Author: No Place Like Gone

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Adventure travel

Joshua Tree National Park: A Snow Day

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southern California, covering an area of almost one million acres. The park is named after the unique (and eerie) Joshua tree, which is native only to the Mojave Desert and is found throughout the park. The park is a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers, rock climbers, and photographers of Joshua Trees.

Estimated time to read:

12–18 minutes

The park is divided into two distinct ecosystems: the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. The Mojave Desert is characterized by its high elevation and rocky terrain, while the Colorado Desert is lower and has a more diverse landscape, including sand dunes and palm oases.

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One of the most popular activities in Joshua Tree National Park is hiking. There are over 100 miles of hiking trails throughout the park, ranging from easy walks to strenuous hikes that require technical skill. Some of the most popular hikes include the Hidden Valley Trail, the Barker Dam Trail, and the Ryan Mountain Trail.

Joshua Tree National Park is also a VERY popular destination for rock climbers. The park has a whopping 8,000 climbing routes and is considered one of the best places in the world for bouldering. The park’s granite rock formations and unique geological features make it a challenging and rewarding destination for climbers of all skill levels. There are several local outfitters that will teach you to safely climb if you’re new to the sport.

In addition to hiking and rock climbing, Joshua Tree National Park offers visitors an incredible opportunity to stargaze. The park is located miles from major cities, which makes it an ideal location for viewing the night sky. Joshua Tree is a designated International Dark Sky Park and boasts some of the darkest skies in the U.S. On clear nights, visitors can even see the Milky Way.

Overall, Joshua Tree National Park is a must-visit destination for any nature enthusiast. Its unique landscape and diverse ecosystem offer visitors a truly unforgettable (and instagram worthy) experience.

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Map of Joshua Tree:

Joshua Tree National Park is the 15th-largest National Park in the United States. It’s a few thousand acres away from being a total of 800,000 acres – which is relatively small as far as National Parks go. From north to south, the park is close to one hour of driving distance but can take a little longer depending on your route planning & stops. The shortest route is along Park Boulevard, so if you stay on this road then you’ll save extra time.

Refer to the map below to plan your adventure and see the landscape. We’ve also included a downloadable PDF below to get you jumpstarted with planning your trip to the park!

A map of Joshua Tree National Park.

Download the map here:

Joshua Tree National Park – PDF mapDownload
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We Had Bad Weather at Joshua Tree … Make Sure to Check for Alerts!

Check this link to read the most current alerts at Joshua Tree National Park. While we were there, we encountered clear skies, rain, sleet, hail, and snow all in one day. It was a brutal storm moving in, but we enjoyed our unique time at the park nonetheless!

Visitor Centers @ Joshua Tree

Me driving the motorhome through Joshua Tree.
Bree and Luna posing at the entrance to Joshua Tree.
My girlfriend taking a selfie with the National Park Service sign.
My girlfriend and I entering Joshua Tree National Park.
I bought a Joshua Tree hat with a desert tortoise!
Luna and I flexing against the Joshua Tree park sign.

There are THREE visitor centers in Joshua Tree. While we were there, the Oasis Visitor Center was closed, but we checked out the other two. Joshua Tree Visitor Center is at the main entrance that the majority of people come into from the Los Angeles area. Expect this center to be packed full of clamoring tourists, while the other two are much smaller experiences for those quiet minds.

Plan your trip to the visitor centers in advance – including the hours which vary by season.

Joshua Tree Visitor Center

Entrance garden at Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center.
An exhibit showing the inside bark and tree rings of a Joshua Tree.
Snow coming down on the Joshua trees.

We checked out this visitor center on the northwestern edge of the park, and it has just about everything. They’ve got a gift shop, plenty of cool exhibits, a cactus garden (albeit sad in the snow,) a coffee shop next door, and friendly park staff. This visitor center is also right next to the town of Joshua Tree – allowing you to make a day trip to explore the unique area if you’re so inclined.

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Cottonwood Visitor Center

Giant palm trees at the Cottonwood Oasis.
The Cottonwood Oasis is right behind the Cottonwood Visitor Center.

This visitor center was the first one we went to because of proximity to our campsite but it was well worth it. Of course they have the usual maps, information, and souvenirs but the best part is just around the corner. If you’re going to do any of the visitor centers, don’t miss this one for incredible views of the Cottonwood Spring, a quick walk from the nearby parking area. Here you will see larger-than-life palms, unique flora and fauna, and (if you’re lucky) the spring.

Oasis Visitor Center

Joshua Tree Oasis Visitor Center.
Exterior of the Oasis Visitor Center.

This visitor center was closed when we went to the park. I checked online recently and it now says permanently closed … so expect that when you go! Regardless, this visitor center is right next to the Oasis of Mara which we heard is beautiful. Also near this area is Sky’s the Limit which is well worth the visit itself (more on that below).

– Our Campsite at Joshua Tree –

Belle Campground, #17

Belle campground rules at Joshua Tree.
Our RV parked in Joshua Tree.
Looking out our window at Joshua trees.
Parked in Belle Campground.
A rock formation within a campground at Joshua Tree.
Rocks at Belle Campground.
A tiny Joshua Tree.
Our RV looking bad below the sky.
Cholla cactus in the desert.
A majestic Joshua Tree.

Belle Campground: $15/night dry camping. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates on site. No water.

This is where we camped out, and you can see plenty of awesome pictures we took just at the campground. We originally wanted to be at Jumbo Rocks campground, but it was booked way out in advance. If your plan is to get one of these first-come, first-serve spots, make sure to get there early (before noon). Especially on the weekends!

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– Other Camping Options at Joshua Tree National Park –

A tent at Joshua Tree National Park.
Black Rock Canyon Campground within Joshua Tree.
A tent next to Joshua Trees.
Crazy rock formations at Joshua Tree.

Reservations Required Camping:

Black Rock: $25/night, 99 campsites. Water, flush toilets, tables, fire grates, and a dump station.

Cottonwood: $25/night, 62 campsites. Water, flush toilets, tables, fire grates, and a dump station.

Indian Cove: $25/night, 101 campsites. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Jumbo Rocks: $20/night, 124 campsites. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Ryan: $20/night, 31 campsites. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

See the whole list of them here.

First-Come, First-Serve Camping:

A picnic table in Joshua Tree campground.
Parked under the Joshua Trees.
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Hidden Valley: $15/night, 44 campsites. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

White Tank: $15/night, 15 campsites. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

Places We Explored in Joshua Tree:

Sky’s the Limit

Sky’s the Limit was a nice little stray out of the way, towards the town of Twenty Nine Palms. Here, they have a meditation garden, sun clock, celestial calendar, stargazing at night, and plenty more to do with a full event calendar. Even when not staffed, we still enjoyed all of the abstract artwork made out of metal modeled after the solar system, planets, & moons.

Parking is on site and its free to enter, a quick 10 minute drive out of Joshua Tree National Park.

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Skull Rock

Skull rock was cool in Joshua Tree.

This one looks foreboding and for good reason – it’s literally in the shape of a skull (if you look from the right angle, lol.) It is literally called Skull Rock. As we were walking over to see this incredible rock formation, rain begin to fall. We even began to start to see snow flurries, how much fun!

Parking is on the side of the road right across from this, so very easy to access.

Cap Rock

Breanna next to a Joshua Tree.
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Cap Rock is another easy walk from the parking lot. It’s pretty cool, because it literally looks like a ball cap on the edge of a rock formation. How long has it been holding onto the edge like that?

Snow started falling as we were sitting in the parking lot here. Our original plan was to head up to Key’s View to have a picnic in our RV there with a great vista all around. But, the rangers shut down the road to Key’s View because of inclement weather, so we pulled off in the nearby Cap Rock parking lot to have lunch with the snow. This detour ended up being a highlight of the day with plenty of fun picture spots.

Arch Rock

Narrow passage next to Arch Rock – take this!

Arch Rock looks exactly like that – a natural rock-shaped arch. How incredible is it that nature allows such a beautiful thing to happen?

BONUS: Once you get to Arch Rock, turn to the right. The arch should be on your left now. Keep heading straight through the narrow passages of rocks (top right picture above with a caption). This is an amazing picture-worthy area. If you keep going it turns to the right and there’s even more incredible crevices and rock formations to explore.

Cottonwood Spring

Sorry to disappoint but we didn’t actually get to see a desert oasis spring in the middle of the park. However, there is a spring underground which is indicated by the abnormally large growth of palm trees nearby. This spring feeds a few of the palm trees in this area to keep them growing happy, healthy, tall, and strong.

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It’s a great hike to take regardless, and very easy for people of all ages – just a short walk down from the parking area. We ran into a nice elderly couple who had been hiking in the area and had a wonderful chat. Be nice to old people – you never know what you can learn!

See more about Cottonwood Spring here.

Cholla Cactus Garden

These little cactus guys are something fierce. They can grow taller than people, and when in bloom, have an incredible looking flower. Not to mention that they are super cool and hollow on the inside. Make sure you don’t miss this area when at the park because it is well worth the time. It’s such a beautiful spot with thousands of Cholla cacti situated right off the parking area. The park service has made a walking path that feels like a labyrinth that allows you to get up close. Not too close though! These guys are SHARP.

Check out more information about the Cholla cactus garden here.

Ocotillo Patch

While we were there, these weren’t in bloom. It’s said that they bloom 2-3 times roughly per year. When they do bloom, they become green, luscious, and even bear flowers. Obviously the pictures we have here tell a different story – not one of thriving and blooms. We saw a few that were starting their regrowth cycle, but I think we must have been too early in the season to see their full potential.

The full bloom of these magnificent cacti-trees. Quite something rare indeed.

Read up more on how strange these are here.

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Places We Didn’t Get to Go in Joshua Tree:

(Due to weather conditions or not enough time.)

Key’s View

This popular destination, perched on the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, provides panoramic views of the Coachella Valley and is well worth the 20-minute drive from Park Boulevard down Keys View Road.

Maybe you should consider having a picnic and lunch here, we definitely wanted to but the road was closed due to weather!

Key’s Ranch

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The Keys Ranch is the prime example of early settlement in the Joshua Tree National Park area. Bill Keys was the area’s leading character, and his ranch is a symbol of the resourcefulness of early settlers. The ranch is an extensive complex of small frame buildings built between 1910 and Keys’ death in 1964.

See Key’s Ranch for yourself, and imagine yourself as an early settler.

Hidden Valley

The Hidden Valley Nature Trail Trailhead is located just off Park Boulevard. This trailhead provides access to the Hidden Valley Nature Trail, an easy one mile loop through Hidden Valley on a dirt and rock trail. This is a popular hike through a rock-enclosed valley surrounded by unique rock formations. Along the way there are interpretive signs with information on the area. The trail has an average width of three feet and an average grade of 4% with a max grade of 19% and involves climbing both steps and open rock.

Hike the Hidden Valley trail yourself when in the park.

Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain is a difficult three mile out and back hike with 1,050 feet of elevation in the central part of Joshua Tree National Park. The first section of the trail is relatively flat, but quickly gains in elevation up the mountain. This is one of the most popular hikes as it provides sweeping panoramic views of the park. 

The trailhead for Ryan Mountain is located along Park Boulevard between Ryan Campground and Sheep Pass Campground. There is a secondary trailhead for campers at Sheep Pass Campground, but there is no parking available at Sheep Pass for non-campers. 

Test your mettle with the Ryan Mountain hike.

Barker Dam

Explore the rocky desert landscape of Joshua Tree on the Barker Dam Trail, an easy 1.1 (1.8 km) loop. Wander through Joshua Tree’s iconic monzogranite boulders, namesake Joshua trees, and past the historic Barker Dam. Visit a rock art site and experience human history from a respectful distance.

Encounter rock climbers, spot wildlife big and small, scramble over boulders, and walk along desert washes. Catch a glimpse of the far-off San Gorgonio Mountain. View the plant life of the Mojave Desert, including Joshua trees, creosote, Mojave yucca, and pinon pines.

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This trail is ideal for short visits, families, wildlife enthusiasts, rock art and history enthusiasts, photographers, and novice scramblers.

Barker Dam has a little bit of everything and is an easy loop to hike!

Lost Horse Mine

Today Lost Horse Mill is considered one of the best preserved mills of its kind in a National Park Service unit. Lost Horse is also a popular destination for visitors looking for a moderate hike. The trailhead is located off Keys View Road. The trail, which is a four-mile round-trip, follows the road developed by the Ryans to haul ore and supplies. Mine shafts are dangerous, and historic structures are easily damaged. While the Lost Horse site has been stabilized, it is still not safe to walk on so proceed with caution.

Check out this mill with existing mine shafts and history.

Lost Palms Oasis

Lost Palms Oasis is located in the southeastern portion of Joshua Tree National Park. This oasis can be reached on a 7.5 mile out and back hike from Cottonwood Spring with 500 feet of elevation gain. The trail is on a mix of rock, dirt, and sandy washes with very little shade and includes a strenuous climb on rocky terrain out of the canyon that the oasis is located in at the far end of the trail. The oasis is located in Lost Palms Canyon where a permanent water source allows fan palms and other plants to thrive, supporting a vibrant desert wildlife community.

Want to experience a difficult hike to see incredible palm trees? This one is for you! If not, you can also visit the Cottonwood Oasis near the Cottonwood Visitor Center for a much easier chance without the long hike!

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Fortynine Palms Oasis

Fortynine Palms Oasis is one of Joshua Tree National Park’s desert oases and is open to the public in the fall, winter, and spring. Located in the northern portion of the park, this oasis provides a refuge among the desert mountains. By providing a reliable source of water, this little oasis allows life to thrive in this seemingly harsh environment.

The oasis is reachable by the Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail, a three mile out and back hike with 300 feet elevation gain in each direction. The trail is on compact dirt with an average grade of 8% and max grade of 27%.

