Traveling with your kids is a wonderful way to spend your vacation making memories and forging strong bonds. But if you’re not careful, those family vacations can be pretty expensive. Thankfully, there are several ways to enjoy a fun getaway without breaking the bank—or losing your mind! Your family vacation should give you a chance to relax, after all. Here are some great ways to reduce stress and save big on your next family trip.
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Keeping your luggage organized is essential for avoiding stress during travel. With good packing organization, you and your family will have an easier time packing light and—ideally—taking one suitcase per person. Use packing cubes, bring versatile clothing pieces, and wear your heaviest layers on the plane. Try to take only carry-on suitcases so you won’t have to pay extra to check your bags. If you need to buy some new carry-on sized bags for your gang, go with rolling suitcases so your young kids will be able to carry their own luggage through the airport. Save money on new luggage by searching for deals and coupons on sites like Rakuten so you can make your investment even more worthwhile.
When reviewing your accommodation options, look into vacation rentals instead of setting your sights on a hotel. As Vacationkids points out, renting a vacation home might meet your space needs and budget better, especially for larger families and parents traveling with older kids. Vacation homes typically have a couple of rooms which will give your family members a chance to spread out and enjoy some privacy. Plus, they often include kitchen areas where you can prepare your own meals. This will help you save tons of money keeping your family fed away from home. If you decide to cook for your family on your trip, stick to quick and easy meals like tacos or pasta salad.
One of the most important things to remember about traveling with kids is that nothing is set in stone. A tired child can throw your entire itinerary off-course, so it’s important to be flexible. Try not to pack too many sights and activities into your day. A flexible schedule will allow you to veer off your itinerary when you come across other fun things to do! For example, if you’re taking a road trip, budget extra time to stop at scenic viewpoints and roadside attractions that you come across. Limiting your family activities while traveling will also help you save a lot of money on attractions—which can really add up when paying for several children. And if you’re flying, being flexible with your travel dates will open you up to cheap flights during off-peak travel days.
When traveling on a budget with kids, finding free things to do at your destination is a must! Fortunately, you’ll come across no shortage of free activities to fill your days. For example, look up some walking tours of the city and take on the role of a personal tour guide for your family. You’ll also find museums around the world that ask for donations instead of charging entry fees. Some are even completely free on certain days of the month—including the world-famous Louvre in Paris, which is free on the first Sunday of every month. If you need a break from city life, Points Family recommends embracing free activities like taking a hike or enjoying a day at the beach. Save your money for just a few of those paid attractions that your family is the most excited about.
Keep these money-saving tips in mind as you prepare for your next family vacation. Traveling is a time to relax and make memories with your loved ones, so don’t let financial stress drag you down. Find ways to save money on everything from flights to food, and you’ll be able to spend more time enjoying your fun adventure and less time checking your bank balance.]]>
Mulling over trail maps, reading reviews and talking with visitor center rangers has filled lots of our time. Trying to get to the most beautiful places in the country has been a big motivation for this trip. This is truly an amazing planet we live on, and it feels like a shame to not go explore it. Its been a joy to see some of these historically beautiful places which have influenced painters and poets, writers and warriors, they have been places of hope and places of fear. And like lots of travelers we want to go see those places. Instagram photos and macbook screen savers make us want to get to that exact spot to see them in real life. And so us and about 30,000 other people all want to wander down the same path to see that one view. And though usually spectacular, it is often dulled by the crowds, wide trails and the millions of cameras and pictures being taken.
Something we have really enjoyed on this journey is heading down dirt roads to remote places. Finding a spot by a lake or heading down vague trails to truly wild places. Seeing some maybe less magestic, but still amazing views and spending time wild camping from the desert to the mountains to the coast. And often a lot of our favorite places were a suggestion from a local or a place we just stumbled upon.
