We recently spent an entire month in the Joshua Tree National Park, soaking in this desert wonderland. There are hundreds of miles of trails begging to be explored! Here's a list of our ten favorite hikes in Joshua Tree for families with kids.
Campground Review: San Diego Metro KOA
Before heading to Baja California Sur, we decided to stay a few days in San Diego. While camping in this sunny city offers pretty limited options, we had a fantastic stay at the San Diego Metro KOA in Chula Vista, Calif.
We’re Heading to Baja!
Yep, you read that right. As of right now, we’re in our van making our way across the border to Baja California, Mexico! ??? Steven and I started talking about our dream destinations late last Fall, and Baja kept creeping up to the top of our list. We thought, How wild would it be if we spent a couple months exploring this beautiful peninsula of Mexico? Shortly after making the big decision to go for it in the New Year, the founders of The Van Life app announced that they were kicking off a Baja to Alaska Tour at the end of January through July. We couldn’t believe the timing!…
Everything You Need to Know about Visiting Joshua Tree National Park
This past winter we toyed with the idea of staying in a mountain cabin with snow, or somewhere relatively warm. Being from the Central Valley of California, we’re not necessarily sticklers for a white Christmas. We’re used to the sunshine and crisp weather in December! Comfort took precedence in our decision, so we opted for a place that’s been on our national park bucket list for a while: Joshua Tree National Park.
2019: A Year in Review
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.
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.
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!
