Looking for inspiration and adventure for your RV travel, historic and adventure travels? You’ve come to the right place. Time.Travel.Trek. is the name of this blog for a reason. It focuses on three passions – exploring the past (time), experiencing the world (travel) and being active outside (trek). I can’t seem to give up one for the other, so I combine them all and call it “actively exploring the past.” And that’s lucky for you!
Why?
It’s lucky for you because when I do a year-end roundup of inspirational podcasts and YouTube videos, it covers a lot of territory. Whether you’re interested in the prehistory of Arizona or the history of Canada, travelling through North America by RV or setting out to discover the natural world and how we use it – you’ll find inspiration for travel and adventure in this post!
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Table of Contents
Inspiration and Adventure for RV, Outdoor & Historic Travel
Whether you’re interested in exploring the past, experiencing the world or being active outside – you’ll find something of interest in this roundup post of inspirational podcasts and YouTube videos. To make it easy to find what you’re particularly interested in, I’ve divided this megalist into three sections:
- Looking into the Past
- Inspiration for Traveling Around
- Seeking Outdoor Adventures
Got it? Good. Let’s get going.
Looking into the Past
Let’s face it, this year we’ve been stuck in the present and worried about the future. But that doesn’t mean that we can find inspiration for escape through travel and adventure by looking back at the past. Podcasts are the perfect vehicle for discovering historical stories in a format that pulls us back while often inspiring us to get out and explore these settings for ourselves.
Across the United States
The Memory Palace is written and produced by Nate DiMeo. He has done this for the past dozen years. With vivid detail and superlative storytelling, he takes his listeners along on a nostalgic journey while speaking on a variety of topics – from objects to people to places throughout America. You can start wherever you want, of course, but I really enjoyed The Traveling Stones, Nature, Naturally and Open Road.
Inspiration and Adventure in the American Southwest
It’s no secret we love the American Southwest. The National Parks Service Southwest Archaeology podcast is perfect for anyone with a similar passion. Similarly, Backroad Legends of the American Southwest uncovers the history and legends of “forgotten towns that lay all but crumbling by the wayside.”
Narrowing down the region, Arizona.fyi is a podcast exploring the history of the state intermingled with news, culture and current issues. Be sure to check out Pearl Hart, Arizona’s Lady Bandit.
Legends of the Old West is stories of the Old West told in a new way. You’ll hear familiar names like Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok and Jesse James – as well as few more you may never have heard of before. If you’re not familiar with the The Baron of Arizona, tune in to the 1800s tale of James Addison Reavis and the greatest attempted land fraud in American history.
Inspiration and Adventure in Canada
Moving north of the U.S. border, the Secret Life of Canada is a history podcast “about the country you know and the stories you don’t.” Check out Unreserved, Indigenous stories from Halifax to Haida Gwaii, or Shout Out to John Ware.
Cool Canadian History is just that – a series of podcasts about little known facts, places and people in Canada’s past. Ever heard of Cougar Annie? She’s more a shotgun than a pistol, but her story is just one fascinating episode from Vancouver Island worth a listen!
Travelling Around by RV
Here’s a collection of 14 YouTube channels worth exploring for RV travel inspiration!
Inspiration for Retired RV Travelers
When you name your motorhome “Myles” it makes sense that the YouTube channel is going to be Our Journey in Myles. Sue & Mark are an enthusiastic couple of 60-somethings who note that this lifestyle allows you to truly breath in life as it was truly meant to be consumed. Love that!
Waiting for someday to happen so that you can hit the road? Wait no longer. Tag along with Phil & Stacy and their most excellent adventures in You, Me & the RV. Phil retired from the US Navy and Stacy left her career as a family nurse practitioner and nursing instructor in 2018 to create a life on the road. Why? Because today is someday!
“Enjoying Life One Mile at a Time” is the tagline for Scott & Teri and their YouTube channel, Destination Openroad. Follow along for a glimpse into their journey.
Living the RV Lifestyle – Regardless of Age!
Full-time RV travelers Tom & Cheri share their adventures and challenges from the open road in Enjoy the Journey.Life. It’s all about making new choices to live, travel, eat, adventure and enjoy this journey called life.
Marc & Tricia decided to ditch the “perfect dream” for what they can do right now. Four countries, close to 50 states and over 100,000 miles later, they are living in the moment in Keep Your Daydream.
If you’re into travel vlogs or just want to start full-time RV living on the right foot, follow the RV Odd Couple, aka John & Mercedes, as they share the adventure of their lives.
David & Roe hope to inspire you to chase your dreams as they left behind routine for RV travel adventures in Fate Unbound.
Long, Long Honeymoon celebrates RV travel and outdoor adventure. Sean & Kristy keep it entertaining and informative in the honeymoon that goes on and on and…
Less Junk More Journey follows Marissa & Nathan as they (along their two kids) live small, dream big and take journeys to the next level.
