The dealership lot disappeared in the rearview mirror, and just like that, we were on the road in our new (to us) van, brimming with excitement and the kind of loose planning that only works when you have a week to cross the country. (If you missed our first story about buying the van, you can catch up here.) Yalla, it’s an adventure! First destination: New Jersey, by way of REI.
You see, no van is road-trip-ready without some essential upgrades, and in our case, that meant the ultimate piece of gear—a portable loo. A true 'van life' statement, but one that would leave any teta aghast. "A portable what? Walla, no wonder they call it camping!" We made our purchase with the kind of giddy pride you'd expect from someone buying their first home appliance. I mean, what screams "van life" more than being ready for a bathroom emergency?
With the loo in tow, we set our sights on New Jersey to visit John, my childhood friend. We arrived at his place tired, hungry, and ready to catch up, but my immediate focus was on food. John, ever the gracious host, offered to whip up a salad—because he remembered that I try to keep carbs in check (no small feat when you’re road-tripping).
What came out of John’s fridge that night changed everything: Taylor Farms premade salads. Not exactly tabbouleh, but hey, it’ll do in a pinch! Just dump them into a bowl, mix, and voilà—road food perfection. Alizée and I couldn’t stop raving about them. They would go on to become the staple meal of our van life, as reliable and satisfying as the sound of our new van’s engine (at least for now). John had no idea how transformative his little salad lesson was that evening, but we sure did.
The next day, we left for Montreal, about seven hours away, where we planned to visit family and friends. By this point, the van had proved to be a good driving companion, but not without its quirks. Somewhere between highway daydreams, I decided to test out the sink for the first time. Big mistake.
As soon as I turned on the faucet, there was a loud pop, and water shot out from a pipe beneath the sink like a rogue firework. I couldn’t help but imagine my dad shaking his head and saying, "What kind of sink is this, habibi? High-tech and already broken!" For a brief moment, the cabin turned into a splash zone. Turns out, a plumbing fitting had broken loose.
We pulled into the nearest Home Depot, where I channeled every ounce of my DIY spirit. Tools? Check. Replacement fittings? Check. A newfound respect for return policies? Absolutely. In under an hour, I had the plumbing fixed, and for the first time, I felt like I was getting under the hood (or in this case, under the sink) of our new home-on-wheels. Sure, it was annoying—brand new vans shouldn’t be springing leaks—but there was something deeply satisfying about getting hands-on with the van.
Montreal was a breath of fresh air. We spent a few days soaking up time with family and friends, where the table was always piled high with food, and the laughter echoed late into the night. It was a reminder of the warmth and chaos of Lebanese gatherings—a sharp contrast to the quieter, salad-fueled journey ahead as we hit the road west to Seattle. The journey was just beginning, but one thing was clear: this van wasn’t just transportation. It was a crash course in flexibility, creativity, and the occasional plumbing repair.
Next stop: the open road west, powered by Taylor Farms salads and the determination to make it back in time for our reunion with Louie.
Day 1 (June 17th, 2024): Montreal to Pinery Provincial Park, Ontario
Wow, we lived in Ontario for five years and had never heard about this beautiful place. Serene, with beach access to Lake Huron, it felt like discovering a hidden gem. We were especially impressed by how clean and well-maintained the public restrooms and showers were in the provincial park—kudos to Canada!
This day was extra special because it marked our very first night sleeping in the van and testing out the pop-top bed. We weren’t sure which side of the bed to put our heads on, but we eventually decided the side with the most head-clearance was best. Despite the East Coast heatwave and the lack of wind for a fresh breeze, we found our new bed comfortable and serene.
The next morning, we walked across from our campsite to the beach. It was so beautiful and empty that I even dared to spend some time naked on the beach and in the water—a moment of pure freedom! I could almost hear my mom’s voice in the back of my head, “Walla, habibi, what if someone sees you? Ya haram!” But enough fun; it was time to hit the road to our next stop: Camp Bullfrog Lake in Illinois.
Day 2 (June 18th, 2024): Pinery Provincial Park to Camp Bullfrog Lake, Illinois
Camp Bullfrog Lake was a cute campground with friendly staff, and we enjoyed a nice walk around the lake—a well-needed stretch after a long drive. In fact, this is something we always make sure to do daily during our long cross-country trips. For dinner, we ate in the van, testing Taylor Farms’ different options (sweet kale was proving to be our favorite at this point). As night fell, we noticed fireflies dancing in the dark. Falling asleep to the sounds of frogs croaking nearby felt magical.
