If the Pacific Northwest – or by its local moniker, the PNW – had a mood board it would look something like this: misty pines of blue-green, craggy coastlines, crisp craft beer, and wood-paneled coffee shops. By that measure, our travels through the region’s national parks (North Cascades and Olympic National Park) and cities (Spokane, … Continue reading Notes from the Road: the Pacific Northwest
In this and the previous Life in a Van post, we’re talking about how we find our “sleep spot” for the night. Though our rig is pretty nifty and self-contained, deciding on where we’re parking up for the night isn’t always straightforward. Tried and tested over the last 11 months, here’s what our process looks … Continue reading Finding a Sleep Spot: Urban Edition
The West truly is wild. As in, blow-your-mind-with-its-stunning-splendor wild. Read on for our travels through South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana! South Dakota: Don’t let the name fool you; Badlands National Park is good. So good. Picture: for hundreds of miles you drive through rolling prairie (daydreaming – no doubt – about Laura Ingels Wilder’s … Continue reading Notes from the Road: The Wild West
In this and the next Life in a Van post, we’re talking about how we find our “sleep spot” for the night. Though our rig is pretty nifty and self-contained, deciding on where we’re parking up for the night isn’t always straightforward. Tried and tested over the last 11 months, here’s what our process looks … Continue reading Finding a Sleep Spot: Rural Edition
In the late summer, we crossed through America’s heartland on our second journey west, passing through West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Almost nowhere else does summer stretch out so lavishly as it does in middle America, where folks are (understandably) reluctant to relinquish warm days and bright skies. Our goal was … Continue reading Notes from the Road: The Heartland
Sometimes life on the road requires us to take time off from the road, a paradox other van travelers no doubt also experience. Whether it’s because we’re visiting family or friends who’ve offered up their sleeper sofas or because we found short-term work gigs, sometimes we have to park the van for a bit. While … Continue reading How to Not Live in a Van
To cut a long story short: Our delightfully meandering drive through Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts saw spring unfold in front of our eyes. The brisk Big Sky vistas of Vermont crumpled up into the foggy, sleeping slopes of the Green and White mountain chains, which then released themselves to the sunny, rocky beaches … Continue reading Notes from the Road: New England
Before we even got in the van, we defined our vision for life on the road: we wanted to spend as much time as possible traveling and as little time as possible earning money. We did not want to rely on remote work or online jobs for income. And we didn’t want to turn our … Continue reading Q&A About Money on the Road
To cut a long story short: With frigid winter temperatures finally behind us, we decided to do a loop of the northeast in early May and picked Pennsylvania as our starting point. For one, Brad has family there, and who doesn’t love starting a road trip with a few familiar faces? And two, Pennsylvania promised … Continue reading Notes from the Road: the Back Roads of PA and NY
Whether we’re on the road or parked at a campsite, there’s a good chance something’s playing on our speakers. There’s only so much two people have to say to each other after four thousand miles, and, well, a little variety never hurt anyone. With access to local radio stations, our iTunes libraries, podcasts, and Spotify, … Continue reading What We Listen To
Pale Yellow Van 