Grown Locally: Sleep Outside Tonight offers a van camping experience.

Grown Locally: Sleep Outside Tonight offers a van camping experience.

Grown Locally is presented by House of Flavors Restaurant of Ludington and features locally owned businesses and locally produced products.

By Katie Provenzano, MCP Correspondent

LUDINGTON – Melissa Alvarado did not grow up camping. She embraced the culture as an adult, even tent camping alone in winter weather. “That’s when I fell in love with being outside,” Alvarado said, adding that tent camping solo isn’t for everyone. Alvarado started a van rental business, Sleep Outside Tonight, providing a way for others to experience the joy of outdoors with the safety and convenience of traveling in a van.

Alvarado found Paulie, her 2006 Freightliner Sprinter, on a used van website in November of 2021. Paulie was in Utah and required a plane ride out and a drive back to Ludington. This trip was a chance for Alvarado and Paulie to be acquainted.

With the help of interior designer Tammy Gerber, Alvarado gave Paulie functional and aesthetic upgrades. The folded queen mattress was replaced with three separate mattress cushions that serve as a couch when the bed frame is pushed back. Decorative pillows are filled with blankets and bedsheets for easy access at bedtime. The small kitchen houses a Keurig coffee maker, cookware, dishes, silverware, and a small oven with a gas range. Alvarado insulated Paulie with New Zealand wool keeping the interior warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

The van’s electricity including lights, outlets, and heat are all solar-powered. Even a small fridge hidden under the bench at the kitchen table is powered by the sun.

Alvarado has learned a lot about RV rentals since purchasing Paulie. From 2019 to 2021, campers booking on peer-to-peer websites has increased from 6% to 10%.

Camping and glamping enthusiasts can book Paulie on outdoorsy.com (https://www.outdoorsy.com/rv-rental/ludington_mi/2006_freightliner_sprinter_268413-listing) and rvshare.com (https://rvshare.com/rvs/details/1599609). Search for Ludington and look for Paulie. Alvarado will deliver Paulie as far as the Grand Rapids airport. Paulie is equipped with two seat belts and sleeps two adults in her queen bed. Don’t leave your furry friends at home; dogs are welcome to join in on the adventure!

Grown Locally is presented by House of Flavors Restaurant, 402 W. Ludington Ave., owned locally by the Neal family for over 70 years; 231.845.5785; Facebook.  

If you would like to make a suggestion for a locally owned business, service or product to be featured on Mason County Press, please send an email to Rob Alway, editor-in-chief: editor@masoncountypress.com.

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454. 

This story is copyrighted © 2022, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.