travel

Home, sweet car. | Part 2: How I Turned My SUV Into A Mini-Camper. / September 10, 2024 by Shana Berenzweig

Palo Duro Canyon State Park Campgrounds | Texas — *Palo Duro Canyon State Park Campgrounds, TX*

This is a looong overdue Part Two of a Two-Part Series.

Read Part One: Why I Turned My SUV Into A Mini-Camper here, and hopefully there’ll be Part Three one day (although, who knows, do people even read blogs anymore?!).

Like many people, I love tent camping, but I’ve also long dreamed of having a little home-on-wheels for longer, more comfortable trips. Also, like many people, this is financially out of reach for me for the foreseeable future.

So, waaay back in the summer of 2019, I got inspired to build a sleeping platform for the back of my SUV. Y’all can read all about why I did this in the first post of the series.

If you search for ‘car camping’ or ‘suv camping’ or something similar anywhere online, you’ll find tons of examples of people building out sleeping platforms, cubbies, kitchens, and other elaborate set-ups in their SUVs, vans, and trucks.

Now, after a ridiculously stupid amount of time of this blog draft just sitting unfinished in my drafts folder, I can add my little, simple DIY to that collective effort.

My perfectly lovely Acura RDX, while great for everyday life and regular roadtrippin’, isn’t exactly the best candidate for this sort of thing, but after researching and talking with others, I got it done with the help from my dad (even though I’m not in any of the pics, I promise I contributed, too!).

A few things before I start…

First, the photographer in me has to say that most of the photos below of building the sleeping platform were taken with my cell phone and aren’t the greatest. It was a very hot summer Texas day and I did not feel like building and worrying about getting the perfect shot.

Second, you’ll need to have and be comfortable with a saw and a drill for this project or know someone who is. While the overall design was mine, as y’all will see, my awesome dad did a lot of the physical work of cutting pieces, as carpentry and DIY projects like this are most definitely not my strong points. One day I hope to be more knowledgeable and comfortable about doing this sort of thing myself, but I also really like doing it alongside my dad and creating those memories at the same time.

I originally built this for my 2017 Acura RDX, but I’ve since moved to a 2021 RDX and had to make a couple adjustments. I’ve also added a sliding tray table, but I’ll get into that more later.

There are resources online that document this process much better than I can, but I hope sharing my experience in any form will be helpful and perhaps inspiring for others.

*Newhalem Creek Campground | Marblemount, WA*

Please bear with me and my descriptions and knowledge. I’ll do my best to try to provide measurements where I can, but in the end the measurements of your specific vehicle will ultimately dictate the design and materials you need. When I was doing research into other people’s set-ups, I quickly realized that the big picture is what mattered most, not necessarily the exact measurements of others.

Before you start cutting and drilling, you obviously need to take your vehicle’s measurements and figure out your sleeping platform design. If you search on the internet or social media, you’ll find lots of examples of how other people did similar builds. The ideas are seemingly endless and you’re bound to find something to spark your imagination for your own vehicle and needs.

A few things to keep in mind while designing your project:

To take the back seats out or leave them in? I needed to leave my seats in for various reasons, so that trumped any desire for more head room and space if I took them out. Your situation may be different though.
How much headroom do you need? I’m not particularly claustrophobic, but I also didn’t want to be sleeping right up against the ceiling. In the end, because of how the platform had to be made in order to make it level, I didn’t have much choice in this area.
Do you want to store stuff underneath the platform? I did, but not so much that I’d compromise on headroom. Ultimately, the height underneath the platform was dictated by the leg height needed to make everything level. It worked out pretty perfectly for me. I have plenty of space for my needs and the spot fits some standard plastic storage bins I already had.
What else is important to you for sleeping and traveling in the vehicle comfortably? For me, it was more important to have as much sleeping room as possible, which meant sacrificing space elsewhere. I also needed room for my dog to sleep as well. For you, that may not be as important as having room for more storage or something else. I recommend laying the seats down and getting in there and really thinking about what’s important and what’s not so much. Besides researching online, talk to others who’ve done similar things or traveled in camper vans, as they’ll likely bring up things you may not have considered before.

I opted for a very simple design for several reasons. For one, my vehicle kinda dictated it. I also wanted something not only relatively easy to build, but easy for me to take in/out by myself and store at home. And if I built something, took it on the road, and hated it, I didn’t want to have spent a lot of time, money, and resources on it.

