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A weekend with the Adventures of A plus K

We have been traveling full time for the past 2.5 years. The places we’ve been able to see and experiences we’ve had are priceless and something I will cherish for the rest of my life. It doesn’t go without saying though there are some downsides to this lifestyle. Full-time travel makes it difficult to build community that would otherwise be built in one location over an extended period of time. Making friends that share this lifestyle and also balance a YouTube channel and blog has been one of the most beneficial things we’ve done for our mental health and overall happiness is to connect with other content creators who travel full-time. It’s been amazing to virtually meet people and get to know couples over FaceTime and relate on the ups and downs of YouTube and this lifestyle. The best is when we get to meet these incredible people in real life and hang out. That’s just what we did with Adam and Kathryn from Adventures of A+K. 

Crisfield, MD | The whole gang at anchor in Somers Cove.

A little background about Adam and Kathryn; they are a married couple around our age who live in a van with their dog, Kona, and travel around the United States full time exploring different cities, visiting National Parks, and hiking a variety of trails which range in difficulty. Adam and Kathryn create beautiful travel videos that are packed full of knowledge about certain areas of the country and write detailed travel guides their website, adventuresofaplusk.com. 

Crisfield, MD | Ollie loving on Adam and Kathryn.

We got to know Adam and Kathryn over Instagram in 2020 and had our first of many FaceTime calls in December. We continued chatting in 2021 and made plans to meet up as our travels aligned in the Great Lakes region of the United States in the summer of 2021. Due to Elliot’s wrist break in May 2021, our plans changed and we had to postpone those plans as we wouldn’t be boating to the Great Lakes region until the following year. Adam and Kathryn continued their travels to the northeast and were able to make their way to see us in early November. It was so exciting to finally meet them in person after virtually getting to know them for the past year. 

We spent 3 days with Adam and Kathryn showing them boat life and exploring Crisfield, MD, the town we called home for the previous two months. We began our time together with Indian food, something very close to our hearts. Together, we cooked Adam and Kathryn an Indian feast for dinner which included naan, paper dam, chana masala, and palak paneer. For dessert we enjoyed some traditional Indian sweets. It was a great first nigh of chatting and hanging out. The following day we showed Adam and Kathryn around the marina via our dinghy, Fred, and our new dinghy motor. Both Adam and Kathryn got to drive the dinghy and get a feel of what it’s like to drive our “car.” It was a great experience that showed one of the many aspects that are different to van life. 

Crisfield, MD | Ollie, Kathryn, and Elliot on a dinghy ride as we show them our “car.”

Later that day we walked into Crisfield, where we ate crab cakes at the Crab Place and walked to the public library where we watched the sunset on the public dock. It was so fun to show Adam and Kathryn some of the best parts of Crisfield and get to experience one of Crisfield’s killer sunsets together! 

Crisfield, MD | Elliot and Adam looking at the sun setting at the public dock.
Crisfield, MD | The whole gang at the public dock near the Crisfield Library during sunset.
Crisfield, MD | Kathryn and Jenn on the trails near the Crisfield Library.

The following day, we celebrated Adam’s 34th birthday by taking PIVOT out for a cruise. It was a really awesome day for a cruise because we had sunshine, a few clouds in the sky and the wind had finally let up after days of very windy weather. We really lucked out with some great conditions. Adam was able to drive PIVOT and we were able to show Adam and Kathryn what our typical day on the water cruising looks like. We were able to compare and contrast the many similarities of van life and boat life throughout our time together. It was awesome to hear as van life has always been something we’ve been interested in doing and hope to do it in the future. 

Crisfield, MD | Adam on his 34th Birthday driving PIVOT.

We completed the Adam’s Birthday by anchoring in Somers Cove, grilling out a delicious dinner, celebrating with some treats for dessert, and playing games. It was such a fun day and we felt so honored to be able to celebrate Adam’s birthday with them both. 

Crisfield, MD | PIVOT anchored in Somers Cove just in time for sunset.