This oasis is a sensitive biological area, please follow posted signs and do not enter the oasis as this is a crucial water supply for plant and wildlife. 

In the summer, Fortynine Palms Oasis, its trail, and the parking area all close to allow bighorn sheep undisturbed access to surface water. The park is under drought conditions and herds in the area are increasingly reliant on the oasis spring to survive the hot summer months. The closure will remain in place until summer or fall monsoons provide adequate rainfall to increase water availability. 

See where the bighorn sheep roam, and have a chance to see one for yourself.

Which Adventure Will You Take in Joshua Tree National Park?

We’ve had a blast writing this blog and hopefully you’ve got some awesome tips for your next trip to Joshua Tree National Park. My girlfriend’s favorite tree is a Joshua Tree – and for good reason. This park is loaded with thousands of them in all directions, and they’re all unique in their own way. Plus, we had the excitement of adventuring the park during a snow day, which is quite an unusual occurrence – like we are!

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<img alt="Matt with
Matt with
No Place Like Gone

Hey! I’m the man behind the magic – A.K.A. the camera and blog. I’m also a purveyor of craft beer, grill master, and chief RV driver.

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Adventure Lifestyle travel

Adventure Awaits

Estimated time to read:

6–9 minutes

The average American spends close to 90,000 hours in their lifetime working to make a living. Whether it’s a job that you love, hate, or could care less about, you’re working just like the rest of us.

But, who said you had to spend your life doing things that you don’t enjoy? Even if you went to trade school to get a certification or college to get a degree – you aren’t stuck doing that specific thing forever.

Instead, spend your life searching for adventure. Adventure is a little different for everyone, but there are proven ways to find the adventure that is uniquely yours.

Start your adventure today by joining the [gone] community! We’ll send you travel hacks, money tips, lifestyle advice, and so much more.

You can ask us any questions about van life, traveling the US, or just chat with us on social media:

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Adventure is waiting for you with open arms.
You must find adventure – it’s out there waiting, undiscovered.

For me, I had a moment about a year ago when I just couldn’t handle the stress anymore. It felt like I was stuck in a rut and like I wasn’t moving anywhere. I wasn’t happy with my life, I was sinking down into depression, and I needed a way out. So, I began searching for adventure. “What do I love doing? And if I could find it, “why did I love doing it?” These are questions that kept me up late at night.

Me standing on a tree stump searching for adventure.
Me searching for adventure, from a tree stump.

Fast forward to where I am now, about a year later, and I’m feeling like the best version of myself. I went through a near death experience a few months ago, but that won’t stop me. I have things to accomplish, and I’m searching for adventure everywhere I go.

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Along the way, I’ve discovered that I really enjoy writing. I actually started out with trying to write a self-help book – and that adventure lead to me wanting to begin this blog as we traveled the U.S. I took a hiatus from my day job because I needed to regroup and recover in many areas of my life. But even so, I worked vigilantly to create this blog & update our social media – passion projects that I discovered I really enjoy.

Our latest on Instagram:

A year ago, we knew that a change of pace could do us both good. Our instagram feeds were flooded with van-lifers and full-time RV travelers. You know the type, perfectly curated photos set in incredibly impossible locations – the stuff of dreams. We thought these people were crazy (guess we are now too), but there was something that continued to draw us both in – adventure. My girlfriend and I are both nature lovers, needed a change of scenery, and didn’t want to feel stuck with our careers or our day-to-day life. We wanted to create a new life, and that began with our plan to travel the United States.

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We put down our fears and sold the house, both cars, and almost every material possession we owned. Knick-knacks – nixed. Extra clothes in the closet – donated. Christmas junk – gone. Lawn equipment – don’t need it without a house, huh? We were crazy enough to do that, and it was one of the scariest times of our lives. But, because of pushing through that fear, I’ve had the most exciting and exhilarating times of my life. It has been an adventure, daily.

Selling our umbrella to find adventure.
Selling our Kobalt lawnmower.
A ladder being sold for adventure.

We’ve traveled from South Carolina (where I’m originally from) down to Florida (where my girlfriend is originally from,) all the way across the country to California (where we are now). We’ve seen 15 states in about 10 months. We’ve really only slowed down recently because California is so ginormous!

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We knew that things weren’t making us happy. They never did, even when society told us everywhere that they could (Thanks, capitalism). By saving money on useless things we used to buy, we were then able to invest that money back into ourselves. We reallocated our money towards therapy, books to inspire us, a RV, travel expenses, and investing in our future. That’s how important you are, I am, and we all are.

I want to ask you to analyze where you are in life right now. Think about your career, the city you live in, your living situation (house, apartment, etc.,) you relationships, your health, your community. The key here is to make sure you write all of this down – it can be on paper or even on your iPhone’s Notes app. Take this seriously, because you need to evaluate where you are in life so that you can make a plan for YOUR future adventure.

Who said you can’t chase your dreams? The wildest thing in life is that life is a choose-your-own-adventure type of experience – and everyone’s is different. During your lifetime, you can do just about anything – but you have to define what it is that you actually want to do.

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Me beginning the adventure of this blog.
Me almost two years ago starting this blog.

Do you want to become a YouTube video creator? Let’s say video games are your thing; you can make videos and game walkthroughs. Do it! Start your adventure today, and don’t quit. Part of the secret to success in life is that you have to invest enough time to let things flourish – don’t give up on your first try.

If you plant corn, you expect corn to grow – not pumpkins. So plant the corn and be hopeful about its future growth. Because of drought, pests, and/or bad weather, it’s possible that the corn may not grow well this year. Your harvest may be lacking now but next year will be better. If you keep watering the seeds, fertilizing the soil, and caring for your crop, you’ll eventually reap exactly what you’ve sown – corn.

Want to subscribe to blog updates? We won’t send you any spam – just the newest things we’re writing about!

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Allow yourself to think heavily on what adventure(s) you want to pursue. If you don’t have any idea what this could be, think about what you are good at, what you find yourself excited about doing – or, better yet, try something new. Try writing, taking pictures, a new job, coaching youth sports, cooking your grandma’s recipes, or maybe even getting your hands dirty landscaping. I’ve really been enjoying exploring nature photography, as well as writing (of course.)

A beautiful adventure we had on San Clemente Beach.
Cliffside next to the ocean.
Some of my recent pictures from San Clemente Beach, CA.

The main point here is to try a little of everything until you discover what you really enjoy. It may be that something you never even considered – you’ll have to think outside of the box. To be honest though, the goal is less about finding what you enjoy and more about the adventure along the way of trying something new.

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Try something new - maybe an adventure.
Woman heading out for adventure with a backpack.

I don’t make a lot of money (yet) writing this blog. But every week I still sit down to write. That’s because I enjoy doing this, and want to share my thoughts with others. I want to change the way society sees things, lifestyles, and travel which is why I’m fulled by passion.

As this blog continues to grow, and that could take YEARS, it’ll evolve and take on new shapes. Along the way, I will get better and better at it, and people will begin to notice it online. The goal isn’t to make a lot of money writing, the goal is to see what becomes of the blog – to enjoy the adventure. These things take time. But since this is a passion of mine, it doesn’t matter how much time will pass for me, I’ll enjoy the journey along the way.

It’s important to note that you’ll have bills to pay as an adult, and adventure seeking won’t always pay those bills right away. It may take searching for a while and a lot of learning to discover how you can make a living doing something you are passionate about. So, you’ll probably have to work some jobs in the mean time that you align with but know that they won’t be forever. This is okay and is all a part of the adventure along the way.

Keep searching for your next adventure, and you will find it.

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You’ve made it to the end, thank you so much for joining me on this adventure! I hope that I have encouraged you to chase your own adventure soon. You can become what you want to be, but you’ll have to work hard, and keep your face up to the sun.

Please sign up for blog updates, it’s completely free – no strings attached. We will only deliver our content to your inbox – no spam.

You can chat with us directly on social media – DMs are open! We’d love to hear about the adventures you’re chasing.

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Adventure travel

Universal Studios: Behind the Scenes

Estimated time to read:

11–16 minutes

For my 27th birthday, we planned a nostalgic throwback adventure. The Super Mario Bros movie released April 5th, and the new Super Mario World at Universal Studios Hollywood just recently opened its doors to the castle in February of this year. The stars could not have aligned any more perfectly for a super weekend at Universal! Read below for a behind the scenes look at our newest EPIC adventure.

Table of Contents:

  1. The Super Mario Bros Movie
  2. Maps + Getting Around the Park
    1. Universal Studios – Hollywood Map
    2. Super Mario World Map
  3. 64-Bit Nostalgia at Super Nintendo World
    1. Power Up Band & the App
    2. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
    3. Toadstool Cafe
    4. My Thoughts for the Future of Nintendo Land (expansions to Super Nintendo World)
    5. Photos of Super Mario World
  4. Jurassic World (the ride)
  5. Revenge of the Mummy (the ride)
  6. Transformers the Ride: 3D
  7. Universal Studio Tour
  8. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
  9. Springfield: Home to The Simpsons Cast & The Krustyland Ride
  10. Now Showing at The Dreamworks Theatre: Kung Fu Panda
  11. Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
  12. Super Silly Fun Land
  13. The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
  14. CityWalk Hollywood
  15. When are you planning your trip?

The Super Mario Bros Movie

Birthday cake milkshake – fitting for the occasion of a 27th birthday!

Bree & I grabbed a late-night showing of The Super Mario Bros. Movie during opening week. We timed it so that we got to enjoy the movie and kick-off the nostalgia the day before going to Super Mario World at Universal Studios Hollywood. If you have an AMC dine-in theatre near you, the milkshakes alone make it worth the price of a ticket. The very next day we woke up at 5am to head into the park with our early access pass at 7am.

We’re happy you’re here! It would help out a bunch if you followed us on social media – it’s FREE and well worth the cost of admission. We post our adventures, tips & tricks, planning guides, and travel inspiration daily.

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Maps + Getting Around the Park

Before you start your day, make sure to download the Universal Studios Hollywood app.You can look at maps, wait times, dining options, show times, and so much more. Plus, the app is integrated with the new Super Mario World power up bands!

Download the app from the App Store here.

Download the app from the Google Play Store here.

Universal Studios – Hollywood Map

Here’s a few maps for reference, but the interactive maps within the app are much better. Make sure to download that today with the links above to get around the theme park while you’re there!

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Super Mario World Map

Again, make sure to download the Universal Studios Hollywood app when you go because there are completely interactive maps to help guide you around the park in there! You’ll also be able to check line waiting times, make reservations for dinner, and much, much more!

64-Bit Nostalgia at Super Nintendo World

Wow, where do we start? This place was designed beautifully in partnership with Nintendo and we loved every single moment we had in the park. We paid a bit extra for the early admission pass and it was well worth every penny. From the sprawling world of 64-bit graphic-looking sets, hidden easter eggs, and the interactivity and character meetups – this place has something for everyone (even adults).

I grew up with Nintendo, and have been a serious gamer myself my entire life. I remember playing Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, & Super Mario 64 religiously. I will always hold a place in my heart for this franchise, and many of Nintendo’s other franchises too, forever. I’m sure that I’m not alone with this sentiment, either.

Power Up Band & the App

Super Nintendo World has a section within the Universal Studios Hollywood app

Make sure to download the Universal Studios Hollywood app – scroll to the top of this blog for the links I left that will take you straight to the App Store or Google Play Store. Within the Universal Studios Hollywood app, you can click into Super Nintendo World and it will greet you with a lovely sound bite and colorful interface (pictured left). Go down the warp pipe and be immersed in Super Mario World. Together the power up bands (more on those below) and Universal app track your progress in the world including coins, stamps, keys, and a real time player ranking system. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure style experience with something to do around every corner – even while waiting in line! Collect three of the four keys to challenge Bowser Jr. for the star to save Princess Peach. Nintendo really spent the time here to make an in-real-time leveling up system; these work wonderful for kids and adults (big kids) alike.

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Power Up Bands

Here’s the team Yoshi band I got – by the way, team Yoshi CRUSHED it the day we went and got first place in the park rankings. These Power Up Bands are $40 each (I know – pricey). The bands are used interactively with many of the blocks, mini-games, stamps, coin collections, etc. to track your progress in Super Mario World. The band also allows you to create a player profile and come back in the future to keep playing. and leveling up.

There’s six bands in total – Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi.

Want to plan out your trip to Super Mario World? Click here.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

Super Mario World is the newest themed area in the park and this is the newest ride in the park – expect long lines. Jump into a guided AR (augmented-reality) experience fit for folks of all ages. You get to steer and control your kart’s direction using the mini steering wheel – be sure to steer as a team to increase bonuses. By looking around with your head you can throw your power ups at the enemy racers just like in real Mario Kart fashion.

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This ride is true to form and includes plenty of visual, wind, and smoke effects to keep you entranced for the duration of the ride. This is the “main attraction” for this new land. We saw line wait times of 2-3 hours almost the whole time we were here.

Join your favorites like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and more in saving the world against Bowser’s might.

Toadstool Cafe

Nintendo knocked it out of the theme park with this one (pun intended). Every meal on the menu is themed around your Mushroom Kingdom friends from the games.

The burgers come with mushrooms and a mini mustache – completely on theme. Peach has her very own cupcake dessert decorated in all pink with a matching crown. Even the spaghetti is an ode to Mario’s Italian background. The garlic bread is shaped like 1-UP mushrooms. There’s even truffle butter (more mushrooms!) on the fries.

For more about the Toadstool Cafe and menu, click here.

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My Thoughts for the Future of Nintendo Land (expansions to Super Nintendo World)

Expansion for Nintendo Land located within Universal Studios Hollywood is inevitable. I’d like to suggest that Hyrule from the Legend of Zelda is the perfect answer. You would be able to grab weapons from the actual games and use them in your battles through trials and dungeons. Doesn’t that sound epic? Of course it does! I’m completely down for this idea, and you’re welcome Nintendo – I want my royalties.

