I watched them convert vans into tiny homes and drive them from place to place.
Some used their vehicles to explore their home country while others shipped theirs overseas for international road trips.
I fell in love with the idea of having atiny homeon wheels that you could take any and everywhere.
The ability to just pick up and go seemed like a dream.
You dont need to pack suitcases, board a plane, or check in and out of hotels.
Personally, I love getting into nature, but Im not into camping.
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I have no desire to sleep in atenton the ground and pee in a shared outhouse.
So camping in a van is the best (and only!)
One day, I hope to have one of my own.
But in the meantime, Ive been dying to try it out.
Starting your trip is similar to using a carshare service like Zipcar.
Once you book, youll get the address of the pickup location.
Driving the van
Living in New York City, I dont drive often.
So the idea of spending seven days driving around California in a big van freaked me out a little.
But once I got behind the wheel, I realized it wasnt that difficult.
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It definitely feels different than driving a car, but you get used to it pretty quickly.
It has big side mirrors and a backup camera so you might see your surrounding very well.
I loved being able to just stay in bed and take in our surroundings.
However, it can be a bit inconvenient, especially if the weather is chilly.
Using the bathroom
The bathroom is teeny tiny and houses a showerhead and a toilet.
Using the toilet is simpleyou just go and flush like you would any other toilet.
The same goes for the shower, except the space is much smaller than your standard shower.
But, with the help of the exhaust fan, it dries relatively quickly.
On shorter trips, you dont need to worry about emptying these.
The instruction book has great directions and a pair of gloves so I could stay clean during the process.
But, it was tricky.
Storage
Because the van is small, packing light is a must.
The van features two pull-out shelves to store luggage and a closet complete with a rod and hangers.
Hot tip: Bring a string of Christmas lights with you to make the van feel homier.
Then we headed to our first stop: Palm Desert.
We parked at theLovelight Tentsite & Car Campingsite and had such an amazing time.
The campsite has a super cool and eclectic vibe.
Getting to know the host Mikey, his three adorable dogs, and his tortoise was so much fun.
This is easily the coolest place Ive ever been.
The rocks were indeed jumbo, and I felt like I was on Mars.
We went on hikes, went into town to go thrifting, and took so.
For the last three days, we stayed in Dana Point, a beach town in Orange County.
I loved getting to lie in a cozy bed while watching the waves crash on the shore.
It was truly the most surreal and magical experience.
Would I do it again?
Staying in aCabanavan only strengthened my desire to have my own van.
I got to experience all of these new, gorgeous places from my own little slice of home.
Of course, you get this with anycampingexperience, but, like I said, Im not a camper.
Van camping is the only kind of camping I have ever considered, and it was a fabulous experience.
After a long drive, I knew that bed was just four feet away.
And I always had access to food and a toilet that was all mine.
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