About Us
Welcome fellow rambler! I’m so glad you’re here. Back Road Ramblers started eight years ago as a simple travel journal to update family and friends as we gallivanted around the country. Our family had big dreams, a tiny car, and not much of an itinerary. Really, I just didn’t want anyone to worry, and I’m not the best at keeping in touch with people I love, so I blogged about our adventures.
Since then, Back Road Ramblers has grown exponentially!
What started out as a blog about hiking and campground destinations has turned into a resource for travelers who want to road trip across America. Our blog isn’t for extremists – folks who want to backpack across the country or quit their jobs and live on the road.
Back Road Ramblers is for regular people who love to explore America, get outdoors, and take the long way home. We share about:
- Small town destinations
- Places with a strong connection to the outdoors
- Glamping retreats, cabins, and lodges across America
- Road Trip itineraries throughout the United States and Canada
- Traveling with dogs
- Hiking, camping, and paddling (destinations and tips)
- Lots of stuff about Vermont – that’s where we hang our hat and plant our tomatoes!
The Back Road Ramblers Team
Tara Schatz – Editor-in-chief, writer, and photographer
I’m the main vacation planner in the house and the voice behind most of what you’ll find on Back Road Ramblers. I am an author, amateur photographer, freelance writer, and puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
I work full-time from a little blue house in Vermont, and Back Road Ramblers is one of my favorite projects.
Eric Schatz – writer, photographer, teacher, and adventurer
Eric is my husband, a former elementary school teacher, and a full-time home renovator here in southern Vermont.
He’s written several posts for Back Road Ramblers and has been delving into photography as well. Eric is a musician, free spirit, and outdoor lover, and I’m so fortunate to be able to walk through life with him.
The Pups
Our family has been raising puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind since 2007. We have a rotating cast of adventure-loving puppies that travel, hike, and camp with us. In 2017, we adopted one of the dogs we raised after he retired from guide work, and in 2021, we adopted another!
Flynn is an 11-year-old black lab, retired guide dog, and supreme lounge lizard. He enjoys food more than anything, but he also loves walks in the woods and a good game of fetch!
We raised Malinda to be a guide dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, but she had other plans! In September 2021, after a few months of formal training, we adopted her. Malinda loves swimming, eating things she shouldn’t, and not watching where she’s going. Now that her service dog career has ended, she is aspiring to be a full-time adventure dog!
Ready to plan your next American road trip or outdoor adventure? We can help you make it happen! Sign up below to keep in touch.