Welcome to Open Road Chats! We are a married lesbian couple traveling around the U.S with our Maltese-Shitzu. One of us is a 61 year old mom and retired teacher while the other is an Aussie millennial who can't sit still. We've been on the road in our SUV since September of 2022 staying mostly at Airbnbs and hotels. Along the way we visit national parks and monuments, historic sites, memorials, and MLB stadiums. We also seek out movie locations, beaches, state parks, cemeteries, true crime locations, thrift stores, and oddities. But we don't only absorb the sights. We talk to the locals everywhere we go to understand the different ways people live, why they live where they do, and their thoughts on relevant issues in America. We have countless stories to share about the people and places we encounter on a daily basis. We hope they will entertain, inform, and inspire you. We hope you enjoy Open Road Chats!
FEATURING
'TRAVEL DOG'
INDY'S EDITIONS IN EVERY BLOG
We are Wanda, Jacqui, and Indy (Lou Lou the Travel Dog) and Open Road Chats was created to document our travels. We are anxious to share what we've witnessed, experienced, and felt while living the nomadic life in America from September 2022 to the present. As history lovers we look forward to engaging with Americans in what is shaping up to be a historic 2024.
It's strange living this way because we are always outsiders everywhere we go. It can be intimidating at times. Some people welcome us with open arms while others don't care to engage and, perhaps, wish we weren't there. Some places feel safe and some don't. It's also an uneasy feeling when we choose to go "home" to the south suburbs of Chicago because we are truly nomads and don't have a home. Luckily, we have friends and relatives who open their doors and hearts to us.
We like this crazy life we're living and we feel fortunate to be able to traverse this diverse country. We realize many people will never have the opportunity to do so - and many others would never even have the desire! We hope you will enjoy our open and honest view of our adventures. We'll share the good, the bad, the ugly, the heartbreaking and heartwarming, and, of course, the humorous. Our sweet Travel Dog, Lou Lou, will have the opportunity to tell her side of the story, too. Come along with us and enjoy the ride.
Videos & Interviews
There may be no better way to communicate what we see and hear than through images and videos. Check out our videos and come along on this adventure with us. We also love to talk with people living all different kinds of lives.
All Videos
All Videos
Baseball & Travel Part 1
When Travel & Movies Combine Part 1
The Florida Keys
Watch all Videos on
Instagram, Facebook & You Tube
Our Street Interviews
We've had so many chance and one-of-a-kind encounters. Talking to people everywhere we go has helped us further understand the area we are currently calling "home" and the country in general. We have decided to not only document our travels with blogs, photos, and videos but to start meeting and chatting with people on camera. We want to know what people are thinking about the 2024 election which will be pivotal in deciding how the US moves forward as a country. We have already had dozens of people from both sides tell us what they are thinking but until now we had not caught it on camera. This year feels too important not to.
WANDA, JACQUI AND INDY
