Inspired Travels With Patti

How Can You Start Traveling Without Stress or Overwhelm?

• Patti Hunt • Episode 2

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This week, I'm sitting down with Charlie Grace from Charlie Grace Adventures to uncover the joys of travel, community, and hidden gems often overlooked by mainstream tourism. Together, they dive into the importance of starting small, exploring local towns, and creating a "life list" instead of a bucket list. From breathtaking state parks in Wyoming to quirky small towns in Illinois, Charlie shares stories that inspire listeners to embrace adventure and connection. Whether you're an RVer, van lifer, or simply someone looking to add joy and discovery to your journeys, this conversation is packed with encouragement and practical tips.

Key Takeaways:

  • The value of creating a "life list" vs. a bucket list
  • Hidden gems in Wyoming and Illinois worth visiting
  • How to start traveling by exploring your own town
  • The role of community in meaningful travel
  • Practical tips for stress-free adventures


Charlie Grace is a dynamic traveler, photojournalist, and the creator behind Charlie Grace Adventures. She inspires others to embrace curiosity, adventure, and community through her travels as a solo female van lifer and RVer.

Resources Mentioned:

  • Glendoe State Park, Wyoming
  • Casey, Illinois – home of the "world's largest" roadside attractions

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Links and Discounts

*Camp for Less than $9 a night: Reach out to Sharon & Warren Lewis Thousand Trails Membership Specialists. Call/Text 804-366-0798

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*Rivet Supply Co Adventure Boards 10% discount code Inspired10

