Van Life Adventures: Central Oregon Coast
One of the best van life adventures to escape Boise is the Central Oregon Coast.
When the hotter temps hit us in Boise, we hit the road! Cooler temps and sunny weather on the Oregon coast this time of year make for the perfect van get away. We have found the Central Oregon coast to be quieter than areas like Lincoln City, Newport or Cannon Beach. Long stretches of untouched beaches, evergreen forests that go right down to meet the ocean, and quirky little towns abound in this region of the Oregon coast.
While having reservations can be nice on the coast, we found that many state parks offer one-night options for a last minute campsite if you didn’t plan ahead. Just show up and see what they have available. An easy option after a long day’s drive if you’d rather not look for a boondocking spot, which can sometimes be tough to find right near the beach.
We found a prime spot at Carl G. Washburne State Park, just north of Florence, Oregon. A half-mile hike to the beach, private camping spots with plenty of trees, and hot showers! The camp hosts keep this place impeccably clean and can provide helpful tips for visiting the surrounding area. Plus, you can hike from the campground to other sites such as the historic Heceta Head Lighthouse.
Here’s our recommendations:
- Drive or ride your bike up to Yachats, Oregon where you will find cute bakeries, plenty of beaches and delicious clam chowder. Luna Sea Fish House is our top pick for chowder or fresh fish and chips, with an impressive regional beer selection. Park at the Yachats State Recreation Area to explore tidepools afterwards.
- If you find yourself in Florence on a Tuesday afternoon, be sure to check out their farmers market. The local strawberries are so good, people get in line a half hour before the market opens to make sure they get a pint! We brought home some delicious local fruits, vegetables and baked goods to make dinner.
- For more clam chowder with incredible views of the Suislaw River and Florence bridge, visit the Waterfront Depot. We recommend grabbing cocktails and sitting on the patio to enjoy the views. In addition to great chowder, you can get a variety of local seafood.
- Of course no trip to the coast would be complete without some saltwater taffy. BJ’s Ice Cream parlor offers well over 100 flavors and, you guessed it, ice cream!
Quick & Satisfying Camp Meals
Want to eat well while camping but not compromise flavor or spend all day cooking?
Read on for quick and satisfying camp meals that we cook on our one-burner induction cooktop when traveling in our van. (This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.)
We love to cook but we prefer to spend most of our time playing when camping in our van. We have several go-to meals that require very little prep and can be cooked in one pan to make cleaning up a breeze.
Our favorite kitchen item in our van is our one-burner induction cooktop. Incredibly efficient and easy to store, this cooktop makes cooking dinner so easy. We use this collapsible table to cook outdoors, keeping the smells, grease, and moisture out of the van whenever possible. Getting this setup takes just a few minutes and expands our kitchen to cook delicious meals while on the road.
Here’s a few of our favorites:
- Pesto Pasta with veggies – cook the pasta, toss in your veggies to cook for the last few minutes (we love adding asparagus, spinach or broccoli), drain, add pesto. You can also add pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for protein if you’d like. White beans are also a nice add.
- Taco salad – a satisfying meal with unlimited veggie additions. We like to use ground beef, which is really the only item you will need to cook. Lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado make a nice base. Add in some jalapenos for a little kick, top with salsa for salad dressing and serve with tortilla chips. Pick up pre-chopped veggies at the store to save a little time if you’re in a hurry.
- Rice and Chicken – premade rice packets make this a quick one-pan meal. We like to use chicken thighs, but you could make this dish vegetarian by adding tofu instead. We’ve also made it with eggs and kale stirred into the rice. Most grocery stores carry the packets of premade rice in various flavors to pick what suits your tastes for the evening. After cooking your selected protein and any veggies, toss in the rice to heat and dinner is ready!
Multi-Sport Adventure Weekend: Stanley Lake, Idaho
Looking for that perfect spot to hike, fish, bike and swim?
Stanley Lake is the place for your multi-sport adventure weekend.
Just a few hours from Boise, Stanley Lake is the perfect family or group camping spot. Fishing, boating, hiking, and mountain biking. All in one beautiful setting with several boondocking as well as reservable campsites. Plus the convenience of being only a 15 minute drive to the charming mountain town of Stanley, Idaho, for supplies and ice cream.
