#Vanlife Date Experience

Back in April, we had the opportunity to experience a 2-night #vanlife date through our partnership with Nomad Be Happy.

We got to immerse ourselves in the outdoor scene that makes Chattanooga so lovable, and we soaked up some relaxing and refreshing time together.

We highly recommend booking a van with Nomad Be Happy for a 2- or 3-night date experience that you will never forget.

Nomad Be Happy offers a unique vantage point to explore Chattanooga and beyond. We loved the chance to get away and into nature, without the hassle of tent camping and all the packing and preparation it requires. They’ve truly thought of everything to include in their van rentals, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy.

We also loved that we were able to “get away” without even having to leave the Chattanooga area. Our beloved city is rich with amazing experiences and date spots, so a staycation like this allowed us to unplug and explore while still taking advantage of the unique charm of Chattanooga along the way.

Based on our van life experience with Nomad Be Happy, we’ve personally curated a Chattanooga Van Life Date Plan for you to enjoy on your own van adventure. Check out your itinerary below.

Nomad Be Happy Van Life Date Itinerary

Day ①

• Pickup van & drive to first campsite at Cloudland Canyon

• Pitstop at Goodman Coffee in St. Elmo

• Check-in, settle into campsite, & explore

• Play Disc Golf

• Dinner & s’mores over campfire + stargazing

• Cozy up for sleep in the van

Day ②

• Morning French press coffee & breakfast

• Hiking at Cloudland

• Clean up, pack up, & drive out

• Lunch at Naked River Brewing

• Drive to Harrison Bay State Park, check-in, settle into campsite, & explore

• Get out on the water (rent a kayak or SUP) or fish from the shore

• Dinner over camping grill

• Warm chai + watch the sunset over the water

• Relax by the campfire

• Turn-in for van sleeping

Day ③

• Morning French press coffee & breakfast

• Nature walk via the Bay Point Loop or Lakeshore Loop

• Back on the water or fishing

• Lunch

• Relax in a hammock next to the water

• Clean up, pack up, & drive out

• Dinner at Taqueria Jalisco Ania & drop off van

Bonus: Day ④

Personally, we would have loved to extend our stay at Harrison Bay an extra night for more time to relax by the water. Our campsite was so peaceful, and we truly enjoyed just being present with no agenda.

We highly suggest including a 3rd night in your van rental so that you can enjoy less time constraints and spend more time at your site doing what refreshes you - reading, hammocking, hiking, kayaking, etc. with the person you love.

Preparation, Packing, & Food Tips

Each van rental with Nomad Be Happy comes with a swag bag full of amazing products from Chattanooga local vendors. The contents of each bag are a surprise, but we can at least asure you there will be yummy snacks, fresh Goodman Coffee beans, and Nomad Be Happy & partners swag.

In addition to the items included in your van rental + the contents of your swag bag, we recommend packing these items below for your experience.

Items You’ll Need:

• Compact wardrobe for hiking, water fun, relaxing at the campsite, and getting dinner out

• Toiletries, Shower Shoes, Towel, etc.

  • Both Cloudland Canyon and Harrison Bay had clean and excellent accommodations for showering; you won’t need to “rough it” if you don’t want to.

• Sunscreen & Bug Spray

• Firewood & Flashlight

• Propane for the tabletop 2 burner grill (1 green camping canister of propane)

• Trash bags

• Dish soap & sponge

  • No need to pack pots, pans, plates, bowls, cups, cooking utensils, or silverware - these are included in your van rental.

• Drinking Water & Other Preferred Drinks

• Food for Meals & Snacks - See our recommendations below.

Food & Drink Tips:

• Breakfast

  • Pastries from Poppytons Patisserie or Niedlov’s Bakery & Cafe.

  • Instant Oatmeal (electric water kettle included in your van rental) & Fresh Fruit

  • Eggs, Hash Browns, Bacon, etc. to cook over the fire or camping stove (small refrigerator, pots, pans, utensils, etc. included in your van rental)

C O F F E E

A bag of Goodman Coffee will be included in your van rental swag bag. The coffee grinder, water kettle, and French press are also included in your van rental.

Lunch & Dinner

• Pre-Made meals

  • We recommend ordering some FitFuel Chatt Meals** - these meals are delicious and already pre-cooked, so all you have to do is heat them over the camper stove and enjoy.

    • **FitFuel Chatt Meals are prepped and easy to heat in a pan over the fire or a portable camp stove. A ramekin with flavored stock is included to easily bring to a boil & add the food for thorough heating. Meals are packaged in 100% compostable and environmentally friendly containers. These meals are great for less experienced campers and make mealtime easy.

• Plan and pack some Campfire Meals or make some pre-made meals of your own.

  • Easy (& cheap) options are pre-packaged meals like cup-o-noodles, ramen noodles, ready rice, etc.

• Make pitstops between campsites on your travel days at great spots like Naked River Brewing, Taqueria Jalisco Ania, Proof Bar & Incubator, etc.

Snacks

• In addition to some of the scrumptious snacks that will be included in your van rental swag bag, we also love having some of these snacks handy:

  • Flavored nuts from Seahorse Snacks

  • Chocolate from Coco Asante

  • Hot sauce from Hoff & Pepper

• Drinks

  • In addition to the coffee and beer that will be included in your van rental swag bag, we love having some of these drinks handy:

    • Fresh lemonade from MoLemonade

    • Chai from Chei-man Tea

Camping Preparation Tips:

• Reserve Campsites

  • To camp at Harrison Bay State Park, make your own reservations in advance, unless prearranged with Nomad Be Happy. 

  • To camp at Cloudland Canyon State Park, make your own reservations in advance, unless prearranged with Nomad Be Happy.

• Reserve Kayak or SUP rentals

  • Rusty’s Kayak and Paddleboards for Harrison Bay

• Order food & snacks (see suggestions above)

• Scope any pitstops you’d like to make along the way

• Prepare to unplug

  • Especially at Cloudland Canyon, be prepared to be in and out of phone service. Go ahead and download your campsite map just in case.

Ultimately, our desire at TDI is to see you and your relationship thrive.

We hope you enjoy your Van Life Date Experience and look forward to seeing your posts about how you’re going and growing together. (Be sure to tag us @thedatinginitiative).

Happy Dating!

With Love,

Jen & Adam, The Dating Initiative