Local Flavor | Live Work Dream | RVing Lifestyle Design Blog

St. Augustine, Florida; Low Density, Affordable Coastal Living

December 10, 2007December 9, 2007 by Rene

Thoughts and impressions about our visit to St. Augustine, Florida

I Go Pogo For Okefenokee and the South

September 4, 2023November 29, 2007 by Jim

I’ve determined that if I don’t write something short and quick with first impressions about new places we see, I never will.

There is so much to see and do on this journey â€“ as I told a Canuck fulltimer yesterday â€“ we could stay on the road for the rest of our lives and never see the entire country. And if I don’t jot down some basic observations about where we’ve been soon after we arrive, I will forget if there is any reason to return when the time comes to plant some roots again.

With that said, I go Pogo … we have made it to Okefenoke Swamp. And we have officially reached the South.

Eating local shrimp fresh off the boat.

September 4, 2023November 22, 2007 by Jim

We’ve been doing our best to eat local wherever we go, but the hardest thing to find local on this trip has been seafood. So except for some Walleye in Minnesota, and lots of Lobster in Maine, we just haven’t had much fresh fish since we left California. So we were extra excited to catch the end of shrimp season when we went to the beach in North Carolina!

Goin’ Down to the Piggly Wiggly

September 4, 2023November 16, 2007 by Rene

This week started our first real Workamping gig at Safe Harbor Animal Rescue in Maysville, North Carolina. We’ll get to talking about that soon. But today, we went out exploring on our day off, to secure provisions and check out the nearest big city, New Bern.

Our route included a stop at the Piggly Wiggly.

Remembering My Birthday Dinner in Virginia

November 15, 2007 by Jim

Carol would call this one a Back Track … one of the hardest things about trying to blog about our travels is trying to keep everything current when there is so much to see and do. Hell, there is still stuff I could write about from way back in Colorado. At least this one only goes back a few weeks to my birthday dinner.

Rene got off easy this year. I was a cheap date. All I wanted was a to take the day off from driving and do nothing, other than barbecue myself a steak. So the day before – on Halloween – we went to the Blacksburg Farmers Market for some fresh produce, in search of some local meat. Having never seen cattle ranchers at a farmers market until we got to the East Coast, I was feeling lucky. And I struck gold, or black rather, as in Angus.

We’re Gettin’ South Now…

February 4, 2021November 11, 2007 by Jim

Jim reviews Famous Anthony’s restaurant in Christiansburg, VA and reflects on his stay in Virginia

What the Wawa?

November 7, 2007 by Jim

Jim discovers there is no Wawa store in Mawah, NJ.

Those Dems Can Play! VA Governors Jam Bluegrass at the Floyd Country Store

September 4, 2023November 3, 2007 by Rene

I’ve always wanted to visit Appalachia, and when I found out that we were within spittin’ distance to the Floyd Country Store music venue in Virginia, it was a given we’d make it to their legendary Friday Night Jamboree.

And what a lucky night for us; we were graced with the presence of the governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine, and the past governor Mark Warner. They were there campaigning for local Dems, but they weren’t there just to give stump speeches; they actually play banjo, harmonica and guitar, and joined in with Blacksburg’s own Jugbusters!

Farmers and Philly Cheese Steaks at Reading Terminal Market

November 3, 2007November 2, 2007 by Jim

We went to Philadelphia last week, courtesy of our tour guide Brian, who was kind enough to take us there during a major rainstorm – with is two kids (is he a superdad or what?). There was only one place to go to in a downpour, with two small children, and that was the Reading Terminal Marketplace (pronounced “Redding” for the unfamiliar). What a treat!

This video includes an interview with a local farmer, Mennonites making pretzels, authentic Philly Cheesesteaks being made, and much more! We have also updated our Full-time RVing Videos page which now includes a playlist of all our interviews with local residents and business owners across the U.S.

Agoraphobia in the Atlantic

September 4, 2023October 27, 2007 by Rene

The last couple of days of driving on New Jersey roads has been some of the most intense driving we’ve ever done.

L.A. traffic has nothing on this place. It’s a lot of narrow roads, fast street-level freeways with cars pulling into and out of driveways, and the most aggressive drivers outside of Manhattan. Jim’s hauling the rig like a seasoned pro, but I just grip the seat and clench my jaw. At least yesterday we got our own escort to get us out of New York.

We Missed the Naked Cowboy!

October 17, 2007 by Jim

We missed seeing the Naked Cowboy and the Naked Cowgirl sing and dance in New York City but provide links to their videos and photos.

Meet the Farmer: Teleion Holon CSA Farm in Manchester, Vermont

October 14, 2007 by Rene

The farmer of the Teleion Holon CSA organic farm in Vermont discusses the good and bad reality about running a Community Supported Agriculture farm.

Do It Yourself Lobster Pound Dinner

September 4, 2023September 30, 2007 by Jim

How to clean fresh lobster and make Lobster Alfredo with some great information about finding groceries near Bar harbor Maine while camping at Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National park.

Lobster Pound Review: The Docksider

November 9, 2008September 29, 2007 by Jim

This was a new site for me at a National Park campground. When we first drove up to the easternmost camp site from where we began our trip, I guessed this was a communal lobster pot where you could boil your fresh catch from Bar Harbor and feast on bugs by the fireside.

My silly dream was crushed when I discovered it to be a sink for dumping camp dishwater with a strainer basket and nearby trashcan for nasty bits. This is a good thing I suppose. After all, like the signs read, “A fed raccoon is a dead raccoon.”

But it sure felt good anyway to finally sit by a campfire again without bugs feasting on me. Especially after enjoying an authentic Down East lobster feast in Northeast Harbor. Just remember, when it comes to overindulgence, it’s not the volume of lobster one consumes, it’s the butter factor. And it is clarified butter that makes a breaks an establishment from the fine dining list.

Foodie Update: Best of Chain Grocery Stores

September 27, 2007 by Rene

From California to Maine, we’ve seen some of the best and worst grocery stores across the U.S.A. There’s been many a week when we haven’t found anything resembling fresh local produce. Lucky for us, there’s been a handfull of large chain grocery stores that have kept us from getting iron deficiencies and scurvy when no local farm stands were to be found. Here’s a handy list of some of the higher quality ones that may scratch your foodie itch while traveling cross country.