A lot of people have asked me to elaborate on some of the details of our National Parks road trip. I’m in the middle of writing a blog post about how the trip came to be because it’s a pretty unique and special story. In this post I’ll cover more of the practical aspects of our journey; the what, where, when, and why – leaving the ‘how’ for a later date.
Before embarking on this trip, neither Cole nor I had ever traveled with an RV before! We had little towing experience and weren’t really big campers, so planning a 10-month trip camping in an RV was really jumping into the deep end! We had been scouring Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Kijiji, RV Sales centers and researched online for months. We even visited a few RV dealerships so we could walk through different setups and get a sense of what the space was like inside a trailer with 6 people!
The Rig
Choosing our Set up: We had three options to pick from – travel with a Truck or Van towing a trailer, or travel in a Class C or Class A motorhome with a tow behind vehicle. We had none of these, so we had to purchase a complete setup, starting from scratch. We didn’t want to go into debt doing it and had a few considerations – ease of travel, overall cost and amount of living space. Our plan was to travel through the majority of the Mid-west, West coast, Southern and central parts of the USA and several provinces in Canada, and we wanted that traveling time to be both comfortable and productive, meaning I wanted to be able to optimize that time on the road by doing school work so that we could free up in-camp days for exploration. If we traveled in a truck or van towing a trailer, we would be quite squished and have no table or space for doing school work on the road whereas a Motorhome would be not only a more fun way to travel all together but give us workspace.
The Class C has seatbelts at the kitchen table, the couch and the front, (9 seatbelts in total), creating opportunities for different workspaces for the kids. These seatbelts are attached to the frame of the RV which was important to me for safety reasons as 3 of the kids were still in car seats/booster seats and needed safety restraints (more on this later). In general, Class A Motorhomes didn’t have as many seating options or as many sleeping options as there is no over-the-cab bed space. Class A’s are also a lot longer, bigger, heavier, and much more expensive. Having never traveled in an RV before, we wanted the unit to be as compact as possible so that we could be confident driving it. Just as a Class A is more expensive, a truck and trailer combo also exceeded our budget. We did look at purchasing a 1 ton Econoline van instead of a truck to tow a trailer with, but again the cost was really high and most vans available were older with high mileage and neither Cole or I are great with on-the-road mechanics and we wanted to avoid potential breakdowns.
In the end, our favorite set up was a Class C. We were willing to wait, research and travel to pick up a rig that would suit our family and in March of 2022, we found what we believed would be the perfect fit! We saw an ad on Facebook for a 2006 Jayco Greyhawk Class C located in Powell River. The price was excellent and the mileage was incredibly low at only 22 500 miles (36 000km) so it had very little wear and tear. Plus, it came with a generator, solar panels and a super slide – an extension that ran from just behind the driver’s door all the way to the back bedroom which doubled in the living space in the main area – a must for 6 people! Also, it was only 31 feet long and had the capacity to tow, so even with a car added on behind it didn’t feel absurdly long or unmanageable.
We brought the RV in for a mechanical and maintenance check and the mechanic said it basically had a brand-new engine. We gave it a flush and oil change and purchased new tires and she was ready to hit the road! Getting it home was a bit of a journey as Cole had never driven a Motorhome before and we had to drive it on and off multiple ferries as well as the highway and some backcountry narrow roads, but as I said before – we were jumping in the deep end with all of it!
One of my concerns was that we would always feel like we were camping, and that life on the road wouldn’t feel comfortable or familiar. The second concern, feeling familiar, was really important because our kids thrive on predictable routines and the known – all of which would be challenged on our trip. However, I felt that if we could create a space for them that felt comforting, even if the environment outside was consistently changing they would have the security of a feeling of “home” inside in the RV.
Cole and I drew up a list of renovations that we wanted to complete before the trip to make the RV feel more like us, and more usable as well. The RV was in good shape, but felt dated and we needed to re-imagine the sleeping areas. Here are some before pictures from when we first brought it home:
The Reno’s: We didn’t want to spend a ton of money upgrading the inside, but we did want to make it feel more like us, and less like an early 2000’s show home. Without going into too much detail, here’s a quick list of some changes we made:
- Pulled up the carpet and lay down vinyl plank flooring throughout
- Painted walls inside main cab white
- Took down all window valances and blinds and turned Turkish towels into curtains
- Put up a white stick on backsplash in the kitchen
- Tore out the entertainment unit above the cab and built a custom California Queen sized bed
- Tore apart the entire back bedroom except for the closet and built 2 custom bunk beds for the four kids
- Used the torn-apart bedroom cabinets and rebuilt them at the foot of the master bed
- Put up decals, curtains, hung bedside organizers and wallpaper in the kids room
- Resealed the roof, and around all windows outside
- Purchased and installed a new awning
We brought the kid’s bedding from home and a few of their favorite stuffed animals and toys. I wanted each child to have a space that felt like theirs, and this has proven to be important, especially when sharing such a small space with so many people! Their bed is a designated space that is theirs, and each child also has a bedside organizer that holds their slingshot, book they’re currently reading, flashlight, wallet, collectibles etc.