Materials Used:

Wood – I used about 3/4” piece of plywood for the platform and bought a few other wood pieces, as well as used some scraps we had for the legs and the weight-bearing reinforcement pieces. This will naturally vary depending on your specific needs.
Wood Screws – size will depend on the wood thickness you use.
Wood Glue
Wood sealant and brush

Tools Used:

Marker/Pencil
Saw
Drill and bits
Pocket hole jig
Level
Tape measure
Large clamps
Sandpaper
Velcro

A word about the wood and cutting it. If you don’t have access to a saw, most hardware stores will cut it for you, either for free or a reasonable fee. Policies may vary so they may not cut big pieces, a problem we ran into. And unless you want to make countless trips to the store, like me, try to have every little thing planned and measured out before heading out.

As I mentioned, when I originally built this, I had a 2017 Acura RDX and the seats did not fold down flat, instead there was a slight angle. Not wanting to take the seats out, we had to work around this. In the end it was pretty perfect. We built the platform in 2 pieces adding legs to make it stand level with the seats and so it would rest on top of them. This created a little under 7 inches of space below (6 3/4” to be exact) the platform in the very back, which was more than enough for my needs and allows me to fit various storage boxes and bins underneath. A couple years ago, I added a sliding tray table under one side and I love the increased functionality!

*Love my recently added sliding tray table and wish I had included it from the beginning.*

STEP 1. MEASURE YOUR VEHICLE.

Of course, before you do anything else, you need to get your vehicle measurements and then determine what size your platform will be.

LENGTH: Measure the interior length of your vehicle from behind the front seat (or to wherever you want the platform to extend) to where the platform will end near the back of your vehicle. Don’t forget to take into account the wheel-well and any other structures, as well as make sure the platform doesn’t stick out past the rear doors.

My platform is a total of 57“ long, the front piece is 34” and the back/rear piece is 23” long (full disclosure, I might be off by a few centimeters here or there). I probably could’ve made the overall length a little longer, but it works for me.

Now if you’ve done the math, you might be asking how I fit if the pieces are less than 5 feet and clearly I am taller than that. I’ll get to that.

*Trying to figure out the proper leg height needed to make platform level.*

HEIGHT: Two things will dictate the height of your platform: any structures it needs to clear (like a wheel-well) and the amount of storage space underneath versus head room you want. My SUV’s design dictated this for me. Your vehicle might have more space and thus more flexibility in what you choose. The height of my platform is 6 3/4 inches.

When determining height, consider these questions: Do you want to be able to sit up all the way? Are there particular storage bins or items you want to fit underneath or anywhere in the vehicle for that matter? Don’t forget to account for the height/thickness of your sleeping and building materials. Lay down the seats and get in there and think about what other things you might need to consider.

As you can see in photo below, the RDX 2017’s seats didn’t fold down flat, so the front piece of the platform lays on the seats in front and then there are legs in back that make it level with the back platform piece. When I got the RDX 2021, the seats laid down not quite flat, requiring 5.5 inch legs to be added.

All finished and loaded up. — *Front piece all finished and loaded up.*

WIDTH: If you’ve got a lot of space to work with, you can calculate the width measurement once you know the height of your platform. Think about these things: Do you need to accommodate one person or two? What will you be sleeping on? Foam cut to size, sleeping pads, mattress, something else? For other people, like me, your vehicle is going to determine the width.

My platform is 39'“ wide and as you can see in the photo above, it’s a little smaller than the actual vehicle interior width. Once my “mattress” is in there though, it fills up the whole space. Leaving the extra room on the side is good for a couple reasons: it reduces the likelihood of damaging the interior of my car, and in the back, it allows me store things alongside the platform.

I sleep on a combo of an inflatable backpacking Thermorest sleeping pad, a foam egg-crate folded in half, and a fluffy mattress topper I already had. While I sleep comfortably and will try to get more into my complete set-up in another post, I am considering upgrading to more of an actual mattress at some point soon.

STEP 2. CUT YOUR WOOD PIECES.

My platform is created from two rectangular pieces with leg supports. The leg supports are made from 1.5“ x 1.5” wood and we used a 3/4” piece of wood as an additional support running the length of the platform.

One piece fits the section over the folded down seats, which in order to be level, required it to be on an angle, meeting the smaller piece in the rear.

Since moving to a 2021 RDX, in which the seats do fold down level, I added legs to make both pieces of the platform the same height. Sorry, forgot to take any photos, but it was the same process seen here.

Making the platform legs from a 1.5” x 1.5” piece of wood. — *Making the platform legs.*

STEP 3. MAKE POCKET HOLES + ASSEMBLE THE PLATFORM.

Assemble your platform pieces by applying wood glue to the connecting surfaces, then drill screws into each pocket hole. Evenly space the vertical supports along the length of the platform.

