What Is Seasonal Work? How I Accidentally Built a Life Around It

If you had told 21-year-old me that one decision would lead to living in national parks, working on an island, snowboarding in record snowfall, and building a life around travel… I probably would have laughed.

But that’s exactly what seasonal work did for me.

This is the story of how I discovered seasonal life and how it completely changed the way I live, work, and travel.

When Life Started Feeling Too Small

Shortly after turning 21, life felt… repetitive.

Same town. Same routines. Same scenery. Same day, different date.

COVID had slowed everything down, and even though my life wasn’t bad, it felt stagnant. I was burnt out, craving new hikes, new views, new adventures, and a version of life that felt bigger than what I was living.

I didn’t want to escape my life, I just wanted to expand it.

So I made a bold choice and moved out of state to North Carolina.

Not because I had everything figured out… but because I trusted that something new was waiting for me.

The Night I Discovered Seasonal Work

Not long after that move, I was introduced to an idea that sounded almost unreal.

Working jobs that:

• Let you travel

• Provide housing

• Put you inside national parks, ski resorts, and islands

• Help you save money instead of spend it

That’s when I found CoolWorks, a website filled with seasonal jobs all over the U.S.

Resorts. National parks. Ski mountains. Island towns. Remote lodges.

I remember scrolling through listings thinking:

Wait… people actually live like this?

I was excited. Scared .And very tempted.

I didn’t even apply to multiple jobs.

One listing stopped me instantly.

Lake Powell Resort — Page, Arizona.

Living in a national park.$15 a week housing. Free boat rentals. Center of the Grand Circle.

It felt like the perfect first step.

So I applied.

Within a week, I had a Zoom interview.

And just like that… my life changed.

What Is Seasonal Work exactly?

Seasonal work is temporary employment at a business during its busiest season. Most seasonal jobs last anywhere from 3 to 6 months, though some can be shorter or extend longer depending on the location and demand.

These jobs are common at:

• National parks and resorts

• Ski mountains (winter seasons)

• Beach towns and islands (summer seasons)

• Hotels, lodges, and tour companies

Some positions are:

• Full-time for the season

• Part-time

• Summer-only or winter-only

Many seasonal jobs also offer:

• Employee housing (often subsidized and deducted from your paycheck)

• Free or discounted perks like ski passes, tours, or gear

• The chance to live and work in places most people only visit on vacation

For me, seasonal work became a way to travel, save money, and build experience, all while exploring new places across the country.

What I Thought Seasonal Life Would Be Like

Before leaving Michigan, I was terrified.

I had never been west of Kentucky.

I was nervous about:

• Money

• Housing

• Making friends

• Being alone

• Not liking the job

I was packing my entire life into a car and driving across the country to somewhere I had never even seen.

I thought it would just be another serving or bartending job.

I had no idea it would become a lifestyle.

My First Seasonal Job: Living Inside a National Park

Because housing was unusual during COVID, I didn’t even live in employee dorms. I lived in a hotel room overlooking Lake Powell.

Every morning I woke up to sunrise over the water.

Arizona surprised me immediately.

It snowed on my drive down.

Arizona… snowing.

Yes, Arizona is actually cold in early spring. I arrived in March, and those cooler days ended up being perfect for hiking and exploring before summer heat made it impossible to leave without a Hydro Flask.

My first job was breakfast serving.

4:00–4:30 a.m. wakeups.5 a.m. shifts. Absolutely not my personality.

But I worked hard, proved myself, and moved into night serving and bartending, much better shifts, much better energy.

And the adventures?

Unreal.

On my days off I:

• Took free boats out on Lake Powell

• Fished for striped bass

• Explored hidden coves and cliffs

• Bonfires on the beach with friends while locals made fresh Baja fish tacos

• Hiked slot canyons

• Road-tripped to Zion, Bryce, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon

I lived seven minutes from Horseshoe Bend.

Seven.

That’s when I realized something important:

This wasn’t just a job.

This was a completely different way to live.

What Seasonal Work Is REALLY Like (The Realities)

Let’s talk about the part people actually want to know.

