How to Prepare for a Summer Road Trip (in 2020)

Today is the first day of summer, and road travel is on the upswing. As someone who lives on the road full time, I’ve definitely started to notice more and more RVs, people with out of state license plates, and families out at the National Parks and on major highways. People are starting to travel again whether you like it or not, but for those of you who haven’t hit the road yet, here’s what you need to know before you embark on your summer road trip.

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Curious road trip attraction in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California

Be Considerate

I’m still not necessarily encouraging high risk travel, but the fact is, people are starting to travel no matter what. So, if you’re hitting the road soon, make sure that you’re considerate of those in small towns who might not have the resources that your home city might have. If you can avoid actually stopping in these smaller towns, that would be great, but if you have to, make sure you’re as considerate as possible, wear a mask, and come having already been isolated for 14 days if possible.

Big Sur, one of the most popular coastal stops along the Pacific Coast Highway in California

Prepare for waits at the National Parks

Many of the National Parks have reopened officially since the pandemic, however, many of them are receiving enormous crowds of visitors. Parks like Yellowstone and Zion are particularly crowded, and parks like Yosemite and Rocky Mountains are requiring timed entry reservations prior to arrival. It’s important to keep these things in mind, and check the NPS website for the park you’ll be visiting before even leaving home in case there are extra steps you need to complete before you arrive.

Have questions about a National Park you’re planning on visiting this summer? Click below for personalized road trip planning help!

Yellowstone National Park, one of the most popular reopened parks in the Lower 48

Bring clothes for both warm and cold weather

Believe it or not, many parts of the country are not in full-on summer yet. Lots of the northern states are still experiencing temperatures that dip into the 30s (F) at night, and even some deserts in the southwest might have cooler evenings. It’s important to have a road trip wardrobe that reflects any weather changes you might have so that you don’t need to make unnecessary trips to the store (let’s avoid having lots of contact with towns that aren’t our own!).

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Glacier National Park in the summer

Do your research

In many areas, not just National Parks, visitor centers are remaining closed for the time being due to understaffing. While this might be frustrating, it’s also a great opportunity to get to know your dream destinations beforehand, by checking the park website, or talking to people who know the area well. This can make trip planning incredibly fun, and give you something to look forward to if your road trip isn’t for a couple months. It’s also a crucial step when it comes to safety and preparedness this summer, since not all areas you’ll want to visit will have someone for you to ask questions to.

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Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the few National Parks with an open visitor center currently

Keep your family safe from the sun

This summer, no matter where you’re going, it’s important to keep your family safe. Even if where you’re headed is somewhere fairly cold (like Glacier National Park), it’s crucial to note that cold places still get sunny. Using eco friendly sunblock is important if you’re going anywhere near the ocean (so that you don’t damage the sea life), and wearing a hat and sunglasses is important for any adventure.

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Rocking those Tifosis in Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Bring Plenty of Water

Something that we’ve found lately since being back on the road officially is that a lot of water taps are still turned off for sanitary reasons. For any road trip ever, you shouldn’t leave without a few gallons of water for emergencies, but it’s even more important this year when things are still so uncertain. Especially if you’re heading somewhere hot, water is the number one ingredient to making sure you stay safe!

My favorite view in Acadia National Park, ME

Know Your Route

Download your maps on Google Maps, bring a paper map, know the highways you need to take, before heading out into the unknown. Normally, it’s easy to just pop into a gas station and ask for directions, but with so many small towns not welcoming strangers this year, it’s important to be as prepared as possible so that you don’t bother anybody who doesn’t want to be bothered.

Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Planning a road trip can be hard and stressful, especially if this is a last minute plan, or your first time planning a trip like this. With so many international trips cancelled, many Americans are looking at the classic American road trip as a way to still get their family vacations this year, but it’s a much different type of travel than anything that involves a plane.

If you don’t know where to start, don’t have time to do the research, or simply want to speak to someone for reassurance, know that road trip planning is my specialty. It’s what I love to do, and I want to help you to get out on the road, faster, and easier. I’ve recently set up a service, through Patreon, that will allow you to get on the phone with me and discuss your road trip plans. I can do research for you, answer any questions, and help you get on the road with confidence. Click the button below to get started!

Where To Go This Summer to Beat the Crowds

With so many people planning domestic travel for 2020, an overwhelming amount of travel questions these days have to do with road tripping. It seems to be the method of travel people are preferring this summer, with air travel feeling simply out of the question. No matter what, a road trip full of National Parks might sound incredibly enticing.

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As someone who lives full time on the road, I’ve been able to see the world of road travel evolving with COVID-19 firsthand. And with Parks reopening, it’s becoming clear that some parks are going to be far more crowded than others.

Getting outside this summer might just seem like the ideal way to social distance while still getting to see something new, and you’re right! As campgrounds begin to open and visitor centers increase access, this is a great way to learn about nature, get to see some beautiful scenery, and voyage to somewhere new. The thing is, some parks are far more crowded than others. This year, I could definitely see parks limiting capacity at the gate, so here are some alternatives to the Lower 48’s most popular National Parks.

While one of the most popular parks, Wyoming’s Yellowstone is one that’s already drawing crowds. Keep reading to find out where to head instead.

Instead of Yosemite, try Kings Canyon!

This California park has everything Yosemite has except Half Dome and El Cap. Here, you’ll find similar giant rock monoliths, dense Sequoia forests, and lots of wildlife. It’s also adjacent to Sequoia National Park, so you can check off two parks at once! Kings Canyon is perfect for scenic drives, hiking, waterfall chasing, and wildlife viewing, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants Yosemite’s natural landscape without the crowds the popular park brings in.

