RV Road Trip: The First Leg

Intrepid traveler and Instagrammer Brandon Sharpe is off on his RV adventure, ticking off places on his list of national parks.

We have started our trek out west via the RV and our first stop was the baffling landscapes of The Badlands. This place did not fail to throw every possible scenario at us. As we made our approach to Badlands National Park, South Dakota, we were immediately presented with snow. Not just any kind of snow, but a blizzard of sorts that was literally just spiraling over the entire area of the badlands. Being from Chicago, I typically try my hardest to avoid snow when I can, but in this circumstance I felt it really added a mysterious vibe to the whole area. An area I totally underestimated, The Badlands are nothing to take lightly. Yellowstone up next! @travelzoo #travelzoo #TzooRoadTrip #RVlife #👫🚌

A photo posted by Brandon Sharpe (@brandonexplores) on May 12, 2015 at 8:45am PDT

My kind of living. #travelzoo #tzooroadtrip #👫🚌

A photo posted by Brandon Sharpe (@brandonexplores) on May 13, 2015 at 10:54pm PDT

The ghost of Ansel Adams. As @thee1ginger and I approached The Grand Tetons, next on our list of places, I thought a lot about the history of the area and the photographers that explored the area before us and what it must of been like to discover something so majestic and new. So when I saw the Grand Teton mountains with my own eyes, I swear the spirit of Ansel Adams himself took over, not only my camera, but also my perspective on the area, and the way I thought about its rich history. I thought about how cool it would have been to be a photographer like he was, with a passion for a subject like he had. I thought about how lucky he was to have that type of lifestyle and to have the type of vision he had. Then I realized, I was out there trying to follow in the footsteps of the greats. I was standing in the very spots he once stood and taking photos of the same mountains he once saw with his own lens. A truly inspiring moment amongst some of the country's greatest mountains. #travelzoo #tzooroadtrip #👫🚌

A photo posted by Brandon Sharpe (@brandonexplores) on May 14, 2015 at 6:42am PDT

A proper Yellowstone greeting. #travelzoo #tzooroadtrip #👫🚌

A photo posted by Brandon Sharpe (@brandonexplores) on May 15, 2015 at 1:35pm PDT

Walking around exploring Yellowstone was truly an out of this world experience. Steam just rising from the earth in every corner you look, and wildlife roaming freely as if there was not a thing in the world to fear. It's wild to think that just below the surface of this place sits a pool of magma at a volume 2.5 times that of the Grand Canyon. Something that's incredibly hard for me to wrap my head around. Next up, Glacier National Park! #travelzoo #tzooroadtrip #👫🚌

A photo posted by Brandon Sharpe (@brandonexplores) on May 15, 2015 at 6:02pm PDT

Glacier National Park was like something out of the movies. After tons of driving and lots of questionable turns and strange weather we finally arrived at Glacier National Park. This place was so remote and desolate, it was really an amazing experience to feel somewhat isolated in these massive mountains in a remote corner of Montana, hidden away a from the rest of the world. The only sign of life in the area was a small bar, with roughly 4 of the locals playing pool while arguing about what real country music was. One of them kindly bought us a PBR and shared some stories of the area. After a couple of beverages, we said our goodbyes and made way to what seemed like a completely abandoned Rv Park, with the best views you could ever ask for. As night fell, the elk came out to feed on the grass, and the clouds whipped around in the sky. A moment and place I will never forget. #travelzoo #tzooroadtrip #👫🚌

A photo posted by Brandon Sharpe (@brandonexplores) on May 18, 2015 at 6:46pm PDT

Somewhere in the in-between. #travelzoo #tzooroadtrip #👫🚌

A photo posted by Brandon Sharpe (@brandonexplores) on May 20, 2015 at 11:24am PDT

Follow the epic adventure on Travelzoo’s Instagram and Facebook plus our new blog, but for even more jaw-dropping photos, follow Brandon on Instagram, Twitter and his personal site.