Meeting internet friends in real life is a really cool experience. Over the many FaceTime calls and messaging over Instagram and messenger, we’ve been able to get to know each other better and better. There was alway a little bit of worry in the back of my mind prior to meeting them whether we’d really get along in real life. It’s one thing to meet and chat online, but it’s a whole new thing to spend 3 days together. The three days together felt like we’ve been friends for years and the conversations we shared, deepened our friendships. We’re very lucky to call Adam and Kathryn friends and can’t wait to spend more time together in the future. 

Crisfield, MD | Ollie enjoying being back on the water after months of being land locked.

We highly recommend following Adam and Kathryn as they travel around the United States and Canada in their converted van as well as expand their travels broad. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and their blog.

Watch Adam and Katheryn’s video of our time together:

The ups, downs, and everything in between, we share it all. If you like what you see, there are lots of ways to show your support and say thanks! The easiest way to support our work is by commenting on this post, liking and sharing our content on Facebook, and pinning our content on Pinterest. It’s a small way to say thank you that goes a long way!


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January 26, 2022

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Jennifer Johnson

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About Us

We’re Jen and Elliot, aka Scho & Jo, a couple of high school sweethearts who fell in love with travel and decided to live life now. From international travel to boating around America’s Great Loop to converting a Sprinter Van into a campervan and now traveling to all 50 States and US National Parks, we’re here to help you plan for your dream trip! We share detailed guides and expense reports to help turn your dream trip into a reality! Read more about us here.

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  • How to Spend One Day in Zion National Park
  • 5 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park
  • Our 7 Favorite Viewpoints in Zion National Park (No Hiking Required)
  • How to Hike the Narrows as a Beginner: Zion National Park
  • Zion Packing List: What to Bring and What to Rent

We’re a proud Contributing Editor to Waterway Guide.

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Sign up for our weekly newsletter where we update you with our plans for the week, recap our previous week with stories that don’t make it into our videos, ask for recommendations, and send you other resources straight into your inbox!

What part of Zion are you most interested in? Zi What part of Zion are you most interested in? 

Zion National Park is part of Utah’s Mighty Five and is the western most park. Zion is a sanctuary in the desert as its towering red rock cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and lush valleys amaze first time and long time visitors alike. 

The park was the second most visited National Park in the US in 2024. From short hikes, to best hikes, and things to to that aren’t hiking, we have guides on our website for it all.

👋 Hi, we’re Jen, Elliot, and Ollie - living in our self converted van as we travel to all 50 states and 63 National Parks. We share travel inspiration, actually helpful tips, and detailed itineraries, all to help get you outside! Follow @schoandjo for more 🌞

#zion #zionnationalpark #zionnps #utah #utahgram #utahrocks #roadtrip #roadtrippin #roadtripping #usa #roadtripusa #visitutah #ForeverMighty
This hike looks down on Angle’s Landing 🤯

👋 Hi, we’re Jen, Elliot, and Ollie 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🐶 living in our self converted van as we travel to all 50 states and 63 National Parks. We share travel inspiration, actually helpful tips, and detailed itineraries, all to help get you outside! Follow @schoandjo for more 🌞

⛔️ No permit to Angle’s Landing? No problem. 

⛔️ Not interested in hiking Angle’s Landing? No problem.

✅ THIS hike is the perfect hike for anyone who wants incredible views of Zion National Park. 

Here’s how to access this Observation Point:

🗺️ This route is now accessible by driving to the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort (a rockfall closed the original trail). The trail offers sweeping views over Zion Canyon, including a direct view of Angels Landing from above. Overall, it’s relatively flat, shaded in parts, and much less crowded than many others in the park. 

🚘 Park at the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. You can walk about a half mile from Zion Ponderosa or take their $7.50 shuttle (which we did, since the dirt road was muddy after recent rain). 

⌚️The hike is 7 miles round trip and is ranked as a moderate hike taking about 3-4 hours.

🙌🏼 With its minimal elevation gain and maximum reward, this is one of the best value hikes in the park.

