From Stealth to Seen: The Pink Sloth Gets Her Name

Parked in the heart of Whistler, feeling sneaky (but not too sneaky). Turns out pink buses can’t fly under the radar.

Before heading out to the Sunshine Coast, we spent a few days in Whistler — squeezing in some of our last ski days of the season using our Epic Passes. The sun was out, the snow was soft, and we soaked up every bit of spring on the slopes. Blackcomb closes the third weekend of May, so we were riding the season right to the finish line.

Four hearts, one slope, endless memories.

We parked for the night right in the heart of Whistler Village, lulled to sleep by the quiet hum of a mountain town settling in. The view was stunning, the location perfect, and for a moment, it felt like we’d found our own little pocket of peace.

We weren’t alone—at least two dozen other motorhomes shared the lot with us. It felt like an unofficial gathering of spring skiing enthusiasts, all soaking up the last sunny days on the slopes before the season’s end. The energy in the air made the night feel even more exciting.

We’d later learn that, as of May 1st, overnight parking in Whistler day lots is allowed—but sleeping in your vehicle is not.

At 7:24 the next morning, our peaceful bubble burst with a loud, jarring knock—a police-style knock—at the door. I shot upright, heart pounding, immediately knowing something was wrong. The knock was firm, almost aggressive, and it startled all of us. The girls were wide-eyed, still bundled up in bed, and clearly scared.

There’s a unique kind of panic that comes when someone threatens your home—especially when that home has wheels.

To our surprise (and relief), we were only given a warning: sleeping in your vehicle isn’t permitted, and next time it’s a $100 fine. Turns out, Whistler isn’t exactly a fan of overnight van dwellers in the village core… even the quiet, friendly kind in a bright pink bus.

Turns out, even bright pink buses can’t hide from Whistler’s bylaw patrol. We got off with a warning — and a story to tell.

After that rocky start, we decided to turn the day around with a little treat: bacon and eggs cooked outside in the sunshine at Blackcomb Base 2. Bellies full and spirits lifted, we headed into the village for a spontaneous mini shopping spree.

We had parked in Lot P7—free parking, by the way! (Lots P6 to P8 at Blackcomb Base 2 are all free)—and took the gondola that drops you right into the heart of the action.

Moments like this — all together, sun on our faces, adventure ahead. This is what we came for.

And wouldn’t you know it? The very first shop we saw was Lululemon — a well-loved Canadian brand known for its sleek, comfortable activewear. From yoga gear to cozy layers, it's the kind of place where you walk in “just to look” and walk out feeling like you suddenly needed a new wardrobe.

The girls had never been before and were absolutely over the moon. I found a pair of pants and a shirt pretty quickly, but they were most excited about the bags. To make sure it was really what they wanted, I suggested we walk around the village a bit before deciding. Élyssa was sure of her choice from the start, while Arielle kept changing her mind every few shops.

Honestly, it made the moment even sweeter knowing we hadn’t really done much shopping in a long time. For months, we’d been preparing for this trip — carefully watching our spending, buying only what we truly needed, and keeping things minimal because we knew space in the bus would be tight.

We were focused on saving up, being intentional, and making the dream happen.

So taking this moment to explore, try things on, and treat ourselves felt like a small celebration of how far we’ve come — not just in kilometers, but in commitment, planning, and trust in our journey.

It wasn’t just a shopping spree. It was a little exhale, a joyful pause, and a reminder that making room for delight is part of the adventure too.

We usually stick to secondhand — it’s better for the planet, and it helps us save for the kind of experiences that matter most to us, like this trip. But today, we made an exception. The girls each picked something they loved at Lululemon, and their excitement was contagious. A little splurge, a lot of smiles, and a reminder that joy and intention can live side by side.

After Simon and our nephew Alexis lapped the mountain 7 or 8 times — weaving through the Crystal trees and riding the Blackcomb snowpark and halfpipe — I managed to squeeze in one last ski run of my own while they took the girls for BeaverTails.

