2017 was an incredible year for us. We explored many new places in the RV, took a 10-day sailing trip, climbed several mountains, enjoyed countless bike rides, watched killer whales in the wild, rode the third-longest tram in the world, followed a brewery trail, and much more.
That year we traveled through 18 states, visited too many cities to count, spent time in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and sailed in the British Virgin Islands. We enjoyed dramatic mountains, sweeping oceans, quiet beaches, stark deserts, and everything in between.
We discovered new destinations and returned to many favorites. Some people think it’s strange to visit the same place more than once, but we always find new experiences each time. It’s rare to see everything on one visit, and if you loved it once, why not go back?
2017 was filled with memorable travel, deepening friendships, and rewarding experiences. I couldn’t have asked for a better year.
Here are some of my favorite moments from 2017:
- Favorite hike – Mount Peale, about 12,720 feet. The summit offered extraordinary panoramic views: forests, mountain ranges, lakes, red rock, canyons, and more.
- Favorite new national parks visited – Yosemite and Glacier National Parks. Both were crowded at times, but their beauty was undeniable.
- Favorite RV campground – Pacific Shores MotorCoach Resort in Newport, Oregon. Waking to sunsets and a lighthouse view from our RV felt unforgettable.
- Favorite food – Sweet fried chicken at a small restaurant in Visalia, California, after visiting Sequoia National Park. I still dream about it.
- Favorite non-RV trip – The 10-day sailing charter in the British Virgin Islands; more about that below.
- Favorite experience – Witnessing killer whales hunting gray whales. It was a rare and intense wildlife moment—part of the natural cycle, but deeply moving to watch.
If you aren’t following my Instagram yet, I highly recommend it for more photos and short stories from the road.
Here’s where we traveled to in 2017
January – Memphis area and Tucson
We spent the holidays with family—St. Louis, Chicago, and Memphis—and stayed in Wes’s parents’ driveway for a few days, moochdocking with full hookups. Early in January we drove to Tucson, Arizona, to spend the winter somewhere warmer after dealing with icicles on the RV. Tucson became our base for most of the month.
We mountain biked, hiked, I got a pink ombre haircut, we built a bike trailer for the dogs, and visited with friends. It was a relaxed month of active outdoor time and good company.
February – Tucson and St. Louis
February was a stay-in-one-place month in Tucson. We tackled Picacho Peak (our first route with cables), climbed Wasson Peak, explored Sabino Canyon and the Tucson Botanical Garden, and made a few RV friends. Our dog Sailor had surgery to remove several tumors and recovered well while we stayed put. At the end of the month I returned to St. Louis for a bridesmaid dress fitting and we finalized a rough plan for the rest of 2017.
March – Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Page, Vegas, and Death Valley
We left Tucson and stopped at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood for biking and hiking, and visited Jerome and Sedona. From there we traveled to Page, Arizona, and camped near Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Page gave us Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Slot Canyon, and amazing desert scenery.
We had planned to visit Zion National Park, but it was fully booked, so we drove to Las Vegas instead. Around Vegas we enjoyed Red Rock Canyon, mountain biking, a Cirque du Soleil show, and an off-road trip to Racetrack Playa. Friends and family joined us for parts of this leg, which made it especially fun.
April – Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Santa Cruz, Big Sur
After Vegas we visited Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and marvelled at enormous trees like General Grant. We then spent time in Yosemite, hiking Yosemite Falls and enjoying the valley until heavy rains warned us to move on. We made our way to Santa Cruz and explored Big Sur and Monterey. Wes took an 8-day sailing course in this area, which led into our later sailing trip.
May – Bend, Newport, and Silverton, Oregon
In May we headed to Bend for mountain biking and brewery sampling. Then we moved to Newport for ocean views and tide pools full of starfish and sea life. In Silverton we explored Silver Falls State Park and enjoyed marionberry pie that easily earned the title of best pie of 2017.
June – Portland and the British Virgin Islands
We parked near Portland ahead of a sailing trip and arranged care for our dogs while we were away. A longtime RV friend who used to live on a sailboat invited us to charter a boat, and in June we took a 10-day sailing trip through the British Virgin Islands with friends.
Highlights from that charter included:
- Road Town, Tortola – start and end point of our charter.
- Virgin Gorda – the Baths and Savannah Bay, plus visits to North Sound and Bitter End Yacht Club.
- Anegada – long sandy beaches, snorkeling with stingrays, and flamingos.
- Sandy Spit – tiny island with stunning waters and a night anchored off Foxy’s.
- Norman Island – moored to visit Willy T’s, the famous floating party bar.
- The Indians – world-class snorkeling with abundant fish and occasional barracuda.
- Beef Island and Cooper Island – peaceful anchorages and a chance to see sea turtles and dolphins.
We chartered a Sunsail 51 four-cabin monohull for seven adults. It was crowded at times but an amazing experience that ranks among the best trips I’ve taken.
July – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Glacier National Park, Montana
On the way to Glacier, we stayed in Coeur d’Alene where our campground sat on a paved trail—perfect for biking and walking the dogs. In Glacier we stayed near West Glacier, hiked Avalanche Lake and several other scenic trails, and reconnected with fellow RVers. Glacier’s landscapes are stunning and left us wanting more time.
August – Las Vegas, Zion, and Bryce
August included a bachelorette party in Las Vegas and, shortly after, a bachelor party. Despite intense heat, we found ways to cool off by visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. We also saw the Seven Magic Mountains, rented a boat on Lake Mead, and enjoyed time with friends.
September – Vegas, Death Valley, Moab, Breckenridge
September brought more desert adventures and a return to Moab, where I hiked Mount Peale—my favorite hike of the year. We explored Corona Arch, mountain biked extensively, and later traveled to Breckenridge, Colorado, where we summited Horseshoe Mountain and hiked parts of the Colorado Trail with friends.
October – Columbia, St. Louis, Dallas
We returned home in October and visited friends in Columbia, Missouri, attended a wedding, and spent time in St. Louis riding the Katy Trail. We also traveled to Dallas for FinCon, a conference for financial bloggers and media professionals.
November – San Marcos, Hot Springs, Mississippi, Alabama
After FinCon we drove to San Marcos near Austin to visit family, explored Jacob’s Well, and did mountain biking. We then needed to get our RV to Alabama for warranty repairs. We stopped at Hot Springs National Park, had an RV surprise when friends Liz and Jake parked beside us, and eventually stayed at Wes’s parents’ driveway while the RV was serviced at the factory.
December – Albuquerque and Tucson
We returned to warmer weather, stopping in Albuquerque to visit my mom and ride the Sandia Peak Tram, then finished the year back in Tucson where we spent the winter among great mountain biking trails.
Below are a few of my other favorite images from 2017 that capture the variety of our travels, from the British Virgin Islands and Colorado peaks to dog-friendly beaches and desert landscapes.
So, what’s in store for 2018?
2018 looked set to be another year of travel. At the time this was published, we were on Eleuthera in the Bahamas with family, staying in a large beachfront rental and enjoying a delayed holiday together. The RV remained parked in Arizona for the winter while we planned shorter trips, including a potential trip to Europe and another sailing adventure.
Over the spring and summer we debated heading to Alaska or buying a sailboat—or perhaps doing both. That’s one of the best parts of full-time travel: flexibility. Plans change, but the adventure continues.
What are your travel plans for 2018?