Next Stop: Somewhere

We cover three-weeks near Hershey, Pennsylvania - the Sweetest Place on Earth. Thousand Trails Hershey was first rate - despite being in the highly visible handicap site placement - with plenty to do, and plenty of nesting geese. A few mediocre restaurants are balanced by a standout brunch at Côte Rouge. Yarn store, fabric stores, and the historic Broad Street Market all get a visit along with the...

This week’s adventure features Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, site of some historic event or another, we’re not really sure what. We spend some time at the museum and in town exploring the battlefield sites, and also trek down to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia - site of John Brown’s attempt to mount an insurrection - to add a sticker to our map. Yarn stores are visited, good food is enjoyed, and new fri...

We discuss celebrity nut-kicking (being kicked in said nuts by celebrities) and explore the area of Virginia near Williamsburg, Yorktown, and the Chesapeake Bay. Along the way, some great food at Frank’s Monster Munchies and 185 Restaurant, some mediocre yarn shops, and two fabric stores - one great, and one… not so great. We visit two museums, one great and one not so great, but the not so great...

We spend three weeks on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, staying at Goose Creek RV & Campground Resort. Along the way, we explore Fort Macon State Park, the North Carolina Maritime Museum (Blackbeard artifacts!), and Beaufort’s Old Burying Ground. We have the best shrimp and grits yet (well, Jeff does), and more (mostly) great food. Of course, some yarn and fabric stores get a visit too! LINKS...

In season 1, episode 31 of Next Stop Somewhere, we travel through eastern North Carolina, ending up near Maysville after a frustrating start at Harbor Point in Sneads Ferry. The stench from a water treatment plant and a tornado warning spice things up. After that, we spend some time in Wilmington enjoying a horse-drawn historic district tour run as a rescued-horse program, review local craft shops...

We visit and are quickly charmed by Charleston - one of the few places we wished we could have spent more time at! From the James Island County Park Campground - one of the best we’ve ever stayed at - to City Market, the French Quarter, The Battery, Fort Sumter, Charles Towne Landing and a trip to Driftwood Beach on Edisto Island, we pack more into this one week than we ever have! There’s history...

We visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, staying at the massive Ocean Lakes Family Campground to attend our first Brinkley rally, with a ton of but vendor services and discounts on upgrades to the home. Plus, a couple of restaurants, a couple of fabric and yarn stores, and a must-miss museum to cap it all off! LINKS Ocean Lakes Family Campground ABC Upfitters Rambling Man Morryde Rear Stabilizers Th...

Jeff and Louise have a disappointing stay at Carolina Landing Thousand Trails due to a steep, cramped site, made better by a visit from their youngest and their granddaughter. Food and yarn shops are explored, but the highlights (aside from the family visit!) are the Georgia Aquarium and Lake Hartwell Animal Safari. LINKS Thousand Trails Carolina Landing Cheryl’s Kitchen Potato Boats Waffle House...

We stay at Thousand Trails Hidden Cove RV Resort in Arley, Alabama, a nice lakefront campground with lots to do, but maybe not the fanciest neighborhood. We have a couple of meals, visit a few yarn and fabric stores - the usual - plus the highlight, a muddy visit to Yokley Cemetery outside Pulaski TN to visit the grave of my great-great-great grandfather atop a hill in a cow pasture. Also a PSA: d...

We keep moving east across the Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida Gulf Coast, stopping at Wilderness RV Park near Robertsdale and try a few restaurants (winners - Fairhope Bakery and Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi; losers - Picnic Beach in Gulf Shores). Of course, there are yarn and quilt shops along the way, including the fantastic Block Therapy and the WTF A&E Fabrics. Othe...

In which we talk about our trip to Loranger, Louisiana outside of New Orleans where we stayed at Sweetwater RV Resort and Ranch. Along the way, we have some fantastic and some not-so-great meals, visit the French Quarter for some beignets and cafe au lait, and are (mostly) disappointed with the quilt and yarn stores. We also go to the Whitney Plantation’s slavery-focused tour (do not miss!) and th...

In which Jeff and Louise talk about the Thousand Trails Colorado River campground (fantastic staff, great campground!) and call out Woods Barbecue, a weekend-only counter inside a gas station, serving up the best BBQ around courtesy of pitmaster John Woods. We also eat some more, have some adventures, and check out a couple of yarn and fabric stores (who knew La Grange had such a great yarn and fa...

