Event Spotlight: #FeedYourSoul with Door Dash

Music, yoga, tacos + drinks galore!

This day was a special one, as Austinites came together for food, friends, and fun, all for a great cause!

Bright and early on January 26th, DoorDash hosted #FeedYourSoul at Wanderlust Yoga that included a free yoga class with celebrated instructor, Zoe Welch followed by tasty breakfast tacos from Taco Ranch, fresh juices from Juice Society and coffee from High Brew. Here at Vannagram, we are pro #selfcare, and we were happy to entertain attendees, as the line to get into the event was wrapped around the block!

LOVED seeing our girls Rachel + Shayda

In addition to the soulful stretches with Zoe, the FREE event featured a trendy gift bag from DoorDash including a JADE yoga mat, Outdoor Voices swag, a custom YETI water bottle, a 5-second journal, and more! We can see why so many Austinites were up with the sun for this event!

The festivities didn’t stop there, though. The party continued into the evening as Door Dash hosted a night of doing good at Clive Bar, bringing people together to raise money and support the most extensive hunger-relief charity in Central Texas: The Central Texas Food Bank.

If live music by Walker Lukens and Black Joe Lewis + tasty tacos weren’t great enough already, the event served up delicious pizza pie by Flying Pizza, custom screen printed t-shirts, and a chance to win fabulous raffle prizes. Not to mention, our chief smile maker, Emily, was there with #AnnatheVanna to give folks the opportunity to smile big in our bus! The event suggested a $10 donation + encouraged attendees to bring canned goods to donate to the Central Texas Food Bank as well.

@atasteofkoko looking stunning in front of #AnnatheVanna

By the end of the day, we were craving something fast + hot so we ordered Door Dash direct to the bus at the event!

It was the perfect end to a fun day benefiting such a wonderful cause and we were honored to be apart of it!  

Download the Door Dash app to enjoy $1 delivery fees for your first month + order from 100s of local restaurants in Austin! 

T E X A S - S I Z E D TAILGATE GIVEAWAY Recap

What marks the start of fall better than a good football tailgate?! Back in October, we hosted a TAILGATE GIVEAWAY of Texas-sized proportion. This giveaway included ALL of the good things you would need for a football-filled Saturday in September here in Austin, Texas.

The prizes for this tailgaters dream giveaway were two tickets to the fabulous Hotel Ella fancy tailgate, a seafoam YETI cooler (yes, the perfect color to match our beloved Anna the Vanna!), a bottle of Nine Banded Whiskey, and two (2) of the chicest custom hand-dyed and embroidered burnt orange bandana neck scarves from Elizabeth Volk Design! It was the perfect kick off for the cooler fall-like weather and Longhorn winning streak!

The rules of the contest were simple: Vannagram fans who entered the contest were instructed to “like” the initial photo that introduced the giveaway, as well as follow our account + the accounts of our lovely sponsors, @yeti @hotelella @ninebandedwhiskey @elizabethvolk. They were then required to tag two of their football-loving friends on our photo. For an additional entry, they were given the opportunity to repost our photo on their instagram story and tag us! The contest started on October 5 and ended on October 11, just in time for the pre-UT vs Baylor game!

BIG THANKS to all of you who took time to participate in our contest and your enthusiasm for our giveaway! We had so many entries it was hard to keep up! Congratulations to our winner, Elizabeth Hughes (@e_v_hughes) [pictured below with all of her loot]!!

Also, a very special thank you to our sponsors, Hotel Ella, YETI, Nine Banded Whiskey and Elizabeth Volk Design for helping us give away a football fan’s ultimate prize package!

All photos taken by Mary Kathryn Ferguson

Collaboration: Best Texas Road Trips

We've taken Anna the Vanna to every corner of the U.S. and beyond, so we know a thing or two about road trips. There's nothing better than hitting the road with the radio up, windows down, and some great company in the passenger seat! 

While we have traveled via van to some beautiful places across the U.S. and abroad, we must admit that we have some pretty spectacular sites and varied landscapes in our own backyard, here in Texas! Palo Duro Canyon was our last stop on our long road trip and it is one that won't be forgotten, maybe because we have a large photo in our house of our bus at the canyon underneath the dazzling Texas star-studded sky! It doesn't get enough credit for it's beauty and we didn't realize until visiting that it is the second largest canyon in the country next to the Grand Canyon. 