Details of the platform legs. — *Close-up of the platform legs.*

*Vertical support along the length of the platform.*

STEP 4. SAND + SEAL THE PLATFORM PIECES.

Be sure to sand everything really well and then apply a good sealant. The sealant helps protect the wood from humidity, water, heat, etc.

*After sanding both pieces, we sealed them.*

STEP 5. ASSEMBLE PLATFORM, MAKE YOUR BED & HIT THE ROAD.

Load up your mattress, pillows, blankets, and gear, and enjoy your bed and new lil’ home-on-wheels!

When I first built the platform, I left it bare and used an old blanket to cover it. This past year, I covered it in some inexpensive carpet squares, which makes it look so nice, but I still end up throwing an old blanket down to add a layer of protection between my bedding and the platform.

I first planned on securing the two pieces together with hinges. But several years later, the temporary heavy-duty velcro is still going strong and works perfectly for my needs.

*How it looked when first completed in the 2017 RDX, before adding the carpet, sliding tray table, and modifying it with additional legs up front for the 2021 RDX.*

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

After my first trip in 2019, I added this lockable rooftop box which not only frees up space inside, but also allows me to take more gear for longer trips. I also added a sweet lil’ awning and then a couple years ago, I added a sliding tray table which I’ll try to not wait another 5 years to post about.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MOVING FROM THE 2017 TO 2021 RDX

As I’ve mentioned, when I got the 2021, I had to add more legs to level the platform since the seats now folded flat* unlike in the 2017. I didn’t take any photos of that, but we used the same process outlined above.

*The 2021 seats lay almost flat, but not quite. It required 5.5” legs to make it level with the other piece, but your build may be different.

In addition to the legs, we also added another wood support piece in the center of platform like we did on the other piece (I’ll add a photo of it to this post shortly.)

*Close-up of the new legs (and lots of dog hair* 🙈*) to raise and level the front platform piece. This also had the added benefit of creating more storage space underneath that I love.*

*After adding the legs, a support piece up the center was also added.*

*Here's how everything currently looks in the RDX 2021.*

The platform fits more snuggly against the rear wheels now, but it still fits. I do worry a little about the interior fabric getting snagged or something, so just make sure you get good width measurements and don’t go any wider if you’ve also got a 2021. Adding the carpet around the edges also helps in reducing any potential for damage.

The platform could probably be a little longer, but it works for me, as I’m a side sleeper and usually scrunch up smaller than my 5’ 9” frame. Once I get all my bedding in there, it hangs over the edges creating a little more length and I lean the front seats back to create headboard effect.

I’ve seen other platform builds that bridge the gap between front seats and the platform in more creative ways, such as with a third panel that folds up and down. I went simple, but there are so many great ideas out there. Good luck!

*Goodnight from the coast of northern California.*

I’ll work on putting together a little tour of how everything looks all set up nowadays, so check back for that, but considering my blogging track record. that’ll either be within the next month or next year. It’s anyone’s guess.

Simple Tips To Level Up Your Family & Travel Photos | Part 2 / July 13, 2022 by Shana Berenzweig

This post is Part Two of a Two-Part Series. Read Part One here.

I don’t know about y’all but I can’t believe it’s already the middle of July! Hopefully, y’all have been enjoying the long summer days and making memories with your loved ones.

And now I’m back to help y’all beautifully capture those moments.

In case you missed it, in my previous post I gave y’all 10 easy composition tips and now I’m sharing 7 of my simple, go-to, general photography tips to level up your travel and family photos. Try 'em at home, on your next trip, or wherever the next adventure takes y'all.

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE.

First, let’s talk gear. There’s a popular saying in photography that the best camera is the one who have with you. And that couldn’t be more true when it comes to vacation and the everyday moments. Capturing the memories are more important than your gear, so keep it simple and something easily accessible. For most people, this is going to be your cell phone camera, which are really pretty good nowadays.

2. BE PREPARED.

Whatever your camera using - whether a camera phone, a point and shoot, or big ol’ pro DSLR like me — make sure it is handy and ready to go with charged batteries and formatted memory cards.

With an iPhone (not sure about other models), you can add a camera shortcut or widget to your lock screen so you don’t even have to unlock it. This makes it really easy to access the camera. And if you don’t have it handy and ready, how are you going to capture those shots?

3. SWITCH UP YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

Have young kids or pets? Get down to their level and capture the action from there. Try laying down on the ground to see what the world looks like from their perspective. Your subjects will probably appreciate the change as well.

