I’ve been asked repeatedly how much I spent on my 2020 once in a lifetime US Western road trip. So let’s dive in!

Now I must note that I’m very low maintenance and actually do find a thrill in just making due with whatever supplies are stocked in the van. The new me……going with the flow, not stressing over the little things and making anything work.

Check it out:

• 34 days
• $3779.15 = $111 per day
• Transportation 61% = $67.55 per day (obviously this is most of the expense as I got a bigger mini van to be able to sleep in at $1342, $400 car drop fee at a different end location in Vegas, $102 flight to Denver & $452 gas)
• Accommodations 18% = $19.74 per day (I car camped every other night typically & my dad did split the cost for the 1st 10 days)
• Food 9% = $10.49 per day (not a foodie so I loaded up at Walmart with snacks/drinks & with so much hiking I was mostly just interested in rehydrating & the NPs had refillable water spouts)
• Entertainment 7.5% = $8.29 per day (the NP annual pass was a game changer at $80 total so this was mostly the state park fees) – the pass also worked at all national monuments which I added a bunch of last minute
• Miscellaneous 4.5% = $5.08 per day (mostly souvenirs which were minimal since I’m limited on baggage space & also included a tire fix lol)

A few notes to consider:

I really wanted to rent an RV but it was very cost prohibitive (especially solo) when you factored in the rental at minimum $100 per nt, gas would have easily doubled, additional 50 cents per mile due whenever exceeding 150 miles per day, plus higher camp site dues. Also RVing is extremely popular in our current state (with international travel almost nonexistent), so vehicle availability is also a factor. Most parks were still very busy & in hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t have to fight for bigger parking spots.

Splitting the cost for the hotels or RV can be a huge win with trip companions. I didn’t know how much time I would spend in each park so I compared 2 apps for best last minute (same day) pricing – Hotel Tonight & Hotels.com. Both limited contact for onsite checkin, as everything was paid upon confirmation.

I’m still a novice but it was absolutely fascinating to research that you can camp for FREE on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands out west. Yes it is a thing. You will find campers piled into every side, dirt road. Do your research & your accommodations cost could be significantly lower if you semi-rough it occasionally.

I also thoroughly enjoyed camping at state parks, as most where inexpensive $10-20 per night & most had showers. I lucked out on a few being first come first serve & last minute cancellations but I would recommend reserving online prior. Almost every campsite now has an online component.

I was pleasantly surprised that my crazy idea to buy a cheap twin air mattress was actually VERY comfortable (that is until it sprung a leak & duct tape didn’t even work). Add in earplugs, an eye mask, flashlight, travel pillow, fleece blanket, bear spray/mace & a good kindle book…..zzzzzzzz.

Feel free to ask me anything. I did use the app called trip wallet, as it helped me break down all my expenses. I would love to share my learnings, as I too had help with from fellow travelers along the way. What are you waiting for? 🧳 🗺 🚙

A tear slid down my cheek atop the Zion Canyon overlook rock that I was perched on for a calm sunset over the valley below. A euphoric high that I vaguely remember from 12 years ago on my first visit but it is refreshingly new from a different vantage point. A sliver of time that I so deeply don’t want to end. A deeper appreciation & love of nature than I’ve ever felt.

On the flip side, I try to push the lowest of lows deeper inside to a place that I rarely visit. We all have those not so proud moments and mistakes that we should never make again. BUT behind this tough exterior, I still fight with my own demons and wrestle with finding my own power to always fight to rise up. It is in me. It is in you. Reach deep. I’m worth it. You are worth it.

I try to live with no regrets and power forward so…….

Be brave.

Have courage.

Love life.

Reconnect with your own confidence, resilience, strength & unshakeable grit – that is winning 🙌

#thrive #noregrets #onedayordayone

Waiting atop Inspiration Point at Bryce National Park for sunrise on a brisk October morning, I hear a giddy squeal as a group of tourists make their way up the pathway. One of the ladies can’t contain her excitement and squeals again shouting “no way” & “oh my”. Everyone around starts to smile & laugh at her overwhelming joy in seeing the hoodoos radiate from the sun for the first time. Then it’s crazy….. a mix of strangers from all over the country, I presume, we all start to whoop & holler too!

