We’re currently living in our Dodge Ram Promaster City with a Wayfarer Van Conversion Kit and recently wrote a story about van life workouts. Many of you wrote in wanting to know more so we decided to follow up with some more workout ideas. The following activities are things you can do at rest stops, gas stations, parking lots … basically anywhere you can find when you’re traveling. After a long day on the road we often can’t wait to stretch our bodies and move around a bit. Here’s how we maintain fitness on the road: Van Life Exercises (Round Two!)
Workout gear essentials:
Extra Thick Exercise Mat with Carrying Strap
Water / Water Bottle
Comfortable clothes
Shoes
Are you ready for Van Life Workouts?
As you would with any other fitness routine or regimen, consult your physician to make sure this is a healthy option for you. Consider working with a personal trainer to make sure your form is correct and, as always, be sure to workout in a safe area. If you’re in a parking lot, make sure you are visible to other drivers and not putting yourself in harm’s way.
Mountain Climbers
To perform mountain climbers, get into the pushup position. Then, bring one of your legs up towards your chest while the other one stays extended. Switch positions and repeat 20 times for each leg or for time. Try not to let your back arch or sag. Activate your core and keep your body moving!
High Knees
Get those knees up, y’all! Try to do 2 or 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions. Use your arms to help drive your knees up and do them as quick as possible. Aim to get your thigh parallel to the ground.
Get your knees up, y’all!
Butt Kickers
This one is performed just like it sounds. In rapid succession, kick your butt! Aim for another 2 or 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions.
Time to kick some butt!
Carioca
Also known as grapevine, this is one of those van life exercises that might make you think of middle school physical education. It involves moving laterally and placing one foot in front of the other as you go sideways. Take it slow at first and then go faster as you feel more comfortable with it. We typically carioca for about 20 feet in both directions.
Legs Up the Van!
Grab your mat for this one (or park in a grassy area) and literally lean your legs up against the van. This is not an active exercise so much as it is a stretch. It feels great after a lot of driving as well as after long hikes and runs.
Love the way this exercise feels!
Trunk twists
Make your legs about shoulder width apart. Rotate your trunk slowly until you feel a slight pulling in your abs. Repeat!
Work your core!
Line Jumps
In this photo we’re using a surfboard leash. Use whatever you have in your van. A clothesline or some rope will do. If you don’t have any of those things you can always just draw a line in the sand or dirt. The idea is to jump as quickly as possible for 30 seconds at a time without losing any intensity. Do one round front to back and one round side to side.
Van Life Dips
Open the back doors of your vehicle for this exercise. Slowly lower yourself until your arms are 90 degrees. Do not go lower than 90 degrees because it can be bad for your shoulders. Aim to do 12 to 15 repetitions. If one set is not enough, add more.
Sprints
Walk out 15 paces from the bumper of your van and lay something in the dirt to mark the distance. (Kudos to you if you want to go further than 15 paces.) We laid the surfboard leash in the ground but a shoe or something else from your van works just as good. Put one hand on the bumper of your van and then sprint to the marker. Touch it and head back to the van. Repeat. We do ten and it thoroughly kicks our butt every single time.
Staying Healthy and Fit While Traveling
Getting enough exercise while on the road can be hard to do. But with a game plan, determination and motivation, traveling shouldn’t impede your fitness. Some might argue that you can manage to not only maintain your fitness but improve it.
If you liked this post, be sure to check out our first go-round of Van Life Workouts. Oh and if you’re ready to update your gear or are interested in learning about some of our favorite workout items, check out some of our favorite exercise gear HERE.
Looking for a bit of motivation? Check out how we do find motivation on a daily basis HERE.
Are you taking your vacation time in Ocean City and the Delaware beaches? If so, chances are you’re going to want to go out at least once for a beer for four (or more?) We’ve put together a list of the best bars in Ocean City and the Delaware beaches for you to help you pick the perfect place to grab a drink at the beach.
