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Van Life Diary – Ruhls of the Road is spending 2019 on the road, living out of a van and experiencing as much as we can! We want to hike every national park mountain peak, snorkel the heck out of every amazing swimming hole, camp on the countryside, and share the whole journey with you! We are going to create update this page every month to share the journey

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Our Route

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Our Tiny Home – Van Tour!

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January

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Where We’ve Gone

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Prior Lake, MN — Wisconsin Rapids, WI — Shawnee National Forrest, IL — Nashville, TN — Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Charleston, SC — Savannah, GA — Ocala National Forest (Silver Glen Springs, FL) — Everglades National Park — Key Largo, FL — Key West, FL

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Fast Facts

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• We’ve spent over 48 hours on USA highways and freeways – including stopping at Mile 0 in Key West!
• Julie has peed her pants twice so far. For anyone who had the over on 1.5 times in the first month: congratulations!
• We’ve seen gas prices ranging from $1.79/gal in Southern Illinois to $2.99/gal in Nashville
• Somehow we’ve seen more crocodiles (5) than alligators (2) in Florida. We’ve been able to avoid the mini-golf courses all over Florida typically populated by 300 gators and a few turtles
• Our two biggest expenses on the road have been Gas and Food. Camping/parking and Maintenance have been minimal, fingers crossed that trend continues!

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• Cribbage Scores – what started as a pathetic showing from Julie (Zach winning 3 of the first 4 with 2 skunks) has really turned around She’s won 4 of the last 6 and is ON FIRE with the cards. Last game, she saw took Zach for a walk (literally) and rubbed his face in some roadside shit (not literally) on her way to a convincing victory. Official Score:
  • Zach: 5 wins (2 skunks)
  • Julie: 5 win (1 skunks)
• Rummy 500 Scores – Zach is off to a hot start with a commanding lead in Rummy. His aggressive style of play has worked out thus far, but is sure to bite him in the butt in games moving forward. This could get interesting, folks. Official Score:
  • Zach: 3 wins
  • Julie: 0 wins

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5893″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/van-life-cost-month-1/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Van Life Budget”][vc_column_text]We budgeted $1500 for all of our expenses for our first month on the road. This included lodging, gas, food, entertainment, and more!

Our goal was to spend a total of $10 per day on food, stay in a campground only 3 times, and stop for gas less than 12 times! Did we meet them? You’ll have to read the blog to find out!

Here’s one giveaway: our budget for month 2 is MUCH less than it was for month 1. We think that over the course of the first month, we’ve developed some GREAT strategies and techniques on how to minimize costs while still maximizing fun and adventure![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Photos from Shawnee National Forrest – Illinois

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Nestled right at the southern tip of Illinois, Shawnee National Forest was a wonderful place to explore on foot! The hikes are easy, and the views are incredible.

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5884″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/hiking-great-smoky-mountains/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Hiking the Great Smoky Mountains”][vc_column_text]We spent a week hiking as much of the Great Smoky Mountains as we could get our hands on! Biking scenic wilderness trails, challenging mountain-top ascents, waterfall walks, the Smokys has it all!

Let us tell you all about the best hikes that the Smokys has to offer, starting with our favorite hike: Mount Cammerer. It was 11 miles, and took the better part of an entire day, but HOLY CRIPES it was worth the walk.

We had so much fun in the Smokys, there’s a reason this is the most visited National Park in America. Let us tell you why![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

New Year’s Eve in Nashville

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”3880″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]We spent one blurry night in Nashville to ring in the New Year, country style! Admittedly, this picture is the only one we took in our entire time in Nasvhille *sheepish face*.

Nashville, or Nash-Vegas to some, is a wonderful place to party. It is, however, not the best place in the world when you are balling on an extreme budget. That problem is exacerbated on New Year’s, as most bars have a ticket needed in order to even get in, let alone pay for drinks!

We weren’t about to sit around on our thumbs for New Years Eve in Nashville, especially ringing in our year on the road! So we sacked up and hit the streets. We tried every bar until we found one with live music and no cover. We found it, and we held on for dear life!

A few beers, a few dances, a few moonshine shots, and a few new friends later, it was 2019 and we were hungover and ready to take on the year. And by take on the year I mean take a bath in coffee and nap until January 2.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Favorite Picture so Far – Angel Oak Tree – Charleston, South Carolina

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner el_class=”angeloakrow”][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”3847″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]The Angel Oak Tree is located just outside Charleston, South Carolina, and good heavens it is worth the trip. The tree estimated to be about 400 years old, no one knows the exact age because no one in 1619 decided to write down that the Angel Oak sprouted. HUGE mistake, one of the biggest in human history perhaps.

The tree has an aura around it. It is said to be named for the angels that have appeared around the tree. We didn’t experience anything ghostly, except our translucent figures walking around in the South Carolina sun after experiencing the Midwest’s (lack of) sun for the past 3 months.

We also LOVED the Angel Oak because it was FREE! We packed a little picnic and had a fantastic time sitting beneath the sprawling branches enjoying some turkey sandwiches and throwing carrots at each other. DEFINITELY recommend this as a stop on your next trip to South Carolina![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Photos from Charleston, SC

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We spent 4 days exploring Charleston and its outskirts. We absolutely loved the waterfront park, strolling along with Kobe watching the dolphins jump and seeing the bridge and aircraft carrier in the distance. The pineapple fountain in the center of the park was gorgeous!