From the Mist Falls Trail in Kings Canyon National Park (2018)

Instead of Grand Canyon, try Bryce Canyon!

While Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon are fairly different (and Canyonlands might have more of that classic canyon feel—but I only recommend spots I’ve personally visited), Bryce Canyon in Utah is one of the most unique landscapes in the US. It’s full of hoodoos—giant rock formations that look like strange sandcastles. It is definitely less trafficked than the Grand Canyon, so you’ll be more likely to have a distanced Rim hike here than at the natural wonder in Arizona.

Bryce Canyon’s Hoodoos are like nothing else in the country

Instead of Yellowstone, try the Grand Tetons!

Of course, the Tetons aren’t an active volcano like Yellowstone, and you won’t find the Grand Prismatic Spring here, nor will Old Faithful erupt for you, but the truth is, Yellowstone is easily one of the most crowded National Parks I’ve ever been to. Just south of Yellowstone, likes the Grand Tetons, a range in the Rockies just overshadowed by its volcanic northern brother. The Tetons has some of the best mountains views you’ll ever get, and has tons of lakes to explore if you like kayaking or paddleboarding. The Grand Tetons are a hiker’s paradise, and you’ll be just as likely to see bison here as in Yellowstone.

The Grand Tetons at sunset in June 2019

Instead of Mount Rainier, try the North Cascades!

Mount Rainier is one of the most popular National Parks on the west coast. With towering mountains and melting glaciers, there are few parks like it, but if you’re looking to avoid crowds, you might consider hitting North Cascades instead. This is a small park interspersed with Forest Land, but it’s stunning, and it’s one of the most dog friendly parks in the country. You will have to do a bit more hiking to see cool sites here, though, so pack your hiking shoes!

From the top of the very strenuous Thornton Lakes Trail in North Cascades National Park

Instead of Badlands, try Theodore Roosevelt!

The Badlands is a stunning landscape that usually symbolizes the reason people travel to the Dakotas in the first place, but its grassy counterpart in North Dakota is often overlooked. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a highly underrated spot a few hours north of South Dakota’s Badlands, and is home to bison, prairie dogs, and more, and is also known as one of the least visited parks in the country.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s unique landscape

Never planned a road trip before? Click HERE for all my tips on how to survive long haul trips on the road!

When it comes to traveling post-pandemic, sticking to domestic travel might be the best option for a while. And that’s okay! There are plenty of amazing sites right in your own backyard, it’s just a matter of knowing where to look.

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10 Things to Know Before Visiting Laos

When I hear people planning trips to Southeast Asia, they usually list Thailand, Bali, Cambodia, and Vietnam on their list. But the truth is, there is no country like Laos. When I first visited Southeast Asia, I included two countries in my itinerary: Thailand and Laos, and I expected to fall in love with Thailand, with Laos being just another cool place to say I’ve been, but the opposite ended up being true. I fell head over heels for this unique landlocked country in a way I never expected to. So, if this post doesn’t convince you to go to Laos, I don’t know what will. And if it does, here are the 10 things you should know before going.

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So… where is Laos?

Laos is a landlocked Southeast Asian country that shares borders with five other countries: Thailand, Vietnam, China, Myanmar, and Cambodia. It is home to some of the most amazing, lush, green landscapes I’ve ever seen, and is full of flowing rivers, including the famous Mekong. Its capital is Vientiane, ad the official language is Lao (which I’ll get back to later!).

When most people visit Laos, they stick to Luang Prabang City and some surrounding villages in Luang Prabang Province such as the backpacking village of Nong Kiaw.

Restaurant in the remote village of Ban Sop Chem

What currency do they use there?

Laos is a very interesting country when it comes to spending money. Due to the fact that they are a less developed country, many of the vendors and shop owners do not even have card readers. Instead, there are ATMs located throughout the city that are generally safe to use. If you’re nervous about pulling out more cash in this practically cash-only country, pull out enough when you land at the airport from the airport’s ATMs. I personally used them and they are safe.

Laos’ currency is known as the Lao Kip. It’s fairly easy to convert, but of course won’t be exact. About 10,000 Lao Kip is equal to $1.50 USD, so you can pull out $150 USD here and be a millionaire! Things are very cheap in Laos, and you’ll be able to stay at a good hostel for only about 150,000 Kip per night (only about $15 USD). Food is also very cheap, as are souvenirs.

Hand woven fabrics hang outside of homes in Ban Sop Chem, Laos

Night markets

Speaking of money, something many Southeast Asian countries are famous for are their night markets. Night markets are an incredibly fun way to get to meet some locals, buy local goods, and practice your bartering skills. Yes, bartering skills! The locals known what tourists look like, and they’ll likely try to charge more for their goods than they’re worth, so if you find yourself at the Luang Prabang night market, feel free to do some bartering.

The view from my hostel in Luang Prabang City

What religion do they practice in Laos?

Laos is a largely Buddhist country. Nearly everyone there practices Buddhism, and one of my guides when I visited even used to be a Buddhist monk. There are plenty of temples to visit, and you can even look into participating in the morning alms giving ceremony, a daily ritual where patrons will wake up at 5 am to offer rice to the monks who are commuting to temple for the day.

See this ceremony in action in my Youtube video on Laos!

Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang City

What should I wear?

