ROVA

Our dear friends gave my husband and me a surprise subscription to ROVA since they know our plans to hit the road semi-full-time next year. I read every single word and every ad, and savor the beautiful pictures. We are using these to help plan [our

“Where do you go to the bathroom?” “Don’t you miss having a proper kitchen?” “What do you mean you don’t have a closet?” Sick of those questions? Then head along to a van-life rally to spend time with folks who understand what RV and van life look li

The mystery of the unexpected is why we chose our lifestyle. Seeking our own personal unknown. The little surprises, and big ‘WOWs’, that come up along the way. The places we visit have been visited by countless other travelers before us, but the fac

Once we develop a relationship with nature, we find ourselves concerned about its well-being. Naturally, then, a passion for the outdoors comes with a responsibility to take care of it. All of the natural places where we recreate are impacted by our

The #vanlife movement has become synonymous with boho-chic couples lounging around Pinterest-perfect tiny homes on wheels. It’s an Instagram sensation full of drool-worthy interior design and major travel envy. This lifestyle has become popular with

Scrolling through Instagram, there are hundreds— thousands, even—of beautifully put-together vans, all blond wood, bright kitchens, hidden storage and personal touches. But where does all of this awesome design come from? Given the dearth of good des

The early May sun is crisp, and wisps of clouds swim against a pale blue sky. We barrel south down I-95, Virginia sweeping by our windows in a blur of green trees and American flags. By the time we hit North Carolina, the fear has settled, and New Yo

The sun is just starting to glow on the horizon along Fort Myers, Florida when 55 boats slide out into the ocean to hunt for the elusive king tarpon. A giant silver creature that can weigh more than 100 pounds, tarpon isn’t an easy fish to bag. It le

The first five and a half months in my van were spent mostly in the comfort and safety of my parents’ driveway in Sarasota, Florida. I hadn’t planned it that way. I’d started my grand van life journey, having exited corporate America and never-ending

What made you decide to take your pets on the road with you? Our pets are a big part of our lives and our family, and we would not be living this type of lifestyle if we didn’t think they could, too. Despite living in such a small space, our animals

What made you decide to take your three bunnies on the road with you? Billie, Cameron and Devon are three special little bunnies. It is important to us that we all stay together, so we never even entertained the idea of leaving them with a friend or

What made you decide to take Albus, your cat, on the road with you? We have had Albus since we were dating, and couldn’t possibly live without him! There was really no question of whether or not we would bring him on the road. He is a huge part of w

You travel with six rescue dogs in your RV. How did that come about? I started out with four. I am a dog trainer, and have worked in the rescue industry for more than 14 years. In the last year, I ended up adopting a 13-year-old chihuahua from a hoa

Pulling into a popular trailhead lot near Buena Vista, Colorado, I eye its ambitious layout, paved for hundreds but occupied by two. Joni Mitchell’s prophesy warbles in my head: “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Standing in silence for

The journey began four years ago. I left my career to pursue a creative path full time, bought my first van for $4,000, and was going to spend six months exploring the entire country. At the time it felt like this would be the trip with all of the an

During a year spent housesitting and living out of a small Scamp travel trailer, my girlfriend Ella and I found ourselves on Oregon’s central coast, blurry-eyed and exhilarated. Fresh off a notably bruising argument that took place in the car from th

In the desert, there’s very little left unexplored. Moab gets busier every year with tourists, Jeeps (we call them Jeeple), weekend warriors and giant gleaming RVs parked atop plateaus in every direction. Zion National Park is considering a permit sy

I’m not in the habit of crashing fishing trips, but on a Mother’s Day weekend a few years ago, that’s exactly what I did. And if that trip is any kind of indication of what showing up unannounced to an anglers’ weekend is like, I cannot recommend it

When I first learned of it, Fayetteville, Arkansas was just a soft-sounding place to where my older siblings simply disappeared after high school, while I patiently waited at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma with my parents and the dogs. I knew nothing about

New England’s federal lands are some of the most gorgeous tourist attractions in the northeast, but anyone who has ever sweltered in Cape Cod traffic, joined a conga line to an Acadia vista, or shouted over the din atop Mount Washington can attest th

Contrary to common lore about relatives by marriage, my parents-in-law are pretty rad (shout-out to Lawrie and Jude; I know you’re reading this!), so it was no great hardship to spend a month in an RV with them, along with my wife Gem. My in-laws are