While 17 of the campsites can be reserved in advance at Stanley Lake Campground, given the popularity of this area, spots can be hard to find. First-come, first-serve spots also fill up quickly during the summer. Stanley Lake is less than three hours drive from Boise. So we recommend getting out of town early to secure a boondocking spot in the surrounding area. Several large sites exist that can accommodate multiple vehicles and tents with good proximity to the lake.
When you turn off Hwy 21 onto Forest Service Road 455 leading to Stanley Lake Campground, you will see several boondocking spots along the way. This includes multiple side roads to explore for additional camping spots. (Be aware that many of these side roads are very narrow. They may not accommodate larger RVs or have enough space to turn around if you don’t find a spot.) We prefer the boondocking campsites that can be found along Stanley Lake Creek. If you bring along a canoe, kayak or paddle board, you can paddle right down to the lake from your campsite!
Once you find your perfect camping spot, there are several sandy beaches to explore along the lake. You can set up for the day with your gear for fishing and water sports. We often bring paddle boards and kayaks to enjoy the lake and watch the bald eagles soar overhead.
Nearby, Elk Meadows trail is a great loop for a hike or mountain bike ride. The route takes you through beautiful meadows filled with wildflowers, forest and stunning views of the Sawtooth mountains. You can also explore the Stanley Lake to Bridalveil Falls hike, about 7 miles round trip to a beautiful waterfall.
In 2020, the area experienced a 6.5 magnitude earthquake. This earthquake resulted in a portion of the Stanley Lake beach collapsing! You can see the evidence of this event. Follow the trail around the lake to where the trail goes right down into the lake and disappears.
Ready for a taste of small town mountain life or need to resupply? Head on into downtown Stanley, Idaho. We love to stop in for chili and cornbread at Mountain Village Restaurant. There’s plenty of outdoor shops and a grocery store to restock your supplies. And if you want to experience more of Stanley and life in the Sawtooth mountains, every year in July Stanley hosts the Sawtooth Festival, a two day arts, crafts, food and culture event!
Looking for more Idaho adventures? Check out our blog posts about our favorite Idaho hot springs or recommendations on how to spend a weekend in McCall, Idaho.
Idaho Hot Springs Hopping
Ready for some hot springs hopping? Idaho is the place!
From hike-in hot springs to luxurious spa-like settings, Idaho has countless hot springs to explore. Before picking your perfect hot springs, here are a few things to consider.
- Do you enjoy hiking and exploring remote areas with fewer crowds?
- Or do you prefer the amenities and luxury of an established location?
- Maybe something in between?
Read on for three unique hot springs experiences to see which one fits your Idaho hot springs style. And for a truly amazing and extensive guide to Idaho hot springs, we highly recommend the Idaho hot springs guide from one of our favorite travel blogger/photography couples, the Mandagies!
For the adventurous…
If you are the adventurous type and want to hike into a hot spring, Idaho has several options to suit you. One of our favorites for a first time hike-in experience is Trail Creek on your way to McCall, Idaho.
Trail Creek hot springs is located off of Warm Lake Road, about an hour southeast of McCall, or just over two hours from Boise, on the way to Warm Lake. You will see a fairly large parking lot that fills up quickly in the afternoons. This is a great year-round hot springs option. We like to enjoy it in the winter months. A short but steep hike takes you down to several pools along Trail Creek. The pools vary in size and temperature.
While there are many more hike-in hot springs to explore, this is a great introduction to one that is fairly easy to find and access.
When visiting natural hot springs, remember that we want to keep enjoying these for years to come. So, be sure to respect others and your natural surroundings by packing out anything you brought with you!
Seeking a luxurious hot springs experience?
On the other end of the extreme is the luxurious The Springs in Idaho City. A perfect mix of nature and comfort in a stunning location. Just a short drive (under an hour) from downtown Boise, The Springs is both accessible yet feels like a get away from the city.
Surrounded by pine trees, The Springs features a large soaking pool, a smaller hot tub (with hotter temps) and several private soaking tubs, all available by reservation only. Our favorite part… poolside drink service with beer and wine. This place books up months in advance, so be sure to book your spot before making the drive.