Driving into Olympic National Park a few months back, with our good friends Frank and Mary, we pulled off the road because we were sick of driving and ready for some pretzels and hummus. We found the first pull off and decided to hike the nearby trail. We ended up coming out onto one of the most beautiful alpine lakes I have ever seen. Crystal clear, and glassy wit the refection of the tress and the white capped mountains resting on the waters edge. This place was unreal. We had to stay. We spent all afternoon bathing in the icy water, paddling around the parimeter and enjoying the serene view of those towering mountains up the valley. We never would have seen this lake had we kept driving or waited for someone to tell us which hikes to do.
I think we spend a lot of our lives trying to find the right trail. But what Ive found is the joy of just heading down a trail and see whats around the bend, heading down less visited paths and finding amazing sights and wonderful places. I think we need to think less about heading down the right or perfect path, and just starting on one and see where it takes you. You might not end up a millionaire or instafamous, but you might just discover exactly what you were made to do, and you might just change a persons life, or a family, or a neighborhood. It is often the less popular trail or the far out places that I get the most perspective, I learn something about a place, I wonder more, and if anything I get a little exercise. Sometimes I think instead of trying to find the right project or career or life goal, we just need to start down a path and if anything we get a little exercise, we learn something, and we often gain a little nugget of perspective.
]]>Quiet nights beside a cackling fire, warming the air, as we sit in our only moment of silence as Daisy falls asleep in the bus behind us. These times though fewer and fewer as we get into the cold, wet Pacific Northwest are so important to us. These are the moments that we often talk about our plan for the next few days, read books or every couple weeks we take this time to write in our travel journal. This is where we document where we’ve been, who we’ve met, where we stayed. Sometimes it is only in the rearview mirror that you are able to see where your headed. Sitting next to the fire laughing, reminscing, and remembering where we’ve been, reminds us of the importance of looking back. Often we get trapped in the never ending cycle of thinking about the next thing, the next project, the next destination. But in these moments when we pause, we look back at all the change, the things we’ve grown in, the challenges we’ve overcome and we are reminded of what its all about. We can now laugh about the frustrating moments, and forget the stupid stuff and enjoy thinking about the wonderful people, experience and places that our little green bus wandered by.
This is one of the reasons I love having a journal on hand. I think too often we forget to look back and remember where we’ve come from. For a long time (and a little bit still now) I would not ever open a previous journal I had written in. Once the last page was filled, I closed it, put it on a shelf next to the other ones and planned to never open it again. It felt like they were just word vomits from years past, that I didnt want to uncover for fear of what might be found. But this little ritual of every couple weeks of looking back at where we’ve been and documenting the important moments, people and places has been a surprisingly delightful experience. I think when we take moments like this to look back and to see all the movement in our lives, it seems almost impossible to miss that God is doing something here.
Journals are important, whether they are just word vomits, or to do lists, or weird sketches, or beautiful poetry, either way they are the stories of our lives. They are a window into the past, a snap shot of the present and maybe even a visual for the future. I believe there are moments in our lives that are wonderful, whether wonderfully painful or wonderfully joyful, but nonetheless I believe they are worth noting.
Yesterday we said goodbye to some people who became very dear friends to us. We met them in a beach parking lot in San Diego, and our buses have been following each other ever since. Lots of shared meals, campfires and great conversation. Our lives crossed paths and it felt like we’ve been friends for ages. They inspired us in their wanderlust spirit, great cutural dialogue and delightful sense of humor. You know its a lasting friendship when you buy walkie talkies like 4th graders wandering through the woods. But as all things in life, we had to part ways for new adventures on the horizon. We are now enjoying the incredibly beautiful pacific northwest. After journeying the entire classic HWY 1 and 101 from San Diego all the way up to the top of Washington with Frank and Mary, we are now enjoying some time in the mountains and beginning our thoughts of heading east. But for now we are enjoying crystal clear blue rivers and dense wet forests and snow capped mountains. This place is electric.
