Announcement: Our ‘Fabric of America’ Tour!

America! That’s right, everyone. We’re headed back to the grand ol’ USA for a spell. And we have some tricks up our sleeve. Sleeves?

As we need to swing through the States to renew some documents and whatnot, we thought, ‘What better time to explore the American Dream?’

We’ve spent a lot of time exploring other parts of this wonderful world, and now it’s time for us to revisit a place from whence we came. Interest in our home country and what drives it leads us to explore the places and meet the people that make up the Fabric of America: To visit cities small and large, interview independent designers and business owners, speak with locals, discover hidden gems, and to learn about what makes America tick.

Travel is our life. Our passion comes from speaking with, experiencing the lives of, and learning from people everywhere we go.

And that leads us to what we expect to achieve with our newest project: Driving around the U.S., showcasing the threads that make up the Fabric of America, and giving just dessert to those folks who still embody “The American Dream.” Despite what many believe, this ideal still exists and there are messages of hope in every corner of the country.

It might be a struggle out there, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people and establishments out there whose dreams are a reality. Of course it’s hard work. But you have to put in hard work if you want those dreams to be your life.

All of these people and businesses can and do serve as inspiration for you and us and countless others out there. Small-town diners and family-owned machine shops. Independent artists and small-business retailers. All who are doing what they love.

Starting in late spring or early summer, we’ll be hitting the road for a few months to seek, find, learn, and give shine to folks like this. And we need your help…

Are you independent, or do you know someone who is?

Send us your suggestions! We’d love to hear stories of people who you think embody the American Dream. This could be you! It could be your cousin. It could be your favorite mom-and-pop shop, or the hardworking folks at your local eatery. If we can get to them (or you), we’d love to feature them (or you) in our stories throughout the journey.

We already have some places in mind, and count on finding new ones throughout our trip. We’d still love to know of some in advance, and we encourage you to contact us or leave information in the comments.

We need your support!

We normally don’t seek support or sponsorship. However, this is a ‘special project’ and we need your help!

We usually pace ourselves in a mindset of slow travel. This normally means three to six months in one place, and renting a furnished apartment for that time period is never a problem. Due to our new project, though, we’ll be on the road every few days, and we will be staying at hotels in each place for a period of two to seven nights. This adventure will take us on a roughly three-month journey of over 6,000 miles.

And you know what that means: Multiple additions to our budget over the course of our trip – lodging, a vehicle, gasoline, technology, and daily expenses. Things that are outside of how we normally live.

We’re looking for companies, sponsors, and donors who would like to be a part of this adventure and help us make the Fabric of America tour a reality. Note: We are not simply looking for funds! As a matter of fact, funds are fantastic and will certainly help us with our mission; but what we need the most are services.

Maybe you work for a hotel chain. Maybe your uncle works for a rental car company. Maybe your camera or mobile company wants abusive road tests and reviews of its products. Whatever it may be, you can help!

We have a wide variety of options and sponsorship packages available, and are always willing to work with someone to create custom packages that benefit everyone in the greatest respect. If you – or someone you know – might be interested, we have an awards package document available upon request. Click here to read the follow-up post about sponsorships and partnership opportunities, and shoot us an email right here if you’d like to join us.

Partners already supporting us during this adventure include:

Marginal Boundaries
Red Roof Inn
Red Lion Hotels
Motel 6
La Quinta Inns & Suites
Best Western
Tom Bihn Luggage
Magellan’s Travel Supplies
Eagle Creek
Shawnimals
Rotofugi

Want to support, but you aren’t a company?

Hey, you can do that, too! If you want to contribute to the journey, click here to feed the doggie. (For amounts over three figures, please contact us directly.)

We also have a new online store with sexy T-shirts and totes. Proceeds from sales of these items will go directly to defray the costs of our project. Pick some up in the new online store for you, your loved ones, your neighbors, and your friends.

We also encourage you to share this post and upcoming journey on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts. The more people who join us, the better it is for everyone!

When are we going?

Due to our lifestyle, we are very flexible people. We suppose you know this if you read our blog. Our tentative dates are late April through August of this year. This can change, be pushed back, last longer, be shorter, or end later. It’s all good!

As we get closer to our dates and know who our partners will be during this journey, we’ll keep you updated with departure dates and schedules. And maybe we can meet up on the road!

Where are we going?

We have a tentative route, and absolutely nothing is set in stone. If your city or state is not on here, don’t feel left out! We know that we can’t see it all on this journey – and never will – but we’re certainly planning on covering a lot of ground.

Below is a map of where we’re most likely headed. Cities on the map are merely points, and we’ll be stopping in a lot of other places and small towns in between. Things can and will change as we find new places on the road, get curious, make new plans, discover new opportunities, or simply decide to turn left instead of right.

It’s a foregone conclusion!

We can’t tell you how much we’re looking forward to this journey. We’re always looking forward to a journey, but this particular one will allow us to explore things we don’t even know about the U.S., and meet and spotlight folks who personify what it is to live the American Dream. Everyone has a story, and we’re excited to be in a position to share these tales with all of you.

Click here to read our following post about sponsorships and partnership opportunities.

See you on the road!