When we told everyone that we were going to take a road trip from Florida to Alaska in a VW GTI, we received a rather mixed response. We heard everything from “Are you nuts!?!?” to “That’s epic! Take me with you!”. I have to admit that before (and during) our trip Lauren and I both questioned our own and each others’ sanity at certain points. Even now, after we’ve returned home, there are moments when I look back at our pictures and question whether or not it all really happened. When you want to do something big, or different, you usually have to go a bit against the grain to make it work, and to me, that’s one of the things that makes it all worthwhile. I decided, now that we’ve made it, to try and summarize (if that’s even possible) our entire Key West, Florida to Deadhorse, Alaska road trip in one post!
Category Archives: Travel Tips
Carnival in Trinidad, A White Man’s Guide!
From behind me, in a hoarse whisper coated with the stench of cheap rum, beer, and cask wine, I heard “Wine for me now Boy”. It was a woman who I had never met before. She was twice my age, her diminutive 5′ 1′ Indian body pressed up against my ogreish 6’4″ frame, and yet I had no choice but to comply. Any hopes of flight left me before the thought could even escape the ether of my mind. It was her next line that left me no other course of action. No choice but to wine and grind on her right then and there. You see, before I could reel from her stench, or even flinch, she whispered “I been watchin’ ya dance for hours now boy! I know ya can! You dance like a Trini man” I was trapped! I did what any man in my position celebrating carnival in Trinidad would do. I chugged the rest of my Carib, let my body and mind surrender to the soca beats coming from the music trucks, and I wined up on her…
Our Biggest Travel Regrets
When wrapping up your year in review it is only natural that you take a look back and take stock of what you did and did not accomplish so you know how to do things better in the future. We were called upon by some fellow bloggers to post our biggest travel regrets. Thanks to both The Mellyboo Project and Southwest Compass for sucking us into this travel meme :-) After sitting down and going over our time, this is what we came up with as our biggest travel regrets!
Travel Holiday Gift Guide for People that Live and Love Travel
We have come across many gifting guides this holiday season. Gifts for husbands and wives, kids and pets, gifts for all walks of life and all sorts of jobs seem to be popping up everywhere. What seems to be missing in this smorgasbord of people are holiday gifts for your happy traveler! I have composed a list (and I have been very good this year Mr. Claus) of things to gift travelers from your every day vacationer to your hardcore backpacker to your luxury first classer. Enjoy TheConstantRambler Travel Holiday Gift Guide!
Great Drives: Alaska’s Dalton Highway Road Trip | Fairbanks to Deadhorse
Driving on most American roads today is anything but a challenge. They are mostly smooth, well lit, and generally safe. Alaska’s Dalton Highway, which takes you from Fairbanks, Alaska to the town of Deadhorse, is 414 miles of the exact opposite! While portions are now paved, it began as a gravel road designed to bring oil field equipment to the edge of the Arctic Ocean. The road is bumpy, icy, has many steep grades (over 10%), no guardrails, and takes you through Alaska’s Arctic Tundra! If you ask me that’s a perfect recipe for an exciting and challenging road trip!