There’s something so intriguing about riding off the grid and into some unknown territory with little worries. Chasing the surf, the mountains, the slopes– whatever it may be, there is a simple art in treading a minimalistic life of travel. I will never forget the incredible, minimalistic vans I witnessed while living in Bondi Beach, Australia. Surfers from around the globe gathered here with just basic necessities and a stoked mindset. It is quite wild how you can make a van so accessible to your everyday needs. Just the basics, nothing more. It’s the new way of creating your eco home. Take a look into these minimalistic, bohemian van buildouts that will inspire your next mobile adventure and take you into the full swing of van life.
Can you imagine backing up your van to the ocean and waking up to the roar of the crashing waves? Or opening your doors to the crisp morning snowfall by the slopes? Wishing you safe and enlightened travels on your next awaiting adventure.
There’s something beautiful about the forgotten, off season sanctuaries. In some towns, summer ends and it’s as if every human and business in the area starts to hibernate. So what really happens when the tourists go home? Well in my experience, the town suddenly becomes more magical than you could ever imagine. No lines at popular cafes, uncrowded beaches in the best surf spots, weather that brings a satisfying chill to your summer drenched skin and friendly locals who are ready to kick back and relax after a tiring high season rush. Experiencing a new place in it’s off season glory is nothing short of authentic. Here are the top five spots we are dying to see!
This hip Hamptons summer town transforms into a sleepy fishing village immediately after Labor Day. When all the Hamptons vacationers move on to their next sunny destination, the locals in Montauk are settling down for the harsh, yet beautiful, winter season. Sweeping ocean views from almost every bar, cafe or home bring in a romantic beach getaway feeling. Not many tourists come to Montauk after Labor Day, which makes this destination all the more wonderful to experience as a local would. What many do not know, Montauk has amazing weather all the way until November. There are many beach days to be had and waves to surf– this time without the crowds. If the cooler beach days aren’t your thing, the intense, colorful sunsets should be enough to book your flights here!
Boulder is a roaring college town come the start of school. In the summer, the college students return home and you are left with open, beautiful mountains to hike and explore! Roadtrip to nearby ski towns or take a day for some city life in Denver. The weather is hot with cooler nights, making the perfect setting for some cozy cabin evenings!
Imagine a dreamy desert setting, but covered in snow! Joshua Tree, California is a popular town to visit when the weather is mild. Deep in the winter, the desert is even quieter than usual, with mainly climbers here to take on the Joshua Tree face while other mountains are covered in snow. Snowfall is semi rare, yet when you get the chance to see a white covered desert, it’s sure to be a magical experience!
Rincon, Puerto Rico is a small world class surf town. People from the East Coast tend to escape the winter months here for unlimited sunny days. In the low season, the town is just as wonderful, just without the crowds and party-goers. Year round waves, heat and friendly locals will be enough to satisfy a great trip! Explore the waterfalls, beaches and town activities, such as Thursday night artwalks.
Wanting to see the Northern Lights? Whitehorse, Canada has views of The Northern Lights and tons of hiking to explore. Autumn provides fewer crowds and stunning shades of changing leaves. It may snow, yet winter activities will not be in affect yet. It is a lovely place to relax and take in the views while you gear up for winter!
There are so many perks to travelling in the off season months of a town. From smaller crowds to a more personalized adventure, there is always something beautiful to seek in the unknown. Whatever you may be looking for in your next vacation, consider experiencing the raw, authentic off season for unforgettable memories.
Chandigarh, India is a time capsule of Mid-Century Modern architecture nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas.
In 2016, the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, making these incredible modern buildings an unmissable wonder. In Chandigarh, India, you won’t find an ancient city, or any British colonial buildings. Chandigarh was one of India’s first planned cities, created by the Chandigarh Capital Project Team, and led by Swiss architect, Charles Edouard Corbusier (Le Corbusier). As a marvelous result, Chandigarh is a urban zone that feels both futuristic and retro. The flawless geometrical outline mirrors the engineering virtuoso of the organizers of the city, Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki. Chandigarh is a vacation destination with a modern business focus.
In India, most of the cities are planned and created solely for automobiles, so a sidewalk is an immense luxury. In Chandigarh, there are plentiful pedestrian walkways where you may safely stroll, a perfect means to pleasantly meander local streets by foot. Take a quick walk with us through this modernist haven!
In the vast and mystical Chihuahuan desert, Marfa, Texas is an oasis of alluring mystery and transcendental experience.
Located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, Marfa was originally founded as a railroad water stop. Now one of the minimalist art and design meccas of the nation, Marfa attracts creatives and adventurers from far and wide.