Pay & Saving Money

Seasonal jobs vary a lot, but here’s what made the biggest difference for me:

• Hourly pay was higher than what I made in Michigan

• Housing was subsidized and deducted from paychecks

• No long commute, no big rent, fewer bills

At Lake Powell I made $10/hour plus tips, which was a huge upgrade from $2/hour server wages back home.

For the first time in my life, I had paychecks instead of only cash tips.

And for the first time in my life… I started saving.

Really saving.

Seasonal work taught me how to budget, manage money, and save more than I ever could before.

Housing (The Good & The Hard)

Most seasonal housing is shared.

Sometimes dorm-style. Sometimes apartments. Sometimes hotel rooms.

In Steamboat, I lived with five other girls in a two-bedroom apartment.

Three girls. One room. One closet. One bathroom.

In ski season.

With snow pants, jackets, boots, and layers everywhere.

It was tight.

But it was affordable and close the mountain.

And that’s what made everything else possible.

Many national parks also offer:

• Very low-cost housing

• RV and camper hookups

• Shared kitchens and common spaces

If you don’t like roommates, seasonal life can be challenging.

But if you can handle close quarters… it’s worth it.

From the Desert… to an Island

After five months at Lake Powell, I felt the itch again.

Time for something new.

A friend told me about a job opening on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles.

An island.

So I packed my car, road-tripped to Southern California (with a Vegas stop, obviously), and started my next season.

Catalina was magic.

Living on an island. Snorkeling on my days off. Paddleboarding in the bay. Working the Catalina Wine Mixer (yes, like the movie 😅).Seeing bison on island tours. Taking semi-submarine rides.

Housing was subsidized. Pay was great. The community was even better.

That island became my second home.

Ski Resorts, Powder Days & Wildlife Encounters

Next came winter seasons at ski resorts.

Steamboat Springs. Palisades Tahoe.

Free ski passes. Discounted rentals. Family ski days for $10.

My first real powder day changed me forever.

Gliding through fresh snow as it fell from the sky…

Whiteout conditions. Burning legs. Tree runs.

I was hooked.

And the wildlife?

I saw a momma moose and her baby standing on the ski hill.

Another day, I spotted an entire pack of elk nesting between condos from the gondola.

I raced down the mountain, grabbed my camera, and caught some of the most unforgettable photos of my life.

The Perks No One Tells You About

Every seasonal job comes with perks:

• Free ski passes

• Discounted gear

• Free tours

• Boat rentals

• Cheap housing / Subsidized housing

• Built-in friend groups

• Parties, trips, and memories you can’t plan

You meet people from all over the world, especially international workers on J-1 visas.

Your coworkers become your roommates. Your roommates become your travel buddies.

And suddenly… you have friends everywhere.

Who Seasonal Life Is PERFECT For

Seasonal work is amazing for people who are:

• Adventurous

• Open to change

• Comfortable being uncomfortable

• Curious about new places and cultures

• Interested in van life or travel lifestyles

It’s especially great if you:

• Want to travel on a budget

• Want to save money

• Love outdoor adventure

• Don’t want a traditional 9–5

  
  

Who It’s NOT Great For

Seasonal life is NOT ideal if you:

• Hate roommates

• Need personal space

• Struggle being far from home

• Need stability and routine

It’s not glamorous all the time.

It’s real life.

Just… in beautiful places.

What Seasonal Life Taught Me

Seasonal work taught me:

• How to trust change

• How to be independent

• How to budget and save

• How to make friends anywhere

• How to say yes to things that scare me

It showed me that you can build a life around experiences instead of routines.

That it’s okay to be uncomfortable sometimes.

And that the best decisions often start with fear.

Looking Ahead

Seasonal life became the foundation for everything I’m building now, from living between Michigan and Mexico, to becoming a travel advisor, to creating content that helps others explore the world with confidence.

And this is only the beginning.

In future posts, I’ll share:

• How to find seasonal jobs (step-by-step)

• My favorite job boards

• What to pack for seasonal work

• Deep dives into Lake Powell, Catalina Island, and ski resorts

• Budget tips and saving strategies

If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling, working in beautiful places, and building a life full of adventure…

Seasonal life might just be your sign.

🤍 — Tara