When it comes to road tripping, the Lone Star State has no shortage of amazing places to visit. We've teamed up with a few of Austin's top creatives for a look into their favorite places to travel in Texas. Read on for recommendations by Chelsea Francis, Jake Pritchard, Jane Ko and Travis Hallmark! 

Chelsea Francis | Photographer, Connector, Creative
@ohhhchelsea

When it comes to taking a roadtrip in Texas, I've found that some of the most beautiful gems lie within the state lines. One of my favorite places to visit is Big Bend National Park. I visited Big Bend last year for the first time. It was my first National Park and I was absolutely hooked. Big Bend is naturally stunning + incredibly vast. You could visit 10 times and have a different experience each time. I definitely recommend driving the scenic byway and hiking a few trails! 

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Jake Pritchard | Co-Founder of Adventure Assist
@adventuringjake

My favorite Texas road trip destination has to be the mythical, art filled town of Marfa. I love Marfa mostly for its raw simplicity mixed with modern art and design, but can’t help get a kick out of the genuine quirkiness of the tiny desert town. Plus, the 6 1/2 hour drive through Texas hill country from Austin is actually really nice, and not complete without a stop for a quick dip at the springs in Balmorhea and coffee at Cedar Coffee Supply in Alpine. 

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Koko | Food and Travel blogger, A Taste of Koko
@atasteofkoko

I really love Fredericksburg in the fall when the leaves have changed colors and the weather is cooler to explore the wineries. Stay at the Das Peach Haus farmhouse, taste the wine at the local Texas wineries like Four Points Cellars, and dine at Airport Diner, Burger Burger, and Otto's German Bistro.

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Travis Hallmark | Photographer
@travishallmark

Being a photographer and a competitive cyclist I’ve found one of my favorite road trip spots nestled deep in the heart of West Texas at Palo Duro Canyon. With miles of red dirt, you can't help but feel like you’re smack dab in the middle of a John Wayne film. Most of my time spent out there is exploring the miles of trails that weaved throughout the canyon. From rattlesnakes and bighorn sheep to storms rolling through, this place never leaves you bored. Finish a long day of riding with a latte or cold beer at a craft coffee shop and tap house.  

Help Us Help Others!

We were absolutely heartbroken when we heard the news and saw images of the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, leaving many of our friends, family and neighbors in southeast Texas without power, cars, homes and basically losing almost every possession they owned. It is mind-blowing to see how one storm could cause so much damage to a city as big and powerful as Houston. The smaller surrounding cities and gulf coast were hit just as badly, many without the resources to help rebuild their city as quickly as Houston. 

With Hurricane Irma barreling through the Caribbean and most of Florida this week, many of the relief organizations have been inundated with calls, trying to keep up with responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Irma in a two-week time frame.  

I am sure many of you, like me, felt compelled to help those in need but was not sure where to start. Below are a few suggestions on how you can make a difference - in big and small ways. Every little bit of effort helps and appreciated so do what you can and show up for the people and the community you love.

MAKE A MONETARY DONATION:

 Americares is providing emergency health care access in Texas for Harvey victims, is also partnering with health centers in Florida along Irma's path.

The crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe, has designed a landing page that aggregates all campaigns created by and for Florida victims as well as relief efforts in the Caribbean. Hurricane Harvey also has a similar page where people can donate to a direct-impact fund or create their own fundraisers. 

Habitat for Humanity is working with its local offices in Florida and the Caribbean to inspect damage from Irma. The group is helping families clean up after both Harvey and Irma and will help with rebuilding efforts. Donations can be made at habitat.org/hurricanes or by calling 1-800-HABITAT.

Make a donation to one of the many schools in the Houston area that were damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Many of the flooded schools had to relocate to new campuses so funds raised will go towards purchasing new supplies, books and classroom materials as well as aide in helping the school's families and staff with personal recovery efforts. You can donate to some of the districts that got hit the hardest: Katy ISD Education Foundation, KIPP Houston Public Schools or Houston ISD Foundation.

Donate to the Houston Food Bank and designate your donation specifically for disaster relief. The Houston Food Bank’s greatest need is for funds that will help provide relief and continue recovery efforts. Donations will be used for disaster relief until this year’s needs are met, and the remaining funds will support ongoing hunger-relief efforts.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity established by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Ed Emmett when they received an overwhelming response from citizens and companies who want to help aid in Hurricane Harvey relief. The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund will accept tax-deductible flood relief donations for victims affected by the recent floods.

Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based disaster relief group, offers a wide variety of ways to lend a hand from sending a check to donating air mileage.

