Travel | Van Life by Design
Stories and destination guide from our van life adventures across North America — from coastlines to canyons and everything in between.
Telluride, Colorado, may be small, but it’s one of the most popular destinations in the Rockies. Nestled in a dramatic box canyon and surrounded by towering peaks, this town is the perfect place to begin exploring mountain trails. One of the most rewarding hikes right from downtown is the Bear Creek Falls Trail. It’s a…
Standing tall on Maine’s rugged MidCoast, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is one of the state’s most photographed and beloved landmarks. Its white stone tower, perched above jagged rock ledges, feels like a postcard brought to life. A Brief History of the Lighthouse President John Quincy Adams commissioned the original lighthouse in 1827, but faulty mortar caused…
When we crossed into Lubec, Maine, we didn’t know it at the time, but this small coastal town would become our first true introduction to the rugged beauty of the state’s shoreline and its fishing villages along the way. It was early September, the kind of day when the season hints at autumn but summer…
Much of our time on our New England trip was spent visiting the many small fishing villages along the coast of Maine. We enjoyed these towns, the nearby islands, and the rocky beaches. We started our coastal trip up in Calais and completed our journey at the southwest tip of Maine near Salisbury Beach. The…
An Unforgettable Adventure in the Apostle Islands The northwest corner of Wisconsin is one of our favorite places to visit in the country. During our first visit to the Apostle Islands in 2019, we were blown away by the remarkable sea caves and the Northwoods landscapes, so we were excited to return. This time, we…
Our recent van life trip took us to Wisconsin’s Perrot State Park, where the Trempealeau and Mississippi Rivers meet. The park is a beautiful blend of wooded bluffs, wildflower-covered meadows, and natural waterways, giving visitors broad choices on how to best experience it. We were there on our way to the Apostle Islands including Stockton…
Home and Spiritual Site of Ancestral Puebloan Indians Our van life adventure took us to Chimney Rock National Monument, a unique hidden gem near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Nestled at 7,600 feet, Chimney Rock’s iconic twin spires tower above anything else in the area, beckoning travelers to stop. For those seeking history and nature, this sacred…
Waterfalls, Wonder, and the Weminuche Wilderness It was our first time visiting Pagosa Springs and the national forests that surround the area. One day, when we hiked the Piedra River Trail, a friendly local tipped us off about the Fourmile Falls hike. He informed us that the hike through the Weminuche Wilderness to the falls…
How Colorado’s Mountain Blooms Transform a Mountainside After years of wandering from the lakes of Michigan to the jagged peaks of Montana, I like to think I’ve seen a wildflower or two. But nothing quite prepared me for the wildflower trails in Crested Butte, Colorado. Tucked in the Rockies, this small town transforms every summer…
Last October, we spent a couple of days at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas, a destination known for its natural beauty and folklore. It spans 3,471 acres on Petit Jean Mountain, with an interesting mix of forests, ravines, streams, and geological formations. The park is a outstanding venue for anyone who likes being outdoors….
Last June, the Canadian air was cool but comfortable, as we ventured out to see Lake Louise. With the anticipation of seeing Banff’s most iconic lake, we couldn’t help but smile while sitting in the shuttle bus. Like us, most tourists park at the lift area, a couple miles away from the lakeshore before being…
From Ptarmigan Tunnel to Iceberg Lake in Glacier National Park Our adventure began early one crisp September morning. Our selected hike was a route to Ptarmigan Tunnel in Glacier National Park. On the return trip from the tunnel, our legs felt good, and we didn’t want the day to end, so we decided to add…
The morning air was crisp as we set out on our adventure to Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park. It was early June, a time when spring had just begun to awaken across the picturesque landscapes of Alberta. Our destination was Maligne Canyon, a natural wonder known for its geological formations and fascinating history. All…