Another great idea would be Luigi’s Mansion (adjacent to Super Mario World, of course). Could you imagine walking through a scary plaza of haunted mansions that are all themed with boos (ghosts) and erie music? Just like the games, you could use some kind of vacuum cleaner to run around collecting the spirits at each of the interactive spots hidden throughout the mansion.

What do you think would be the next coolest addition to Nintendo Land at Universal Studios Hollywood? Do you live near Florida and wish they would add Super Mario World to Universal Orlando? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Send us an email at: noplacelikegone@gmail.com.

Photos of Super Mario World

If you’d like to see even more photos of this immersive new world check out our social media accounts here:

On to the rest of the park – Universal Studios Hollywood

Jurassic World (the ride)

This was freakin’ incredible and there’s no other way to say it. After waiting in one of the longest lines of the day, we were prepared to be terrified – and we were. Age-old dinosaurs are roaming the land, you’re getting sprayed by water in all directions, you’re riding through an exhilarating adventure in the dark until you splash down a waterfall surprise at the end. The plot is that the dinos (lead by Indominus Rex) have escaped and they’re on the run thrashing about. Your goal is to escape from danger before becoming their next meal – how fast can you run?

Stomp around the Earth with dinosaurs yourself here.

Revenge of the Mummy (the ride)

They took a horror movie classic and pulled out all of the stops for this ride. You’re literally riding on a rolling death-trap in a dark room – or at least that’s what it felt like to me. Its gut-wrenching turns will send you spiraling – oops, who left the brick wall there? There’s a surprise on the other side – but you’ll have to go on the ride to find out what it is!

Want to be terrified reading more about this ride?

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Transformers the Ride: 3D

Imagine walking through the streets of New York before the ride and hearing the hums of the Allspark. It’s right there next to you, and suddenly you’re joining the Autobots on a new mission to protect it. Once you’re loaded in, prepare for a jet-speed story where you’ll be sent racing through a city to escape from Megatron.

Join Optimus Prime and the rest of his crew saving the world over at AutoBot Command HQ.

Universal Studio Tour

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The back lot studio tour is included in the cost of your admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. This is one thing that Universal Studios Orlando does not have, exclusive only to here. When on this tour, you’ll get to see several real production sets that Universal Studios has actually used in their movies and shows. From picture cars like Back to the Future, sets from Desperate House Wives, a special effects demonstration, and also, live-action appearance by the killer from Psycho – Norman Bates. The Studio Tour is well worth doing while in the park and a can’t miss while your in Hollywood!

Experience the production magic behind many of Universal Studios’ greatest films

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an absolute immersive delight and for great reason. Want to step into Olivander’s and watch a wand select its master? How about drink a butter beer in the alley streets? Take a flight with a hippogriff? Play a game of quidditch? You can do all this (and more!) at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Flight of the Hippogriff is a family-friendly roller coaster. It’s a “baby coaster” but still packs a nice punch with its tight-turning, high-speed fun. You get to see a hippogriff, Hagrid’s hut and the pumpkin patch while riding overhead.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey starts you on a conveyer belt. Right after, you’ll enter what’s only to be described as a rocket ship simulator. The seats will fling and toss you in every direction while you somehow seamlessly transition from real props to virtual screens displaying an epic story. Oh and word of advice – make sure you dodge the Womping Willow.

Stay into the evening for special light shows on the Hogwarts Castle, showtimes available in the park app. You DO NOT want to miss seeing one of these.

Battle alongside your friends Harry, Ron, and Hermione as you survive a dementor attack on Hogwarts

Springfield: Home to The Simpsons Cast & The Krustyland Ride

Grab a seat with The Simpsons™ on a virtual reality roller coaster ride. As the journey begins, you find out that there’s trouble underway at Krustyland – Krusty the Clown’s low-budget theme park. You’ll smash and blast through the park with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie in an over-the-top non-stop adventure.

Smash through Krustyland on the Simpsons ride yourself

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Now Showing at The Dreamworks Theatre: Kung Fu Panda

Channel the power of Chi and join Po, Mr. Ping, and Master Shifu as they embark on a wild, perilous mission to deliver the Liquid of Ultimate Power to the Emperor. Experience roaring rapids, river pirates, and the villainous Kang Wolf on this multi-sensory journey of awesomeness. This short animation is a nice break from the California heat and also includes 4D features.

Want to be immersed in a Dreamworks production? Follow this link.

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem

Aren’t the minions just the funniest little creatures? (And possibly some of the cutest too.) Hop on to the Minion Mayhem ride where Gru blasts you with the legendary Fart Blaster, followed by his minion-shrinking laser. Be prepared to run mad with an army of fellow yellow minions through multiple trippy, mind-defying scenes to save the world. There’s a special party waiting for you at the end.

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Become a minion yourself so that you too can cause mayhem with the Gru-army.

Super Silly Fun Land

This splash park showcases your favorite minion Dave, Gru, fluffy unicorns, and plenty of more familiar faces from the Despicable Me franchise. Super Silly Fun Land is a mini-waterpark where you can let the kids run wild for the day. From buckets of water splashing, sprayers in all directions, and water fountains cascading down – it’s impossible to stay dry. Plus, there’s picture spots all over to snap a selfie with your favorite character from the movies.

To find more information out about Super Silly Fun Land, click here.

The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash

Discover the exciting world of Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets when you’ll meet your favorite characters. Join Max, Duke, Gidget and Snowball on a journey through the streets of New York City as you get ready to be welcomed into your new home.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do this one because the virtual line queue was full. We had no idea that this would be such a busy ride! This attraction is still relatively new so you may want to hop in a virtual line for this ride on the park app to save your spot as soon as you get there!

Check out what the pets are doing over on the official page.

CityWalk Hollywood

See what you can discover along the boardwalk – from shopping, to movies, to mouth-watering food and drinks. Cap off a great day at the park, or just have a great night in Los Angeles at Universal Studios CityWalk.

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Want to plan your next shopping trip? – click here.

When are you planning your trip?

We’d love to know your Universal trip plans! Be sure to tag us (@noplacelike.gone) in all your LA adventures:

If you enjoyed the blog, please subscribe for more as we travel the United States. We’re currently in California, but you never know where we’ll end up next (we don’t either!)

Safe travels!

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Categories
Finance travel

Extreme Cheapskates: How to Save TONS of Money While Camping

Time to read:

7–11 minutes

Since our blog, “Quick Money Hacks” (link below), did so well, I am back again with even more insane hacks to save you money while camping.

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Without Further Ado … How to Save Money While Camping:

1. Recyle Your Dryer Sheets

You can use dryer sheets more than once. Pop them bad boys into the dryer for a load of clothes as normal. When your laundry is done and the sheet is dry replace it in the box to reuse next time! You can easily get three or four loads of great smelling laundry from the same sheet this way.

2. Save on You Energy Bill

When you leave on vacation, or for a weekend escape, unplug all of your small appliances like your Alexa, TVs, alarm clocks, and anything else you can reach! Don’t pay for that “phantom” energy.

3. A Gourmet Date

Next time you go on a date with a potential cutie pie, make sure to split the meal & the check. This saves a TON of money!

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4. Stock Up on Sauces & Utensils

Next time you are at a local restaurant or order takeout, make sure to get extra napkins, utensils, and sauce packs in your bag to take home. Why buy this stuff at the grocery store when they are giving it away for free?

5. Old Fashion

If you have found yourself gaining weight and those old pants do not fit you anymore, don’t worry about buying a new pair. Instead, leave them unbuttoned & just use a shoe string to hold them onto your waist! No need to zip the zipper or button them up, or to waste money on the newest fashion trends!

6. It’s Raining Cats and Dogs!

Is your car looking a little dirty? Time for a wash? Check your local weather channel for the next time it will rain. When it does, run out there and wash your car with the assistance of Mother Nature! No garden hose required. This also applies for your pets, or yourself for that matter.

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7. Got Junk?

You don’t need to buy trash bags – EVER. Instead, save grocery bags when you go shopping and use them for all of your trash needs! They’ll fit the majority of your small bathroom, & office trash cans. For the kitchen & larger bins, use these mini-bags to take trash out in smaller portions – this will keep your trash can from piling up too.

8. Re-wear Clothing

You can rewear the same outfit at least 3 times before you truly need to wash it. Especially if you aren’t sweating or doing any intense work! Jeans & thicker materials can go even longer.

9. Movie Popcorn

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I’ll admit that I stole this one from a story Rachel Cruze of the Ramsey Show told, but it’s brilliant. Order a bag of popcorn from the movie theatre and enjoy your movie! When you leave, fold up the popcorn bag and put it in your pocket. Next time you see a movie, bring the used popcorn bag, pop it open, & get that free refill at the concessions. This hack allows you to only pay for that over-priced movie popcorn once with unlimited refills!

10. Restroom Etiquette

The rules for the bathroom goes as follows: if it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down. This saves thousands on your water costs.

11. Ziplock Baggies

Don’t keep buying these bad boys. After you use one, rinse it out in the sink and let it air dry. Next time you need to store your favorite snack it’ll be clean like a brand new bag.

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12. Interior Designer

Visit a couple of your local hardware stores and request free paint samples in a multitude of colors from each. Take the samples home and use them to paint your walls a new, lively rainbow – for FREE! Who said HGTV has all the tricks? Stay tuned in here.

13. Spooky Season

Right after Halloween, during the first two weeks of November is when they mark down all of the candy that didn’t sell. Stock up on all of your favorites at 50% off – or more. You can then use the leftover Halloween candy for Christmas stockings! The same concept applies for Valentines’ Day chocolates & Easter baskets.

14. Water Isn’t $3 a Bottle

After you have a nice Aquafina or Dasani bottled water bottle, refill it with tap water as much as you want instead of buying a fresh bottle. This works even better at a public place like school or work, where you don’t have to pay for the water yourself – FREE refills.

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15. Hang Paper Towels Up for Later

Why keep buying those pesky paper squares if you can re-use them again later? Hang paper towels up to dry & then re-use them – you can easily get three of four uses out of paper towels before they begin to tear.

16. Wash Your Clothes in the Campground Shower

You can skip the laundromat after camping by just washing your stuff in the bath-house shower before you leave. Better yet, take a shower with some of the clothes on and you’ve slayed two birds with one stone.

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17. Store Campground Water to Drink Later

You will have a water hook-up spigot at almost every RV campsite. If not, there’s definitely a water fill-up somewhere near the dump station. Make sure to fill up a few gallons of water in your left over water jugs & bottles for later. This saves you a few million dollars every week.

18. Free Coffee While Traveling

Stop into a local hotel to get some free coffee in the lobby. When you enter, you should see it sitting right out in the breakfast area. Just walk in, grab a cup, add sugar the way you like it, and head off. If they ask, you’re in room 301.

19. Who Uses Trash Bags, Man?

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Next time you’re at the local dog park or see doggy relief stations, make sure to snatch up a few bags. You can use these for your dog later, as a food storage bag to put things in and tie closed, or as miniature trash bags – for FREE.

20. Try Carpool Trash Service

We’re pitching a new idea here – carpool trash service. Consider this a new service where you can drop off your trash and bags at your neighbor’s doorstep and they’ll take care of it bringing it to the dumpster for you. They have to go at some point anyway, so might as well save yourself the extra steps & effort.

21. Share the Warmth

Is it cold outside and you find yourself needing some warmth while camping? Check which of your neighbors left some firewood stacked outside and grab a few logs. This will help you stay warm, and they won’t mind – sharing is caring!

22. Luck o’ the Irish – FREE drinks

Did the neighbor leave out their cooler? Check what’s on tap – it might be a tasty new cider or a banger of an IPA. You never know. They won’t notice a few bottles missing & you’re getting to try out new beers you may have never had.

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23. Be the Campground DJ

How much did you pay for your last concert ticket? Probably close to $200 per person, right? Why should you make everyone pay that much when you can become the campground DJ? Break out the bluetooth speaker, blare your music at full volume, and save your neighbors the concert ticket fees.

24. Puppy Play Day

We just had this happen to us at a campground and loved it. When you leave for the day to go sight-seeing, driving through the city, or doing a local hike, make sure you leave your camper windows wide open back at the park. Fido needs the fresh air and will also provide a free alarm system for your neighbors. This works best when your dog is a constant barker – keeping your neighbors safe by barking and keeping an eye out for danger.

25. Family Showers!

Have everyone wear bathing suits and shower together as a family so that you can save money. Why shower four separate times when you can do it all in one? Let’s preserve the environment & save some water for the fishes, man.

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26. More FREE Water

When you’re out hiking and see a running source of water like a creek or river, plop your bottle down in there to refill it. If it makes you feel better, grab a Life Straw to help filter the water extra for drinking. Nature provides all that we need!

27. What’s the Wi-Fi Password?

You could buy an expensive Starlink for $699 or a T-Mobile Inseego Hotspot for $399 to get internet while on the road. But why do that? Surely someone at the campground has a network without a password – hack in & surf the web for FREE.

28. It’s On the House

It’s always beer-30 when you can find a great ale in the neighbor’s cooler like we mentioned above. But we’re not savages – be sure to recycle. Once you drink their beer, take back the bottle and leave it for them. I’m sure they care about the environment too, and in places like California, you can get them 5 cents back per bottle – win-win for everyone!

29. Make Your Own Path

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Why follow the sidewalk to walk all the way around your campsite and the neighbor’s to get to the bathroom or shower house? By walking straight through their campsite, you can save on steps. Going through their campsite will also allow you to scope out their stuff for potential sharing opportunities.