PayPal has also launched a disaster relief campaign and says it will waive processing costs to ensure that 100% of donations go toward the effort. The company, which is also running a campaign for Harvey, is a sponsor of a telethon called Hand in Hand – A Benefit for Hurricane Relief. It aired Tuesday evening on multiple networks and feature more than 40 celebrities. 

And Pet Smart Charities says it has committed $1 million in grant funding to help pets and pet families in need after Irma and $2 million to Hurricane Harvey relief. Shoppers also can donate to hurricane relief efforts at PetSmart stores.

Make a donation to the Rebuild Texas Fund, which was created by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in collaboration with the OneStar Foundation. The four focus areas of the fund include health and housing; schools and child care; workforce and transportation; and capital for small businesses. The Dells are working to raise a total of $100 million for the long-term relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts for all affected communities in Texas. Google will match the first $500,000 of donations through a pledge challenge. Volunteers from Google's Austin office and TEGNA employees will staff the phone banks at select station locations across the state. 

The Red Cross, says it has mobilized its second massive hurricane response in two weeks and is providing critical aid for Irma and Harvey victims. 

The Salvation Army has mobilized Harvey and Irma relief teams to provide meals, shelter and emotional and spiritual care, the organization says.  

Retailer Target has pledged up to $1 million for Hurricane Irma relief. The donation is in addition to the $3.5 million the company committed last week to Hurricane Harvey assistance. Target says the money will benefit the store's team members affected by the storms and other national and international relief organizations.

The American University of Antigua has created a fund specifically for the battered nation of Barbuda to provide food, water and medicine in addition to longer-term recovery assistance. All donations to this fund will be matched by AUA, the university says. 

Finally, make sure your money is going to a reputable organization. Unfortunately there are some charities out there who try to take advantage during needy times. Check out Charity Navigator, a watchdog that appraises trustworthy charities based on their tax filings. You can find the approved list of where to donate for Hurricane Irma victims here and to Hurricane Harvey victims here. The group of analysts advises people to research relief organizations before making a donation.

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME: 

Volunteer with the Houston Food Bank. Please register first to make sure you have a productive experience. 

Volunteer shifts apply, open daily (including Sunday and Labor Day)
Morning:     Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to noon
Afternoon:  Monday-Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Evening:      Monday-Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.

Become a disaster volunteer with the Red Cross and help assist in the efforts for Hurricane Harvey and Irma relief. 

Walk a dog, feed a cat or help clean out kennels at your local animal shelter that has taken in displaced pets and animals from the storms. Here in Austin and on the ground in Houston, Austin Pets Alive! has taken in over 2,000 animals with the number of dogs in foster to have tripling and the number of cats in foster to have doubling in size. Consider fostering or adopting an animal. With more animals than ever in APA!'s care, this is the perfect time to offer a forever home to a pet in need. 

Deliver meals for Meals on Wheels. The disabled and elderly are hit hard when a major disaster like this happens because they might not have any means to escape from their houses and find a refuge from the storm or they might not know who to call for help. Last week we saw the need for drivers to deliver meals to Meals on Wheels clients in the Greater Houston area so we stepped up and drove to Houston to fulfill a delivery route. Many of the normal delivery drivers had also been effected by the storm and were unable to pick up their normal routes, which meant that those clients weren't going to receive their meals for the weekend. 

DONATE GOODS OR SERVICES: 

Join Airbnb and help to host a refugee who is in need of shelter during this transitional time. This community of hosts are providing free accommodation to those in need. When you provide temporary shelter to evacuees, you’re helping to rescue and rebuild lives.

The Houston Food Bank is in desperate need of the following items: 

• Canned ready-to-eat items with pull tops: vegetables, fruit
• Protein in pouches or pull-top cans: tuna, beef stew, chili, canned chicken
• Peanut butter
• Snacks: granola bars, breakfast bars, etc.
• Toiletries
• Paper goods
• Diapers
• Cleaning supplies: mops, mop buckets, brooms, bleach wipes, bleach, garbage bags, bug spray

Drop off curbside at 535 Portwall
Now until further notice
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday

If you don't live in Houston, you can always purchase through Amazon and have your donation sent to their the Houston Food Back Warehouse at the above address,  

Donate supplies to the Refugee Services of Texas-Houston. A list of supplies needed by this charity, which provides resettlement services to refugees and other displaced persons in the Houston area, can be found on their Amazon wish list. Needed items range from dictionaries to coffee filters.

