Ric Wayland

Ric Wayland is a lifelong traveler, compulsive planner, and enthusiastic collector of stories that begin with, “This probably isn’t a good idea.”

Equal parts airport strategist and back-road wanderer, Ric has a habit of noticing the details most people miss: the strange hotel sign, the unexpected roadside stop, the gate agent with perfect timing, or the local recommendation that changes the whole trip. He believes the best journeys are rarely the smoothest ones—and that a missed turn is often just the beginning of a better story.

On Wheels Up, Windows Down, Ric brings a practical traveler’s eye, a dry sense of humor, and a willingness to admit when the plan has gone completely sideways. When he is not recording, he is probably researching the next destination, refining an itinerary no one asked for, or explaining why a three-hour detour was absolutely worth it.  Ric also runs the blog Fork in the Road Trip, and is a managing partner at the Open Road Archive.