Galactic Adventures

🚐 Alaska's Dalton Highway is Calling

☀️ Let’s Go Gals: A Weekend of Sisterhood, Stellar Scenic Views & All the Good Vibes

My husband, Peter Esparza, and I have organized many van events and gatherings since 2023. I had always dreamt of hosting a gathering of all women. My idea floated around for awhile, but after casually mentioning it to a few fellow vanlife women and receiving so much love and encouragement- especially from my husband and my friend, Kaeley Manning, who both cheered me on and fully backed the idea, I knew I had to bring it to life!

When I began planning this event, I knew I wanted it to be more than just fun, I wanted it to be meaningful. One of my goals was to create a space for women who had never taken their vans out solo, who might have felt uncertain about off-roading, or who just needed a little nudge to take that leap into adventure. I truly believe that "adventure should belong to everybody." This weekend was all about offering a supportive, welcoming environment where first-timers could step into their confidence and discover their capability and connect with a diverse group of like-minded women from all walks of life and all ages. I didn’t want this to be just a Storyteller meetup—I envisioned a gathering of women from across the overlanding community, first- timers and seasoned travelers. Different rigs, different routes, yet we're all fueled by the same love for adventure, freedom on the open road and connection. 

My vision: a getaway sprinkled with just the right blend of wild adventure and soul-soothing chill time. The California’s dreamy Central Coast holds a special place in my heart and I just knew it was the perfect location. A sweet, sun-kissed halfway point just right for bringing friends coming from both Northern California and Southern California, and Nevada.  

With comfort and confidence in mind, I thoughtfully mapped it all out and pre-ran the routes. Nothing too technical and gnarly for the first-timers could ease into the experience without feeling overwhelmed. I shared coordinates, answered questions, and made sure that every gal who joined felt supported, informed, and ready to roll. For many, it was a weekend of firsts: first time off-roading, first primitive camping, and first solo-ish adventure with their van. And they crushed it! They showed up, trusted the plan and their own badass selves! 

Our first rendezvous, a magical little hot springs hideaway to kick things off. Half the crew met here, some reuniting and others meeting for the first time. A perfect fun and relaxing time before the start of our adventure. From here we fueled up and caravan to our second location. I organized an easy meet up point for those who could not make it to the hot springs to link up and caravan in together to our destination. Waiting was a crew of women boldly hitting the road solo for the first time and ready for adventure. With radios on, engines humming and spirits high we set off beyond the pavement to our home for the weekend- somewhere in Los Padres National Forest. 10 vans, all gals roaming past the wildflower covered hillsides and met with perfect weather, the excitement buzzed through our radios. "A dusty but easy trail headed in, most of the scenery felt like something you would read out of a book!"- Kaeley Manning, a custom van build owner. 

With luck on our side, my "Plan A," camping location was open and waiting for us. We rolled in and claimed our little slice of paradise, setting up a "quiet zone" for the chill crowd to park and a "party area," for myself and the gals setting up the gathering area. A few eager beavers parked wherever their hearts desired and we made sure to save cozy spots for the last two vans joining in. By the time everyone rolled in we had 12 dusty vans, 16 amazing women, 2 tail-wagging dogs and one adventurous little cat all tucked away in a dreamy corner of Los Padres National Forest. Ready to soak up the fun and unforgettable moments the weekend was about to bring. 

For night one, I wanted the "Ultimate Girl Dinner." Big love to my wonderful friends who wholeheartedly offered to sponsor and deliver the most incredible spread a gal could dream of! My girl, Kaeley Manning of Vangard Overland, dazzled us with a stellar wine selection from a local gem, Venteux Vineyard. My girl and fellow MODE owner, Cecilia Holly of NomadLink Upfitters, wowed us with the most stellar charcuterie spread ever. My girl and MODE LT owner, Lisa always spoils us with her crowd-pleasing homemade baked goods. Kaeley made epic custom "Let's Go Gals," hats for everyone and STEALTH MODE owner Joy Rodriguez added some extra sparkle by gifting everyone pink light-up cowgirl hats, such stellar keepsakes. Night one was a total vibe, music bumping, gals mingling and good energy flowing all around. We all stay up way longer than expected but hey, that's what nights like these are for. 

Slow mornings are pure magic, and that's exactly what I had planned for the next morning. Some gals roamed the wildflower covered hillsides, and others sunbathed, and one took a literal bath. My friend Kadi, BEAST MODE owner, brought a literal bathtub! A few of us did a little impromptu photoshoot in the tub the day before, that was so much fun! We gathered back together for a meal prep demo led by Kaeley, who shared her mom's clever overlanding meal hacks and generously raffled off a Food-Saver. Plus, all the gals pitched in to share more delicious snacks. 