Due to this being a Buddhist and communist country, it’s important to recognize that their customs are on the more conservative side. While it’s okay to wear shorts in Luang Prabang City, and even in some backpacking villages like Nong Kiaw, it’s also important to respect the culture. By the end of my trip, I felt uncomfortable wearing anything that showed my knees while walking around town. Generally, to be culturally appropriate, it’s important to cover your knees and shoulders in a way that doesn’t show off your figure (yes, for girls and guys). This is particularly important when it comes to visiting temples and smaller villages like Ban Sop Chem.

Key staples for packing include:

Elephant Pants (which you can purchase at the night market—bring less than you think you need)

T Shirts (bring one more than you think you need)

One sweatshirt (Laos has mountains)

One bathing suit (for the waterfalls!)

Plenty of comfy socks

Sandals you can slip on and off when you enter temples and your hostel

Hiking/walking shoes

Dressed up for the traditional Buddhist Baci Ceremony in Ban Sop Chem

Where are the waterfalls?

When you google Laos, you’ll likely see endless photos of Tat Kuang Si National Park, a national park just outside of Luang Prabang City known for its bright blue waterfalls. These are known as Kuang Si Falls, and they’re absolutely gorgeous, and definitely worth stopping at, despite how touristy they are. Here, it’s appropriate to wear an American bathing suit, and there are changing rooms available at the falls.

If you’re looking for a way to give back a little during your time in Laos, Tat Kuang Si National Park is also home to Free the Bears Sanctuary, a rescue focusing on Moon and Sun Bear conservation.

Laos is also home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world, so make sure you branch out and explore a little more than just this most common national park.

Kuang Si Falls in Tat Kuang Si National Park

The country has a tough history

Laos is the most heavily bombed country from the Vietnam war. Today, there still exists UXO, or unexploded ordinance in the remote villages of the country. Children are taught from a young age how to recognize UXO and avoid them, and there are bomb squads that are actively clearing the country of UXO. It is an integral part of the country’s history, and one that can’t go overlooked when visiting. For more information, please visit the UXO museum during your time in Laos.

Government

While completely safe to travel in (and safe for solo female travelers), it’s important to note that Laos is a communist country, which means their economy and land ownership work differently than in other countries you may have visited in the past. One of the places you’ll see this most is in the presence of China in Laos. China is currently building a railroad through the country, as well as damns in many of the major rivers. While there are pros to these projects, such as jobs for Lao citizens and better transportation of goods via the railroad, there are also cons including flooding of the rivers and drought in some areas.

The children of Ban Sop Chem

Key Phrases

It’s always good to enter a country with a few key phrases under your belt so that you can better communicate with the locals. Here are the phrases I found useful during my time in Laos:

Sabaidee: Hello

Khob jai: Thank you

Khob jai lai lai: Thank you very much

Tao dai: how much?

Kor thod: sorry

Sabaidee ton sao: good morning

Sabaidee ton laeng: good evening

Bor pen yang: it’s all good!

Bo me nam nom: no milk (for my vegans!)

Ngam lai: very beautiful

The view from Pha Deang Peak in Nong Kiaw

All about food

I actually love Lao food. It’s flavorful, and different from that in a lot of other Southeast Asian countries. It kind of reminded me of a mix between Thai, Indian, and Western food. It uses a lot of the same flavors as Thailand, but also uses a lot of potatoes, and much more bread than Thailand! Expect curries, sticky rice, and something my guide called “crack sauce,” which is soaked chilis and garlic in soy sauce. It’s used for dipping sticky rice and it’s amazing! There is also fried rice, noodles, and stir fries galore. If you go to the street market, you’ll find plenty of street food, as well as fruit shakes, which can easily be made vegan.

If you go to any remote villages, expect to take part in some traditions. During my time in the remote village of Sop Chem, we learned to make rice wine and sticky rice, and got to take part in a welcoming tradition, where you take shots of Lao Lao (rice whiskey) for good luck.

If you’re vegan, or plant based, like me, you might be concerned about being able to maintain your plant based diet while traveling, so I just wanted to reassure you that in Asia, it’s fairly easy to be plant based. Often, there is no milk used in food, and in curry, it’s usually coconut milk anyway. In the above section, I did cover how to say “no milk,” but you can rest assured that usually, unless it is a meat dish, it will be vegan as long as there is no fish sauce.

After the Buddhist Baci Ceremony

Laos is truly one of the most underrated Southeast Asian countries. While it borders a lot of the countries many people love to travel to, it’s often overlooked, but it’s home to some of the most beautiful nature, kindest people, and best food on the continent. It should be on everybody’s list, and considering the fact that they want tourists, there’s no better reason to go and support this beautiful place.

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National Parks and National Emergencies

Visiting Death Valley During COVID-19

It was only a matter of time before I had to start addressing COVID-19 on here. As a travel blog that specializes in adventure travel, the world has felt a little weird lately. People can’t go outside, trails are closing, and only a few National Parks remain open. While certain small and high traffic parks have closed, such as Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, and White Sands, some do remain open with modifications.

I am currently living on the road full time. What this means is that I carry my house with me, like a snail, and have been isolated on public land for the past almost-week. While California does have a “shelter in place” order, it was stated that driving no more than an hour to spend time outside is okay, so since the public land I’m calling home was one hour from Death Valley National Park, I wanted to take the opportunity to go in, see the park for the first time, and address how the world has had to make modifications due to this global pandemic.

