Okay so, before we get to actual good part of the trip. Technically stop three on this nomad road trip was Tulsa, Oklahoma. I say “technically” because we rolled in, looked around, looked at each other, and mutually agreed to skedaddle out of there after one single night. No shade to Tulsa, I’m sure it’s lovely if you give it more time, but we just weren’t feeling it, and when you’re living this nomad life you learn pretty quick to trust the gut and keep it moving. So consider Tulsa our shortest, least eventful chapter yet. Blink and you missed it. We sure did.

Which brings us to the actual main event: Amarillo, Texas. Y’all. We need to talk about the Texas panhandle, because I don’t think either of us expected to fall this hard for it. Hunter and I keep saying we had no idea Texas was hiding something like this.

We initially only had 2 nights planned but because of our need to skip Tulsa, we actually got 4 full days which was such a blessing.

If you’ve never heard of Palo Duro, it’s often called the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” and let me tell you, that nickname is earned. Sixty miles of canyon, 800 foot cliffs, layers of rock in every shade of red and orange you can imagine. We rolled in not really knowing what to expect and left completely in awe.

Camping Inside the Canyon

We set up camp right inside the park, and there is genuinely nothing like waking up surrounded by canyon walls on every side. The heat during the day was no joke, this is the kind of Texas summer heat that hits different once you’re down in the canyon floor versus up on the rim, so we made sure to pace ourselves, hike early, and save the rest of the day for cooling off.

The trails here range from easy strolls to genuinely challenging climbs, and there’s something for every kind of hiker. Our favorite was the Lighthouse Trail, which leads out to the park’s iconic rock formation. It’s pretty easy for most of the way, just a long, flat, sandy walk with the canyon walls towering on either side, and then a short, steeper scramble right at the end to get up close to the lighthouse itself. Totally doable even if you’re not a hardcore hiker, and the payoff view is worth every step.

One thing to know before you go: if you’re visiting in the hot months like we were, the park actually closes several of the trails, including the Lighthouse Trail, from 11am to 5pm on days with a heat advisory. So plan to get an early start. We were out the door before sunrise to beat both the crowds and the closures, and it ended up being the best decision, cooler temps, gorgeous morning light, and we were back at camp relaxing well before the trail even shut down for the afternoon.

We spent our days exploring, chasing the best light for photos, and just soaking in how massive and quiet it all is. If you’re the kind of person who needs a little perspective reset, canyon walls that have been carved over millions of years will absolutely do that for you.

@brookemichellestewart

WHATS MEANT FOR YOU WONT MISS YOU This was a saying I adopted during my dating days. Single, looking for my person and spending weekends documenting it. I truly believe every missed opportunity in life is just opening up your schedule for one better suited for you. This trip would have never been possible if it wasn’t for the months left open in my calendar from a lack of booking when I was taking time to grieve. If you’re currently in the trenches, pls know. There are plans being made for you that you’re just not apart of yet 🤍 #texasphotographer #nomad #nomadic #camperlife #weddingphotographer

♬ Keyboard Typing 01 – 佚名

The Hidden Gem We Never Saw Coming: Sad Monkey Mercantile

Okay, this is the part I’ve been waiting to tell you about. After a long, hot day of hiking, sweaty, sunburnt, absolutely cooked from the Texas heat, all we wanted was a cold drink and some real food that we didn’t have to cook ourselves. We had no idea what was even around, so we hopped in the car and just started driving, only about 20 minutes from the state park, and stumbled onto Sad Monkey Mercantile.

We had never heard of this place before pulling up, and it completely caught us off guard in the best way. It’s this laid back general store, bar, and coffee shop all rolled into one, sitting just a mile or so from the canyon entrance. We grabbed a table on the patio, ordered a Coors Light and glass of white wine, and honestly, I don’t think a drink has ever tasted that good. Add in genuinely amazing food, live music playing in the background, and even actual longhorns hanging out in the field next door, and it turned into one of those unplanned stops that ends up being a trip highlight.

If you’re heading to Palo Duro, do not skip this place. It’s actually kind of hard to… it’s RIGHT before the canyon entrance where nothing else is around.

Another Amarillo Find: Sharky’s Burrito Company

On one of our other days in Amarillo, we needed lunch fast and stumbled into Sharky’s Burrito Company, and it ended up being one of those “why don’t more places do it this way” moments. It’s a build-your-own burrito spot, basically Chipotle energy but with its own personality, tucked away on S Georgia St. You pick your fillings, they pile it on, and somehow it comes out massive without falling apart in your hands, which honestly feels like a small miracle after a morning of hiking.

Tulsa Was a Blip, Amarillo Was the Real Stop

Between the canyon views, the sunrise hikes, and stumbling onto a hidden gem we never expected, Amarillo completely earned its spot on this road trip, and then some. Funny enough, it’s the quick, forgettable stops like Tulsa that make you appreciate the ones like this even more. We came for the canyon and left with a new favorite little bar we can’t stop talking about. Three stops in, one of them barely counting, and this nomad life keeps proving it was exactly the right call.

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We’re living life on the road full time now, which means here’s the fun part: we can meet you anywhere in the US, with zero travel fees. Wherever your story is unfolding, whether that’s a wedding, an engagement, or just some real candid photos of your own adventure, we would love to be the ones behind the camera. Let’s chat and get you on the calendar!

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