Category Archives: Kids and Camping

Best RV Stops: Family-Friendly Children’s Museums Across the U.S.

05 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by in Kids and Camping, Travel Destinations

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

When our son was younger, we would make a point of visiting children’s museums wherever we went. Now that our daughter is old enough to appreciate these museums, they are making their way back into our travel plans.

In this article, we will discuss the best children’s museums we’ve seen so far. Choose one from this list when planning your travels, and you really can’t go wrong!

The Magic House

St. Louis, MO

St. Louis is home to a number of great attractions. There is a free zoo that is amazing, as well as a free science center, a history museum, and an art museum. The city is also home to the incredible City Museum, which should be on every traveler’s must-see list. Another favorite St. Louis spot of ours? The Magic House.

I have fond memories of visiting the Magic House when I was little, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the museum met my expectations all these years later. The place plays host to climbing structures, sand- and water-play areas, an outdoor play area, and the crown jewel: a kid-sized city where kids can try out different occupations for a while.

Houston Children’s Museum

Houston, TX

Houston is another city with lots of wonderful museums to choose from. The Health Museum is fantastic, as is the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Of course, you definitely don’t want to miss the Houston Space Center, nor do you want to skip the amazing Houston Children’s Museum.

The latter museum features one of the bigger kid cities I’ve seen, and the city is complete with currency, meaning kids can get “jobs” and earn “money” to go spend at the businesses in the tiny town. Other cool things in this museum include a huge outdoor play area, an awesome indoor climbing structure, and a super fun maker space where kids can create new inventions.

Children of Gettysburg

Gettysburg, PA

One of the more unique children’s museums we’ve seen, Children of Gettysburg is small, but it has a very specific purpose, and it does its job well. The purpose? To present the story of Gettysburg in a way that kids can understand and appreciate.

The museum follows a set of children from various backgrounds through the events of the Battle of Gettysburg. Everything is explained in a way that kids can connect with and digest, and there are plenty of hands-on activities to engage young visitors and help them dive into the world of the 19th-century children they are learning about.

My kids especially loved the last room where they could care for an “injured soldier” and make a speech as President Lincoln.

Bay Area Children’s Museum

San Francisco, CA

Bay Area Children’s Museum may be a lesser-known children’s museum, but we thought it was absolutely magical. In fact, we loved this museum so much that we returned for a second round of fun a couple of years after the first.

The museum is set up in several different buildings, which I appreciated, as it helped my busy little guy focus on the thing he was doing rather than being distracted by all of the other exhibits. There was a lovely outdoor space between the buildings with the coolest “natural” play area. We really loved the art room at this museum and probably could have stayed there all day long.

How to Save on Children’s Museum Visits

One of the things I don’t love about children’s museums is how expensive they can be. Fortunately, we have found some ways around that:

  • Many children’s museums offer free or cheap days each week or once a month. Look for these days and try to plan your travels around them if you can.
  • Additionally, some museums will offer coupons or Groupons. Search for these before paying full price; you never know what you might find.
  • Lastly, a lot of children’s museums are part of reciprocal museum programs. ASTC is a science museum reciprocal program that offers members free admission to all member museums. ACM is a children’s museum reciprocal program that offers cardholders half-off admission to the museums in their program. Both include plenty of children’s museums all across the country.

As you can see, there are lots of amazing children’s museums scattered across the country, and really, these are just a handful of them. Hopefully, this article inspires you to check out a few of these super fun spots for yourself!

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Tips For Creating An RV Classroom

12 Wednesday Feb 2025

Posted by in Kids and Camping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Roadschooling is an amazing thing. It gives families a chance to bond while learning fascinating things in incredible places. Of course, to jump into road schooling, you’re going to want the right tools. Enter: the RV classroom.

No, I’m not saying you need to have an entire room in your RV that is just for road schooling. In fact, the magic of road schooling is that it can happen pretty much anywhere. That said, it is nice to have a dedicated space that you use for schooling. This can help kids focus when intense focus is necessary and will also ensure the whole family gets to learn in comfort.

Here are my top tips for setting up an RV classroom.

Finding a Space

First, you will need to find a space for your RV classroom. How you go about this will of course depend on your RV. That said, I do have a few ideas to offer.

Use a Bottom Bunk Area

I’ve seen countless families pull a mattress out of an extra bottom bunk and use the bottom bunk space as a learning space. The area is a bit on the short side, but a rug and some pillows will make it a cozy nook for young students looking for a place to hide away and do some math or reading.

Remove Furniture

Some families will remove pieces of furniture to make room for their RV classroom. If you have two couches, consider removing one and putting desks in its place. If you don’t use the upholstered chair, that could be a good spot for a desk as well. Look around, find furniture you can live without, remove it, and put a desk in this place.

Head Outside

The outdoors can also be a great place to set up an RV classroom. This doesn’t have to mean sitting outside at a picnic table all the time (although it could). Instead, consider setting up a Clam tent and putting together a classroom inside of it.

The tent is nice because it offers shade and shelter from wind and light rain. It also helps kids stay focused when there is a lot going on in the campground, at least compared to having them sit at that uncovered campsite table.

