Welcome to The Big Meander, a digital journal documenting our year long trip around the world. After five years of dreaming and planning, what started as an idea for a “summer off” transformed into a 48-week circumnavigation of the globe.
The trip is chronologically organized into four distinct segments, each exploring a different corner of the world.
Part 1: North America
July – September 2023 The first 10 weeks were dedicated to camping across the United States and Canada. This segment focused on reconnecting with friends and family, visiting iconic sites like the Yosemite National Park and Banff, and adjusting to a life of perpetual motion in a tent.
- Highlights: National Parks in the United States and Canada and visits to the homes of loved ones across the country.
Part 2: Western Europe
October – December 2023 We transitioned from camping to “city-hopping” across Europe. This leg began in the north in Copenhagen and wound south to catch the last of the autumn warmth, before concluding in Lisbon just before Christmas.
- Highlights: The rugged Cliffs of Moor in Ireland, the history of the beaches of Normandy, and an immersive month across Italy and Spain.
Part 3: Southeast Asia & Oceania
January – April 2024 The new year brought us to the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. This segment covered the vibrant cultures of Southeast Asia, followed by a camper van tour of the southeastern corner of Australia, a few days in New Zealand, and ending with a Trans-Pacific cruise back to North America.
- Highlights: Temples in Thailand and Cambodia, the history of Vietnam, Australian “van life,” and wine-tasting in New Zealand.
Part 4: The American Southwest
April – June 2024 Returning to the United States, the final leg found us back in The Grand Circle of National parks visiting Bryce, Zion, and The Grand Canyon.
- Highlights: The Grand Canyon, Utah’s Hoodoos, and the art-filled deserts of West Texas.
📂 Browse by Category
Explore the trip through different lenses—from raw data to personal reflections.
- Popular posts: These are the posts that got the most likes and comments from our readers.
- Weekly Recaps: The “by the numbers” section. Every week includes stats on miles traveled, UNESCO sites visited, and whether the budget stayed in the black.
- MeAndHer: Personal essays on the realities of long-term travel, from the “packing pains” to the psychological shifts of life on the road.
- On The Road: Narrative stories and photo-heavy posts from specific stops along the meander.
- Musings: Philosophical reflections on travel as therapy and the “must-see” pressure of global tourism.
About the Authors
Learn more about Erin and Marla and the “Why” behind The Big Meander. Whether you are planning your own gap year or just want to see the world through their eyes, we hope these stories inspire your own meander.