Fueling Connections: How Food Unites the Vanlife Community

The Power of Food: Bringing the Vanlife Community Together

One of the best parts of the vanlife community is gathering around a warm campfire to share stories and laughter over a delicious meal. Whether it’s a group potluck or an impromptu grill out, these moments become the hub for all of our shared experiences that will happen that night. The aroma of food sizzling on the grill creates an atmosphere that encourages genuine connections, sparking conversations and forming friendships that will last a lifetime.

Earlier this month our team had the opportunity to attend the Adventure Van Expo in Evergreen, CO. Not only are these events a great time, but they are also a way for us to get out and show off our products, meet members of the community, and build stronger bonds with other brands in the industry. While these expos are a fun and integral part of our business, it’s really the bonds we form with our customers, show attendees, and other vendors that matter most to us. 

Every night after the show this weekend was an opportunity to meet new friends and hang out with some of our favorite people. On Saturday night, after the expo closed for the day, all the vendors and campers gathered for a pizza and taco party hosted by Storyteller and Flarespace. Oftentimes the shows get so busy that we don’t have an opportunity to walk around and interact with other vendors. But, despite the hustle and bustle of the show, dinner is the one common time for us to all gather and spend time together. 

After the show was over for the weekend, a group of us caravaned to a nearby National Forest to spend a night relaxing around the campfire together with good food and even better company. Cooking a meal for everyone becomes a big group effort as one person brings over a salad, the other cuts veggies to roast, and another tends to the meat on the grill. This weekend was exactly that. We had our Chief Sales Officer, Hailey, cutting veggies on her Canyon Kitchen + cutting board, while Captain Morgan from Storyteller grilled steaks on the built-in Tembo Tusk Skottle of the Canyon Kitchen +. Our favorite thing about the Canyon Kitchen + is that it allows you to be outside in the beauty of what surrounds you, and you don’t have to be stuck inside cooking while everyone has fun hanging outside. It also comes stocked with everything you need, from the Skottle to a 12V Dometic Cooler.

While dinner was being prepared, the others hung out around the fire or on the Upper Deck Seating Systems (UDSS) of two vans parked next to each other. To make the night even more awesome, our friend and professional tattoo artist, Brian Henry, tattooed some of the coolest tattoos up on the UDSS of Talon Sei’s Storyteller Classic Mode – the SEI Mode. How many people can say they got a professional tattoo done on top of a van, under the light of an umbrella, while sitting on a loveseat? It was crazy to look around and see all the activities going on and memories being made during this impromptu trip. 

When dinner was ready, we all gathered around the fire to enjoy the mouth-watering meal made on nothing else but the Garage Slide-Out Deck. We sat around roasting marshmallows and telling stories of our travels, reminiscing on memories of past events or caravans that we had done together. These moments were all created because one simple thing brought us together: a delicious meal. 

In the vanlife community, food is not only sustenance—it’s also a powerful force that brings us together on our nomadic journeys. It helps to form friendships, spark conversations, and create unforgettable memories. Our weekend spent at the Adventure Van Expo reinforced the importance of community in the vanlife world. The connections we made, the wisdom we gained, and the friendships we formed serve as a reminder that the power of community extends far beyond the event itself. The Adventure Van Expo showcased the immense value of shared experiences, collaborative learning, and the support we offer one another. As we each continue our journey, we carry with us the spirit of community, knowing that we are part of a diverse and vibrant network of adventurers united by a common love for exploration, freedom, and good food.