Get to know the Discovery Map team: Rob Amon

Rob is the head of Franchise Development.

"I grew up outside of Baltimore, MD where I had a background in horticulture and stone masonry. I started my own landscaping business which I operated until 1997 before making a career change, moving to Small Dog Electronics, a local Apple computer reseller, where I worked for twenty years before coming to Discovery Map in 2017.

I moved to Vermont in 1989 while on a camping trip, and I just fell in love with the place and made the decision to call Vermont home where I raised two daughters and two sons.

My family always loved the outdoors and we made countless trips hiking in the Pocono’s, Allegheny and Appalachian Mountains as well as exploring historical sites like Valley Forge, Gettysburg and Harpers Ferry. From a young age I had a need to travel and explore. After graduating high school in 1983 I set out on several cross-country adventures and spent a lot time in the Sierra Nevada and San Gabriel mountains in California, the San Juan Rockies in Colorado and the Jemez mountains in New Mexico to name a few. In 2011 I took a month off work to hike the Long Trail with my sons. The LT is a 273-mile trail that runs from Massachusetts to Canada through the Green Mountains of Vermont. If you’re looking for an adventure, I highly recommend this hidden gem. What it lacks in distance and altitude, compared to the Appalachian or Pacific Crest trails, it makes up for in its wild and rugged nature. The App trail through hikers referred to the LT as “the short, hard one” Isn’t it time you got lost in the wilderness?"

Below are Rob's 3 favorite places that he's visited.

1. Squirrel Island, Maine

"When I was young my family had a house on Squirrel Island which is off the coast of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. We spent our summers there in the early to mid 1970’s and these are some of the fondest memories I have.

The only rule was don’t leave the island so once we arrived we set loose as “free-range“ children to explore, sail, swim (yes the water is freezing) and even sometimes sneak to Boothbay Harbor for a movie and ice cream with friends.Once a month everyone on the island would charter a boat and go on the Cabbage Island Clambake. We would tour the harbor, lighthouses, seals and then enjoy a real New England clambake."

2. Negril, Jamaica

"I spent 12 days at a small resort in Negril called Whistling Bird and absolutely fell in love. Picture a 7 mile stretch of white sandy beaches with calm, turquoise water, coral reefs, cliffs for diving, restaurants, shops and more.Everything you could possibly want is accessible from the beach so once you check in you can relax, unwind and let the fun begin."

3. Green River Reservoir, Vermont

"The Green River Reservoir is not your typical Vermont State Park, it provides a camping and paddling experience in a very remote setting.All campsites can only be reached by paddling to them - some are a 1 to 2-mile paddle from the launch site. Often, we will enlist a group of friends, reserve several campsites adjacent to one and other and spend the weekend paddling, swimming, playing and music and listening to the Loons."

Wish List: Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico

"I have always wanted to go to Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico. Whenever we close a new franchise two people from our office travel to the market to start the map creation process. When I first came to Discovery Map Peter told me of his trip to map Culebra and Vieques and it sounded like such a wonderful time I have been intrigued ever since. I have spent time in Puerto Rico but mostly around Old San Juan and the El Yunque National Forest and I am looking forward to exploring the islands around the island.