Outland Adventures

  RV Winter Survival Without Hookups: How Wildebeest Stays Warm & Functional ❄️🚌 Winter RV living looks a lot different when you don’t have hookups—and even more so when your rig is a 1990 Ford E350 EMS‑converted shuttle bus . Welcome to life with Wildebeest , our off‑grid , no‑nonsense, former mobile command unit that refuses to hibernate just because the temperatures drop. This isn’t a glossy, luxury‑RV winter guide . This is the real‑life, boots‑on‑the‑ground version—what works, what doesn’t, and how we stay warm, mobile, and functional without shore power , water hookups , or holding tanks . Grab a hot drink ☕ and let’s dig in. Know Your Rig Before Winter Hits 🧭 Wildebeest has quirks—and winter doesn’t forgive ignorance. Our setup at a glance: 🚑 1990 Ford E350 Shuttle Bus (former county EMS command unit) ❌ No water hookups ❌ No black or grey tanks 🔥 Propane stove(s) ⚡ Limited electrical capacity 🚐 Built to move, not sit forever Because we don’t rely on tanks or hoo...

  🎄 The Joy of Finding Hidden Gems in Small Town Travels (Holiday Edition) There’s something downright magical about small towns during the holidays. Maybe it’s the twinkle lights strung across Main Street, the handwritten signs for bake sales, or the way time seems to slow just enough for you to actually breathe . 🚐✨ Here at Outland Adventures , we live for those unexpected moments—the ones you don’t find on travel apps or glossy brochures . Holiday small-town travel isn’t about rushing from attraction to attraction; it’s about wandering, noticing, and letting the season surprise you. 🎁 Why Small Towns Shine Brightest at the Holidays Big cities do holidays loud. Small towns do them right . ❤️ During the winter months, even the most unassuming town can transform into something straight out of a snow globe . Courthouse squares glow with lights, local shops decorate their windows with care, and everyone seems just a little friendlier. Some of our favorite things to stumble upon i...

  Tiny Town Holiday Magic: Exploring a Festive Main Street in a One-Stoplight Town ✨🏘️🎄 There’s something undeniably charming about December in a tiny town—the kind of place with just one stoplight 🚦, a single diner 🍔, and a Main Street that seems frozen in time. During the holidays, that charm stretches even further, wrapping every storefront, lamppost, and tree in twinkling lights ✨ and small-town spirit ❤️. On our latest Outland Adventures journey, we found ourselves wandering down a festive Main Street that proves you don’t need a big city spectacle to feel the magic of the season. Sometimes, all it takes is a mug of cocoa ☕, a string of vintage bulbs 💡, and a town that shows up just because it’s December. A Main Street That Glows 🌟 Even from the edge of town, the warm glow of lights drew us in like a magnet 🧲. The lone stoplight, the town’s proud sentinel, had been dressed in a massive wreath 🎀 adorned with tiny red bows and a scattering of ornaments 🎄. Cross...

  🍂 Campground Kitchens: Cooking Thanksgiving in Small Spaces Last year’s Thanksgiving looked a little different—but in the best way. We were settled in at Outside Inn Campground in South Carolina , surrounded by golden fields and friendly faces (and yes, Fred the Highland cow totally stole our hearts). The campground was the perfect mix of agriculture and tourism charm—part farm, part getaway—and it made for one unforgettable holiday. Our “kitchen” that week? A picnic table and our trusty folding table, both not quite level. Chris handled the turkey tenderloins on the camp stove while Amanda worked on mashed potatoes, green beans, and stuffing—all the classic fixings, just miniaturized for our tiny space. It turns out, you don’t need a full kitchen to make a feast—just a little creativity, teamwork, and the promise of pie at the end. Once everything was prepped and the last of the gravy whisked smooth, we set out on a post-dinner hike through the woods. The air was crisp, ...

 🎄 Full-Time RV Life & The Holidays: Staying Festive on the Road When you live full-time on the road, the holidays look a little different. No big house to decorate. No attic full of ornaments. No seven-foot tree (unless you count that one inflatable we thought would fit in the RV ... it didn’t). But different doesn’t mean less magical. Out here, holiday cheer comes in smaller packages—twinkling lights strung under the awning, cinnamon candles flickering on the counter, and maybe a wreath made from pinecones we found on a hike. Every mile brings a new kind of celebration, and that’s part of the charm. 🎁 Cozy Spaces, Big Spirit We’ve learned that it doesn’t take much to feel festive in a tiny space. A strand of fairy lights instantly turns the RV into a cozy winter nook. We hang stockings on the cabinet handles, play our favorite holiday playlist , and let the smell of hot cocoa fill the air. Amanda’s crafting magic usually comes into play here— mini wreaths , hand...

