Travel Update 2026 Part 1
After several years of research and looking at Recreational Vehicles, aka RVs, my husband and I decided that it was the right time to purchase an RV van and “hit the road" and some trails.
We chose the 2027 Winnebago Solis which is built on the RAM chassis. It is rated for 4 passengers, sleeps 4, and features a pop-top bed, full bath, full kitchen, and many other amenities for life on the road.
My husband Chris and our new “second home” also known as Becky.
Our first trip was a shake out, two day trip to the Florida Keys. During this trip our goal was to learn about the Solis’ operational systems such as water, electrical, and the RAM driving systems. Our first stop was John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, located in Key Largo.
John Pennekamp with Full RV hook-up for electric, water, and “grey water”.
Since this was a shake out trip we did not plan to stay more than overnight, nor cook more than a few lunches and dinners. Systems tested included the battery electrics, generator electrics, AC via the electrical hookup, and the pop-top sleeping as we were accompanied by Miguel, my Dad and our puppy Panchita.
My Dad and I at the marker in Key West on day two of our first RV trip.
The two day trip to the Florida Keys was successful with no operational problems with Becky. One concern was the temperature at night with the pop-up area. It was warm, however, we were able to buy two small fans to aid the AC unit and air circulation. Total of 400 miles.
Renata, Elsy, and Miguel in Key West. We made a special stop to visit my friend Renata and enjoyed spending some wonderful time together.
For our second trip we decided to visit our daughter in Seattle, Washington. A quick review of the intended route across the United States estimated a minimum of 8 days to get to Seattle with a couple 2 day stops along the way.
This was a “road trip” and not a camping trip. Our route included stops in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and finally Washington. On the return we were to pass thru Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arkansas, before finally reaching Florida.
Our first overnight camp, Ft. Pickens located in Gulf National Sea Shore - near Pensacola Beach. This was a 12 hour drive from Boca Raton with a few stops along the way.
Our second stop of the trip was Gretna, Louisiana, with beautiful New Orleans just across the Mississippi River. We stopped to visit Carolina, a dear friend who is like a sister to me. It was so special to spend time together!
Interstate 10 is the major route across the Southern US and passes thru Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas before reaching the far West of New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Our route was to turn north once in Arizona and pass thru the Canyonlands area. However, we needed to get thru Texas which is a HUGE state! We stopped just North of San Antonio at Guadalupe State Park and visited Natural Bridge Caverns.
The Natural Bridge at the entrance to the caverns below.
The main cavern, about 300 ft below the surface.
While in San Antonio we swung by “The Alamo” and then drove West to the Big Bend area and Ft Davis. There were a few protest signs about the border wall - No Wall banners fluttering in the breezes and plenty of USIC (ICE actually) trucks along the route to El Paso guarding the US Southern border. Two days of driving and we were out of Texas and on to Catalina, Arizona.
Sunset at Catalina Park
After leaving Catalina we passed thru Sedona as we headed to Flagstaff. Sedona is a pretty tourist town located along the Oak Creek Canyon and Route 89A. There are several rustic camp grounds located in the canyon, however, we choose to camp nearer to Flagstaff. Rustic campgrounds only offer pit toilets and fire rings. Most Western states were under complete fire bans due to drought. Our day in Flagstaff was marked by a severe thunderstorm, including hail, which flooded many of the local streets. Flash floods in these desert canyons can be triggered by these summer storms without warning.
View of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
Continuing our journey Northward we left Flagstaff for the Grand Canyon National Park. This drive took us thru the San Francisco Peaks area and Tusayan before reaching Grand Canyon Village. The distances provided by the road signs can be deceiving. The signs can and do state distances to park entrances wherein from the entrance to the actual visitor centers or overviews can be an additional 30 miles or more. We also learned early on to NOT fully rely on Google Maps.
This view of the canyon is near Grand Canyon Village. There are several “turn-outs” and view points along the canyon drive.
This shot was near Moran Point, named after Thomas Moran who produced several large Western landscape oil paintings for the US Government in the late 1880’s.
After spending lunch and few hours at the Grand Canyon, we continued North for a few hours to Moab, UT and the Canyonlands and Arches National Parks area. The first arch you see is just outside of La Sal Junction. Below is one of many wind and water swept arches located in Arches National Park outside of Moab. This beautiful landscape is water and wind weathered over 150 million years.
The author under the largest arch in the park.
Our planned route now took us to Idaho wherein the landscape changed from arid desert to desert plains, farmlands, and ranches. A stop in Twin Falls came after passing thru Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, UT. Twin Falls is considered the Niagara of the West and we found a State Park within the city beside a small stream, as well as, a Mexican dinner with drinks for only $32 for two!
Twin Falls on the Snake River in Idaho.
Turning West now, Oregon was our next state to experience. Leaving Idaho and passing over to Oregon on I-84 we encountered a severe thunder, hail, and wind storm. However, we found a campsite near The Dallies in the Columbia Gorge. after driving a few more hours. Much of the area we passed thru was scarred by wildfires and the sky was filled with smoke in some places. It was quiet and peaceful down in the valley and the campsite was located directly on the wide, slow moving Columbia river.
Panchita and Becky in the Columbia Gorge.
Multnomah Falls along the Columbia River. This was a unexpected surprise, short hike, and a break from the road.
At the city of Portland we turned due North for Seattle, our destination for the first part of our road trip. We located a small urban RV park in Bellevue just East of Seattle proper. It was about a 20 min drive from our daughters apartment. She was kind enough to chauffer us around Seattle and see the sites for two days.
Madchen Elena, our Aerospace Engineer daughter, and Elsy, your author, at the Seattle Market. We found Seattle to be a culturally diverse city with many pocket neighborhoods offering ethnic food, music and art. Downtown was walkable and the parks were filled with people out enjoying the fine weather, picnics, food trucks, and music.