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How to Find Solitude in the National Parks this Summer

How to Find Solitude in the National Parks this Summer

We’re taking a little break from European posts this week to talk about something really important—how to get away from people. I don’t mean you should become a hermit and live in a van down by the river…oh wait…maybe I do? Kidding aside, if you’re planning to explore the national parks this summer, you likely don’t want to spend your vacation shuffling through a mob of sweaty visitors. Instead you’ll want to find solitude in the expansive vistas, quiet trails,…

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Bouchons, Basilicas, and Other Things We Love in Lyon

Bouchons, Basilicas, and Other Things We Love in Lyon

As quickly as we were disoriented and even a bit intimidated by the fast-paced Paris, we felt at ease in Lyon. It’s my favorite city that we visited in all of France. Despite being the country’s third largest city, Lyon has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. You’ll see locals picnicking in the many parks and squares or taking an afternoon stroll along the river, some will even give a friendly nod as you pass by them. It has the unhurried feel…

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11 Free (or Cheap) Things to do in Paris

11 Free (or Cheap) Things to do in Paris

Since we already thoroughly embarrassed ourselves by sharing our blunders in the City of Light, we’ve created something more useful this week—a list of free things to do in Paris. It’s one of the most visited places in the world. People flock from all corners of the earth to see its sights, eat its food, and soak up the Parisian culture. There’s so much to do and see that even with a week to explore, you’ll only begin to scratch…

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7 Mistakes We Made in Paris (and How to Avoid Them)

7 Mistakes We Made in Paris (and How to Avoid Them)

I didn’t initially love Paris. There, I said it. As wildly unpopular as this opinion is likely to be, it’s the honest truth. In all fairness to the City of Light, my experiences in the first few days were hampered by enormous jet lag (seriously felt like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man) and a severe case of culture shock. Oddly enough, the culture shock wasn’t so much the foreign location, as it was the lightning fast pace of a big…

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Top Outdoor Gear List

Top Outdoor Gear List

15 of Our Favorite Things for Outdoor Adventure Since it’s time to start planning those summer adventures, an update to our outdoor gear list is in order. We also added some goodies to our van life gear recommendations and our road trip essentials guide. While a list of stuff is pretty contrary to all our talk about minimalism and letting go of things, even a minimalist needs some things. Plus we’re big proponents of thoughtful purchasing. We research the crap out…

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Utah Road Trip Itinerary – 2 Weeks in the Mighty 5 National Parks

Utah Road Trip Itinerary – 2 Weeks in the Mighty 5 National Parks

If you’re having déjà vu, (look we already picked up some French😉) you’re not alone. This two week Utah road trip itinerary is a combination of our one week eastern and western national park itineraries. We thought it’d be helpful to have all the details in one place and timeline recommendations for each destination. Plus, we’ve added more awesome things to do in each national park and new photos. If you have 2 weeks to travel around the stunning state…

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7 Things We Learned from a Year of Travel

7 Things We Learned from a Year of Travel

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since we packed up the few remaining things we own and left our beloved Portland for the open road. This has undoubtedly been the biggest year of travel and change in our lives. With our one-year travel anniversary (or should I say vanniversary?) upon us, we’ve been thinking a lot about what we’ve learned and what’s different than a year ago. Our goal on this blog is not only to share…

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How To Get the Most Out of Being a Digital Nomad – Learn to Slow Down

How To Get the Most Out of Being a Digital Nomad – Learn to Slow Down

The Work Vanlife Balance, Volume 6 Slow down? That’s right, I said it. I’m officially old. Next thing you know, I’ll be telling you to, “Stop, and smell the roses.” Don’t worry, I won’t go that far. Unless you go to a botanical garden or something, then you should probably stop, and smell those roses. We’ve talked a lot about how to be a digital nomad. Disconnecting from things, finding a career, technology needs, and mobile workspaces are all import…

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8 Incredible Things to do in Jaco, Costa Rica

8 Incredible Things to do in Jaco, Costa Rica

We recently got back from a trip to Jaco, Costa Rica. Since we started traveling last year, this is the first big “unplanned” destination we’ve visited. What I mean by “unplanned” is that just a few short months ago it wasn’t anywhere on our radar of 2018 travel destinations. Learning to Say “Yes” Last year our travels were mapped out ahead of time. We quickly discovered that we’d way overbooked and had to cut things out. Even after trimming down…

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Utah Road Trip Itinerary – 1 Week in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks

Utah Road Trip Itinerary – 1 Week in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks

Last month we published a one-week Utah road trip itinerary for Arches and Canyonlands. Today we’re thrilled to share a Zion and Bryce Canyon itinerary all about what to do in Utah’s western national parks. Zion is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S., for good reason. It’s a vibrant oasis of majestic cliffs, rumbling rivers, and lush vegetation in the middle of the desert. Bryce Canyon (which isn’t a canyon at all—but an amphitheater) is our…

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