SPOTLIGHT ON ROAD TRIPS

from Twist Travel Magazine Issue #14

by Twist Travel Magazine

SHE GETS AROUND: DR. PAULA MADRID

Spotlight

ON ROAD TRIPS

NATIONAL PARKS

Road trip tips and tricks to access amazing National Parks sites.

One family's west coast road tripping adventure in a JUCY Mini RV.

RV LIFE TENNESSEE TRIPPING

An epic road trip adventure winding through Tennessee while pregnant. ROAD TRIP FAILS

A spring break road trip to Las Vegas goes sideways; stress and hilarity ensue.

NATIONAL PARK ROAD TRIPS

BY TAMMILEE AND JOHN TILLISON • PARKRANGERJOHN.COM

The fall season is a perfect time to hit the road and visit a National Park or two. We recently spent two weeks exploring National Parks in the southwest and want to share a few tips on visiting parks in on and off season periods.

After more than a year of staying home the roads are packed with people heading out to explore. You will want to be prepared for crowds and possible longer than usual wait times to enter your favorite national parks.

One way to prevent waiting in line and running into large crowds is to visit some of the smaller park sites spread across the United States.

There are 423 park sites within the National Park Service system that offer the opportunity to not only see wildlife but also learn more about historical events and people.

Why not visit a new park that may surprise you with all it has to offer!

If you plan to visit one of the larger parks you will want to make sure and check to see if they have ticketed entry this year. Rocky Mountain, Glacier, and Yosemite all have ticketed timed entry this summer to help with congestion.

When it comes to the ultimate National Park Road Trip, I highly suggest adding a mix of National Parks along with national monuments, historic sites, and historical parks to create a well rounded opportunity to visit parks.

Here are our suggestions by region.

West coast – One thing about road tripping on the west coast is there is no shortage of parks to visit. You cannot go wrong heading to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon to explore the Majestic Mountain Loop. These parks offer the opportunity to gaze in wonder at El Capitan in Yosemite, the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon, and the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park. Stop in Oakhurst, California for a delicious donut at Judy’s Donuts or amazing wine and lunch at Idle Hour Winery and Kitchen.

We can’t mention national parks and not mention driving from Glacier National Park in Montana down to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in Wyoming. This route takes you past Flathead Lake and so many gorgeous sites in Montana. Make sure to stop at Moose’s Saloon in Kalispell, Montana for our favorite pizza on the west coast.

Southwest – Check out Natural Bridges National Monument to see three natural bridges that you can hike down to. Then drive down the Moki Dugway and check out the Valley of Gods and Goosenecks State Park enroute to Monument Valley and onto Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Midwest – The perfect Midwest National Park road trip is heading to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. On the way plan to stop in Badlands National Park along with Custer State Park in South Dakota. Each of these parks offers epic wildlife viewing and fun driving adventures.

South – The ultimate National Park Road Trip in the south would include visiting Key Biscayne National Park, driving to the Everglades and then down Highway 1 to Key West and taking the ferry out to Dry Tortugas National Park.

Don’t miss stopping into Robert is Here Fruit Stand for a key lime milkshake on the way to the Everglades! This is one of our favorite road trip stops.

East – The East Coast has so many epic NPS sites that it can be hard to even pick where to start. You can’t go wrong planning a trip to visit Assateague Island National Seashore to see the wild horses. Along the way make sure to check out Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad NHP and any of the epic Washington DC National Park Sites.

This summer is the perfect time to get out and explore a new National Park Service Site! Make sure to pick up a National Park Pass so you can continue visiting parks throughout the year.

WISH YOU WERE HERE

BY ETHAN GELBER

I don't like cars. As a long-standing advocate of sustainable travel, I'm no fan of most vehicles' reliance on fossil fuels. I'm also just not a happy driver. I'd rather be biking. My wife, too, hungers for rough-and-tumble adventure, not long hours pinioned by a seatbelt. And my sons are, at best, unsettled passengers. Predictably, road trips haven't been our thing.

That said, a few years ago, in the early days of a round-the-world family journey, we were in the American Southwest eager to see some of the abundance of national parks and monuments, natural vistas and even a stretch of Route 66. But, of course, it's spread over a very large area with little in the way of reliable, family-ready public transportation.

