Our Epic American Honeymoon: A Road Trip Adventure While Pregnant

After the wedding of our dreams in Santorini, we were ready to swap sunsets and Greek elegance for something rugged, spontaneous, and all-American—a road trip honeymoon across the United States. Armed with an RV, a couple of backpacks, and a growing baby bump, we took off on what would be the trip of a lifetime—just the two of us (well, technically three of us).

London Layover & Our First Burger

We waved goodbye to Santorini and landed back in London for one night. It was here our honeymoon officially began—with a juicy, no-frills burger that hit the spot after weeks of wedding prep and Mediterranean cuisine. The next morning, we jetted off to San Francisco.

Hello America – San Francisco & Alcatraz

Our first night in the States was spent in a Airbnb in San Francisco. The highlight? A visit to Alcatraz Island. We even met ex-inmate William Baker, who was there signing copies of his book—a surreal moment neither of us will forget.

Then, the real adventure began. We picked up our Cruise America RV and hit the road toward Lake Tahoe. This was the kind of honeymoon we’d dreamed of—freedom, fresh air, and uncharted roads.

Lake Tahoe to Yosemite – Coffee, Chipmunks & Snow-Capped Peaks

Thanks to jet lag, we were up at sunrise, sipping coffee in the woods and watching chipmunks scamper around. Lake Tahoe was breathtaking—clear blue waters, alpine air, and peaceful stillness. From there, we made a pitstop at Bodie State Historic Park, a preserved ghost town frozen in the 1800s, complete with crumbling wooden buildings, rusted wagons, and stories of California’s gold rush past.

Next stop: Yosemite National Park. The scenery changed dramatically—sunshine turned to snow, lakes were frozen over, and the peaks glistened with white. While hiking was off the cards (pregnancy doesn’t pair well with icy trails), we still soaked in the magic of Yosemite. That night, we camped under the stars and grilled BBQ steak on a $20 Walmart grill. Simple. Perfect.

Bridal Veil Falls was a surprise—it looked like a 5K hike on the map, but we reached it in less than a kilometre. Not that we were complaining!

Vegas via Death Valley – Heat, Storms, and Neon Lights

From Yosemite, we headed through Death Valley, and wow—the name fits. Rugged, dry, unforgiving… and utterly stunning. The heat was intense—like nothing I’ve ever felt.

Arriving in Las Vegas, the skies opened, and a wild storm welcomed us. We stayed at the Oasis RV Resort—easily the poshest stop of our trip, with full hook-ups and blessed air conditioning. We Ubered to the strip and saw the lights, fountains, and chaos of Las Vegas. It was fun, but not really our scene. The Bellagio Fountains were the standout.

The Grand Canyon, Route 66 & Buttermilk Pancakes

From Vegas, we swung by Hoover Dam, then headed through Williams, Arizona, where Graham indulged in some (safe and legal!) automatic gun shooting—something he can’t do back home in the UK.

We finally reached the Grand Canyon, found a secluded forest clearing to camp for free, lit another BBQ, and grilled steak once again. Waking up to birdsong and crisp air, we made our way to the Canyon’s edge. The views were unreal—an endless expanse of rock, shadow, and light. No photo will ever do it justice.

Driving east, we jumped onto Route 66, stopping at Galaxy Diner in Flagstaff where we met true American portions for the first time. We couldn’t even finish our pancakes! Then we saw signs for Meteor Crater, a massive, perfectly preserved crater caused by a meteor impact over 50,000 years ago. Standing on the edge of it was both eerie and awe-inspiring.

We drove late into the night and tried boondocking for the first time—camping off-grid, without hookups, in a roadside clearing. It was raw, wild, and liberating and completely legal!

Lubbock Storms & Cowboy Hats

After rolling through Roswell (where we quickly realised the famous crash site was far from town), we made our way into Lubbock, Texas, and found an RV park just in time to be told they were on tornado watch after just having one the previous night! We could see the dark clouds rolling in, and before long, thunder and lightning were lighting up the sky.

While in town, we stumbled across a proper western shop called El Herradero—a treasure trove of boots, hats, belts, and more. Graham treated himself to a cowboy hat, which they steamed and shaped to fit him perfectly. He looked right at home, and we left feeling a little more Texan than when we arrived.

Fort Worth Stockyards – Cowboys, Longhorns & A Wild Texas Night

From Lubbock, we headed east to Fort Worth, a stop I had been so excited for—and it lived up to everything I hoped for and more.

Arriving at the Stockyards, we were instantly transported into cowboy country. The streets were steeped in Western charm, lined with saloons, boot shops, and old brick buildings that looked like a movie set. We caught the iconic longhorn cattle parade, where these majestic beasts were calmly walked down the historic streets. It was surreal, beautiful, and iconic all at once.

We browsed a maze of Western stores, picked up a few treasures, and soaked in the authentic feel of the place. Fort Worth had grit, warmth, and a kind of timeless magic about it.

That evening, the tornado alerts started blaring again on our phones. We brushed them off at first—false alarms had become something of a theme by now—but things escalated fast. The wind picked up, the sky turned a deep, ominous grey, and then came the pounding rain.

Suddenly, we heard cars screeching out of the RV park and people shouting and running. That’s when we knew it wasn’t just a typical storm. Graham looked at me and said, “Let’s get dressed and find shelter.”

So we quickly got ourselves together and ran across the car park to the public bathrooms, which were being used as an emergency shelter. There we stood, fully dressed, watching through the cracks in the doors as the storm roared. Thunder cracked like cannon fire, the wind howled, and rain flooded everything in sight. It was one of those moments that felt both terrifying and completely unforgettable.

The next day, with clearer skies and still buzzing from the night before, we went back to the Stockyards and visited the Cowtown Coliseum. We watched a live bull fighting show, which was raw, energetic, and a little wild—like Texas itself. It was incredible to see it all unfold in such a historic venue.

Fort Worth gave us everything: iconic sights, unpredictable weather, and unforgettable moments. It's a place that will always hold a special spot in our hearts.

Houston, Space Center & Nashville Finale

Our final RV stop was Houston, where we returned our beloved Cruise America van after driving 2,667 miles across six states. The RV had everything—comfy bed, working kitchen, and a fridge big enough for steak and bacon. We truly loved it.

We celebrated Graham’s birthday at the Houston Space Center, ate at the famed Truth BBQ, and then flew to our last stop—Nashville.

Nashville was the city we both fell for. Country music playing on every corner, neon lights, cowboy boots, and pure heart. We bar-hopped our way through Tootsies, Bell Bottoms Up, The Stage, and Goodnight Nashville.

The craziest moment? Standing at the bar in The Stage and spotting a familiar face on guitar. It was Paul Sidoti—Taylor Swift’s lead guitarist! He kindly took photos with me and even threw me a Lover guitar pick (thanks to Graham’s quick reflexes!).

The End (and the Beginning)

We flew home glowing with memories and a little bump now at 16 weeks. Our adventure was over, but a new one was just beginning. And just days later… we’d find out whether we were having a little boy or girl.

2,667 miles. 6 states. One growing baby. A lifetime of memories.

Our honeymoon wasn’t just a road trip. It was freedom, joy, chaos, laughter, and love—on wheels.