Many HISD families have been devastated by the catastrophic flooding in the Houston area caused by Hurricane Harvey, and HISD welcomes assistance from national groups or corporations that would like to help our students recover and prepare for the coming school year.

The district is accepting donations of new and unused clothing, shoes, underwear, socks, uniforms and school supplies, as well as canned food and water.

Donations can be shipped to:

HISD Harvey Donations
Delmar Fieldhouse
2020 Mangum Road
Houston, TX 77092

ATTEND A FUNDRAISING EVENT IN YOUR AREA: 

Just on the heels of the George Strait & Friend Benefit Concert is the Harvey Can't Mess With Texas Concert benefiting the Rebuild Texas Fund at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin on September 22nd. C3 Presents is of course in on the action pulling in some stellar headliners such as Willie Nelson, Leon Bridges, James Taylor, Paul Simon and many more! The Rebuild Texas Fund is an amazing organization created by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in collaboration with the OneStar Foundation. The four focus areas of the fund include health and housing; schools and child care; workforce and transportation; and capital for small businesses.

Check your local newspaper or online publication for events that are donating proceeds to relief efforts. Here is a link to many fundraising events going on here in Austin. 

LET US NOT FORGET THAT THERE ARE OTHERS IN NEED:

Also, we should not forget the disastrous fires that are blazing cross in the Pacific Northwest. Below is list of ways that you can help with relief efforts. 

The Community Foundation of North Central Washington is collecting donations for victims of the fires through the Chelan Valley Fire Relief Fund. Visit cfncw.org/fire or call 509-663-7716.

Okanogan County Community Action Council is providing aid for immediate needs such as gas, food and shelter. Visit occac.com or call 509-422-4041.

The Salvation Army office in Wenatchee is collecting money to aid fire victims. Visit salvationarmynw.org or call 800-SAL-ARMY (designate gift for “Northwest fires”).

The Red Cross is accepting donations for wildfire-disaster relief, which allows it to set up shelters and provide quick help. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10.

The United Way of Chelan and Douglas counties is taking donations through its Sleepy Hollow fire-relief fund. Visit uwcdc.org or call 509-662-8261. Donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 488, Wenatchee, WA 98807.

The Missoula United Way has set up a fund to aid those affected by the Rice Ridge Fire near Seeley Lake, and a fund for evacuees from the Lolo Peak Fire. You can contact the Missoula United Way at 406-549-6104.

The 406 Family Aid Foundation was formed "To aid persons and their families in Western Montana who are experiencing financial hardship caused by unforeseen illness, complications of a previous illness, loss in a family or natural disaster.” They're accepting donations for Lolo Peak Fire evacuees at www.406familyaidfoundation.org.

Garfield County Fire Foundation Relief Fund has been set up to help victims of the Lodgepole Complex, Montana's largest fire this year, which burned nearly over 270,000 acres in Eastern Montana. You can donate online at  https://fundly.com/garfield-county-fire-foundation

Checks can be made to Garfield County Fire Foundation c/o Garfield County Bank PO Box 6, Jordan, MT 59337 (406-557-2201) or send to Circle c/o Redwater Valley Bank, PO Box 60, Circle, MT 59215 (406-485-4782).

The American Red Cross of Montana has opened 10 shelters for fire evacuees in Montana this year, including for Sunrise Fire evacuees near Superior, and evacuees from Seeley Lake. You can donate online at http://www.redcross.org/local/montana  or call 800-272-6668

American Red Cross said the public can donate on their website under Oregon Wildfires of Local Red Cross. or by calling 503.528.5634.

The Hood County Search and Rescue and Friends of the Columbia Gorge are also accepting donations on their website.

There’s been a GoFundMe campaign set up to help the Oregon Firefighters Association that people can send donations. Here’s the link.

Have a cause that you are particularly passionate about to help with Hurricane Harvey and Irma relief efforts or the fires in the Pacific Northwest? Share the non-profit you are contributing to and why you feel that it is a great charitable cause to support in the comment section below. 

Road Trip Essentials

We're continuing our road trip series with a list of all the essentials you'll need to take on the open road this year. ATX is full of amazing retailers like Stag and the Yeti Flagship that'll have your entire packing list covered. Read on to view our top picks for your suitcase!

1. Herschel Supply Co. Little America Poly Backpack in Navy, available at Stag
Whether you're hiking the wilderness or exploring a new city, this backpack combines fashion and functionality to give you all the storage you need while staying stylish.

