هستی رمان

برچسب: why

  • Park It: Why We Bought a Class B Van

    Park It: Why We Bought a Class B Van


    A Class B Van parked in the Redwoods with the caption: Why We Bought a Class B Van

    I’m a confessed national park geek who dreams of visiting every NPS site. But unfortunately, I’m also a wimp when it comes to tent camping. When my husband and I started looking into RV life, we discussed many different options from adorable mini teardrop trailers to fifth wheels, massive class A rigs, class C motorhomes, the class B van, and everything else we could find. To help us in our search, we made a list of our top priorities:

    1. A bathroom. I know many people are content with portapotties or (shudder) digging cat holes, but I like to have my own toilet and shower.
    2. A bed. Getting good sleep is important. In many smaller RVs, the table converts to a bed and vice versa, but we thought that sounded like a hassle.
    3. A comfortable place to work. (See the previous point!) I’m an author who writes novels set in national parks, and I plan to take my work with me so I don’t miss any deadlines.
    4. Easy to drive
    5. Easy to park
    6. Can camp anywhere–whether or not RV hookups are available.
    7. Bonus: Space for a guest or two to join us.

    We found everything we needed in the Class B vans. They’re simple to drive and take up about the same space as a large pickup truck. We wouldn’t have to tow anything, and could still park in most regular parking spaces. But when we got serious about shopping, sticker shock gave us pause. These vans rivaled the price of our first home! Trailers were so much cheaper. Seriously. So. much. cheaper. Were we crazy to do this?

    It took many months to get ourselves past this hurdle. Eventually, the allure of the open road and family trips won out. A trailer would tick some of our boxes, but not all. Plus, we’d have to buy a vehicle capable of towing one, an additional expense.

    After touring multiple vans and comparing prices, options, and features, we settled on a Winnebago Solis 59PX. It has a murphy bed with storage above and below, a separate dining/seating area, a wet bath (albeit TINY), a galley kitchen, a generator, and AC (for the dogs, of course). One thing that drew us to the Solis was the pop top. Our kids are in their twenties and might like to join us on the occasional trip, so we liked the idea of having a guest room (or tree house as I’ve started calling it). I’ve also found that opening the top when we’re parked gives us additional light and ventilation–always a plus! We’ve named her Jiffy Pop.

    So far, my husband and I have taken Jiffy on several weekend camping trips around the Northwest, my daughter and I traveled down to the Redwoods for a mother/daughter research trip, and this fall Steve & I packed up the dogs and drove to Utah to visit three more national parks. I love that we can fit in small NPS campsites and road turnouts for trailheads. You just can’t beat that.

    I’ve also found the van incredibly convenient for visiting my mom in her memory care facility. I was regularly spending over $200 a night for a hotel, but now I’ve gotten permission to camp in their parking lot. Steve’s also been able to participate in various tribal events that require an overnight stay. And this week, I sneaked away for a writing retreat at Belknap Hot Springs. *Sigh!* So quiet!

    Next week, I’m trying it out at a writing conference, instead of staying in the conference center lodge. Since I have unusual dietary needs, it’ll be handy to have a kitchen where I can throw together quick meals if needed.

    We’re looking forward to exploring more with Jiffy this summer. If you have suggestions for places we should visit, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’d love to hear your recommendations.

    Also, if you love seeing van photos, check out our gallery below or check out @JiffyPopVan on Instagram. Happy travels!

    White Winnebago Solis camper van parked in front of massive redwood trees.
    Solis PX with pop top parked in forested campground.
    Solis parked in front of red rock cliff at Zion National Park.
    Using a laptop at the dinette table in the front of Solis.
    Steam drifts upward from coffee cup sitting on counter next to a silver teapot. In the background is a window looking out onto a parklike view.
    Kitchen sink in Solis PX with a green handtowel draped over faucet.
    Working on a laptop while sitting on the bed of the Solis PX. Back doors are propped open to see forested view beyond.
    Small bathroom with white toilet fixture in the Solis PX.





    Source link

  • National Parks Confession: I want to see them all, but here’s why I probably won’t.

    National Parks Confession: I want to see them all, but here’s why I probably won’t.


    An image of Arches National park with title "Park Confessions: I want to see them all."

