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California Wine Road Trips

We’re incredibly lucky to have one of the top locations in the world for wine tasting right in our own backyard. When people think of the best vineyards, they think of California. And why not? California boasts cozy caverns, scenic vineyards, and more than 50 types of grapes. What better way to tour the top California wine regions then in an RV. Your home away from home is ready and waiting.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
When most people think of So-Cal they think of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu. For the wine lover, winemaking has been taking place in these wine regions since the late 1700s. Grab some lunch and road trip up to the high elevation wineries in Malibu. Elevations range from sea level to 3,111 feet at Sandstone Peak. The newly granted Malibu Coast AVA is mainly in the Santa Monica Mountains and is about 46 miles long and 8 miles wide and includes 198 acres of vines for 52 grape growers. The high elevation in this region’s climate, soils, and unique aspects affect the taste of the wine produced. Why does this matter? It matters because the combination produces the delicious wine we know and love in Malibu.

Malibu Wine Road Trip

While driving along the coast, don’t forget to stop by Mission San Diego de Alcala, as they are home to the oldest grapes in California. About an hour northeast of San Diego, off the beaten path, you can stumble upon Temecula. Best known for their Italian and Rhône varietals and the annual Balloon and Wine Festival. The Cucamonga Valley should also be on your hit list. Famous for preserving the past with historic vineyards and ranches and their old-vine Zinfandel and Port-style wines.

Hot air balloon being filled with flames to create heat. Man on the left operating the hot air dispenser. Image is in full colour.

HIGHWAY 1 – THE CENTRAL COAST.
If you’re doing a California road trip, how can you not drive highway 1? The coastal ocean views, the winding road, the wine along the way. Starting in LA, a quick two-hour drive north make sure to stop downtown Santa Barbara for lunch and visit beautiful State Street and sample some of the regional wines at one of the street’s many tasting rooms. From there head inland. The Paso Robles wine region is unique as the day/night temperature swings create bold red wines that are a must. Paso Robles is about halfway between LA and San Fran.

Continue heading north towards Monterey and stop by A Taste of Monterey, the region’s official wine visitors center. You can learn all about Monterey Bay’s unique landscape and how it affects the vineyards, sample the region’s wine, and maybe spot the whales migrating.

SAN FRANCISCO.
Next stop, San Fran. Home of amazing restaurants, fresh local foods, and the urban wine movement. During the day, wine and dine on Fisherman’s Wharf, then head to Jackson Square and sample wines at the various wine bars downtown.

NAPA VALLEY.
Any road trip that’s centered around wine tasting isn’t complete without stopping in Napa Valley. Just an hour northeast of San Francisco, start the day wandering downtown Napa and enjoy some local wines at the Oxbow Public Market. Head up Highway 29 to fill your sights with what Napa Valley has to offer, stopping at renowned wineries for tastings. Keep an eye out for the landmark sign “Wine is bottled poetry” as quoted by Robert Louis Stevenson after a visit to Napa Valley in the 1880s. Known for its life-change Cabernet, Napa Valley boasts tiered hillsides, wine caverns, and illustrious estates, making for stellar scenery every wine lover will swoon over.

Napa Valley Wine Country Road Trip

SONOMA COUNTRY. 
Sonoma Valley, also known as Valley of the Moon offers a bit more laid back atmosphere in comparison to Napa Valley. However, there are still more than 400 wineries with some of the best being: Chateau St. Jean, Simi, Sebastiani, Rodney Strong, Marcassin, Paul Hobbs, La Crema, and Kistler. The Sonoma Valley is known for its cool-climate Pinot Noirs. Be sure to taste a variety. While in the valley, Sonoma Plaza lies in the heart and offers a historic view of the country.

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Cross Canada Adventure

Driving across Canada has been on my bucket list for years. There is just so much open space and each province seems to offer a different view. Taking the Trans Canada Highway is one of those must-do adventures.

Small Town in Nova Scotia
Lighthouse in Nova Scotia

The east coast offers gorgeous views and boasts some of the best fish and chips that can be found. Don’t forget to pop into a few local restaurants to try the catch of the day.

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal is one of those cities that is unique to Canada. They speak a different language, have the best poutine (a must-try when visiting Canada), and has a culture that is so open to community, music and the arts. Be sure to check the events calendar to see what is going on in the city as you’re passing through.

Toronto Graffitit Art
Toronto CN Tower

Toronto, it’s one of my favorite cities. The food, the sights, the different cultural districts, The CN Tower, the Skydome (yes, I’m still calling it the Skydome), the museums, the nightlife, the life, the city of love.

Niagara Falls is also one of those places that is worth the detour off of the Trans Canada to see. The small town is quaint and the falls are boastful.


