swimming holes, rivers, barbecue, architecture, and fu…
Read MoreGoodbye, Houston! We are now Full-Time RVers
Houston is in the rear view mirror, and we're off on our grand RV adventure!
Read MoreHappy Holidays in the Texas Panhandle
We spent some very cold evenings in the Texas Panhandle but made a quick, brief escape to Las Vegas,…
Read MoreOur First Journey: Livingston, Texas
Nothing like a maiden voyage for your RV! We took ours in Livingston, Texas at Escapees Rainbow's En…
Read MoreCamping and Hiking in Pace Bend Park in Texas
I hiked and primitive carside camped at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis in Texas. Here's what I did to…
Read MoreNew Truck & First RV (Mis)Adventures
I have a new RV and a new truck to tow it! But it's not always sunshine and roses. A tire blowout ca…
Read MoreRV Transition Update
Turns out you can't go from a homeowner to a full-time RV owner with no house overnight! Life has be…
Read More5 Bucket List Hikes
Let's just say I like to dream big. I love to hike, and I'm very satisfied with a scenic jaunt about…
Read MoreTaking the Plunge: Selling Our House
Full-time RVing is more than a dream for me. I'm really going for it! The house has just gone on the…
Read MoreTake a Home-on-Wheels Tour and Learn Why We Bought a Fifth Wheel
Want to see my new home? Check out the interior of my 5th wheel and learn why I bought this type of …
Read MoreWelcome, Garage Sale Shoppers!
Did you buy something from me at my garage sale? Thanks for helping fund my full-time RVing dream!
Read MoreLet the RV Shopping Commence
I'm just beginning the search for an RV to live in full-time and have no idea what I'm doing. Here a…
Read MoreHave Your Breath Taken Away on the Mount Evans Scenic Byway
Looking for a lovely day trip in Colorado, where you get all the views without having to slog up a m…
Read MoreLove to be Outdoors? Visit Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is an outdoorsy, techy, vibrant town. Your whole family will love exploring the area, wh…
Read MoreReturn to Longhorn Cavern: A Place for Stories
During my second trip to Longhorn Cavern in Texas, I went on a walking tour and discovered history a…
Read MorePlanning for a Nomadic Future
Thanks to the increasing availability of online work, I've decided to plan for a nomadic future that…
Read MoreLiebster Award Nomination
I got nominated for a Liebster Award for bloggers, so here's the interview questions I got and respo…
Read MoreA Photographic Journey through Big Bend National Park
I recently traveled to Big Bend National Park, which is stunning in its physical beauty. What follow…
Read MoreThe Most Popular Trail in America’s Second Biggest Canyon
Did you know America's second largest canyon is two states away from the Grand Canyon in Texas? I hi…
Read MoreGlamping on a Lake Conroe Boat House in Texas
Not all campsites are for tents and RVs. I got a chance to glamp on a houseboat. Check out the inter…
Read MoreStory Behind the Stuff: My First Tent
I recently sold my first tent (because I now have a newer, fancier one), and it sent me on a jaunt d…
Read MoreImages from a February Hike: Lone Star Hiking Trail, Winters Bayou Section
Is there anything more peaceful than a quiet, wintery hike through the woods? Here are some images f…
Read MoreLonghorn Cavern State Park, Texas
I had my very first spelunking adventure at Longhorn Cavern in Texas! Look how muddy I got! It was a…
Read MoreNew Year’s Resolutions for Campers
New Year's Resolutions can carry a lot of weight and "shoulds," but I do find I like to set intentio…
Read MoreVintage Camping Finds on Historic Route 66
Route 66 is full of unique vintage and antique finds, including some that are great for camping! Her…
Read MoreRV Museum Is a Step Back in Time
This unassuming RV museum is full of vintage campers, Americana, and even a little slice of Hollywoo…
Read More