Want to spend a full day or an overnight in Idaho City? Read our blog post on what to do and where to eat in this fun old western town, alive with Idaho history.
Seeking adventure and want to avoid the crowds but not interested in a hike?
Gold Fork Hot Springs near McCall, Idaho, provides the feeling of getting away with the conveniences of amenities at an established hot spring. Changing rooms, restrooms and an onsite host that sells snacks and beverages. Bring your own food for a picnic and spend the entire day relaxing.
This hot spring is great for families – with pools of varying temps, a sandy bottomed soaking area that feels like being at the beach, and a giant chess board to keep kids entertained. We love to visit this hot spring on the way to/from a trip to McCall. The bumpy, washboard dirt road helps keep crowds to a minimum to preserve the natural beauty of this place.
There are countless more hot springs to explore in Idaho. While this list isn’t meant to be exhaustive, it’s a great way to start your Idaho hot spring adventures.
Pros & Cons of Downsizing to a Van
Thinking about downsizing to a camper van?
If you currently travel in a larger RV or towable, maybe you’ve started to wonder why it seems everyone these days has decided to live in a van down by the river.
Van life isn’t anything new… From the flower power VW buses of the 60s to the Westfalias of the 80s, and now the Class B RV, van life has been around for quite some time. And there are many reasons why people make the choice to downsize to a van.
At the same time there are also a few reasons why you wouldn’t want to make the switch! In this blog post, we take an objective look at the pros and cons of van life compared to a variety of options. We are a camper van conversion company. But we also have experience camping and traveling in a variety of vehicles with our family of four.
Our family of four has experienced road trips and camping using the following scenarios:
- Car camping with a large tent
- Pop-up tent trailer
- Class C RV
- And now van life in a converted Ford Transit Cargo van
Each of these options has offered pros and cons, depending on our life stage and the needs of our family as our kids get older. (See our Travel with Kids blog series for more details!)
In our blog post about the Value that Van Life Creates, we go into some of the downsides for our family of traveling in our Class C RV. While we loved the comforts of a larger RV, we found that we used it less and less over time. Hop on over to that post to read more of why we made the switch.
So let’s run through some pros/cons of each scenario we’ve outlined…
Car Camping with a Tent
Pros:
- Affordable and accessible – not a significant investment in gear and doesn’t require purchasing an additional vehicle
- Flexible – you can easily have multiple tents for various family members if people need their space (kids tent, grown-up tent)
- Customizable – very easy to customize your setup to your unique needs as those needs change over time
- Simple – doesn’t require any experience in driving larger vehicles or dealing with components such as solar or having to dump the black water tank…
Cons:
- Time-consuming – unless you are really organized, packing up all the gear can be a hassle and your gear will often require a lot of cleaning upon return home if you camp in the rain.
- Seasonal limitations – if the weather is bad, you have limited options to get out of the snow, rain or extreme heat. Tent camping usually has a limited “season” in most parts of the country.
- Camp setup – setting up your area for cooking and cleaning can be tedious unless you opt for very simple meals with little prep and clean up.
- Fewer comforts of home – you likely won’t have access to hot water for a shower or any other sort of indoor plumbing unless you plan to stay in a campground with those types of facilities available.
- Storage needs – you will need somewhere to store all of your camping gear when not in use, which can be a challenge if you live in a small apartment or condo with limited storage options
Pop-up Tent Trailer
Pros:
- Budget friendly – doesn’t require a super duty truck for towing capacity (although we are skeptical of what vehicles some people use to tow their pop up campers)
- Fairly easy setup
- Greater protection from the elements but not as good as an RV or van
- Less of a learning curve than an RV with complex systems
Cons:
- Still fairly limited in terms of amenities… likely no hot shower for example
- Challenging to use in rain/snow due to lack of insulation
- Small space for a family of four, it worked well for us when the kids were little and could share a bed but as soon as they got into the pre-teen years, it was a no-go!
Class C RV
Pros:
- Lots of amenities, lots of comfort, a full size RV is truly the Five Star experience
- Protection from the elements, both heat and cold. Often comes equipped with an AC unit for example
- Easy to set up, our Class C RV took less than 15 minutes when we pulled into our location as long as we found a fairly level spot
- You can usually keep most of your gear in the vehicle year round
Cons:
- Cost can be prohibitive
- All those amenities = more complex systems to learn and maintain (more things to break!)