Even if you’re not photographing kids or pets, changing up your position and getting down low can also give you a beautiful foreground in your landscape images and maybe even provide a surface for reflections or simply a new interesting perspective to your images.

After you’ve gone low, try switching things up again and get up high for some images or use a bird’s eye perspective. The thing to remember here is to change things up and try shooting from a different position than you usually do.

4. MOVE YOUR FEET.

Like switching up your perspective, move beyond standard portraits or travel landscapes and shake things up with both wide and detail images. After you grab the “traditional” image/portrait that you’re happy with, take several steps back, look at your surroundings, and see what changes. Sometimes the environment can better tell the story and you can also use it to show relative size.

After you’ve gone wide, move in closer to create a more intimate portrait that keeps the focus on your subject. You can also get creative and photograph any details that you love or capture your eye. Capturing those details will bring you right back to the moment and feelings when you look at the images later.

5. LET THEM BE.

This might be the simplest, yet the hardest one for some people to do — or actually let go of — but just let your people be themselves. How ever — perfect or imperfect — they are in that moment.

Focus on the connection not perfection.

Welcome the real-life moments, alongside the posed ones, and together these will be the images that will matter most a few years down the line.

6. SAVE THE CHEESE AND JUST KEEP IT MOVING.

Trying to capture a portrait of that someone special? Nothing makes a portrait stale faster than keeping your subject frozen in place. Sure they can look at the camera and smile for a few frames, but after that keep it moving and keep people touching and connected.

I often ask my families to run, dance, twirl, tickle, turn the kids upside down or throw ‘em up in the air. I’ll encourage little ones to chase me, photographing them as I run backward. I even do what I can to get my big kids, teens, and adults moving somehow. Not only does this create more interesting images, it also relaxes them resulting in more authentic smiles.

7. DON’T FORGET TO GET IN THE FRAME.

If you’re the family historian and are not careful, you’ll end up not being in a single photo. Not a one.

And even if you think you don’t care now, I promise there will come a day when this changes, or perhaps even more importantly, your kids, family, and friends WILL CARE if you’re missing from these tangible memories.

So please do yourself and the rest of your family a favor and remember to pass the camera off every now and then so you’ll also be in the photo album. Ask your partner/spouse, your kids, a park ranger, a stranger, use a tripod, whatever you need to do to ensure your lovely face is in some photos.

Interested in your own photography session with me?

Get in touch today!

Simple Tips To Level Up Your Travel & Family Photos | Part 1 / July 3, 2022 by Shana Berenzweig

This post is Part One of a Two-Part Series on leveling up your travel and family photos. Read Part Two here.

Now that it’s officially summer, summer, summertime, many of us will be heading out near and far for some much-needed vacation time. After the difficult past few years of covid, lockdowns, hours of trip planning and rescheduling, record-high gas prices, and more, everyone is really gonna want to capture these special memories we’ve worked so hard to create.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you. This will the first in a two-part series on leveling up your travel and family photos.

This first post will focus on using some simple composition tips to elevate your images and help you capture great travel and family photos not only this summer but all year. And good news, these tips apply to photos of people, places, and things, and you can use them with whatever kind of camera you have.

Composition is simply how the key elements or subjects of a photo are arranged and can be made up of many different elements, or only a few, and the goal is to be visually appealing and hold the viewer’s attention.

When you include a Focal Point or Point of Interest in your composition, this gives the viewer a place for their eyes to rest, and without it, your image may not hold their attention. It also gives your photo meaning and intention. So, when taking a photo, always ask yourself:

How can I draw attention to the main subject?
How can I lead the viewer’s eye into and around the image?
How can I eliminate distracting parts of the scene?

Sometimes finding a good focal point is easy and others times you may need to get creative and really look for an interesting subject. Once you’ve identified a point of interest, you can then build your composition around that focal point to draw attention to it.

Now, with these questions in mind, let’s take a look at 10 important elements and techniques of composition to help improve our photos.

1. RULE OF THIRDS

The Rule of Thirds is all about where you put the main elements or focal points in a scene. Using a common compositional technique that divides the frame into an equal, three-by-three grid with two horizontal lines and two vertical lines that intersect at four points. The rule, which really is just a guideline, suggests that the most powerful and aesthetically pleasing areas of the image are the four points where the lines intersect, and that our eyes are naturally drawn to these areas first.

Many digital cameras and phone cameras have a feature that displays two horizontal and two vertical lines to help with composition.

2. BORDER PATROL

This one is about as simple as they get: before pressing the shutter, make sure to look around the borders of your frame, and your main subject, especially if it’s a person, and make sure there are no unwanted objects invading from the edges.