30. Clearance Sale!

Amazon has frequent sales on outdoor furniture, but why pay for anything? It’s always on clearance over at your neighbor’s campsite. Eye something you fancy that they have – like that zero gravity chair? Bring something you have & swap out. Trading your $5 bag chair is a great way to upgrade and it can’t be stealing if you leave something behind for them to enjoy – it’s a fair trade.

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Categories
Adventure travel

Newbie’s Guide to Campgrounds

So you just got yourself a brand new (or new to you) RV and want to start exploring the world. Or maybe, you just grabbed a cheap tent and some cases of beer with your friends at the local Wal-Mart. Either way, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got a guide to help you out with all of the different types of campgrounds.

There are plenty of options for camping that range from roughing it in the middle of the woods, to resort and glamping experiences. Prices and amenities vary heavily depending on where you stay, and you can easily overpay. In this blog we’re going to go over camping options for every budget and also tips & tricks for saving big.

Estimated time to read:

8–12 minutes

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State Park Campgrounds

According to a study in 2009, there are over 6,600 state parks within the United States. These parks sprawl over a total of 14 million acres of land. State Parks are fairly common across the US and are VERY popular during the spring & summer months. I’ve seen typical rates for dry-tent camping sites ranging from $15-$25/night and RV/hookup sites ranging from $30-$50/night.

State Parks highlight beautiful & ecologically significant locations – they typically include bodies of water and trails sprawling through the local topography. Prepare for a great time in the woods with any of these campgrounds. Spots are typically spacious with a few trees in between you and our neighbors. Another trade mark of the State Park system is the eclectic on-site camping stores. Here you can grab stickers and t-shirts to say that you’ve been there and any essentials you may have forgotten last minute for your weekend in the great outdoors!

Keep in mind, not all State Parks offer camping. Some of them are just day-use, meaning you can have a picnic there, hike trails, swim in the lake, etc. but are expected to leave the park right before dark. Rhyming will definitely be my fall-back job one day if this doesn’t work out. What do you think about me rapping about campgrounds?

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National Park Campgrounds

There are 423 National Parks in the United States says the National Park Foundation. These are your big hitters. When you think of iconic spots for nature and camping, you think of places like the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Park. These are premier destinations that people travel to from all over the world to see.

Typically, these are near IMPOSSIBLE to get a camping reservation for, unless you are an extreme planner who is ready to book a year in advance – or more. These campgrounds are usually remote and don’t include hookups, or even cell service in many cases. But being in proximity to some of the most beautiful places in the world is well worth the lack of traditional amenities. If you have the chance to snag a spot at any of our National Parks – take it!

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COE’s (Army Core of Engineers)

In our opinion, these campgrounds are some of the best, at least for how we like to camp. They usually have plenty of sites available at these campgrounds, ranging between 100-250 sites each. Often a portion of these spots are primitive (meaning no electricity, water, or sewer hook ups.) These are your cheap options to tent camp or boondock with your camper, typically ranging from $15-$25 per night to stay.

The other portion of these sites are for campers and RVs. These are usually electricity only, but they do a great job of positioning water fill-up and sewer dump stations near the entrance of the campground for camper use. These sites are usually between $20-30 per night making these some of the cheapest options to have access to electricity, water, and a dump station while you are enjoying the great outdoors. We’ve stayed for as cheap as $18/night at a COE with electricity.

Another great benefit of COE’s is that they are typically located on a large body of water like a lake or river where you can swim, kayak, or fish. These parks are very well thought out by Army engineers. They also offer shower houses and kid’s playgrounds in most cases.

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KOA’s (Kampground’s of America)

KOA sign leading to campgrounds.
KOA sign – You can’t miss it!
KOA's offer activities for the whole family at their campgrounds.
Activities and more!
Cabins are available at many KOA campgrounds.
Cabins are available.
Trademark KOA fun – this is what they are known for!

When it comes to KOAs, these are located all over the place. There’s about 480 of them spread across the United States and a few in Canada as well. See the comprehensive list of KOAs here if you want to plan your next family camping trip at a KOA.

They have done a great job of placing KOAs near a lot of the major travel destinations. Places like beaches, National Parks, and mountain ranges will typically have a KOA within driving distance. It’s hard to miss one of these kampgrounds with their highlighter yellow signs on the road. In our experience, it’s pretty costly to stay here. We’ve seen prices around $60-$100/night to stay here. KOAs typically offer amenities such as wifi, full hook ups, a pool to swim in, and dog parks. If that wasn’t enough – they’re espeically geared towards children and will include host activities, theme nights, and kid zones too.

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Private Campgrounds

You can find GREAT private campgrounds all over the place. These aren’t affiliated with the parks system or government (city, state, etc.) in any way. They’re basically like you or I opening up our own campground and making our own rules and campsites how we like them.

A great example here is Hollywood RV Park which is where we recently stayed right outside of LA in Hollywood, California. It’s a super cool place that actually houses many film makers and production set workers for nearby film studios. It’s about $90/night in a place like this – mostly because of the prime location in one of the hottest real estate markets in the world – Los Angeles County.

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These private campgrounds can range all the way from $25/night hole-in-the-wall type of experience, all the way up to $150/night for your more premium look and locations. Sometimes, they even include things on site like yoga, church services, community events, art classes, or concerts.

Flamingos at the Hollywood RV campgrounds.
Hollywood RV Park Sign located at 7740 Balboa Blvd.
Flowers around a tree at Hollywood campgrounds.

Resort “Glamping” Campgrounds

Typically, “resort” or “motor-coach clubs” campgrounds revere themselves for being top notch. Sometimes, they only allow RVs or campers in their park that are models within the last 10 years (2013-2023), or may dictate the type of RVs welcome, to keep up with curb appeal. You will definitely be paying a pretty penny for these – let’s say $90+ and easily into $120/night. These are going to have the most amenities and activities and offer a resort-like experience.

Let me share a little secret with you. If you ever end up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, then one of the best kept secrets is Ocean Lakes RV Resort. It’s incredible – and well worth the price of admission. Book early, because they generally fill up incredibly fast – months in advance.

Boondocking (BLM Land)

BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land is for staying over night with NO hook-ups. This land is actually provided by the government, for very small fees, to be used for camping off-grid or in the wilderness. Basically, if you want to get the hell out of society – you can grab a camper and have a blast in the great outdoors. These are most common out west, but can be found across the country.

Bureau of Land Management map showing public land that you can camp on.
BLM map provided by the Bureau of Land Management.
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A great resource to use for this is FreeRoam, it’s an app and also website that you can download on the App Store. With this, you’ll be able to pop up a map for finding the nearest off-grid land for you to rough it out in.

Harvest Host (+ Boondockers Welcome)

Harvest Hosts: An RV membership program that allows self-contained travelers to overnight at unique locations around the country including farms, wineries, museums, breweries, and more! With 4773+ of host locations inside of the ever-expanding network, there’s an amazing experience waiting for everyone.

Boondockers Welcome: Enjoy truly unique stay experiences often without any sacrifice to comfort as 70% of Boondockers Welcome hosts offer hookups. Escape the crowded and noisy campground in favor of a private spot on beautiful property and a meaningful connection with a friendly host.

We have a great partnership right now with Harvest Hosts and also Boondockers Welcome. We can save you 15% right now on EITHER subscription. They’re normally $100/year for each of them individually, but we can get you down to about $80/year. Make sure to click the green text above to get the discount! Important: You may have to use code BWFRIENDS15 at checkout for Boondockers Welcome to work!

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Military Campground/Army Camps/AFB

These are generally a cheaper place to stay, although you often have to be affiliated with the U.S. military in some fashion. These generally are your “on-site” living for most of the military branches: Army camps, Air Force Bases, etc. If you’ve heard of a family living on base in an RV with the member of their family that’s serving, that’s what this is.

You’ll typically see rates near $20-$25/night which is VERY inexpensive per night for full hook-ups and amenities. You can check with the local base campground if you can stay there not being military, but generally it’s for military and government personnel only.

Not Campgrounds – Wal-mart, Cracker Barrel

Oh, the glorious Wal-mart and Cracker Barrel. If you have ever heard of people living in a RV, you’ve probably heard of these two being common places to stay. We have stayed at a Wal-mart, but unfortunately not a Cracker Barrel – yet. If you are trying to save money and have a lower cost of living, than these are your best bets for the occasional stay.

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Make sure that you ask the local Wal-mart or Cracker Barrel managers if they are OK with you staying overnight. Sometimes, they will not allow this and may even have signs posted in the parking lots about no overnight stays. You probably don’t want to get that knock on your door by the police in the middle of the night!

Campground Costs Breakdown and Averages:

Types of CampgroundAverage Price ($/night)Notes
State Park$35Generally hard to get into without 2-3 months out reservation
National Park$40Sometimes takes 6 months – 1 year in advance to reserve
COE (Core of Engineers)$20Easy to land a spot often
KOA (Kampgrounds of America)$70Somewhat easy to get into
Private Campgrounds$60Plenty of availability as there are so many options and price points!
Resort Campgrounds$90All of the luxuries you would expect at most hotels nowadays
Boondocking (BLM land)$50/monthlySmall fee to use them, no hook-ups
Harvest Hosts and Boondockers WelcomeYearly subscriptionHarvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome are separately $80/year
Military Campgrounds/Army Camps/AFB$30Generally have to be in the military or branch that the campground belongs to
Other (Walmart, Cracker Barrel, etc.)FREESketchy at times, be safe out there!
This chart shows different type of campgrounds costs and descriptions.

Thanks for reading! As they say in French, au revoir!

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Categories
Adventure Finance travel

Nomad Jobs: Get Paid While Traveling

The kids are back at it again, living in the van down by the river without a care in the world. “What the heck do they do for money?” you might ask. The answer is different for everyone. Some nomad jobs include camp hosts at campgrounds, have customer service jobs, work as insurance agents, or if you’re of the new-fangled age of kids, you can work remote freelancing. That’s what we’re going to focus on in this blog today! As always, I’d like to thank you for your time today. You’re in good hands!

Estimated time to read:

13–19 minutes

Real Quick …

Before we jump in, I’d like to remind you of the fact that money will not buy you happiness. Even nomad jobs can not produce happiness. It is merely a currency that allows us to exchange for products or services. Money really just is a tool – and it’s up to you to decide whether you want to have good, or bad, intentions with it. You tell your money what to do.

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– Table of Contents –

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1. Fiverr

Plenty of people are talented in their own right, and Fiverr is the platform for them to grow and create their own business. It’s the first on the list of nomad jobs.

Fiverr is a great choice for nomad jobs.

With Fiverr, you can search for just about any computer-type task that can be done. These range from: trip planning, video editing, graphic design, accounting, etc. You pay a basic fee for a service, enter your requirements and criteria, talk to the seller, and then they’ll return a finished product to you quick! Don’t forget to be nice and tip well.

As a seller you can work as much (or as little) as you’d like and Fiverr allows you the flexibility to work when you want to. With their huge categories of jobs available currently to work, feel free to jump in and start earning a commission today!

Fiverr categories for work.

2. UpWork

Upwork is number #2 of nomad jobs.

Are you looking for another alternative to the above Fiverr? Introducing UpWork! We recommend this one as well because there are plenty of other jobs available.

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You can create a seller account to sell your services to others as a 1099 contract employee, and work when you want to. The only “boss” you have is UpWork’s guidelines, and a different client to work for every time.

3. Start a Blog!

Plenty of digital nomads nowadays have a blog, course, YouTube channel, or something similar. It’s basically the work of the digital world – teaching others how to do very specific or niche skills.

I have seen quite a few of them to claim to make into the $10k-$30k per MONTH range. I obviously can’t back this one up with evidence as we aren’t a blog that huge (yet?), lol.

Regardless, if you are creative and love sharing your thoughts with the world, a blog should be as second nature as journaling is to most people.

4. Become a Freelancer Writer

You can write about anything, especially if you’ve got a knack for any given niche genre. If you know how to write, and have knowledge to share with others, this is the sign for you!

There are people who make a living reviewing video games and news, others who write scientific research papers, and the occasional blog-writer (that’s us!)

You can write about pretty much anything, as knowledge goes for a pretty penny when sold to the right mind.

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5. Become a Bookkeeper

It’s easy to go online and get certified as a bookkeeper in little time at all!

Plenty of businesses are thriving yet need someone to help manage their numbers. That’s where you come in. Get certified, take invoices and expenses and help them know their numbers.

Websites like National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) offer plenty of options for educational materials, exams, and getting you certified to help businesses in no time. You can save $50 right now and then the certification bundle becomes $449.

*We are by no way affiliated with the NACPB, we just want to help provide you guys with the most resources that we can.

6. Be a Virtual Assistant From Anywhere!

This is one dear to my heart because it’s what my girlfriend currently does. She’s been helping multiple business owners get crucial tasks done while we’ve been on the road.

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A personal (or virtual) assistant would traditionally book flights, plan events, get in contact with bill companies, hunt down clients for payment, and many, many other daily tasks. Here’s a website listing statistics and more information.

This is a very practical job, because everyone from CEOs to small-business owners need help handling billing, taxes, conferences planned, and so many other routine tasks.

7. Sell Handmade Products (Etsy, Farmer Markets, Facebook Marketplace)

Do you have a knack for creating knick-knacks? Can you sew, paint, carve wood, make jewelry, or anything else creative? Of course you can – and we won’t settle for anyone saying that they have no talents or skills. Everyone knows how to do something. Everyone has something that excites you. Maybe you like how things tick, maybe you really like people, or possibly you are great at organization.

Combine your passion with some crafting skills, then you’ve got a solid business model for markets like Etsy.

With Etsy, you can get super creative products from a small business and makers. Plus you are supporting a single person or merchant most of the time, and not a corporate shill seeking profit. I kind of like the feel of that personally.

8. Become an Educational Tutor

Not every student learns in the same way. Some are auditory learners, some are hands-on and learn by doing, and others need to hear information in a different way than their teachers will present it. That’s where you can come in as a tutor!