Also in their room is a large basket of lego, Pokemon cards, cameras and Julian’s steel drum. Julian and Asher share the dresser (1 large and 1 small drawer each – the middle drawer holds everyone’s swim gear) and Elias and Lane both have a tiny closet drawer for socks/undies and a shelf in the closet for the rest of their clothes which fit into a few totes. We decided to really pair down and take only what was needed. They each have enough clothes for about 7 days and we do laundry once a week.
Our room above the cab has floor-to-ceiling length curtains (Turkish towels) that can be pulled to create a quiet space for Cole to work, or for someone who needs a break. Before we left, one of my kids would elope when stressed or upset. We spent a few months helping him learn how to run to a safe place rather than just running away, and we made this safe place our bed. When we moved into the RV, they were still able to use our bed as a place to run to when needed. It’s also a favourite place for reading, doing school and playing.
I really had no idea what we would want on the road, so I just picked a few open-ended building toys like lego, magnets, Plus-plus, as well as Baseball Gear, Carving knives and tools, frisbee, and slingshots, etc. We also brought a bunch of homeschool supplies, as well as card games and board games. These are easily stored in the cupboards above the table and are accessible to grab when we are on the road. To learn more about our homeschool choices in more detail you can read about it in this blog post here. The last bunch of supplies we needed centered around occupational therapy, so we packed things like sensory socks, resistance bands, tweezers, therapy balls, scarves, chopsticks, writing instruments, Theraputty, fidgets, and a 3ft rebounder trampoline.
The Route
I don’t think Cole or I have ever spent so much time making decisions as we have spent agonizing over planning the route for this adventure! I am classically an over-thinker, over-researcher, and over-worrier. This was a trip we thought we’d only be able to do once and we had so many things that we wanted to see! Narrowing down the stops on the way was the hardest part. We also had no idea how fast we wanted to travel, or what was practical to manage with the RV, or what the boys could handle. Certainly, the first few weeks were just figuring out if the route was manageable. We soon learned that it took us about 25% longer to complete a drive in the RV than if we had just been driving the car. That meant some of our longer legs were not really feasible, as the kids really had about a 5-6 hour tolerance level for driving, and anything much past that was really difficult for one child, which means it’s difficult for everyone! In general, the boys do really well on travel days – but optimum traveling means getting out for a good break every 2-3 hours or making it to the next destination by that time and we made this a priority when planning our route to address that need. I know lots of families that can easily do a 10-12 hour drive without batting an eye, but we are just not that family so we do what works for us.
While on the road, the three younger kids wear a RideSafer vest. We couldn’t easily attach a car seat into the main cab for Julian, and Asher and Lane were using a booster in the van which wouldn’t work in the RV with lap belts. The RideSafer Vests attach to the frame of the vehicle with a rear tether and provide a 5-point harness just like a car seat would while threaded through the vehicle’s existing lap seatbelts. After a LOT of research, we felt this would be the safest way to travel with the kids in the Class C, and it meets or goes beyond each US State Requirement. We still have a full 5-point harness car seat as well as a booster seat in our tow-behind car for all of our day trips, or for traveling during inclement weather.
There were three maps that really helped us become aware of what was out there – not being super familiar with USA geography has its drawbacks! Two are from the Matador Network, the first showing what they believe to be the most optimal route to see all classified National Parks in one continuous loop while the second map shows all 423 Parks including National Monuments, Historic sites, and Recreation Areas. We used both of these maps extensively while planning our route.
The third map that we used was a Recipricol Map showcasing Museums, Zoo’s, Science Centers and other educational attractions. Many of these centers participate in reciprocal memberships meaning we could purchase a Museum or Zoo membership at one location, and either get in free or with a discount to another center somewhere else. This has been excellent for supplementing our education with local field trips at a fraction of the cost! It also provides rest stops on long travel days that are interesting for the kids.
Before we started our journey in September, we booked the first couple of months ahead of time, unsure how difficult it would be to get into campgrounds in the still popular fall months. As we went along, we readjusted the length of our stay in several areas to make sure we had enough of a break before moving to the next place. Our plan was basically to make our way down from BC through Washington, and Oregon and wind a backward “S” shape through Nevada, Utah, the corner of Colorado, and then the northern parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and southern Nevada working our way through all of California taking in as much as we could. Our goal was to chase the sun and stay out of bad/cold weather and see the National Parks in the off-season. We took a long break in California from late Nov – early Feb, staying a couple of weeks in many places rather than just 3-5 days like we had done previously. This was intentional; planned so we could re-group, give time for Cole to heal after becoming really sick on the road, focus on some academic goals, have a wonderful time together for Christmas, visit with family and save some money while waiting out some of the cold weather. As much as that second leg plan was necessary, we were really antsy to get back on the road! After being on the go for so long, being in one place felt really tedious. We were lucky to get out of California just in time before it got hit with some big winter storms! On our third leg, we are making our way east near the USA/Mexico border, still chasing the sun and heading to Florida. The last leg of our trip will be turning north/northwest and aiming for home. If interested, you can see the progression of our journey on this map here.