2. Adventure Assist Travel Journal
Created by Austin's own Jake Pritchard and April Onebane (you may know her from of Pieceology Vintage), this beautiful travel-friendly notebook helps organize the most important details of any adventure.

3. Southwest Bandana Ring, available at Bexar Goods Co.
Keep your bandana tied up with this clever hand-sewn leather ring - it's sure to take your 'kerchief game to the next level!

4. YETI Tundra 35 Cooler
Keep your drinks and food cold in the Mother of All Coolers. 'Nuff said!

5. YETI Rambler 20 oz. Tumbler in Seafoam
We get it, you don't always want to share what's in your YETI. Keep your iced tea iced and your hot coffee hot with this tumbler. Plus they are offering it in the limited edition seafoam green color that is pretty close to Anna the Vanna's minty shell!

6. ECOXGEAR EcoPebble Lite Speaker, available at REI
Never be without your road trip playlist! With these bluetooth speakers, you can jam your favorite tunes in any environment.

7. Jack Rudy Jack Pack Cocktail Kit, available at Stag
Who says you can't enjoy craft cocktails on the road? This cocktail kit is small and compact — all you need is whiskey (or your spirit of choice) and you're ready to raise a glass to the open road.

8. Luxe Apothetique Tortoise Shell Sunglasses
Block out the sun in style with these adorable (and affordable) shades.

9. Yellow 108 Eastwood R Hat in Putty, available at Stag
Perfect for guys and gals alike, this hat was inspired by classic Americana films. It may just inspire your next adventure!

10. Vintage Indian Plaid Wool Blanket, available at Stag
Stargaze in the open air or wrap up for a nap in the back seat with this super comfy Indian Wool blanket.

11. Kaliedescope 3" Lockback Knife x Santa Fe Stoneworks, available at El Cosmico Provision Co. 
This functional yet equally artful knife designed by master inlay artist Steve Rosenblum comes in handy on the road when setting up camp and foraging for kindling. 

12. Seattle Sports E-Merse Clear Waterproof Case, available at REI
Capture every moment of your road trip — even if water is involved. It's waterproof technology is guaranteed to protect your phone from the roughest of rapids!

13. Teysha Set Sail Boot
These beautifully handcrafted leather boots are your perfect pair of shoes for adventure. Take 'em on a wilderness walk or wear 'em to dinner. You'll step out in style either way!

14. Dietz Oil Lantern, available at El Cosmico Provision Co.
The oil lantern is the quintessential camping necessity for late night bathroom runs and fireside chats!

15. Keep It Wild Bandana, available at Bexar Goods Co.
Make sure you keep the West Texas dust out of your face with this practical (and stylish!) bandana, plus you'll look cool (and stay cool!) with it tied around your neck!

Best Road Trip Podcasts

Hitting the open road this summer? We’ve curated a list of our favorite podcasts to help pass the time. From true crime stories to a look into the minds of some of the worlds most popular musicians, we’ve got a little something for every interest. Have a favorite podcast that we didn’t list here? Tell us about it in the comments!

When we were on the road driving those long stretches or in South America where we weren't getting any phone service, the podcasts that we downloaded helped make the drive even more of an adventure! You better believe that Sarah Koenig of Serial and This American Life was our narrator while driving on the treacherous, unpaved Pan American Highway! 

And don’t forget the tunes — our Summer Van Jams Spotify playlists will set the mood for an unforgettable road trip.

Call Your Girlfriend

Long distance besties: this podcast is for you! Follow along with BFF's Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman as they keep their long distance relationship alive through recorded phone calls every other week. These ladies are hilarious — from relationships to pop culture and politics, nothing is off limits.

The Moth

This podcast makes you feel things. You’ll either belly laugh until it hurts or be moved to tears by these real stories recited by real people at Moth StorySLAMs. Learn how one man set out to find the perfect girlfriend by reverse engineering OK Cupid’s match algorithm, the way one woman found salvation in swing dancing after her husband’s death, and so much more.

Song Exploder

Calling all music lovers! Listen to musicians like Phoenix, Gorillaz, Sleigh Bells, Chvrches, The Lumineers and Norah Jones pick apart some of their most popular songs and explain how and why they were made. You may just find some new fave tunes to jam on your trip.

My Favorite Murder

Admit it — you love a juicy murder mystery! Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark are true crime fanatics, and every episode they discuss a different murder tale and hear hometown crime stories from their friends and listeners. Don’t worry, it’s not all dark and depressing — Karen and Georgia find a way to twist a little humor into each story.