During the 1920s, the community in Marfa began to grow. By the 1950s, it was nationally famous for its mysterious Ghost Lights. The source of the Fata Mortgana has long been rumored to be anything from UFOs, to wandering spirits. This mysterious phenomena has also been attributed to atmospheric reflections of campfires and headlights, although the first recorded sighting was in 1883, before automobiles were on the market. In modern times, atmospheric scientists hypothesize that the lights are a sort of mirage caused by sharp temperature gradients between cold and warm layers of air.
Marfa Army Airfield was the training grounds for several thousand pilots during World War II. In the 1970s, the army base lands were bought by Donald Judd, an acclaimed visual artist from New York City. In 1979, Judd began transforming the fort’s buildings into art spaces with a vision to house large collections of individual artists’ work on permanent display. Though Judd birthed the contemporary art movement in Marfa, when he died in 1994, Marfa quite literally became a ghost town. Tumbleweeds the size of shopping carts could be seen blowing down the road, and storefronts were completely baron and overlaid with dust. In the early 2000s, Marfa was resurrected, and thus began a kind of renaissance. Artists and Artisans opened new galleries and chic hotels, and the Texas government decided to make a roadside viewing post for the Marfa Mystery Lights.
Today in Marfa, you can expect to find modern art galleries, bohemian boutique hotels and restaurants, eclectic campgrounds, funky bars, and far-out festivals with the ever-ethereal backdrops of reverent desert tones. Take a dive with us through the dreamy high desert..
It’s time to relish in the heat, using this time to detox, and soak up the nutrients of the sun. Transform your outdoor space into a garden oasis, with sleek modern style. Cook healthy food over an open flame, and create unique craft cocktails to sip by the poolside!
Check out some inspiring looks for beautiful outdoor spaces, and our top picks to begin grilling season in style!
The start of the week is an opportunity to renew and revitalize your energy.
In ways, the beginning of the week is a kind of rebirth of your sense of self, resolutions, dreams, and responsibilities. Cultivating a drive to revive your inspiration and stimulate your creative forces can be done simply through formulating a ritual.
Whether you commute to your place of employment, or work from home, begin your week by taking 30 minutes to an hour to fully dedicate to setting an intention, and engaging in a form of mindfulness practice.
Meditation is not an easy practice for a busy mind, but it can do wonders for the health of your mind and body. You can begin meditation with a simple breathing exercise using your hands, creating a space for concentration and grounding.
Begin by taking a seat somewhere peaceful. Light a candle, or burn some palo santo, create an environment that makes you feel warm and comfortable. Cross one leg over the other, and begin to align your spine. Imagine each vertebrae perfectly stacked on top of one another, keeping a long neck, slightly dropping the chin, and lifting tall through the crown of your head.
Hand Counting Pranayama is an ancient Indian ritual used to engage the mind in meditation. Closing your eyes, stack your hands together on your lap, with the dominant hand on top. With an open palm, and use your thumb to draw a spiral, counting each joint of your fingers until you have completed 12 deep, rhythmic breaths. If you break concentration and lose count, begin again. Bring your mind’s awareness entirely to the 12 cycle spiral of breath.
Inhale deeply through your nose, opening the back of the throat to a point of making a course, audible breath. Envision the air flowing into your body and circulating like blood does within your veins. Exhale through your nose, until all the air has been expended fully. Repeat these deep cycles of breath while completing the 12 count spiral on your hand, as many times as it takes to feel completely relaxed and centered. Become completely still and aware of the present moment.
Once you feel really connected to your breath, and have quietness of the mind, you can begin visualizing all that you wish to transcend or achieve in the following week. Maintaining your lightness of being, keep your mind away from negative thoughts and energy. Only allow your focus to be on tangible, positive notions.
Formulate positive affirmations to support the success of all that you do. After reflection, begin writing your affirmations and revelations in a journal. Carry confidence with you to your next task, and next meal. Make each household chore a time for quiet contemplation, each movement becoming a motion of zen. The next time you eat, concentrate fully on each bite of food you take, chewing slowing, savoring every flavor, and feeling gratitude for the nutrients you are taking into your body.
Release all resistance to the natural flow of the day. This means being gentle and patient with yourself, listening to your body and its needs, and releasing control over matters that are not directly within your grasp to navigate. Take care of tasks that are your responsibility to complete, and allow anything else to flow towards you. Remember that what you seek, is seeking you. The positive things that are of real necessity in your life will inevitable cross your path. Walk with openness and lightness of being!
Just in time for summer, our luxurious Poolside Collection was inspired by long, lavish days spent by the pool at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
The dreamy “Pink Palace” is the ultimate beacon of timeless allure in Los Angeles, and has been the place to see and be seen for over a century. With an unforgettable fusion of vintage glamour and modern luxury, we hope to sweep you away with the same soft hues. Adorn your outdoor spaces with elegance and style, make every area of your environment inviting. Surround yourself with fresh fruit and flowers, modern bohemian patterns, and a dreamy summer color palette. Setting your table and outdoor spaces with intention will ensure you’re sent into the season with panache.