For anyone unfamiliar, BeaverTails are a classic Canadian treat — deep-fried dough pastries stretched to the shape of a beaver tail, served warm and topped with all kinds of sweet goodness, from cinnamon sugar to chocolate and banana. They’re sticky, delicious, and pretty much the ultimate mountain-day reward.

They held down the fort, I got one glorious solo run. Small moment, big reset.

Everyone got treated in the best way.

It felt like the perfect Whistler day — each of us soaking up the mountain and village in our own way before heading off to the next leg of our journey.

Crystal Glide Whistler Blackcomb

They may not be competing, but they’re winning in all the ways that count — mountain air, big laughs, and cousin adventures.

And just before we left town… we finally did it.

The decals are on, and The Pink Sloth is officially out in the world. And honestly? I didn’t expect to feel so… exposed.

It’s just a decal — and also a declaration. This is us. This is our bus. And we’re all in.

It’s one thing to laugh and stay anonymous while traveling with your family and soaking up the moments. It’s another thing entirely to make it visible — to say, “This is us. This is our bus. This is our story.”

Truthfully, part of me wondered if we were being silly. If the money spent on decals should’ve gone toward something more “practical.” But then I remembered:

We did this for the joy.

For the fun of it.

For the connections it creates.

For the memories we’re making — the ones our kids will never forget.

For the smiles when someone catches a glimpse of the pink sloth rolling by.

And maybe, just maybe — for the courage it takes to be seen when you're choosing a different path.

Already, after just a few stops, people were asking about The Pink Sloth.

“Is it a company?”

“Do you sell something?”

We laughed — nope, just a family chasing slow days and big memories in a bright pink bus.

Turns out, visibility sparks curiosity. And that’s exactly what we hoped for.

So here we are: slowing down, showing up, and trusting that visibility can be its own kind of magic.

No, we don’t have it all figured out — but we’re rolling forward with love, a bit of guts, and a whole lot of pink.

Life is meant to be fun. To be enjoyed. To have room for creativity and play — even if it doesn’t always feel “practical.” And sometimes I forget that. I default to what’s sensible, what’s efficient, what feels safe.

But The Pink Sloth is our reminder to color outside the lines. To choose joy. To be seen. And to make space for the kind of moments that make this life unforgettable.

Rolling south on the Sea-to-Sky Highway that day felt both familiar and freshly eccentric. With the decals now gleaming and our minds full of unknowns, we were on our way to catch the ferry in Horseshoe Bay.

Dinner’s on, the kids are off playing, and the Pink Sloth is freshly dressed and ready to turn heads. This is our kind of five-star evening.

There’s something strangely tender about it — feeling proud and excited about The Pink Sloth finally being “out there,” while also feeling nervous… and honestly, a little silly. It’s just a decal, right? But it’s also so much more. It’s saying yes to being seen. To choosing joy. To showing the world what matters to us — even if it’s pink and a bit quirky.

That kind of visibility feels both exhilarating and wildly vulnerable.

But maybe that’s part of the magic — because while we were busy second-guessing ourselves, the girls were already leaning all the way in. They’ve been telling their friends they feel like stars — because people keep stopping to take pictures of the bus. Turns out, when you roll up in pink… you don’t exactly blend in.

And honestly? We’re okay with that.

We’d never even heard the word stealth in the context of vanlife — not until a kind woman admiring our bus mentioned it in passing. She explained how many vanlifers try to stay unnoticed, to park quietly and blend in. We smiled, realizing we’d totally missed that memo.

No stealth mode here. Just a bright pink bus, a curious spirit, and a family choosing to be seen — imperfections, joy, decals and all.

💗 Huge thanks to the team at Cutting Edge in Whistler, who helped bring The Pink Sloth to life. They were kind, professional, and made the process easy — even when there was a little hiccup. While applying the front decal, someone accidentally stepped on the hood and left a couple of small dents. But they owned it right away and gave us a discount. We really appreciated their honesty, and overall, they did an amazing job. We’re so happy with the result.