Free Range Life

Toadstool Hoodoos Trail in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, in Southern Utah

By Rachel Puryear The Toadstool Hoodoos Trail at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument feels like more than just a hike – it feels more like a portal walking into an otherworldly desert. One minute, you’re in familiar desert terrain – sagebrush, wide skies, the soft crunch of dust under your feet – and the next you’re…

Zion National Park in Southern Utah

By Rachel Puryear Zion National Park doesn’t just look incredible – it feels magnificent. Towering sandstone walls, deep red and rust tones, and that constant sense of scale (even when you’re standing on a short trail) make it one of those places where you keep stopping to look back, just to make sure it’s real. I loved…

Valley of Fire State Park in Southern Nevada

By Rachel Puryear From the moment you start driving into this park, the landscape looks carved – bright, layered rock glowing in the sun, rock formations that seem to shift as the light changes, and wide-open desert quiet that makes your brain slow down. Our visit here immediately reminded us why people fall in love…

Staying Cool on the Road During Summer

By Rachel Puryear Summer on the road can be gloriously freeing – long days, warm campsites, and crisp sunsets – but extreme heat inside a van or camper can make travel uncomfortable, unsafe, and hard on both your body and your gear. These strategies prioritize comfort, safety, energy efficiency, and low environmental impact so you…

Whale Watching on the San Francisco Bay

By Rachel Puryear We hopped aboard The Kitty with San Francisco Whale Tours for an afternoon outing and came away with one of those rare, small-moment adventures that make exploring the outdoors feel so full of wonder. The crew – warm, informative, and clearly experienced – put everyone at ease; the boat is a comfortable…

Income Ideas for Van Lifers With Limited Internet Access

By Rachel Puryear Van life offers one a tremendous amount of freedom, and it’s known for being popular with digital nomads everywhere. But not everyone wants to work at a computer, and besides, spotty internet access is a reality in many of the remote, unspoiled places that many van lifers enjoy spending time in. However,…

Windy Hill Preserve in Portola Valley, California

By Rachel Puryear Tucked into the hills of Portola Valley is a quiet Bay Area gem – Windy Hill Preserve. This preserve offers rolling grasslands, oak-studded ridge lines, and spectacular views across the Peninsula to the San Francisco Bay and the Santa Cruz mountains. It’s an easy half-day escape for walkers, trail runners, families, and…

The Van Lifer’s Guide to Taxes and Finances

By Rachel Puryear In van life, we all get into it to see beautiful places around the world, enjoy adventures out on the open road, and experience the freedom that comes along with it. At the same time, on the road or not, things like finances and taxes need tending to. You know, all that…

Remote Income Ideas for Early Risers

By Rachel Puryear Before the sun comes up and while most others are still asleep, the early birds of the world are getting things started in the morning. Some work early morning shifts, while others simply prefer to do their work in the relatively quiet and still pre-dawn hours. If you’re an early riser who…

Remote Income Ideas for Night Owls

By Rachel Puryear When the sun goes down and most people have gone to bed, the nocturnal folks of the world keep everything running at night. Some work graveyard shifts, while others simply prefer to do their work in the relative quiet and calm of the wee hours. If you’re a night owl who prefers…