Leapfrog America: Our quest to visit all 50 states

Did you ever dream of visiting every state in the union but felt like time constraints and work responsibilities were holding you back? That's exactly how we felt too until one night over dinner when we had a brilliant idea! What if we took one week off of work every 30 days and traveled the country in our motorhome? We could visit as many states as possible within that time period and then put our motorhome in storage before flying back home again. At that point, we estimated that we would work for another 30 days and then fly back to where we left off and continue the journey. We called this idea Leapfrog America.

Our plan was simple but unique. And based on our calculations, we could do it fairly inexpensively as well. We heard about a new organization called Harvest Hosts. They have about 4200 locations around the country, including wineries, breweries, and farms that will allow you to stay at their facilities for free as long as you patronize their businesses. The cost of membership is only $85 a year. We figured that if we combined that with free nights at Walmart, Home Depot and Bass Pro Shop parking lots, it would offset the cost of the frequent cross-country flights that would be required for the trips.

On March 18, 2022, we loaded up our motorhome with a kayak, mountain bike, paddle board and snorkeling gear and embarked on the first leg of our journey. Our plan was to travel from California to Florida in 10 days and visit all of the states along the southerly portion of the country. Here is a summary of our journey:

DAY 1 (459 miles)

Our first day was basically a positioning day, getting through areas we'd been to many times before. We stayed at Little Anthony's Diner in Tucson, Arizona which was also our first Harvest Host experience. We loved the food, the cold beers, and the live band. The guests were dancing, including us! We wished we could have stayed for breakfast, but we had to get on the road early to make it to our second Harvest Host in time.

The diner had several flat and level RV spots located in the parking lot next to the restaurant. Fortunately, noise was not a problem.

DAY 2 (551 miles):

Our second day was another positioning day as we'd been to Arizona and New Mexico many times before. We made a quick stop at Pistachio Land in Alamogordo, New Mexico to check out the world's largest fake pistachio. We also did some wine tasting and bought some nuts for the road.

Next up, we ventured to Roswell, New Mexico, home to the infamous Roswell UFO incident in 1947. We visited the Alien Zone, a UFO museum filled with eerie dioramas and extraterrestrial-themed exhibits. Although the museum was interesting, the surrounding downtown area left us feeling uneasy, so we quickly made our exit.

Our final stop on this day was the Enchanted Vineyards, another Harvest Host destination. We were welcomed with open arms and parked our RV in their spacious lot. We indulged in beer and wine tasting and even brought home a bottle of their delicious port wine. As we savored our charcuterie board and other appetizers, we couldn't help but regret not making time to visit White Sands National Park, where we heard you can even sand surf!

Next time, we plan to include White Sands National Park in our itinerary and make sure to book ahead to ensure a smooth and safe visit.

DAY 3 (380 miles)

Our route on Day 3 took us from New Mexico through Texas to our final destination of Oklahoma City. It made for a very long day of driving. We stopped there to visit the Bricktown District and stayed in a Bass Pro Shop parking lot. We were able to walk from Bass Pro Shop to Bricktown in just a few minutes. The area was small but had lots to see. There were restaurants, bars, miniature golf and a water taxi. We had a drink at The19th Hole Bar and then headed to Bourbon Bistro. The food was good, but the server was rude. On our way back, we decided to go to Bricktown Comedy Club. We were able to see the end of the show, which was pretty good, considering it was only a $10 cover charge.

Tip: This drive was very long. We would recommend adding another stop during this leg of the journey.

DAY 4 (312 miles):

On this day, we set our sights on Hot Springs, Arkansas. This small town, located in the Ouachita Mountains, is known for its natural hot springs that have been drawing visitors for centuries. It was a long drive, partially on narrow mountain roads, but the destination was worth it.

As we arrived in Hot Springs, we were taken aback by its charming European village-like atmosphere. The 19th century art deco architecture lining each side of the main thoroughfare was a pleasant surprise. As we learned from our research, this town was a favorite vacation spot of Al Capone and his gang in the 1930s.

Our first stop was the Quapaw Bathhouse, where we spent an hour soaking in the four different thermal pools, each set at different temperatures. The staff was very accommodating and even set up a special dressing room for Lisa, who is visually disabled.

After the bathhouse, we walked to the Superior Bathhouse Brewery, located just around the corner. The brewery and restaurant are located in a converted bathhouse, and all of their beers are made from the water of the town’s thermal hot springs. We had a “beer bath” flight of beers, consisting of 18 different samples. The staff was amazing, and the beer was delicious.

That night, we stayed at the Hot Springs National KOA Campground which is about 5 miles from downtown. It gave us an opportunity to refill with water and dump our tanks.

Hot Springs is a town that should be explored for at least one full day. The downtown area is full of history and charm that begs to be appreciated. It was actually selected as one of the 25 best small towns in America by Architectural Digest. There are also lots of hiking and mountain biking opportunities in the area that could fill several more days.

Fun fact: The pretty white trees you see along the roads are called “Semen Tree.” As pretty as they are, they smell horrible. The smell is often described as a combination of chlorine, rotting fish, semen & vagina (not our words). We stopped along the side of the road to take a whiff and can confirm that that is an accurate description!

DAY 5 (191 miles):

We set off from Hot Springs, Arkansas with a destination of Memphis, Tennessee. The drive was about 191 miles, and we had a great view of the beautiful scenery along the way.

Upon arriving in Memphis, we stayed at the Graceland RV Park which was located right across the street from Elvis Presley's former home. After we got settled in, we decided to explore the city and headed downtown to Beale Street.