Golden Canyon Trail

Currently, all National Parks are free to enter. Please keep in mind that National Parks are different from National Forests, which are run by the USDA, rather than the NPS. Largely, National Parks are not staffed right now. Visitor Centers are closed nationwide and bathrooms, campgrounds, and other facilities like parking lots that need to be maintained are locked. While Death Valley remained open, it felt like a very different, almost eerie experience to visit during this time. With only one ranger sighting throughout the entire park, multiple road closures, and 40MPH wind gusts, visiting a National Park during a National Emergency was an adventure to remember.

Please note: it is inadvisable to travel to National Parks during the COVID outbreak. I live full time on the road, mostly on BLM land, where I am able to isolate. I did not travel to go on a vacation in the National Park. This is my lifestyle, and I am treating it no differently than if I was in a house driving an hour to hike a local trail.

Zabriskie Point

About Death Valley:

Death Valley is the largest National Park in the lower 48, and spans across both California and Nevada. It is most commonly accessed through the west, and we entered through Lone Pine, CA, which is where we are camped. Death Valley is a bit of a mismatched park. It has a little bit of everything, from mountains to desert, and each of its main attractions don’t really feel like they should fit together. From sand dunes to the lowest elevation in the United States at the Badwater Basin Salt Flats, Death Valley is a unique park that should be added to your list for future trips.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Restrictions in the National Park:

While Death Valley remains open at the time of the publication of this piece, there were restrictions within the park. Most visitor centers nationwide are closed right now, as are all public restrooms, lodging/camping, and pay stations. In Death Valley specifically, we were surprised to see that Panamint Springs was open, meaning we could get gas on our way into and out of the park. All parking lots were barricaded, so street parking was our only option for the sites that were open. There were also unexpected road closures, which caused for some disappointment as we tried to access Artists Palette, Dante’s View, Natural Arch, and Devils Golfcourse.

Badwater Basin Salt Flats

What was accessible?

Despite the restrictions, quite a lot was still accessible, and due to the lack of visitors, it was completely possible to still be isolated while in the park. We did not come into contact with any other people, and as avid hikers and outdoorsy humans, we always leave no trace, and that includes the spread of COVID (hands were washed often and we were careful to only touch the natural features of the park).

We were able to access the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Badwater Basin Salt Flats, Golden Canyon trail, Ubehebe Crater, and Zabriskie Point, so we felt like we got a decent overview of the park, even though we had less than 12 hours there altogether.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

The thing is, this trip to a National Park was incredibly different from any other National Park trip I’ve taken in the past. While this was my 35th park, it didn’t feel quite the same without a trip to the visitor center, open roads, and maps to collect. But the thing is, although we visited out of convenience and a need to get outside during this self-isolation, the park isn’t going anywhere. I can always go back and experience it in full. It’s time to let mother Earth heal first, and then the adventure can continue.

-HWS

How to Have an Epic Adventure in Your Hometown

With every other post on social media being about the coronavirus right now, it’s easy to feel anxious about traveling and exploring new places, especially if your usual mode of transportation is an airplane. For those of us with the travel bug (or even those with just the springtime itch to travel), this time can be one of anxiety, frustration, and a feeling of being stuck. The thing is, you don’t have to go far to have an epic adventure, and likely, there are places not to far from where you live that you haven’t discovered yet. Having a “stay-cation” might just be the best way to fuel that adventure craving without getting on an airplane, and this is the best way to do it.

El Matador Beach, CA

Realize that anything can be an adventure

You don’t have to be new to a city to explore it. One of the most productive things I’ve done since I started traveling is realize that I don’t know everything about my hometown. It’s super easy to assume you have nothing left to see in or around your hometown, but the truth is, there are always hidden gems that you don’t know about yet. Check to see if there are any hiking trails you haven’t done before, or parks you haven’t been to. Museums are always changing out their exhibits, and restaurants always have new specials to try. Even something as small as going to a new ice cream shop can be an adventure if you approach it with the right mindset.

Visit a local state park! Lake Anita State Park, IA

Make a list of the things you GENUINELY love doing when you travel

When you’re on the go exploring new cities far from home, what is it that you always make sure you do? For example, some of my friends enjoy checking out a coffee shop right when they arrive in a new place. For cities, I like to explore the art scene and go to art museums. When I visit natural places, I like to learn about the geology and wildlife in the place I’m visiting and then go on a hike. When you realize what makes your passion for travel shine when you’re far from home, you’ll be able to figure out what you might love doing in your hometown.

I love being outdoors when I travel, but sometimes just a visit to a city park will suffice. Mount Tabor Park, OR

If you’re worried about cities, stick to the outdoors

This one simply has to do with the fears of getting sick that are circulating through social media. Not only is exploring nature incredibly good for your health (exercise and fresh air), but it will get you out of those dirty cities where germs are spread. There are tons of National and State Parks all over the world (yes, there are National Parks almost everywhere), so go hit your local one and appreciate the beauty of nature.

If you’re in the US, National Parks have different categories. Visit a National Historic Site, National Recreation Area, or National Monument. Each type offers a little something different, so if you’re not that into hiking, you’ll still be able to find something fun to do in your local NPS sites.

National Parks aren’t just for the outdoor enthusiast! Visit historic sites like Gettysburg National Military Park

Take a day trip

Normally, I’d say take a road trip, but since most people don’t live out of their vehicles, you’d need to stay in hotels, and frankly, I don’t think a lot of people are doing that during this moment in history. So, my best advice instead is to take day trips. Choose a place that’s only an hour or two away from your hometown, and make a point to go there and explore for a day. Two hours is plenty of time to get back in time to sleep in your own bed, but you won’t find yourself lacking in time spent at your destination. Of course, National Parks are great for day trips, but so are beaches, lakes, and even smaller cities, depending on what you’re interested in or what you feel comfortable doing.

