ROVA

ROVA is a print and digital magazine about traveling the roads of North America: the insightful stories, the spectacular images, and the people who make up this vibrant, growing community.

FROM THE EDITOR

ROVA

ROVA IN YOUR WORDS

ROVA RECOMMENDS

GEAR UP!

WHY THE ROAD? • ROVA catches up with road travelers to get the scoop on why they choose to live the nomadic life.

TAKE ME TO THE MOUNTAIN, BIKE • To the uninitiated, mountain biking can seem intimidating—but there’s a trail out there for everyone. All you need is a little preparation.

ODE TO MY HIKING BOOTS • Exploring the path that a pair of hiking boots takes from the shelf to the trail.

CROSS COUNTRY IN AN AILING AMBULANCE • In 2017, I bought a 30-year-old retired ambulance for $2,000 and drove it coast to coast. It had no AC, no turbo, no airbags, and no business going anywhere outside the municipal lot it was parked in. But I was 18 and didn’t know any better, so I hit the road.

IN DEFENSE OF TALKING TO STRANGERS • Sometimes listening to other people’s stories helps you to build your own.

SHELTERING IN MOTION • Social distancing is in full force, but people are coming together to help each other out.

Footnotes: Native American history

MY GRANDMA IS MY TRAVEL ROLE MODEL • At the age of 76, my grandmother is still pursuing experiences and extraordinary sights that she won’t find at home. If that’s not inspiring to a young traveler, I don’t know what is.

EL PORTAL • You never know if someone you meet has a hidden agenda. Sometimes you just have to trust yourself and, if you’re lucky, you’ll have the experience of a lifetime. If you’re not… well, hopefully you have your mace.

FROM NORTH WALES TO THE ADIRONDACKS • A photo essay

MAGIC IN SPOKANE’S DESERT FOREST • As a world traveler, navigating change feels like second nature; but when COVID-19 struck, I had a hard time adapting. Spokane is nothing like the Swiss Alps… and yet, it was exactly what I needed.

ROAD-TRIPPING THE LONELIEST HIGHWAY IN AMERICA • Way out in the drylands of the Great Basin, you will find a road that meanders its way across open sagebrush plains, over mountain pass after mountain pass, and through half-forgotten mining towns. This is the Loneliest Highway in America—a stretch of road that rarely sees people, which is exactly why it should be tackled.

SPACEPORT AMERICA: PIONEERING THE FUTURE • New Mexico’s history of pioneering is impressive; but its claim to discovery is about to be launched out of this world.

SAVORING THE SMALL-TOWN LIFE • A summer trip to a tight-knit community outside of Des Moines, Iowa, was just the break I needed after years exploring urban destinations. I discovered that there’s much more to this way of life than meets the eye.

LOUISIANA’S RURAL HIGHWAYS THE PATH TO THE REAL ADVENTURE • Many visitors to Louisiana only go to New Orleans, but it could be argued that the best way to experience the state’s real charm is to avoid the Big Easy altogether. Louisiana is a beautiful, historically rich area, and hitting the open road is the best way to see it for yourself.

WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MISSING BETWEEN NEW YORK AND BOSTON • The trip between New York and Boston is commonly taken, but travelers often skip the attractions in between. Remember to take some time and explore next time you’re moving between the cities.

CORAL, CRITTERS AND CAR PROBLEMS ROAD-TRIPPING AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST • You don’t need more than US$1,500 saved and 16 days to embark on one of the world’s most iconic road trips: the great Australian east coast. From snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef to exploring the hip surf town of Byron Bay, there is adventure (and wacky Australian creatures) around every corner.

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