💬 Do you think these views rival those at Angle’s Landing? Let us know in the comments below 👇🏼 

#angleslanding #zionnationalpark #zionnp #nationalparkadventures #bestutahhikes #hikeutah #visitutah #ForeverMighty
Here’s the deal and how to go on the best hike/t Here’s the deal and how to go on the best hike/tour in the park 👇

New here? 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🐶 We’re Jen, Elliot, and Ollie on a journey to visit all 50 states and 63 National Parks. Follow @schoandjo for more inspiration, actually helpful tips, and detailed travel guides 🚐🗺️🧭

The best hike in Carlsbad Caverns is the King’s Palace Ranger-led tour! Here’s how to score it…

🕗 Arrive to the park early! We recommend getting to the Visitor Center by 8 am so you can ensure you get some of the limited tickets to the King’s Palace Ranger-led tour. There are limited amount of spots (usually 24) and they go quickly! 

🎟️ When the Visitor Center opens at 9 am, head to the counter to pay your $15 park entrance fee (or show your America the Beautiful Pass) and purchase your ranger tour ticket. 

ℹ️ Explore the Visitor Center while you wait for the tour to start. We recommend watching the park films and reading several of the information placards to learn about the park. 

🧥 Take the elevator down 750 feet into the cave system and head to the starting point of the King’s Palace tour. That being said, you’ll want to bring a jacket for the caves, even in summer, as they stay at a cool 56°F year-round. 

📬 Pro Tip: If you like sending postcards from the NP’s, there’s a mailbox in the cave. 

🗣️ Attend the King’s Palace Ranger-led tour, which lasts about an hour and a half.

🥪 Head back up to the surface for lunch. We had a picnic style lunch outside but there’s also a food court in the Gift Shop.

📸 After lunch, go back into the cave through the Natural Entrance. Make sure to visit the Big Room! It doesn’t disappoint. 

✌️ Plan to exit the caves by 4:30 PM as elevators stop running at 4:45 PM.

🍴 Enjoy dinner in Carlsbad, NM - we recommend stopping at Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Co. for pizza and beer with live music on the weekends.

💬 Comment CAVE and I’ll send you our FREE detailed travel itinerary complete with an estimated budget breakdown, packing list, and more! 

Disclaimer: The tours change daily based on Ranger staffing, so nothing is guaranteed. 

#carlsbadcaverns #carlsbadcavernsnp #nationalparkadventures #gocaving #cavetour #parkrangersrock
Come prepared with our White Sands NP Itinerary! Come prepared with our White Sands NP Itinerary!

📍Save this for later & tag your adventure buddy! 🫶

If we’re traveling to White Sands National Park for the first time and only have one day to spend exploring the park, the is how we would spend our time: 

1️⃣ Dive the Dunes Scenic Drive to the back of the park and enjoy the views along the way!

2️⃣ Hike the Alkali Flat Trail in the morning during the coolest part of the day. This is the longest in the park at 4.5 miles, so be sure to bring a lot of water and wear sun protective clothing. The only place water is available is at the visitors center, so be sure to fill up before driving out to this trailhead. 

3️⃣ Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the many picnic areas under some shade. 

4️⃣ After lunch, head to the visitor center to get out of the sun and heat, watch the park film, and learn about the park. Head to the Gift Shop to rent a sled for $15-20 depending on the style. 

5️⃣ Go sledding on the Sand Dunes! The smooth gypsum sand makes for a surprisingly nice sledding surface, especially if you’ve applied wax to the bottom of your board. Make sure to return the sled by 4pm. 

6️⃣ Hike the Dune Life Nature Trail which is a marked short 1-miles loop that offers some of the best chances to spot wildlife in the park. Alternatively, you can hike the Playa Trail which is a short 15 minute hike.

7️⃣ Lastly, watching the sunset at Sand Dunes is a must! If you’re interested, check out the ranger-led sunset stroll. We love Ranger tours as they never disappoint. Check the visitor center for meet-up time and location. 

‼️ A few things to note ‼️

⛔️ The Dunes Scenic Drive can often be closed from 7-9am as they clear the road from any sand that was blown onto the road from the night before. 

⛔️ Certain areas of the park close temporarily for missile tests from the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. Check the parks website or call ahead for more info. 

⛔️ The park is super dog friendly! 🦮

Comment SEND and I’ll send you our FREE detailed travel itinerary with an estimated budget breakdown, packing list and more!

Follow @schoandjo for more NP itineraries!

#whitesands #nationalparkadventures  #travelguide
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