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.
Worth the Stop
Some places earn more than a quick mention. These are the stops we found genuinely interesting, enjoyable, useful, or memorable enough that we’d gladly recommend taking the time for.
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.
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
Texas
McDonald Observatory — Fort Davis, Texas
On our first trip to Fort Davis, we were traveling with my brother Fred and his wife, Jeanna, in our old Coachmen Leprechaun, Phyllis. One of the highlights was the drive up into the Davis Mountains to visit McDonald Observatory. The observatory sits high in the mountains, with major facilities
Nebraska
Toadstool Geologic Park and Campground
There are places that don't look anything like what you expect to find in Nebraska. Toadstool Geologic Park is one of them. We made the trip there from Fishberry Campground near Valentine in October 2024. Once we got out of the truck and started walking, it felt a
Kansas
Old Cowtown Museum — Wichita, KS
On our way home in April 2024, Lisa and I decided to add an extra day to our stay at Air Capital RV Park and go see Old Cowtown Museum. What surprised us most was that we had been traveling through Wichita for years and somehow never knew it was
Where We Eat
Gristmill — Gruene, TX
We’ve eaten at the Gristmill in Gruene more than once, and it’s become one of those places we’re always happy to return to. On this visit in February 2025, we were there with Gail and Jeannie. The setting is a big part of what keeps drawing us
Where We Eat
Grotto — Eureka Springs, AR
Grotto in downtown Eureka Springs was one of those places we probably would have remembered even if the food had only been good. The restaurant is built into a historic stone building with a natural spring running through it, and part of the space has the feel of a cave
Worth the Stop
Black's BBQ — Lockhart, TX
Our first trip to Black’s Barbecue in Lockhart was in February 2025 with Gail and Jeannie. We had been to plenty of barbecue places before, but this one felt different from the minute we walked in — long tables, trays piled high, and meat that looked like it had been
Arizona
Quartzsite RV Show — Quartzsite, AZ
We made our first trip to Quartzsite in January 2024 with Fred and Gina, and it didn’t take long for Lisa and me to understand why so many RVers talk about being there in January. The Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show is only part of what happens — the
Tennessee
Memphis in May — Memphis, TN
We were in Memphis in May 2024 primarily for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, held that year May 15–18 at Liberty Park. That was the reason for the trip, but once we were there we made a point of seeing more of the city as well. We spent