Welcome to my blog!
2020 is going to be a big year for me! I have the opportunity to work remote for my current job, and I look forward to pushing the limits of what “remote” means. So I’ll be spending the year traveling the country, living in different places, working during the day and exploring in the evenings and weekends.
Everyone’s first question when I tell them this plan is: “Where will you go?” Fair question! The short answer is that I have a rough direction I plan to head in, but no really clear plan. Here’s what I’m thinking:
Nashville: In February my first stop is Music City USA. I expect to hear a lot of country music and drink a lot of whiskey. I’m also looking forward to visiting the Great Smokey Mountains and the land of Dolly Parton on the way in, and the Jack Daniels Distillery on the way out.
New Orleans: My second confirmed stop is NOLA, just in time for Mardi Gras. Of all the places I’ve mentioned wanting to visit on this trip, New Orleans inspired the strongest positive reactions from people, so I have a long list of delicious food to eat while I’m here.
Austin: My last “confirmed” stop so far is Austin. My visit starts with my friend’s wedding at the end of March and is currently open-ended. I’m expecting more live music and more whiskey. I don’t know yet how long I’ll be in town, but probably a few weeks.
Dallas? NW Arkansas? Tulsa? This is where things start to get a little blurry as far as my plans go. I’ve gotten suggestions for some random places in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. I don’t know if I see myself spending a bunch of time there, but maybe a quick stop or two?? I’m remote! I can do what I want!
Northern New Mexico: I’ve heard lots of recommendations for places in Northern NM especially around Santa Fe. I’ll eat some green chilies and live my best Georgia O’Keeffe life.
Colorado? I might swing through Colorado for a bit. Denver? Boulder? Fort Collins? I’m remote, remember!
A Shit Ton of National Parks!!: I’m stoked to spend the summer in the national park areas of the West: the “Mighty Five” parks in Southern Utah, Craters of the Moon in Idaho, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone in Wyoming. If the mood strikes me I might swing back east to the Badlands in South Dakota. Then it’s north to Glacier national park in Montana, and into Canada to see what they have to offer at their national parks at Banff and Jasper.
Vancouver and PNW: After spending the summer hiking and camping in all those national parks, I’ll probably head back to Vancouver, maybe Seattle, maybe Portland. I’ll probably hit up Olympia and Mt. Rainier National Parks. My plan is getting pretty fuzzy at this point, if you can’t tell.
Back through California??: By this point in the plan I really have very little idea what I’ll be doing. I might head back down through Oregon and do some NorCal shit and on through the Southwest again. Maybe I’ll head back Eastward towards the Midwest? It will depend a lot on what time of year it is when I get there, and what I’m feeling like experiencing. That’s the remote life, baby!!
So that is my general plan for the next year or so. It’s only concrete through Austin, the rest is wide open. I’ll be posting photos and blogging about my travels here. In the meantime, if you have suggestions for any of those places I want to go, or any place at all, shoot them my way!!
Alyson Gagne 