Make Use Of the Table

If all else fails, you can always make use of the table in your RV. This isn’t ideal if you want a spot that is dedicated purely to roadschooling, but as long as you’re willing to remove distractions, it does get the job done in a pinch.

Getting Set Up

The next step? Setting up your space. There are several options you can try, and what you choose to go with depends on your space and what you want it to do for you. Below are a few ideas to get you started.

TV Trays and Folding Chairs

In our old RV, we had TV trays and IKEA folding chairs (with cushions) for the kids. This was an amazing solution because it gave them a nice surface to work at, but could also be folded and put away when we needed extra floor space. I also appreciated that I could use the TV trays as extra prep space when cooking.

Custom Foldaway Desks

I’ve seen a few different custom foldaway desks in various friends’ RVs. These are awesome because they can fold away behind a cabinet door, onto a wall, or even under the bed, and be pulled out only when needed. Maybe your RV has a spot to put a foldaway desk!

Lap Desks

If your kids prefer to sit on the floor, on a couch, or on their beds while working, you could consider investing in lap desks. These are nice because they are small and easy to store, and there are some versions that even provide little cubbies for storing supplies.

Rolling Storage Carts

I love, love, love these storage carts. Our friends have one and I fully intend to buy one myself. They are ideal for storing books, paper, craft supplies, and more. A cart like this can store neatly against a wall and can be rolled anywhere it is needed.

Cabinet Shelving

Storing your school supplies in an RV cabinet is also totally effective. In fact, it might be the best option because it keeps everything up and out of the way when it isn’t in use. That said, if you want to keep things neat and organized, I highly recommend buying some cabinet shelving to help.

Spill-Proof Bookshelves

Currently, my kids have shelves like these in their beds to hold all of their books. I appreciate them because they are on the smaller side, meaning they fit well in a lot of different spaces in an RV and would be great for an RV classroom. To keep books from spilling out on moving days, you can secure the shelf to the wall and use small tension rods across the fronts of the shelves.

As you can see, there are a lot of routes you can take when creating an RV classroom. Choose the options that work best for your family and space, and remember that you can always change things up should your roadschool style morph. Happy learning!

May contain affiliate links.

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

10 Top-Notch Roadschooling Resources

09 Thursday Jan 2025

Posted by in Kids and Camping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

My family has been roadschooling for 9 years now. In this time, we have used a lot of resources. Some were great, others not so much. In this article, I will share with you the top 13 road school resources that we use in our schooling.

In-Person Learning

It can be difficult to find in-person learning opportunities when traveling. That said, we have managed to find some, and have really enjoyed plugging into a community and learning something new any time we have a chance.

Junior Ranger Program

As a national parks nerd, this one is at the top of my list. The Junior Ranger program allows kids to learn about their parks by doing hands-on activities and attending ranger programs during their visit. Once they have completed the requirements, they return to a ranger station or visitor center, where they are sworn in as Junior Rangers and receive a badge.

This program is available at every NPS site across the country.

Local Libraries

I am constantly amazed by what local libraries will offer completely free of charge. We have attended painting classes, Cricut workshops, a coding camp, dance classes, and more—all for free, and all through various public library systems.

Take a look at the library website wherever you’re headed next and see what kinds of classes, workshops, and events you might be able to attend.

Parks and Recreation Departments

When it comes to classes, I love to check the local Parks and Recreation Department website wherever we are traveling. Sometimes the department has very little to offer, but other times they have a whole collection of fun classes and camps available.

In most cases, Parks and Rec classes are less expensive than classes offered by a private organization. They also tend to be more laid back, meaning dropping in for a single month could be 100% okay. Just call to ask!

Apps and Websites

Apps and websites are some of the very best resources we roadschoolers have at our fingertips. That said, there are hundreds of options out there, making it overwhelming to find the right fit.

Below are the apps and websites we have found work best for us. 

Kahoot Math Apps

We love the Kahoot math apps. They make math easy to understand and provide kids with a fun way to practice their skills between lessons.

Teach Your Monster to Read

If your kid is having a hard time learning to read, Teach Your Monster to Read is the app for you. This app is what helped reading click for my son years ago, and now my 4-year-old daughter is using it to learn to read.

Duolingo

Duolingo is an ideal app for kids who want to learn a second language. It gamifies learning, helping to motivate students and make the learning process more fun.

Khan Academy

Currently, my son is using Khan as his primary curriculum. He appreciates that the lesson videos are short and concise, and he can move on quickly once he understands a concept. I appreciate that it is relatively hands-off for me and totally free.

Outschool

We also love Outschool. My son uses it to take science classes and art classes, both with teachers he adores and classmates he has connected with.

Note: We also used Prodigy Math for a time. While it wasn’t ideal for my son, I thought it was amazing, and therefore want to give it an honorable mention.

Reading Materials

Because we can only carry so many books in our tiny home-on-wheels, ensuring our kids always have new things to read can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Here are the solutions we have found.

Epic

Epic is a book subscription service that gives users access to hundreds of kids ebooks. I really liked that the platform was kid-friendly and that I knew my son was only given access to age-appropriate material.

Libby

If you want to use your local library system while traveling, Libby is an excellent app for that. This app allows you to check out ebooks through your local library using your library card.