All Kinds of Unique RV Travel
Love Boondocking? Then you’ll love Camping with the Kellys as Candace & Jason hit the roads and trails, discovering amazing locations around the United States.
Follow RV travels all over North America – and motorcycle rides on a 2018 Indian Roadmaster – as Tara & Chad bring us along while Changing Lanes.
If you only have time to wander on the weekends for now, Cory & Brooke capture their adventures in the southern States, share experiences and pass along tips and tricks on WanderingWeekends.
Robert Morales likes sampling local cuisine, visiting attractions and stepping off the beaten path. You can follow his inspiring, informative and entertaining RV travel videos at Traveling Robert.
Last but definitely not least, Robin from Creativity RV is a solo, female RVer who travels full-time as a modern American nomad. Her YouTube channel shows how anyone can take control of their life and their happiness by living a more creative life on the road.
Bingeworthy Podcasts for RV Travelers
Many of the YouTube creators above also have podcasts (check under “Community” on their channels to find links). On the other side of wheel, here a few podcasters who may also have YouTube channels!
Mike & Jennifer created RV Lifestyle as an outlet for their adventures. Mike Wendland enjoyed a prolific career as an author and journalist for major newspaper, TV networks, radio stations and magazines. Upon retiring, he realised there were countless good news and general interest stories waiting to be told. He uncovers these less sensational, less controversial stories to share with all of us across Canada and the U.S.
Seeking Outdoor Adventures
Outdoor adventures can be active or reflective. No matter how you appreciate nature and getting outside, there’s a podcast for you!
Active Outdoor Adventure Podcasts
Alastair Humphreys has several podcasts. The one I’m highlighting here focuses on ordinary people living extraordinary lives. People like Rhiane Fatinkun. Obsessed with Neflix and raving, she was taking the train one day when she saw hikers getting off for a day’s adventure. She took up hiking, set up a Black Girls Hike social media site and started leading black women on hikes. How cool is that? And there’s so much more to be unlocked in Living Adventurously.
Wild Ideas Worth Living is blog from the American outdoor gear supplier, REI. It converses with “people who took the path less traveled and brought their wildest ideas to life.”
One of my faves in The Dirtbag Diaries. From paddling and backpacking to road trips and skiing, this blog has been around for over 13 years. If you are motivated or inspired by outdoor dreamers, athletes and wanderers tune into the next podcast.
The Adventure Travel Show is a podcast that “inspires you to live a bigger life through adventure travel. Hike, bike, paddle … hmmm, that sounds familiar… and explore the world. This podcast discusses everything from learning how to backpack and camp to how to choose a tour company. Inspiration and adventure in one neat package!
The Outside Podcast equally inspires people looking for everything from casual hikes to grand adventures.
Reflecting on Nature and the Outdoors Podcasts
Inspiration for women who love travel, exploring the outdoors and learning more about themselves and life can be found at She Explores.
If you’re in love with National Parks – and who isn’t – then you’ll appreciate the backstory and history notes provided by America’s National Parks podcast.
Ever had an adventure that went amazingly well? How about one that went sideways? That’s the focus of the Travel Tales Podcast. Comedian Mike Siegel sets a humorous tone that’s guaranteed to entertain.
Ever been outdoors? Me, too! That’s why Outside/In is a podcast for us. It focuses on the natural world and how we use it.
HumaNature blends adventure, reality and activism in a thrilling storytelling format. It tackles complex stories with travelers, activists and average people who have interesting perspectives.
Out-LAND-ish is an Apple Podcast put together by a division of the United States Forest Service. It focuses on current events and inspires adventures on American public lands.
A Sense of Place
Enjoy spending time in Arizona State Parks? Then this is the podcast for you! It’s all about getting outdoors in this Grand Canyon state. There are outdoor tips and hacks, stories of outdoor adventures, interviews with outdoor experts and a whole lot more!
There are places that touch our souls. These places speak to us because they have a strong sense of place – and that’s the name of this podcast. Each episode focuses on one destination. They range from Prague to Scotland (oh yeah!) to the Library to Alaska. Episodes looks at what makes it different than every other place on Earth.
It’s Been a Year!
That first Covid year was unlike any other we’ve experienced for a long, long time. But we’re move forward. Go ahead, put on a good set of headphones. Plug them into your smartphone or iPad or laptop and escape into the past. Travel around the countryside. Get inspired by outdoor adventures. 2021 is going to be a year worth remembering – bigger, better and bolder. Let’s get going!
Flashback to 2020 Adventures
And in case you missed it, 2020 wasn’t a total bust for us. Here’s look back at some of our favourite adventures from this year. Some large and some are small. A couple are pre-COVID and the rest happened we found our feet again.
Historic Teahouse Hikes in Banff National Park
Adventures in B.C.’s Columbia Valley
Playing Outside in Alberta’s Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
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