Bethany Beach
- Bethany Boathouse – close to downtown, easy to park and a hop, skip and a jump from Sea Colony.
- FIN’s Alehouse and Raw Bar – Their happy hour features $2.50 domestic bottles and all kinds of seafood. If you like peel and eat shrimp, raw oysters, or fish and chips, come grab a beer and a bite.
- Mango’s – Their signature drink, the Mango Margarita has left me feeling good on many an occasion. And their “No Shower Happy Hour” means you can come as you are, sandy feet and all. Plus, Happy Hour goes from 1pm – 6pm!
Dewey Beach
- Bottle and Cork – Start hydrating well in advance if you know you’re headed here. Never had a bad time here and seen a lot of great live music.
- Dewey Beer Company – They brew their own beers on site and some of them are strong. Real strong. Like 12% strong.
- Nalu – If you’re looking for a little bit of Hawaiian at the beach, this is the place.
- Northbeach – Spent a good bit of my twenties here. It’s right on the water and you can literally get your feet in the sand. Plus there’s free tacos on Friday.
- Starboard – They have a Make Your Own Bloody Mary bar right in the heart of downtown Dewey. Discount on tequila on Thursdays.
Fenwick Island
- Catch 54 – Sweet location on the water and a little fancy. The perfect place to go on a date. Plus they have a lot of wine to choose from.
- Harpoon Hannah’s – This has been one of my favorite places to hang out for years. They have a tiki bar that sits right out on the water and a pretty big bar indoors when the weather isn’t cooperating.
- Smitty McGee’s – Specials every day of the week. Saturday’s and Sunday’s are a bloody mess with bloody mary’s starting at $6.99.
Ocean City
- Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon – Any Pittsburgh fans in the house? This bar is your home away from home. Come on in and cheer your Steeler’s on.
- Dead Freddie’s – It’s kid friendly. The kids have their own separate play area so the adults can chill and watch the game on several of their large TV’s.
- Fager’s Island – Live music, a great view and tons of craft brews to choose from.
- Fish Tales – A dock bar. The very best kind. Watch boats come in and out, hang out on the water and relax in their sky chairs.
- Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill – wanna drink on the beach? You’ve come to the right spot. Plus, they have a happy hour from 3-6 (bar and cocktail lounge only) where canned beers are $3.00!
- Purple Moose Saloon – Live music/entertainment every night of the week. AC/DC, Judas Priest, and Alice in Chains cover bands rule the roost here.
- Ropewalk – Crushes, slushies, beer and wine, heck they even have Frosé.
- Seacrets – Does it really need any explaining? Jamaica, USA is has so many bars and stages that you can get lost inside (or out) if you’re not careful. You can literally spend an entire day here (and people do!) Float in a tube, pull up in your boat, dance, drink, eat…Seacrets has been drawing people to Ocean City for years.
- Skye Bar – Drink up on the roof! Join them for their Big Champagne Happy hour which is from 11:30am – 3pm when you can get half price bottles of Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon and Veuve Clicquot.
- The Original Greene Turtle – The Greene Turtle has expanded to several states but the original is located in Ocean City. Come on out for some beers, wings and maybe leave with a Green Turtle t-shirt.
Lewes
- Irish Eyes Pub and Restaurant – On the water. Happy hour with $2.50 domestic drafts. Fish and chips. Guinness. Life is good at Irish Eyes.
- Kindle – Cocktails and $2.00 Natty Boh’s.
- On the Rocks – Drink at the Cape May Lewes Ferry. No, really. The patio is sweet and you can watch the boats come and go.
- The Pig and Publican – Lots of wine, lots of craft beer and a handful of specialty martinis.
Rehoboth Beach
- Aqua Grill – Gay friendly and drag brunches. Need we say more?!
- Arena’s Deli – Come to drink and watch sports. Order the nachos. Trust me.
- Big Chill Surf Cantina – If you like a beachy, surf board kind of vibe, this is the place for you. Plus they’ve got tons of beers and a really good lemon crush.