Never forget the joy in the little things and I hope you “whoop & hollar” when you see or feel something that truly inspires you!

What is it that makes you tick? What gets your heart racing in excitement? What can always break you out of a bad mood? Is there a switch you can flicker to jump start your imagination?

How well do you know you?

Some are easily achievable and you routinely share. But what if you dig a little deeper to those ones you don’t talk about? What is holding you back? If they make you genuinely filled with joy, why don’t you tap into those more often?

These were my wandering thoughts as I sat atop Sunset point at Bryce Canyon watching the setting sun cast a orange glow over the breathtaking hoodoos & then the full moon took over with a wide-cast light shining down from above…..as happy as I have been in quite some time & able to fully engage with my thoughts. My list that is just getting started:

• Visiting my beautiful 5 nieces & nephews
• Jetskiing & wakeboarding all day
• Seeing a Duke basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium
• Playing racquetball
• Disney cruising
• Planning my next crazy adventure travel
• Baking
• Sunsets (or sunrises if I can force myself to get up)
• Hiking, climbing, mountain biking and exploring anywhere new
• Motivational quotes
• Winnie the Pooh
• Firefighter dramas
• Live acoustic bands in small venues
• Buying unique sneakers
• Watching FRIENDS
• Going to the movies
• Playing guitar hero
• Reading lawyer fiction novels
• Kickboxing classes
• Massages & hot baths with candles
• Dunkin’ hot chocolate
• Sungazer lilies
• Christmas lights
• Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Smiles and energy are contagious – own it!!!

You only live one life so how are you going to spend it?

With regrets? Should haves? A giver? Dieting? Content? Scared to try? Studying? Hating yourself? Life of the party? A go getter? Beating yourself up over a past mistake? With friends? Sleeping the day away? Working? Laughing? Seeing the world? Learning a new skill? In the past? A dreamer? A doer?

Spend it well & make yourself proud. What do you really, really want?

#digdeeper #livenow #onedayordayone

Gooseneck state park in southeastern Utah was so dreamy at sunset and I felt a surge of happiness overcome me. How do you bottle up something so special and be able to return to it when life gets tough?

• My hot pot made a killer packaged cheese enchilada goop 😋 – seriously!! 🧀
• Hot chocolate ☕️ always soothes the soul
• Reading a book in the comfort of my hammock without a care of what is going on in the “real” world 🌎 📖
• Stargazing without any light pollution except the glow of a brilliant moon 🌚 🔭
• Speaker softly playing a cheesy playlist 🔊 🎶
• Walking along the edge of a sharp chiseled cliffside imagining the history & weather that shaped this dreamy landscape 🏜 ⛈
• The simplicity of being at a campsite in the middle of nowhere is so enthralling & deeply moving 🤔
• The distinct chill in the air as it hits 9pm (as I’m usually up for another 3 hours), so I bundle up in more layers 😴

As I begin to appreciate the small things once again, I have a gained my power back and the weight I have put on my shoulders for 23 years begins to slide off into nothingness.

“The sound of silence. To be absent from drama is to be present with peace.” -unknown

Is it……

• the pastel hues that are so calming?
• the fire 🔥 orange that means something great is bound to happen?
• the satisfaction of seeing another one set peacefully?
• the promise of a new day & start tomorrow?
• the simplicity of not being in control of Mother Earth?
• the wonders of nature shining thru?
• that no 2 are alike?
• that everyone sees something different?
• the thrill of catching the green spark?

Take a deep breath, let your worries float away, go chase another sunset & I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

#chasinasunset #nature #peace

11 days into this trip of a lifetime – pinch me!
Plan is 11 states. 13 national monuments. 19 national parks. 50 days. 62 stops.
Livin’ my dream & just gettin’ started 🏞🥾🏔🌅📸🍺

“Your passion is for you.
Your purpose is for others.
Your passion makes you happy.
But when you use your passion to make a difference in someone else’s life, that’s a purpose” – Jay Shetty