Part 1: The great escape from winter
Southern California (SoCal)
On the go? Listen to Part 1 of The Great Escape from Winter! 🚐✨ Grab your headphones and join us as we chase sunshine, dodge surprises, and navigate one wild Christmas night. 🎧🎄
There's something about the Pacific Northwest in winter that makes you feel like you're trapped in an endless car wash. Rain? Check. Cold? Double-check. Traffic jams from drivers who forgot how rain works? A triple "Akeed!" (which means "of course!" in Arabic) So when Christmas 2024 rolled around, Alizée, Louie, and I decided to pull a classic Lebanese move: we said "Yalla, bye!" and escaped south in our van, chasing sunshine, warmth, and empty winter campgrounds.
This wasn't just any trip—it was our longest van adventure yet, spanning two weeks and stretching all the way from our soggy Seattle home to the sunny embrace of Southern California. It was also our first Christmas and New Year's spent entirely on our own—just the three of us. No family visits to Montreal or Brittany, no crowded airports or holiday drama. Instead, we loaded up our van, fired up the new Webasto heater (a total game-changer, and maybe even a bit too powerful for our cozy-sized van—seriously, it spits fire!), and hit the road. Alizée’s one condition for winter road-tripping? Comfort and heat. This heater checked all boxes and probably warmed neighboring vans too.
Escape from Seattle: zombie apocalypse vibes
We started strong, leaving Seattle on a soggy Saturday morning, bound for Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Despite playing a real-life game of "avoid-the-car-crash" on slick highways, we made it safely to Millsite RV Park. This stop was especially memorable because it was our first night sleeping in the van with near-freezing temperatures outside. Picture this: an entirely empty campground—just us, the camp host, and a whole lot of silence. If you're thinking "zombie apocalypse vibes," you're not far off. Thankfully, our Webasto heater cranked out warmth like it was auditioning for a bigger van, making us wonder if maybe we went a bit overboard with its firepower. But hey, Alizée’s condition for winter van adventures was comfort and heat, and the Webasto delivered both—possibly heating neighboring sites that didn't exist. Pro tip: this campground had clean bathrooms and hot showers for just 25 cents—yep, quarter showers still exist!
Gatecrashing vineyards (literally)
Sunday morning, fueled by optimism and strong coffee, we aimed straight for Sunol, California. The farther south we drove, the clearer the skies got, and by the time we hit Turtle Bay East in Redding (fantastic off-leash spot for Louie), we finally started peeling off layers. This evening was memorable for another reason: it was our very first time booking a night via Harvest Hosts. Given the date—December 22, right when most places shut down for the holidays—we weren't entirely sure what to expect. We booked our spot at Elliston Vineyards just hours before arrival and suspect the system auto-approved us. Arriving in complete darkness, the place looked deserted—no lights, no answers from the intercom, and total silence. After a minor freak-out session and some frantic review-reading, we discovered a reviewer’s secret tip: a hidden side gate covered in greenery. Armed with a flashlight, I ventured out solo while Alizée and Louie anxiously waited in the van. Bingo—I found it, pushed it open, and drove into a huge, unlit parking lot. Eventually, the host messaged back, utterly surprised we'd made it inside, considering she'd closed for the holidays. We laughed about our "sneaky" entry, spent a lovely night there, and even bought a bottle of wine to enjoy. Quiet, scenic, and a fun little adventure—would highly recommend.
Luxury wilderness: coyotes and turkey sandwiches
Monday was a straight shot to Malibu—where we splurged on a night at Surf Outpost. Pricey? "Wallaw, shu bek?" (Lebanese for "Come on, what’s wrong with you?") Yes—but with that view of the Malibu coast overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean, it was worth it. Perched on a cliff, we could hear the waves crashing below us as we settled in for a relaxing night. But, to our surprise, the greater LA area was blanketed in thick fog and mist, as if we'd brought Seattle’s rain along for Californians to "enjoy."
Since we hadn’t paid for our previous stay at the winery, we figured we could justify the splurge at Surf Outpost. And what a spot it was—despite the misty air, it still felt like an upgrade from our usual campgrounds. We took it easy that evening, appreciating the surreal coastal view, enjoying the sound of the ocean, and indulging in the simple luxury of a hot shower. Not bad for a foggy welcome to SoCal!
A surprise guest! A coyote wandered just 10 feet from our van in broad daylight. Thankfully, we were all safely inside—including Louie, who was probably debating whether to bark or just stare in total disbelief.