This means any tree branches, light poles, signs, bright colors or light, or other unsightly objects floating around. These invaders become unwanted distractions, and with them being so close to the edge of your photo, they inevitably pull the eye away from what it's meant to be focusing on. Similarly, check the overall background of your image and reduce clutter that may distract the viewer from the main point of interest.

3. RULE OF ODDS

For whatever reason, using an odd number of subjects can also make the image more interesting and aesthetically pleasing to people. There are many times we can use the Rule of Odds to make our images better, especially with objects. By having one or three elements is better than two. It might not seem like such a big change, but I bet that now I’ve put it in your head you will start to notice it everywhere! And how much more pleasing to the eye it is.

4. LEADING LINES

Using leading lines in your composition is a great way of drawing the eye into the image, and when used correctly, one of the most powerful ways to create an image with a really strong visual impact. Roads, paths, bridges, and rivers are commonly used as leading lines.

5. FILL THE FRAME

If the main subject of your photo doesn’t stand out clearly enough against its surroundings, it will lack oomph. One simple way to avoid that is to fill the frame with your subject. This means getting closer so all of the surrounding background is eliminated, making your photos more impactful and intimate. Cutting out unnecessary background detail ensures the subject gets the full attention of the viewer. It also captures more detail and can create some really unique and abstract images.

6. COLOR

Color is another easy way to give your photos more oomph. You can choose to include one or several bold and striking colors to make your subjects stand out. Or you can go for pastel shades for light and airy visuals, or even shades of one color for soothing simplicity. Complementary colors are also great for creating a stunning and well-balanced image; try using a color wheel for help. You may also want to play with color to create interesting images or you can use certain shades to evoke various emotions, such as happiness with bright yellows or pinks and mystery with darker hues.

7. LOOK FOR PATTERNS, TEXTURES, AND SYMMETRY

The human eye has a natural tendency to pick up on patterns, repetition, symmetry, and showcasing geometric shapes or interesting textures can be a very alluring way to pull the viewer in.

8. FRAMING

Framing is just like it sound. Using objects in the foreground, or the part of the image closest to you, you’ll create a “frame” around the main subject and drawing the eye towards it. As well as creating more visual interest, framing adds meaning to a photo as it puts the main subject in context with its surroundings.

9. MINIMALISM + NEGATIVE SPACE

Many times the simplest photos turn out to be my favorite. Minimalism in your images can help to give the viewer a singular point of focus on your subject. Often this means a simple and uncluttered background, which is a great tactic to use in portraiture. Another way to achieve minimalism is through the use of Negative Space, which put simply, is the space around the object itself that helps define the positive space or main focus of the image.

10. BREAK THE RULES + HAVE FUN

Photography is an art, not a science. No matter what I said above, there are no strict rules about what you can and cannot do in photography, instead just guidelines and tips. While they often prove useful in many situations, don’t let them restrict your creativity. If they don’t work in your image, ignore them, experiment, and have fun. But to break the rules you must learn them first. So, study the techniques covered above, practice them until they are second nature, then start breaking the rules and see what happens!

Interested in your own photography session with me?

Get in touch today!

My fave apps for roadtrips and outdoor recreation / June 3, 2021 by Shana Berenzweig

If y’all are anything like me and millions of others, one of the main goals of summer 2021 will be to simply get.out.of.the.house. And after the year and half we’ve had, who can blame us.

So, as I prepare for my own outdoor adventures, I thought I’d put together a quick little post about my favorite apps for making my roadtrips and outdoor experiences safer, easier, and even more fun.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California

STAY

RECREATION.GOV is the best on-the-go app to help find and reserve public campsites for 12 federal agencies, suck as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service. Review upcoming reservations, location details, book campsites, find tickets and tour info, enter lotteries for popular activities, and much more. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

HIPCAMP is kinda like the Airbnb of outdoor experiences - from camping on private vineyards to glamping in cozy cabins, plus it also connects you to nearby state and national park campsites. The app is robust with booking features, filtering, detailed campsite information, and more. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

THE TEXAS STATE PARKS APP is the official guide to finding your perfect outdoor escape in the Lone Start State (and I bet your state has one, too). With features like finding a state park near you, searching by activities, overnight accommodations, or amenities, driving directions, downloading park and trail maps, and more. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

MY FAVE HOTEL CHAIN APP is also on my phone for the occasional nights I do spend at a hotel, which is usually at the start/end of my trips, after long drive days, or when it’s too hot to camp. This is great to have if or when something goes awry with my plans and need to quickly find somewhere else to stay (which has definitely happened a time or three.)