    “I dream of visiting all of the National Parks.” The woman rubbed her hands together and her voice buzzed with intensity as I signed a copy of my new novel, Where the Trees Touch the Sky: A Redwood National Park Novel for her. “All 63 of them. I’m mapping out my dream trip.”

    I can’t tell you how often readers have said this to me–and to be completely honest–I’ve said it too! We collect the stickers on keepsake maps, write out bucket travel lists, and create Pinterest boards for our dream trips. News programs occasionally highlight tourists who have accomplished these sorts of goals, like this man who visited all 425 NPS sites (including monuments and other various designations) in a single year, or the youngest to visit all the parks, or––my personal favorite––Grandma Joy, the oldest person to visit all 63.

    I don’t know about you, but when I see these stories, I get an overwhelming urge to tick all the NP boxes.

    But how does our perspective shift when we make “seeing them all” our goal?

    When we race through our journey, we risk missing the very experiences we’ve been dreaming about. A national park is more than a pretty view. Each has a unique spirit, whether it be the landscape, the wildlife, the history, or how people interact with the location. And typically, you can’t tap into this experience with a one-hour visit to get your passport stamped.

    Think about your best experiences with nature when you were a child. Was it about getting another park stamp? I doubt it. More likely it was taking the time to watch a caterpillar walk along a leaf’s edge. Or wading in a creek and letting the minnows nibble your toes.

    Many of us have lost sight of that childlike wonder. Rather than soaking in an experience, we’ve boiled it down to a checkmark. The Japanese term, shinrin-yoku, is loosely translated as “forest bathing.” If we take the time to slow down, turn off our devices, and close our to-do lists, it gives our bodies and souls space to breathe.

    Our national parks are busier than ever, but I sometimes wonder how many visitors are seeking the rest and rejuvenation provided by nature instead of racing about trying to visit every view they saw on Instagram. When my husband and I planned our Zion trip last year, I did my research. I watched YouTube videos about trip planning, perused the park’s website, and educated myself on the shuttle system. There are multiple Facebook groups and discussion boards dedicated to Zion trips, and almost all the posts focus on two specific must-see hikes. After reading through the posts, it’s easy to buy into the idea that without these experiences, you’ve somehow missed out on what makes Zion unique. It’s FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) at its worst.

    But the truth is quite the opposite. What if you visited Zion and spent time just sitting beside the Virgin River, listening to the sound of the water rushing by? You could stare up at the Navaho sandstone cliffs and watch as the light changed from minute to minute–from the dawn colors to the glare of the afternoon sun and shadows. Maybe you’ll choose to hike one of the lesser-known paths and be blessed by spotting a sunbathing lizard or a herd of bighorn sheep. Would your trip be somehow “less than” for not jockeying for position at one of the must-see locations? Probably not.

    I recently turned in my manuscript for my next novel, set in–you guessed it!–Zion National Park. My main character is grappling with this very issue as she walks away from a high-powered career to spend the summer at Zion, only to saddle herself with a lengthy to-do list for her stay. [Don’t bother looking on Amazon for this book quite yet–it’s not scheduled to be released until fall, 2025. Stay tuned!]

    Two sets of feet kicked back in the foreground with Mount Rainier in the distance.

    My favorite trails at Great Smoky Mountain National Park were those labeled simply as “Quiet Walkways.” They don’t take you to an epic waterfall or gorgeous viewpoint. It’s all about experiencing the forest itself. My favorite thing to do at Mount Rainier is find a quiet place to sit and then soak in the mountain’s magnificence. I introduced my daughter to this concept on a recent trip–showing her both my favorite unpopular trail and my special secret spot.

    So every time I feel myself longing to visit all 63 national parks, I need to slow down and remind myself why I love the national parks in the first place. It’s about experiencing the beauty and peace that nature has to offer. To “meet” each park with an open mind, and then spend time truly getting to know it. Rather than visiting Utah’s “Mighty Five” in five days, or “one week to see as many US NPs as possible” I’d prefer to spend those same days visiting one or two and really immersing myself in everything they have to offer.

    There’s nothing inherently wrong with the desire to “see them all.” Just be sure your trip doesn’t morph into exactly what you’re trying to escape about day-to-day life–just another task to complete.

    Happy travels, everyone!

    (Are you visiting from my COMPASS newsletter? Be sure to hop back over and enter the READER’S WONDERLAND GIVEAWAY! )

    Karen



    Source link