Travel FOMO

S10:E1 –Jamin and Hilarie start this new “National Park Spree” season off with a bang! In this episode, they discuss the hardest road they would haul their Airstream down in all of Gap Year, California’s Highway 120. Once they finally arrived at their RV park, they were faced with pirates – or at least, a reality show full of them. With that much excitement outside of the park, America’s most icon...

S9:E12 – Big Sur has some big views. But when you’re hauling an extra-wide Airstream, it takes some effort to get there. We braved the hairpin curves of the Pacific Coast Highway to make our way to the Big Sur Campground & Cabins. Amidst the classic Bixby Bridge and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, it was the perfect location for us. Tune in to hear about the heavily photographed McWay Falls and t...

S9:E11 – We took a break from the wilderness and decided to take Maggie, our golden doodle, to explore a different kind of National Park: the Golden Gate Bridge and Presidio of San Francisco. We couldn’t pass up a chance to see the Palace of Fine Arts and grab some grub at Pier 39. Before exploring more of the city, Maggie got to lay her eyes on Sea Lions for the first time. (She was not a fan.) M...

S9:E10 – There’s one thing you definitely need when visiting the Redwood National & State Parks: a vehicle. Ironically, our Ford F250 was giving out on us right when we arrived. Meanwhile, Hilarie has a mini-meltdown caused by their ongoing lack of connection to the outside world. Fortunately, we were able to get it fixed, despite being in the middle of nowhere in California. Hundreds of dollars a...

S9:E9 – When we checked into Mazama Campground at Crater Lake National Park, we were caught off guard when we realized that our RV site didn’t have hookups…at all. How could we have forgotten?! Fortunately, we had a heck of a cliffside view – perhaps the best location in all of Crater Lake. In addition to the stark beauty of the lake, we enjoyed a day trip to Bend, Oregon and a drive through Casca...

https://youtu.be/wLq3DfC0gV4 S9:E8 – With beautiful waterfalls and steep landscape, the Columbia River Gorge serves as the border between Washington and Oregon. Right outside Portland, it’s also home to Ainsworth State Park. That’s where we RV-ed for a few nights and decided to cycle down the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway. But it didn’t go as planned… For more context, check out the video...

S9:E7 – There’s a lot to see in Olympic National Park – three ecosystems (rainforest, ocean and mountains) that cover the span of 1 million square miles. Each year, the park’s Hoh Rainforest gets more than 12’ of rain, which ensures the photogenic Sol Duc Falls continues to thrive. Then there’s Rialto Beach, one magnificent piece of the 73 miles of coastline. There are a handful of dog-friendly tr...

S9:E6 – Get ready to laugh. Or at the very least, listen to us laugh! In this episode, we recap our time in Seattle, Washington – including visiting the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the Lake Pleasant RV Park. For more context, check out the video that accompanies this podcast (S9:E6 RV newbies meet Seattle… and their favorite RV park yet!) on YouTube (https://youtu.be/oTZvhh4ApN8). Send us...

S9:E5 – There was one thing we knew we didn’t want to do in Vancouver. As luck would have it, it’s the FIRST thing we did. Ugh. Come with us as we live and learn the RV lifestyle in Vancouver, including our first experience with Harvest Hosts. Also, who knew that Canada could be so hot during the summer?! For more context, check out the video that accompanies this podcast (S9:E5 Vancouver’s Hardes...

S9:E4 – It was our first time crossing the USA/Canada border, and as full-time RVers, we had our whole house in tow. But the gorgeous blue waters of Lake Louise were beckoning, and we couldn’t wait to see one of North America’s most scenic highways, Icefields Parkway. Come with us to Banff and Jasper National Parks. For more context, check out the video that accompanies this podcast (S9:E4 A Tea H...

S9:E3 – We jumped into full-time RV life, and it didn’t take long for us to have our first bear encounter. Glacier National Park is known for its gorgeous glacier lakes – and for one fateful night of two separate grizzly bear attacks that changed the national park system forever. It’s also where we came across a black bear and a grizzly bear – both on the same day. To get a full picture of what ha...

S9:E2 – When we kicked off our season of full-time RV-ing, we were far from experts. But we were motivated to see America’s gorgeous lineup of national parks, starting with the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Come along and learn national parks (and RV life) with the two of us and our Goldendoodle, Maggie. To get a full picture of what happened, check out the video that accompanies this podc...

S9:E1 - While we were in Europe for three months, everything we owned was in an RV in America. And we had no idea the trouble we’d come home to… This podcast episode (S9:E1 A Rough Start to RV Life) is available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. It's part of our "Adapting to RV Life" season. Send us your feedback and thoughts via email at travelfomopodcast@gmail.com. Have your own tr...