Day 3 (June 19th, 2024): Illinois to Olson Campground, Worthington, Minnesota
At this point, believe it or not, our goal was for our path and itinerary to be as close as possible to I-90 until we reached home. For readers unfamiliar with it, the Interstate Highway System in the US is truly remarkable, connecting major cities with efficient, well-maintained roads. Illinois and New York, however, stood out for having the most toll booths and cameras. I distinctly remember being distracted and confused as I approached a toll booth in New York State and accidentally lined up to go through the EZ Pass lane. That little mistake cost me—instead of paying less than $2 at the next toll booth, I had to pay the maximum rate of over $20. Ouch! Anyways, I’m diverging...
We were now on route toward the midpoint of the continent: Minnesota. We reached our campground, which had a first-row seat and view of Okabena Lake. Since our campsite had shore power, we took advantage of it to test plugging the van into shore power for the first time. It worked just as expected!
The next morning, we took one last look at the serene lake before packing up and hitting the road again. With Minnesota behind us, we were now heading toward Wyoming, eager to see how the landscapes would change as we crossed into the West.
Day 4 (June 20th, 2024): Minnesota to Indian Campground & RV Park, Wyoming
To get to Wyoming, you need to drive through South Dakota—arguably the longest and most boring stretch of this cross-country trip. For anyone who's driven through South Dakota, they'll remember two things: asking yourself what happens in South Dakota considering (1) how empty and endless the horizon looks as you're driving, and (2) a place called Wall Drug. Wall Drug is memorable less for what it has to offer and more for the relentless billboard advertising along I-90—it’s like South Dakota’s unofficial sport. From the moment you enter the state, you’re hit with a billboard every mile or so, hyping up everything from free ice water to 5-cent coffee, and even dinosaur statues. These signs go on for hundreds of miles, making it impossible to ignore. We’ve driven cross-country three times, and despite the barrage of advertising, we’ve yet to stop at Wall Drug! 😅
Anyways... we finally reached the beautiful state of Wyoming and our campground. We started the evening with a nice three-loop walk, and to spice things up for dinner, we added some chicken McNuggets from the McDonald's next door to our trusty sweet kale salad. YUM! The next morning, we woke up to the sound of raindrops. I quickly sprung into action to close the pop-top to avoid getting the canvas wet and moist. I shouted, "Let’s go!" to get Alizée moving, which she did—bolting out of the "top floor" in a flash. I had sprung into action
so quickly because I was genuinely worried about the canvas getting wet and trapping moisture during the long drive ahead. Alizée’s reaction was just as swift and spontaneous, and when she reached the "bottom floor," she paused, looking around, unsure of what to do with herself. It was hilariously chaotic and had us both laughing once the moment settled. (lol)
With the rain now behind us and everything back in order, we packed up and set out once again. The next destination on our journey was Montana, and we were excited to see the dramatic landscapes unfold as we got closer to the home stretch of our trip.
Day 5 (June 21st, 2024): Wyoming to God’s Country Camping, Montana
Gifted with epic views of Montana's beautiful nature, we arrived at our campsite earlier than previous days and decided to explore the creek nearby. What a treat! We went for a walk by the water and loved it so much that we decided to head to the local grocer to buy a bag of chips and two cans of beer (in true American fashion). We hiked back to the creek and had an ‘apéro’ by the water. It was very hot, so we took advantage of the ice-cold water of the creek and went for a swim—what a joy!
Back at our campsite, since this campground didn’t have showers, it was the perfect opportunity to test out a new gadget we’d purchased during a Costco pit stop in Wyoming: a portable battery-powered shower (the RinseKit Pro). I couldn’t help but think how my mom would have reacted—probably with an exasperated, "You’re showering outside? Walla, might as well bathe in a public fountain!" We took our clothes off and showered outside. Loved it!
Day 6 (June 22nd, 2024): Montana to Home (Seattle)
It’s only after driving across the entire continent that we realized how lucky we are to live in Washington State—arguably the most beautiful and diverse state—with eastern deserts and lush, abundant greenery as we got closer and closer to the Pacific Coast.
This was our last stretch before we reached home. We started recognizing the exits and graffiti that give Seattle its "character," and it felt surreal to be so close to the finish line.
We finally made it back home, parking the van in the garage (its new home base). Shortly after, I drove down to Renton to meet someone I found on Facebook Marketplace who was selling brand-new, unopened WeatherTech mats for the van. Before these mats, no shoes were allowed anywhere inside the van! :D They’re now only allowed in the front driver and passenger seats where the new mats are placed. Alizée was relieved.
And just like that, our epic cross-country journey came to a close. It was time to reunite with Louie, who greeted us with as much excitement as we felt. Home had never felt so good.
In total, we drove 54 hours and covered ~4,000 miles, from Virginia to Washington, passing through Montreal along the way. To put it in perspective, that’s roughly the equivalent of driving across Lebanon… 80 times! It’s a reminder of how tiny my country of origin is compared to this vast land we now call home. ✌️❤️