When asked friends and colleagues for advice, they suggested a recreational vehicle, until I reminded them about my travel and driving inclinations. Struggling with the helm of an unwieldy RV sounded appalling. Until I discovered... mini RVs. Mini RVs are, in short (pun intended), vans or SUVs converted for travel, complete with comfortable sleeping spaces and pint-size cooking/eating setups. In our case, we rented a JUCY Trailblazer, which comes with a built-in rear-access kitchenette (fridge, pair of gas stoves, pump sink, drawers for ingredients, utensils and other wares), inside table capacious enough for our quartet, two double beds (one in the main cab and the other a poptop "penthouse") and plenty of storage.

Better yet, given my grumpy chauffeuring, it was as easy to drive – handling like a normal SUV – as it was not to drive (no issues parking in normal lots), roomy enough for my sons to feel regal in, and even got tolerably good gas mileage. The JUCY branding pulls no punches, but we were inside looking out, so got over it.

Far more importantly, it granted us freedom. To go where we liked without the handling challenges of a hulking motorhome. To camp

and feast where we chose, whether in official campgrounds or "free camping. " And not to deal with the sometimes inconveniences of tenting with kids. In fact, especially when sleeping in the up-top penthouse, it felt a little like glamping.

We picked up "our JUCY, " as my sons always said with a giggle, in Los Angeles and immediately headed east. Our plan was to maximize time in places where we could marvel at and learn about the land and its people, both ancient and modern.

Our first and only California port of call was Joshua Tree National Park, where the bouldering (in permitted areas) exhausted us all. That night, though, we got our first taste of not having to build a cook fire or set up a tent, at least not beyond cranking up the penthouse and arranging the custom in-cab cushions into the bed. It was just as easy to stow everything in the morning.

At the Arizona border, in Needles, we hit Route 66, which we followed until near Flagstaff, taking in both the built-up kitsch and burnt-out reminders of storied years past. In the 10 days that followed, we took in a lot: Grand Canyon National, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon Dam, Horseshoe Bend and Zion National Park. At every stop, the boys completed activity books in exchange for coveted collectible Junior Ranger badges. On our last night, we camped in Las Vegas, not far from the JUCY office. We laughed that the JUCY brand colors finally matched the surroundings, but were sad to see it go.

That was when I remembered back 40 years to when I was the navigator of my family's epic cross-country (and back) road trip in our beloved, orange VW bus. Five of us had slept in a large, army-surplus, canvas tent with fat aluminum poles that my mother had painted with colorcoded ends.

Clearly, material improvements have been made since then. I still prefer two wheels to four, but am not officially opposed to a JUCY journey when next we find ourselves out west.

JUCY has U.S. office in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Los Vegas, as well as branches in Vancouver, Australia and its native New Zealand. Its mini RVs are custom designed and built. www.jucyusa.com

AN EPIC, PREGNANT ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE HEART OF TENNESSEE

BY ZOEY GOTO • ZOEYGOTO.COM

I can see that embarking on a road trip while six months pregnant, with a five-yearold child in the back of the car, might strike fear into the heart of many a parent! In fact, I questioned my own sanity as we touched down in Nashville following a 13hour journey from London and I waddled over to the significantly-smaller-thanexpected hire car. But this moment also marked the start of an epic Deep South road trip that we had been sketching out for years, taking in the breadth of Tennessee - a state close to my heart - and I was hopeful that our babymoon-onwheels would be a smooth ride.

As a lifelong Dolly Parton fan, our first stop was her Dollywood theme park in the Great Smoky Mountains, just over three hours east of Nashville. Car journeys while pregnant are best digested in bite-sized chunks, so we factored in regular pit stops along the way, taking in the stunning roadside vistas of lush mountains exhaling dramatic puffs of mist.

Arriving at Dollywood, an attraction boasting over 50 mega rides including plenty of daredevil rollercoasters, I was dubious about the entertainment options for the heavily pregnant. Thankfully, Dollywood does a thigh-slapping job of catering for all ages and interests. While my partner and our daughter, Summer, looped-the-loop on a vast wooden coaster, I wandered the park, taking in demonstrations of local Appalachian crafts and exploring a reconstruction of Dolly’s birthplace, a humble wooden cabin that housed the star and her eleven siblings.

