Outland Adventures

  🍂 Small Town America Spotlight: Fall Festivals & Local Finds There’s just something magical about small-town fall festivals — the mix of crisp air, cinnamon sugar, and a little hometown pride you can’t fake. From Tennessee hillsides to Ohio cornfields , we’ve spent the last two autumns chasing that feeling — the one that smells like kettle corn and sounds like a fiddle tuning up on the courthouse lawn. 🪕 Rogersville Heritage Days – Rogersville, Tennessee Last fall, we found ourselves right in the middle of Rogersville’s Heritage Days — a weekend filled with history, bluegrass , and the best apple dumplings we’ve ever tasted. (No exaggeration.) The main street looked like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life, and every booth had a story. Amanda stocked up on local honey and handmade soaps, while Chris got caught in a debate over barbecue styles with a vendor who swore “the sauce is the soul.” 🏡 Carolina Corners – Small-Town Stops Along I-26 We meandered throug...

  ❄️ Cold-Weather Camping: Cozy Tips & Gear We Love There’s something magical about cold-weather camping — the crunch of frost under your boots, the smell of woodsmoke drifting through crisp air, and the way coffee somehow tastes better when you can see your breath. We’ve camped through snow flurries, icy rain, and those sneaky “it’s 60° at noon but 25° by sundown” kind of nights. So trust us when we say: being cozy is an art form. Here’s how we stay toasty, cheerful, and (mostly) frostbite-free when temps drop: 1. Layer Like a Pro Forget fashion — think survival-chic. Merino wool base layers , flannel shirts , and a puffy jacket are our holy trinity. Amanda swears by fleece-lined leggings , while Chris has an ongoing love affair with thermal shirts that make him look like a mountain hermit. 2. Hot Drinks, Always Cocoa, coffee, cider — if it’s warm and steamy, we’re drinking it. Our secret weapon? A heavy-duty thermos that keeps drinks hot long enough to survive an...

  🍂 Campground Kitchens: Cooking Thanksgiving in Small Spaces Last year’s Thanksgiving looked a little different—but in the best way. We were settled in at Outside Inn Campground in South Carolina , surrounded by golden fields and friendly faces (and yes, Fred the Highland cow totally stole our hearts). The campground was the perfect mix of agriculture and tourism charm—part farm, part getaway—and it made for one unforgettable holiday. Our “kitchen” that week? A picnic table and our trusty folding table, both not quite level. Chris handled the turkey tenderloins on the camp stove while Amanda worked on mashed potatoes, green beans, and stuffing—all the classic fixings, just miniaturized for our tiny space. It turns out, you don’t need a full kitchen to make a feast—just a little creativity, teamwork, and the promise of pie at the end. Once everything was prepped and the last of the gravy whisked smooth, we set out on a post-dinner hike through the woods. The air was crisp, ...

 🎄 Full-Time RV Life & The Holidays: Staying Festive on the Road When you live full-time on the road, the holidays look a little different. No big house to decorate. No attic full of ornaments. No seven-foot tree (unless you count that one inflatable we thought would fit in the RV ... it didn’t). But different doesn’t mean less magical. Out here, holiday cheer comes in smaller packages—twinkling lights strung under the awning, cinnamon candles flickering on the counter, and maybe a wreath made from pinecones we found on a hike. Every mile brings a new kind of celebration, and that’s part of the charm. 🎁 Cozy Spaces, Big Spirit We’ve learned that it doesn’t take much to feel festive in a tiny space. A strand of fairy lights instantly turns the RV into a cozy winter nook. We hang stockings on the cabinet handles, play our favorite holiday playlist , and let the smell of hot cocoa fill the air. Amanda’s crafting magic usually comes into play here— mini wreaths , hand...

  Catfish Queen Festival ! Cast: Amanda, Chris, Katie, & Nikoli. When you think of small-town parades, visions of marching bands, kids waving flags, and a candy toss might come to mind. But the Catfish Queen Festival ? That’s a whole other universe. Imagine floats shaped like giant, glittering catfish, people in outrageous fish costumes, and an entire royal court celebrating the unlikeliest of monarchs—the freshwater catfish. Naturally, we couldn’t resist checking it out. We arrived early, wandering through the festival grounds as the air filled with the irresistible scent of fried catfish. Nikoli’s eyes immediately lit up—he was on a mission. Within minutes, he had sampled catfish nuggets, catfish tacos, and even a mysterious catfish dip served in what looked suspiciously like a mini fishbowl. He nodded at each bite with the solemnity of a professional food critic, while Chris just shook his head and muttered something about us “single-handedly supporting the catfish economy....

  Outland Adventures Blog Schedule: November Hey friends, Amanda & Chris here 👋 As the leaves fall and the holiday season peeks around the corner, we’re excited to share what’s coming up this November on the blog. From cozy campground vibes to keeping traditions alive while traveling, we’ve packed the month with stories, tips, and reflections straight from our road life. Here’s what you can expect every Tuesday & Thursday this month: Nov 4th – Full-Time RV Life & The Holidays: Staying Festive on the Road Nov 6th – Campground Kitchens : Cooking Thanksgiving in Small Spaces Nov 11th – Cold-Weather Camping : Cozy Tips & Gear We Love Nov 13th – Small Town America Spotlight : Fall Festivals & Local Finds Nov 18th – RV Life & Gratitude: The Things We’re Thankful For This Year Nov 20th – The Not-So-Perfect Side of RV Life : Mishaps, Breakdowns & Laughs Nov 25th – Dream Destinations: Places We’d Love to Spend a Future Holiday ...