What’s the point of mobility if you’re not taking in the attractions? You become an everyday tourist.
For 38 years, I lived in the same small Iowa town—where a “day trip” meant driving 35 miles to Des Moines (which my mom treated like an Oregon Trail-level expedition). Family vacations? Not a thing.
Gary didn’t hop on his first airplane until 2015, and didn’t see the ocean until 2016. We were two adults living separate lives of accidental domestic captivity.
And now? Now we’re flipping the script. Hard.
We’re spending the next two years doing what we do best: having fun. Like, seriously fun. Like, “let’s-go-to-a-town-that-only-exists-because-of-a-giant-toaster” kind of fun.
Everyday Tourist Vibes Only
Since we sold our house, donated half our stuff, and packed the rest into a rolling apartment on wheels, we no longer have a “home base.” Instead, we’ve decided to become professional tourists. The kind who stop at roadside oddities, buy the goofy magnets, and fully commit to posing with life-sized dinosaur statues.
Everywhere we go, we’ll be the visitors—the guests – the everyday tourists. And that means we get to lean into every “Welcome to” sign like it’s an invitation to explore.
National parks? Yes.
Weird roadside attractions? Absolutely.
The world’s largest ball of twine? Hell yeah.
We want to see this country. Like, really see it. We’re not teleporting (yet), but if we wake up one morning craving clam chowder in Maine, we’re goin’. If Gary gets a hankering to visit a dispensary in the Emerald Triangle, then California it is.
Our zip code is wherever we park. So if you had the entire country in your backyard… where would you go?
Lights, Camera, Road Trip
So, Gary’s got a new obsession—and I fully support it. We’re talking about iconic movie locations. Not just the flashy ones. The deep cuts. The fan-favorite spots you only recognize if you’ve rewound the VHS tape 87 times.
Here’s a taste of what’s on our hit list:
- Daniel’s apartment from The Karate Kid (bonus points if we find the beach party scene)
- The Very Large Array in New Mexico, a la Contact (Hi, Jodie 👽)
- Camp Crystal Lake in Pennsylvania (Friday the 13th vibes, but hopefully with fewer machetes)
The goal? Recreate the scenes. Snap the same angles. And maybe convince Gary to wear a Karate Kid headband. (No promises.)
Expect a whole series of posts on these. Maybe even some dramatic reenactments. Or bloopers. Probably both.
Disc Golf Diaries
Gary’s been playing disc golf since 1995—aka, long before most people realized it wasn’t just “frisbee in the woods.” He even built his own course back in Colorado. (A top-rated, highly sought-after course, I might add.)
Now, he’s on a mission: to play a new disc golf course nearly every day this year. He’s got over 400 courses on his wishlist, from the dusty deserts of the Southwest to the mossy forests of the Pacific Northwest.
While he’s throwing plastic, I’ll be walking the dog, snapping photos, and making sure he doesn’t end up in someone’s backyard looking for a rogue disc.
His bigger dream? To design another destination course of his own one day that combines all the best elements he discovers on the road.
He’s working on a Top 10 Most Anticipated Courses list now—watch for that drop soon.
The Green Scene: A Personal Mission 🌿
After nearly a decade of reporting on a certain leafy industry in Colorado, I am absolutely buzzing (in the professional sense, of course) to finally check out what other states have going on. Believe it or not, I’ve never visited a legit storefront outside of Colorado, so I’m ready to dive into the full experience: the shops, the lounges, the culture, the laws, and the local flavor that comes with it.
We’ll be scouting out the hot spots where people gather, sample, learn, and vibe. We’re talking infused dinners, behind-the-scenes tours, innovative products, and the passionate people making it all happen.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to attend some unforgettable events—multi-course pairing experiences, rooftop soirees, private tastings, industry expos… and yes, that one time I hotboxed a shower with Willie Nelson’s road crew. (A core memory.)
If this kind of content lights you up, check out our High Society Blog and request access to our private Facebook group. We keep it classy, we keep it fun, and we definitely keep it 21+ behind the velvet rope. 😉
So What Is this “Fun” Category, Anyway?
This category is for everything delightfully unserious.
It’s where we share the spontaneous detours, the oddities, the offbeat, the OMG-I-can’t-believe-that-happened stories. From scenic drives and silly souvenirs to haunted diners and hemp farm tours, it all lives here.
We’re leaning into joy. Into play. Into wonder.
Because if you’re gonna uproot your life and become an everyday tourist, you might as well have a ridiculous amount of fun doing it.