]]>“When it rains it pours” is a phrase repeated surrounding tough days, but last week just felt like a wave camp collapsing down right on top of us. Rough nights of sleep are never a great start, but a week of it is just pure torture. No one thinks clearly after that. But then like a plague- bus problems… again. We hear weird noises, a hauntingly nasty purr and the engine roars unnecessarily- another day, another problem. Back to the internet or should I say a lost vortex of no solutions, just questions, with only pessimistic commentary to cheer us on.
Then, only for the plot to thicken, we realize our ladder broke at some point and my toolbox has been stolen off the back carrier in the Starbucks parking lot. Could it get any worse? Tired, stuck in a shitty town, on a shitty day.. Where do we go from here? All we can conjure up for the moment is ‘lets get out of this town.’
That was an excerpt from a week ago or so. We have since regained our joy and hope. It turns out the bus is ok, and we are still rolling. It is moments like these when bus life feels really hard and when throwing in the towel seems like a viable option. But it is also where the rubber meets the road, where you really start to see who you are and what you are made of. This is where the core of who you are is challenged, pushed, maybe even molded. Its moments like these that either bring together or tear apart, it questions your manhood and your will to push on. But we signed up for this- we wanted to be challenged, to push ourselves, and to discover new things about ourselves. We’re grateful for wise, calm father-in-laws who keep our heads on and our “we can do this” spirits high. We’ve since left the beautiful sunny California and all its stunning diverse landscape, and headed for the pacific northwest where apparently it rains- all. the. time. But we are none the less pleased to be moving onto new places and wetter dwellings.
]]>Its been a minute since we last updated so for those interested, here it is. We have been hanging out in Southern California a little longer than expected. I don’t know if it is the sunshine, the endless waves, the great people, or just the vibe, but it seems we have been sucked into this vortex that kept pulling us back to the San Diego area. But all in all it has been incredibly wonderful.
Heres a brief timeline of what has happened over the past month or so.
– Made it to San Diego, caught up with some from friends new and old who live out here.
– Surfed and enjoyed the beach a lot.
– Had a few art shows along the California coast
– We were headed to the Mexico Border to go to Baja with some wonderful French Canadians we met, and long story short we were denied access to cross the border (it was so crazy!)
– So back to San Diego for more surf, beach and relaxation (not a bad spot to end up)
– Then we had a bundle of Michiganders looking for some warmth and wanted to visit!
– The Kregel parents came, rented an RV and hit the road with us for Joshua Tree, Salvation Mountain, and California Coast.
– Some friends from our church in Michigan joined for a week in Encinitas, CA.
– Then our good friends Brady and Megan hopped on a plane for 48 hours of surfing, beach, fires, food and good laughs.
Since then we headed back east for Death Valley and are currently soaking in some warmth and solitude in the desert. Southern California is a wonderful place and we are loving it more and more, but we must move on in this journey and therefore we are headed up the coast. Our nomadic souls are itching again for open road and new destinations. We are headed up for San Francisco and then onto Oregon. With all our visitors we are missing home a little bit and looking forward to being geographically closer to our community, but our circles out here are growing as well. We have stayed connected to our French Canadian friends Frank and Mary, who will hopefully be joining us as we set sail north in search for big trees and new surf breaks.
So this is our quick catch up. More posts are coming together, but being on the road with an almost two year old has proved to be BUSY. So for now cheers, happy trails and keep finding your own adventure, its worth it.