You Made It Weird

Comedian Pete Holmes interviews actors, musicians, and fellow comedians about the things they’d feel uncomfortable discussing with their parents. Things get hilariously weird, to say the least! They’re long, too — each episode is at least 1.5 hours long, making it the perfect listening material for your next road trip.

Decked Out VW Buses We Love

Ad from the 60's of the VW Camper. 

In a perfect world, we could drive down the west coast in a bright shiny teal VW, with the windows rolled down, blasting Slow Ride by Foghat, and park our bus with its back doors and a big, cozy bed opened to the sun setting across the Pacific Ocean. Well, lucky veedub owners get to live in that world-- or something similar to that variation.

We came across the coolest, most unique, and decked out VW buses whose owners let their creative minds show. Enjoy. 

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The Beach Bus

On our road trip, we cruised through many small beach towns dotted along the Southern California coastline that were littered with VW buses. If we lived in CA, I could imagine that it would be impossible to think of VW buses without thinking of the beach.. Almost every trip down to the beach, surfers prep for their sesh, slapping on Zinka (colored sunscreen), and zipping up their wetsuit in the back of a parked VW bus. VW’s are big enough to load up surfboards and roomy enough to chill in after a long day of surfing or hanging by the beach. 

Surfboards are tied to the top and towels are hung out to dry. 

Why not have a surfboard as a table?

This bus serves as a true tiki bar! Mai Tais anyone?

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A Blast From The Past

Extremely retro and extremely bright, this bus encompasses all that is the 70’s. The classic Jimi Hendrix poster, the all-orange interior, and the hanging pair of fluffy dice really takes you back to the decade of classic rock and hippie vibes. 

The VW bus is an icon of the hippie era and many painted exteriors represent the compelling and psychedelic art, music, and politics from the decade where the U.S. welcomed the love bus. Here are some of the coolest painted hippie buses: 

Retro chic interior!

This bus painted classic rock legends, like Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, and Bob Dylan.

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Cozy Common Areas

Packed with beautifully patterned pillows, blankets, tapestries, and greenery, the interior of these buses is an invitation to get comfortable and cozy up with your friends or significant other. 

Even bloggers have gotten in on the VW craze! California blogger Liz Cherkasova of Late Afternoon Blog owns a blue Westfalia that she calls fittingly, Baby Blue!

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Your Travel Buggie

We came across some buses with decked out living areas that include kitchenettes, couches and even beds that are loaded up in the back. These buses are seriously dedicated to the traveling lifestyle and ensures comfortability and convenience to your next camping destination. 

Wes Vanderson is a quirky little bus with a modern Scandinavian inside, equipped with a kitchen and all!

Birch wood modern kitchen cabinets with little touches of home!

Personalized but organized - everything has it's spot!

The key to having a great travel buggie is to have a comfy spot to rest your head.

This couple has been traveling in their VW bus for over 5 years with two little ones in tow! Follow along with them here: Our Open Road

Having enough spots for storage is an important element to living out of your bus.

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Here are some other appreciated decked out VW’s that we love:

VW turned food truck! Yum!

This was a shot we took on our South American trip - it was a 'completo' food truck which is the Chilean version of our hot dog, but they know how to dress it up with all the fixin's!

The orange hawaiian flowers add a nice, simple touch.

A VW to hold ALL of your friends!

We strongly encourage putting googly eyes on everything. 

Beautiful, realistic clouds are painted all around the bus. 

If you can't go to the desert, might as well paint it on the side of your van!

Obviously, VW owners are dedicated to creating the perfect bus. Whether it’s used for traveling, posting up at the beach, or showing off its beautiful art, the VW bus is personalized to each and every driver. Hopefully, you've either gained insight into the craft of each bus, or maybe, even inspiration for how you'll deck out your VW.  

Make sure to check out Vannagram's Pinterest "VW Love" for more awesome VW buses. 

#VANLIFE

When we returned from our travels, the question we always got was how could you guys live in a van?! What was it like? How did you cook? What did you cook?! Where did you sleep?! Was it comfortable?! Where did you go to the restroom?! This video explains quite a bit of those questions and gives a glimpse into what #vanlife is all about! Check it out!

In 2011, Foster Huntington created the #vanlife Instagram hashtag, and unexpectedly spawned hundreds of thousands of posts and a family of eager followers. It became a community of like-minded individuals who delight in the kind of adventure you can only get by traveling through the wilderness in a clunky, decades-old vehicle.