If you’re good at any subject, or even have the credentials of a teacher already, you can start helping students today! The Tutor website seems to be a great resource for this.

There’s potential for tutoring in any subject: math, science, English, Spanish, music, and plenty others. Get started helping kids grow smarter now!

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9. Learn Graphic Design

Have you dabbled with Adobe Photoshop creating memes in the past? How about self-learning how to use a platform like Canva for social media graphics? Regardless, the world is your oyster in this category.

If you have an eye for logos, creating graphics, flyers, social media posts, or virtually anything else, you’ll thrive here. It really is a build-your-own adventure sandbox software. You can design flyers for a business, wedding invitations, social media posts, logo designs, and anything else you can possibly think of. Canva is amazing – I’m not paid by them to say that, we just use them for everything design-wise.

There’s always something that a business needs to look good in this marketing driven world of today.

10. Online Marketing

It’s no surprise that businesses are easier than ever to start with the rise of the internet. Basically, anyone can pop up a shop with platforms like Shopify and get started selling a product right away.

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A core thing you need with any business is an audience, and a brand worthy of them telling their friends about. You have to be eye-catching, humorous, a great product, and also stand on good morals.

A marketing agent is someone who comes in and focuses on developing your brand, colors and schemes, designs, and more. They help make your product look better and better, and bring it to new heights, and eyes.

Is Van Life as Glorious as Instagram Lets You Believe?

Could you imagine living on the road as a digital nomad? Do you want to see different states, countries, and parts of the world? Are you bored of the sameness: sitting at the same desk, driving the same route to work, talking with the same people, doing the same old routines?

I know that I was, and that’s when we set out on this adventure. We’ve lived in 15 different states over the last 10 months. Literally. We sold our house, cars, and live full-time in a Class C motorhome. It sounds CRAZY! But, that’s the life that we have chosen to live. As awesome as this all sounds, we want you to see the realities of this life as well!

11. Social Media Assistant

If you would have asked me before writing this blog if I believed that being a social media assistant was a real job, I would have been baffled. But, here we are.

Yes, there are literally people whose entire jobs are to schedule posts, engage with comments, share their content on the internet, and run customer service fronts. Now hows that for making the list of nomad jobs?

I’m personally amazed at some of these jobs on the list as they’re all unique in their own way, but this one has me chomping at the bit. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that this work is easy, or bad. I just want to snatch this job for a huge company like Skittles or something. Sponsor me!

12. Website Designer

It’s no question that with the rise of the internet, websites are more important than ever. To get your name or business out there, you have to have an online presence. Eventually, brick and mortar stores limit you nowadays. Not to mention that the majority of people look up a business online to see their Google reviews before considering a visit.

The internet helps you quickly connect to anyone, anywhere, in the world. The better your website is designed, the more people will be likely to find it and stay engaged with its contents. Don’t skimp too much on this front, as you want a great product.

Find a great web developer right now on Fiverr to get started. You can actually learn a website builder like WordPress or Wix to help jumpstart your career in web development. To become great at it though, you definitely need to learn C++ and web coding at a later point.

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13. App Developer

It’s no question that with the rise of the internet that website designers and app developers are more important than ever.

Apple offers plenty of resources from software development kits, digital textbooks to learn from, video explanations, and more. Although, some of these require a small yearly fee to get involved in their programs.

Every great app starts with a great app developer. Learn today, or commission someone on UpWork to help you turn your brilliant idea into reality. You never know what’s waiting for ya!

14. Get Paid to Walk Dogs

We’ve all seen that one person walking down the street. They’re walking six different dogs, and you are left perplexed by this. Most likely, they are probably walking dogs for a living, literally!

Yep, you heard me right. You can get paid to board dogs, babysit them for the day, and even walk them with apps like Rover. For what its worth, the name Rover is incredible.

Next time you find yourself planning a vacation trip or have to work and can’t plan to be around your doggos for a while, you can hop on the app and schedule someone to help you watch them.

This functions similar in the way that AirBnB works, where you open the app, find a local dog sitter and see their reviews, then contact them. Usually, when you go to drop off you will be able to meet the people and chat with them about all of their policies and vet (hah – good joke) if you want to use them!

15. Life or Career Coaching

It goes without being said that not everyone has ended up in a great spot in their current life. Sometimes we need help and we might turn to a friend, family member, pastor, or even advisor/counselor.

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There exists plenty of certifications online if you’d like to get them as well, that offer to train you in the ways of helping people and their largest life decisions. The one I found online by the Certified Life Coach Institute claims to be $995 for the initial course and certification.

There is a lot of grey area in places like this, because you don’t technically need any kind of degree or training to be a “coach”. But it really gets down to the brass tax when you see the experience the coach possesses, which is much more important.

16. Create Online Courses

I know a fantastic woman who has various years of experience and certifications in dog behavior and psychology. Not only does she offer consulting one-on-one to help teach dog owners, but she decided to launch a course.

By viewing her course here online, you can get the majority of the educational information and what she teaches, but at a lower rate and at your own pace. It’s not personalized for you like the one-on-one opportunities are, but that’s kind of the point with the course is to learn the general skills for your pup at a cheaper price point.

Desiree uses a very wholistic method of training – not strength and dominance.

Teaching a course is always a great way to help others learn a new subject or skill they didn’t have before. Udemy is a great resource for courses online, and I’d also recommend SkillShare (who is giving a free month trial RIGHT now).

17. Edit Videos like a Pro with Final Cut Pro

Everyone needs video edited for social media – specifically YouTube and TikTok nowadays. Whether it’s an individual person who doesn’t have the time to string together all of their travel vlogs, or a company needing to edit together promo videos. Oh, and if it wasn’t implied – yes, some people are making money from their videos!

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You can get started for free editing videos by using iMovie on Apple products. There’s also HitFilm which is free but has optional upgrades.

Once you get into the upper echelon, the majority of people use Sony Vegas, Final Cut Pro, or Premiere Pro as they are the top of the line softwares jam packed with movie-quality features.

18. Uber or Lyft Driving

Did you know you can become an Uber or Lyft driver even without owning a car? Let’s say you are a digital nomad like us, wandering across the USA, and you only have a motorhome (which is not fit for driving around city streets picking people up – trust me). Uber will let you rent a car through a partner company like Hertz for as low as $260/week. That’s discounted well below how much it costs to rent a car normally – usually double that number.

In larger areas like LA, Atlanta, New York City, you can rent just about any car that you want. Feel like driving people around in Mercedes-Benz luxury? How about saving the environment with an EV like a Tesla Model 3? You can get them all as a rental car, and make sure your passengers are safe, sound, and happy!

Another great thing about Uber and Lyft is that you get to pick when you’d like to work. Feeling sick today? Call out and sit home! Want to pick up three shifts tonight? Hop on the app and get going in your car! They make it seamless to transition from work-mode to chill-mode.

19. Uber Eats, GrubHub, PostMates

The barrier for entry here is low, as you just need a car, a phone, and some gas money (that’s the most expensive part). When you swipe one of these apps on, you can start driving to a store to pick up food for a customer.

You don’t have to cook the food, pick the order, shop for groceries, or anything. Usually, you arrive at the restaurant or store and go to the delivery pickup counter where the order should be ready for you.

This works on base pay plus tips, so treat your customers well to make BIG MONEY!

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20. Instacart, Shipt, DoorDash

Feel like delivering groceries and other quick convenience store runs? You can often deliver prescription medicines from CVS, Walgreens, and other big box stores directly to a customer.

There’s plenty of people wanting grocery delivery straight to their door. They place their order on the app, you go shop it, and you get paid to hand deliver it to their door.

Me over here grinding at my third job once upon a time.

These apps make it so easy to hop on and do a few deliveries, then shut off the phone and take a break at any time. Your pay is heavily dependent on tips the majority of the time, because base delivery pay is usually not the best here.

Budgeting is Also Very Important

Although we’ve equipped you with plenty of ideas to work and make money, the fact still stands that you need to know how to handle your money. We have a sample RV-life budget with actual numbers, not made up, within this read below.

https://atomic-temporary-195534999.wpcomstaging.com/10-tricks-for-the-perfect-trip/

Thanks for Giving Us [Your Time]

We know how valuable your time is, and that’s why we don’t want to waste a second of it. We want to help you build a quality life which begins with deciding how you want to live. By finding new ways to make money, you can afford to create this new life full of your passions, goals, and dreams. We aren’t here trying to sell you anything. We simply want you to be better off after every new read here on our blog. Thanks for reading today!

See you later – ciao!

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Categories
Adventure travel

10 Tricks for the [Perfect Trip]

Estimated time to read:

<img alt="Matt with
Matt with
No Place Like Gone

Hey! I’m the man behind the magic – A.K.A. the camera and blog. I’m also a purveyor of craft beer, grill master, and chief RV driver.

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[Table of Contents]

  1. [Table of Contents]
  2. First, start with the right [tools]
  3. Now that you have the tools, here’s a step-by-step guide for using them:
  4. 1. Select a Destination.
  5. 2. Search Google for Activities in the Area.
  6. 3. Make a Schedule or Calendar
  7. 4. Look for Discounts!
  8. 5. PACE Yourself. No, Really.
  9. 6. Set a Budget for Vacation
  10. I’ve Created a Realistic Budget:
  11. 7. Don’t Book the First Flight, Hotel, or Vacation Package That You See
  12. 8. Plan Your Trip Far Ahead of Time
  13. 9. Reduce Your Dining Budget
  14. 10. Bring Your Pet Along!
  15. [Make Memories]
  16. Social Media Links

Have you been pushing through grueling 60 hour work weeks at the office, struggling to keep up? Has life been keeping you busy with the new baby, endless social obligations to show up at, and constant notifications blowing up your phone? Maybe you need a break, and a road trip sounds like a nice respite. Regardless of your reasons – planning the [perfect road trip] begins with having a destination in mind. Where do you think you want to go?

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada!

If you are lucky enough to be a resident in Florida or California then you are probably enjoying the ability to soak up the sun and hit the beach during this winter. Consider yourself among the lucky bums! But if you live in one of the 48 other states then you’re probably freezing right now. How about an escape to Las Vegas this winter? Maybe you just need some warmer weather – because seasonal depression definitely exists.

Yes, it’s 80 degrees almost everyday in Tampa, FL. While the rest of the country is experiencing below freezing temperatures, the people of Florida-land stay warm!
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I’m going to let you in on the best tricks around for planning out the [perfect road trip]. Whether you’re just planning a one week vacation, or ready to take off on the cross-country road trip of your dreams (something we’ve recently done and still going strong,) you are in the right place with this blog!

Before we jump in, one last speed bump in the road – I ask that you subscribe to our email list below. It’s 100% risk-free, and if you aren’t happy with your purchase – we’ll refund all of your money. 😜

P.S.: We won’t send you any spam mail. We will only update you about the BEST experiences to have, RV life, and much more!

First, start with the right [tools]

Google Travel: This wonderful tool from our friends at Google can pretty much do it all. In addition to road trips it can search for flights, hotels, and vacation rentals; you can search for the best deals around with multiple options by using this tool. This travel tool combined with the powerful capabilities of Google Maps, will allow you to plan each piece of the puzzle for any trip. And you have the freedom to decide if you want to drive, fly, or take a cruise for your vacation.

Google Travel is 100% free, and so is Google Maps.

The only downside is that Google is using every one of us as a product to market out to other companies. It’s no surprise that when you start looking at vacation packages online that you will soon start seeing advertisements popping up all over your Facebook and Instagram feeds from travel companies. That’s how their tools remain to be the great price of “free.”

Here’s a video tutorial for how to use Google Flights within Google Travel by Insider Tech.
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RV Trip Wizard: This is OUR go-to. We use this in combination with Google to search for and plan out each leg of our roadtrip route. Of course, we are full-time RVers so we are constantly driving from city to city, state to state, and staying at new campgrounds along the way. RV Trip Wizard is a wonderful tool for roadtrip planning, especially when you have a camper or motorhome. Also, it has a solution for all of those low bridges, narrow city streets, and dirt roads – it’ll route you around those based on your vehicle’s dimensions within account settings. It also alerts you when it’s time to fill up with fuel. Not only is the software powerful enough to let you plan a trip, add multiple stops, and plan out your safest route with your big rig – it can also help track your trip expenses. This financial tracker includes everything you’ll need from campground fees, fuel, maintenance costs, food and entertainment costs. Check it out today!

The interface for RV Trip Wizard might look confusing at first, but it’s not too bad once you jump in. You can see all kinds of useful information about our road trip in this screenshot.

RV Trip Wizard costs $59/year, and gives you an RV Life Pro account which will unlock access to RV Trip Wizard planning, RV Life app, and also RV GPS routing. They also have plenty of wonderful blogs on their platform for newbies. You can’t go wrong here!

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Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome: This subscription allows you to have [free] destination-stays along the way as you plan out your next road trip.

Right now, you can get 15% off a year of unlimited overnight stays at wineries, breweries, farms, and more! The Harvest Host stops may become your favorite stops along the way of your next trip. For only $85 per year, a Harvest Hosts membership will give you access to trip-planning tools, $1500 worth of Member benefits, and 3000+ overnight RV stays for a whole year. Start a membership today and see where the road takes you.

P.S.: We were able to stay on a working farm and bottle feed baby llamas with our membership – if you love animals definitely check this out!

Boondockers Welcome is a sister program to Harvest Hosts and opens up another whole world of camping opportunities. Escape the crowded and noisy campgrounds in favor of a private spot on beautiful property, a coveted city parking spot, and, if you’re lucky, a meaningful connection with a friendly host. City spots can be hard to come by when you’re parking an RV but with BW, you won’t have to sacrifice comfort as 70% of Boondockers Welcome hosts offer hookups. Branch out of your comfort zone and make new friends with Boondockers Welcome, here’s 15% off with our link – make sure to use code BWFRIENDS15 at checkout to apply the full discount.