In which we recap our trip from Phoenix to the San Antonio area with sleepovers in Las Cruces and Fort Stockton. We spend two weeks at Thousand Trails Medina Lake in Lakehills, deal with a double-booked site, yappy neighbor dogs, low water pressure, and a drought-drained lake, but play a great round of mini golf. We also check out San Antonio’s River Walk and the Pearl District, feed some wild ani...

Jeff and Louise sit down with another Phoenix local (also their son!) to find out what he likes and doesn't like about the area.

In this audio-only episode, Jeff and Louise sit down for an interview with a couple of locals (who happen to be their son and daughter-in-law) to talk about the Phoenix area and the pros and cons of living in the desert, how locals really feel about the growing pace of life in Buckeye, AZ, and discussions about life, family, and desert adventures.

Jeff and Louise go over their time at Viewpoint RV Resort & Golf, a 55+ park packed with amenities, questionable golf-cart behavior, and a maddening, nonstop-barking dog. They share a few favorite local restaurants and some other highlights, including a surprise sewing-machine purchase, a lucky furniture deal, and a full-sleeve tattoo! There are also babysitting adventures that involved a long...

In which Jeff and Louise wander the desert like lost explorers, have some mediocre food in Palm Springs, but make up for it by discovering (see what I did there??) the magnificent Wabi Sabi! Also, Joshua Tree and that kind of thing if that's your bag. LINKS Lake Tamarisk Desert Resort Wabi Sabi The Quilter's Faire Joshua Tree National Park Palm Springs Tramway

In which Jeff and Louise discover the delights of San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach and environs. LINKS Old Town Quilt Store (Orcutt) Gina's Piece of Cake Company’s Coming Morro Bay Yarn Website and Article Morro Rock Pismo Beach State Park Mission San Luis Obispo The Creamery Picking Daisies Fabrics Buen Dia Coffee Monarch Butterfly Grove Story about the vanishing Monarch Butterfly Taqueria...

In which Jeff and Louise wander about south of San Jose, visit the Garlic Capital of the World, and are greatly disappointed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. LINKS Garlic World El Rancho Foods Winchester Mystery House Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum Rice Junky 17 Mile Drive Monarch Knitting Pop of Color Yarn Monterey Bay Aquarium

In which Jeff and Louise adventure through Gold Rush Country whilst contending with condensation, mold, and a new mattress! LINKS Fernando's Rumpelstiltskin Yarn Cali Quilt Company

In today’s episode, Jeff and Louise sit down with Courtney Blake , owner of Blake’s Books , for a thoughtful conversation about life, books, and community on the Northern California coast. 🌲📚 Courtney shares her journey from a fast-paced career in Washington, D.C. to owning a small, community-centered bookstore in Humboldt County — a place shaped by rugged beauty, quiet isolation, and a strong s...

In which Jeff and Louise wander the northern coast of California and gaze upon the majestic redwoods. Really, they are amazing! Also, an opportunity for anyone who's ever wanted to own a bookstore on the Northern California Coast! LINKS Blake's Books Kamp Klamath RV Park and Campground Trees of Mystery Redwood National and State Parks Sushi Spot Yurok Tribal Visitor Center WWII Radar Installation...

In which Jeff and Louise get rained on - surprise! - whilst exploring the central Oregon Coast. LINKS Whaler's Rest Thousand Trails Devil's Punchbow State Natural Area Yaquina Lighthouse Newport Waterfront Oregon Coast Aquarium Local Ocean Seafood Depoe Bay Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint Bullard's Beach State Park

In which Jeff and Louise explore Mt Hood, Portland, and have some of the best burgers they've ever had! LINKS Mt. Hood RV Village Resort Naan and Curry Mt Hood Close Knit Bollywood Theater Starlight Knitting Society Skeleton Key Odditorium The Freaky But True Peculiarium. Killer Burger Mt. Hood National Forest Draper Girls Farm Multnomah Falls Zigzag Inn Fiber Rhythm Powell's Books For Yarn's Sake

Part 2 of our interview with Arlington, WA locals Dustin and Jem, aka our daughter and son-in-law!