Little Free Libraries

Want some real books too? Little Free Libraries are great for that! Look for these libraries as you travel, and whenever you find one, trade some books your family has already read for books that are new to you.

Local Libraries

Believe it or not, you can also make use of the local libraries wherever you travel much of the time. Most library systems offer some sort of non-resident library card to visitors. You may have to pay a small fee, but in exchange you will be given access to everything the library has to offer.

Thrift Stores

Another way to get some physical books in your kids’ hands is to visit thrift stores. Usually, thrift stores offer books for just a dollar or two, meaning you can pick up several new books without spending a fortune. While you’re there, be sure to donate any books you are no longer using to make space for the new ones!

Note: Our friends use the Everand app and adore it. This is similar to Epic, but with books for all ages. It does look amazing and might be worth looking into if you need even more options.

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Finding The Best Family-Friendly RV

06 Wednesday Nov 2024

Posted by in Kids and Camping, RV Newbie

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve spent the past couple of months looking for a new RV for our family of four. Doing this has made me think hard (once again) about what we are really looking for in an RV. If you’re in the market for a family-friendly RV for the first time, you may not really know what you’re looking for. That’s why we’re here today.

In this article, I will talk about the most important things to consider when choosing a family-friendly RV. I will also provide a short list of my favorite newer family-friendly RV floor plans.

What to Look For in a Family-Friendly RV

Let’s start by talking about what you’ll want to look for while shopping for a family-friendly RV. Knowing this will help you narrow your options and find the best fit for your crew.

Type of RV

First, think about what type of RV you’d like to have. While most RV types can accommodate a whole family, there are very few, say, class B camper vans that will be comfortable for more than a couple of people. Teardrop trailers and other tiny trailers are probably a no-go as well.

Instead, weekenders may want to look for medium-sized bumper-pull trailers or driveable class C RVs. Meanwhile, full-time RVers should consider a larger bumper-pull, a fifth wheel, or a motorhome of some sort.

Sleeping Accommodations

Sleeping accommodations are a super important thing to consider. If you use your RV often, you may not want to have to convert the dinette or the sofa into a bed every day. In this case, dedicated sleeping spaces for each member of your family might be a must-have.

Remember to also think about (1) bed size, (2) whether your kids are willing to share their sleeping space, and (3) the weight capacity of each bunk.

Bathroom Options

What do you need in your RV bathroom? Are two entrances necessary? Do you have young kids who need a bathtub? Maybe you have a large family and require a bathroom and a half, or even two bathrooms. Know your needs going in!

Seating Availability

Depending on how much time you’ll spend inside your RV, not having enough seating for everyone can be a real problem. Take a look at the living area of any potential rig.

Is the couch high enough for everyone to sit and enjoy movie night? Can the whole family fit at the dining table? These things may not matter to you, but they could also be a game changer. That’s something only you can decide.

Storage Space

Camping means lugging a lot of stuff with you, and kids only add to the amount of stuff you have to have for a successful camping trip. For this reason, storage space is incredibly important when it comes to choosing a family-friendly RV.

Pay attention to the cabinet and drawer space inside the RV. Will your clothes, dishes, and pantry foods fit inside? Also, look at the exterior storage. How much space do you have for camping chairs, sports equipment, and other bulky gear?

Our Favorite Family-Friendly RVs

Not sure where to begin when looking for family-friendly RVs? Take a look at the floor plans listed below to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.

Forest River Salem 273QBXL

At 33¼ feet, this bumper-pull trailer is on the longer side. That said, the extra length provides loads of benefits for families. Our favorite features? The Versa-Lounge allows you to configure the living room seating however you see fit, and the large bunkhouse that sleeps 4 or 5 kids.

Lance 2185

Looking for something a bit smaller? This Lance trailer is just over 26 feet long, making it an ideal option for weekend campers. We absolutely adore the triple bunks that are set opposite the master Murphy bed, providing a large amount of sleeping space as well as plenty of living space. It’s also pretty cool that the bunks can fold out of the way, providing storage space for bikes, kayaks, and more.

Keystone Arcadia 3570LT

As far as fifth-wheel trailers go, we recommend this Keystone Arcadia. An enormous 39½ foot rig, this trailer is amazing for families with teenagers because the bunkhouse includes two full-size beds—one set in a loft and one under the loft. The RV also has one full bathroom plus a half bath, something many families will appreciate.

Tiffin Allegro Red 38 KA

If you’re looking for a driveable family-friendly RV, this Allegro might just be the nicest option on the market. With three slides, the living space feels enormous, and the biggest slide includes a couple of single bunks that are perfect for younger kids.

Have an older kid as well? Go for the optional drop-down bunk that sits over the cab and provides an extra dedicated sleeping space without eating up living space.

Thor A.C.E 32B

A more budget-friendly class A option, the Thor A.C.E. bunkhouse is also a good option for families. This one only has a single slide, but it is an enormous slide that houses a set of single bunks. This rig also offers an optional drop-down bunk over the cab, so you can fit as many as four kiddos in the RV without ever converting the sofa or dinette.

Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31H

Prefer a class C? There are family-friendly versions of those as well! We particularly like the Minnie Winnie bunkhouse, which uses two slides to maximize living space. One slide houses a set of single bunk beds, and the other plays host to the couch and stove. A U-shaped dinette sits opposite the couch, providing a nice large extra bed should you need it, and the over-cab bunk is also quite roomy.

By now you know pretty much all there is to know about choosing the perfect family-friendly RV. Why not get out there and start touring some rigs in person so you can find the perfect one for your family?

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Thomas Z. ~ “Unbelievable service, and from the time we called in till he showed up 40 minutes. Super! Follow-up calls. Excellent experience. Kudos to Coach-Net”

What To Do In The Smoky Mountains With Kids

04 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by in Kids and Camping, National Parks, The Great Outdoors, Travel Destinations

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Our family’s most recent camping adventure saw us visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We’ve been to this park three times now, and I’m sure we’ll visit again. This is just one of those magical natural areas that calls you back again and again.

One of my favorite things about this area is that there are so many things to do in the Smoky Mountains with kids. This means we can all get outside and enjoy nature together, no matter how young our youngest family member happens to be at the time.

Wondering what to do in the Smoky Mountains as a family? Here are my top picks.

Start in a Visitor Center

I always recommend starting any visit to a national park in a visitor center. For this most recent visit, we chose to check out the Sugarlands Visitor Center. It housed several exhibits about the animals found in the park, which the kids enjoyed.

It was also home to a gift shop where you could pick up Junior Ranger books. We did have to pay a small fee for a Junior Ranger book here, which is unusual, but it was one book for the whole family and was of higher quality than usual, so I was okay with it.

There are plenty of other visitor centers in the park, and all are worth checking out.

Take a Hike

Hiking is one of my favorite things to do in the Smoky Mountains with kids. There is one trail behind the aforementioned visitor center that is just perfect for families. It’s called the Fighting Creek Nature Trail to Cataract Falls, and it winds through the trees, over a creek, past a cool historic cabin, and all the way to a pretty little waterfall.

Other trails that we have enjoyed in the park include the Little Brier Gap Trail to the old schoolhouse, and if you’re looking for a more challenging hike, the Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls.

Hop in the Water

Hot humid weather is the norm in Tennessee in the summer. For this reason, we spent a good chunk of time in the water during our last visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

All of our swimming this time was done in the river from the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area, where we also saw a few people tubing down the river. That said, there are also some cool swimming holes in the park, including Midnight Hole, which features a waterfall!

Enjoy a Firefly Show

Our most recent visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park just happened to be during peak firefly season. This was awesome because it meant fireflies were absolutely everywhere in the park as soon as the sun started to set.

It also meant the synchronous fireflies were putting on a show in certain parts of the park. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the lottery to see the synchronous fireflies during “peak week,” but we did go to the viewing area the day after this peak time when tickets were no longer required, and we ended up seeing a spectacular show.

Note: If you choose to do this, arrive early. We got there a good two hours before sunset and still ended up in the very last available parking spot.

Take a Driving Tour

Finally, I highly recommend taking at least one scenic drive during your visit. My favorite one is the loop through Cades Cove, which usually allows you to see a ton of wildlife as well as some cool historic buildings, the Cades Cove Visitor Center, and an old grist mill.

We’ve seen several bears in Cades Cove in the past, but this last time, we got to see one on a hiking trail. It was so close we actually had to stop and back up in order to maintain a safe distance. It hung around for several minutes, and it was so cool to see it sniffing around and climbing a tree.

There you have it, 5 awesome things to do in the Smoky Mountains with kids. Now you never have to wonder what to do in the Smoky Mountains again. Instead, simply pick something from this list, head outside, and have an amazing time reconnecting with nature and with one another!

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Karl P. UT ~  “Kurt from Quality Tire was exceptional. He came and pulled both sets of back tires. The inside tires on both sides of our motor home had 0 pressure. Both Valve stems had been damaged for some reason. He replaced the valve stems on both tires, checked and filled all 6 tires to correct pressure. He was a pleasant and pleasurable person to work with. We were called by Coach-Net several times to make sure everything went as it was supposed to. Thank you to all the Coach-Net Representatives and to Kurt from Quality tire. It took something that was a pain and made it a pleasure.”

Road Trip Tips For Families

07 Wednesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Kids and Camping, Tips & Tricks

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Heading out on an RV trip with kids may feel overwhelming, but it really doesn’t have to be. I’ve been all over the country with my two kids, and we have an absolute blast. Of course, we have had to learn some tricks along the way in order to reach the point where traveling with kids is actually fun. Here are my top road trip tips for families. 

Choose Short Drives 

The first thing we had to learn was to keep travel days short. When we started RVing, we would sometimes drive for 8 or 10 hours a day. As you might imagine, nobody was very happy after so much driving. It didn’t take long before we shortened our average travel day to 200 miles or less. 

Yes, this does sometimes mean stopping for a couple of nights in different places before reaching our final destination, but it’s so worth it to have peaceful travel days. 

Leave Early 

The earlier you leave, the earlier you’ll arrive. If you pair this tip with the one above, you could easily be set up in your destination campsite by mid-afternoon, giving you hours before the sun sets to play outside and cook a good dinner. Considering how important regular schedules and consistent bedtimes are for some kids, this might just be a lifesaver for those who travel often.  