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Now that you have the tools, here’s a step-by-step guide for using them:

1. Select a Destination.

It’s as simple as that. Where do you want to go? For how long? Nail down these specifics so that you have an end goal in mind and parameters for your trip. Every good plan starts with direction (nice pun, lol.)

2. Search Google for Activities in the Area.

You can Google simple terms like:

And typically the best places to look for great attractions quickly are here, after a little scrolling down the search page:

The red outline sections are recommended because they will immediately show you the best rated things to do around the area that you’re traveling to. Sometimes these are free like parks or shopping, and other times they cost admission like a museum.

Look for “Tripadvisor” and “Top sights” – these are always super useful to me. Search through these two sections and links to get activity ideas and local recommendations of things to do. Now, based on how much time you will have in the area, you can make a list of things you want to do while you are there.

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3. Make a Schedule or Calendar

Now I know – not everyone likes to plan ahead and make schedules or to-do lists. But if you do, you’ll optimize your trip because you’ll have the freedom of knowing what you’re doing – and when. Plan your time wisely, with a great balance of activities and plenty of rest. Don’t feel like you have to plan every minute, just block out times for the major events of the day and leave time for spontaneous adventures in between.

Whether you fancy old fashioned paper, or making an excel sheet, it ultimately doesn’t matter. Throw together a quick calendar like the below image so you can make the most out of the time on your trip.

I recommend something even as simple as this, or using the Calendar app on your iPhone. Whatever works for you to keep track of times and activities on your next trip is fine.

4. Look for Discounts!

Check places like Groupon that offer travel discounts to save money on activities and restaurants. Checking with a local tourist information office can also be a great resource. It only takes a little time, and often you can save big! Ask for any discounts they offer with local activities, and also what they recommend to do in the area! You never know what exciting new thing you’ll find out about.

5. PACE Yourself. No, Really.

I feel like every time you talk to someone who just got back from vacation they’re exhausted and say they need a vacation from the vacation. They’re emotionally and physically drained, and there is no way in heck that they can smoothly transition straight back into working right away. Who would ever want to go back to work anyway?

Many people try way too entirely hard to do every possible thing that they can on vacation. Of course you have to go snorkeling, dolphin watching, to the gift shops, paddle boarding, on a sunset boat ride, to a nice restaurant, to see your family in the area, to take family portraits, to the museums – you get the point. You can’t possibly do it all, and you’ll wear yourself out quickly trying to. Vacations are meant to be enjoyable and relaxing for the most part – not jam packed with too much stress!

6. Set a Budget for Vacation

This one might blow your mind away because the concept of a budget and limiting your spending on vacation may seem a little ludicrous! The truth is, if you set a budget and stick to it, then you will have a gauge for what you can afford and won’t add extra stress upon your return. The activities, tours, shopping, and restaurants quickly add up. Often times, there is way too many things to do in a short vacation timespan anyway, so it’s wise to only plan for what you have time and money for so you don’t break the bank. The money experts at Ramsey Solutions have super helpful guidance on this.

I’ve Created a Realistic Budget:

Type of ExpenseAmount ($)
RV Payment$600 ($87k purchase price, 180 months @ 3.5 APR – with 10% down payment ($8,700))
RV Insurance$100
Campgrounds$1800 (Assuming $60/night for 30 nights)
Gas + Propane$350
Groceries$700
Health Insurance$300
Internet$270 (Starlink $150/month, Verizon $65/month, T-Mobile $55/month)
Other Things$1,000/month OR SO (depends heavily on each person)
Grand Total$5,120
Sample RV-Lifestyle Budget
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7. Don’t Book the First Flight, Hotel, or Vacation Package That You See

We all get excited to take off on the glorious vacation trip. But, don’t let your impatience ruin your chance of getting a much better deal in the long run! Check various places when you are ready to book the trip.

For us, we check between RV Trip Wizard (shows quick stay options all around your planned route), Recreation.gov (great for finding cheap Core of Engineer parks), Google (for finding campgrounds in a big city or town), and Harvest Hosts (when we plan to stay short times at breweries, farms, and unique stays).

Here’s a general search for hotels in Las Vegas, NV to help you get started with your million dollar winnings at the slots!

If you are booking flights and hotels, I’d definitely check out Hopper, Hotels.com, or Kayak. I also personally recommend Cheap Caribbean for pretty inexpensive, all inclusive vacation packages to travel to the Caribbean and other tropical places. We’ve used this platform for three separate out-of-the-country trips and loved every one of them. They do a great job helping you travel plan and stay informed about what to do next when you arrive in a foreign country.

8. Plan Your Trip Far Ahead of Time

When you plan far ahead, you have the option to book anywhere you want to be. Sometimes you can even get an “early-bird” discount. The longer you wait, the more expensive the trip will be. Not to mention that most vacations or stays end up getting booked within 6-12 months in advance most of the time.

9. Reduce Your Dining Budget

I know as a foodie myself, it’s almost impossible to resist eating out and trying new restaurants, especially while traveling. I’m not saying you can’t eat out at all, but, eating out is a great luxury. If you need to save money, then cut the dining out from your trip budget. It’s significantly cheaper to make a sandwich or pop open a can of soup at your Airbnb instead of going out for every single meal. Save money by eating at “home,” especially if this allows you to do more experiences!

10. Bring Your Pet Along!

Our pretty girl Luna, almost 2 years old!

Don’t leave Fido at home this time! The truth is, plenty of hotels and condos nowadays are willing to make accommodations for a dog companion. And no, they don’t even have to be certified as a service animal. There’s also plenty of options on Airbnb and Vrbo that allow pets. So come on, and bring your fluffy friend!

A great experience we suggest is always related to the great outdoors. Look at camping, renting a RV, and other nature-related trips. You can almost ALWAYS bring a pet along on these types of trips. This way, you don’t have to make a plan for someone to watch them, or board them for a price at a local vet.

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[Make Memories]

The most important part of your vacation trip is to ENJOY it! After spending weeks, or even months planning, make the most of your time and make memories that will last you a life-time. There really is [no place like gone] and we’d love to see your travel pictures – tag us on social media – @noplacelike.gone. I’ve put a link button below, and also our latest posts on Instagram so you can quickly find us.

Social Media Links

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Categories
Adventure travel

What’s Your [Camping] Type?

There’s A LOT of options on the market for camping. You can get as simple as a tent, but if you aren’t a purist then you probably aren’t tent camping very often. For the rest of us, your options are typically between truck camper, travel trailer, fifth wheel, camper-van, motorhome, or a self-made conversion. Warning: If you’ve never RV camped before, you’ll be shocked by how small these are compared to the average home of today. Fair warning!

The different types of RVs (recreational vehicles)

We’re No Place Like Gone and we’ve been full-time living and traveling in our Class C motorhome for 9 months now, nice to meet ya! We’ve driven from the East coast to the West coast during our trip so far and have got to see 15 different states along the way! We are currently camping in the country of California. (That’s a joke – because California is HUGE and it’s literally named the Republic of California.)

Here’s the most common variety of campers and the likes:

Truck Camper
Travel Trailer
Fifth-Wheel
Camper-van
Motorhome – this is us!
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Are You Ready to Hit the Road?

Before ya do, follow us on social media so that you don’t miss our next adventure. We post camping advice, hiking trails, nature photography, and stories from our travels, click below:

Truck Campers

Earthroamer SX – build shown is close to $1,045,000 (yes, $1 MILLION)

Starting off with a beauty, Earthroamer is in the upper echelon of truck campers. Priced as a luxury vehicle, they are self-contained and include all of the necessities that you need, while also including all of the things that you want. If you’re looking to go off-roading in style, while doing it self-sufficient and off-grid, this bad boy is for you.

Lance 650 mounted on short-bed Ford
Lance 650 interior
Lance 650 floorplan – dinette, toilet/shower, fridge, range, sink, closet, TV, bedroom and more in a small package!
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Lance truck campers are at a great price point, starting as low as $25,000 brand new. They’re available for Chevy/Dodge/Ford/GM trucks whether they’re short or long-beds. They have them for select Toyotas and Nissans as well. You get the modern luxuries in a very small package, that is still just an extension of your truck.

There are PLENTY of other truck campers on the market, for every size and shape of truck. We’ve even seen plenty of people that have custom built their truck camper, if you’re a handy type of person. You do sacrifice quite a bit of space over the likes of campers and motorhomes, so I’d recommend truck campers for 1-2 people and rarely more. There’s also options of truck campers with 1,2,3 slide-outs that help gain A LOT of space and storage for these. Expect to spend a little more money on these larger-sized $50,000-$100,000.

3 slide-outs (sofa, dinette, kitchen)
Loki Basecamp
Host triple slide-out with plenty of space on larger trucks

Pros: If you already own a truck, you just need to buy the camper portion to get started. For recreational campers, you can easily detach the truck camper and leave it at home while you still commute to work like normal. Truck campers detach and can be self-contained on most surfaces, just like any other camper. This makes your truck still usable if you want to leave the camper portion behind and go explore. Otherwise, it’s small and easy enough to drive with for any adventure. No pesky backing in a trailer or motorhome. No hitching or unhitching required

Cons: Not much storage, plus you sacrifice the truck bed to live in this monster! This is a difficult space to live in full time because of the tiny space and minimal storage.

Travel Trailers

Where do I start with travel trailers … when there’s a MILLION different layouts and options available.

Lance travel trailers with weights and info.
Airstream travel trailer size variations

As a beginner, many opt to get the smallest travel trailer – and that’s reasonable. It looks scary to drive a freaking 18-wheeler- length rolling home. Most people will aim to get between a 25 and 35 foot travel trailer, especially if you have kids or any pets. Although, you can definitely exist in a much smaller space if you are willing to be minimal about your camping.

Airstream Classic interior
Grand Design Imagine
Keystone hideout, bunk beds for the kids!
Old school Shasta (we stayed in one of these)
Tab camper – “I just a baby!”
Riverside Retro in teal/turquoise
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There’s plenty of very, very small options that are well under 20 feet as well, but I know that scares most people away when they actually see how small it is, these are things like Tabs. In this small of a vehicle, you’re sacrificing a lot over your traditional at-home living and I’ll admit that.

We personally accepted that we want a smaller space to save money, and to pair down into a more minimalistic lifestyle. We have a 26 foot Class C motorhome, don’t tow a car, and it’s been a dream for us. Camping, and life in general, really is a “choose your own adventure!”

Pros: You can pretty much pick your dream floor plan, with as many slide-outs and storage as you want. They literally have thousands of options here. Another good thing here is that if you already own a truck or large enough SUV, you’re pretty much ready to buy a trailer and take off!

Cons: If you’ve never driven a big truck or pulled a trailer, then be prepared for a learning curve. Also, backing in a travel trailer is somewhat frustrating for newbies – expect fights with your spouse (LOL). Difficulty of hitching, unhitching, setting up levels and chocks.

Fifth-Wheels

The difference between fifth-wheels and travel trailers are that the fifth wheel hitch mounts within your truck bed, and the space above is generally used for a bed or additional storage. Fifth wheels generally have much larger turn radiuses.

Fifth-wheels are pretty common nowadays, and for great reason. You combine the great size of a Class A motorhome with the ease of use of a travel trailer. Not to mention that you get to also include the space above your truck bed as additional living space, which travel trailers just can’t match. The turning radius on these bad boys is quite large too, much better than your pull-behind campers that can jack-knife (turn too hard and the trailer and hitch will crunch in on itself).

Finding a fifth-wheel for just about every price point is practical, with floor plans to appeal to everyone. Slide-outs here can almost double your living space in some cases.

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Scamper (small camper)
Older fifth-wheel still works great!
Grand Design Reflection, a very common fifth-wheel that has it all

Pros: Gain the space over your truck bed as a living quarters, compared to travel trailers losing that. Quite easy to level and balance out once un-hitched from a truck. Can get these as large as a Class A motorhome, basically 45 feet of usable floor plan PLUS slide-outs and storage underneath.

Cons: Price, usually between $50,000-$150,000.Very bulky and usually between 25 and 45 feet. Harder to drive especially for newbies if you’ve never pulled a trailer. Hitching, un-hitching, and setup is more than a smaller travel trailer or motorhome/van. You must have a special hitch to connect to your truck.

Camper-vans

These are sometimes called Class B motorhomes (see below motorhome section), although not always. Sometimes simply called vans, these things are literally a mini-van that you sleep in. You can see the yellow VW below and this thing is beautiful.

1976 Volkswagen Westfalia – man, we’d love to have one of these!

Because of the size of these, you obviously won’t get very much storage space. Not to mention living space, which is basically non-existent. You usually have the front seats to drive, bench seating that converts to a bed (or in the case of the VW you can sleep in the pop-up camper top portion), a mini-fridge, little camping range, and a few cabinets. That’s about the extent of what you get here with vans.

A huge mention here is that these will not typically include a bathroom of shower, some of the most crucial luxuries for many of us. Expect to use the campground showers and toilets!

Of course, you can spend much, much, more on the higher end Class-B motorhomes. These would be camper-van conversions such as the Airstream Interstate, Thor sanctuary, and the Storyteller Overland.

Lexus camper-top
Honda Element interior
Dodge Promaster
Interior of a Ford Transit campervan
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There’s a wide differential in prices of camper-vans, and there really is a different vehicle for everyone. They all vary widely with features, sizes, bed types, and more. If you’re considering one of these, make sure to do your extensive research and expect to pay a pretty penny. You’ll spend between $25,000-$225,000 whether you want a used little Dodge Promaster that’s been partially renovated, or a brand new ready to live in beast like the Winnebago Revel.

