Expanding the Journey One Mile at a Time
By Dirk Ebener - July 21, 2026
How Planning My First RV Adventure Across America Is Becoming Part of the Journey Itself
More than 3,000 miles of road lie ahead, but the journey is already becoming part of my daily life.
Somewhere between Georgia and New Mexico are people I have not yet met, conversations I have not yet had, and stories I have not yet heard.
Route 66 is not simply a road trip destination—it is an opportunity to slow down, explore, and look beyond the next exit sign.
The RV may be the tool for this adventure, but the real focus remains on people, food, culture, and the experiences that connect them.
Long before the engine starts, I am discovering one of travel's greatest lessons: anticipation can become part of the journey itself.
For much of my personal and professional life, travel has meant boarding airplanes, crossing oceans, and discovering destinations through food, culture, history, and conversations with people from around the world. Over the years, those experiences eventually became the foundation of Food Blogger Journey.
Recently, however, I found myself thinking about travel differently. Rather than looking across an ocean, I began looking across America. Rather than planning another international itinerary, I started imagining a journey where the road itself becomes part of the story.
For several years, the idea of taking an RV trip quietly remained in the back of my mind. Like many travel dreams, it would appear for a while before giving way to other destinations and priorities. Earlier this year, however, the idea returned with greater clarity. If I was going to explore America differently, I wanted a route that celebrated the journey as much as the destination. That search eventually led me to Route 66.
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Looking Beyond the Destination
As the plans slowly come together, I realize that more than 3,000 miles of road lie ahead. Somewhere along those miles are local restaurants I have never visited, communities I have never explored, and stories I have not yet discovered. The RV remains parked, reservations are still being researched, and the route continues to evolve.
Yet every evening spent studying maps, reading campground reviews, and learning about places that rarely appear on major travel itineraries feels like a small step forward. The departure date remains months away, but the journey already feels present in my daily life.
What interests me primarily about those miles is not the road itself. It is the people I hope to meet along the way. Somewhere between Georgia and New Mexico are restaurant owners opening their doors each morning, campground neighbors willing to share stories from the road, and local residents who know their communities far better than any guidebook ever could.
Some of the most memorable travel stories in my life have started with a simple conversation, and I suspect this journey will offer many opportunities for the same.
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When Food Connects People
I also find myself wondering what meals are waiting along the route. Somewhere between Georgia and New Mexico are family-owned diners serving breakfast before sunrise, neighborhood cafés where locals gather each morning, and roadside restaurants that have quietly become part of their community's history. Long before I arrive,
I am already curious about the stories behind the menus, the recipes passed from one generation to the next, and the people who prepare them. Some of those meals may become memorable not because of what is served on the plate, but because of the conversations, traditions, and stories shared across the table.
Route 66 continues to capture my attention because it seems to encourage exactly this kind of travel. It invites people to slow down, leave room for curiosity, and explore what exists beyond the next turn in the road. Somewhere along those more than 3,000 miles are small towns I have never explored, restaurants I have never discovered, and stories I have never heard.
I find myself wondering about the family-owned diner that has served travelers for decades, the bakery known only to local residents, or the historic downtown district that many people simply drive past. Long before I begin the trip, those possibilities are already becoming part of the journey.
One of the realizations that continues to shape this adventure is that meaningful travel does not require crossing an ocean. Food Blogger Journey has always been about people, food, culture, and stories. Those interests have not changed.
What is changing is where I am looking.
As I plan this Route 66 adventure, I find myself wondering what stories might be waiting just a few hundred miles from home. What communities have I driven past without truly exploring? What traditions, local events, and conversations are waiting along roads I have never taken the time to follow?
The more I plan, the more I realize that curiosity has no geographic boundaries.
I am not changing what I am looking for when I travel.
I am simply changing where I am looking.
The more I plan, the less I think about the RV itself. What captures my attention are the possibilities waiting beyond the windshield. A recommendation from another traveler may lead to an unexpected stop. A local restaurant may turn into a memorable afternoon. A conversation may introduce me to a town I never planned to visit. The RV simply provides the flexibility to follow those opportunities wherever they lead.
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Discovering That Planning Is Part of the Experience
One of the most enjoyable parts of every journey is discovering that the planning itself has become part of the experience.
What begins as route research and campground comparisons often turns into an evening of discovery. A campground recommendation leads me to a nearby town, which introduces me to a local restaurant. The restaurant uncovers a piece of Route 66 history I had never heard before, and before long another part of the journey begins taking shape.
The route is still evolving, but so is my anticipation. I find myself imagining future moments: enjoying a quiet cup of coffee before a day on the road, walking through a town I have never visited, or sharing travel stories with fellow campers as the sun begins to set.
Somewhere along those 3,000 miles are conversations that have not happened yet, meals I have not tasted, and communities I have never explored. I do not know where most of those moments will occur, and that uncertainty may be one of the most exciting parts of the journey.
The best travel memories rarely appear on an itinerary. More often, they reveal themselves when curiosity replaces urgency and when we allow ourselves the time to stop, listen, and explore.
In many ways, planning is allowing me to experience part of the journey before departure day arrives.
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What I Hope to Find Along the Way
One of the realities of RV travel is learning to live with less space. As I begin thinking about what to bring, I quickly discover that every item requires a purpose. That challenge has become surprisingly enjoyable because it encourages simplicity.
The process reminds me that some of the most meaningful travel memories rarely involve the things we carry with us. They come from a conversation with a stranger, a meal shared with friends, an unexpected discovery, or a view that appears at exactly the right moment.
As I look ahead to the miles waiting beyond my driveway, I find myself drawn to the possibility of slowing down. Route 66 seems to encourage exactly that. Rather than rushing between destinations, it invites travelers to take their time, notice details, explore side roads, and remain open to discovery.
What began as planning a single RV trip has gradually evolved into something larger. It has become an opportunity to explore America with the same curiosity that has guided Food Blogger Journey from the beginning. That realization eventually inspired the creation of RV Travel Across America—not as a replacement for Food Blogger Journey, but as an additional way to experience travel and share the stories discovered along the way.
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The Heart of the Story
A few years ago, this journey was simply an idea that appeared from time to time before giving way to other plans. Today, it feels very different. The maps are spread across my desk, the route is slowly taking shape, and the anticipation grows with every new discovery.
Somewhere along those 3,000 miles are people I have not yet met, meals I have not yet tasted, and stories I have not yet heard. I do not know exactly where those moments will happen, and that uncertainty may be one of the most exciting parts of the journey.
The departure date remains months away. The RV is still parked. Yet with every mile I imagine traveling, the journey feels a little more real.
And that may be the greatest lesson of all: sometimes the adventure begins long before the engine starts.
Dirk Ebener is the founder and creator behind the Food Blogger Journey website, as well as author of upcoming book and website Travel That Makes Sense, drawing on over 40 years of international travel across more than 60 countries. His global adventures have deepened his understanding of regional cuisines, local customs, and the powerful connection between food and culture. From bustling street markets in Asia to quiet vineyard dinners in Europe, Dirk captures authentic culinary experiences through immersive storytelling. Through Food Blogger Journey, he invites readers to explore the world one dish and step at a time.
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