The New Year is upon us and there is no better time to begin thinking about what 2015 has in store and planning for adventure. Finalizing details from 2014, New Year's resolutions, preparing for the fun of this year - there are many ways people kick off the start of January.
This month, we touched base with Ramona Creel to hear about how she plans... for long Airstream trips. Now is the perfect time to begin thoughts about what Live Riveted adventures you will take this year. Perhaps these details from Ramona can help you.
Q: What is the longest trip you've taken in an Airstream and how did you plan for it?
A: I completed a 40-stop year-long trek from Key West to Nova Scotia a few years ago. For a big trip like this, it might take me a year of preparation before I hit the road. I plan my routes based on a "to" and a "from" and a time-frame -- then I plug any major events I want to attend into my calendar (like hitting the cranberry harvest in Cape Cod, or being in Salem for Halloween, or parking it in NYC for the Macy's Parade/Rockettes/New Year's in Times Square).
I look at what there is to do in an area and determine how long I'd like to spend there -- smaller towns may only warrant a couple of weeks, while I might stay a few months in a bigger city. I also figure out where I have folks I'd like to visit -- then I plan my route accordingly. The final step (if I'll be travel writing) is to contact individual attractions, restaurants, museums, etc., as well as the local visitor and convention bureaus, to see what I might get comped or discounted -- and to finagle any special tours or experiences I can manage (like getting to go behind-the-scenes into the unseen storage areas at the Smithsonian Museum Of American History, or taking a glider flight over Acadia National Park, or going tidal bore rafting on the Schubenacadie River in Nova Scotia).
Based on my trek I'm currently working on a narrative non-fiction travel memoir called "Tin Can Travels" (detailing my adventures), as well as a recipe book called "Eating Great From State To State" (describing the regional dishes I cooked in each location), and a series of coffee table books (filled with my travel photography). My next two books will be trips up the west coast (from Hollywood to Alaska) and across the southern U.S. (from Mardi Gras to Tijuana) -- and hopefully in there somewhere, a jaunt across the entire length of Canada.
Wow, what an adventure that sounds like! A year-long trek is certainly a live riveted adventure. We love to hear how she plans her timeline according to events, locations, friends and special experiences. That way, she's guaranteed to get the best live riveted experience possible. We're looking forward to checking out her books as they come out to enjoy the experience through her memoirs and photos!
What kind of trip would you like to take in 2015? We'd love to hear about how you plan for your adventures! Share with us on Facebook!
