The definitive guide to skiing, travel and living a life of freedom.
Guide to Visiting Zurich Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland is on the short list of my favorite cities in Europe (the other contenders include: Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Helsinki, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Athens, Lisbon, Salzburg, Budapest, Brasov, and Bruges - Moscow and Istanbul if you count those too). The...
The Harvey Falcon Guide to Visiting Switzerland
Ever since my first visit to Zurich in 2015 I have maintained that the entire world would move to this paradise if it weren't so goddamn expensive. On my two subsequent trips to Switzerland, there has been nothing to sway my mind off this take. I have since seen...
Guide to Visiting Karlovy Vary and Brno Czech Republic
I cannot tell you exactly why I became so fascinated with this beautiful town in the western hills of Czechia. The more research I did into it, the cooler it seemed. Karlovy Vary is the 22nd largest city in the Czech Republic (according to Wikipedia), a country with a...
Undeniable Freedom. Affordable Living.
We are big fans of van living, and feel there is no better way to get a sense of adventure, see a ton of the country, and ski your ass off for a better price. We at SB/VL want to empower as many people as possible to embrace the lifestyle and get out and see some cool stuff.
Looking to start a van adventure but don't know where to start?
Wondering how you can live on the cheap in ski resorts?
Want tips on how to wire up a van for proper living?
Want an idea of how to plan your ski journey?
Hiking + Travel Guides
We not only want to be a guide for you on skiing and van living, but we have some other travel and hiking guides that we think are helpful and fun. From Hiking Acadia to spending the perfect 3 days in Charleston, SC we have been tons of places and would love to share some great advice, pictures, tips, and picks.
Find your next adventure in our hiking and travel guides.
Blog
Harvey’s Guide to Visiting Moldova
An often forgotten part of Eastern Europe, I was warned prior to visiting Moldova: there's nothing to do there and no young people. Apparently, they all leave the country as soon as they can because it's such a dismal place. I found neither of these things to be true...
Harvey’s Eastern Europe Travel Guide
More From Eastern EuropeFor my money, the best part of Europe is Eastern Europe. These formerly Communist countries have been providing backpackers with cheap options to visit for decades. My first foray into this epic part of the continent was on a two week trip from...
Ski Season Pass Overview – IKON VS EPIC
As the winter season approaches dedicated mountain visitors begin to polish off their skis and snowboards. The fresh pow awaits. If you are an avid outdoors person who likes to ski, you know that this is a special time of year and it requires planning before...
Everything you Need to Know About Heliskiing
Skiing with a helicopter involves being transported to a remote location by helicopter and then skiing or snowboarding down a mountain or slope. This type of skiing is also known as heli-skiing or heliskiing. It is a popular activity for experienced skiers and...
A Recap to Harvey visiting Turkey
Having visited almost 70 countries on my global adventures, I consider those that lie at the top of my mental list to be sacred. My home country of the US of course has a spot, my home for three years, Spain, holds another. The rest of this short list is more fluid:...
How to Spend a Couple Days in Istanbul Turkey
The capital of Turkey now lies on a special list of cities that I have visited multiple times. First coming in 2015 with my sister, we saw all of the sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern, bars of Beyoglu and Karakӧy, Dolmabahçe Palace,...
Aspen
One of the most famous resort towns on earth, get our take on Aspen, CO.
Arapahoe Basin
A long season + great local vibes make this a good stop on your journey.
Copper Mountain
Naturally divided terrain and a mix of amenities make this a great stop.
Big Sky
The ultimate outdoor paradise, tons of activites along with great skiing.
About Us
With the introduction of passes such as Epic, Ikon and Mountain Collective among others; chasing powski and discovering new ski resorts has been foremost on many people’s minds. Much to the chagrin of the local population, we descend on the resorts like biblical-era locust plagues to devour the freshies and overpay for beer.
However, despite a healthy (and growing) population of van, truck, SUV and the occasional Subaru dwellers, many people are hesitant to take the plunge. Why? Because they’re crybaby candyasses who couldn’t last a subzero night in their vehicle while their breath instantly freezes to the inside of the windows? Maybe, or just maybe they don’t know where to start. That’s where we come in, with roughly 2 seasons of van-living knowledge I will impart on you wisdom gleaned from the ultimate transient lifestyle.
Frank by the legendary Toyata Sienna
Welcome all, my name is Frank Buchanan and I love slumming it in a van. I don’t have to bathe that much and I can justify multiple apres beers due to not paying for lodging. My girlfriend, who is a saint if you’re reading this Michele, and I bought a van in December of 2019 after a 4 month trip in Asia. We got a 2009 Toyota Sienna minivan then drove to my father’s in Florida to outfit it before heading to Denver, slapping some snow tires on it and then finally going to the mountains. We traveled around until March 15, 2020 when Covid shut the ski industry (re. world) down and we limped back to Houston, Tx with our tails between our legs. Well 2021 was the triumphant return of myself and the van back into the Mountain West region. Let’s get started on the burning questions everyone has.
I use an Ikon pass but many times the principles, locations and fun overlap and sometimes they don’t. Park City? Park in Salt Lake or just in the grocery store parking lot, same as the Ikon resorts. Vail? I don’t know a thing about Vail except pack toe warmers so you don’t get frostbite in your hour lift lines you fucking animals. Regardless, I’m putting a comprehensive list together for what I do know and you guys can interpret it how you will.
Read fun, adventurous travel guides from our secret correspondant, Harvey Falcon. Harvey is a man on a mission to live life to it’s fullest and shares advice, guides, and stories like meeting icelandic girls in a hostel in Spain to playing one of the most beautiful golf courses on the island of Rhodes. Read his blog by clicking the banner above.