Go to somewhere close by to where you are or where you live, such as your local National Park. Indiana Dunes National Park, IN

If you’re itching to explore, this strange point in time might be hitting you a little extra hard, but the truth is, there’s adventure in the everyday, even if that everyday is spent in your hometown. There are likely tons of places you haven’t explored right near where you live, so branch out, visit a local state park, and make anything an adventure.

Why I Live in a Van

I’ve been living in the van full time for a month now, and the truth is, living in a van down by the river (or in the desert, or woods, or mountains, or city) is the best life ever. But I get it: you might not. And that’s okay, but really, full time travel is something that a lot of people are pursuing these days. I live in a 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 conversion van. It has a full sized bed, refrigerator, running water, solar power electricity, and an emergency toilet, and it’s everything I need to be happy. It’s not all fun and games, but it gives our lives variety. It allows me to have the freedom my soul wants while still being a Responsible Adult. And it’s allowed me to find myself, at least a little bit. So this is my why. Why travel. Why an alternative lifestyle. Why vanlife.

Camping on Joshua Tree South BLM

What is an alternative lifestyle?

We’ve all heard of the 9-5. We’ve all heard of the college, get married, buy a house, have kids, work for 30 years, retire loop that people tend to get stuck in. An alternative lifestyle is the rejection of that. It’s the idea that we are in charge of our own lives, not society. You can really do whatever you want. The thing is, whatever your excuse is, spin it around. If you think, “yeah but… I have to work.” Why can’t you do that from the road? Why can’t you start your own business? “Yeah but… I’m supposed to be buying a house.” Why is that? Who is saying that a house is your next step? There are no written rules for life, so it’s important to understand that we can take charge of our own paths, and do the thing that makes our souls feel full.

Of course, if a 9-5 feels right to you, then amazing! Do that! But for many of the people in my community, there’s boredom in a 9-5, there’s creative blocks, there’s a feeling of being trapped. So listen to that feeling and know that there’s another life out there.

Camping at Anza Borrego Desert State Park

But you can’t just be on vacation all the time…

Whoa whoa whoa… I have to stop you there. This is not a vacation. First I want to talk about something that my guide, Mike, brought up on the first day of my GIVE trip: what is the difference between a vacation and an adventure?

To me, a vacation is an escape from something, usually from a job or school. A vacation has the purpose of being a relaxing break before you return to real life.

An adventure is what this life feels like to me, but it’s more than that: this is my real life. Travel is my lifestyle. I still deal with real life, sometimes more than I would if I was living in an apartment, because in a moving house, things tend to break. I have to fill up my water tanks and dump the grey water when it’s full. I go grocery shopping and cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner every night. And more importantly, I work. I spend about 50% of my time in a place working so that I can afford to be where I am. This is simply life to me—it’s just that my backyard changes.

Loving life in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by my friend Jared @jaredinthevan.

Why a van?

Now a lot of people romanticize backpacking, which is also long term travel, but yet don’t understand vanlife. Why is that? Honestly, there is a stigma, but when I have friends living in Mercedes Sprinters, it’s hard to understand why that stigma still stands. Honestly, I chose a van because I wanted to travel, but didn’t want rent to pay on top of my plane tickets. I wanted to be going full time, and having a van allows you to have everything you could possibly need with you all the time, no matter where you are.

I chose a van because when I sleep next to a national park I wake up to the sunrise peeking through my windows. I chose a van because ending my day surrounded by somewhere new but under a sky full of the same stars feels more stable and right to me than going home to the same place every night. I chose a van because it could park anywhere. I chose a van because the road feels like home to me, and even more so when I carry my home with me like a snail does. I chose a van because structure doesn’t pair well with me. And that’s okay. There’s a life for everyone where they’re happy.

Me and the van at the RTR 2020. Photo by my friends @lindseyanddannyvanlife

What about friends and relationships?

This is a tricky one. When we’re constantly moving, we don’t find ourselves surrounded by the same people all the time, but at the same time, the people we need to be around will find us when we need them the most. I have an amazing van fam who I caravanned with for about a month, and the thing is, people come and go, and moments do too—it’s just a matter of listening to where your soul wants to be and who it wants to be with.

Me and Emma in Sedona. Emma is one of the van fam and you can find her @emma.goes. Photo by our friend Brien @theotherground.

So… in conclusion…

Basically, vanlife for me is finding my freedom. I felt very stifled in school, and like I never really had the opportunity to make friends who truly understood how I felt about certain things, and through full time travel, through the road, I’ve been able to find both of those things. While people are fleeting, I’ve found my community, and while all roads do come to an end, I’ve found my freedom through the movement. I’ve figured myself out, and what I need, and I think that was something that needed to happen for me to progress as a person. Vanlife isn’t just about the van, it’s about the life and what you choose to do with it.

-HWS

I Took a Secret Tour of Joshua Tree

I’ve been to Joshua Tree 5 times in my life, 4 of them in the past year, and 2 of them in the van. This time around I definitely felt as local as you can get in a National Park, but at the same time, I knew there was so much more to discover.