Pack Snacks 

I don’t know about your kids, but my kids are not fun to be around when they’re hungry. (To be fair, I’m not very fun to be around if I haven’t eaten either.) For this reason, one of my top road trip tips for families is to pack snacks: 

  • Grab some reusable, resealable containers and create individual servings to make passing-out snacks easy.  
  • Pick up some spill-proof straw cups so there are no big spills in the back seat. 
  • Consider placing a small cooler between the two front seats for cold snacks and drinks.  
  • Avoid chocolates, yogurts, and other snacks that might melt or make a mess. Instead, pack carrots, berries, cheese sticks, and/or cheese crackers. 

Carry Entertainment 

Obviously, you’ll want to have some ways to keep the kids entertained as you drive down the road. Tablets can fill some of the time, but it’s probably best to offer other options first.  

Some of our favorite ideas for road trip entertainment include:  

  • Window clings 
  • Beads 
  • Audiobooks (Rohld Dahl books are great!) 
  • Podcasts (check out Story Pirates) 
  • Music (We love the Pop-Ups band) 

Keep the Backseat Clean 

Even under regular circumstances, we have a terrible time keeping our backseat clean. When travel day rolls around, all bets are off. Fortunately, there are ways to combat this, but we haven’t had time to implement many of these strategies.  

Here are some ideas I’ve had: 

Trash Can 

Okay, so this one we do use. If you don’t already have one, put a trash can in your vehicle. While trash doesn’t always make it into the trash can, it sometimes does, and as long as we have a trash can in the truck, it really cuts back on the backseat mess. 

Pocket Organizer 

This is one I’ve been meaning to try. The pocket organizers that go on the backs of the front seats look so handy for holding toys, books, and other stuff that would otherwise be scattered across the backseat. 

Middle Seat Basket 

In our truck, the middle seat is where the emergency jackets live. Unfortunately, these often end up pushed off the seat and into the floor. To fix this problem, I plan to buy a basket to put in the middle seat. I will buckle the basket using the middle seatbelt and put the jackets inside. If I’m really lucky, this will keep them contained.  

Plan for Potty Breaks 

Bathroom breaks are an annoying reality. In order to ensure you spend more time driving than stopping to potty, I recommend planning bathroom stops along the route ahead of time, and choosing places that are easy to get in and out of. It also helps tremendously to insist that all passengers try to use the restroom at every single stop, whether or not they think they have to go.  

Include Fun Pit Stops 

If you can, include at least one pit stop in each travel day plan. Smaller NPS sites, state parks, and playgrounds all work well for this. We’ve also used McDonald’s restaurants with PlayPlaces and rest stops with playgrounds. Anywhere that the kids can get out and stretch will help make the drive more enjoyable for all.  

Be Prepared for the Worst 

Last but not least, I cannot stress enough how important it is to be prepared for issues to arise. Leaving early is one way you can do this. It is also crucial that you carry good insurance and RV-specific roadside assistance, as well as tools to fix things on your own. Traveling with friends can also be super helpful when it’s possible! 

These are my top road trip tips for families. Hopefully, these tricks help you enjoy smooth travel days so you can get the most out of your RV trips with your kids! 

May contain affiliate links. 

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Roadschooling At Disney World

10 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Kids and Camping, Travel Destinations

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

My family absolutely loves being in Florida for the winter months. We adore the fresh air and sunshine, the gorgeous springs, the beautiful beaches, and of course, Walt Disney World.

That said, Disney World isn’t just about fun and games for this roadschooling crew. Nope, we’ve actually found dozens of ways to make these incredible theme parks into our classrooms, taking our roadschooling adventures to the next level.

Want to try roadschooling or homeschooling in Disney World yourself? You’re in the right place!

Roadschooling in Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom boasts a number of opportunities to learn about history and classic fairy tales, among other things. Some of our favorite ideas for Magic Kingdom learning are below.

Fairytale Unit Study

The number of fairytales represented in Fantasyland is just wonderful. Dive into a fun fairytale unit study, reading some original fairy tales and comparing them to Disney movies, and then hop on the accompanying rides.

I recommend Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, and Peter Pan.

American History Unit Study

As a history nerd, I absolutely love the historically accurate details scattered throughout Liberty Square, Frontierland, and Main Street, U.S.A. Why not put together an American History Unit study and learn a bit about American history before you visit so you can really appreciate those details?

  • Focus on Colonial history and then visit Liberty Square to look for “sewage” in the streets, shutters attached with leather, and lanterns in windows. Also, make a point of dining at Liberty Tree Tavern and visit the Hall of Presidents to learn about presidents throughout history.
  • Learn about the 1800s and then ride the Riverboat, explore Tom Sawyer’s Island (it helps to read the Tom Sawyer books), ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and wander the historically accurate streets of Frontierland.
  • Finally, spend some time reading about the turn of the century and then enjoy wandering down Main Street, taking in the details. Listen to the Dapper Dans sing music from the early 1900s, visit the ice cream parlor, and then head into Tomorrowland to see the Carousel of Progress and be amazed at how far we’ve come since the year 1900.
  • As an added bonus, try to get over to Epcot to enjoy the American Adventure animatronics show! And speaking of Epcot…

Roadschooling in Epcot

Epcot is easily the most educational of the Disney theme parks. This place is packed to the gills with science lessons as well as some of the best opportunities for learning about geography and world cultures out there.

