As you may have seen in our last post, Madison and I recently visited TinyFest California, a three-day expo for all things tiny home. I first heard about TinyFest last year and was immediately excited to check it out. Being something of a DIY-er and a free spirit of sorts there is something about a tiny home that just speaks to me. I used to bug my ex-wife about tiny homes all the time when I was married, but it just wasn’t her bag. Now that I’m unattached, I continue to long for a tiny home but have been unsure of where to start. If you’re like me, TinyFest is where you should begin. It’s a great introduction to the Tiny Home and Van Life movements. 

It was interesting to find so many tiny home enthusiasts in one place. There was something distinctly offbeat, yet welcoming about the vibe there. Never before had I seen so many similar-looking vans each with something uniquely special about them on display for the entire world to see. As a kid, we actively avoided non-descript-looking vans out of fear of finding our way onto the side of a milk carton. 

These days you’re likely to find a kooky, if not endearing, nomad making their way cross-country on the road trip of a lifetime if you were to knock on the sliding door of a Sprinter or Transit van…though I’d still warn your kids to steer clear of strangers if I was you. Aaaaaannnnyyyy way… we met quite a few amazing people who willingly shared their experiences with vans, trailers, buses, and tiny homes including a wonderful couple who showed us the ins and out of DIY campers. 

Amongst the booths were many vendors eager to share their products with you, but never in an overbearing salesmen kind of way. Strolling through the Seaside Pavillion you can find several displays featuring different options of pre-fab Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as well as some adorable “glampers” in the ever-popular retro style. Mixed in are a handful of your local favorite Mary Kay and Scentsy ladies along with your typical street fair food vendors. 

All in all, I’d say TinyFest is worth checking out if you have even a remote interest in tiny homes. I’m looking forward to attending next year. Maybe by then, I’ll have something to contribute!

Would you ever live in a tiny home?