Outside Charleston, Francis Marion National Forest, Isle of Palms Beach, and the Angel Oak Tree are must-sees for anyone visiting. All three are free to explore, and more than worth the trips!

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Eating on the Road

Here’s a question we’ve gotten over and over: what are you going to eat on the road? The questions behind that question are either “are you going to starve?” or “are you going to come back 400 pounds because you eat nothing but gas station burritos and McFusions (McChicken placed BETWEEN the patties of a McDouble, try it if you haven’t…)?”.

The answer to both of those is “no”, and here’s how we’ve eaten so far.

Budgeting

Toughest part is eating delicious and healthy meals without breaking our modest bankroll. Our aggressive target is to spend $50 per week on food total. It seemed low right away, and we probably won’t hit it every week, but we think it is totally doable. Here’s an example supermarket receipt:

• Box of Minute Rice, Jar of thai peanut sauce
• Cans of Black Beans, Chili Beans, Corn, Diced Tomatoes
• Red Onion, Package of Mushrooms, Green Pepper
• Avocados x3, Bananas x12, Bag of clementines or oranges (or whatever fresh fruit is on sale really)
• Box of pasta, Jar of pasta sauce
• Eggs x12, Loaf of Bread
• Swiss Cheese, American Cheese, Ham, Turkey
• Box of Crackers, Jar of Peanut Butter
• 5 Tuna Packets (HOLY CRAP don’t even get us started on these. They are the PERFECT camping and hiking snack. We linked the product from Target.com but you can get them basically anywhere. They are tasty, healthy, and don’t need to be refrigerated!)

All of that comes in around $50, even well under $50 if you are keeping your eyes open for deals![/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Mobile Kitchen

We’ve been using our kitchen just about every other day to prepare hot meals for dinner. Here’s what a typical meal looks like:

1. Zach pulls out the Coleman Stovetop we got for Christmas this year, and fires it up with the giant cast-iron skillet up top.
2. Julie chops up some peppers, onions, mushrooms, meat, etc.
3. Pan-fry the veggies and meat for 5 minutes
4. Add sauce, water, and pasta/rice. Cook for another 5-10 minutes tasting periodically
5. Devour like two hungry gorillas fighting for the last banana at the gorilla-version of Thanksgiving
6. Save the leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch!

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A Typical Breakfast

We both love eggs. A lot. Julie’s parents have a hobby farm with chickens, so eggs were a part of just about every day of her childhood. (We’d love to have our own hobby farm someday! A story for another time…)

So, how do we make eggs a part of our diets on the road? Usually in 2 ways:

1. Scrambled eggs fired up in the cast-iron skillet. Probably our favorite way to eat them, and very easy to prepare.
2. Hard-boiled eggs (usually prepared at the same time as the scrambled eggs! The hard-boiled eggs will hang out in our refrigerator, and we’ll have a few for breakfast each day!

We usually throw in a side of a banana and a slice of bread with avocado if we’re feeling frisky. All in all, it is probably better than the breakfasts we were having before we took off for life on the road![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Product Spotlight

Our Wagan Electric Refrigerator / Cooler. This bad boy has been a life saver when it comes to cooking on the road. We both love meat, cheese and eggs. What is tough about those things? They need to be kept cold!

This refrigerator / cooler has allowed us to keep things fresh! It runs on just 40 Watts (which is very low, a typical refrigerator uses over 100 Watts) which means we are able to power it with our solar-powered battery system.

And even better, if for some reason we have low power, we can switch the refrigerator off and it becomes a cooler! It keeps our food from getting warm and buys us time while we get more power or eat all of the perishables![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

Our Cooking Skills

Our cooking skills have REALLY gotten a test on the road. It is very hard to make anything that isn’t a 1-pan recipe (meaning you don’t need 2 pans to cook a meal, everything has to be tossed into 1 pan at different times and it is all ready at the same time!).

We’re hoping to really sharpen our skills over the next few months. We are planning on having a whole army of 1-pan recipes for every type of meal: Asian, Mexican, Indian, Italian, American, Sandwiches, Burgers, Steaks, Chicken Wings, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. You name it, we’ll know how to make it, with a cast-iron skillet in one hand and a beer in the other.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Ruhls of the Road’s January Library

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On The Road by Jack Kerouac – Zach

Seemed fitting as a first book to read on our 2019 adventure throughout the USA. Kerouac tells of his own adventures hitchhiking and road-tripping across the land, in the form of a page-turning novel you won’t be able to put down.

Much of this book was read by candlelight before bed in the van, a method I HIGHLY recommend if possible. If not, then before bed in the warmth of your own home will be just fine!

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – Zach

I bought this book about a year ago at the recommendation of a professor, but it somehow sat on the shelf until now. I can’t believe it took me so long to read this one! It is a FASCINATING look into human psychology and the power that we all have to alter our habits.