]]>We pull off onto a dirt road in the middle of no where looking for some quiet for the evening. We find a nice spot sitting on top of a hill, where we can just see desert for miles. Shortly after we set up camp, an old 80s suburban with the rounded back comes clunking up that same dirt road, slowly bouncing back and forth. They slow by our site and a young kid in the passenger seat yells out to me asking if they can park behind us. I begrugdedly say yes, although I felt a little suspicious as there is like a 100 miles of open land around us. But nonetheless they pull there suburban in right behind ours and begin getting set up. Out of the suburban come a young boy, a young mom, a great dane and a small cat. I (Tyler) am out looking for some firewood and the young boy, about 12 years old, comes running down the hillside towards me. He instantly introduces himself and asks if he can help me collect firewood. Still with my walls up and in a bit of confusion I say sure. From there we begin to dialogue. His name was Seth, an articulate and thoughtful seventh grader (ish). He was dressed in a dirty old t-shirt with the collar all torn, covered by a well worn pair of overalls, with holes in the knees. It was like he walked right out off the set of little house on the prairie. His skin looked like he had spent some time outside and his hands dirty, but his spirit was energized. He was eager to help and was very open to talking. His mother was over by the ole suburban getting some beans out for dinner. She seemed a little more reserved and focused on her task at hand. His momma, Phoenix, was unique, big sweater on wiith old chacos wrapped around her feet. You could see tattoos on her neck in her hair line; she looked like she had some stories to tell. But after chatting with Seth for a short while, we invited them to join us for dinner and a fire. They agreed and were going to contribute their beans, so we could share in a meal together.
We lined up in and outside the bus and did a little buffet line, or as much as you can in 30 square feet. We gathered around the fire and said grace. Shelby and I tried to be as hospitable as possible, given we don’t have much extra stuff on board. But they were insistent about sitting on the ground, content to just be sharing a meal with us. We talked for hours about where they were from, about their lives, pets, family members, faith and what its all about. We had wonderful conversation over dinner, cleaning dishes, hunting for firewood and tending the fire. These two, were some of the most fascinating people we had ever met. The most authentic hippies, not in a derogatory way, but in a- we live the life we want kind of way. Seth was not your ordinary middle schooler. He was home schooled by his momma and had taught himself how to fly fish, hunt and filet and cook his game. He had very few things, a couple shirts, a gun, some fishing gear, and a satchel that he kept all of his maps, nicknacks, and sketch pad in. Seth wasn’t afraid to say what was on his mind, but he was also respectful in his demeanor towards us and his momma. He showed me a pictured he drew of a guy sitting in a chair watching a TV which had zig zags coming off of it going into the guys head. And in the background was a window with a blue bird. The boy explained that the drawing depicted the destruction of television and how it destroys your mind, and makes you miss the beautiful things happening around you like a bird in the window. He seemed wise beyond his age and yet he still giggled and laughed about the things middle school boys laugh about.
Phoenix and Seth had no cell phones or screens. There suburban or what they called their “camperburban” was old, dirty and extremely simple. They ate beans they had soaked all day and only owned a few things. Their life did not seem easy per say, but they seemed none the less full of life. Phoenix called her son dude often, and they cackled pretending to make voices for their dog and cat. They had a bond and a mutual respect that I have only seen a few times in my life between parent and child. They were more like captain and mate of their ship the camperburban, setting sail for Neverland and it was beautiful. They were so wonderfully removed from distractions and complications. I kept wanting to see if they envied or desired more, like a house or a phone or modern conveniences- but I did not get that vibe. They were without want, or at least as I could see. We offered them some clothes that we were going to take to good will, and Seth took a shirt, but only after inspecting what it was made out of and to see if it was made out of quality, durable material for their lifestyle. But other than that they passed on the rest, not feeling the need for more.
After sitting at the fire for a while, we decided to call it a night, but not because of what time it was, but because it was dark and people felt tired, a stark difference from our life back home. And just like that in the morning as we woke up, they had vanished just as they had oddly appeared the day before. They left a a crystalized rock with a note under it that said “headed out early, peace be with you”- Phoenix and the fellas. And if it wasn’t for that note I think Shelby and I would still wonder if that experience was real. As I am processing it now a week later I think that might have been one of the more real experiences we have ever had. There were no screens, no instagram accounts to follow, or phone numbers to exchange. There were no pictures taken to distract us from the moment, just a few strangers gathered around a meal and a fire, cherishing the wonder that is this earth.