Pros: These are as small as your basic SUV or truck that you’re probably driving already. Picture a plumbing or construction work truck, but converted into a living space. Can be 4WD or lifted for plenty of driving clearance.

Cons: Basically zero storage – you’re living in a van, man. These rarely even can fit a shower or toilet. You’ll either have to use the camping bathrooms, or opt for a composting toilet and outdoor shower spray wand.

Composting toilet that slides outdoors
Composting toilet inside a van
Outdoor shower wand for exterior bathing
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Motorhomes

Very important to note that this “class” system does not jump from A, to B, to C depending on length or price by any means. In general, Class A motorhomes are the largest and most luxurious or expensive. Class C motorhomes are a budget version of that, and in much smaller form factors. Then, you have Class B motorhomes which are heavily improved camper vans with all of your modern accessories, usually at a smaller package than both Class A and C motorhomes. I know, it’s pretty confusing, but I didn’t create this system!

Class A: The “Crème de la crème” (French, literally means cream of the cream, or translated further to mean cream of the crop, or the best of something) of motorhomes. These bad boys are usually starting at $50,000 for a VERY used model. You can expect to pay close to $250,000 for a decent motorhome here, and easily up to $1 million dollars for some of the top of the line options like Prevost.

Prevost, top of the line of motorhomes. This thing is like close to $1 million brand new.

These Class A motorhomes have all of your luxuries of a modern home, albeit in a much smaller package. They have sprawling living spaces, slide-outs to add additional space, king beds, dual-vanity sinks in the bathroom, and huge residential refrigerators (RV fridges are typically much smaller than a home/residential fridge). Expect to pay quite a pretty few pennies for these though.

Another super important thing to note is that Class A motorhomes can range from the smallest at about 22 feet, all the way up to 45 feet of living space.

Pros: More space than you should ever need. Easy setup: you pull-in, park, use your auto-levelers and hook up power, water, and waste. That’s basically it! You can tow almost any car, truck, or SUV. These things are beasts and way a ton, plus have massive diesel engines capable of pulling just about anything.

Cons: These motorhomes are huge and when you see them out, they’re usually 35-45 feet long. You’re basically driving a school bus with much more weight and features inside. Most engines here are diesel – expect HIGH fuel prices especially in these hard times. Good luck parking this thing anywhere, as its too large to fit in a lot of places.

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Class B: These are also lumped into the “camper-van” category quite often. In reality, Class B motorhomes are larger and considerably more upscale over the traditional camper-van. Usually Class B motorhomes have a bathroom and shower, even if they’re tiny and hard to use, where as camper-vans almost always do not. The length of a Class B motorhome caps out at about 22 feet in most cases, so these are typically easy to maneuver and drive anywhere!

Storyteller Overland
Dodge Ram Promaster
Airstream Interstate
Winnebago Revel

Pros: Very small and easy to drive, not much of a difference from your daily commuter. You can park it just about anywhere, standard parking spots are big enough. Most of these vans are available with 4WD making them beasts to go off-roading or onto a beach.

Cons: Very small space, good luck with storage, because you don’t get much. Usually your dining table/dinette converts into your bed. Although, in certain models you can definitely use the front driving seats as your dining space. Vans or Class B motorhomes are VERY expensive … usually starting at $100,000 and exceeding well above that!

Class C: This is where WE fit in! We have a Class C motorhome, and it’s a 2022 Coachmen Crosstrail XL 23XG. Yep, that’s a mouthful – why do they name these things like freaking extraterrestrial planets?

Our dining table
Our baby – 2022 Coachmen Crosstrail XL 23XG
Simple bathroom
“If I fits, I sits” – words of a cat (but I’m a dog)
One happy customer!
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Class C motorhomes vary greatly between about 22 feet and 33 feet, and you can’t get much larger than that. Once you step above that threshold, you’re looking at either a travel trailer, fifth wheel camper, or a Class A motorhome because each of these have options to go much larger.

Pros: These offer a nice blend between the Class A and the Class B, which is why I’m baffled why it’s called a Class C. (I guess Class C was the third thing invented by combining the other two?) Budget friendly for the whole family, and Fido!

Cons: These cap out at about 35 feet, so if you want larger you’ll have to get a Class A or travel trailer/fifth-wheel. Very low ground clearance – expect to scrape a lot when driving. Not the most luxurious, if you want that instead: look to Class A or B.

The Others

We’ve seen just about everything on our trip over the last 9 months of full-time RV living. We’ve seen plenty of music festival-goers basically living in their vans and school buses. I spotted a Honda Element with a pop-up rooftop camper once. Plenty of SUVs like Toyota 4Runner, Subaru Outback, and others that people have slapped a rooftop camper top on. We’ve even seen a few people using “Camp mode” on their Tesla as they sleep in it at their campsite pedestal charging overnight.

“Life really is about creating your own adventure.”

-No Place Like Gone, 2023

We’ve Had Fun Today – Did You?

We can only hope that you had a blast reading our blog today. We love camping and traveling full-time so much that we have dedicated our time to help others do the same. It’s truly a lifestyle fit for just about everyone, with many, many options to suite your needs. The experience of camping is how you can live simply, see plenty of beautiful landscapes, and experience the world through your own lens.

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<img alt=" Matt with
Matt with
No Place Like Gone

Hey! I’m the man behind the magic – AKA the camera and blog. I’m also a purveyor of craft beer, grill master, and chief RV driver. Connect with me on social media below:

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Adventure travel

Campground Dos & Donts

We’ve been on the road for about 8 months now and we’ve driven all the way from the east coast (South Carolina) to the west coast (California). The memories, adventures, and laughs have been worth every second. And that’s a lot of sitting in a campground. We have a 26 foot Coachmen Class C motorhome with no slide-outs (basically an oversized camper van), and it’s perfect for us. We’ve camped at national parks, COE campgrounds, fancy pants RV resorts, an amusement park, private RV parks, and state park campgrounds (and in a Walmart parking lot that one time – that was fun). Below is an overview of things we’ve learned about camping along the way. Some of these may seem like common sense – common sense isn’t always common, though.

Our 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail XL 23XG sitting in a campground.
Our 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail XL 23XG

This is what we’ve learned on our cross-country roadtrip:

Are you just getting into #vanlife or RV travel? Maybe you just bought your new camper and are ready to hit a nearby campground for the first “shake-down” trip? Or maybe you’ve been camping for a while and you’re seeking ultimate relaxation?

We know camping can be a scary thing … you’re literally deciding to go sleep in the woods and become one with nature. (Bears, coyotes, snakes, and bugs live out here!)

Well, step 1 is to read this blog & learn how to camp like a pro. Step 2 is to unplug from all of your devices so that you can embrace the great outdoors and enjoy your camping trip! Let’s get started.

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The Dos and Donts of Staying at a Campground:

Do:

  • Do make a list before you pack up: If you don’t, you’ll end up forgetting something – and it’s usually something super important. Checking off items on a list helps keep you organized so that you won’t miss any of the important items you’ll need in the woods to survive.
  • Do say hi: Be sure to say hello to your new neighbors for the weekend (or longer depending on your stay). If you’re an introvert, wave at your neighbors when they look over. If you’re an extrovert, strike up a chat when someone walks by. You never know what you could learn from someone new. Do keep in mind that some people like camping to get out in nature (and away from people) though – don’t be overbearing.
  • Do act like the neighborhood watch committee: Keep an eye on your neighbor’s stuff, especially if they leave for the day. Most of the time there are no problems, but some campgrounds can be hotspots for thieves. Be sure to lock up bicycles and anything else that can “grow legs” and if you see someone fishy in your neighbor’s spot, report it. You’d want them to do the same for you, right?
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  • Do arrive before sun set: Ideally you’ll arrive right at check-in time and be able to maximum your trip, but at a MINIMUM arrive before the sun goes down. I can’t emphasis enough how important it is to actually be able to see while you setup your campsite. Arriving on time also lets you to enjoy the sunset from your new campground spot. If you arrive after dark, good luck – you will be getting frustrated…
  • Do share your location: Let your family and friends know where you are staying and your plans for the trip. This is especially important if you expect your phone won’t have signal, you never know what can happen out in the boonies. If you’re in a more developed area tools like Apple’s “Find My” are a great way to share your location with loved ones.
  • Do make a plan for your pooch: Most campgrounds will allow pets buuuuut, some don’t. Sometimes, you’ll have to pay an extra fee to bring your pup with you or there could be breed restrictions. Pets are not allowed on any trails within a National Park – so be sure to plan accordingly for a safe spot for your pup (DO NOT leave your dog in a hot car). Some campgrounds will even have dog parks on site – just make sure to check the rules beforehand and plan accordingly. Oh – and pick up your pup’s poop!!!
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  • Do observe fire safety warnings: Sometimes, especially out west, there are fire bans in place. These aren’t because they don’t want you enjoying s’mores by the campfire. Bans are because conditions are so dicey that devastating wildfires can begin from just a single hot ember. Decade-long droughts and strong winds create conditions that can spread wildfires in the blink of an eye causing millions of dollars worth of damage and potentially loss of life for animals and humans in the area. If you do have a campfire, pour water on it to put it out, stir with a shovel, and then douse with even more water to completely smother the flames. This is the only, and best, way to make sure the fire won’t reignite and become a problem. Make sure you listen to Smoky the Bear and check local conditions before starting any fire.
  • Do check the weather: With today’s technology and weather apps available in the palm of your hand – there is no excuse for not knowing if storms are coming through. Check the weather multiple times before your trip and then again each day during your trip. A weather radio can be especially helpful in remote areas. It may seem tedious, but while camping you are especially exposed to the elements without the protection of a sticks-and-bricks home. Keep in mind that large bodies of water like lakes or oceans can make conditions worse. We learned this the hard way while tent camping on a point in Georgia during a hurrican-ado (hurricane-tornado, lol). Conditions can change QUICK, so be alert.
  • Do pack extra layers: Bring extra clothes, you’ll need them. Temperatures can vary widely between daytime and nighttime – it’s usually colder outside than you realize at night. You’ll also want an extra pair of shoes and socks in case yours get wet (no one wants to hike in wet socks).
  • Do enjoy the great outdoors: Ultimately, you booked this trip to get outside and experience nature. So, enjoy your time! There may be bad weather or bugs, but if you embrace it all with a smile on your face you’ll have memories to last a life time.
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Don’t:

  • Don’t forget the necessities: There are thousands of gadgets and all types of gear for camping. Those are great, but don’t forget the basics. These are food, water, shelter (tent or camper), and a first aid kit. Making a list before you pack is helpful to ensure you don’t forget a single item.
  • Don’t bug folks during set up: We encourage you to say hi to your neighbors. But pleaaaaseeee don’t smother a fellow camper the second they pull in – no matter how cool their rig is. After a long drive, people need time to settle in and set up – give them time and space. After they’ve set up their temporary home, let the friend-making begin.
  • Don’t be the campground DJ: Blasting music assuming the whole campground wants to party is a no-no. Your site is your space & your music shouldn’t be audible beyond it. Keep in mind that your fellow campers may have small children, or consider your music offensive. A lot of people camp to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature – not Miley Cyrus’ newest hit blaring through your bluetooth speaker.
  • Don’t let your dog be a nuisance to others: We’ve yet to see an off leash campground – campgrounds require your pet to be leashed or confined to your space. This is for their safety and yours.
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  • Don’t keep everyone up: If it’s past quiet hours – be quiet. Quiet hours usually begin after 10pm at most campgrounds and end around 7am – be sure to review your check-in paperwork for specific instructions. This includes generators, kids, dogs, and anything else that emits sound.
  • Don’t be trashy: Use the dumpsters and recycling bins provided by the campground. Don’t leave trash all over your campsite, or overnight where animals may get into it. Nature isn’t a trash can for our garbage – we have to preserve its beauty so that we can continue to enjoy it.
  • Don’t feed the natives: While they may be fuzzy and cute – wild animals are meant to be just that – wild. Don’t feed any wild animals and don’t leave food out where animals can get into it either. Be on high alert in areas that bears frequent. You can usually tell if there’s been a problem with animals searching for food if there are heavy-duty-bear-proof trash cans or locking food boxes on site.
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  • Don’t leave your awning out overnight or when you’re away: Very often, strong winds or rain can come in unexpectedly (which is why we recommend you check the weather often). Your RV awning or stand alone pop-up canopy cannot withstand winds over roughly 20 mph (miles per hour). We also learned this lesson the hard way when our 10 foot x 10 foot tailgate canopy crumbled in the Colorado desert during a sandstorm that blew in randomly in the middle of the day with 50-60 mph winds.
  • Don’t cut through spots: Use marked pathways to get around the campground and be sure to keep an eye on kids playing. They may unintentionally run through your neighbor’s spot and get the “Hey you stinking kids – get off my lawn!!!” talk.
  • Don’t burn firewood from another location: Typically, the rule is don’t bring firewood from further than 50 miles away from the campground you are staying at. The reason for this is that you may unintentionally introduce new harmful species of bugs or plants that aren’t native to the area. This can severely hurt the wildlife and ecosystem of the new area you’ve brought the wrong wood to.
  • Don’t camp alone: Camping is always better (and safer) with friends – the more the merrier! With the right prep work, solo camping can be a restorative time in nature but we recommend always having a buddy with you. Be sure to bring camping buddies with you to enjoy the great outdoors safely; you may even help your friends discover a new hobby in the process. At the very least, make an Instagram post after your trip to share your adventure and the things you discovered during your time outside to get your followers curious about the great outdoors. Sharing is caring!
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What Did You Learn From This Blog?

We’d love to hear your feedback. What did we miss? What are some of your campground do’s and dont’s? We are always looking to improve our quality of content so that we can help newbies and veterans of camping alike.

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Here’s some more great reads if you’re interested! 🤙

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The Valley is on Fire!