Moose in Algonquin Park

If you’re looking for a place to camp or do some canoeing on your trip, Algonquin Park is the place to stop.

Driving through Northern Ontario Canada

Continuing on the drive, northern Ontario is an experience with the twisty, rolling hills and colorful rocks. Just beware of the type of year as the bugs can be out of this world! Stopping in Sudbury to check out the Big Nickel and grab some lunch is also a great treat.

Saskatchewan Prairies
Endless Prairies in Saskatchewan

Manitoba and Saskatchewan offer golden fields that stretch for miles. Cities pop up out of nowhere and you really start to feel how much land Canada has to offer.

Driving through the Rocky Mountains
Turquoise Lake Louise, Alberta

Alberta offers your first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. They are an eye-opener. Towering in the background as you come upon them. Stopping in Lake Louise and Banff are a must. The ski towns offer year-round adventures and standing in the mountains is an experience that must be done!

Driving through Rogers Pass
Glacier National Park Bear Creek Falls

The drive between Calgary, Alberta and Revelstoke, British Columbia through Glacier National Park, and Rogers Pass is my favorite stretch of the Trans Canada Highway. There’s just something about driving through the mountains that speaks to me. There’s nothing else like it.

Towering Mountains in Revelstoke, BC

If you’re looking to have a meal on the top of a mountain, stopping in Revelstoke and visiting Mount Revelstoke National Park is a must. You can drive almost to the top and walk the last 1 km to summit the mountain. At the top, there is a short half-hour hike through Meadows in the Sky that provides views of the mountain ranges that are a must-see.

Taking the ferry to Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Completing the coast to coast journey, taking the ferry to Victoria, BC is a must. The island is gorgeous and if you keep a lookout you can see the whales playing in the water beside the ferry. It’s a perfect way to finish off an unforgettable trip!

What is your favorite stretch of the Trans Canada? We’d love to hear all about your adventures! And don’t forget to enter our photo contest for a chance to win a $100 gift Amazon gift card! Just send in a photo of you camping or RV’ing for your chance to win!

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Tips and Tricks for Off the Grid Rv’ing

One of the best things in life, I find, is getting outdoors. Seeing and surrounding yourself with nature. It’s uplifting, energizing, and extremely peaceful. People are generally happier in nature and actively seek out the cottage lifestyle to get away from the busy buzz of the bright city lights.

Being surrounded by lakes, mountains, trees, wherever you are, I always feel the need to leave everything as it is while I spend my time outdoors. As traveling is such a passion, what better way to travel through nature than by unplugging and going completely off-grid? There are no distractions, you can soak in the stars and learn to truly appreciate your surroundings.

So, what are some tips and tricks to going Off the Grid, Boondocking, Off the Cord, Dry Camping, or a favorite of mine, Wild Camping (because camping in the wild… fun!)?

How to Take Yourself Off-Grid?

Off the Grid RV'ing

Electricity
Although it would be ideal to not have to use electricity at all, working from the road is often a reality, as are many of the niceties that come in an RV. I’ve found that solar is the best bet for generating electricity. Solar panels aren’t too finicky anymore and for those just starting out, there is a range of portable ones that will suit just fine. Also, switching to LED lights and energy-efficient appliances is a big help on the electricity drain.

Water
Drinking-Water: Clean drinking water is the most important necessity to have while traveling. Investing in a purifier can be a game-changer and provide easy access to clean water if you are uncertain about the quality.

Showering and Faucets: Switching to low flow faucets and using aerators are a big water saver. If you’re looking for something other than a cold shower, take a look at the variety of solar showers available and soak up some warmth at the same time!

Greywater: Greywater can fill up faster then you’re prepared for. Make sure to switch to biodegradable soaps and cleaners for everything you use. This makes reusing the water to water your plants or keep the dust down around the campsite easy as pie – just use a watering can. Remember that dumping your greywater and leaving a giant puddle behind is illegal, so reusing the water or investing in an evaporation pond is the way to go.

Blackwater: Dealing with blackwater can be a bit of a tough one. Converting your toilet to a composting one can be done and is an excellent option, check out this article on converting your toilet here.

Leave no Trace

By far the most important thing to keep in mind when going off-grid is to remember to leave no trace. That means, picking up and packing out everything that you bring with you. Your campsite should be left as if you weren’t even there. Many parks and wilderness areas are being destroyed by people simply not picking up after themselves. It’s such an easy thing to do and cutting back on trash can be easily accomplished by using reusable containers and eating fresh foods.

RV Parked off the Grid in the Mountains

Have you tried RV’ing off-grid? If not, what are you waiting for? The best of the outdoors is waiting for you and camping locations are free. What more could you ask for!

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