The next morning (Dec 24), we took it slow, making a nice breakfast while enjoying what we could see of the "partial" but still incredible view. After packing up, we made our way to Brentwood Country Mart, a bougie little strip mall perfect for a casual stroll. From there, we continued to Abbott Kinney for a bit more wandering before heading to Malibu Creek State Park—what a great spot! It wasn’t full, but we weren’t the only ones camping.
After settling in, we started planning our "Christmas dinner." What to do? We decided on turkey sandwiches—oven-cooked turkey, cranberry spread, avocado, mayo, tomato, lettuce, and some solid sourdough bread. And let me tell you, it hit the spot! Sitting in our cozy van, surrounded by the quiet of the state park, it felt like the perfect way to enjoy a low-key but special holiday meal.
As we settled in for the night, the campground wasn’t full, but we weren’t alone either. The most memorable part? Waking up to bizarre animal noises that lasted a full minute. It sounded like a squeaky dog mixed with some strange intermittent barks. Louie, of course, was on high alert. A little research revealed the culprit: grey foxes, native to California, known for their distinctive calls. Apparently, they vocalize for all sorts of reasons—territorial warnings, mating, family communication, distress. To me, they definitely sounded like they were in distress... or maybe just gossiping about the newcomers in the van. Hahahaha!
Holiday cliffhanger: locked out and scrambling
Christmas Day started perfectly with a morning hike at Tuna Canyon in Topanga, taking in breathtaking coastal views and enjoying the fresh air.
Later in the afternoon, we made our way to Pasadena to visit our friends Julien and Tanya. The warm invite to their Christmas gathering was exactly what we needed—don't get me wrong, spending Christmas together in our van was special, but let’s face it, we were missing the cozy, family-hug vibes. So, thank you, Julien, for adding some Christmas warmth to our trip! For those who don’t know, Julien is actually a longtime friend to both Alizée and me—he’s the reason we met almost 16 years ago! Pretty wild, huh?
Sitting at an actual dining table, enjoying a home-cooked meal instead of our usual trusty Taylor Farms salad, was a treat. Don't get me wrong, Taylor Farms salads get the job done—pre-washed, pre-packed, and reliable—but there's only so much bagged Caesar one can eat before longing for a warm, homemade meal. Tanya's traditional Mexican meatball soup (miam!) was exactly what we needed to break the salad cycle and truly savor Christmas dinner.
After a wonderful evening—our bellies refilled and our hearts warmed—we said our goodbyes and hit the road toward our next planned stop: Rolling M Ranch in Chino Hills State Park. We had it all timed perfectly, aiming to arrive by 9:45 PM—just under the wire before the assumed 10 PM gate closure. Keyword: assumed. See, when we checked into Malibu Creek State Park the night before, the ranger casually mentioned that the park gates close at 10 PM. Naively, we took this as a statewide rule. Turns out, not so much. When we rolled up to Chino Hills, feeling smug about our perfect timing, we found the entrance completely locked down. Not at 10 PM. Not even at 8 PM. Nope—this park had shut its gates at 5 PM! Ouch.
The clock ticked. The GPS mocked us. The plot thickened... We sat there in stunned silence, equal parts disbelief and panic creeping in. Was this our Christmas night fate? A rogue roadside sleep spot with coyotes for neighbors? The reality of our mistake set in fast—time for Plan B... if we even had one.
Will we find somewhere decent to sleep, or end up parked awkwardly by the side of a road, counting coyotes instead of sheep? Stay tuned for Part 2!
📍 Itinerary & Cheat sheet (part 1)
Day 1 (Seattle → Myrtle Creek, OR)
Millside RV Park – clean facilities, quarter showers.
Day 2 (Myrtle Creek → Sunol, CA)
Elliston Vineyards (Harvest Hosts) – peaceful vineyard stay (with secret gate!); Turtle Bay East Park, great dog spot.
Day 3 (Sunol → Malibu, CA)
Surf Outpost Campground – premium spot, ocean views, hot showers.
Day 4 (LA/Malibu Creek State Park)
Malibu Creek SP – good camping, wildlife (coyotes!), warm showers, homemade meal tip: turkey sandwiches.
Day 5 (Christmas Day)
Tuna Canyon Trail (Topanga), evening with friends in Pasadena; plan campground gates carefully, unlike us!
Stay tuned for more adventures (and surprises!) in Part 2...