When The Secret Tours reached out to me, I was immediately intrigued—discovering more about a place I’ve been before? Having an excuse to go back? Yes please! So during this trip to Joshua Tree National Park, I participated in a couple of their tours so that I could see a little more of this amazing place I’ve grown to love.

The Secret Tours is a self-guided tour company in the Joshua Tree area, and they have a few different tours to participate in. On this trip, I did the Walking Tour and the National Park Tour, and both were super fun! They combine the idea of a scavenger hunt with exploration and fun facts about the area to make exploring interesting for all types of travelers. My team was made up of me and Transit Connect vanlifer Jared (@Jaredinthevan on insta!), and while it was my fifth time to the park, it was Jared’s first, so taking the National Park tour made for a really cool experience: me discovering new places I hadn’t seen before, and Jared seeing the whole park for the first time.

Don’t climb skull rock unless you know what you’re doing! The view from the bottom is pretty cool too!

All of the tours start at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center in Joshua Tree, California. For the National Park tour, you’ll then go into the park and start discovering new destinations along the road, and answering questions about your observations as you go.

This tour will take you through the entire park, and as far south as the Cholla Cactus Gardens, your clues adding up to one big answer at the end of the tour!

Sunset from Quail Springs

Some of our favorite stops:

Cholla Cactus Gardens- This is an all time favorite of mine, so I was super excited to see it on this tour! This is one of those must-see stops in Joshua Tree, but make sure you experience it right by seeing it with The Secret Tours!

Chollas chillin’ in the Cactus Gardens

The Adventurous Yucca- This is the oldest Joshua Tree, but I won’t tell you where in the park to find it—I’ll leave The Secret Tours to that one! This is a fun spot to hit because at the very beginning of the tour you have to figure out how old it is!

The oldest Joshua Tree… can you guess how old it is? Or, you can go on the tour to find out!

Keys View- Again, I’m not gonna tell you where to find this one, but you can’t really miss the signs pointing you in the right direction! This is a super cool spot that I didn’t even know was here, despite the fact that I’d been to the park 5 times!

Quail Springs- While we experienced this spot at the beginning of the tour, we actually ended up coming back here at the end of the day for the sunset and some rock scrambling, despite the long drive through the park! I loved that this tour showed me some spots worth revisiting, other than my normal go-to’s.

Key’s View! Joshua Tree’s very own Grand Canyon!

For your next trip to Joshua Tree, The Secret Tours should be on your to-do list! They’re a great way to get the lay of the land and experience the entire area in and surrounding the park to the fullest! While the main tour I did while I was in the area was the National Park tour, they also have their walking tour and a longer driving tour around the area that surrounds the park to take you to some cool desert art, alien-related spots, and more! So head on out to the California desert—you might just discover some secrets…

Your Guide to the Southern California Desert

I’ve now pretty much finished Southern California. It’s where I grew up and went to school, so I’ve got a pretty good gauge of its geography. And on top of that, there’s basically no major destination in the southern portion of the state that I haven’t traveled to. There are a few main landscapes in Southern California: from mountains to beaches to deserts. They say it’s one of the only places you can go surfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon. But a large portion of Southern California is taken up by desert, and a few of these deserts are very worth your visit, while some are just transitional spaces between states (I’m looking at you, Mojave). This is a short guide to the deserts worth seeing, why you should visit, and what there is to do there.

Joshua Tree National Park

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is actually known for its correlation with the famous California Wildflower Superbloom that happens in spring seasons that follow winters where we get a lot of rain. While a superbloom is unlikely in 2020, this desert is still worth your visit. It’s the largest state park in the contiguous United States, and touches three counties: San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside. There are also a lot of free campgrounds in Anza Borrego, and you do not need to pay the park entrance fee ($10) to stay in them overnight. You’ve likely heard about Anza Borrego from the Sky Art Sculptures: giant metal sculptures built to work with the landscape or look like they’re a part of it. These sculptures invoke feelings of whimsy, and bring you back to the most childlike parts of your imagination (pictured below).

The Serpent, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Joshua Tree National Park

I’ve talked about Joshua Tree a lot on this blog, and even have a full guide to the park available HERE, but it needs to be on this list because it’s one of the main desert attractions in Southern California. Home to over 2 million Joshua Trees, a member of the agave family, Joshua Tree National Park is known for rock climbing, photography, and general exploring. It’s a huge park with plenty to do for every kind of traveler. Going with kids? Check out Jumbo Rocks Campground, Skull Rock, and Arch Rock. Adventure Seeker? Go find the Hall in the Hall or Horrors, summit Ryan Mountain, or go scrambling on one of the many rock formations. Just trying to take some good pictures for the ‘gram? Head over to the Cholla Cactus Gardens or stop in any roadside pullout for a good photoshoot with some J Trees! There’s also tons to do in the area, from stopping and grabbing a bomb vegan sandwich and getting some work done at Frontier Café to taking a self-guided tour with The Secret Tours.

Joshua Tree National Park: Sunrise from Belle Campground

Slab City, The Salton Sea, and Salvation Mountain

These spots are important for any SoCal desert tourist, but I honestly can’t see myself going back anytime soon. Salvation Mountain is a famous piece of desert installation art in the middle of Slab City, a strange desert town. It’s definitely worth seeing, and while you’re there, make sure you visit East Jesus—another space for desert art. As for where to stay during your time here, I highly recommend the Salton Sea. It’s close by, but not so close that you’ll feel the general weirdness of the Slabs. The Salton Sea is a huge body of water with a strange history, and the beach is made of fish bones. Just beware—the Salton Sea doesn’t smell its best!