Habits affect literally every portion of your life. Whether in large ways like addiction, work performance, staying in shape, or small ways like brushing your teeth and not snacking. This book not only educates you on habits, but gives you the tools to change them![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross – Julie

The first line of this one is: “When David Pepin first dreamed of killing his wife, he didn’t kill her himself. He dreamed convenient acts of God.” Sounds pretty morbid, but this novel takes the reader on a wild ride telling a story of love, marital dysfunction, and allergies, surprisingly…

Julie’s 2019 New Years resolution is to ‘read more’. The goal she’s set herself is to read one book a month, and this is number one for the year![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk – Zach

You may have seen the movie, but that shouldn’t stop you from reading the book! Then you can tell people “I’ve read the book, it is so much better than the movie” and act proud and pretentious and better than everyone!

This is a wonderful book, Chuck Palahniuk is an amazing storyteller. So many little things in the book aren’t captured in the movie, like for instance how when the narrator is speaking there are never quotation marks. Side note, what is the main character’s name? Can you even remember?

I am Jack’s busy brain, working to remember the main character’s name.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Photos from Savannah, GA

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We stopped in Savannah, Georgia for 3 days in mid-January. We explored River Street and stopped in just about every single store, and HIGHLY recommend it. Get some free samples to find out what you like and maybe pick up a souvenir or two!

We biked around the entire city looking for the bench that Forrest Gump sat on, but it wasn’t there anymore! We stopped and strolled through every park and cemetery (lots of cemeteries in Savannah) and had a blast doing it! Every single street in Savannah is picturesque and beautiful, making a city-wide stroll a must-do on your visit.

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Silver Glen Springs, FL is PARADISE

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Silver Glen Springs is located in the heart of Ocala National Forest and is a MUST if you visit Orlando or are road tripping through Florida. This is ESPECIALLY true in the winter months, for the…drum roll…MANATEES!

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”textrow”][/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid gap=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1566772357746-bf422cfd-9a2d-6″ include=”3926,3921,3916,3915,3919,3931,3927,3945,3941,3933,3948,3920″ el_class=”charlestonrow”][vc_column_text el_class=”textrow”]We had to swim about almost a mile to find the manatees, but OHMYGOODNESS it was so worth it. They are such gentle giants slowly making their way through the water, munching on any veggies they find along the way.

The manatees come to Florida’s springs in the winter time because the water is warm, and they basically just hang out! Wake up, swim a little, hang out with their buds, munch some grub, swim some more, sunbathe, they have a great life![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5842″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/solar-van-conversion/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Solar Van Conversion for Under $500″][vc_column_text]We have been working on this blog for awhile, and we are very excited to share. We were able to do our entire solar setup for EXTREMELY cheap compared to some things you’ll read online.

After reading a few other blogs, it sounded like we were going to be spending a few thousand dollars, but once we rolled up our sleeves and got to work we found a lot of ways to make it cheaper!

This is really the first half of the article (what we bought). The next half of the article (how we put it together) is coming soon![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Key Largo – We Stopped and Stayed at Key Largo Farm!

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”textrow”]On our way to Key Largo we got a call from Julie’s cousin, Steven, saying he had a friend in Key Largo he could get us in touch with! We gave his friend a call and WOW are we glad we did!

We ended up hanging out at their place, Key Largo Farm, for 3 days and had the best time with their family! 2 kids, 2 dogs (including a Great Dane whose head was bigger than Kobe), hundreds of chickens, a few goats, a peacock even, and some of the most friendly people in the world![/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid gap=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1566772357754-cbde91c7-116d-3″ include=”4263,4011,4000,4009,3985,3984,3982,3988,3989,3998,4006,4005,3995,3996,4266,4264,4265,4012,4003,4004″ el_class=”charlestonrow”][vc_column_text el_class=”textrow”]On day two, we took out a kayak and stand-up paddleboard to see what we could find! We ended up seeing a ray (it swam away before we could get a pic!), a bunch of fish, a few crabs, and about 5 sharks! Check out the video to see them![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5861″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/key-west/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Have the Time of Your Life in Key West”][vc_column_text]We spent 5 days in Key West and had the TIME OF OUR LIVES! So many fun people, amazing things to do, and ohmygoodness the weather is as good as anywhere on earth!

Quick Story: We met a couple from New York City who said they come down to Key West because NYC can get boring. Key West makes even New York City look boring!! WHAT?!?! The crazy part is, we see what they mean. Key West is incredible!

We did everything from bar hopping to jet-skiing. From playing bean bags with Canadian campers to snorkeling with Austrians! From tequila shots with locals to magic shows with tourists! Check it out on the blog, Key West should be moving up your bucket list, if it isn’t on the top already.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

Those Florida Keys Sunsets

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Our Key West Photo Album

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End of Month 1!

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Whew! That wraps up our very first month on the road! We had a blast, and learned so much along the way. Month 2 will probably involve a lot of driving, exploring more of Florida’s Springs, adventuring on the Gulf Coast, Cajun food in NoLa, and probably some marriage counseling books ??