Walk Around the World

The World Showcase is an obvious winner when it comes to learning opportunities in Epcot. We recommend taking a map along and marking off each country as you visit the corresponding pavilion, as this will give your kids a sense of where each place actually is.

Try a new food from each country and make a point of seeing the shows. Find the Kidcot stations in each country, where kids can color a little card with info on the country represented by that pavilion. There are usually people from the represented countries manning the Kidcot stations. Feel free to ask them questions!

Marine Animal Unit Study

The Seas building is another excellent pick. Yes, you can ride the Finding Nemo ride here, but we also recommend sticking around to look at the various marine animals in their tanks. If you see a Cast Member standing around, take a moment to ask some questions. Many times, there is a booth set up with items kids can touch and read about.

“Turtle Talk with Crush” is also in this building and is often a good way to learn some fun turtle facts in humorous fashion.

Spaceship Earth

This is just a single ride, but it’s worth doing if you have a kid who is at all interested in history or technology (bonus points if they think both are cool). The ride takes you through the history of communication and is a fun learning opportunity that could spark an interest in a variety of niche subjects.

Roadschooling in Hollywood Studios

The learning opportunities at Hollywood Studios are a little less in your face, but they are there nonetheless.

One Man’s Dream

Our favorite learning experience in Hollywood Studios is One Man’s Dream. This is a little museum that chronicles the life of the one and only Walt Disney. It gives kids a fun little peek into the history of one of their favorite things: cartoons!

Beauty and the Beast

We also appreciate the Beauty and the Beast show, as we find it’s a great way to introduce young children to quality live theater without asking them to sit through a long Broadway-style show.

Roadschooling in Animal Kingdom

Lastly, there is Animal Kingdom. This place is jam-packed with chances to learn about animals, of course, but also world cultures. This might just be my favorite park for homeschooling in Disney World.

Kilimanjaro Safari and Animal Walking Trails

One of the best ways to learn about the animals in the park is by hopping on the Kilimanjaro Safari. This educational jeep ride takes you through a variety of habitats, allowing you to view all kinds of animals. The drivers are very knowledgeable and narrate the ride, offering up fun info as they go.

You can also choose to wander the many animal trails that are scattered throughout the park. These boast animals from all over the world, and signage offers info on each species you see.

Wilderness Explorers Program

I absolutely adore the Wilderness Explorers Program! Inspired by the Pixar film Up!, this program gives kids a chance to visit various stations throughout the park to learn about animals, plants, and a variety of other subjects and earn sticker “badges” they can add to a fun little handbook.

The Cast Members manning these stations are always engaging, encouraging kids to chat and ask questions and leading to some very memorable learning moments.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch

Taking a train over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a little bit time-consuming but totally worth it if you are looking to do some homeschooling at Disney World.

Here you’ll find a window into a veterinary treatment room so you can watch how animals are taken care of in the park. There is also a nutrition center where you can watch meals being prepared for the animals, along with aquariums housing reptiles and amphibians. The petting zoo gives kids a chance to pet some of their favorite critters, and the knowledgeable Cast Members are happy to answer questions.

Oh, this area is also home to a fun drawing class, so make sure to leave time for that!

As you can see, roadschooling and homeschooling in Disney World is a fantastic way to enhance your visits to the parks and make school a whole lot more fun and memorable. Which learning experience will you choose first?

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Craig S. FL~ “I am extremely pleased with the service I received. Your representative kept in constant contact with me to make sure everything was going as planned. I never felt like I was in this by myself. Thank you!!!!”

How To Minimize Your Life For RV Living

06 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in Healthy Lifestyle, Kids and Camping, Tips & Tricks

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Living in an RV can be a fantastic way to save some money and an even better way to get to see the country without breaking the bank. That said, figuring out how to minimize your stuff so you’re able to live in such a tiny space all the time can be a major challenge.

Fortunately, there are ways to go about it. In this article, we will discuss how to minimize so you can live a full-time RV life without all the clutter.

Take It One Drawer and Cabinet at a Time

The hardest thing to overcome when it comes to downsizing your stuff? The overwhelm. Sorting through everything you own can definitely be a daunting task, but if you focus on a single drawer or cabinet at a time, it will seem a whole lot less overwhelming and you’ll be a lot more inclined to tackle the project.

Get Rid of Duplicates

If you’re not sure what to get rid of first, start by finding all duplicate items and tossing one. There is really no reason you need to have two identical spatulas or two full sets of mixing bowls, and getting rid of extras will definitely save space.

Digitize Books, Movies, and Papers

Things like books and movies can be bought in digital form and downloaded to a laptop or tablet, so you can enjoy them without carrying extra stuff around in your rig.

Have a bunch of papers you’ve been holding onto? It’s likely a lot of those can be digitized as well, so you can avoid carrying a box full of heavy paper in your storage bay. Take photos of kids’ artwork and scan documents and store everything in the cloud so it can never be lost.