Salvation Mountain, Slab City, CA

The SoCal desert is an incredible landscape that shouldn’t be missed. So many people say they’re coming to California and stop their journey south at Los Angeles, when really, there’s so much to be seen. The desert lies inland, and will give you a much broader scope of what California is made of. The desert is a place of extremes, so you might want to make sure you stock up on water, but also bring your 0 degree sleeping bag with you (don’t have one? Check out my favorite bag HERE!). But above all, make sure you take plenty of pictures—the desert has a certain beautiful magic to it.

My Must-Visit Spots in San Diego, CA

It’s no secret, if you’ve been following me a while, that cities aren’t really my thing. But when I was on my way back to my home base from my 3 weeks in Arizona, I really wanted to see where else I could fit into my route before taking a break from vanlife for a bit to get my WFA certification. A lot of my van fam had headed out to San Diego after Arizona, and it’s kinda the place to go for people in vans in the colder months because we, like birds, go south for the winter.

Now, it’s not that cities don’t have a ton to offer. There’s culture, food, and plenty to do. But there tends to be a bit more chaos in cities than I like. It’s a bit harder to park the van, and there are more rules about where you can sleep at night. I also tend to feel a little disconnected when I spent too much time in a city (truly, the forest is where I belong). But I went to San Diego anyway. So, for anyone in a van (or not!) who’s planning a trip to San Diego, these are my favorite places I went while I was there.

La Jolla Cove

Sunset Cliffs and Ocean Beach

The beach towns tended to have a little more space for big ol’ Sequoia, so the first place I went was Ocean Beach. Sunset Cliffs is a natural park known for towering cliffs over the ocean. Lots of people come here to see the views, surf the waves, or watch the sunset because, well, it’s called Sunset Cliffs for a reason.

Ocean Beach is also home to a very cool nighttime farmer’s market on Wednesdays (starting at 4pm), where they have music, vendors, and tons of vegan food available.

Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach

La Jolla

La Jolla is one of the most crowded and complicated areas to visit if you have a van. Parking here is an absolute nightmare, and my one tip is to try to park as far from the actual coves as you can walk. I ended up finding parking over by the La Jolla Underwater Park (I believe), and walked the beautiful cliffside trail to the coves (which was only about a half mile and incredibly gorgeous).

La Jolla is one of the nicest areas I visited in San Diego. It’s full of touristy shops, expensive restaurants, and sea lions. Yes, sea lions. These gorgeous animals are what La Jolla is known for, so make sure you go to the coves and say hi (just don’t get too close! Remember to Leave No Trace!).

The sea lions of La Jolla

Mission Bay Park

This was a great little spot to go and relax, make lunch, and get some work done. It’s definitely not a place to plan on spending your entire day unless you have a kayak or paddleboard, but it did give me some beautiful views while I did some writing. A lot of people come here to walk or ride their bikes along the shore, get a work out in, or let their kids run off some steam. There’s also tons of parking during the day so if you’re looking for a place to just relax, hop on your hotspot, or take a walk, this spot should be on your list.

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Mission Bay Park

Where I ate

I usually don’t talk about veganism on the blog, but honestly, a huge portion of what I do in cities is food related. Cities make it really easy to spend all your money on food. Luckily, because I have a kitchen, I did cook most of my food, and I had plenty of snacks with me, but there were a few points where I did buy food out. A favorite in Ocean Beach is Plant Power Fast Food. I used to work at one of their other locations, and it made for a super convenient place to grab a bite on the days when I was in OB. They also have WiFi, so it was a bit of a win-win.

I did also get an awesome meal at the OB farmer’s market on the Wednesday that I was there. They had tons of vegan spots at the event, but I found a vegan Chinese food place with no line that gave me an incredible amount of food for $12.

I also headed out to the University Heights area near SDSU where I went with a friend for dinner. We met at Plumeria Vegetarian Restaurant, a sit-down vegetarian Thai food place that was almost as good as the real deal.

The last place I ate out at was Loving Hut in Scripp’s Ranch. I wasn’t planning on heading out this way again, and then I found out that my childhood best friend was also in town, so I went out to where she grew up (and where I had visited with her mom a few days before), and she took me here. This place has amazing food and enormous portions. Would definitely recommend!

La Jolla Underwater Park, view from a coastal trail I parked near

San Diego was an interesting first real city experience in the van. I did really enjoy my time there, despite the absolute chaos cities tend to bring. So, if you’re planning your own trip to Southern California anytime soon, make sure these spots are on your list—they’ll be sure to give you a pretty complete San Diego experience.

10 Tips for Making it Through Long-Haul Road Trips

In my world, I do a lot of driving. In the past year, I’ve put about 20,000 miles under my wheels (in two separate vehicles of course), and while I like to keep my drives short (3-4 hours if possible), there are some days when you just can’t avoid that 6-12 hour long-haul. Doing drives like this to get to a destination can be grueling, especially if you’re solo, so whether you’re a full time vanlifer like myself, or a casual traveler looking to get that road trip fix in this spring, here are my best tips for surviving a day on the road.

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links

My first tiny home, in Badlands National Park, SD

1: Be prepared for time zone shifts

If you’re traveling coast to coast (or in any vaguely horizontal direction, really, if you’re not just road tripping in the states), it’s super important to be prepared to shift in your time zone. This can affect your arrival time greatly, and will affect you more if you’re moving West to East, rather than East to West, since you’ll be arriving an hour later than planned. Keep this in mind when doing any type of long haul drive, so that you can plan accordingly for any way that this might throw off your plans.