- Requires winterizing in most climates
- You may need to pay for storage if you live in a neighborhood with an HOA
- Limited off road capabilities if you like to boondock
- Gas guzzler!
Camper Van
Pros:
- Less complicated to maintain than a full size RV (likely not dealing with gray/black water tanks and minimal winterization)
- If you are doing a DIY build or a working with a van builder, you have endless customization options
- Easier to maneuver than an RV, often includes AWD/4WD capabilities. Easier for most people to drive
- Better protection from heat/cold than a tent or pop-up
- Strikes the middle ground between comfort and roughly it!
Cons:
- Can be a significant investment of time and money
- Space can be challenging with a family
Still not sure what option is right for you?
Here’s some questions to consider if you are having a hard time deciding between the various options…
If you plan to travel with kids or teens, these are great questions to discuss as a family depending on the age of your children. When we picked out our Class C RV, our kids had great insights on the layout that would work best for our family and we ended up with something that worked for all of us.
- How do you plan to use your vehicle? Long road trips where gas mileage might be of greater significance than just local trips? Weekend warrior adventures that might require AWD/4WD? Glamping at nearby state parks with easy access to showers?
- What kind of amenities do you want when camping or taking a road trip in your van? Hot shower? Running water? Toilet? Cooking equipment?
- Do you like to go off road or do you find yourself more often staying in an established campground?
- Do you plan to live in your vehicle for extended periods of time? (More than a few weeks) If so, who will be sharing the space with you and what are their needs?
- Do you plan to travel in extreme temperatures (hot or cold)?
- What can your budget afford?
- Do you have a place to store gear or to store a large vehicle when not in use?
- What is your comfort level using the various systems? What is your comfort level dealing with maintenance issues that might come up on the road?
- What is your comfort level driving a large RV or towing a vehicle?
As our family’s story illustrates, there is likely not one option that will work for you for your entire camping “career”. Keep in mind that what you buy today is intended to serve your needs now, but may not work five years down the road. We have benefited from remaining flexible with what works for our family. Not thinking of our decision as a life-long investment. What fits the current situation? That has helped us not agonize over every last detail of the decision.
Whatever your choice, having the means to get outside and explore is such a gift. We hope you make the most of wherever your journey takes you! If you want to learn more about van life and the investment of purchasing a van, please reach out. We’re here for you and would love to share our experience and learnings.
How to enjoy traveling with friends & family
Whether traveling as a family, with a romantic partner, or a group of friends, traveling with others can be both fun and challenging!
One of our favorite parts of travel at Adventure Life Vans is sharing it with others. Traveling with those we love gives us the opportunity to understand them better and learn more about the world together. It creates lasting memories, shared experiences and new ways to deepen relationships.
Travel gives us a chance to step back, to pause from the day-to-day of laundry, kid’s sports schedules, meetings and meal planning. It allows us to embed ourselves in another culture or out in nature, and see our lives from a totally different perspective, usually resulting in deep thankfulness for the life we have been given.
Here are some things we’ve learned along the way about traveling with family, a partner/spouse, or friends that make the experience both more meaningful and more pleasant for everyone:
- Travel can be tiring. Take time daily to recharge with some quiet. Don’t be offended if your travel buddy needs some space. It can be helpful to designate time or specific areas for down time. For example, our kids have their own tents for camping and that is a quiet space when they need to get away from everyone.
- Listening to an audiobook or a podcast is a great way to pass the time on a long drive. Or when nobody wants to make small talk. It gives another shared experience and a way to learn together.
- Consider a good mix of structure and spontaneity. Some people like structure while others prefer to see where the wind takes them. Your travel experiences should consider both!
- Be active! Once at your destination, walk as much as possible to deepen your enjoyment of your new surroundings and reduce the fatigue from sitting on a long road trip.
- Make connections with people. Our travel interactions with local communities have included everything from taking a cooking class, or finding lunch at a farmer’s market, to visiting the local barber shop.