- Dogfish Head Brewery – Dogfish head beer was the first craft brew I ever drank. Their new space in downtown Rehoboth now includes an outside patio.
- Purple Parrot Grill – Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 3-6PM at the bar. And it’s half off! Plus there’s karaoke several nights a week as well as a drag show on Sundays.
- Rehoboth Ale House – 20 draft beers, open mic comedy nights. And the shows never have a cover.
- The Pond Bar and Grill – Trivia night is a fun thing to do here. Had so much fun one night I left my sweatshirt there lol. LGBTQ friendly.
Bonus:
Burley Oak Brewing Company – It’s not really at the beach but you should make a special trip to visit this brewery in Berlin, Maryland. The beers are freaking delicious and they make a big can of root beer for anyone wanting to be the designated driver.
Best Bars in Ocean City and the Delaware Beaches
How many of these bars have you been to?! Looking for a place to eat after drinking? Or before? Check out or Best Places to Eat in Ocean City and the Delaware Beaches. We’ve also got a list of the Best Things to Do in Ocean City as well as 25 Free Things to Do in OC and the DE Beaches. Give ’em a look and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below!
Oh and if you haven’t left yet, be sure to check out our story on the Things to Know Before Visiting Ocean City and the Delaware Beaches.
Before you pack the car and head for the shore, check out our story on the things to know before visiting Ocean City and the Delaware Beaches! We’ve got you covered on the best time to visit, packing, parking and of course, travel tips.
Best time to Visit Ocean City and the DE Beaches
Honestly, it depends. Here’s the breakdown of reasons.
Fall: The water is still warm in the fall and the crowds have dropped off a bit making fall a wonderful time of year to visit.
Spring: Many a spring breaker has shrieked when they dip their toes in the water. The water temperature hovers in the high fifties and low sixties often until mid-June. Still it’s a great time to visit and get out on the water for boating, fishing, kayaking, etc. even if you’re not getting IN it.
Summer: The most popular and busy time of year to visit the beach is in the summer. Memorial Day weekend kicks off the start of the summer and things (traffic, tourists, wait times in restaurants) steadily increases until July 4 and doesn’t really let up until kids go back to school. Labor Day is the official end of summer and Bethany Beach even has a funeral procession to mark another great season. Locals tend to breathe a sigh of relief once the population shrinks back to off-season/shoulder season numbers but many have remarked that the shoulder season gets longer and longer. There are a number of events that tend to bring people back to the beach.
Winter: If you visit in the winter you’ll most likely be able to get a place to stay for fraction of the cost. Though not all of the restaurants are open, those that are often have great specials. And though you might have to bundle up for a stroll on the beach there’s something really sweet about seeing the surf in the cold.
Packing List for the Beach:
Sunscreen: No matter what season you visit, pack sunscreen. Even in the off-season, the sun can be strong and the last thing you want to ruin your trip is a bad sunburn.
Layers: Mornings and evenings by the water can be cool so make sure you have something you can add after the sun goes down.
Flip flops: Okay so you might not be able to rock flip flops in the winter, but you can almost definitely get away with them in the summer.
Casual clothes: Pretty much anything goes at the beach. There are some restaurants that are pretty fancy but if you’re looking for a place with a laid back, anything goes kind of vibe, this is it.
For more info on what to pack, head on over to our Beach Packing Guide
Getting to OCMD and the Delaware Beaches:
There’s a tiny airport in Salisbury/Ocean City that you can fly into. American Airlines flies into the Salisbury Regional Airport six times a day. Give them a look if you want to get to the beach without a whole lot of driving. It’s 27 miles to the beaches once you touch down. In addition you can rent a car at the airport!
