We drive the Taconic Parkway and Hudson Highlands, uncover hidden gems like Letchworth State Park (the "Grand Canyon of the East") and Watkins Glen's nineteen waterfalls, and stand at the roaring edge of Niagara Falls. In the city, we hit Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, and walk the Brooklyn Bridge, then take the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island before a solemn stop at the 9/11 Memorial. Of course, no New York episode is complete without a real slice of pizza and a proper New York cheesecake.

We also cover the tourist traps to avoid, RV travel logistics (spoiler: leave the rig outside Manhattan), free and paid RV camping in the Adirondacks and at Letchworth, where to stay from Brooklyn boutique hotels to Niagara resorts, getting around by subway and the free Staten Island Ferry, unique experiences like Broadway and Finger Lakes wine tasting, summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the backcountry.

Next stop: New Jersey, a state full of hidden beaches, historic small towns, and a personality far bigger than its size would suggest.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Exploring America: New York
• (00:01:19) - Introducing New York's natural wonders
• (00:04:45) - Visit Manhattan
• (00:07:28) - Introducing New York City & the Finger Lakes

We cruise the art deco bridges of the Merritt Parkway, wind through the Quiet Corner along Route 169, and hug the coastline through Mystic and Stonington. Climb aboard a real tall ship at Mystic Seaport Museum, wander Yale's Gothic campus in New Haven, and stand beneath the fairytale towers of Gillette Castle above the Connecticut River. We'll also flag the tourist traps worth skipping around the casino resorts and Mystic's movie-famous pizza scene.

Plus: RV travel notes (including which parkways to avoid with a taller rig), the best free and paid RV camping at Hammonasset Beach, Kettletown, and Pachaug State Forest, where to stay from coastal inns to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, getting around by Metro-North and ferry, and the food that makes Connecticut a serious culinary destination — New Haven apizza, warm-butter lobster rolls, and Ted's legendary steamed cheeseburgers.

Summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the quieter hills round out the episode.

Next stop: New York, a state so massive it holds skyscrapers, mountains, vineyards, and endless small towns all under one name.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Exploring Connecticut
• (00:00:52) - Introducing Connecticut
• (00:08:12) - Connecticut and New York

Chapter by chapter, state by state: Illinois' Gemini Giant and Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, Missouri's Gateway Arch and Meramec Caverns, Kansas's short-but-mighty 13-mile stretch through Galena, Oklahoma's Blue Whale of Catoosa and POPS 66, Texas's Cadillac Ranch and the 72-ounce Big Texan steak challenge, New Mexico's neon-lit Blue Swallow Motel, Arizona's concrete-teepee Wigwam Motel and the wild burros of Oatman, and California's Mojave crossing through Amboy's Roy's Motel before reaching the Pacific.

We also cover the route-wide essentials: hidden ghost towns and detours, tourist traps to watch for, RV travel logistics alongside I-40, the best free BLM and paid KOA-style camping along the corridor, historic motor-court hotels, transportation options, the food that defines each stretch, unique bucket-list experiences, peak summer travel timing, honest budget expectations, and cell coverage advice for the remote desert sections.

We close with a full trip summary and a countdown of the top 10 unmissable attractions on the entire route.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Route 66: Celebrating Its 100th Birthday
• (00:09:20) - Route 66
• (00:15:54) - Top 10 Hits on Route 66

We drive Ocean Drive and Route 1A along the coast, walk the legendary Cliff Walk between the Vanderbilt mansions and the Atlantic, and step inside Providence's historic Union Station. You'll learn the schedule behind WaterFire, Providence's magical nighttime bonfire spectacle on the river, plus which tourist traps to skip near the Newport waterfront.

We also cover RV travel across this compact state, the best free and paid RV camping options (Fishermen's Memorial, Burlingame, and Arcadia Management Area), where to stay from historic resorts to budget-friendly hotels, how to get around by bus, rail, and ferry, and the local food you can't leave without trying — clam cakes, chowder, stuffies, Del's Frozen Lemonade, and a classic New York System hot wiener.

Plus: summer travel tips, honest budget expectations, and what to expect from cell coverage out on Block Island and the rural interior.

