Historic Places
El Paisano Hotel
Why we keep stopping at Marfa’s historic Hotel Paisano, from its courtyard and architecture to its connection with the movie Giant.
Phil Nichols
Marine veteran, retired IT professional, lifelong problem solver, and co-creator of Rolling Nichols. These days, Phil and Lisa travel in Harriet, sharing worthwhile stops, history, and stories from the road.
New Mexico
The Miraculous Staircase at Loretto Chapel — Santa Fe, New Mexico
Inside a small chapel in Santa Fe stands a remarkable wooden staircase with no central support post and a legend involving answered prayers and a mysterious carpenter who vanished without payment. I went to see it for myself, and the story is every bit as interesting as the staircase.
Life on the Road
Make Leaving Easier
When we first started RVing, getting ready for a trip felt like a project. Whether we were leaving for two days or an extended trip, we spent an inordinate amount of time loading the RV. Clothes went back and forth. Refrigerator staples had to be moved. Kitchen gear had to
Campgrounds & Overnight Stops
Scenic Park: Close to Family, Right on the Missouri
Scenic Park in South Sioux City keeps us close to family and friends, with a familiar campsite and time beside the Missouri River.
Texas
Big Bend Saddlery
Do you like the smell of leather? Have I got the place for you. Anytime we're in the Fort Davis/Alpine area, we make a stop at Big Bend Saddlery. The first time we went there, my oldest brother was the one who showed me the store. What
Life on the Road
Buc-ee’s — The Roadside Stop We Rarely Pass
I would be hard-pressed to tell you which Buc-ee’s was the first one we ever stopped at. I do remember the reaction. When people back home in Nebraska ask me what Buc-ee’s is, the easiest explanation I've come up with is this: Imagine
Life on the Road
How We Buy Diesel on the Road
Using the Open Roads Fuel Discount Card In our early days of RVing with Phyllis, our first motorhome, we stopped at normal gas stations. That's not to say we didn't stop at truck stops. We did. But when we did, we pulled around to the regular
Utah
Moab, Utah — A Place Pictures Don’t Quite Capture
Our April 2019 trip to Moab took us through Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point and some of the most memorable scenery we’ve encountered on the road.
Texas
Fort Davis National Historic Site — Life on the Texas Frontier
A walk through Fort Davis National Historic Site, where restored buildings, Buffalo Soldier history and the remains of a frontier Army post bring West Texas history to life.
RV LIFE: The Trip-Planning Tool We Use
It may seem a little counterintuitive to write about another website on Rolling Nichols, but this is one we actually use. Five or six years ago, I was getting frustrated trying to plan RV trips with Google Maps. Google Maps is very good at getting you from Point A to
Life on the Road
Driving 65 Feet
The most important thing we’ve learned about driving a big RV has very little to do with its size. Many people see Harriet and Vern in a picture—or sometimes in person—and are a little overwhelmed by how long we are. I measured the combination at roughly 65
Staying Connected on the Road
We live in a connected world. Access to most of the planet is usually sitting in your pocket. At home, we stream television, check the weather, make reservations, look things up and generally expect the internet to be there. Why should the road be any different? I’ve spent years