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

RECREATE

THE NPS APP is the new official app for the National Park Service with tools to explore more than 400 national parks across the country. Find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and more. This is a great resource to plan your next national park adventure before and during your trip. One handy feature is the ability to download park info for offline use, but I had problems with app opening without a signal, so until that’s fixed, I’ll have to try to remember to open it up before hand. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

ALLTRAILS is a great app for searching over 200,000 trails, complete with trail info, maps, detailed reviews, and photos curated by millions of experts, hikers, and nature lovers. Since I bring Frankie with pretty much everywhere, being able to search for dog-friendly trails is a must. Free app (with in-app paid features) for iOS + Android devices.

THE OUTBOUND is another fantastic app for outdoorsy folks. Find local adventures, tours, and lodging, all over the world, save your favorites to curated lists, get inspired by unique stories about destinations, travel tips, family travel, and more. Another great app for dog owners with ability to filter for dog-friendly activities. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

FIRST AID BY AMERICAN RED CROSS is actually new to me, but looks like a must-have with valuable info on what to do in any common first-aid emergency and preloaded content for offline use. There are also apps for Pet First Aid, Emergency Weather Alerts, and apps specific for tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.

NATURE

SEEK BY INATURALIST is a fun and educational app that uses the power of image recognition technology to identify the plants and animals around you. Simply point the Seek Camera at a living thing to identify and learn about the plants wildlife, plants, and fungi all around you. Perfect (and safe) for kids of all ages. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

MERLIN BIRD ID is another fun, educational app that identifies birds of North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Answer three simple questions about the bird you’re trying to identify and the app will come up with a list of possible matches and helps all levels of bird watchers to learn about our feathered-friends. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

ON THE ROAD

GASBUDDY is probably an app that most people have heard of, but if not, it’s a great tool for finding real-time fuel prices at more than 140,000 gas stations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Free app for iOS + Android devices.

THE NAVIGATION APPS I use are varied and I three different apps because I haven’t found one that does everything I’d like it to do. So, I like the native iPhone Map app for my actual on-the-road navigation as I prefer how the directions are displayed and how it functions in stand-by mode. I also will use Waze from time-to-time in certain situations, and I like Google Maps for keeping track of all my saved locations and searching for places while I’m out-an-about.

PERSONAL SAFETY as a solo traveler is a top priority, and among other precautions, I always give a loved one my detailed itinerary and I check-in throughout the day and often at a set time. Since there are different options for different situations, I’ve got another post in the works that round-ups some safety-related apps, so stay tuned for that and I’ll update this post as well.

PHOTO

LIGHTROOM is a free, powerful photo editor and camera app, including easy image editing tools like sliders and filters for pictures simplify photo editing. It’s my go-to editing app. Free app (with in-app paid features) for iOS + Android devices.

ALPENGLOW is handy little app to have for checking sunrise/sunset forecasts (although take them with a big grain of salt), quickly getting sunrise, sunset, blue hour, and golden hour times for your location, setup reminders, and more. Free app (with in-app paid features) for iOS + Android devices.

Home, sweet car. | Part 1: Why I turned my SUV into a mini-camper. / August 26, 2019 by Shana Berenzweig

This is Part One of a Two-Part Series.

Read Part Two: How I Turned My SUV Into A Mini-Camper here.

If you’ve been following my Instagram stories, then you know I got back yesterday evening from a big ol’ roadtrip across the southwest and up the west coast with my dog, Frankie. Mostly a vacation, I did work a little while I was gone, and so while I’m doing laundry and downloading all my client sessions to my desktop computer, I decided to throw together some initial thoughts about the camping part of my trip.

First, let’s backtrack a moment.

I love tent camping, but it can also be a lot of work to set-up/break-down camp, particularly by yourself, and let’s face it, it’s not always that fun or comfy, especially when the weather turns. And tent camping by yourself can be scary and leave you feeling vulnerable. So like many people, I’ve long dreamed of having of having a home on wheels for roadtrips and camping.

The reality of my bank account, though, says that’s not happening any time soon without an unexpected financial windfall. This meant I had to get creative and so inspired by the ever-growing ranks of DIY car campers, I decided to build a sleeping platform in the back of my SUV.

I’m working on another post about the actual building of the sleeping platform and the nitty-gritty reality of it all, but until then, this one is more focused on the why I chose to do this and how I feel about it now that I’ve spent 5 nights camping in it.

Like I said above, I really do love tent camping. But doing it alone for multiple nights far from home is another thing. And even though I have tent camped alone a few times, the circumstances were all very different and sleeping in my car felt like the absolute right way to go for me on this trip.

