Escaping routine
Fridays often mean one thing for Tiffany Nguyen, an adventure travel photographer from Los Angeles. The weekday grind is rewarded with a weekend release, often somewhere with plenty of clean air, space to think and landscapes to capture on her camera.
Backpack full of camera gear packed, and a Dometic camping vehicle ready to go, Tiffany heads out towards Joshua Tree National Park.
“Escaping both the city and ordinary life is the perfect excuse to go on an adventure. Breaks like this definitely drive me to work hard during the week so I can play harder on the weekends. ”
Making the most of time
Little to no signal in the desert isn’t going to be a problem, as the aim for the weekend is to get off the beaten path and see something new. After settling into her camping pitch at Indian Cove Campground, Tiffany laces up her boots and heads out to explore.
“During the day, we checked out Boy Scout Trail, Cholla Cactus Garden, and Indian Cove Nature Trail. There were tons of spots to explore right by our campground with unique formations of rocks and Joshua trees surrounding us.”
Packed, but playful days are exactly what’s needed after a week of appointments and deadlines back in L.A. All the desert asks for when you are visiting is to enjoy wandering, without the pressure to tick anything in particular off. And one of the best things to do while in the Joshua Tree National Park area is to seek out beautiful photographs of unspoilt views and appreciate the vast amount of free space awarded in any direction.
Comfort unlocks experience
Tiffany sees her camp as the central hub to linked experiences. For her, being out here is less about survival and more about the lifestyle. With everything set up and ready to go, Tiffany leans into the kind of moments that turn a short trip into something memorable. Meals become a highlight of the day, not just for the food itself, but for the ritual around it.
“We had so many epic meals!” From mouth watering pork tenderloin and NY strip steak, to french toast and breakfast burritos. The weekend was an excuse to feast freely. All of the food Tiffany cooked on the Dometic 2 Cook 3 Pro Cooker, proving that it is truly capable of delivering around the clock.
The Dometic equipped camping car was carrying everything needed for Tiffany to enjoy a weekend in the wild. The less she had to worry about the gear, meant the more she could enjoy just being out there. The ease of the setup plays a big part in that. With the Dometic pop-up roof tent inflating in seconds using the external battery, there’s no time lost wrestling with gear.
Between meals, there’s space for small moments too. S’mores by the fire and a quick game of pickleball set against the desert backdrop, before tucking up in her sleeping bag to stare out at the stars reaching out overhead.
“The Dometic gear made us feel like we were home. My favorite items were definitely the pop up rooftop tent, the hydration faucet and jug, and the external battery. ”
Reset and inspiration
“Being in nature and the outdoors allows me to reset and recharge. There’s something about being out there which brings me peace.”
For Tiffany, the outdoors isn’t about pushing limits or setting the fastest known times. For her, a weekend in nature looks more like time to slow down and reconnect to herself. With such incredible locations within a few hours drive of the city, visiting them serves to refill Tiffany with renewed inspiration that continues to shape her creativity back at work.
