In February of 2019, I packed my belongings and relocated from South Florida to the San Francisco Bay Area. Discovering new places while on that drive, has been the most interesting thing Iāve done as a local guide, so far. With the help of Google Maps, I was able to map my route without any fear or worry of where Iād end up.
As this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive cross-country, I decided to make the most of it by seeing some places I had never been to before. After visiting friends who live in Tampa, I set out for New Orleans to get my fill of beignets, haha. I did take some time to explore the French Quarter too.
A collage of places visited in New Orleans
Being someone who loves to travel, one of my goals is to visit all 50 states. My route was taking me so close to the Arkansas state line, I couldnāt resist driving the extra minutes to the state of Arkansas. I did the same thing with Oklahoma while driving through Texas. Two new states! Oh, yeah!
Wichita Falls is a small city in Texas, and this is where I discovered āThe Worldās Littlest Skyscraper.ā I was so fascinated, I decided to take a tour of this 40ft (12m) tall skyscraper. It is said that this skyscraper was the result of a fraudulent business scheme. Through conversations with a few business owners and locals, I learned that many who pass through Wichita Falls never really stop other than to eat, sleep or get gas. I needed all three, but I was going to explore too. I love discovering new things.
A collage of the description of the Worldās Littlest Skyscraper
A collage showing the outside of the skyscraper, itās location and telephone number
From there, I drove through New Mexico (another state crossed off my list) to Monument Valley. I knew I wanted to see the huge monuments there, and thatās all I had in mind. At the on-site restaurant, I saw āfrybreadā and I had to try it! I didnāt know about Native American frybread before dining at this restaurant. It was incredibly delicious, and reminded me of Johnny cakes (fried sweet dumplings).
A collage of the buttes at Monument Valley, and a plate of Native America. Frybread.
From Monument Valley, I went to Kanab in Utah, to try my luck with the Wave lottery. You can read about it here. There were so many nature-filled activities to get into while there, some listed on maps, others mentioned by the locals. I spent a few days in Kanab so I got to know some of the locals who saw me regularly. While patronizing their restaurants and shops, theyād notice me taking pictures and were curious to what I was doing. Without hesitation, I proudly remarked that I was documenting my visits as a local guide. Iām always very happy to share with those who want to learn.
When I got to California, I was absolutely wiped out from my trip. It was definitely fun but tiring. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I discovered so much about not only the country, but about myself. Iām grateful for all the places Iāve seen, the photos I get to capture, the reviews I write that help others, and for being in a position where I can answer other peopleās questions they may have about somewhere or something Iāve experienced before.
Keep exploring. Keep guiding.
Stay safe. Thanks for reading 
You were meant to be a Local Guide - while many may have just skipped Wichita Falls, you saw it as an opportunity to explore and connect and learn. Funny enough, when going between Orlando and Miami, Iām the one who always wants to explore 
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. I hope to do a northern cross-country jaunt by train. I heard that itās incredibly beautiful especially in the Fall.
