W hen roadsurfer expanded into the U. S., the company invited a West Virginia adventurer to take one of its vans into the American West. The result: a journey that blended travel, partnership and perspective.
My love of travel started in the hills of Appalachia. I grew up in Wyoming County, WV, where adventure meant playing outside. I climbed the Appalachian Mountains in my front yard. I played in the Guyandotte River behind my house. With each summer night, I delighted in every firefly that twinkled in the dark. I did not set out on long road trips or follow marked trails. I simply explored what was around me. On those small adventures, I learned to notice details, find joy in simple moments
and stay curious about what might be waiting around the next bend.
That sense of curiosity never left me. Over the years it carried me far from home to places I never imagined. Today, travel is something I share with my boyfriend, Ryan. I often write stories and capture photographs, while he makes the adventures possible by planning routes and piecing together details to bring them to life. We balance each other in a way that makes our travels richer. His careful preparation and my storytelling feed the curiosity we both carry, and together we have found joy in exploring places we once only dreamed about.
Pyramid Lake at Jasper National Park.
Lessons from the Landscape
Over the past five years, Ryan and I, both lifelong native West Virginians, have embraced travel in a way that has shaped who we are. We have explored nearly 50 national parks in the U. S., hiked among the turquoise lakes and snowcapped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, stood beneath the jagged spires of Patagonia and most recently experienced van life in the American West. Each trip carried its own lessons, but all of them have deepened our love of exploring new places and telling their stories.
Patagonia was one of the most challenging and rewarding places we have ever been. On the W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, the weather shifted constantly, with sunshine one moment and sleet the next. Our rain gear doubled as wind gear, and by the end of the trek it felt like we had worn it every day. The final morning was the highlight. We woke in the dark and hiked to the base of the towers just in time for sunrise. As the first light touched the granite spires, the sky glowed pink and gold, reflecting across the lake below. That moment was the reward for every mile, and it remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.
Mesa Falls, Idaho.
In Argentina, Mount Fitz Roy left its own impression. The climb to Laguna de los Tres was steep and relentless, but when we reached the lake and saw the jagged peaks rising straight out of the horizon, I understood why so many people make the effort. Patagonia humbled us, reminding us how alive you feel when you stand in places that take your breath away.
The Canadian Rockies offered a different kind of wonder. Banff drew us in with its iconic lakes, but Jasper became my favorite. The pace there was slower, and the crowds were fewer. I remember standing by the water, watching as the colors shifted from teal to emerald to deep blue as the sun moved across the sky. That peaceful beauty, unfolding in front of us without fanfare, is what made Jasper unforgettable.
Closer to home, the U. S. national parks add their own lessons to our story. At Arches, we stood beneath Delicate Arch at sunset. In the Smokies, morning fog rolled through the valleys like smoke from a fire. At New River Gorge, our own park here in West Virginia, we felt grateful that some of the country’ s most breathtaking views are right in our backyard.
The roadsurfer Adventure
That foundation is what made an invitation from roadsurfer so exciting. Europe’ s number one camper van rental company, with 90 locations in 16 countries, had just opened in the U. S. After seeing some of our photos and stories from past adventures, the company reached out and offered us an opportunity that still feels surreal: an adventure anywhere we wanted
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