]]>This journey has been filled with being in unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable places. Cold nights, bugs, weird neighbors and sometimes even unforeseen dangerous locations. But one of our goals as we embarked into this unfamiliarity was that we wanted to press into those moments. We wanted to challenge ourselves to embrace the uncomfortable and to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. I think something especially in this season that we westerners can really struggle with is receiving. We love our individualism and the “I can do it on my own” kind of mentality. I think we spend a lot of our lives trying to prove ourselves and yet missing out on the joy and the honor of receiving. And so our desire was to press into whatever is in front of us and to receive it. Whether it is joyful or hard, challenging or unfamiliar, and to embrace the act of receiving.
A few Sundays ago, we were looking for a place of worship, and were recommended a church just outside Dallas, which is where we were headed. So we checked it out, and we were quickly embraced by the community. After the service a wonderful family of five came over, and introduced themselves and wanted to check out the bus and hear our story. And so we invited them in, to see our space and got to know this amazing family who were just stoked on what we were doing. They then prayed over us, blessed us, and chased us down before we left to hand us a gift card! It was beautiful and inspiring. My natural inclination was to quickly leave after the service and to reject the gift offering in my “we can do it on our own, we don’t need handouts attitude”. But we chose to linger, to meet some people, and were graciously encouraged and supported by these once strangers, now friends.
Because we’ve found that in this learning to receive, we are finding ourselves humbled by the generosity of others. We are learning that we are not independent goats wandering aimlessly, but we are a herd and a flock, we need one another. And I think I can so quickly jump to being the one to be the giver, or the bigger person, or the desire to make it even. But I think that just squanders the gift. Part of this journey has been surrendering ourselves (whether we wanted to or not) to being dependent on others. The bus build would have been impossible without some key individuals. We’ve found ourselves with dead batteries in French Quebec trying to ask someone for a jump- in French! We’ve been invited to stay in strangers homes, distant friends and family have invited us in for dinner and games, and great conversation. We’ve shared glasses of wine with other travelers, campers and crafters. But it is in all this that we are continuing to learn to receive. To be ok, to not be the giver, but to open our arms wide and let a gift be a gift, with no need to prove ourselves or to pay back, but to let ourselves be a blessing by receiving.
]]>About to pull off the highway into our campground after a long day of driving in Southern Georgia, Daisy is totally done with being in her carseat, and I’ve already began to prepare my tastebuds for dinner soon. As we are slowing down, I feel the brake pedal not compressing like normal and we are not slowing down like we have done a hundred times before. The stress and anxiety rises in me and the frustration of yet another mechanical issue is bubbling. Everyone is ready to be at camp and we need to be a couple hundred miles in the next 2 days for an art show. So what I imagined to be a relaxing night at the fire with a full belly, became a stressful night and all next day of troubleshooting and researching the brakes on our bus. This resulted in going to two different shops to get the right parts and price to get us back on the road. This is bus life- sometimes-and it is a grind.
We continue to find ourselves bouncing back and forth like the silverware in our drawers when we head down dirt roads, dancing between moments of gifts and grind. We have found that our life on the road is always moving, changing, adapting, and challenging us to think differently about our lives and the moments we share. In the past few months, the bus has taken us to beautiful wandering trails, sun kissed sandy beaches, amazingly warm and kind people, and wonderful views of city scapes and wild places. But the bus has also left us stuck in mechanic shops for hours, fearing if we will make it to the next place, malfunctions, wrong turns and a few Walmart parking lots. And it is in this dance between the gifts of picturesque beaches and mountain top views and the grind of dirty mechanic shops and weird bus noises that we find the ebb and flow of bus life. It’s beautiful and stressful, adventurous and exhausting, restful and tense. It is disappointing to me how often I find myself in the grind, completely forgetting the beauty and the wonder of the gifts, and similarly in the gifts, laughing at how quickly I got upset over the grind, forgetting that it is all a part of the journey.