The Reason
There are so many reasons and benefits of traveling and going on an adventure! It’s difficult to summarize just exactly what this trip means to us, but there were a few important factors that pushed us to go ahead with chasing this particular dream.
A Window of Opportunity: It was really obvious to us that we had a very small window where all the stars seemingly were aligned for this to go ahead. For one, we were already homeschooling and had a really good setup to continue, which we could do from anywhere. Similarly, Cole is able to work remotely while running our business, Teach Simple. But the real push to do it now was that Elias is in his last year of Elementary School. Next year he is planning on attending our local High School in person, which will create more ties and responsibilities. It would be more difficult to get away for a long period of time, and in all honesty, he may not want to. We are on the cusp of independence now! He is still young enough to play with his brothers, to enjoy hanging out with his parents, and thrive on new experiences. This will change as he gets older and we just enjoy him so much! We wanted to build some lasting memories and quality time while we could.
Leading by Example: As the boys get older, more discerning and aware; we can’t just tell them to chase their dreams, it’s up to us to model it. It’s entirely different to say, “One day we will travel around and visit National parks” than to say, “Let’s pack up and go – we leave in 6 weeks.” We want to model to our kids that you can make crazy adventurous plans and see them come to life. We want them to experience the sacrifices it takes to chase dreams; including the financial, relational, and emotional sacrifices as well as the mental toll of planning, executing, and walking into the unknown. It’s difficult to sit with uncertainty. It’s difficult to be away from everything and everyone we know. We don’t chase dreams because they are easy. We chase dreams because they are amazing. Dreams challenge us. Grow us. Dreams open our eyes to life outside our bubble. It’s not just the landscape that’s changing, it’s the very viewpoint from which we perceive it.
Accessibility: Along with showing the boys they can chase their dreams, we wanted to show them that their dreams, and the world, are accessible to them. When I asked the kids what they wanted this last year of homeschooling to look like, what they wanted to study etc, they said; “We want to learn about Natural environments, Wild Places, the People who used to live there and about fossils and gems and remember when we learned about Volcanoes and we built one and it was amazing – could we go see one? Also, survival skills in those places and ASL again and take photos and learn to code…. (etc)” As you can probably tell, my kids love to be outside and are kinesthetic learners through and through!
So we said YES.
Yes, let’s go see those places and learn about those People groups – let’s make your learning tangible and accessible. You can condition and train your body to hike for miles. You can participate in Junior Ranger programs without knowing how to read or write. You can smell the air at Lassen, walk through the pitch-black Volcanic tubes under the ground, touch the bark of the Redwoods, and rest your hot forehead against the cold unyielding base of El Capitan in Yosemite. You can take in ancient Petroglyph art and stories of Indigenous Peoples and sit in wonder. This world belongs to all of us. It’s not always easy parenting or traveling with neurodivergent kids. But in order to make the boys feel like their dreams and desires and fascinations are worthy, beautiful, and valuable – I need to also make them accessible – whether on a grand scale like this current adventure or simply in the day-to-day chasing of what interests them.
It’s not just the landscape that’s changing, it’s the very viewpoint from which we perceive it.
Connection to the Earth: Feeling connected to our environment is a grounding, humbling and beautiful experience. It creates relational responsibility instead of objective obligation. It is a different thing to care for something you love than to be a steward of something assigned to you. If the children are our future, we have to prepare them for the environmental challenges that are both here and are yet to come. We have to teach them to respect traditional ways of life that honor biomes and habitats and the wild things that live there. A personal relationship with the world around them will develop an affiliation with that world.
Also, much of life and growth is cyclical. There are rhythms to the natural world that help us to be in touch with our own individual cycles and rhythms. Connecting to nature helps us connect to movement, flow, emotion, awareness, and life while supporting mental health, growth, and physical and emotional wellness. There are no downsides in learning to love the Earth!
The Risk
At this time in our life, with the right support, we had the capacity and are capable of doing a trip like this. We couldn’t have done it 2 years ago. We won’t be able to next year. We had a window of opportunity, to lead by example, in order to plant seeds of wonder and show the kids that with the right tools, these lands are not only accessible to them – they belong to them.
There is always risk. Financial risks for sure. Leaving our beloved home in the hands of strangers is a big risk. Taking time away from family and friends and relationships has risks. With every new plan, we are always weighing the risk vs the opportunity for reward.
This time, we just felt like every risk was worth it.
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