Life flows like a stream. When I walk next to a stream, it reminds me of life. I look at the moving water as an analogy with its twists, turns, and uncertainties along the way. It is amazing how streams are so different, as is our journey in life. Some streams start small and change course…
Being in nature puts me in the best frame of mind and hiking is my favorite activity. I love the challenge, the physical pain and the vistas that hiking provides. The best treks for me have a reward at end like a waterfall or a lake. However, standing on a mountain ridge or peak is…
Living content in a small space for an extended time is the aim for us when in our van. Achieving this goal when sharing the space requires effort and thoughtfulness. It’s crucial to establish clear communication and to share responsibilities. This way, we each can feel comfortable and content in our living environment. Maintaining a…
We have had the pleasure of being married for 30 years. In that time, we have learned many lessons about life and about each other. We put together a list that reflects what we have done to stay committed and to grow deeper in love over the past three decades. Our Top 100 List 1….
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic 469-mile winding road from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. We traveled on the top ridge of the mountains as we drove the southern end of the Parkway. The road twisted and turned and each new vista…
We did it! Our first bear sighting in the wild occurred and it did not happen when we were hiking. We will always remember the animals of the Great Smoky Mountains for this reason. Our sighting happened when we were safely in Alice! We had just finished our hike in the rain at Rainbow Falls…
When we started our Van Life By Design website and blog, our mission was to write about and photograph our travels in our Sprinter van Alice and other travel related topics. This is still true. Gail is also interested in writing about exercise and fitness, healthy eating and other lifestyle topics so we have launched…
“The really happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery, even when they have to take a detour.” ~ Sir James Jeans
Gail and I generally hike somewhere every day. Granted, if we are going through the neighborhood on our 3-mile route, we will call it a walk. Some might say it’s an Urban Hike. I call it putting one foot in front of the other. Getting outside and trekking makes me feel happy. It’s good for…
Gail and I have been bicyclists throughout our marriage. We have always liked riding together but we don’t always agree on what constitutes an excellent riding experience. As it turned out, we both like riding a hybrid bike. For the past 15-years we have each owned 2 bikes (total of 4). We both have road…
Last summer, we visited the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and spent a couple days in the Porcupine Mountains. This rustic forested area is located on the shores of Lake Superior and offers many scenic hikes and vista overlooks. No matter where we are, one of our favorite things to do when we travel is get…
I’m not really a wine guy. I like wine, but I don’t understand all the blends or subtle variances from bottle to bottle. For example, I can’t taste the difference between a Merlot, Shiraz or Pinot Nino. The Challenge Occasionally when out for dinner, my wife and I will decide to buy a bottle of…