We can’t wait to share more of it with you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blog Posts from Ruhls of the Road

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February

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Where We’ve Gone

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Key West, FL — Ft Myers, FL — Ocala National Forrest, FL — Devil’s Den, FL — Garden of Eden Trail, FL — Orange Beach, AL — New Orleans, LA — Baton Rouge, LA — Lafayette, LA — Beaumont, TX — Houston, TX — Hot Springs, AR — Buffalo National River, AR

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Fast Facts

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• The humidity is RIDICULOUS in the Southeast. We were NOT as ready for it as we should have been. Talking DAYS in a row of 100% humidity. Not the best to sleep in when you don’t have a fan circulating air…

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• Coastal highways and country roads >>> Freeways. Especially in Florida. Why? 2 reasons:
  • Tolls. HAVE to avoid the tolls on the Florida turnpike when you can
  • See the coast and country while you can! It is such a more pleasant drive. Might take 15 minutes longer, but it is so worth it!
  • Bonus reason: 55-60 mph is best for gas mileage!

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5825″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/cooking-week-vacation/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”How To Avoid Eating Out While Traveling”][vc_column_text]We just finished an AMAZING time in the Florida Keys. We spent an entire week making our way through the Keys living in our van, having the time of our lives doing it. We had this entire vacation without eating out.

We did excursions, went kayaking & stand-up paddleboarding, did walking tours of Key West, saw EVERYTHING we wanted to see, and didn’t spend a fortune doing it!

The number one main reason we didn’t break the bank? We did not go out to eat at ALL on our entire trip. This post is relevant to ANYWHERE you travel, not just the Florida Keys! Anywhere you go, you can save money and eat better by cooking instead of eating out. Heck, you can use all of this advice for eating at home, even![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

We Found a Blueberry Farm to Stay At!

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Our very first Harvest Hosts experience was at a Blueberry Farm in Central Florida! We had an absolute blast meeting locals, eating yummy blueberry jam, and exploring the grounds learning about blueberries![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5904″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/park-overnight-free/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”How to Camp for Free All Across the United States”][vc_column_text]When we started our year-long adventure living on the road, we knew we had a nut to crack: free overnight parking. We had renovated a van, now we had to figure out how & where to park it every night!

We knew that if we broke the budget every night with a hotel or campsite, we would be penniless within 2 months. Thankfully, we learned SO much about free overnight parking, and now we want to share that information with YOU!

Without further ado, let’s figure out where YOU will be parking YOUR van or RV on YOUR adventure on the road![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”textrow”]Devil’s Den is an incredible cavern in Central Florida. However, if you plan on making the trip, we would advise getting SCUBA certified! It was an extremely cool place, however the snorkeling area just scratches the surface. The real treasure is down below. We need to get our certifications and head back![/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid gap=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1566772357766-c3f11d11-7b03-5″ include=”4359,4391,4358″ el_class=”shawneerow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5902″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/floridas-hidden-gems/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Road Trip Florida’s Hidden Gems – All Inland!”][vc_column_text]Florida has a TON to offer on any vacation. Warm weather, unbelievable sites, and of course beaches. But many people miss Florida’s hidden gems!

One of the most unforgettable experiences you can have is road-tripping through Inland Florida. The coast of Florida is beautiful, but it is also very touristy. The non-coastal part of Florida is SO SO cool, and much less packed.

The adventure awaiting on this road trip will beat a coastal trip every single time. You’ll go biking, hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, exploring, picnicking, and SO much more! Let the road trip begin.

If you’re charting your course, make sure to put at least a few of these (if not all of them) on your road trip route![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Super Bowl Feast

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4357″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”right”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]As luck would have it, the Saints got robbed and were not in the Super Bowl. The referees bleaux it. Because of that, we weren’t rushing to get to New Orleans for the Super Bowl (we know it was in Atlanta, just wanted to be in NO while their team was in it for the atmosphere!).

Instead, we were at Orange Beach on the Gulf Coast of Alabama! And living on the road is absolutely no excuse to not go all out for the Super Bowl, food-wise of course.

We fired up brats, buffalo chicken dip, homemade guacamole with chips, and a big ol pot of chili! And we only felt a little sick the next morning…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

We Met Baby Goats!

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We stayed at Golden Acres Ranch, which is a BEAUTIFUL Harvest Hosts site in Florida. We were fortunate enough to stay at a time when they had just birthed a few baby goats on site! It was an amazing experience getting to meet these little guys!

Also, we had this picture in our mind of baby goats as little jumping beans that scream all the time. We were right! They literally do not stop hopping around! And they totally make the scream from that old Taylor Swift music video edit.[/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid element_width=”3″ gap=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1566772357768-16666d57-c44a-0″ include=”4361,4362,4364,4365″ el_class=”shawneerow”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”4707″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”February Van Life Costs” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/van-life-costs-february/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Ruhls of the Road’s February Library

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The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith – Zach

This one is part of a trilogy! Starting with Child 44, which was recently made into a movie, The Secret Speech takes the baton from that book and carries it along.

This novel is a great page turner, one you will get lost in as the story twists and turns, leaving you on the edge of your seat! As much as you can be while comfortably reading a book wrapped up in a blanket.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle – Zach

This book is part self-help, part spiritual-awakening, part non-fiction story-telling, and I absolutely love it. It was a part of Oprah’s book club, so it has to be good right!

Fair warning, this book is very dense. There is a LOT of information in it, information that I’ve had to read two or three times sometimes as I made it through. But I will see that I feel much more satisfied with my life, and as a result happier on a daily basis, as a result of reading it!

