Four years ago, my husband and I took a chunk of our savings and purchased an RV. It was not the newest, coolest RV, but it ran well and fit our needs. Since that time, we have traveled with our family to forty states. We have watched the sun set over Grand Canyon, explored the nation’s capital, viewed bison grazing at Yellowstone, and much more.

For us, travel is a chance to unwind from the stressors of life, reconnect as a family, see new places, have new experiences, and reflect on life. When I hike to the top of a mountain, somehow the world looks different; my head is cleared and the stressors that seemed so overwhelming just a few hours previously, fade away.

As a mother of four, my husband and I have learned to plan cost-effective, family vacations that interest both us and the kids. We are an average American family, and both my husband and I work full-time jobs, but we have made sacrifices in certain areas to be able to travel. We don’t have the newest, coolest cars or technology, but my kids have been places that many adults have never been.

I hope that through this blog, you are inspired to begin traveling with your family. My desire is for you to glean tips for managing the chaos of traveling with a family and that you gain ideas for family vacations. I also hope to induce thought provoking reflections because perhaps the best part of traveling, is seeing the world through a new lens.