Sedona, AZ (photographer: Brien @theotherground)

2: Snacks

Obviously, you can’t have a proper road trip without snacks. But, they’re even more important when you’re putting major miles behind you, especially if you’re driving solo. Calories keep you awake, and sometimes, you won’t want to stop for lunch, especially if you’re trying to make it to a destination by a certain time. I always keep a few snacks with me in the front of the van so that I don’t have to pull over to find something to eat every time I start getting tired.

A favorite healthy snack of mine lately is Bobo’s Oat Bars. They’re vegan, oat based, and super yummy! Pick yourself up a box HERE!

Bobo’s Oat Bars make fantastic road trip snacks

3: Water

As essential as snacks, water is something we often forget about while driving, especially if you’re driving solo. The thing is, being in the car all day singing along to the radio is incredibly dehydrating, and you’ll only get tired faster if your body needs something you aren’t giving it.

If there’s nowhere to fill up my reusable bottle, you’ll nearly always see me sipping on a Surfwater—bottled water packaged in the world’s most recyclable material: aluminum!

Surfwater aka the best water at El Matador Beach in Malibu (photographer: Alex @alx.vu)

4: An amazing playlist

Nearly as essential as food and water, having great, inspiring music to listen to is a must. I have about 10 very similar but very different road trip playlists that I recycle depending on my landscape, but my favorite artists to listen to on the road are: Lord Huron, The National Parks, Frenship, and Mogli. Oh, and the soundtrack from David Attenborough’s Our Planet. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it!

Here are some links to my current favorite Spotify playlists:

Vanlife

The Ultimate Roadtrip Soundtrack

Pacific Coast Highway

Our Planet

The van on Joshua Tree BLM land

5: Take Breaks

I cannot stress this one enough! If you’re traveling solo, please take breaks. This is what rest areas are for, and if there are none, gas stations and truck stops are amazing too. I recommend taking a break every 1-2 hours so that you can breathe, use the bathroom, change your music, make a sandwich, anything! Just take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel for 10 minutes. It’ll wake you up and make for a safer and less frustrating drive.

Bison on the road in Yellowstone National Park

6: Be aware of agricultural checkpoints

This might only be a thing in the United States—I’m not sure of agricultural laws in other countries—but if you are driving over state lines in the US, be aware of agricultural checkpoints. This is similar to how you have to declare certain items when you fly into a new country or back into the US. They will ask whether you have any fruits, veggies, plants, etc… in the vehicle, as exposing the local agriculture to those plants could affect the environment. As far as I remember, the only agricultural checkpoints in the continental US are at California entry points.

Hoyt Arboretum, OR. When you drive from Oregon to California, you will be asked if you’re carrying any produce.

7: Comfy clothes

This might go without saying, but driving in comfortable clothes will make all the difference. It’s also important to wear clothes for the weather later in the day. The other day, I drove 6 and a half hours from Tucson to San Diego and while it was freezing in the morning, as soon as I hit the Southern Californian desert near the Mexico border, it was hot and sunny! Considering the fact that my van has no AC, it was important that I drove in clothes made for warm weather so that I wouldn’t need to keep stopping to put on or take off a jacket.

One of my favorite brands of ethical and comfortable clothes is Wholesome Culture. They use organic cotton, water based ink, and donate money to animal sanctuaries for every purchase made. Check them out HERE!

Sporting my favorite Wholesome Culture T-shirt on a hike through Mammoth Cave National Park, KY. It says “There is no Planet B.”

8: Keep an eye on your cell service!

So often during long-hauls we drive into areas with no cell service without realizing it. Especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area, it’s crucial to either download your maps before, carry a paper map (for really remote areas like Montana, Canada, Alaska, and even parts of Utah/Nevada), or make sure that you do not exit your already functioning navigation. As long as you start your navigation in either Google Maps or Apple Maps, it will keep you on track even when you do lose service, but as soon as you exit, you won’t be able to just pull it right back up if you’ve got no bars. When I was driving from Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, there was no service for the first hour of my drive, and being my second day on the road, this was incredibly stressful. Make sure you know the general direction that you’re going, and if you can find a Pilot or Flying J truck stop (in the states), go in and ask if they have WiFi so you can download a map—they usually do!

Glacier National Park, MT: one of the most remote places you can drive to. Definitely download your maps before leaving West Glacier!

9: Get off the highway and explore

If you’re not in any rush, why make it a long-haul drive in the first place? Drive in your direction until you find something interesting and then make a little detour. You never know what you might find, and there’s always the chance of an unexpected adventure. Long-haul drives are grueling and unless you have a time limit, unnecessary. Let yourself explore more instead.

One of the best detours I’ve ever made! The Salton Sea, CA. Learn more about this place HERE!

10: Take it all in…

It’s so easy when you’re road tripping to make it about the destination. But the truth is, the journey is often the most fun and beautiful part. Some of my favorite experiences on the road, and my most important revelations have come from the actual driving, not the arriving at my destination. It’s so important to take time to realize the landscapes you’re driving through, the lives of the people in the towns you’re passing by, and really, how small the world is when you really think about it.

Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, WA

The world is far more connected than we like to think. Nothing is as far away as our maps suggest—really, it’s just one 12 hour drive. Take the time to appreciate the distance, it will make all the difference when it comes to surviving that long drive (oh, and of course, all the other stuff too).