My favorite takeaway: You cannot plan out your happiness. You cannot say that you will be happy once you get X, or after Y is over. You can ONLY be happy in the present moment. And every moment spent not in the present will be less happy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5907″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/new-orleans/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Epic 4 Days in New Orleans – Free!”][vc_column_text]We took a trip to New Orleans and spent an entire week exploring things to do in the Big Easy on a budget. We were EXTREMELY surprised (and pumped!) to find SO many amazing things to do in New Orleans for FREE!

That’s right. I said we found a TON of things (a long-weekend’s worth even) to do in New Orleans for free. It costs exactly $0. Less than a gum ball.

Now, of course, at many of these places you can spend money. And we encourage you to do so at a few places, because it is a blast and we’d feel bad about partaking in a few of these free things without at least buying a drink or two.

After all it is New Orleans. And if you splurge a few bucks on a daiquiri or a grenade then no one is going to judge you. You can even hit the streets with those in hand![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Photos from New Orleans, Louisiana

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We spent about a week exploring New Orleans! We planned a 4 night trip to New Orleans packed with FREE activities!! That’s right, New Orleans for FREE!

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Photos from Arkansas

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We stopped at a few places while road tripping through Arkansas and were FLOORED with how pretty this state was! It seemed like there was another natural wonder around every single curve in the road!

We started at Hot Springs National Park, a very small park but one with beautiful sites. From here we took to Pinnacle Mountain State Park right outside Little Rock. This peak is the tallest in site, and therefore had a stunning view from the summit. We then headed north to Ozark National Forest, and specifically the Hawksbill Crag Trail, which was absolutely incredible. We finished our Arkansas road trip at Buffalo National River, where we came upon a grazing & bathing herd of elk!

Arkansas…keep doing you![/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid gap=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1566772357771-6e851bb7-f3c7-5″ include=”4665,4666,4667,4669,4673,4670,4680,4675,4676,4678,4681,4693,4682,4671,4672,4668″ el_class=”charlestonrow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Off to Next

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We are spending the better part of March hanging out with family in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We have a wedding in mid March in Stillwater, MN, and will be seeing all the family and friends we can from now until then!

After the wedding, Julie is taking her nursing Boards in Minnesota on the 21st of March…wish her luck!! And right after that we are road tripping back towards Houston! We will be spending the rest of March in Houston hanging out with our nephew JP…we can’t wait!!

March is a BIG family month and we are SO excited to see everyone![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blog Posts from Ruhls of the Road

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March

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Where We’ve Gone

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Minneapolis, MN — Oklahoma City, OK — Dallas, TX — Waco, TX — Houston, TX — Big Bend National Park

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Fast Facts

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• March was a month we spent a lot of time at home. We had a wedding in Minnesota, and were lucky enough to spend time with Zach’s family and Julie’s family during our time in the Midwest! It was GREAT to catch up with friends and family for a few weeks!
• However, this meant that March was not a month of huge adventure. We did spend the later half of the month road tripping down to Texas, and finished the month with an arrival at Big Bend National Park, where we are kicking off April!

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5894″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/van-life-costs-march/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”March Van Life Budget and Costs”][vc_column_text]Our budget for March was smaller than our January and February budgets because we were spending so much time with Family. We knew we would probably have higher entertainment expenses, but fewer gas and grocery trips, so those expenses would probably be lower.

What was our budget? And did we stick to it? Click the image to find out![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Ruhls of the Road’s March Library

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Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis – Julie & Zach

This is the first book that we BOTH read on the road trip! Julie read it first, and while she was reading she kept laughing, smiling, giggling, and even crying. After seeing that, Zach picked it up right when she finished and figured out what all the fuss was about!

This book is fantastic. It is directed towards women, but there are plenty of tidbits in there for men if you are paying attention![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene – Zach

This book is MIND BLOWING. Especially for anyone that is into physics even a little bit. The first half of the book is very thought-provoking, insightful, and educational. Zach LOVED it.

The second half of the book gets very dense. There is SO much information in it, that reading the second half can be difficult to get through. With that being said, the book is very incredible and is definitely a mind-opener.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Photos from the Road Trip to Texas!

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During our trip down to Houston, we made a few much-needed stops along the way! We stopped in Oklahoma City to visit the memorial of the bombing of the federal building. This was an extremely humbling experience. We didn’t take pictures here, however we recommend this stop to anyone traveling through Oklahoma, as it is an important and very powerful memorial.

We also stopped in Dallas, Texas to visit the Grassy Knoll and the John F. Kennedy Memorial. Again, this was an extremely powerful sight and experience, one that we highly recommend.

As HUGE Fixer Upper fans, we HAD to stop at Magnolia in Waco, Texas! We stopped for more-than-a-few hours, and ended up buying a small basket for our van! Chip and Joanna Gaines are basically who we want to grow up and be.

