Open Road: A Midlife Memoir of Travel and the National Parks

TW Neal

Mar 2021 · Neal Enterprises INC

About this ebook

Fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love will enjoy author Toby Neal’s road trip travel memoir of self-discovery as she and her husband journey through the National Parks!

I had a dream to live a “normal” life and I attained it; but along the way, I lost myself.

My story began in Freckled: a Memoir of Growing up Wild in Hawaii, but it continued after I married the man of my dreams, completed my education with multiple degrees, had a successful career, and raised two beautiful children.

I sacrificed to get to where I was. Though I didn’t regret anything, flat on my back in the doctor’s office on the cusp of my fiftieth birthday, my health was crumbling. 

I no longer recognized myself.

I turned my head and saw a calendar on the wall: Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah beckoned me with its mysterious sandstone hoodoos.

A road trip traveling through the National Parks was just what I needed to rediscover the girl I’d been; it could help me turn a corner into my new career as a writer, and my husband would enjoy a chance to photograph the natural wonders we saw.

Sometimes, a twelve-thousand-mile road trip is also a personal quest.

An absorbing travel narrative about defining and facing the limitations and opportunities of midlife.An absorbing travel narrative about defining and facing the limitations and opportunities of midlife. —Kirkus Reviews

Ratings and reviews

The writing of this book had me from the start. The way it was written made me feel like I was there experiencing the good times and the not so good times that Toby was going through. The way the book was written made it so easy to imagine all the different locations in my mind. I loved hearing about the trip and how Toby was able to overcome the “problems” she encountered along the way. I loved hearing about past experiences and how she learned to deal with all that was thrown at her. This book was beautifully written and the photos that were shown were breathtaking! I loved the memoir from start to finish!

What a great read, for me UK reader it gave the perfect insight into the National Parks in America WordPerfect antidotes to accompany the scenery. The memoir also gives a real life glimpse into how marriage/partnership works with compromise and enjoying the hobbies of your partner can go along way in life. Thank you Toby for a wonderful impressed read.

I loved Toby’s introduction to her memoir Open Road. Immediately it drew me into exploring midlife while touring our national parks. I have enjoyed her novels and loved Freckled. I knew her attention to detail would continue in Open Road. Her description of Haleakala Crater - its colors, textures, grandeur, its starkness - set the stage for a wonderful travel adventure. Then she added many of the lessons she has learned through life and her travels!

About the author

TW Neal is the nonfiction writing name for USA Today bestselling, award-winning author Toby Neal.

"Everything that happens in our lives is the stuff of story," Neal says, "and sometimes the best stories are true."

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