The Great White North

After an exciting trip to the Vegas Strip, we found ourselves back in Texas just in time to celebrate my sister’s graduation from her master’s program! My parents, close family friends (whom we had seen just a couple of weeks earlier), and I all gathered for dinner to honor Annie’s incredible accomplishment. Moments like these are especially meaningful to me because family has always been such an important part of my life. After being on the road for so long, spending quality time with loved ones felt like a much-needed treat. 

But as December crept closer to the holidays, it was time to hit the road again. We had to make our way back home in time for Christmas—a cherished tradition in Jill’s family where all her siblings gather under one roof, at least for the day. To kick off this leg of the journey, we left Texas at a brisk 4 a.m. to drop my dad off at the Dallas airport—a chaotic experience, thanks to the airport’s confusing layout. Once that was sorted, we hit the road for Oklahoma. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, I came down with the worst migraine of my life. In hindsight, I think it was a 24-hour flu. We found a random park outside Oklahoma City where I called in sick to work and took a much-needed nap. Meanwhile, Jill walked Bear, doing her best to steer clear of my misery. 

If you remember, I promised to share the highlights and challenges of van life—and this was definitely one of those low points. When you’re sick, living in a van feels especially tough. Jill will tell you I’m not the best patient when I’m under the weather, and she’s probably right. In moments like this, the ups and downs of van life are magnified. When things are great, you feel unstoppable, soaking in the stunning views and loving life on the road. But when you’re stuck in a noisy parking lot, feeling miserable, it can feel like the universe is kicking you while you’re down. 

Thankfully, painkillers and rest came to the rescue. After a quick stop at the store and a good dose of downtime, I started to feel better. We decided to splurge on a hotel near Wichita to take a break from parking lot slumber. It was a welcome change, though juggling all the luggage plus Bear and our cat into the room was its own kind of headache. Still, nothing beats a real bed and a private shower—both luxuries when you’ve been living on Planet Fitness showers and the tiny one in the van. Feeling refreshed, we got back on the road, making our way through Kansas City with a routine of working during the day and driving either before or after. A few days later, we crossed into Wisconsin. Pro tip: If you’re driving through Wisconsin, stick to the speed limit—trust me, there are cops everywhere. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way. 

We stopped at a rest area near Madison, which had a lovely walking path for Bear while I worked. One thing about van life in winter—you always have to keep an eye on the weather. A winter storm advisory was looming just before we were set to arrive at Jill’s parents’ house. To beat the storm, I left work early, and we hit the road once again, driving through Oshkosh and Appleton before crossing into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Thankfully, we avoided heavy snow and arrived safely, ready to hunker down and enjoy Christmas with Jill’s family. 

After a week of visiting, it was time to head south to celebrate Christmas with my family. Living in a van during a Michigan winter comes with its own set of challenges, and we quickly learned how cold it can get. Fun fact: water freezes at 32°F—something we became all too aware of when our gray water tank (used for washing dishes) wasn’t fully drained and froze solid. The pipes backed up, leaving our sink unusable. Thankfully, we were still at my mom’s house, so we got to spend more time with her and even celebrate my birthday at home! 

Once we sorted out the freezing issue, we knew it was time to find somewhere warmer. Tennessee seemed like the perfect choice—it was a short drive, we had family there, and it rarely gets below freezing. Except, of course, for the one or two times a year when it does snow. Naturally, one of those rare snowstorms hit right after we arrived. Thankfully, we got to my Aunt Bobbi’s house just before the snow and ice came down, and we waited it out until everything melted a couple of days later. 

After our brief stay in Tennessee, we decided we needed to settle somewhere warmer for the rest of the winter. Arizona seemed like the ideal destination, and Jill wanted to start working, both to meet people and get more immersed in the area. She landed an interview much faster than we expected, so we made a straight shot on I-40 toward Flagstaff. And just like that, we left the snowy North behind! I’ll wrap it up here, but I want to thank everyone following our journey. If you enjoy this type of content, feel free to keep up with us on Instagram and TikTok at @bugandbeartravel and @jillsweet97!