Finally, we got to spend time with our family in Houston! Our nephew JP is a ball of energy and is SO much fun to be around![/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid gap=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1566772357775-9f8ff083-5951-7″ include=”4887,4886,4884,4883,4892,4881,4880,4882,4894,4890″ el_class=”charlestonrow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Van Improvements

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During March, while we were in Minnesota, we added a few much-needed improvements to Winnie:

1. Rooftop Deck – we didn’t need all of the storage we had on our roof, and we really wanted a spot to sunbathe and stargaze. So…. we built one! And we absolutely LOVE it so far!
2. Indoor Sink – before March, our kitchen pulled out from the back of the van. That wasn’t working. It was a hassle every time, and we ended up just not using it enough. Sooooooo we put our sink inside! We had to rearrange some things, but it works MUCH better now
3. Pin Map – We have an awesome Mapiful map that we originally thought we’d hang in a home. Turns out we were right, sort of. It is our mobile home Winnie! We hung the map on the sliding door, and are putting pins in all of the cool places we go in Winnie!

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Off to Next

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We ended the month arriving in Big Bend National Park in Texas! We are incredible excited to get out and explore one of the best National Parks in the country!

After Big Bend, we will head up to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. From there, it is off to Arizona, where we will go through Tucson and Phoenix on our way up to the Grand Canyon and…drum roll…Havasupai Falls![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][instagram-feed][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_zigzag][vc_column_text]

April

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Where We’ve Gone

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Big Bend National Park — White Sands National Monument — Saguaro National Park — Phoenix, AZ — Country Thunder Music Festival — Havasupai Falls — Las Vegas — Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument — Arches National Park — Capitol Reef National Park

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This Month We…

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• April started with a trip hiking Big Bend National Park, which was an INCREDIBLE time! We spent a week hiking through the mountains, swimming in hot springs, camping in the park, and all around adventuring!
• After Big Bend we spent 2 days at White Sands National Monument, which is a white sandy wonderland in New Mexico!
• From there we explored Saguaro National Park on our way to Phoenix to meet up with our friends Bobby and Lindsey!
• With Bobby and Lindsey we went to Country Thunder, a country music festival in Arizona and had a BLAST
• Then came…drum roll… Havasupai Falls! Our single favorite stop of the entire trip so far!
• After Arizona came a quick stop in Nevada and then we were off to Utah to start exploring all of the National Parks Utah has to offer!

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5826″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/big-bend/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Hiking Big Bend National Park”][vc_column_text]Big Bend National Park is an absolute JEWEL of a National Park. Camping and Hiking Big Bend is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one that you will NOT regret.

Big Bend has incredible panoramic views, stunning cliff-side walks, unique window overlooks, relaxing hot springs, and the most beautiful starry night sky on earth. All that, and the cherry on top is the best camping experience of any National Park in the country.

Now, since Big Bend is a drive to get to, you will want to maximize your time here. If you can spend more than a week, do it! We think a week is the minimum to account for travel and adequate exploration of the park.

If you can get two weeks of exploring, you will be able to explore the ENTIRE park! And you will not spend any more money on camping (more on that later…) as permits are good for 14 days.

Without further ado, let us be your guide. All of the reasons why Big Bend is the most underrated park in the United States, and why you NEED to put camping and hiking Big Bend on your bucket list![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Havasupai Falls Video

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjIxMDAlMjUlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjI0NTAlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGTlduc2xTa1RySUklMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXIlM0IlMjBhdXRvcGxheSUzQiUyMGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSUzQiUyMGd5cm9zY29wZSUzQiUyMHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZSUyMiUyMGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Ruhls of the Road’s April Library

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The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown – Julie

This story is among the best non-fiction stories ever told, in our opinion. And it is on a topic you may not think is that exciting…rowing! However, Daniel James Brown is a fantastic writer, and he makes this story into a wonderful page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seat![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Live Wire by Harlan Coben – Zach

This novel is what we would describe as a ‘candy’ read. It is very well written and is a great story. You’ll turn the pages until you figure out what happens at the end! However, you probably won’t be mind-blown by the story. A great one to read before bed as you are looking to get tired without having screen time![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Photos from the Road Trip from Texas across New Mexico to Arizona!

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5906″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/havasupai/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Havasupai Falls is a Waterfall Wonderland”][vc_column_text]Havasupai Falls was a top 5 experience of our entire lives. It is beyond incredible, indescribably beautiful, fantastically unique. Words won’t do it justice, but throughout the next 7,500 words we’re going to try.

We could write unending blogs about this paradise, but of course no one would read them, so we did our absolute best to compress ALL of our knowledge into 1 blog post.

Permit information, travel planning advice, packing list, hiking recommendation, photography tips. All of this AND MORE is located in the following post.

Your one-stop go-to for everything you need to know about Havasupai. Oh, and pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words, but a Havasupai picture is worth a million. SO we included pictures as well, we hope you’ll enjoy![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

How We Brew Coffee on the Road

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Off to Next

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We ended the month in the middle of our tour of Utah’s National Parks with Julie’s parents, Pete and Sue! They came to explore Southern Utah with us, and we had a blast hiking, playing cards & pickleball, eating yummy food, and catching up!