Runnnnn Forest runnnnn – quickly! The valley is on fire in Nevada at Valley of Fire State Park! A short one hour trip from the bustling city of Las Vegas will land you here in an appealing, yet unsure, landscape. It’s part desert & part Martian planet – including cacti who love the harsh heat and out-of-this-world sandstone formations towering above in all directions. The combination of wind, rain, and natural erosion over millenia have created this perfect (albeit HOT) little paradise at Valley of Fire State Park.

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Table of Contents

We’ve organized all of the sections & park highlights below in alphabetical order. There’s also a handy table of contents to help you navigate around this read quickly! We hope that you put Valley of Fire State Park on your list if you ever happen to be around Las Vegas, Nevada!

  1. Table of Contents
  2. If the threat of fire hasn’t scared you away yet…
  3. Atlatl Rock
  4. Beehives
  5. Campgrounds – Atlatl and Arch Rock
  6. Oh, and we left a small surprise behind:
  7. Hidy Holes
  8. Elephant Rock
  9. Ready, Set, Action! 🎥
  10. 🔥 Fire Wave 🔥
  11. Doggie Adventures in the Valley 🐶
  12. Mouse’s Tank
  13. Natural Arch
  14. However Dark the Night, Tomorrow’s Light Always Follows
  15. One Punch Man!
  16. Petrified Logs
  17. Petroglyphs
  18. Potato Chip Rock?
  19. Our First Slot Canyon
  20. So … You Made it Through the Fire?
  21. Let’s connect on social media!
  22. Look here for similar reads:
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If the threat of fire hasn’t scared you away yet…

then let’s proceed into the Valley of Fire, but prepare to get burned.

A shot of the road that runs through the center of Valley of Fire SP, Nevada.
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Here’s a map to help you navigate your way around the park!

This is literally the same map we used to get around the park and plan our day trips. There’s no cell signal in the park so be prepared to go “old-school” and use your paper map & navigate like Lewis and Clark. You can conveniently download this map by clicking on the image above.

If you check out the map above, you’ll see you can enter from either the East or the West side of the park. Either way, there’s a park ranger operated pay gate at each end of the park so that you can pay the admission fee to get in. We also recommend asking for all of the paper resources they can give you. Usually this will land you the above map, detailed trail guides, recent local wildlife sightings, and things to do in the area nearby. Park rangers are your friends!

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Atlatl Rock

Atlatl Rock is the name for this naturally-occurring rock formation, and there’s good reason. An atlatl (pronounced at-latl) in history, is a stick used by some indigenous peoples of North America to propel a spear or dart. What’s even cooler is that this formation includes scaffolding built by the park which allows you to get up close and personal with petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings by native tribes). These figures are one of the major pieces left behind by the ancient cultures who once resided here – potentially thousands of years ago.

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Beehives

What’s that in the distance? BIZZZZ! Oh, wow! I didn’t know that bees could survive and thrive in the desert. On closer examination, they’re not beehives. But they do look just like them!

Over time, the wind has eroded these rocks into nature’s “perfect” shape – a circle. At this stop, you can literally park your car and hop right out to see them – with no athleticism required at all. The beehives are located directly inside the western entrance gate and make a great first stop in the park.

Natural beehive formation?
Beehive, shown for reference of the similarities.
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Campgrounds – Atlatl and Arch Rock

We saw multiple big-horn sheep walk through the campground, they seem used to campers and generally uninterested in our presence. I was lucky enough to capture this shot of them grazing on the mountain top the next morning. Although they seemed quite benign, be sure to keep your distance from them and their big horns to avoid a potential “ouch”!

Two big-horned sheep on the mountain top!

We stayed at Atlatl campground, which is first-come first-served. Yep, they don’t take campground reservations. There are a few spots with full RV hookups (and these go quick!) but most are “dry-camping” – this means no power, water, or sewer connections – a.k.a. “hike-in” or primitive camping only. This probably doesn’t interest most people who like to plan their trips months in advance or go “glamping” but hey, when you live life on the edge, the reward sometimes outweighs the risk. And we knew the reward of Valley of Fire certainly would be worth the small inconvenience. The pictures of this hotspot destination look incredible online.

We were, however, unlucky enough to watch the last RV spot get taken. We ended up squeezing into a site with no water or power, but that’s fine because we are set up for boondocking (camping without any hookups & being self-sufficient – almost like you would in a tent).

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I considered sleeping underneath this rock shelter here. Quite spacious compared to our RV. (lol)

Arch Rock campground is definitely geared more to your purists. We didn’t stay here, but I can tell you that tent camping or #vanlife is recommended at this site with most sites being hike-in only. Not only do they not have any hookups, but the spots are much smaller here as well. Either way, the views are incredible in either campground and you will be surrounded by incredible sandstone formations.

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Oh, and we left a small surprise behind:

It’s probably been found by now, but we left some hidden “artifacts” from our brand among the formations in the Atlatl campground. Good luck hunting!

Hidy Holes

Listen, this section was titled this way intentionally. How else would you name this? lol.

Through the looking glass…

Maybe my girlfriend, dog, and I are just Luna-tics (Hah! Our dog’s name is Luna) but we found plenty of cool looking “hidy holes” all over the park. You can’t miss them. You’ll see them on every hike, every trail, and in most little sections of rock if you keep your eyes peeled. They’re plenty of fun for you to take EPIC pictures in and take a break from the intense heat.

I can see my house from up here!
Becoming one with the spirits.
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Elephant Rock

Ever seen an elephant in a desert? No? Well us neither, until today.

Dad joke of the day: How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

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Ready, Set, Action! 🎥

You can’t avoid how beautiful and “other-worldly” feeling this place is. Of course, being near Las Vegas and Hollywood, many big names have been attracted here from all around the entertainment industry. Plenty of film scenes were shot within the valley:

Viva Las Vegas starring Elvis Presley had multiple shots filmed in the park for the racing scenes in the movie.

The above brick wall is the only prop that remains from the shooting of The Professionals in 1966.

The outside Mars scenes from Total Recall starring Arnold Schwarzenegger were almost totally shot in Valley of Fire.

The scenes from Planet Veridian III from Star Trek Generations were shot here in 1994.

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🔥 Fire Wave 🔥

This wouldn’t be a top-notch blog unless I squeezed in one of my childhood passions, RuneScape. If you didn’t play this browser based game 10-15 years back then you just simply will not understand the phenomenon. RuneScape was one of those types of games that kept you coming back for more. There was constant progression, hundreds of quests, over twenty skills with branching paths of gameplay, and also it was multiplayer. You could talk with friends and new people on the internet all the time … and this was early at the dawn of the 2000’s (notably 2004-2007) where we used AOL (America On-Line) dial-up internet and AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) to interact. Oh, how times were different. Many of the younger generation are already forgetting how hard it was before the internet! Some of my favorite child hood memories came from playing this game along with plenty of friends, and grinding away as a teenager. Man, what a feeling it was to escape reality … try out Old School RuneScape today if you know what’s good for you! 😜

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Anyways, back to the main point of this section … Fire Wave! Fire Wave is a medium-level fire spell in RuneScape that does decent damage to armored foes.

The Fire Wave spell from RuneScape:

Video games aside, these IRL (in real-life, an internet gaming term) fire waves were incredible to see:

A’hoy matey!
Shiver me timbers!
Sploosh!
“Fire Wave” where the sandstone terrain has been swept by the wind and rain for thousands of years – leaving this beautiful effect across the landscape.
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Doggie Adventures in the Valley 🐶

Whenever we go on a hike we love to take our pup with us (when permitted); luckily Valley of Fire trails are dog friendly! If you do decide to bring your pup on trail at Valley of Fire be sure to check the temperature of the ground and rock as the high temperatures in the valley can quickly cause damage to their soft paw pads. Doggie boots are also a great option for hot days. We did our hike in the early morning so temperatures weren’t a problem for us. But the most important thing to consider is WATER. Bring lots and lots – way more than you think you need for yourself AND your fury friend(s).

Here’s our cutie, Luna – she’s a year-and-a-half old chocolate Labrador Retriever crossed with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. If you aren’t familiar with her breeds, she is basically known as a “duck dog” or “sporting dog” because of her natural instinct to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl when hunting. Do we hunt? No, not really. Does she hunt everything that moves? Yep, pretty much. She has more energy than three espressos and a bag full of sugar … and constantly keeps us on our toes. Taking her on hikes with us is a great way to let her get her energy out and let her “hunt” in nature – no ducks were harmed in the making of this blog.

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Mouse’s Tank

These incredible rock carvings, are expected to date back as far as 2,000 years ago.

While this area has a strange name, the story behind the name is even more obscure. A Southern Paiute Indian renegade who went by the tribal name, “Little Mouse,” used this area of Valley of Fire as a hideout in the 1890’s. He was accused of gunning down two prospectors along with many other crimes in the area. This natural oasis held two pothole”tanks” of water and provided a natural hiding spot for him to escape his captors. He was eventually found in the valley and killed while trying to escape his pursuers.

Petroglyphs all over the park paint the ancient languages of. a past society who lived here.
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Natural Arch

Few things are as awe-inspiring as a natural arch in the desert. Towering high above the rocks below, this arch is a highlight of the park. I’ll let you & the scientists try to figure out how the inside of the arch has managed to disappear leaving the remaining arch shape intact. Somehow, this shape has managed to survive thousands of years without losing the battle its duking it out with – gravity.

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However Dark the Night, Tomorrow’s Light Always Follows

Thanks to the lovely iPhone 11 Pro Max I have (yes, I know there are three year’s worth of newer iPhones now) I was able to capture this amazing shot from our spot at the Atlatl campground one night. Look closely to see a rock balancing on the top of the formation. It’s amazing to see the capability of technology even in this remote wilderness.

Within this image, you can count the individual stars in the night sky – just like the once great philosopher Plato did. And I promise that this picture isn’t edited, it’s shot raw with the iPhone 11 Pro Max night-mode feature. You can definitely see the night sky beautifully at night here, and we highly recommend camping at least one night to witness it.

While we were there, the moon was almost full, so we could see fairly well at night; well enough that we were able to do a few short hikes around the campground without flashlights or other artificial light sources.

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One Punch Man!

Have you seen the rants and raves about the anime One Punch Man? No? It’s fine, I’ll give you a quick summary here!

One Punch Man defeats all of the bad guys in the world by punching them – one impactful time. The anime is a hilarious comedy about saving the world, but looking cool while doing it.

I’ve recaptured in perfect detail how to defeat someone with one punch. Look at my form, and the velocity of punchy-ness. Spot on. I showed that rock who’s boss … and who says that heroes wear capes?

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Petrified Logs

Millions of years ago, it is understood by scientists that the entire valley (and most of the continent) was covered in lakes, trees, and animals. Now, very desolate – as it is now a desert climate – not many trees or animals can be found here. Small bushes are sparse and most animals spend the hot days underground.

A petrified log is just what it sounds like – and it’s kind of freaky too. Instead of being wood like you expect normal trees to be, over time the trees that were found here have transformed into fossils.

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Petrified wood is indeed a fossil, like animals bones. It forms when plant material is buried by sediment and protected from decay due to oxygen and organisms. Then, groundwater rich in dissolved solids flows through the sediment, replacing the original plant material with silica, calcite, pyrite, or another inorganic material such as opal. The result is a fossil of the original woody material that often exhibits preserved details of the bark, wood, and cellular structures.

Some specimens of petrified wood are such accurate preservations that people do not realize they are fossils until they pick them up and are shocked by their weight.

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Petroglyphs

Petroglyphs along the rock faces – expected to have been here for over 2,000 years.

Petroglyphs represent an ancient language of yester-year .

On close inspection, you can see big-horned sheep (I put pictures of some of the sheep we saw in the Atlatl Campground section of this blog), a family or tribe, water, and many other depictions of the natural environment found here thousands of years ago. Scientists have done extensive research here to decode these drawings to understand the people that once lived here.

It makes you wonder what future generations will think of the English language and the notebooks with pen and paper writings we will leave behind.

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Potato Chip Rock?

Someone call Lays … I think their potato chip ran away! What appears to be a distorted sandstone potato chip is actually a very thin rock holding on for dear life. Nature often finds ways to make things uniquely beautiful – all it takes is a little imagination. This is a wonderful depiction of that.

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Our First Slot Canyon

Slot canyons are a fun phenomenon commonly found out west. Being from the east coast, our tourist hearts leapt for joy when we found this one along the White Dome trail. Simply put, slot canyons are spaces between two rock faces where the rock on each side narrowly misses touching each other. They’re nature’s playground and many enjoy hiking, climbing, and squeezing through these tight spaces. Sometimes you can find hidden areas to explore like waterfalls or caves.

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Luckily for our first, this one was pretty easy to walk through and only required a few side-steps near the end – no squeezing necessary. Although, it was beautiful every single step of the way and we enjoyed geeking out over the rock stratification. Something about looking up and only seeing a narrow stretch of blue sky is mesmerizing.

The entrance to the slot canyon

So … You Made it Through the Fire?

Valley of Fire State Park got it’s name for obvious reasons – it’s hot, the sandstone is bright red, and at sunset the entire place glows a warm red, as if the valley were on fire. But there’s something else hidden in this valley.

It’s sense of whimsy, of curiosity, and child-like play around every corner. Each turn of the trail beckons, “What will you discover next?” There’s incredible vistas, slot canyons, dry falls, petroglyphs, towering bee hives, unique plants, rock formations, miles of hiking trails, and incredible creatures to discover.

We often say that nature is mankind’s’ playground and this park has been one of the coolest we’ve explored so far. If you’re in the Las Vegas area, step away from the glitz and development and see what lies just an hour up Interstate 15. It makes sense that over half a million people visit each year to discover the wonder of nature within – and we’re glad we got to be some of them.

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