Browsed by
Author: Tom W.

More than a Mountain: Denali National Park Travel Guide

More than a Mountain: Denali National Park Travel Guide

When you think of famous landscapes in Alaska, Denali National Park is often one of the first places that comes to mind. Known as Alaska’s Crown Jewel of the North, it was the first national park in the Last Frontier. Every year over 600,000 visitors flock to the 6 million acre wilderness to hike, climb, camp, backpack, or just catch a glimpse of North America’s highest peak which stands 20,310 feet tall. When we began planning our Ultimate Alaskan Road…

Read More Read More

Everything You Need to Know About the Alaska Marine Highway

Everything You Need to Know About the Alaska Marine Highway

When planning an ultimate Alaska road trip, a voyage on the Alaska Marine Highway, also known as the Alaska State Ferry, is a must! This impressive “highway” stretches 3,500 miles of coastline from Bellingham, Washington, up through Alaska’s Inside Passage to Skagway. Then heads west across the Gulf of Alaska and follows the southern coastline out to the Aleutian Islands. Our trek on the ferry system was an exciting and unique experience and a highlight of our Alaska road trip….

Read More Read More

Our Favorite Things to Do in Sitka, Alaska

Our Favorite Things to Do in Sitka, Alaska

We are super excited to share this destination guide from our road trip to Alaska. Our first stop is Sitka, Alaska. We chose Sitka because two of my college roommates (who I was well overdue for a visit with) live there and it was a perfect beginning to our Alaskan adventure. This small island city did not disappoint. There are tons of things to do in Sitka. We were lucky enough to spend a week and explore the nature, culture,…

Read More Read More

Best Ways to Find Free Camping

Best Ways to Find Free Camping

How We Find Free Campsites Across the US When we hit the road in Stan the Tan Van a few years ago our biggest goal was budget travel— how to explore the beauty of the US inexpensively. One of our top money saving tips while traveling is—free camping. When we say free camping we don’t mean truck stops, Wal-Mart, or street overnight parking. We’re talking about awesome campsites in nature. We’ve found two easy-to-use, and free resources that help us…

Read More Read More

The Essential Road Trip Checklist

The Essential Road Trip Checklist

Get Your Vehicle Road Trip Ready It’s that time again. Time to get ready for road trip season! The awesome feeling of hitting the road and exploring new exciting places—like South Dakota’s Corn Palace (hey, don’t knock it)—is just around the corner. Make sure your vehicle is road trip ready with this essential road trip checklist. It’s safe to say everyone wants their road trip to be problem free, however if your vehicle isn’t prepared for a long journey, car…

Read More Read More

How to Build a DIY Camper Van Electrical System

How to Build a DIY Camper Van Electrical System

Our Budget Camper Van Battery Set-up When we started our camper van conversion, we knew we needed to have electricity in our van. We need to power our fridge, our lights, and our fan. We need to charge our electronics, get online, and Instagram the veggie burritos we’re eating in the wilderness.😉 And sometimes we just want to watch a little Netflix on a cold rainy night. Even without prior electrical skills we were able to build a DIY camper…

Read More Read More

How to Build a Camper Van on a Budget

How to Build a Camper Van on a Budget

Our $1,200 Budget Van Build It can be intimidating to think about building out a camper van. When researching, you’ll see many beautiful rigs with custom woodworking and top-of-the line appliances. People often spend months or even years building out their home on wheels. What if you want to hit the road soon? And what if you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on an elaborate build? That’s okay! We did a budget van build and found…

Read More Read More

2018 Best Travel Gear Gift Guide

2018 Best Travel Gear Gift Guide

The Best Gifts for Travelers When traveling across the country or internationally the right gear can make a big difference in your travel experience. We’ve been traveling for almost two years and know the importance of great gear. You don’t want to haul around things you never use or gadgets that don’t work properly. So, if you’re filling up your holiday wish list or looking for the perfect gift for your favorite traveler, the 2018 Best Travel Gear Gift Guide…

Read More Read More

Our First Descend on Bend

Our First Descend on Bend

When we hit the road in Stan the Tan Van after our European travels, we realized something—this isn’t just a trip or a “gap year” for us anymore. This is how we live our life. I think that’s why we were so excited to attend Descend on Bend 2018. We were very interested in meeting more people in the vanlife community. Through social medial we know there’s a lot of folks out there, but since we’re all mobile we don’t…

Read More Read More

Badlands Hiking Trail Guide

Badlands Hiking Trail Guide

There is a hike for everyone at Badlands National Park. That’s right I’m saying it, “Get out of your car and take a hike!” No, seriously, while the drive through the park is amazing, Badlands is a place to hit the trail and kick up some dust. Whether you’re looking for a short hike on the boardwalk or a trek though towering spires and flat-topped buttes, this Badlands Hiking Trail Guide will help you find your perfect hike (or hikes)….

Read More Read More