In May, we will be continuing our tour of Utah’s National Parks before heading off to Colorado![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_zigzag][vc_column_text]

May

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Where We’ve Gone

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Arches National Park — Canyonlands National Park — Denver, CO — Colorado Springs, CO — Great Sand Dunes National Park — Crestone, CO — Rocky Mountain National Park

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This Month We…

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• May started in the middle of our journey through Utah’s National Parks, with trips to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Both of these were incredible parks for hiking and exploring!
• From there we went to Colorado to meet up with our friends Travis & Steph and Andy & Trish in Denver for a night of brewery hopping!
• The next day we woke up and went to Colorado Spring with Travis & Steph for a weekend with their family, of which we were adopted members for the weekend!
• After the Springs, we went south to Great Sand Dunes National Park to go sand boarding for a day! Moving North from there we got caught in an absolute BLIZZARD near Crestone, CO. That snowfall made us stay put since we couldn’t drive the snowy mountain roads!
• We ended the month by spending a week hiking Rocky Mountain National Park, the jewel of Colorful Colorado!

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Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5876″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/sand-dunes/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”White Sands National Monument vs Great Sand Dunes National Park”][vc_column_text]Great Sand Dunes National Park and White Sands National Monument are both monumental marvels of sand. Both spread out for miles and miles, with a gorgeous mountain backdrop that would make Vinny Van Gogh pull out an easel immediately.

So, the question is of course, which one should you plan a visit to? The enormous Great Sand Dunes in Colorado…

Or the unbelievably bright White Sands in New Mexico…

That is a great question, and one that we cannot WAIT to answer! Without further ado, let’s start off on the sandiest journey of a lifetime.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Rocky Mountain National Park Video

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjIxMDAlMjUlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjI0NTAlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGWktQV1lTWEd3U1ElMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXIlM0IlMjBhdXRvcGxheSUzQiUyMGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSUzQiUyMGd5cm9zY29wZSUzQiUyMHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZSUyMiUyMGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Photos from the May Road Trip through Utah and Colorado!

[/vc_column_text][vc_masonry_media_grid gap=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1566772357783-5e9d755a-9f72-7″ include=”5360,5349,5358,5346,5332,5233,5205,5206,5207,5200,5195,5168,5169,5110,5096,5131,5145,5071,5068″ el_class=”charlestonrow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5910″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/utah-national-parks/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Road Trip through Utah’s National Parks”][vc_column_text]Hiking Utah National Parks is not something that the High School versions of ourselves would be very excited about. Thankfully, we’ve grown a lot since then, both mentally and physically (not so thankfully…). Utah is home to a few absolutely INCREDIBLE experiences that you cannot have anywhere else on planet Earth.

Utah is home to 5 of the MOST BEAUTIFUL National Parks in the entire United States, and Grand Staircase-Escalante (a National Monument, not a National Park) is the cherry on top. This state is an absolute juggernaut when it comes to hoarding incredible sites, sounds, and experiences. Save some for the rest of us please, Utah!

Without further ado, let’s go on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the Western Wilderness that we call Utah.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Ruhls of the Road’s May Library

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The World’s Religions by Huston Smith – Zach

This book is EXTREMELY interesting. What this book does is gives an explanation of the details and beliefs of many of the world’s different religions. Huston Smith compares similarities and differences between different religions, which are SUPER intriguing to learn. Being raised Christian, we haven’t learned much about other religions, until now![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Wild by Cheryl Strayed – Zach & Julie

The second book that we’ve both read this year! Wild Cheryl Strayed’s (who is from Minnesota!) story of uprooting her life and hiking over 1,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail! This is an incredible story about an even MORE incredible journey. It is wonderful to read and learn about Cheryl’s life and struggles and how she overcame those tribulations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5873″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/rocky-mountains/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park”][vc_column_text]Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park is an absolutely WONDERFUL experience. It is literally full of wonders.

This park is one of the most well-known and well-traveled National Parks, and with VERY good reason. The lakes, waterfalls, mountains, valleys, wildlife, EVERYTHING in the park is so incredible and so unique to any other place in the country.

To guide you on your adventure, we split up the adventure into 4 amazing days of hiking and exploring the park. In these 4 days, we will take you to the very best places the park has to offer.

We want to note at the outset that these hikes are all day hikes, meaning that we are not planning any overnight camping. If you are like us, you love to hike and get into nature, but keep the limit at under 10 miles per day.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Off to Next

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We ended May in BEAUTIFUL COLORFUL COLORADO with a trip hiking Rocky Mountain National Park. The Rockies were so amazing because of the awesome wildlife and the combination of mountains & lakes that make the park so stunning!

In June, we are going to head to…drum roll please…Wyoming! We plan on hitting Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. From there we will be continuing the road trip up through Idaho and Montana, where Glacier National Park is awaiting![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_zigzag][vc_column_text]

June

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Where We’ve Gone

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Rocky Mountain National Park — Grand Teton National Park — Yellowstone National Park — Craters of the Moon National Monument — Missoula, MT — Glacier National Park — Kootenay National Park

