Expert Advice
We recently came back from a road trip through Southern California with our two girls (aged three and one). It was our second RV family trip ever. To say that it will not be our last one would be a tremendous understatement. In fact, I believe every family with kids should try an RV trip at least once, and here’s just a few reasons why.
RV trips afford you a level of independence and autonomy ideal for any traveler looking for a real sense of rest. How many times have we planned a trip to relax but then found ourselves sprinting frantically through airport terminals, uneasily waiting for tour groups to gather, or helplessly beholden to a rigid itinerary?
RV trips are the antithesis of all that; do as much or as little as you want, always on your own terms. RVs also afford you a liberty of movement and comfort that is unrivaled, as they provide the comforts of any modern home with the freedom of moving around by car. And before naysayers say “RVs are huge, impossible to drive through city streets!”, let me say that I thought the same way. But the truth is, we drove a 30ft RV around and never felt these dimensions limited our movement.
This was one of the biggest incentives for me. My two girls are too young to get the vaccine yet, so I didn’t want to expose them to packed airports and long flights. And yet I felt that, after more than a year of their childhoods being so conditioned and restricted by the pandemic, we owed it to them more than ever to go on a fun family excursion. An RV trip provides all the fun while also granting much more control over the environment of your children.
One of the most stressful parts of travelling with children is packing. It’s hard enough for me as an adult not to over pack and to stay within the weight restrictions mandated by airlines. With children, it’s even trickier because they want to bring so many toys and paraphernalia. Thankfully, RVs have plenty of storage space, so we didn’t have to compromise as much as we would have had we used a conventional mode of transport. Our girls were able to bring plenty of toys and even their bicycles. Mom and dad took with them a portable grill and as much camera gear as we wanted.
Hear me out; I’m not saying RV trips are cheap. Truth is, the gas expenses alone will be substantial. However, the gas money may well be far less than what you’d spend on airfare for the whole family. And keep this in mind; when you pay for your RV rental, you’re covering your transport and your lodging! Sure, campgrounds charge per night, but you can get access to perfectly cozy campgrounds for $50 or less.
Furthermore, if you’re feeling a little adventurous (or just cheap!) you can always park your RV in the wilderness for the odd night, or in one of the many parking lots that allow you to spend the night there for free (do your due research of course!) In my experience, RV trips are just conducive to a more frugal, more pure approach to leisure. Don’t get me wrong, we still indulged, but found we could do so without having to spend so much (having a fully functional kitchen onboard also goes a long way to cut costs, as we seldom ate at restaurants!)
This was a big one for us. I think most of us are sick of working from home and of having our daily circumstance be so dreary and secluded. I cannot emphasize enough how much going out into the open and enjoying the country restored my energy. It also brought me a sense of much-needed peace and tranquility. For my two girls, it was a refreshing and welcome change of pace.
We tend to favor campgrounds and destinations where one can truly connect with nature, enjoy a bit of silence, and check out the wildlife. Our girls loved doing all sorts of unusual activities in the open, like chasing peacocks and wading into the river to look for gemstones. Heck, even a simple swing set in an idyllic, unspoiled and quaint location can do great things for the soul!
RVs are the perfect option to preserve the comforts of the home while also injecting some adventure and unpredictability into your children’s lives. Our daughters really loved this dynamic and took to it with giddy excitement.
For the first time ever, they witnessed insurmountable stars fill the skies of California, they bathed in a creek of clear fresh water, they relaxed to the hypnotic crackling of a bonfire in the night…
All of these precious moments were made possible by the unique philosophy of RV family trips. It truly is a mindset, a worldview; one that seems to say “slow down, forget your worries, remember to enjoy the moment, and most of all, cherish the beautiful company.”
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