I spent a year driving across the US in an RV. These were 7 of my favorite places — and the 2 I'd skip next time.
A freelance photojournalist shares her experiences from a yearlong RV road trip across the United States. She highlights several national monuments as superior alternatives to crowded national parks for travelers seeking unique landscapes.
Why it matters
It provides practical travel advice and highlights the value of lesser-known public lands in the US.
A photo of me in Utah, taken by my travel companion and now fiancé, Jason. Sarah Silbiger Sarah Silbiger took a yearlong sabbatical with her partner, roadtripping the US in a camper van. Most of her favorite spots weren't national parks, but rather national monuments. The Cedar Breaks National Monument offers Bryce Canyon's stunning views without the crowds. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Silbiger, a 30-year-old freelance video and photojournalist based in Philadelphia. The following has been edited for length and clarity. In 2023, my now fiancé and I sold all our belongings, took a sabbatical, and kicked off a yearlong road trip around the US in an RV. I grew up in Philadelphia , so I was not accustomed to seeing the American Southwest. It's a starkly different landscape.
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