 Hey Y'all! So what was our Thanksgiving like? Beautiful! It was sunny, and near 75 degrees. We had purchased everything beforehand, so we didn't have to go out in the crowds. Our Dinner Menu: Turkey (We bough out of the deli sliced thick , it cost more- but made more sense for us.) Mashed Potatoes Stuffing Gravy Corn Green Beans Cranberry Sauce (Strictly for Chris, cause yuck. He only liked the jelly kind.) Wine (Stella Rosa Watermelon, we hadn't tried it yet. Probably more a Summer wine, but it was good.) Pumpkin Pie Whipped Cream We took 0 food prep pictures, but did film the entire thing: After we ate we fed the farm animals some baby carrots, took a walk, and just relaxed outside. It was a great day. Thanks, The Outlands

 Hey Y'all! How is it December already?! Did your November fly by as well? Let us know in the comments below. December: 3rd Tue- Our Thanksgiving Video- Our First Thanksgiving in the Van 5th Thu- How Are We Enjoying SC Video- Hatcher Gardens, Spartanburg SC 10th Tue- Get To Know Us, Q & A 12th Thu- Campground Reviews: Pine Ridge, in Roebuck Woodsmoke, in Irmo Outside Inn, near Orangeburg Video- Walnut Grove Plantation (Roebuck, SC) 17th Tue- New Year Travel Plans 19th Thu- Our Favorite Features in the Van Video- DITL VAN STYLE, Updated Van Tour 24th Tue- Merry Christmas! 26th Thu- Our First Christmas in the Van Video- Christmas Carriage Ride in Small Town SC! 31st Tue- Happy New Year! Thanks, The Outlands As always, if you have a blog or video idea let us know!

  Hey Y'all! So, we met up with Chris' uncle the day before, and had a lovely time with he & his SO. However the traffic and parking downtown Owensboro (KY) on Sunday, convinced us all that we didn't want to mess with it for the eclipse viewing party. The plan was a viewing party at a swanky hotel downtown, which wasn't much my vibe- but I'd have been happy to do it for Chris & his uncle to get together again. Instead we stayed at our campground and had a very chill day. We walked the grounds again, sat at our site and nature watched, got some work done on our computers, cooked breakfast, etc. We watched the eclipse with several others who were also there for the eclipse, and the campground owners. While we didn't really get any pictures worth sharing, the eclipse was one of the neatest experiences of my life, and I'm glad we took the trip. It was amazing to witness! The slow fade to darkness, and immediate drop in temperature were creepy- but awesom...

 Hey Y'all! Hope your holidays were pleasant! We spent or Christmas out at my sisters (as we do every year). This year we did things a little earlier than normal, but the weather was beautiful! We never do the traditional dinner, that's for Thanksgiving. This year we opted for tacos and fajitas. Brother in law cooked all the meat and veggies outside on the smoker/grill. Delicious! We did gift opening a bit different this year too. We still took turns, but this year we each opened all our gifts then moved to the next person in line. I did like this way, as it was easier to see each persons reaction, and everything they got. Minus the items from each other, and cash from both sis and mom. Chris: Amanda: We had a great time hanging out, and spending time with the family. For the next few days it rained, but we managed to clean the basement out, and had a heap of junk fort he trash men to pick up. We are listed now: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/128-Reynolds-Ave-Surgoinsville-...

 Hey Y'all! What are your holiday plans? Share in the comments below. We're all going to my (Amanda) Moms, she wanted to host this year. We definitely have too much food: Ham, Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls, Cranberry, 2 types of Stuffing, a Cheese and Crackers plate, a Charcuterie board, Chips & Dips, Shrimp Cocktails, Banana Pudding, Apple & Pumpkin Pies, a variety of wines.... & I'm sure I missed something. We'll have leftovers, for sure. We'll eat too much, laugh freely, and talk loudly. We'll play games, share stories, and just enjoy getting together. That's what this holiday is for us. Happy Thanksgiving, The Outlands