Thirty-Four: December 2022/January 2023

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The magazine for epic road trips

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From The Editor
Have you ever had an epiphany that seems ridiculously obvious in hindsight? I was recently talking to a friend about all the things that I have on my plate, and trying to prioritize them and not upset anyone. And he listened with a quizzical look on
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Editor and Publisher Gemma Peckham gemma@rovamag.com Advertising Sales media@rovamag.com 646-916-2599 Designer Sam Garland Editorial Assistance Giulia Heppell, Ruby O'Brien Contributors Ruby O'Brien, Sylvia Karcz, Thomas Brentwood, Patrick Coleman, A
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Rova Recommends
Isabella Manfredi, former frontwoman of Aussie rock band The Preatures, has released her first solo LP, izzi, and it's the perfect accompaniment to those moody winter skies, gray landscapes, and snow-filled days. izzi is a ‘90s-inspired indie-pop alb
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Gear Up!
Touch and Go Have you ever tried to use your phone while wearing gloves, only to post your sweet campsite to Instagratn with a garbled caption, or text something inapproriate to “Dad” instead of “Dave”? (Asking for a friend.) Keep your fingers warm,
ROVA2 min read
Why The Road?
Peace and freedom are incomparable nowadays. The best thing about living on the road is the community. Going on this lonely journey, you don't expect to run into like-minded people. Whenever I do, I cherish the moment. It's not every day you run into
ROVA5 min read
An Ode To Movement
O ne of the best pieces of advice I ever received was: the faster you accept that you're not always going to feel 100 percent ready to do something, the faster you'll get around to actually doing it. My friend was two glasses of wine in as she told m
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The Dream RV
My initial plan for this story was to put together an article of the grandest, most impressive RVs out there, but then I realized… the dream RV isn't the most expensive or the best-appointed; it's the one that fits your dreams. RVing is not a one-siz
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Off-grid With Solar Power
For most, the goal of a camping trip is to find peace, solitude, and beauty—a change from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A trip into nature can relax the mind and body, and even sometimes provide spiritual experiences. However, us RVers and
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A Rich Tradition
As long as humans have been mobile, we've looked for ways to make travel more pleasant. Litters (wheelless vehicles carried by porters, also known as palanquins or sedan chairs), used in ancient times, were often outfitted with cushions, a chair or c
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National Parks Off The Beaten Path
It's no secret that the national parks seem more crowded, but do the numbers back that up? While crowds returned to the national parks in full force in 2021, annual visitation is still below its preCOVID numbers. 2021 saw 30 million fewer visits than
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Honorable Mentions
If you love a historic district, you'll love this national historical park in Skagway, Alaska. More than 20 buildings in the downtown region have been preserved or restored from the gold-rush days of the late 1800s, including a saloon, a variety of s
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State Parks For All Seasons
From pumpkin spice to baseball, and beach parties to snow days, every season has some magic. Across the country, even in places you wouldn't always assume, state parks have some of the most stunning scenery that you can find anywhere, year-round. Her
ROVA6 min read
Alone, But Never Really Alone
Fifteen months ago, I moved into my 25-foot RV with my two dogs and the few belongings that I hadn't gotten rid of. I had already been working remotely for several years at that point, and traveling as much as I could. I had done two years of researc
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Filter Coffee, Concrete And Dust
We drove 300 miles and bought a campervan on sight for a few thousand dollars: a 1986 GMC Vandura with a fiberglass top and a true ‘80s interior—linoleum floor, plaid upholstery, cloth ceiling—every possible shade of brown. The glue on the roof had g
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ON THE HUNT FOR BIGFOOT and Other Legendary Beasts
On the night of September 12th, 1952, seven residents of the small, central West Virginia town of Flatwoods were stunned as they witnessed a pulsing red light coming from a local farm. Searching the area by flashlight, they came face-to-face with an
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A Beastly Getaway
The Michigan Dogrnan: As the name suggests, this dog-man hybrid is a fearsome seven-foot-tall canine-like animal with the torso of a man and a terrifying howl that sounds like a human scream. Idaho's Sharlie: America's version of the Loch Ness Monste
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To The Lighthouse With Goats And Artichokes
Before the lighthouse at Pigeon Point, and before the goats and their Anatolian shepherds at Harley Farm, or the artichokes or the immigrants, or migrant farm workers of Pescadero, there were the Ramaytush Ohlone “people of the west.” They burnt gras
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Valley Of Fire: Much More Than A Scenic Drive
Valley of Fire State Park is 40,000 acres of fiery red rock formations, sweeping valley views, and colorful deserts in Southeast Nevada. The park sits in the Mojave Desert region, about an hour outside of Las Vegas. While it may be one of the lesser-
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Exploring Mars
I am an astronaut. I've walked the face of Mars and lived to tell the tale. I am Matt Damon in The Martian, but more handsome. The only difference is, I did it all in Arizona. That's right: you don't need a fancy degree from an acclaimed university,
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Not Your Average Downtown
Nestled in Greene County, Ohio, away from the hustle and bustle of cities like Columbus and Cincinnati, is Yellow Springs. A village dedicated to arts, music, and people, Yellow Springs boasts some of the quaintest architecture and stores in central
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Discover Delaware In Three Days
If you've seen Wayne's World, you'll know what I mean when I say that Delaware is typically seen as a little… uneventful. While we laughed at the “Hi, I'm in Delaware” skit from the classic ‘90s film, there's no denying that Wayne and Garth's inabili
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Haunted New Hampshire
The first paranormal site I ever visited was in Alpine. New Jersey. It was an eight-story gothic clocktower built from gray rocks that seemed to glimmer. Devils Tower, a landmark that's surrounded by manicured grass and oceanic waters bluer than the
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Picture This…
in Bend, Colorado, blankets still warm from where you've been cocooned for days. Today, the sun showed up, and you leaped at it—you're still wearing your pajama top under your jacket. Tumalo Creek tumbles gently as ice creaks on fallen branches, and

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