*KoolRV Optimize RV AC


What do you get when you mix an experienced traveler, a love of adventure, and someone with a lot of humor? You get Charlie Grace from Charlie Grace Adventures. looking for inspiration to live life to the fullest through travel? This podcast is for you. Welcome to Inspired Travels with Patti. I am Patti Hunt. For me, travel isn't just about where you go, but it is how you live. Charlie Grace, why is travel so important for you? Travel an amazing opportunity of freedom to experience not only the amazing places, but also the wonderful people. And I could not agree more, and I cannot wait to jump into this episode and talk all things travel. So for me, travel is similar. It's about the hidden gems, the people you meet on the road that touch you in some way. And the unbelievable experiences, and that's why I started this podcast. A little bit about me. I was on the road with my husband for three years full-time in an rv. During that time, we started and hosted the RV Life Podcast. A little over a year ago, my husband went into full-time nursing care. And this past summer, the RV Life Podcast came to an end, and I'm telling you all this because even with the challenges that life sometimes brings, it has inspired me to continue to inspire you, my listeners, to get out and live a life to the fullest. Today's guest today, Charlie Grace is dynamic, energetic, and funny. A longtime traveler who loves to empower, encourage, and inspire others to adventure. I'm so excited, Charlie Grace to have you on. As my first guest on this podcast, welcome. Thank you. That's such an honor. I'm so excited to be the first. Woo-hoo. Yes. The very first. So tell us a little bit about you. When did travel first start for you? Oh, I think I was born with Wanderlust. I really do. I'm one of those people who really enjoy seeing new things and having new adventures, and I'm naturally curious, which is really fun. So, um, I think as a small child, I learned that my family didn't do traveling a lot. It wasn't until I was a much older adult that I had the opportunity and, um. Of course I've done airplane travel and, and different kinds of things, but it wasn't until about mid, mid, uh, 2015 that I just went gung-ho and got my own RV and realized the amazing lifestyle that I was missing out on. I'm thinking, geez, where was this A long time ago? So each week I'm bringing guests on to talk about either a hidden gem, an incredible experience, or amazing person that truly touched your life. So, Charlie Grace, what is something that you could share with my, my listeners? I. So I will say. Just start. That's the first thing. I think so many people, um, sort of deep dive and try to figure out how to, and what should I do and where should I go and what's the best way to do this. I think you just start, whether it's small or big, doesn't matter, but make 'em make up your mind and go. Um, for me it was about, initially it was about going to all the places on my life list, not my bucket list. I always say I'm living, this is a very important. Distinction. So I was looking at my life list of where I wanted to go and, and things I wanted to see. I have a background in photojournalism and I really wanted to take photos of, of some really cool places. But more importantly, in looking at that, I realized after traveling for a few years, it was really about the people I met and the more community things. It really fell into place of really finding a tight-knit community, and that was something that was missing in my life that I had no idea I really needed. I love you said that to get started. In my intro episode that I did that people could check out from last week, one of the things that I believed growing up was that travel was far away, expensive and complicated. And I know you and I've talked a lot, we've been friends for a while, and I'm realizing that the things that have really made a difference for me when we talk about travel. Are those hidden gems places that people don't talk about all the time, the out of the way, off the beaten path. Do you have a hidden gem you could share? Ooh, I've got a couple I bet you do. I love, I love nature and I love landscapes, but I really love small towns, and I think it's because I grew up in a small town and I always say, go to your small towns. Find those small town diners. Talk to people about what they love so much about their town, and ask 'em those questions. I was just in Wyoming, never been to Wyoming before. Brand new experience, completely fell in love with the state. Um, had no idea. There were these hidden state park gyms because you go through vast nothingness and then all of a sudden there's a huge lake. Did you know there's penguins? Oh, not penguins, pelicans, I wanna say penguins, pelicans in Wyoming. I had no idea. So no one, no one ever told me this. I'm taking pictures going, that doesn't look right. Like, are the end of times coming? Is there something I should know? Um, but Glendoe State Park in Wyoming. I was the only guest in the entire state park for about a week, and I had no idea how stunningly gorgeous it, it rivaled any beach I've ever been to in Florida. Um, it was definitely, as far as climate wise. Perfect. So that's one that I would say for my nature lovers. Check out Wyoming State Parks. It's, it's a gem. And you were there, so in August, right? Because. In August? It might be tough to be there in the middle of the winter. Right. I think it's pretty close. I think the whole state is closed. close. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. Okay. And then, um, one of my, my favorite small towns in all of North America, and I love to talk about this, is Casey, Illinois. I know it sounds sexy, just trust me on this one. Uh, Casey Illinois is just a few minutes off the interstate. If you're going through Illinois, like going northbound to Chicago, you know, from, say, Kentucky or whatever, and they are known for the world's largest rocking chair and the world's largest golf tee and the world's largest teeter-totter in the world's largest crocheting needles and the world's largest walk-up mailbox. There are so many unique things in this small town that you could go have a nice lunch. Meet some locals and have a fantastic time, and it's the one trip that I took my youngest son to that he remembers the most out of any trip we've ever taken. Wow. And these are the things, it's like you started by saying, you said your life list. We often talk about bucket lists, and I think some people have these bucket lists that they put all of these things on the bucket list. I know I did this. There's the bucket list and you know, it's just kind