Most people drive and have to battle the Bay Bridge. If you’ll be driving to the beach, make sure you check the Bay Bridge website before you leave. They have several web cams that show you the traffic in real time. They also show you lane closures and report delays. If you can’t get to a computer you can also call the phone number which also gives updated traffic reports. 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726). For those of you who have traveled this way before, you know that timing is everything. Leave early or leave late, especially on weekends. Don’t make the mistake of many a tourist who leaves mid-morning and then sits in traffic for hours waiting their turn to cross the bridge. Uh uh.
Travel Tips
If you have an EZ Pass bring it with you! These lanes often go a tad faster than the cash only lanes. Don’t have one? Get one HERE.
Go the speed limit. There are speed traps all over the place on the way to the beach.
Ocean City Parking:
In the off-season, you can park for free. Once April 1 arrives, however, you’ve got to feed the meter (up until October 31) or use the Parkmobile app. For more specific parking information about Ocean City go HERE.
Fenwick Island Parking:
Fees begin May 15 and end September 15. More parking information is located HERE. Their system uses parking permits but the permits don’t guarantee you a spot. Be sure to check their site for more info.
Bethany Beach Parking:
You must pay for parking from May 15 to September 15. Outside of that window it’s free! Bethany also uses the Parkmobile app. For more information about parking in Bethany, head HERE.
Rehoboth Beach Parking:
Rehoboth Beach has parking permits, meters and also uses the Parkmobile app however not all methods are available at all locations. Parking fees begin the Friday before Memorial Day and continue through the second Sunday following Labor Day. Fees are in effect from 10am to midnight. In addition, all 30 minute parking spots are enforced year round! Avoid the ticket and feed the meter! Click HERE to learn more about Rehoboth Beach Parking.
Want to go out but don’t want to drive? We don’t blame you! The good thing is, Uber and Lyft are both available at the beach.
Are the beaches guarded?
Yes! Beaches are guarded in Ocean City the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. They’re guarded up until Sunfest weekend which is typically the third weekend following Labor Day (September.) This year the last day of guarded beaches in Ocean City is Sunday, September 24. Guards are on duty every day from 10am to 5:30pm.
The beach patrol in Bethany Beach guards from Memorial Day Saturday until Labor Day Monday and weekends throughout September. Typical hours are 10am – 5pm but weekend hours are 9:30am to 5:30pm except for weekends in September which are 10am to 5pm.
Fenwick Island beach patrol guards from 10:00am -5pm from Memorial Day weekend and the first weekend in June. They go full time starting on June 10 until Labor Day Weekend. September weekend hours are determined per weather conditions and staffing.
The Rehoboth Beach Patrol guards on weekdays from 10am – 5pm and on weekends and Holidays from 10am- 5:30pm.
Other Things to Know for Visiting OC and the Delaware Beaches
If you love shopping, you’ve come to the right place. You can shop tax free in Delaware and there are tons of outlets in Rehoboth to visit.
Crabbing season in Maryland began April 1 this year. To find out more about crabbing and rules and regulations about catching you own, visit the Maryland DNR site HERE. To learn more about crabbing in Delaware waters, go HERE.
Old Bay Seasoning 6 oz each (1 Item Per Order) is a seasoning and we put it on everything! Chips, popcorn, french fries and of course, CRABS! If you’re crazy about Old Bay, check out this Old Bay Limited Edition Baseball Cap Hat.
Last call at bars for drinks in Delaware is 1am and last call in Maryland is 2am.
When it’s time to leave, check the Bay Bridge Website again and leave early or leave late.
Watch for turtles, tourists, bikers and runners on route one when driving. Ocean City recently installed a fence in the median to discourage people from cutting across the road but some have decided to go under it. Keep your eyes peeled and stay alert.
Things to Know Before Visiting Ocean City and the Delaware Beaches
What did you think about our list of things to know before visiting the beach? Did we miss anything? We’d love to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments below. And if you found this interesting, be sure to check out the Best Places to Eat at the Maryland and Delaware Beaches, 53 Fun Things to Do, 25 Free Things to Do. You might also be interested in How to Avoid a Tourist Trap!