Hello fellow travelers and craft brew enthusiasts! Welcome to Highways and Hops – a space where wheels meet hops and the highway leads to intoxicating stories!
Chrissy
Hi! I’m the primary author for most of our content, so this bit will be in first-person from me. I grew up in College Park, MD, the home of the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) where I earned a BS in Zoology. Shortly after college I became a web developer, and now have more than 28 years of experience and own Pongos Interactive, a web agency based in Crofton, MD. Although I wear the techie hat with pride. I’ve felt the lure of the great outdoors from my childhood days, transitioning from tents to cabins and then to our trusty TrailManor RV. Fast forward a few years and camping escapades, Vince (my ever-supportive husband) and I found ourselves cruising in a 35-foot class A RV. When we’re not soaking in nature, we’re either sampling or brewing our own batch of craft drinks. Yes, we’ve been there, done that, and concluded – kegging is easier than bottling!
Vince
Meet Vince, a man who’s equally at home chasing criminals with his K9 partner as he is sampling a craft brew. With 20 years as a K9 police officer for the US Capitol Police, his journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. A Springfield, IL native, Vince’s pre-police days were spent as a case worker in Illinois. When he’s off-duty, he either has a bowling ball or golf club in hand.
Parker
Our 17-year-old son, Parker, brings his own unique flair to our journeys. With a profound love for animals and a penchant for horror movies, Parker’s zest for life is evident in his passionate cosplay ventures. Homeschooled but deeply social, he’s eagerly looking forward to a future where he can combine his love for animals and his professional aspirations.
Our Furry Family
- Raven: The motherly figure who’s a tad wary of strangers but absolutely dotes on us. Thunderstorms? Not her favorite.
- Bingo: Vince’s dynamic K9 partner by day, a goofball tennis ball enthusiast by night.
- Bucky: The newest addition to our brood, Bucky loves his football and adores belly rubs, even if it means being a couch for Raven occasionally!
Our Journey to Highways and Hops
Everything started in a Springfield, IL bar. Imagine walking into a place expecting an exquisite craft brew, only to be met with bottled generic beers! That realization, combined with the frequent travel stories and tips we share with friends and fellow RVers, gave birth to this blog. Here, we share tales of our adventures, from cider tasting at Showalter Orchard to the splendid days at Devil’s Backbone.
Our Mission: To inspire and guide fellow travelers on the best craft brew excursions, while making the journey as fun, flavorful, and memorable as the destination!
Whether you want to recommend an uncharted brewery or are keen on collaborating with us, we’re all ears! Feel free to reach out. Also, stay tuned as we gear up our social media channels to bring you live snippets from our travels.