of out there. It's like not something you think you, you will get to, you know, bucket list is like the dream. And then I would start talking about, you know what, I have to do these things on my bucket list. And then I realized the bucket list had so many, you know, things that. People think of Yellowstone National Park and um, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, and I'm not saying not to go to those things, but it's like you said these out of the way, hidden gems, places you would never think of, uh, most people would never think of. That's the whole idea in this podcast, is to find those places. when people talk about travel though, I think people, because they're often talking about those big things, they think, well, it's difficult, it's expensive, you know, whatever you hear people say, and this sort of makes me crazy. They say they need a vacation from their vacation because it's stressful. They're trying to get everything done. I know you have some great tips you could give to my listeners, so can you help people to get out there and be able to travel, have those experiences and make it a little easier? The first thing I always say is, if you wanna start small, which I think everyone should start small, be a tourist in your own town. When is the last time you went through your town and went through the natural museums and all the other things that they have to offer? The local tours. Those tours, walking tours, where it might be, try those out. See how that feels. So when you go, when you do have the opportunity to go to another town, you might go, oh, I wanna check out that history museum. I find these really interesting. Or, oh, I really like bluegrass music. I had no idea I might wanna go to a bluegrass festival. So those small opportunities are really what make it work. Um, because when you do these really big trips and you find out how stressful it might be, it may actually hold you back from doing another one. Thank you for sharing that because that is what I would love to encourage people to do, to truly explore the area that they're in. Look at your own neighborhood, and I know for me, having kids and you know, being in the same neighborhood for a long time and thinking there's nothing to do. But go explore, go look at those places that you could take a walk in nature. There's so much out there that we miss that's in our own neighborhood, so I am so glad that you mentioned that because it could be easy. Stress free, take your time, do a day trip first. That maybe expand to a weekend for people who are out there already exploring, stopping in those little towns. I just love the little towns that I have been in along my journey and can't wait to see a lot of the other, just like little towns, the hidden gems. As we talk about, put those on your list and check those off. I think it should be part of the bucket list. So Charlie Grace for my listener so they could follow. Follow along with Charlie Grace Adventures. Where is the best place for them to follow you? Well, I'm definitely on YouTube. I put out new videos every week, which is fun. If not every day, smaller videos, and I'm on Instagram and Facebook and TikTok, all those great things. But come on over to YouTube. It's a great conversation, and we have a bit of what I call an adventure crew that will follow along and make wonderful comments about maybe more places to check out. Yes. That's great. I wanna get people giving ideas about these out of the way, hidden gems experiences, people they met. I'd love to get that together. I know how important community is for you as well, so we are gonna find a way to make sure people can connect with community and find out more about places to go. I do wanna mention the fact that you are a solo. Female rv, or you are a van lifer, as you call it. And we are gonna have you back on to talk about solo travel.'cause I could see we're running outta time, but we have so much more to talk about with the whole van Life solo traveler. Now I do wanna tell people you are out in the middle of nowhere right now, and so your sound isn't as perfect as we would like, but your information is so important. I just wanna ask one last question of you. What is something you are looking forward to doing in the next several months? Do you have something big on the horizon or exciting? I. So I really have been looking at what I call my creature comforts in my current rv, and I've been adding a few modifications here and there because as you travel, you know, you start thinking it's, it's, places are first, you know, I have, I have a, I travel with a pet, so it's really important that I have a comfort level for my dog. So that's. A big deal, but I'm gonna be doing a lot of, a lot of modifications, a little, uh, changing of my rig, specifically for my dog 'cause it's important to do that. And then also I'm, I'm getting better cabinetry, very excited about that, and, and making my, my mobile home space a little more comfortable. and you do a lot of travel, so I am going to encourage people to follow you on YouTube. Now, my audience is RVers, as well as people who travel by all types of means. The plane, the train, the boat. I am looking forward to all these different types of travels. You have so much great information, even for people who are not RVers. So I highly recommend people reach out to you at Charlie Grace Adventures on YouTube, but they could also go to charlie grace adventures.com, right, and find everything there is. I know you've got a lot of big things coming. I'm not gonna give any of the secrets away, but I am so excited now for people who are listening, if this resonates, please hit the follow button. And you can, you know, share this with a friend who is looking to be inspired to travel. You could also find me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and now TikTok because my 27-year-old told me I should be on there. So there's not a lot there. But if that's your social media platform, you prefer go on and say hi. I would love to talk to people. We'd love meeting and talking to people. Right. Absolutely. thank you for encouraging people to get out and explore. Even if it's right in their own neighborhood, everybody could get out and explore. So I wanna thank you so much, Charlie Grace, for being on and for being my very first guest. I'm so excited. Thank you so much. You are so welcome and it is such an honor, and I'm very excited to hear more, more amazing episodes of your podcast. thank you all for joining us on the first episode of Inspire Travels with Patti. And I wanna remind you, travel isn't just about where you go, it's how you live. Keep living fully.