Downsize Your Wardrobe

Many people find that clothes are their biggest weakness when it comes to getting rid of stuff. We’re here to tell you that you don’t need nearly as many clothes as you think you do.

Creating a capsule wardrobe is easy enough, and it ensures you have a variety of things to wear while still keeping your wardrobe to a minimum. Considering how little clothes storage space some RVs have, this is majorly helpful when you go to find places to keep all of your things.

Only Keep Versatile Appliances

Small kitchen appliances that only serve one purpose rarely get pulled out. Meanwhile, those with multiple uses might get used every day. Toss out items such as the donut maker and the rice cooker and turn to things like an air fryer and an Instant Pot instead.

Switch Out Your Towels

Traditional terry cloth towels are fluffy and take up a lot of space. On top of that, these towels can take quite some time to dry. Replacing your traditional towels with lighter, thinner Turkish towels will save space and the towels dry faster, something that can be super useful when you find yourself swimming and visiting the beach often.

Be Picky about Pots and Pans

Normally, a set of pots and pans contains quite a few pieces. The thing is, most of us don’t use every single piece of our set of pots and pans. Go through your cookware and choose what you actually use on a regular basis. Donate the rest and rest easy knowing you saved yourself space and are helping keep the weight of your rig to a minimum.

Give Kids a Limit

Figuring out how to minimize kids’ toys and books can be a real challenge. For this, we recommend giving each kid a storage tub and allowing them to fill it with whatever items they’d like to keep. Let them know that if they want to bring something new into the RV, it will have to fit into the tub, meaning they may need to get rid of something else. This will help keep toy clutter at bay after you’ve moved in.

Store Sentimental Items

There are some items that you really won’t want to get rid of for sentimental reasons. Things like wedding albums, baby clothes and blankets, and Christmas ornaments should all be put into watertight boxes. If you don’t have room in your RV, these boxes can be stored in a storage facility or at a family member’s house.

Yes, figuring out how to minimize your things so you can RV full-time is a huge undertaking. That said, it can be done, and once it is done you’ll likely feel a whole lot lighter and ready for your next big adventure: RV living.

May contain affiliate links.

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Alfred S. ~ “I’ve Been A Member Since 2001 and I’ve NEVER Had Any Problems!”

Letting Your Kids Plan Your RV Travels!

10 Wednesday Jan 2024

Posted by in Kids and Camping

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

One of the best things about traveling with kids? The opportunity to teach them new things while you explore the world around you. This can be done by visiting museums, historic sites, and national parks, but you can also start learning before you ever leave home by giving your kids a chance to plan your RV travels.

That’s right, we are suggesting you allow your little ones to decide where you’re going to take your RV and what you’re going to do when you get there!

That said, we aren’t suggesting you let them loose with no direction whatsoever. Instead, you can give them some limits and instructions and then give them the freedom to make responsible decisions. This is an excellent way to work on budgeting, planning, problem-solving, geography, and more.

Set a Budget

First and foremost, you will want to decide on a budget. How much can this RV trip cost in total? Once you know that, sit down with your kids and discuss average campground fees and attraction fees to decide how to allocate those funds. Write down each line item you need to account for and how much you have set aside for each, and make sure those numbers are visible for the kids to see.

If you have very young children, it might help to provide a physical representation of the funds. LEGO bricks work well for this. Decide how much each block represents, create a stack for each budget line item, and remove the blocks as they have been “spent” throughout the planning process.

Pick a Place

Once your kids know what kind of budget they’re working with and what they need to plan to pay for, help them decide where to go.

Very young kids may need you to provide a list of options, along with a sneak peek of what is available to see and do in each place. Older kids can do the math to figure out how many miles they can drive on the gas budget they have (remind them to account for the return trip!), after which they can circle the radius they’re working with on a map and consider the towns within that circle to decide on a destination.

If your big kids aren’t sure what to expect of the towns in the radius they’re given, encourage them to do a bit of research to discover what kinds of attractions each one has to offer before they make a decision. Let them know that bigger towns and cities are generally printed bigger on the map and tend to have more options in terms of attractions. You might also remind them to keep an eye out for national parks, which can be in the middle of nowhere but tend to be amazing RV destinations.

Offer Tools

With a destination picked out, the next steps involve choosing a campsite as well as deciding which things to see and do. Your little travel planners will need some tools for this step, but unless your kids are pretty old and responsible, we highly recommend supervising them as they read reviews and gather information online.

Campendium is a good tool for finding campsites. Have your child type in the place they plan to visit and they will get a whole collection of camping options presented to them. From there, they can narrow their options based on a budget and then choose based on reviews and amenities offered. Of course, little ones who cannot read will need you to help with this by typing and reading for them, but you can still present them with options.

As far as attractions go, you can use Google or Trip Advisor to search for options in the area and read reviews. When your kids find something they want to do, have them write it down along with notes on why they want to visit and then find the admission cost for the entire family. Once they have a good list put together, allow each child to pick a certain number of attractions, reminding them to stay within budget.

It might help to split the attraction budget evenly between your kids, so each child has the same amount to spend on attractions.

