Five Tips for New RV Campers

For folks considering a purchase of a new camper, here are the five top things I lucked into or wish someone had told me before I started out camping—and before investing a lot of money into an RV!

5 Van Life Lessons for LGBTQ Campers

Five of the van life lessons I’ve learned are key for LGBTQ travelers—from safe gay camping tips to finding community on the road. Read on for your next gay weekend adventure.

Weekend: Palm Springs

Palm Springs has been a favorite of mine for over 20 years—and it’s easy to see why. With its sunny weather, queer-friendly vibe, and endless options for relaxation or adventure, the desert city offers something for every kind of traveler, especially for LGBTQ folks and during the busy winter season.

4+ Great Day Trips from Portland

Despite what some recent news might lead folks to believe, Portland, Oregon is a great spot to visit (or in my case: live). Yes, Portland has experienced a few issues the last several years including some things that made dramatic headlines, but there’s still plenty of wonderful sights, bites, and things to do with a […]

Weekend: Oregon Coast

Updated 2/2025. I originally wrote this post in September 2020 after a weekend in Coos Bay, followed by a drive north along the Oregon Coast before returning to Portland. Since then, I’ve made updates to include more detail from weekends in and around Astoria and Netarts Bay. Short story, Oregon’s Pacific coast is beautiful, and […]

10 Days: Olympic Peninsula Camping

Despite living in the Northwest for over a decade, I didn’t take my first trip into and around the Olympic Peninsula until 2020: the coast, the towering evergreens, the unspoiled lakes, and—at least for the first half—clear skies. The National Park/lack-of-airport thing got in the way before, but after pivoting to different forms of travel […]

Hard Pivot: Air Travel to Road Trips

Back in January and February 2020, I had big plans for this site: posts from Boston in April for my birthday. Norway in May to celebrate Sytten de Mai. Alaska in July … wheels up, let’s do this! Wow, how things can change. To quote Lily Tomlin as Violet Newstead in 9 to 5: “I’m […]