Next stop: Connecticut, the land of quiet New England towns, ivy-covered campuses, and historic seaports.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introducing Rhode Island
• (00:02:41) - Introducing Rhode Island

• Walk Boston’s legendary Freedom Trail and visit the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
• Explore iconic landmarks including Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Plymouth Rock, and the USS Constitution
• Discover scenic drives along Cape Cod, the Mohawk Trail, and Cape Ann
• Experience hidden gems like the Berkshires, Marblehead, Northampton, and Tanglewood
• RV travel tips and camping recommendations for Cape Cod and greater Boston
• Local food favorites including clam chowder, lobster rolls, Boston cream pie, cannoli, and Dunkin’
• Transportation advice for using Boston’s MBTA subway system and avoiding city traffic
• Summer travel recommendations for Cape Cod beaches, whale watching, harbor cruises, and coastal New England road trips
• Seasonal travel strategies for Salem in October and fall foliage in western Massachusetts
• Unique experiences including whale watching in Provincetown, concerts at Tanglewood, and walking historic Boston neighborhoods

Resources mentioned: Freedom Trail, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Cape Cod National Seashore, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, Nickerson State Park, Tanglewood, Legal Sea Foods, Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Flyer train, and the MBTA subway system.

• Route 100: Vermont's signature 200-mile scenic drive through the Green Mountains
• Iconic attractions including Stowe, Ben and Jerry's factory, and Shelburne Museum
• Hidden gems like Lake Willoughby, Quechee Gorge, and Warren Falls swimming hole
• RV travel tips and camping recommendations at state parks
• Local food scene featuring maple syrup, Vermont cheddar, and craft breweries
• Transportation advice and cell coverage warnings for rural areas
• Summer travel strategies to avoid crowds while experiencing county fairs and farmers markets
• Unique experiences like visiting working sugarhouses during maple season

Resources mentioned: Ben and Jerry's factory tour, Shelburne Museum, Trapp Family Lodge, Groton State Forest, Burlington Farmers Market, The Alchemist brewery, Hill Farmstead Brewery, Grafton Village Cheese, Cabot Creamery, Vermont Country Store

• The legendary Kancamagus Highway - 34.5 miles of pristine New England scenery
• Mount Washington's extreme weather and multiple ways to reach the summit
• New Hampshire's surprising 18-mile coastline and Hampton Beach
• Lake Winnipesaukee and the charming Lakes Region towns
• Hidden gems like Sculptured Rocks Natural Area and Lost River Gorge
• Portsmouth's emerging food scene and authentic New England dining
• Best camping spots, RV-friendly routes, and seasonal travel tips
• Unique experiences from loon watching to zip-lining through mountain canopies

Resources and Places Mentioned: Kancamagus Highway, Mount Washington Cog Railway, Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Wolfeboro Inn, Canterbury Shaker Village, Strawbery Banke Museum, Black Trumpet Bistro, Tuckerman Brewing, Franconia Ridge Loop, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

From the forests of Maine and Vermont to the Adirondacks of New York and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we explain when black flies emerge, why they’re so aggressive, and — most importantly — the BEST times to visit these beautiful destinations without having your camping, hiking, RV travel, or outdoor adventures ruined by swarming biting flies.

If you love:

• RV travel
• scenic drives
• hiking
• camping
• waterfall chasing
• road trips
• national parks
• New England travel
• fall foliage
• hidden gems

…this episode will help you plan smarter and travel at the right time of year.

We’ll also share:

• the peak black fly months to avoid
• the ideal travel windows for northern states
• practical survival tips if you must travel during swarm season
• why July through October is often the sweet spot for outdoor adventures

Whether you’re planning your next summer vacation, content creation trip, or RV journey, this episode could save your trip from becoming a buzzing nightmare.

Join us as we continue Exploring America… State by State.

• Driving the legendary U.S. Route One coastal highway from Portland to Rockland
• Discovering Maine's Bold Coast region near Cutler and Lubec for dramatic scenery
• Exploring quirky roadside attractions like Eartha, the world's largest rotating globe
• Experiencing Maine's islands including Monhegan Island and the Cranberry Isles
• Navigating Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain's famous sunrise views
• Finding authentic Maine food beyond tourist traps, from lobster shacks to potato donuts
• Understanding the great lobster roll debate: butter versus mayonnaise
• RV travel tips and campground planning for Maine's coastal regions

Resources mentioned: L.L.Bean flagship store in Freeport, The Holy Donut in Portland, Island Explorer shuttle system, John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s carriage roads in Acadia