That evening we saddled up and went to Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction in nearby Pigeon Forge, a boot-stomping, hat-waving riot of a meal combined with an awe-inspiring horse show. As luck would have it, this turned out to be an excellent choice for a tea-total pregnant woman, as the attraction is an alcohol-free zone. Instead of the standard bar list, there’s a seriously impressive selection of rainbow hued mocktails, sipped from kitsch plastic cowboy boot cups.

We hit the hay that night at The Inn at Christmas Place, a brilliantly bonkers hotel that celebrates the festive season all year round. Summer unquestioningly accepted that Father Christmas was there to greet her at breakfast, despite it being glorious sunshine outside and promptly declared it the best hotel in the world! Speaking of hotels, a drawback of road tripping while pregnant is guaranteeing a good night’s sleep in an unfamiliar bed. I navigated this by asking for extra pillows at each of the hotels to pad out my bump, or it may be worth packing extra supplies from home.

On the road again, the seatbelt frequently loosened to accommodate my expanding thirdtrimester bump, we headed back to Nashville to explore its musical heritage. While Pigeon Forge is tranquil and scenic, Nashville bursts with energy. Our first stop was The Country Music Hall of Fame, where interactive screens and high-tech displays engage younger visitors. Summer even channelled her innerTaylor Swift by recording a track on the singer’s tour bus. Exhausted from our day of music making, we ambled through the bustling Downtown area, live music drifting out of the neighbouring honky-tonk bars.

As Nashville is blessed with a warm climate, there’s a wealth of outdoor activities to explore, from the scenic Cheekwood Botanical Gardens to the Zoo at Grassmere, which is also home to an impressive outdoor jungle gym for kids. No trip to Nashville would be complete without taking in a show at the Grand Ole Opry, the weekly music concert that put country music on the map. The Opry still attracts a plethora of big name musicians, with each performer doing just a song or two - the perfect length to hold children’s interest.

Spurred on by our action-packed time in Music City, we embarked on our final leg of the tour, driving three hours west of Nashville to Memphis. For this drive we’d stocked up on a batch of never-seen-before sticker and activity books, which were miraculously produced whenever a backseat meltdown was brewing with our daughter. It worked a treat!

Following a tour of Elvis Presley’s former mansion, Graceland, that evening we stayed in the Uptown Square apartment that Elvis and his parents lived in when he was a teenager. As my daughter strummed on a guitar, sat in Elvis’ actual bedroom I realised this vacation had created moments that our family will treasure forever.

Clocking up over 1000 kms on the dial, it was an exhilarating and at times exhausting trip that took us right through the heart of Tennessee. I’d initially considered this road trip to be our final hurrah, before resigning ourselves to quieter adventures as a family of four. But it turns out that quite the opposite was true.

Just a few months after our second child was born we were on the road again, this time driving through California, Dolly Parton serenading us from the speakers as the kids snoozed in the backseat. Tennessee had merely ignited our family’s love affair with the open road.

WHERE TO STAY

Pigeon Forge The Inn at Christmas Place. Wish it could be Christmas every day? It is here: innatchristmasplace.com

Nashville Loews Vanderbilt. One of those rare hotels that manage to be both chic and child friendly in equal measure: www.loewshotels.com/vanderbilt-hotel

Music City Loft. These contemporary apartments offer ample space for families and are decked out in the style of famous musicians, including Dolly Parton, Elvis and Johnny Cash: musiccityloft.com

Memphis Uptown Square. Elvis’ two-bedroom apartment has been restored to its former 1950s glory and can be rented by the night for $250. Impress your friends by sleeping in The King ’ s actual bedroom: uptownmemphis.org

What to Pack

As little as possible! Travel light with the help of Baby ’ s Away, a rental company that can provide everything from car seats and cribs, to a box of toys to keep babies and young children entertained. They have 70 locations across the U.S. We used the Nashville branch and they delivered the items directly to our hotel: babysaway.com

Insect repellent. Pigeon Forge in particular can be a bit of a mosquito-fest.