Introduce Money Saving Ideas

Remind your kids that while they are welcome to spend every dollar in the budget, they can also save in one budget category in order to move money over to another category, or even save that money for a future trip. If they seem into this, offer some money-saving suggestions.

If you have any reciprocal memberships (ASTC, AZA, etc) let them know that, and give them a list of attractions included with the membership. Let them know that some towns offer free attractions such as small museums, parks, and even zoos. Have them look for national historic sites, which are sometimes free, and find the library calendar for the area to find free events.

You can also show them how to find free camping options on Campendium by filtering their search by cost. Just make sure they are aware that choosing a boondocking site will mean making some sacrifices.

Ask Questions and Create an Itinerary

Once your kids have a campground chosen and a list of attractions picked out, have them present it to you. Ask them questions about why they chose what they did, what they plan to do when you get there, etc. If you foresee problems with their selections, let them know that and see if they can come up with a solution.

Once you’ve gone over the plan together and it seems solid, have the kids sit down and write out an itinerary. Remind them that you will need some downtime each day and that driving from one attraction to the next does take time. Generally, it’s best to only visit one attraction each day, but we know this isn’t always possible.

This is also the point where you will need to book the campsite they’ve selected. If it’s an online booking process, you can walk your kids through it, allowing them to make all of the selections along the way.

Pack Everything Up

Finally, your kids will need to pack everything up. We recommend handing them a printed RV packing list and then allowing them to start gathering things, crossing them off as they go.

If you want to take it a step further, you might also let your kids create a simple meal plan and grocery list. Have them choose foods they can help make so they can take full ownership of this aspect of trip planning as well.

May contain affiliate links.

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Sarah M. ~ “Coach-Net is, to this day, the best service available”

The Best RV Clubs for Making Friends on the Road

29 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Getting To Know You, Kids and Camping, RV Newbie, Tips & Tricks

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

Craving connections as you travel in your RV? Whether you’re traveling full-time or just occasionally, having friends to meet up with and share good times with can make the whole experience a whole lot better. And the best way to find RVing friends? RV clubs!

There are an enormous number of RV clubs out there. Some are niche clubs for a specific group of people or those with a specific interest. Others are more general clubs that welcome everyone, and most of these bigger clubs even include sub-groups that help RVers find their specific tribe.

In this article, we are going to discuss some of the best RV clubs. By joining one or two of these clubs, we are confident you will find connection with fellow RVers so you never have to feel lonely on the road again.

Family Campers and RVers

The Family Campers and RVers Club has been around since 1957. This all-encompassing group is geared toward RVers of all ages and walks of life. Here you’ll find youths, adults, and retirees. Some are full-time RVers, but most are part-timers who enjoy the occasional RV trip.

Programs are offered for kids, teens, and adults, and there is never a dull moment at one of the club’s events. The club places a lot of focus on wildlife and conservation programs, something that is fitting for a camping club. There are chapters across the country and a huge number of events happen each year, making attending a meetup a cinch!

iRV2 Forums

We love the iRV2 Forums because they offer excellent opportunities to gather information and make connections with other RVers online. There is no cost to join this enormous community of fellow travelers, and you’re sure to gain lots of great knowledge as well as some really cool friendships.

If you want to get to know your online friends in person, you can plan to meet up at campgrounds or destinations as you travel, or you can even attend an iRV2 rally!

Nomad Near Me

Another RV club that doesn’t cost anything but still offers lots of opportunities for connection is Nomad Near Me. This is a social media platform specifically for nomads. It resembles other social media platforms and is totally easy to use.

All you have to do is make a profile and update your location each time you move. The app will help you connect with other RVers in your area based on interests and other factors. It’ll also alert you if friends are in your area, meaning you’ll never miss opportunities to connect again.

Fulltime Families

Families who are on the road full-time should turn to Fulltime Families. As the name suggests, this organization exists to assist families on their full-time RVing journeys.

Members of the club are given access to members-only Facebook and Discord groups, including many sub-groups that connect people based on location and interests. Fulltime Families hosts many rallies, hangouts, and field trips throughout the year, providing excellent opportunities for connection.

Other benefits include discounts on a variety of RV-related products and services.

Republic of Nomads

The Republic of Nomads is also geared toward families. The goal of this organization is to be welcoming to all, and the diversity found among the participants makes the inclusivity of this club apparent. The organization also aims to help families stay on the road long-term, helping them find the support they need to do so.

Currently, the Republic of Nomads does not have any sort of paid membership option. Everyone is welcome at all events, and these range from laid-back “town hall” events (that are totally free to attend) to the paid Expedition Events, Alliance Events, and Assembly Events, all with a slightly different structure, but all with the same goal of providing opportunities for families to connect, learn, and grow together.

These are our top 5 picks when it comes to RV clubs that provide the best socialization opportunities. That said, these are far from the only options, and depending on your interests and travel style, you might find that another RV club suits you better, so be sure to do your research and try some different options to find the best one for you.

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

James L. ~ “Outstanding. Agents make or break the company. They definitely made it with me!!! OUTSTANDING service. Precise answers. Coach-Net turned a stressful situation into a non-stressful learning experience.”