I hoped I would feel much safer as a women traveling and camping alone.

I hoped it would save me time since I wouldn’t have to set up and break down a tent, which would then allow me more time for exploring and relaxing at camp.

I hoped it would be much more comfortable and that I would sleep so much better, which is so important when you’re traveling alone and driving long distances.

I hoped the sacrifices I would make in turning my SUV into camper would be so worth it.

And I was right. All of the above (and more) was true.

I never ever for one moment felt unsafe in the car at night. Same for traveling the road in general. (Working on a blog post about safely traveling solo as a woman, so keep a look out for that.)

Right again about it being a big time saver. It took a day or two to work out what should go where and there was a little bit of a nighttime set-up for the car, but it was nothing compared to a tent and could easily be done in the dark with just a headlamp, which can’t always be said for a tent. This also meant I could get to camp a little later in the day than I normally would since I wouldn’t have to factor in the time and daylight needed for setting up camp, which in turn led to more exploration and relaxation time.

And right again about being super comfy and sleeping well. A couple adjustments after the first night and I was good to go.

There were some sacrifices I had to make, like bringing a smaller cooler since I didn’t have the same space available in the car like on my other long-distance road and camping trips, but they were definitely worth it to have the ability to sleep in the car.

There are some things I will do differently for the next trip. But the important thing is that there will definitely be another trip. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

And that’s the best thing about this little conversion. I already feel way more inspired to go away for a quick camping trip than I ever have before with solo tent camping.

It’s easier and I feel much safer. And those were the two biggest things stopping me before.

Now that I’ve got those problems solved, I can get to making some minor changes, as well as to start saving some money so I can upgrade a few other things, like getting a rooftop cargo carrier to free up room inside and reduce the amount of gear I have to move around.

I’m already planning my next adventure and can’t wait to hit the road again. Until then, stay tuned for more posts in this series about turning my car into a camper.

Riding solo / October 1, 2018 by Shana Berenzweig

“So is it just you and your dog?”

“Where’s your husband?”

“Are you meeting up with friends?”

“Wait, you’re out here all by yourself?”

“I could never do that, don’t you get scared?”

These are just a few of the questions I get asked pretty much every single solo trip I take. Both from well-meaning friends at home and strangers I encounter on the road.

Somewhere in western New Mexico, September 2018

I realize that the vast majority of these people are asking from a place of love and concern. And it is always nice to know people care about you and are interested in your life.

But.

(There’s always a “but,” isn’t there?)

Sometimes it feels like they are projecting their fears, insecurities, and judgements on me.

I’ve written about traveling solo before (here and here), but it feels like society gives women only three options for travel: with a significant other, usually a man; for work; or with friends or family. The notion of solo female travel, even in 2018, still feels radical somehow. Or at least based on the responses I’ve experienced.

Not nearly often enough does someone lead with “Wow, that’s awesome, I’m jealous!” or share their own solo adventures, or something similarly positive. This generally applies to acquaintances and strangers, but either way I wish more folks would start with this sentiment, rather than one that is fear-based.

“Do you have a gun?”

“Do you wear a fake wedding ring so people won’t think you are alone?”

“How can you trust strangers?”

These are a few more of the types of questions I get asked all the time as if I don’t take any precautions when I set out alone. Just because I don’t want fear to control my life, doesn’t mean I don’t take steps to stay safe. For example, I always tell someone my itinerary and check in when I get somewhere. I also always trust my gut and if a stranger’s demeanor is shady or their questions too invasive, I’ll lie about my travel plans and details. Even though I’m a proud independent woman doesn’t mean I am stupid.

But.

(Y’all knew there’d be another “but.”)

I wonder how often a solo man on the road gets asked any of these questions?

Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, Arizona | August 2018

Back soon with more photos from this summer’s epic seven state roadtrip!

Going Solo / June 26, 2018 by Shana Berenzweig

A few weeks ago I finally did something I've been wanting to do for several years.

There will be some who think I'm stupid for doing it. And some who will wonder what the big deal is and why it took me so long.

I went camping alone.

Well, of course Frankie was with me, but that doesn't really count.

The luxuries of car camping. An airbed. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018 — The luxuries of car camping. An airbed. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

My little campsite. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

For those who fall into the first category and think I'm stupid and want to know why in this crazy world I'd even think about camping alone, it's simple.

Bad shit can happen to you at home, crossing the street, at work. Anywhere. You prepare as best you can and then go about living your life. I don't want this sort of fear to stop me from exploring the great outdoors or traveling in general.

