Quemado Lake in New Mexico, with open water beneath wooded hills, photographed during Papa Rick’s travels.

Scenic Backroads Travel Videos & Authentic Photo Merch

Welcome to Papa Rick’s Travels · Dream. Plan. Explore.

Papa Rick wearing a dark cap and navy shirt beside an overlook railing, with blue mountain ridges behind him. — Papa Rick · Dream. Plan. Explore.

Hi, I’m Papa Rick.

I’ve loved taking the backroads since childhood. These are quick bursts of fun from the places I’ve actually been.

What began as travel stories for my family became a collection of photo postcards to share with anyone who enjoys a beautiful view, a roadside find, or a reason to take the next turn.

My granddaughter “Special Charli” gave Papa Rick’s Travels its name. I hope each short visit leaves you with a place to dream about and an idea for your next adventure.

Every journey has a story. Every destination deserves a postcard. Dream. Plan. Explore.

Explore My Travel Postcards

View all →

Quick bursts of fun. Tap a postcard to watch and explore.

Wild elk standing in a rocky stream during Papa Rick’s travels

Postcard #34

Wild Elk Encounter

That unexpected reaction!

Watch & explore →

Red cliffs and evergreen forest at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

Part 1 · Postcard #57

Cedar Breaks, Utah

WOW at 10,000 Feet!

Watch & explore →

Start your collection

Authentic photos from my travels—made into collectibles for your everyday adventures. Take a look at these featured favorites, then choose from many more designs in the full collection.

Shop all authentic merch collectibles

Featured collectibles below

Discover T-shirts, mugs, totes, bottles, phone cases, digital photo postcards, wallpapers, albums, and travel planners.

Digital Postcards & Travel Planners

Digital wallpapers

Molas Pass Phone Wallpaper

The blue lakes and mountain scenery of Molas Pass, Colorado, became this photo postcard for your phone.

$2.75

View collectible →

Digital travel planners

Papa Rick’s Travel & Resource Planner

Turn your next travel idea into a plan, with space to dream, map out your trip, and record the places you want to explore.

$4.75

View collectible →

Adventure Hats

Adventure hats

Mountain Trucker Hat

Papa Rick’s mountain logo, ready for the road.

$23.95 + tax and shipping

View collectible →

Black and gray trucker hat with Dream Plan Explore embroidered in red, white, and blue

Adventure hats

Red, White & Blue Trucker Hat

Dream. Plan. Explore. in red, white, and blue embroidery, ready for your next adventure.

$23.95 + tax and shipping

View collectible →

Apparel

Collectible apparel

Wild Encounters Elk Tee

Two elk wading through a rocky stream became this Wild Encounters postcard tee, with Papa Rick’s official logo on the left sleeve.

From $23.95 + tax and shipping

View collectible →

Collectible apparel

Papa Rick’s Wild Camp Long-Sleeve Tee

A camp chair, mountain views, and a peaceful stop near Silverton, Colorado—Papa Rick’s own wild camp photograph on the back, with his official logo on the front.

From $28.50 + tax and shipping

View collectible →

Photo Postcard Mugs

Photo postcard mugs

Wild Encounters Mug

An unexpected elk encounter became part of my Wild Encounters collection. Watch the elk’s lip-licking reaction in Postcard #34 below.

$13.95 + tax and shipping · 11 oz

View collectible →Watch the elk encounter — Postcard #34 →

Photo postcard mugs

Yosemite Photo Postcard Mug

I stopped my mountain bike for this Yosemite waterfall view. That moment became a photo postcard you can collect.

$13.95 + tax and shipping · 11 oz

View collectible →

Black mug featuring an authentic Epic Badlands Sunset photo postcard

Black photo postcard mugs

Angel Peak Sunset Black Mug

The sunset over Angel Peak Scenic Area in New Mexico became this fiery badlands photo postcard on a black mug.

$13.95 + tax and shipping · 11 oz

View collectible →

Travel Drinkware

Tumblers

Silverton Wild Camp Tumbler

Downstream from my wild camp near Silverton, Colorado, a mama moose and her calf would come to drink at night. This river view became a collectible tumbler.

$25.75 + tax and shipping

View collectible →