The Best of 2025

Although we didn’t travel as much as we would like, we enjoyed a terrific year in 2025 that included an extended trip to the West Coast, some downtime in North Carolina, and our traditional two weeks in Edisto Beach, SC. The year also required extensive repairs to our fifth-wheel, keeping us on the sidelines for much of the summer. Nevertheless, the good experiences far outnumbered the bad, and I’ve shared some of the best of those here.

Best Campground

Runner-up: Our son, Collin, and Daughter-In-Law, Austin, built a new home in Charleston, SC, with full hookups for our fifth-wheel. We’ve used his water and electricity at the previous home, but during the new construction, Collin ran a sewer connection close to the driveway and gave us a perfect campsite for our Mother-in-Law suite. We refer to it as site #4, next to the pool.

Winner: San Onofre Beach, Marine Base Camp Pendleton, CA. This campground offers outstanding views of the Pacific Ocean as well as non-stop surfing from daybreak to dark right in front of us. San Clemente, CA, is a convenient five-minute drive north for shopping, and the Camp Pendleton Exchange is on the other side of the highway from the beach. While we were there, the Junior National Surfing Championship took place about a half-mile walk down the coast from our site. We attended most days of the competition.

Most Unique Experience

Runner-up: While camping at San Onofre, Helen and I drove northeast to visit the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. The swallows had returned from their winter nesting, and we enjoyed visiting the Chapel and the Mission’s grounds, founded in 1776.

Winner: Blue Angel Air Show, El Centro Naval Air Station, CA. When we booked this campground months earlier, we had no idea we would arrive on the day the Blue Angels would hold their final Air Show at their winter home before returning to Pensacola for the summer. We had a perfect view of the high-flying acrobatics from the comfort of our lawn chairs.

Best Desert Hike

Runner-up: Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, Holbrook, AZ. How have we passed this National Park on the many trips we’ve taken on I-40 to and from California? We were concerned about problems with our trailer, so we made an extra stop in Holbrook, AZ, to make sure everything was holding up. We hiked through the Petrified Forest on a lovely day after viewing the Painted Desert from the many overlooks. The views were stunning.

Winner: Red Rock State Park, Sedona, AZ. Any time spent in Sedona is always a good time. We camped in Dead Horse Ranch State Park five minutes from Sedona, then drove over on a chilly, but lovely, day for a hike through Red Rock State Park. We snaked our way along some trails to the House of Apache Fire, an uncompleted Adobe House sitting on a knoll above the Desert Floor. We love those Red Rock Mountains.

Best Sunset

Runner-up: Edisto Beach State Park. Sunsets (and sunrises) are not to be missed whenever possible–especially when a camera is nearby. I love taking sunset pictures, and we had a perfect view from our campsite in Edisto Beach this November. Clouds always add to the drama of sunsets.

Winner: Del Mar Beach, Marine Base Camp Pendleton, CA. This picture captured an interesting cloud formation and a waning yellow sky. I got lucky.

I’m throwing a sunrise from Edisto Beach as a bonus.

Favorite Picture

Runner-up: San Diego, CA, at night. Night shots are hard for me — there are always too many settings, and a tripod is a must. This one turned out well.

Winner: Painted Desert National Park, AZ. This one had too much color to leave in a computer file. Hope you enjoyed it.

From Our Family to Yours

As much as we enjoy RV travel, time spent with our family is still precious to us. Because our kids live on both coasts, an RV makes those opportunities possible…especially for someone who hates to fly. Our grandchildren are very busy teenagers (or nearly teens) during their summer breaks, which makes it difficult for us to gather everyone in one spot at the same time.

Abby, our oldest, cheers competitively for her high school team and has little time off. We’re going to Disney World in February to watch her team compete in the High School National Championships.

Bennett participates in both high school sports and a very competitive club soccer program in Charleston. Her club team spends many weekends in state and national tournaments throughout the year, bringing home many trophies in the process. Bennett also had an outstanding school year and finished first in her class academically.

Carter plays volleyball both in the gym and on the sand. He is a member of his school team and also plays on a rec team during the school year. In the summer, Carter plays sand volleyball–that’s what California guys do. He is also an excellent student.

Cason spends three weeks every summer at a camp in North Carolina and loves every minute. Helen and I picked her up at the end of last summer’s session and brought her to Knoxville for a visit with the grandparents. We called our time together Camp BeBe. Cason loves to cook, so I put her to work making fresh Sourdough Bread. We also enjoyed an afternoon in Gatlinburg, TN.

As a family, the Bruners send big hugs and sincere best wishes to all of our readers, hoping that 2026 is a year full of good health, happiness, and an abundance of time with friends and loved ones.

If our fifth wheel (Towanda) holds together, Helen and I plan to be on the road a lot in the coming year, beginning with a trip to Florida starting next week. We hope you’ll join us…we’re Easin’ Along.