- Concentrate travel funds on things you love – which for us means having great food and meaningful experiences. Figure out as a group what things you find most meaningful for your travel experience – is it finding a special piece of art to bring back to your home? Is it having money to hire a guide for a unique experience?
So no matter who you love to join you for travel, whether it be your best friend, your spouse, your kids, your parents… find the things that increase your travel compatibility with them and leverage those to enhance the travel experience for everyone involved! Want to learn more travel tips? Be sure to check out our series on travel products.
New Van Listing!
Exciting news, friends! Our latest van build is now for sale! Go over to our Vans for Sale page to learn more.
Enjoy luxury off-grid living in this new 2021 Ford Transit T-350 High Roof Extended AWD with EcoBoost | 2022 Build
Ready to hit the road without leaving the comforts of home? Enjoy luxury off-grid living in this high-end camper van conversion. Shaker-style custom hand-built cabinets throughout. Fully insulated with Havelock wool for year round comfort. Ample storage for all your adventure gear in the garage. Garage includes bike spray, heated outdoor shower and bike mounts to securely store your bikes. Ample solar for off-grid adventures with inverter, USB charging ports, 120v outlets, dimmable lighting. Durable fabrics and heavy duty hardware throughout. Get ready for your spring adventures with this custom camper van conversion!
- 300 Ah Nomadic Supply battery bank (room to add an additional 100 Ah)
- 3,000 watt Renogy inverter
- 320 watts Overland Solar
- RedArc Manager 30, RedVision Total Vehicle Management System and display unit
- Multiple 120V outlets and USB ports throughout
- Dimmable LED light fixtures & reading lights with USB ports in bed area
- Lighting over sink and galley on separate switches
- Shore power inlet (30A 125V)
- Removable light-weight aluminum bed frame
- Lofted Queen size bed (approx 73×62)
- 4″ foam Queen mattress with removable cover
- Adjustable Lagun mount table
- Dinette seating for two folds down for daybed
- 3” foam cushions in dinette, removable covers made with bleach cleanable upholstery fabric
- Slide out exterior table/drawer for entertaining and cooking
- Ample garage storage under lofted bed for bikes and other gear (2 bikes + gear)
- Two bike fork mounts in garage for easy & safe bike storage, easily removable on L-track system
- 30 gallon fresh water tank with water tank sensor
- External water fill
- 6 gallon under-sink gray water tank
- Granite composite black kitchen sink (16”X16”X8.5”) with pull-out sprayer faucet
- Exterior heated Joolca shower
- Bike wash
- Thetford porta potti on 500lb slider drawer
- 1-burner portable induction cooktop
- 4.6 CU ft./130 liter 12 volt refrigerator with freezer
- Custom hand-crafted soft close cabinetry
- Passenger seat Scopema swivel
- Blued pine tongue and groove ceiling
- Over 7′ of countertop space for cooking, working and entertaining
- New all terrain tires
- Two MAXXAIR fans
- Passenger’s side sliding door window with ventilation for additional airflow
- KILMAT sound deadening
- Sustainable Havelock insulation
- 1″ Foam floor insulation with 3/4″ plywood overlay
- Durable LVP floor covering
- Roof rack, front fairing and side ladder from Flatline Vans
- Fiamma awning
- Webasto Airtop 2000 gas heater
- Two factory captains chairs
- Back-up camera
- Automatic windows & door locks
- 4 key fobs
- Bluetooth
- Under 2,000 miles
Ready for a DIY Van Build?
Thinking about a DIY van build? Ready to start but unsure how to budget? Download our free template to get started on your DIY van build budget. And read on for key budgeting considerations.
It’s no secret that costs for building out a camper van range widely. It’s important to think through these costs, and your key design decisions, before getting started. We’ve created a simple budget to help you calculate the potential costs involved in your van build.
Keep in mind, this is merely a guide to get you started. There are many decisions along the way that will influence your budget. There is also the cost of your time, something you will want to consider as a DIY builder.
While everyone has unique goals for their van, we cover the major expense categories you want to consider in your build. Download our van build budget template to start planning.
But before you do so, ask yourself these questions:
- What do you intend to use your van for? That greatly impacts the time, money and components you will put into the van. Basic weekend warrior rig or full-time luxury tiny house on wheels? The choice is yours but consider this in your budget. (Check out our post on The Value that Van Life Creates.)