S8:E6 - In this episode, we’re spilling on the logistical details behind our time in the UK and Europe. We’ll divulge a look at the expenses behind this three-month adventure and a look at why it was worth every penny. We’ll also interview another European travel lover, Katie Portanova of TrulyItaly.tours and the Florence and Me podcast. 00:02:55 – What made us the most nervous 00:08:40 – What sur...

Sometimes, things just don’t work out. In this episode, we’re talking about the worst of the worst experiences from three months in Europe and the United Kingdom. We usually try to see the upside, but today, we’re dishin’ on our least favorite cities, accommodations, foods, and transportation scenarios. This podcast episode (S8:E5 Worst of the Worst) is available on YouTube and wherever you listen...

When you're planning a trip to a foreign country, you might start asking yourself, “What should I eat?” That’s a great question, and today, we’ve got answers. Check out some of our favorite food, dessert and drink options in Europe and the United Kingdom. 01:12 Top 5 Worst Meals 07:35 Top 5 Best Meals 13:26 Tips for Ordering in a Foreign Country 15:31 Top 5 Sweet Treats 24:44 Top 5 Drinks 33:35 Ov...

Everyone’s going to Europe. But what are they DOING there? Come with us, as we retrace (1) our favorite activities, (2) best running routes and (3) our biggest regrets after traveling the United Kingdom and Europe for three months. 01:49 Top 5 paid activities 16:59 Top 5 FREE activities 32:22 Top 5 running paths 40:42 Top 5 things we WISH we'd done (Our regrets!) Send us your feedback and thoughts...

One of the best – or worst – feelings is arriving to your accommodation after a long travel day in a foreign country. Join us as we debate where to stay in Europe. 02:00 Pros and cons of staying in a home (AirBnB / VRBO) 13:19 Pros and cons of staying in a hotel 18:08 Pros and cons of staying in a hostel 27:59 Our favorite accommodations in Europe 34:35 Our worst accommodations in Europe 41:00 Fav...

Looking for tips and tricks for getting around Europe? This episode is for you! Learn from our own personal experiences of traveling by train, bus, automobile and ferry. 00:01:55 Tips and Tricks for Traveling by Train 00:03:23 Eurail Passes 00:07:33 Be Flexible 00:08:13 Know the Local Holidays 00:08:30 Lessons Learned in Lyon 00:09:55 Know the Train Reservation Process 00:12:00 Pay Attention 00:13...

Dover is just a quick train ride from London – and well worth the trip. We knew we’d love to White Cliffs, the castle and the views of the English Channel and the French coastline. But we were surprised by what we found on the walls of a local pub… Watch our video of Dover to get the full experience: https://youtu.be/0iBqoOhurjQ. You can stay in the same AirBnB we did (not sponsored): https://www....

The lively island of Mykonos is a popular destination for travelers – and for good reason. It has easy access to the city of Mykonos, so cruise ships arrive daily during the summer months. And with its outdoor club vibes, this island is well-known for endless beach parties. But that's not what surprised us... Jump around in the conversation: 10:24 Little Venice 10:52 Windmills of Mykonos 12:53 Din...

Season 7 – Gap Year: Mediterranean Europe Episode 16 To get to the popular Greek island of Santorini, travelers are faced with language barriers, transportation challenges, and steep price tags. But it’s worth all the effort! The island’s naturally beauty is far deeper than the photos show. But we hadn’t planned on staying overnight… Watch our video of Santorini to see exactly how beautiful this i...

Season 7 – Gap Year: Mediterranean Europe Episode 15 The Greek islands are a huge draw for international visitors. But “island hopping” is not as easy as it sounds. Tune in to this episode to hear about our experiences in Paros, where humble little fishing villages make for relaxing days on the beach. Paros might not be the first island on your list, but maybe it should be! To see what Paros looks...

Season 7 – Gap Year: Mediterranean Europe Episode 14 (Podcast Audio) Athens was full of surprises for us. We stumbled across Areopagus “Mars” Hill on our morning run up to the Acropolis. Thriving by night, we were shocked at the number of modern restaurants that turned our heads – all sitting within eyesight of Europe’s oldest standing buildings. From our walking tour to our time in the Acropolis...

Season 7 – Gap Year: Mediterranean Europe Episode 13 On this trip to Rome, we’re on a mission to get the full scoop on the Colosseum and the Roman Forums. Tune in to get the some of the most interesting details about the lives of gladiators and civilians during the historic games held in the Colosseum. Watch our video highlights from Rome: https://youtu.be/7fch6KJ7zdE, and click here to see our Ai...