The sunrise had the sky shifting in a kaleidoscope of constantly changing colors. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

Because so what if you don't have someone to explore with all the time? Or don't want to wait for when it's a good time for someone else to go? Or aren't in a relationship at the moment? Or what if you have people to go with but just want to get away for some alone time? Are you just supposed to sit at home?

For me, the answer is a big, fat hell no.

I'm not gonna sit around and daydream of going places once I have someone to go with. Or settle for staying in hotel rooms instead of under a blanket of stars. I'm just gonna go if I wanna. It's a place I've found myself in before and already have written about once before.

Thankful for this friend. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

At this point in my life, I'm comfortable doing all sorts of stuff just me, myself, and I, and sometimes Frankie. I hardly even think twice about most of it. I know pretty well what my limits are and how far I can push myself.

Hiking and roadtrips with the doggo? A movie matinee? Eating out? Sure, why not?

Longer trips without said doggo? Parties and networking? Camping? Eh, not so much.

What keeps me from doing certain things by myself naturally depends on the activity. When it comes to camping specifically, my active imagination plays a huge role in keeping me home or in a hotel/motel. Thinking about sinister people, hungry wild animals, breaking my arm, or whatever fantastical scenario that flashes through my head freaks me out safely tucked in bed, so how was I ever going to do it for real out there?

I read some articles specifically by women about women camping alone to try to ease my mind and find some pearls of wisdom. I tried to think about things rationally. I'm doing all sorts of other stuff alone. Why should camping be any different?

I think a big part of it starts in our culture. Being alone is something to be avoided. Something to be ashamed of. Humans are social animals after all and are better off with other people, right?

American society tells us there's something wrong with us when we are alone. Just think of all the stereotypes and tv/movie scenes about the sad-sack eating out by themselves or the crazy old man who lives by himself. Do I even need to mention spinsters and cat ladies?

Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

I find all of this to be especially true for women who travel or go off to explore the great outdoors alone.

The general consensus is that it's not safe to go by yourself. It's risky and stupid. You could fall and break your leg or get your arm pinned under a boulder and have to saw it off with your pocketknife. Not to mention all the sexual predators out there just waiting to pounce on a single lady. All sorts of terrible, horrible things could happen and there would be no one to help.

Or at least that is what society tells us.

But I'm trying hard not to buy into that assumption anymore. And so a few weeks ago, I finally went on a 24-hour solo camping adventure.

And y'all know what? It wasn't scary. Like, at all. No terrible, horrible things happened.

My campsite off in the distance.  Thanks to the 1959 Open Beaches Act, on many Texas beaches you can drive.  I've got mixed feelings about this, but for this camping trip it was great. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018 — My campsite off in the distance. Thanks to the 1959 Open Beaches Act, on many Texas beaches you can drive. I've got mixed feelings about this, but for this camping trip it was great. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

Instead I felt a tremendous sense of pride and confidence in myself. That warm, fuzzy, I-can-do-that feeling when you face new challenges and conquer fears, and learn you are stronger than you thought. It was an excellent exercise in independence and self-discovery.

And I can't wait to go again sometime. Especially back to the beach. I'm sure there will be moments of fear and they all won't be as easy as this one, but just taking that first step was huge for me and what I'm capable of accomplishing.

My shadow and me. And a very rare selfie the morning after. I look mad but I wasn’t, I promise.| Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

I thought I'd shoot more while I was there, but I found myself content just sitting in the moment. Listening to the crash of the waves. Watching the birds. Taking deep breaths of humid, salty air.

And no camera between me and any of it.

First light. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

This is just a little peek at my adventure. I'm also working on putting together a post with some solo camping tips and gear just in case I've inspired one of y'all to camp solo sometime. But seeing how I'm still not very good at this whole blogging thing, I can't make any promises.

Brown pelicans get in formation. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

The beach was covered with these teeny tiny shells. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

Beach color palette. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

We heart the National Park Service and wish more of the big official parks were doggo-friendly (although we get, begrudgingly, why they aren't).  Thankfully many of the national monuments and 'lesser' parks in the NPS are welcoming to pups. | P… — We heart the National Park Service and wish more of the big official parks were doggo-friendly (although we get, begrudgingly, why they aren't). Thankfully many of the national monuments and 'lesser' parks in the NPS are welcoming to pups. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

We had the beach to ourselves. | Padre Island National Seashore, Texas | June 2018

On the way to Padre, I drove thru Rockport, one of the hardest hit areas by Hurricane Harvey almost a year ago. While they have come so far, there was sadly still a lot of rebuilding to do. | Rockport Texas | June 2018