- What components are important to you? When we first started, we wanted all of our vans to have a wet bath (indoor shower/toilet). This was mainly because we were used to traveling in a large RV with this amenity. But after hearing from multiple van owners who use their beautiful (and expensive) wet bath for a closet, we decided to go with a simpler outdoor shower option. Joolca outdoor showers are efficient and don’t require taking up precious real estate in your van.
- What is realistic for your budget? Not everyone needs or is ready to pay for a fully loaded van build. This can run upwards of over $150,000 for a custom build (not including the cost of the vehicle itself). Maybe you want a simple weekend camper van with minimal components to worry about. Design your van not only around your intended use but also what is practical for your budget and lifestyle. A van build shouldn’t break the bank!
- Are you overthinking it? If you love van life, this is likely not your first build. One thing we find DIY builders get hung up on is making decisions about their build. This results in taking years to build out a van, maybe never finishing. And guess what? That is a waste of time and money in the end! You bought a beautiful van. Build it out for what you need right now, knowing this doesn’t have to be your last van build. Progress over perfection! Those who really enjoy van life often build out multiple vans over the years, learning from each one over time and use.
And finally, before you make your budget, consider two things a van build budget can’t account for: Expertise & Time.
It is important to ask yourself… do you have both the time and know-how (or desire to learn) for your DIY build? We’ve seen some very successful DIY builds. And van build veterans can give you a long list of van build mistakes to avoid. The process will likely be more time consuming, and frustrating, than you anticipate when you dream of van life scrolling through Instagram.
A budget accounts for the cost of the components and your vehicle. Not time spent. With a fully loaded build, expert trained builders often take 4-6+ months working full-time to complete one build alone. This includes multiple team members with various technical skills (plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, interior design), not just one person. A high-end build can easily involve over 1,000 hours of labor.
It’s important to ask yourself if you have the motivation, while working full time, to build out a van. How do you feel about spending your weekends and after hours going through tedious electrical details? Or figuring out how to set up your van’s plumbing system? For some, this is a delightful adventure in self-empowerment. For others, this is a nightmare that takes all the joy out of their original free-spirited vision of van life.
So before you nail down your budget, purchase a van and all your components, be sure to evaluate the cost of your time and the skills required.
If van building isn’t for you, drop us a line or take a look at our vans for sale.
Adventures in Idaho City
Less than an hour from downtown Boise, Idaho City offers visitors endless outdoor adventures, hot springs and a charming old Western vibe.
Founded in 1862 during a gold rush, Idaho City was once the biggest city in Idaho. You might find that hard to believe today! This once bustling town is now home to around 500 residents.
Despite its small population, it manages to attract a crowd for hiking, camping and biking in the summer and winter sports such as backcountry skiing, snow shoeing, Nordic and snowmobiling. Plus you can relax at a hot springs resort after your adventurous day!
About 45 minutes drive from downtown Boise, Idaho City feels like a completely different world. Pine trees, fresh mountain air and a town that looks like the set of a John Wayne movie. This easy day trip or quick overnight is the perfect road trip to test out your new van!
Here’s our Idaho City highlights:
- Stop for breakfast (and pie!) at Trudy’s kitchen. Be prepared for some down home Idaho cooking here, gigantic portions and hobnobbing with the locals.
- Walk around “downtown” Idaho City to see the old western buildings and a bit of the history of this area.
- After you’ve had your fill of wild west storefronts, grab your swimsuit and head on over to The Springs.You don’t need much besides your swimsuit (required here!), a towel and a mindset to relax. Soak and enjoy the view. Drinks can be enjoyed poolside as well as light snacks.(Note: make reservations at least a few weeks, possibly months, in advance.)
- If you visit in the winter months, bring along snowshoes or XC skis (which can easily be rented back in Boise at Idaho Mountain Touring), and explore the Idaho Ski Park areas about 20 minutes north of town. Whoop-Em-Up ski park is a great spot for beginner snowshoers, families or those with dogs. Be sure to purchase a ski park pass before leaving town. We highly recommend AWD/4WD or carrying chains.