Beale Street is known for its music and nightlife, and it did not disappoint. We wandered up and down the street, taking in the sights and sounds. We decided to have dinner at BB Kings Restaurant, and it was a great decision. The house band was amazing, and the female singer was phenomenal. I had ribs for dinner which were slathered in a sweet barbecue sauce. They were not remarkable.

After dinner, we stopped at a bar down the street and listened to another soul band that featured another female singer. Both of our Uber drivers on this trip were not friendly.

The next morning, before heading to Mississippi, we had breakfast at the oldest café around, the Arcade Café. They are known for their deep-fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, so we had to try one. It was delicious!

Our experience in Memphis was a great one. We were able to experience the music and nightlife of Beale Street and enjoy a delicious meal at the Arcade Café. We would definitely recommend this city to anyone looking for a unique and exciting travel experience.

DAY 6 (366 miles):

The drive on this day took us from the top to bottom of the great state of Mississippi. Our destination was the Fort Bayou Brewing Company in Ocean Springs. It is another Harvest Host location.

As we arrived, we were directed to the rear parking lot where they had several spots designated for RV and trailer camping.

As soon as we walked into the brewery, we were greeted with the delicious aroma of freshly brewed beer and the sound of lively conversation. The Blueberry Hefeweizen was a standout, and it was also Wine Wednesday, which meant $1 glasses of wine. We spoke with the owner of the brewery who was friendly and curious about how we were able to travel the country without being retired. Then we told him about Leapfrog America, and he thought it was a great idea.

After enjoying a beer and some fried green tomatoes, we decided to explore the downtown area of Ocean Springs. Known for its historic downtown, the city is reminiscent of Nashville with music from several bars spilling out into the streets. We had dinner at the Mosaic Restaurant, which had an outside bar with a fantastic band. We spent the evening barhopping and listening to music.

The historic downtown of Ocean Springs is considered one of the best in the country, and it's easy to see why. With its charming streets, local musicians, and fantastic food, it's no wonder that it's a popular destination for travelers.

DAY 7 & 8 (106 miles):

On Day 7, we set off for Biloxi, Mississippi with the plan to re-stock our supplies for the rest of our journey at a local Walmart. But as we were driving, we stumbled upon a seemingly deserted park next to the ocean, complete with a decrepit lighthouse. Intrigued, we parked and took a look around, striking up a conversation with a homeless couple who were camped out there. They told us that the city allows homeless people to stay there for free and doesn't hassle them too much. It was a humbling and eye-opening experience that reminded us of the importance of empathy and understanding towards those who are less fortunate.

After this unexpected encounter, we made our way to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We were excited to set up camp and finally get to experience the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches that we had been hearing so much about. We were fortunate to snag a spot at this park, which is not always easy to come by, and it was a bit pricey but worth it.

As soon as we set up camp, we made a long walk to the beach, which was unfortunately cold and windy. But the beach was nearly deserted, so we took the opportunity to do some photography work before heading back to the motorhome.

The next two days were spent relaxing at the beach, going for long walks, and hiking around the state park. The park offers a variety of activities such as fishing, swimming, kayaking and picnicking. The Gulf State Park Pier is a must-see attraction and it's a great place to catch a glimpse of the local marine life and birds.

DAY 9 (49 miles):

On our ninth day of Leapfrog America, we set out to Fort Pickens Campground in Pensacola, Florida. But before we left, we took the time to sit outside at our campground picnic table and enjoy a cup of coffee.

As we made our way to Florida, we couldn't resist stopping at the world-famous Flora-Bama Bar. We were lucky to find a spot to park our motorhome in the parking lot across the street. The bar is enormous, and we wandered around for a while before finally finding a table on the beach. It was the perfect way to relax and unwind, as we listened to a solo country singer.

After an hour or so, it was time to hit the road again and make our way to Fort Pickens State Park. We checked in at the office, paid our $40 campground fee and $25 national park fee, and found our camping spot. Then we headed to the beach.

The beach in Pensacola was truly one of the best we've ever been to. The sand was as fine as sugar and the water was a deep turquoise blue. With hardly anyone on the beach, it was the perfect spot to relax and unwind. We highly recommend staying here for several days. As we were running low on food, we had hotdogs and champagne for dinner and turned in early.

Fun fact: Fort Pickens was a popular spot for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, and the fort was used as a prison for Native American prisoners of war. It's a great place to learn more about the history of the area while enjoying the beautiful beaches.

DAY 10 (24 miles):

As we started up the final day of our journey, we got up early and savored one last cup of coffee outside on the gulf coast, taking in the natural beauty of the surrounding area before starting to pack up the motorhome for storage. We couldn't help but reflect on the past 10 days of adventure and exploration.

With heavy hearts, we said goodbye to Fort Pickens State Park, which was a highlight of our trip with its sugar-white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

We made our way to Guardian Boat and RV Storage in Pensacola, where we were greeted by the friendly staff and owner. Not only does the owner run his roofing company out of the same facility, but he also lives in an apartment on site, which added an extra level of security for our motorhome. The staff was more than helpful and gave us several recommendations for the next leg of our journey. We were impressed by the cleanliness and organization of the storage yard, and the $100 per month fee was reasonable.

We said our goodbyes and got an Uber to the Pensacola Airport where we headed back home for the next 30 days.

As we made our way to Florida, we couldn't resist stopping at the world-famous Flora-Bama Bar. We were lucky to find a spot to park our motorhome in the parking lot across the street. The bar is enormous, and we wandered around for a while before finally finding a table on the beach. It was the perfect way to relax and unwind, as we listened to a solo country singer. plan to drive no more than three hours per day on our next trip to fully take in the beauty of the country. Stay tuned for Phase 2 of Leapfrog America!