Miles and Memories: The Family Travel Podcast

Rezin Howes
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  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Welcome to Miles and Memories—the podcast where we take you behind the scenes of our family’s epic travel adventures! Whether we’re towing our camper across the Rockies, road-tripping in our Tesla Model Y, or discovering off-the-beaten-path gems, this is your front-row seat to the stories, struggles, and laughter that happen along the way. Each episode expands on our vlog journeys with deeper conversations, travel tips, and heartwarming moments that didn’t make the final cut. Expect real talk about life on the road, emotional reflections, unforgettable destinations, and a few fun surprises from our kids, too. If you love family travel, crave unique adventures, or just want a feel-good show to fuel your wanderlust—subscribe and come along for the ride. Your next adventure starts here.

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Happy Little Trees and Unexpected Detours: Our Bob Ross Experience in Muncie, Indiana

    Welcome to another episode with Miles & Memories! In this special Valentine's Day 2026 episode, Miles and Mercy take you on a road trip of extreme contrasts. We start with absolute peace and wholesomeness in Muncie, Indiana, and end up at one of the most bizarre roadside attractions in the country. First, we step inside the historic studio of the legendary painter himself at The Bob Ross Experience. We share what it’s like to stand exactly where Bob taught millions the "joy of painting". We also uncover incredible behind-the-scenes secrets from his time on PBS: The Three-Painting Rule: Did you know Bob actually painted his televised masterpieces in sets of three? He created a reference painting, the 23-minute on-air sprint, and a highly detailed version for his instructional books.The Studio Setup: We discuss his unique setup, including his military ammo box for holding brushes and paints, and the plain black curtain he used to create intimacy with the viewer instead of a distracting cabin set.A Unique Scent: If you were on set, you knew Bob was in town for filming because of the distinct smell of paint thinner mixed with cigarette smoke.Anyone Can Paint: We talk about Bob's deeply inspiring belief that anyone can paint with a little practice, including the touching story of when he painted an entire episode using only gray tones to prove to a colorblind fan that they could be an artist, too.After exploring the museum artifacts and his practice canvases, we take a drive down West Peach Tree Lane to catch a glimpse of Bob Ross's actual former home, where he used to draw inspiration from the wildlife outside his glass-walled backyard. Then... things take a wild turn. (Listener Warning: If you are sensitive to crude, middle-school humor and innuendos, you might want to pause the episode here!) We wrap up our journey with a hilarious detour to the infamous Uranus Fudge Factory. Prepare to laugh (and maybe cringe) as we explore this unhinged roadside attraction filled with passive-aggressive candles, hillbilly cell phones, and alien displays. Despite the absolutely chaotic energy, we stock up on some amazing treats, including sea salt fudge, rocky road, and sugar-free chocolate pretzels. We even spot a Bob Ross lunchbox in the gift shop before spinning our way out of the store through a dizzying "vortex tunnel". Join us as we chase light, glory, and happy little trees through the moments in between! Blog Article - https://milesandmemoriesvlog.com/post/bobrossexpierence Youtube Video - https://youtu.be/uWX5d4AINAw?si=Z2KCI8gQGxT7Aq4K

    30 min

  2. JAN 19

    Heat, Cactus, and Courage: A Family’s Hike Through Tucson Mountain Park

    Step into the wild edges of the American Southwest with this gripping deep dive into Tucson Mountain Park. Through the lens of the Miles and Memories family vlog, we follow a father and his kids on a steep, risky hike where every step tests their resolve—and safety. From loose scree and harrowing drop-offs to jumping cholla cacti and volcanic vistas, this episode explores more than just a trail. It's a story of decision-making, respect for nature, and what it really means to turn back without losing the adventure. We also uncover geological secrets of ancient calderas, debate graffiti vs. human history, and reveal why a dusty Arizona sunset might be the most beautiful you’ll ever see. If you’ve ever faced the decision to push forward or protect the people you love, this story will resonate. Tune in for heat, heart, and hard-earned wisdom.

    32 min

  3. JAN 19

    Exploring the Hidden Wonders of Tucson’s Wildlife Museum

    In this special deep-dive episode, we revisit one of Southern Arizona’s most iconic and polarizing landmarks—the International Wildlife Museum in Tucson. Once a stone fortress of taxidermy, conservation, and childhood wonder, the museum closed its doors without warning on New Year’s Eve 2023, leaving behind an empty castle in the desert—and a whole lot of questions. 🎙️ What You’ll Hear: A nostalgic virtual walkthrough from a 2016 family vlog: from towering mammoths and deer with 13-foot antlers to javelinas and cave habitatsA closer look at the controversial origins and ownership by Safari Club InternationalStunning exhibits and oddities—shark mouths, extinct pigeons, and Bengal tigersThe ethical tensions between trophy hunting and wildlife educationWhy the museum closed without a goodbye—and what happened to its priceless collectionThe shocking $1 auction of a 51,000 sq. ft. desert fortressMore than a podcast, this episode is a time capsule—a tribute to a place that sparked wonder and debate, curiosity and criticism. Through archival vlog footage, emotional memories, and investigative storytelling, we piece together the legacy of a museum that once made the world feel a little smaller for kids and families who couldn’t travel far. 📍 Whether you remember your own childhood field trip or are hearing this story for the first time, this episode will leave you reflecting on what it really means to preserve not just animals—but stories, spaces, and shared history.

    30 min

  4. 11/13/2025

    5 Surprising Reasons We Loved Tucson's Reid Park Zoo

    In this episode of Miles and Memories, we take you along on a heartwarming family adventure to Reid Park Zoo in sunny Tucson, Arizona—where the desert meets the wild. From feeding giraffes to watching lions lounge in the morning sun, our kids experienced up-close animal encounters that sparked awe, curiosity, and lots of laughter. We dive into what made this zoo a perfect stop on our Southwest road trip and how it delivered more than just photo ops—it gave us unexpected moments of connection, joy, and reflection. 🎧 Whether you're planning a family trip, dreaming of your next road adventure, or just love hearing stories about real families exploring the world together—this episode brings it all:  ✔️ Emotional moments that remind us why we travel  ✔️ Practical tips for visiting Reid Park Zoo with kids  ✔️ Our honest take on accessibility, layout, and value  ✔️ How we planned it around our Tesla Model Y road trip  ✔️ What we’d do differently next time  ✔️ One animal encounter that left us speechless (and giggling!) We also reflect on the deeper value of family travel—not just in the big moments, but the small in-between ones: snack breaks under shady trees, watching our daughter reach out to a giraffe for the first time, or seeing the world through our son’s eyes as he asked, “Why do lions nap so much?” This episode captures it all in our signature Miles and Memories style—warm, real, and always centered on what matters most: being together. 🎁 Sign up at https://ko-fi.com/milesmemoriesvlog  📷 See the full video from this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ispH6HLmVko ✍️ Read our Blog Article about this trip here: https://milesandmemoriesvlog.com/post/reid-park-zoo-family-adventure

    13 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

Welcome to Miles and Memories—the podcast where we take you behind the scenes of our family’s epic travel adventures! Whether we’re towing our camper across the Rockies, road-tripping in our Tesla Model Y, or discovering off-the-beaten-path gems, this is your front-row seat to the stories, struggles, and laughter that happen along the way. Each episode expands on our vlog journeys with deeper conversations, travel tips, and heartwarming moments that didn’t make the final cut. Expect real talk about life on the road, emotional reflections, unforgettable destinations, and a few fun surprises from our kids, too. If you love family travel, crave unique adventures, or just want a feel-good show to fuel your wanderlust—subscribe and come along for the ride. Your next adventure starts here.

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