In car entertainment. Keep Em Quiet have a great range of packs tailored to your child’ s age, crammed with educational toys and snacks. keepemquiet.com

SPRING BREAK ROAD TRIP FAILS

BY KIRSTEN MAXWELL

Ever have one of those days where everything works against you? I’m not just talking about one thing, but one event after another, and you wonder why you even got out of bed. That happens to us occasionally, but recently we had a travel day that seemed straight out of a movie. Some of the things we experienced you just can’t make up, and when I look back now, I can laugh. In the moment however, it was not amusing in the least. This past March we planned to visit the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Las Vegas. The plan was to fly into Vegas, rent a car, drive to the Grand Canyon, explore, and then head to our hotel in Page for the night. After that we would continue on through Utah and return back to Vegas for the last couple of days. It was such a good plan, but then Mother Nature got in the way.

We took the early morning flight from Dallas to Vegas, and the night before arranged for an Uber driver to pick us up around 7 am. As seven o’clock came and went, we had to scramble to our back up plan which was to load everyone and everything in the car and head to the airport. Mind you, this isn’t the first time Uber has stranded us after confirming a pick up, but knowing that we would have to pay for seven days of airport parking was the kicker. Thankfully we found a convenient parking space and headed to the terminal.

Now, we are a family who almost always travels with carryons, but since we were bringing both winter and spring gear on this trip, we needed to check a bag. This was mistake number 2, as the line for baggage check-in was no less than 50 people. And that was the priority line! I grabbed one of my kids and ran to the next check in area where thankfully there were only two people waiting. My husband came along with the bag and the two other kids and joined me, and that problem was solved. Phew!

The flight to Vegas was uneventful and after collecting our luggage, we headed to the bus for the rental car terminal. Imagine our surprise to see close to a hundred people waiting in line for the bus! Where did everyone come from? Thankfully that line moved fairly quickly and we boarded the bus for a quick ride to the rental car terminal.

Nothing could have prepared us for what we found. After months of no travel, it appeared everyone had decided to go to Las Vegas and rent a car that day. The line was over 50 people deep and it was moving SLOW. My husband saw a sign that said if we had the app for the rental car agency we could skip this line. That’s exactly what we did. I signed up on the spot for their program and then we went downstairs and found ourselves waiting behind two people. So I guess there are some bright spots in this story.

Just when you think it can’t get any worse, wait for what happens next. We pile in the car, grab some lunch, head out on the highway, and about two hours into our trip, we hit dead stopped traffic. I mean, no one is going anywhere. This is a two lane highway between Las Vegas and Williams Arizona. On this road there are no turn offs, no exits, and we are just stuck. There are cars as far as the eye can see in both directions. At this point there is nothing we can do but wait. And then it starts snowing.

Having lived in Chicago for fourteen years, a little snow never bothered us. And I grew up in Arizona and I know that Northern Arizona is no stranger to snow during the winter months. However, it seems like the Department of Public Services (DPS) was completely unprepared to handle the weather and failed to consider the consequences of stranding people on the highway.

But I digress. We spent about an hour and a half trying to figure out what was going on. There were truck drivers and families and no one seemed to know what was causing this stoppage. As the day wore on, we gathered bits of information from other drivers. There had been a 25 car pile up on the other side of the highway, and they had no idea when anyone would be able to move. Not the information you want to hear on the first day of vacation.

We patiently waited, and thankfully we had food and water, but I can’t imagine the poor people who were not equipped or had small children who constantly needed bathroom breaks. As afternoon gave way to evening and the temperature dropped, ice on the roads became an issue. At some point around 10pm (seven hours after we initially stopped) we made an executive decision that everyone should go to sleep.

It wasn’t until two in the morning that a police officer came and tapped on our window. This was the first officer we had seen in 11 hours (and the last). He told us the road was cleared and to “drive safely ” .

So, where does one drive at 2 o’clock in the morning when they ’ ve canceled their hotel in Page, Arizona (because at that point it’s still over a four hour drive)? We drove to the neared truck stop, Love’s, and we jumped out of the car and ran in to use the bathroom and grab some food. I think at this point we were all exhausted (or just a bit delirious), so I asked the employee if we could just sleep in our van in the parking lot. Thankfully he said yes.

I guess all is well that ends well, but I know we will all have one heck of a story to share for years to come.