It's hard to believe that 2019 has come and gone! Last year at this time, we were quietly creating a vision for Our Great Big Adventure. And now here we are, living our dream! I'm always amazed as we reflect on the year prior. We had so many great memories in 2019! It truly was a year of personal growth and risk taking for all of us. Here's a quick recap of our adventures!
7 Budget-Friendly Family Activities in Sacramento
Over the past few months, we've had an opportunity to explore Sacramento as a family thanks to a couple of work trips that Steven had on the calendar. As the capitol of California, Sacramento offers up a lot of history and kid-friendly activities for traveling families. Between our two recent stays, we've compiled a list of all of the fun things to do with your family in this historical city that won't break the bank!
Explore the Quaint Coastal Town of Morro Bay!
Two years ago, we set off in the van to camp at the Morro Bay State Park and celebrate Steven's birthday. It was the first overnight trip with our new platform bed, which Steven had spent a couple of weekends building. We were beyond excited, and that trip sparked something in the four of us that we couldn't explain. It felt right. It felt like home. Whether or not that trip was the catalyst for Our Great Big Adventure, we knew we wanted to do more traveling. More overnights in the van. More traveling! Two years later, here we are -- back in the same place where it all started.
The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Traveling Kids!
Whether you're a traveling family or just trying to live a bit more minimalistic this holiday season, the boys and I put together a list of some of their favorites -- and this year's wishes!
12 Reasons to Visit Solvang with Your Kids
For as long as I can remember my time together with Steven, we had always talked about spending some time in Solvang, Calif. This adorable little town, nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley, is best known for its old world Danish architecture and abundance of delicious pastries. As we're still exploring the Central Coast -- it's within Steven's work territory -- we decided to spend some time exploring this area.
It’s Our Six-Month Nomadiversary!
It's hard to believe that six months ago today, we were tearfully waving goodbye to my parents, who were standing in front of our old home -- which was completely empty, having sold 99% of all of our things in the days prior. Our Sprinter van, recently converted into a livable space by Steven, was packed to the brim with what we had left: about two weeks worth of clothes, travel-sized toiletries, a backpack of toys and books for each kiddo, and our dog Ruby.
Girls Weekend Getaway in Santa Cruz
I have to admit -- one of the hardest adjustments to life on the road has been not having my girlfriends around. Sure, since becoming moms our lives have changed and we don't always have the time to get together. But it is much easier to get together on a whim when you live in the same zip code. Knowing that we've got to juggle work, the kids' school life and extracurricular activities, family time, etc., a couple of years ago my girlfriends and I made a point to commit to one weekend a year for us to let loose. Enter: Girls Getaway Weekend.
Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage in Sedona, AZ!
Ever since a dear friend of ours told me about the mystical, magical place called Sedona, I've been compelled to visit this beautiful red sandstone canyon. So when Steven and I were batting around ideas for our 10-year anniversary celebration, I casually threw out the idea of a van life road trip to Sedona, just the two of us.
20+ Family-Friendly Things to Do in Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz area has SO much to offer beyond the Boardwalk, especially for young, adventure-loving families. So much so, that this upcoming list of our favorite experiences is far from brief. Whether you’re here for the weekend, or two months like our stay, there are plenty of things to choose from for your vacation!
10 Tips for Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park. This expansive, preserved land has been on our radar for over years now. When Harvey was born, I found the coolest print of America's national parks for his room. And as the boys grew older, we'd often point to a park and talk about what made it special. For Levi, something sparked -- and ever since then, he's been talking about visiting Yellowstone. So when we had a gap in our slow travel plans, Steven and I thought to ourselves, let's do this!