Representing the Good Vibes Bar, I whipped up some fun "girly" cocktails and a lemonade with a twist. On the menu: Raspberry Lychee Margaritas and a guava mint lemonade, refreshing and perfectly extra for the occasion. We swapped stories, traded gear tips like recipes, shared actual recipes too, and lent a hand on resolving any issues anyone had. Such great conversations were going on and before we knew it, our planned dinner time had totally come and gone. We all rallied and got to cooking. I love a good potluck dinner when we're in a group and this time we went full-on taco party mode. Everyone brought something tasty to the table- from homemade salsas, fillings, and toppings. Together we built the ultimate DIY fiesta under the stars. I'm still dreaming about my friend and fellow MODE owner, Kelly Moorleghem's mouth-watering homemade birria, which she generously shared her secret recipe with us. 

After dinner we circled up around the campfire, where fellow MODE owner Jill Nederlof shared a fun idea she'd tried at another meetup: everyone taking a turn to share how they found their way into van life. The stories shared were full of laughter, heartfelt moments, raw emotions and deep inspiration. True beautifully real moments we all experienced during the weekend. We hugged and said our goodbyes to those who had to hit the road early. 

On our final morning, I had planned a sweet little "high tea and pastries" send-off, but plans shifted when we found out Joy's van had unexpectedly shut off as she was heading out on the trail. Luckily she wasn't alone, her sister and daughter were with her. A few ladies texted suggestions on what could be the issue and how to possibly resolve it. We quickly packed up camp and hit the road to meet her. We took a different route out that treated us to not one, but two fun river crossings. "My girls motorcade showed up just as the tow driver was done, then something spectacular happened! They waited for me and gave me the most beautiful goodbye! This is the true meaning of sisterhood!" - Joy. We lined up and gave a big wave and a maybe salute as our fallen soldier cruised past on the tow truck- total movie moment vibes. One for the books and definitely a story we'll be laughing about for years. We were all so grateful the van let her have her little adventure and waited until after to call it quits.

The overlanding community is already something special, but when women come together in this space, there's a unique kind of magic. There's a connection, a community and a sense of "me-too, I'm out here doing it." We lifted each other up, shared stories and left with new friendships, a deeper sense of confidence, and created the kind of memories that remind us we're strong, capable, and totally meant to be out here doing this. 

What a joy it was to bring this crew of gals together and watch the magic organically unfold. Let me tell you, it was everything I hoped for and more. To the badass women who wildly joined me on this adventure, thank you so much for such a stellar weekend. The only bittersweet part? Watching the caravan slowly shrink as everyone heads off their own way, but your heart feels full, your soul recharged, and you just know you'll cross paths again soon. Cheers to the ex-passenger princesses, the first-time off-roaders, and the brave souls who took their 'husband's van' out and to the seasoned solo women travelers- doing it scared, venturing on and spreading all the good vibes. This won't be the last all-ladies adventure: a new collaboration is in the works with more details coming soon. Until then... let's go gals!

At Storyteller Overland, our SOUL mission has always been to serve with purpose; to reach out, uplift and love the people and communities around us—especially in our own backyard. That’s why we were honored to recently team up with the Mid-Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross for a day of service focused on home fire safety.

Together, with Red Cross volunteers and team members from Storyteller Overland, we visited homes across Birmingham to install 25 smoke alarms in residences that did not have working detectors. It was a powerful, hands-on opportunity to give back and support a mission that truly saves lives. Each alarm we installed represents peace of mind for a family and a step forward in fire prevention and emergency preparedness in our community.

As a new board member with the Mid-Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross, I felt incredibly proud to see my two worlds—community leadership and the Storyteller crew—come together in such a meaningful way. Service like this reminds us that adventure isn’t always found in the most far-off places. Sometimes, the most important journeys begin at home.

A huge thanks to the team members who rolled up their sleeves, rang doorbells and made each installation a chance to connect and care. This is just the beginning of how Storyteller Overland and the American Red Cross can continue working together to protect and empower our neighbors.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference, start right where you are. One simple yet powerful way to help is by donating blood, a lifesaving act that is critically needed across the country. Whether you give an hour, a pint or your presence at a community event, every action counts. Let’s continue to uplift and love the people around us. Because the best adventures are the ones where we show up for each other.

Please note some events require ticket purchase and/or pre-registration.

June 21 - 22
AVE - St. Helens, OR

June 27 - 29
Overland Expo PNW - Redmond, OR

July 26 - 27
AVE Evergreen - Evergreen, CO 

August 16 - 17 
AVE Bozeman - Bozeman, MT

August 22 - 24
Overland Expo Mountain West
Loveland, CO

Please note some events require ticket purchase and/or pre-registration.

June 21 - 22 - AVE St. Helens - St. Helens, OR
June 27 - 29 - Overland Expo PNW - Redmond, OR
July 26 - 27 - AVE Evergreen - Evergreen, CO
August 16 - 17 - AVE Bozeman - Bozeman, MT
August 22 - 24 - Overland Expo Mountain West - Loveland, CO