After weeks on the road, I finally hit the end of my epic journey—6,500 miles of grilling, chilling, and hauling my Ninja Outdoor gear across the American landscape. And what an adventure it was! Holy smokes is this country big when you set out to see as much of it as possible in a car.
But honestly, the greatest part of this BroBible x Ninja road trip wasn’t just the amazing places—it was the incredible people who made it special. Ninja Outdoor products are designed to bring folks together, from backyard barbecues to beach days, tailgates, and picnics, making every gathering memorable. Life really is better outside with Ninja.
Ninja Woodfire™ Pro Connect XL Grill and Smoker: A Rib Lover’s Dream
Before I set off for the final leg from Pennsylvania to Nashville, I treated myself to some homemade ribs using my trusty Ninja Woodfire™ Pro Connect XL Grill and Smoker. As you know from my backyard brisket-making adventures in Austin, this grill works wonders. I don’t know about you, but when I think Tennessee, I think ribs, slow-smoked, saucey, and falling off the bone. The Ninja Pro Connect app makes it a breeze: just load the smoke robot with pellets, turn it on, and let it work its magic. Those baby back ribs were smoky, savory, and perfectly tender—essential nourishment for a cross-country flight and the road ahead.
Ninja FrostVault™ Cooler: The Road Trip Essential
With my ribs devoured, I packed up my 50-quart Ninja FrostVault cooler and shipped it ahead to Pennsylvania. After reuniting with my mom in the Keystone State and scooping up the cooler, we loaded the trusty Ninja FrostVault Cooler up with fruits, veggies, and sandwiches for our journey to Pigeon Forge in the Smoky Mountains. The FrostVault, with its unique cold, dry storage drawer, was the perfect companion for this final leg of the road trip. Thanks to its innovative drawer, we wouldn’t have to worry about soggy sandwiches during our rest stop picnic on the eight-hour drive down I-81 through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
SHOP NINJA OUTDOOR PRODUCTS HERE
The Smoky Mountain National Park was lush and green. These are storied mountains and I had to see them. I had never been to the Smokys before, and after spending so much time on this road trip in the dry heat and deserts of the Southwest, eastern Tennessee’s green mountains and hollers blew me away. So much tranquility and natural beauty. Our day started with a hike up Clingman’s Dome, then we ventured deep into Cade’s Cove for golden hour and encountered seven bears, including a mama and her three cubs. It was a wild, unforgettable experience.
All that bear-watching worked up an appetite. The next day, we stocked our FrostVault with more sandwiches and banana pudding for the three-hour drive to Nashville. A thunderstorm picnic in Knoxville’s beautiful public gardens added a touch of drama to our journey. But who cares? It’s just rain. A little water won’t hurt you.
Ninja Woodfire™ Outdoor Oven: Perfect for backyard pizza… or even brisket.
Our final BroBible x Ninja Road Trip event was at Von Elrod’s in Nashville, near the minor league baseball stadium. The turnout was fantastic, with locals and friendly strangers coming out to support us and win some Ninja gear. The grand prize—a Ninja Woodfire™ Outdoor Oven—was a huge hit. It’s perfect for backyard pizza, heating up to 700 degrees with five dedicated pizza settings: Neapolitan, New York, thin crust, pan pizza, and frozen pizza. You can also use it for making beef jerky or smoking a brisket.
We also gave away some Ninja Thristi Waterbottles, a Shark FlexBreeze Outdoor fan, and a Ninja FrostVault cooler, both ideal for Tennessee’s hot and humid summer days.
Previously: Road Trip Diary #1: Why I’m Grilling, Chilling, and Adventuring With Ninja This Summer
The Nashville Finale
Arriving in Nashville during one of its biggest country music festivals was exhilarating. The music was fantastic, the company was awesome, and spending time with my mom made it extra special. The city’s vibrant spirit, combined with Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, made for a yeehawin’, boot-scootin’ good time.
Reflecting on my journey back to LA, I felt enriched by the wonderful experiences and the amazing people I met along the way. At our last event in Nashville, a new friend who had been following along the journey asked me about my top five places. Here’s what I told him:
- Cade’s Cove, Smoky Mountain National Park – Bear sightings with my mom.
- Million Dollar Highway, Colorado – A beautiful spring day in the Rockies.
- Arches National Park – Otherworldly landscapes.
- Grand Canyon at Sunset, Lipan Point – Nature’s glory at golden hour.
- Monument Valley, Utah – Surreal sandstone columns against empty highways.
But honestly? The greatest part of this BroBible x Ninja road trip wasn’t just the places but the people who made it special. I know I mentioned this at the top, but it’s super important: The people are always what makes a road trip special. In a way, these Ninja Outdoor products are meant to bring people together, from backyard barbecues to beach days, tailgates, road trips (ahem!), and picnics. Their grills, coolers, outdoor oven, and even portable blender are designed with functionality, practicality, and people gathering to use them in mind, whether you’re grilling burgers, making pizza with the family, or smoking chicken wings.
SHOP NINJA OUTDOOR PRODUCTS HERE
Previously: Road Trip Diary #2: A Westward Adventure With The Ninja Frostvault™ Cooler and Ninja Blast™ Portable Blender
Ninja Outdoor products: Bring people together outside
That’s the core ethos behind these wonderful Ninja products: Bringing people together with delicious food, snacks, and good times outside, where life is meant to be lived and shared with one another.
Meeting internet friends in real life all across the country, in Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, and Nashville, and hanging out with my parents made this trip unforgettable. It’s been an experience I’ll cherish forever. BroBible fam, I can’t thank you enough for following along.
Previously: Road Trip Diary #3: Mastering Texas BBQ with My Ninja Woodfire™ Pro Connect XL Outdoor Grill & Smoker
Now, it’s time to head back to LA—I’m craving more of those ribs! I can’t wait to fire them up on my Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill and Smoker, kick back, and savor just how good it feels to be home. Because, as they say, there’s no place like it.
Especially when you have friends waiting for you and a slew of Ninja Outdoor goodies in the backyard…