Outland Adventures

  Hidden Gems of the Midwest Tuesday, March 3 – Outland Adventures When most people think about travel, they think beaches, mountains, or big cities with skylines that scrape the clouds. But some of our favorite places? They don’t make the brochures. They’re tucked between cornfields. Sitting quietly along two-lane highways. Blink-and-you-miss-it towns with one gas station, one diner, and one really weird statue no one can quite explain. The Midwest is full of hidden gems — and we live for finding them. The Towns You Almost Drive Past You know the kind. Population: 642. One flashing stoplight. A mural on the side of a brick building that hasn’t changed since 1978. And somehow? It ends up being the highlight of the week. These towns aren’t trying to impress anyone. They’re just… themselves. Local cafés where the pie is homemade. Antique stores packed floor to ceiling. A barber shop that still uses a striped pole out front. We’ve learned that if something makes us ...

Outland Adventures Blog: March 2026 Schedule A new month is here, and we’ve got a full lineup of travel stories, tips, and quirky roadside discoveries coming your way! We post every Tuesday and Thursday , so those are the days to check in for something new. Want to follow us elsewhere? linktr.ee/outlandadventures March Schedule Tuesday, March 3 – Hidden Gems of the Midwest Discover offbeat small towns and roadside attractions that often get overlooked by travelers. Thursday, March 5 – The Great Roadside Snack Test We hit up quirky roadside diners and snack shacks—what’s worth stopping for, and what to skip. Tuesday, March 10 – Abandoned Wonders: Exploring Forgotten Places From shuttered motels to ghost towns, these are the eerie spots with stories to tell. Thursday, March 12 – Spring Kickoff: RV Life Prep Tips for getting your rig ready for the first spring adventure of the year. Tuesday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day Mini Road Trip Green beers, charming parades, and festive stops...

  How We Find Interesting Stops Between Destinations Finding hidden gems is one of our favorite parts of traveling. Some of the best memories come from unplanned stops, quirky roadside attractions, or charming little towns we stumble upon. Over the years, we’ve developed a few tools, tricks, and habits that help us uncover local treasures between destinations—and we’re excited to share them with you! 1. Use Apps Beyond GPS While Google Maps is great for getting from point A to point B, we often dive deeper with apps like Roadtrippers , Atlas Obscura , and TripAdvisor . These platforms highlight unusual attractions, local landmarks, and even small-town festivals you might otherwise miss. One more that I think gets easily missed and we use often- Facebook Events . We've found local library book sales, festivals, field days, etc just checking on Facebook. 2. Follow Local Recommendations We love checking out local visitor centers , small-town newspapers , and community bulletin ...

Mooch Docking in NE Tennessee! Life in a Shuttle Bus Conversion: What Surprised Us Most When we decided to move into a 1990 Ford E350 Shuttle Bus conversion (affectionately named Wildebeest ), we knew it would be different. We had spent 15 months living in Brunilda , our 1991 Chevy G20 van , so we knew what tiny-life challenges looked like. Wildebeest was an upgrade in space, but even with the extra room, surprises awaited. Here’s what caught us off guard — both the challenges and the perks — of life in a former EMS mobile command unit turned tiny home on wheels. 🚐 1. How Little Space We Actually Need You hear it all the time in the RV world: “You don’t need as much as you think you do.” After living in Brunilda , we thought we had a handle on minimalism . Moving into Wildebeest was bigger — more room to stretch, more storage, and a vastly more functional kitchen. But even with that extra space, living in a bus still forces intentionality. If it doesn’t serve a purpose or...

  Odd Museums and Local History Stops That Are Actually Fun Not all museums are the kind where you shuffle quietly from one display to the next. Some surprise you, make you laugh, and even leave you wondering how you didn’t know about them before. On our travels, we’ve discovered that the quirkiest museums often end up being the most memorable—and surprisingly fun. Take the car museums we’ve stumbled upon along the way. From classic muscle cars to rare vintage models, these stops weren’t just about looking at shiny vehicles—they were mini time machines. Walking among cars that once roared down old highways, reading their backstories, and spotting unique oddities like cars with unconventional designs or quirky modifications made the experience both fun and fascinating. Even if you’re not a car fanatic, the passion and creativity behind these collections are hard not to admire. Then there’s the Fur Trappers Museum we visited. At first glance, you might think it would be dusty an...

Planning the Perfect Travel Day A smooth travel day doesn’t happen by accident. Over time, we’ve learned that a little planning makes a huge difference—not just in getting from point A to point B, but in actually enjoying the journey. Here’s how we plan our travel days to keep them as stress-free as possible. 1. Start with the Route (But Stay Flexible) The first step is mapping out the general route. We look at: Distance and estimated driving time Road conditions and major construction areas Weather along the route We try to avoid pushing too far in one day. Shorter drives mean we arrive with enough energy to settle in, cook, and relax instead of collapsing into bed. Of course, flexibility is key. Detours sometimes lead to the best unexpected discoveries— quirky roadside stops and small towns are kind of our thing, after all. 2. Plan Fuel and Stretch Stops Driving for hours straight isn’t fun or safe, so we plan stops ahead of time. We look for: Gas stations wit...