The Anderson Family’s Travel Journal–Return to Rugged in the ‘All-New Pathfinder’

Darryl and Denise Anderson and their family take the “ultimate road trip”—searching for summer fun and adventure. On tap is a packed itinerary of scenic destinations, outdoor recreations, and rugged motoring spread over several states. This trip has been a long time coming, and the Andersons are documenting their journey. 

Darryl’s Vacation Brainstorm 

The ultimate family road trip is on!

The moment we pulled out of our driveway in Brooklyn, New York, you could sense that shared feeling of relief. We were out of the house and on the move! For the next few weeks, it’s all open road for hundreds of miles across multiple states—with stops in between to stay with and visit family.

After more than a year of putting off our big travel plans, it’s time to go back to doing the things we love and seeing parts of the country we’ve always wanted to see.

Traveling, enjoying the outdoors, discovering new experiences—that’s how this family rolls.

My wife and I met on an Aspen ski slope and spent our honeymoon snorkeling in the Bahamas. The kids—two girls, one boy—were biking some serious mountain paths while still in grade school. So, no, binging on TV shows is not our jam. For us, it’s all about the next challenge, a new adventure; and after so many months spent in a holding pattern because of the pandemic, we’re finally on our way.

One of the deciding factors behind hitting the road now was purchasing our new family car, a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. We had been looking for a new ride for a while, and the ruggedness of the new Pathfinder, combined with its drive and terrain modes, instantly gave me the confidence to plan for our big road trip. It is the first day of this trip, and while I’ve only been behind the wheel for an hour or so, it’s enough time to convince me that the Pathfinder is built for the unexpected.

I can’t wait to see how it handles off-road.

For now, I’m content cruising the Palisades Interstate along New York’s Hudson River. Traveling upstate, it’s still surprising to me how quickly Manhattan’s skyscrapers give way to New York State’s natural beauty. It just makes everyone excited about the adventures ahead. Our youngest, Janae, has been begging to try parasailing. She almost has us convinced but is 12 old enough? Her brother Zane, 15, is an avid biker and is anxious to explore some upstate mountain trails. I’m not sure I can keep up with him anymore, but I’m game. Our eldest, Malena, is looking forward to enjoying her last road trip with the family and helping with the driving before starting her freshman year at Spelman College.

Me, I’ve got several fishing spots picked out. And Denise, my queen and co-pilot, is the true adventurer. Whether it’s hiking or rafting, by land or by sea, she’s always up for a new challenge and an opportunity to show the kids that she’s in better shape than I am.

All of that may sound like a lot, but we’re ready. The vehicle seats everyone comfortably. The kids are all settled in, taking full advantage of the wireless charging and the USB and USB-C ports to power up their various devices. And there’s plenty of cargo space for road trip essentials—a trunk organizer for our luggage, fishing and hiking gear, stocked coolers, even a portable pen for a sixth passenger, our 6-year-old black lab, Juno.

We’ve set off on this road trip on a high note in our new Pathfinder.

Adventure, here we come. 

The Andersons’ multistate Ultimate Road Trip is underway. Follow their progress here.

• Next time: Biking and hiking in our all-new Pathfinder – Back to Rugged