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This Month We…

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• June started with a drive leaving Colorado and heading north to Wyoming!
• In Wyoming we spent two weeks at two of the most iconic National Parks not just in the United States, but in the WORLD! Grand Teton National Park and of course Yellowstone National Park.
• Grand Teton was our absolute favorite hiking destination in the ENTIRE trip so far! The park is FULL of day hikes that go up to some INCREDIBLE lakes and canyons through the Teton Mountains.
• Yellowstone is VERY impressive. First off, it is ENORMOUS, takes a few hours just to drive from one end to the other! And it is full of awesome sites. From Old Faithful to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The Grand Prismatic Spring to Mammoth Hot Springs and everything in between. And SO much wildlife it will make your head spin!
• We then left Wyoming to spend Zach’s birthday in Craters of the Moon National Monument! It was a very cool experience, and definitely something to do if you ever find yourself in Idaho.
• Next we were off on our way up north to Montana to Glacier National Park! We absolutely LOVE Glacier, and actually couldn’t really leave, so we spent over 2 weeks in this park alone! Hiking, camping, exploring, and so much more, Glacier is one of our Top 3 for sure.
• Canada here we come! We crossed the border just at the end of June and are spending July north of the border!

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Weekly Vlog Introduction!

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjIxMDAlMjUlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjI0NTAlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGbExSOFZFeTlIT2clMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXIlM0IlMjBhdXRvcGxheSUzQiUyMGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSUzQiUyMGd5cm9zY29wZSUzQiUyMHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZSUyMiUyMGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5851″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/grand-teton/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Hiking Grand Teton National Park”][vc_column_text]Hiking Grand Teton National Park is an absolutely wonderful experience. In fact, we found it to be the very best hiking experience in a national park that we’ve had across the entire United States!

What makes this so perfect for hiking? Well, first off the lakes. The Grand Tetons are absolutely FULL of lakes that will leave you breathless each time you hike to shore or an overview.

The number two reason? The mountains running along side the entire park. This stretch of the Rockies, highlighted by Grand Teton standing tall right in the center, is a breathtaking sight each time you’re around the corner. They are the backdrop for every jaw-dropping view in the park.

Number three, the wildlife. We saw so many incredible animals in here that it left us reeling. It started off with the bison that we saw all over as you drive through the park. Everyone knows Yellowstone for the bison, but Grand Teton National Park is no slouch itself.

On top of the bison, there were herds of elk literally everywhere throughout the park. We must’ve seen at least 100 elk as we were hiking throughout our week in the Tetons. And we’re not done yet! We saw moose, we saw fox, we saw pronghorn, we saw otters, and of course we even saw a few bears![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

7 Days Hiking Grand Teton National Park

[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjIxMDAlMjUlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjI0NTAlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGR1VETGVldUVRcE0lMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXIlM0IlMjBhdXRvcGxheSUzQiUyMGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSUzQiUyMGd5cm9zY29wZSUzQiUyMHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZSUyMiUyMGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”6502″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/yellowstone/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Exploring Yellowstone National Park”][vc_column_text]Yellowstone National Park is a place for adventure, exploration, hiking, wildlife, and inspiration. Yellowstone is without a doubt one of the most fascinating places not just in the United States of America, but in the world!

Millions of people flock to this enormous expansive wilderness in Northwestern Wyoming, and each one of them does so with good reason. Yellowstone has natural wonders you can’t find anywhere else.

What national wonders? We are talking geysers that go off ‘faithfully’ ON CUE. Other geysers that were painted vibrant colors as if with watercolors. Bubbling hot springs. Mountainous hikes with 360 degree panoramas that make you feel so powerful but so small at the same time.

And the wildlife. OH MY the wildlife. Bison, elk, bears, moose, wolves, pronghorn, coyotes, osprey, so-many-other-things-I-don’t-know-the-name-of. The wildlife will leave you sitting in awestruck wonder, watching Mother Nature’s beauty unfold in front of your very face[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

1 Day on the Moon! Craters of the Moon National Monument

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Ruhls of the Road’s June Library

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Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Julie

Follow the massively successful story of Katniss Everdeen’s fight against the Capitol! If you haven’t read this one yet, now is the time. It is a great story that you will NOT be able to put down. And once you read it, you can pick up Catching Fire and Mockingjay to round out the trilogy![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz – Zach

This book is a fantastic book for anyone that has ever been or will ever be interested in starting a business. In fact, it is very beneficial for anyone who has ever or will ever work in an organization, which is basically anyone… Ben Horowitz is an extremely successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist whose lessons will help you along your journey through the working world.=.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Blogs from the Road Trip

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”6301″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/hike-glacier/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_text_separator title=”Hiking Glacier National Park”][vc_column_text]Glacier National Park has been one of our favorite 6 stops during our first 6 months of travel. We spent almost 2 weeks in this Montana wilderness paradise, hitting all the major areas of the park and hiking nearly every day.

By the time we left we were confident we hit every one of the best things to do in the park and now we are sharing them with you! Glacier National Park is a must visit in the United States. They don’t call it the crown of the continent for nothing!!

We are going to share with you the best hikes in each area of the park. West Glacier, Going-to-the-Sun, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier. We went everywhere in the park and found the very best things to do! Without further ado, let’s adventure![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Perfect 5 Day Itinerary in Yellowstone National Park

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Vlog Week 2 – Kootenay National Park

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Off to Next

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We ended June in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, Canada! We are spending the entire month north of the border, with our goal being exploring the following places:

• Kootenay National Park
• Yoho National Park
• Banff National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Vancouver

Do you have any recommendations for us? Please let us know![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]