adventure

After winding our way up through the Pacific Northwest, we landed in the evergreen charm of Seattle—and let’s just say, this city knows how to welcome you with open arms and full bellies.

We kicked things off at the iconic Pike Place Market with my old buddy George, where flower stalls overflowed with color and fragrance. Naturally, we couldn’t resist picking up a stunning floral bouquet (because who doesn’t need a little extra joy in the Airstream?). The market’s energy was contagious—street performers, flying fish, and tourists with camera phones pointed in every direction. After all that excitement, we strolled down to the waterfront for their famous fish and chips, enjoyed with a side of salty breeze and seagull side-eye.

Joel had his own Seattle adventure—taking in a Mariners game with his brother Dan. The verdict? Great game, amazing above the dugout seats, and stadium snacks that may or may not have required a nap afterward. And the extra cherry on top, the Mariners won 1 to 0.

We also took a short hop over to Kirkland to meet up with my Aunt Pam for a lovely dinner by the lake. The food was excellent, the company even better, and the stories flowed as we also had a chance to catch up with my cousin Dustin and his lovely wife Catherine.

And then—drumroll—we tried soup dumplings for the very first time. Why have we not been eating these our entire lives?! Tiny pockets of savory goodness that we now dream about regularly. Seattle, thank you for introducing us to our newest obsession: soup dumplings. Yum.

To top it all off, we paid homage to one of our beloved classics: Chuck’s Donuts. Tucked away in a corner of Renton like a sweet little secret, this place serves up the most incredibly delicious maple bars we’ve ever tasted. Forget fancy desserts—this is the kind of treat that hits you right in the nostalgia.

Seattle, you’ve been a whirlwind of old favorites and new delights. From waterfront eats to family meet-ups, baseball games to sugar highs—we loved every minute. Next stop? You’ll have to wait and see. But rest assured, we’re rolling on with hearts full and a few extra donuts tucked away for the road.

After 2,500 miles, a few near-storms, tire-melting 110 degree weather, and an endless loop of “are we there yet?” (mostly from the humans), we officially rolled into Southern California! First stop: Lake Elsinore, where the skies are blue, the tacos are tasty, and our dear friends Linda and Thurman greeted us with open arms, restaurant reservations, and stories like we never missed a beat

We shared travel stories, belly laughs, and a few amazing meals—including a pilgrimage to one of our restaurant faves: 1909, where the drinks are cold and the food has no business being that good. It felt so good to catch up with fellow Airstreamers and swap tales of the road—plus a few tire tips, which turned out to be prophetic.

Because, naturally, once we stopped moving for more than 12 hours, our driver-side trailer tire decided it was time for a little drama. Slowly deflating like it was trying to leave town without drawing attention. Sneaky. Very sneaky.

Before hitting the road again, we treated Mosey to her first bath since leaving Charleston. There were bugs on her nose, bugs in her fender, bugs in places we didn’t even know could collect bugs. She emerged from the wash bay sparkling, slightly smug, and approximately 300 pounds lighter.

Then it was tire patchin’ time, and on to our next destination: San Diego, land of ocean breezes, flip-flops, and (drumroll please)…the San Diego County Fair!

Thanks to a few Rover visits for the pups, we met up with our longtime pal Beth, who was brave enough to spend an entire day at the fair with us—no small feat. We ate our weight in fair food (don’t ask what the cinnamon rolls are made of; just eat them and ascend), wandered vendor booths, communed with barnyard animals, and caught a magician show that may or may not have hypnotized us into buying hot out of the oven chocolate chip cookies capping off our calorie fest. We didn’t stand a chance.

This year’s fair theme was “Pets”—a celebration of all things furry, feathered, and occasionally scaly. We encountered bunnies cuter than Instagram influencers, guinea pigs, parrots, bearded dragons, and a cat that looked at me like I was the problem (technically true—thanks, allergies).

SoCal is already delivering sunshine, good vibes, and just enough mechanical drama to keep us humble. We’re here for 10 days, grateful for friends, cinnamon rolls, and trailer tires that (currently) hold air.