August 2012

We can’t believe that the time has come to finally end our journey on the Best of the Road Rally. It was such an amazing opportunity to be a part of this segment for a second year in a row. We all felt very fortunate to partake in this trip across the country interacting with all the teams and meeting new friends. Every single person that we met during the road rally truly touched our lives in some way. The bonds that we formed will not be forgotten and we are looking forward to staying connected with everyone. The crew extends a huge thank you to all of the towns who opened their homes,...


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The last stop for the RV crew was in San Luis Obispo, California to finish covering the friendly category. We were thrilled to have our last leg of the journey be with the Rogue Riders. San Luis Obispo was a beautiful small town and our first stop in the morning was at the tourist landmark, Bubblegum Alley. Bubblegum Alley is lined with an assortment of colorful chewing gum that any passerby can stick on the wall. An engaging spot for tourists if you ask me. The Rogue Riders made sure to leave their mark by placing their Best Of The Road card in their chewed gum at the top of the wall. After...


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After traveling 5,500 miles, the RV crew arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We were greeted by the Road Bros, the CVB, and many community members who were excited for us to experience the flavor of Santa Fe. Since Santa Fe was nominated in the best food category, the town did not waste any time to have us start eating at their local restaurants. Our first stop of the night was at the Marble Brewery and Tap Room, where three different kinds of pizzas were served to us. After our ”light snack” we ventured to the Santa Fe Plaza, where we danced and listened to a Mariachi Band. The CVB thought...


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Independence Day is a time to honor the men and women who have served our country. It is a day to gather with friends and family and enjoy activities such as barbecuing, swimming, and watching fireworks. This is the second year that I have been on the road for the Fourth of July and I was eager to see what Denton, Texas had in store for our RV team and Fresh Traveler. When I am back home, my family goes all out on the Fourth of July and I have to say that after this year’s visit to Denton, Texas, the Fourth will be hard to top. We felt honored to participate in Denton’s annual Yankee...


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Gainesville, Texas was the next stop for the RV crew. Sandi McKenna and Rick Griffin, team MidLife Road Trip, were in Gainesville to answer the question: what makes this small town patriotic? After touring the town and meeting members in the community we learned how its residents honor patriotism. Gainesville is the only town in the country to host Medal of Honor recipients and when a veteran visits Gainesville they are recognized by the community. During their stay many of the veterans will take the opportunity to speak with the the youth in the community about honor and sacrifice and will...


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The Lone Star State was the next stop on our trip across country. Frisco, Texas was voted as one of the friendliest small towns in America and the Rogue Riders were eager to introduce us to the friendly locals. We started off our day ice-skating at The Ice at the Stonebriar Centre. Ice-skating is not my forte and luckily the other co-host Gary was on the same level.  Team Rogue Riders were naturals on the ice and I appreciated Jennifer Jordon skating with me for a few laps in the beginning to get comfortable. During our skating  endeavor, Ashley Raymond, the daughter of Gary’s long time...


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Our crew traveled to Danville, Kentucky to meet with team Two for the Road in their search for the most beautiful small towns. During our visit we were able to see breathtaking sights and had the opportunity to taste amazing southern cuisine. One of the more popular restaurants in Danville was Mermaid’s Bistro. The spot was trendy and the atmosphere reminded me of something that you would see in Miami. To go along with the fun setting, the food at Mermaid’s Bistro was remarkable.  After finishing our meals Mermaids decided to spoil us even more with dessert - Bourbon Bread Pudding....


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Continuing our trip through the Midwest, the RV crew stopped in Bardstown, Kentucky—the Bourbon Capital of the World. Bardstown was nominated in the beautiful category, so naturally our morning consisted of a tour of the town after indulging in great food at Mammy’s Kitchen. However, sightseeing wasn’t all that was scheduled. In fact, the trip served to be very hands on. During the afternoon tour, Two for the Road and I participated in a milkshake competition at the Hurst Drugstore and Soda Fountain. The goal of this friendly wager was to see who could make the best good old-fashioned...


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At 5:41 pm on May 22, a tornado struck Joplin, MO destroying a third of the town and claiming the lives of more than 160 people. Fast-forward one year and Joplin has risen through the devastation. The towns’ spirit remains unbowed and their welcoming reputation is such that they are now vying for the honor of the Friendliest Small Town in America. Jennifer Jordon and Bob Schatz, team Rogue Riders, was assigned to cover the friendliest category for Best of the Road. When they arrived the town was ardent about having them meet the people and see the sights. The community shared their story on Joplin’s...


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