From Jersey City to Los Angeles  

A Winter Road Trip Across America

Sometimes the best adventures begin with a simple idea:  pack the truck, fill the camper, and head west.

This winter we set out on a road trip from Jersey City to California, trading the cold winter in the North East for deserts, beaches, vineyards, and wide-open landscapes. What started as a drive across the country quickly turned into something much more meaningful — a reminder of how freeing it is to slow down, live simply, and explore the incredible beauty of the United States.

Richmond, Virginia — Celebrating Marcus’ Birthday  Jan 30 – Feb 1

Our journey began with a short first leg to Richmond / Short Pump, where we celebrated Marcus’ birthday at a Hilton. It gave us a warm start to the trip. It was still far to cold to stay in the camper overnight. Jolanda served a nice birthday breakfast in bed. We had a nice dinner in a nearby Seafood restaurant.

Lavonia, Georgia  

Feb 3 – Feb 5

Not every stop on a road trip becomes a highlight.  

Our stay at the Hampton Inn in Lavonia was… memorable, but not in the best way. The room felt like Siberia with the air conditioning blasting and seemingly no way to turn it off. Sleep was short, but at least it made the next stops feel even better.

Oxford / Anniston, Alabama  

Feb 5 – Feb 7

Things improved quickly in Alabama. At the Hilton Garden Inn we were upgraded to a wonderful room and finally had time to get the camper properly organized so for the next stop we would be able to sleep inside.

In search of healthy food for dinner we asked ChatGPT for recommendations. The result? Probably the most unusual sushi meal we’ve had in a long time — healthy maybe for the area, but definitely not something we’ll crave anytime soon.

On the way to Alabama – drivers in North Carolina were not used to winterly conditions so we could see them sliding of the road left and right, luckily we have our four by four option.

Louisiana – Wine and Wonderful Neighbors  – Lousiana

Feb 7 – Feb 8

Our first overnight stop in the camper was at Landry Vineyards near Monroe, Louisiana. Rolling vineyards, a beautiful tasting room, and incredibly friendly people made this one of those places you immediately feel welcome.

The highlight might have been meeting our neighbors in a nearby Airstream, who turned out to be some of the nicest people we met on the trip.

Fort Worth, Texas – Super Bowl & Climbing  – Texas

Feb 8 – Feb 9

We use Harvest Host oganization to stay for free in exchange to buy their services at wineries, breweries but also other unusual places. In Fort Worth we discovered The Blok Climbing Co., a nice climbing gym where we spent the evening watching the Super Bowl in the parking lot. It was an interesting to spend the night at. Jolanda organized some beer from Whole Foods, which got delivered within an hour. Unfortunately no coffees in walking distance

Lake Colorado City State Park  – Texas

Feb 9 – Feb 11

Our first real taste of quiet Texas nature came at Lake Colorado City State Park. Sunset walks under a huge open sky reminded us why we love road trips so much.

We enjoyed a nice evening walk and realized that when you leave the cities behind, the stars suddenly come back.

Sand Dunes and Desert Driving  – Texas

Feb 11 – Feb 13

Heading west, the landscape changed dramatically. We found ourselves surrounded by dunes and open desert where we tried sand driving for the first time. It was both exhilarating and humbling — the desert always reminds you who is in charge.

Three Missions Brewery  – El Paso – Texas

Feb 13 – Feb 14

This stop had fantastic vibes. A great food truck, friendly people, and across the street one of the best shrimp cocktails we’ve ever had.

Sometimes road trip magic happens in the most unexpected places.

RV Wild West – Desert Mornings  – Texas

Feb 14 – Feb 15

One of our favorite moments of the trip happened here.

Waking up in the desert, sipping a matcha tea and doing Qi Gong while looking out over a vast open landscape.  Then finishing with a hot shower.

It’s the simplest moments like these that make you feel like a million dollars — calm, grounded, and completely alive.

Painted Canyon – Our First Off-Road Adventure  

Feb 15 – Feb 16

At Painted Canyon we took our first real off-road drive with the camper. The colors of the canyon walls and the quiet desert landscape made it feel like we had entered another world – on top we experienced the most amazing hike.

O’Neill Regional Park – Rain in California  

Feb 16 – Feb 21

When we reached Southern California we were greeted with something we didn’t expect: rain — and a lot of it.

Five days at O’Neill Regional Park brought some of the heaviest rain we’ve experienced on any trip. Fortunately the camper stayed completely dry. The cold showers at the campground were… refreshing, to say the least.

Still, being surrounded by green hills and fresh air made it a beautiful place to wait out the storms.

We also spent some great time with our West Coast friends—visiting Connie for a few days, hiking with Anna, and meeting Sarah for a walk near her workplace. We enjoyed a cozy cheese fondue evening with Monique and Juan. Marcus even managed to bring Monique’s car back to life after it had been sitting unused for months.

Crystal Cove State Park  – California

Feb 22 – Feb 24

Finally: the Pacific Ocean.

Crystal Cove is one of the most beautiful coastal parks in California. Waking up with ocean views and falling asleep to the sound of waves reminded us how special this coastline is.

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Doheny Beach – Dana Point  

Feb 24 – Feb 26

More beach days followed at Doheny State Beach. Warm sun, surfers, and long walks along the water made it easy to slow down and simply enjoy the moment.

What We Learned on the Road

One of the most exciting discoveries of this trip was the concept of public land camping in the United States. In many areas you can camp freely in nature, explore incredible hiking trails, and experience true solitude.

For us, this kind of travel feels incredibly liberating.

Working remotely makes it possible to explore these places without giving up our daily routines. Marcus even brought his skydiving rig, hoping to sneak in a few jumps along the way.

Overal that trip was 3200 miles in 18 days and 13 stops across America

The Road Ahead

This journey from Jersey City to California reminded us how vast and diverse the country really is.

From vineyards in Louisiana to deserts in Texas, from mountain parks to the Pacific Ocean — every stop had its own story.

And perhaps the greatest luxury of all was simply having the freedom to go where the road leads.

More stories from the road coming soon.