Enjoy taking a tour through our new summer collection, and feel inspired to create your outdoor oasis this summer!
Austin has an international reputation for its rich and vibrant culture. With hundreds of live music venues, thousands of restaurants, and endless adventure destinations in the outdoors, you will never have a day in Austin without excitement and activity!
Ranked as one of the fittest cities in the United States, and with 300+ days of sunshine and an average temperature of 68 degrees, being active in Austin comes naturally. Austin offers an abundance of outdoor activities from cycling, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, yoga, kayaking, rock climbing, and more!
Austin is known for its creativity and freedom of expression. Home some world-class museums like the Blanton, with the nation’s largest University-owned collection on exhibit, Austin attracts an international appetite for the arts. Austin is a place to explore the work of designers, painters, sculptors, writers, photographers, filmmakers, dancers and musicians, year round, in a variety of venues.
Modern design and decor are now a part of the aesthetic culture in Austin, and there are an array of cafes, restaurants, hotels, and bars so beautiful, that they are a place to see, and be seen. If you have an eye for unique architecture and interior design, you will enjoy these eclectically modern hotels!
Austin, the capital of Texas since 1839, is the fasted growing city in the United States. An urban zone immersed in natural beauty, Austin sits amidst lush rolling hills, and numerous lakes and rivers. The culture is thriving with a diverse range of music, performing arts, film, technology, fine foods, and athleticism.
Despite widespread stereotypes of Texas, Austin is in the heart of the hill country, with rich landscapes of forests and waterways. Downtown Austin is perched alongside Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River that runs through Central Texas. There is a 15 mile hike and bike trail that traces the lengths of the reservoir and some adjacent roads and parks, inspiring an athletically abundant culture of jogging, biking, and dog walking throughout each day. With delightful weather most of the year, you will not often see Lady Bird lake empty of kayakers, paddle boarders, and the local rowing club. You can even catch local bands playing a concert atop the water from rafts, canoes, or tubes for the Midsummer Serenade Series.
You will find natural monuments such as the renowned Barton Springs Pool, an enclosed bit of natural spring that attracts thousands each week. The 3-acre lake is spring fed, and the water averages 68 degrees Fahrenheit year round. There is an 8 mile stretch of protected land along Barton Creek with hiking trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, rock climbing routes, and pristine wilderness that begins in Zilker Park near downtown, heading into Westlake Hills.
Austin is home to a large population of musicians, some known around the world. With an international reputation for being the “Live Music Capital of the World,” there wont be a day or night in Austin without a vast number concerts in an array of genres. Most restaurants and nearly all the bars in Austin have the capacity to be a live music venue at some capacity.
There are now a good number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Austin, and since the influx of technology and developmental companies in the 1990s, this high-tech town has been recently nicknamed the “Silicon Hills.” Conventions and festivals such as South by Southwest bring millions of techies to Austin for events and seminars each year.
There is a rapidly growing foodie culture in Austin that has made it a hotspot for innovative and delectable selections of cuisine. Chefs from every corner of the world have created their dream kitchens that attract appetites from far and wide.
A long standing local motto, “Keep Austin Weird,” refers to the movement and desire to protect small, unique, and local businesses from being overrun by large corporations. The eclectic aesthetic of Austin manifests in its restaurants, cafes, and hotels. From the classically eccentric old-Austin flavor, to the newer sleek and modern tastes, you wont find a corner of Austin that doesn’t catch your eye.
Check out some of our favorite selections of places to stay, and spots to eat!
Located in the Northern area of Thailand along the Ping River, breathtaking Chiang Mai is situated amongst the highest mountains in the country, surrounded by lush forests. Dubbed the cultural capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai has been awarded the title of Creative City by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and repeatedly received recognition as one of the top destinations in the world.
The climate of Chiang Mai is that of the tropical savanna; with low latitude and relatively high elevation, the weather is warm to hot year-round. With over 300 Buddhist temples to visit, you will have no shortage of stunning architecture to marvel over. Chiang Mai also has its fair amount of museums, botanical gardens, and street markets full of exquisite local treasures and foods. The surrounding areas are verdant and mountainous, with national parks for trekking, Hill Tribes to visit for cultural immersion, and elephant reserves that you may visit for opportunities to volunteer.
WHAT TO PACK
Lightweight pants and skirts, sundresses, shorts, yoga pants, tunics
Baby wipes, it’s very humid and you might want to keep your face clean!
Lightweight scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders inside temples
Swimsuit, hiking shoes, comfortable sandals, and water shoes
Comfortable sandals and sneakers for walking around the city
Lightweight hiking pants and shirts with long sleeves for mosquito protection
Waterproof phone case and waterproof backpack or bag