Yesterday we found ourselves with music blaring, sun shining, cruising down an amazing coastal highway, watching for Dolphins and loving the coastal life. We concluded the drive at the end of a peninsula on a mostly vacant beach in a beautiful campsite, with a day filled of digging holes with Daisy, paddle boarding over schools of fish, and tight sun-kissed skin. Only to end the day with tacos around the fire and one of the top sunsets I’ve seen yet. This is also bus life. It is an ebb and flow between the gifts and grind. A dance that we far too often forget the steps to, and don’t remember to take a step back and remember that it’s the combination that makes it so amazing and life changing. We need both the moments of gifts and grind. So today we are trying to remember to embrace all of it, to remember that it is all of part of it, and to learn something from the grind, and to appreciate the gifts more preciously.
]]>There is something about a place that draws us in. Whether the way the rocks and the trees seem to intertwine with each other, or the beauty of water in a babbling brook, or overlooking just a tiny portion of the vastness of the ocean. There’s something about a place. It’s like it’s writing a story of its own with its people and its culture. The landscape is creating a narrative and it invites us to partake. These places, whether natural or formed, have meaning to those who inhabit it and those who wander in.
One of our favorite things to do as we enter a new town, park, or restaurant is to ask a local where their favorite spots are. It’s a joy to get an inside scoop on what to check out. And one of the coolest parts of doing this is watching people light up about their love for their home town. You can see it in their eyes these places are attached to memories and moments that make them worth the trip. We find ourselves, more often than we should, jumping in the bus headed down a two track- running after a few vague directions from someone we met in the grocery store… and it’s wonderful. There is something about these places whether a great restaurant, a mountain overlook, or a quiet creek that enlivens our souls. It connects us to each other and to these places.
As we have made our way down the east coast, chasing rivers, great views and art shows we have enjoyed seeing lots of the east. We drove a great section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoyed some time on the North Carolina coast, soaking up some sun and surf and have thoroughly enjoyed playing in the mountains. From there we moved west, enjoyed an amazing weekend in the Smoky Mountains with some family and now are currently working on an organic farm near Nashville. And once again we find ourselves in a place that is magical. This 140 acre property is full of plants and wildlife, artwork, and fresh air. We have loved spending time with the owner, hearing his love for this place and its history, the passion for this property and where it’s headed. It has been a joy filled week of 4 wheeler rides, delicious dinners and quiet nights, watching the goats graze in the fields. There is something in this place. Its reminding us of our connectedness to this earth, the beauty in and around us, and the delight of working the garden. It feels like we are tilling the soil of our souls if you will, pulling the weeds of brokenness and being reminded of the beauty of new life.
]]>Once this was just a dream, a passion for the outdoors. Wanderlust pulsed through our veins. Wondering, fearing, dreaming about what’s out there. Dirt trails, campfires, and some mythic sense of freedom. Once, that dream was just a moment of “this could be a thing”, the rest was history. We were hooked. Research, Craigslist, Youtube videos, and reading every last blog on vanlife. It was like a drug and we were hooked on making this a reality.
Flash forward almost a year later and here we sit- working on a beautiful organic farm in Tennessee. Where the goats and the cows roam free. The smell of truly fresh flowers and simply wild- like what you pay your clothes to smell like- but real. We’ve been on the road for about 4 months now. Everyday isn’t a dream, but often we find ourselves saying “is it really Tuesday?” because most days blend together as we find ourselves on some dirt trail, searching for some view, and ending the day around a fire, with books and wine in hand- exhausted and excited to crawl into the cozy little green bus for some shut eye before another rad day.
Today was beautiful. Filled with sunshine, dirt, and a whole lot of joy. Picking weeds is not typically a favorite pastime of mine- but when you are in the sun and the location is pristine and the air is enlivening- pulling weeds is amazing. Just exploring the Yellow Bird Farm, I was reminded that there is something about a place. It is something that has been buzzing in the back of my mind as we have explored all over the east coast. But this place is something special. The air, the art, the landscape. It draws me into what feels like simpler times. It’s beautiful and inviting. The terrain says “come just sit on this rock and enjoy all that is around.” And for once in my narcissistic, self-consumed life, I could just sit and watch the cows in the pasture grazing, the goats making their way to the barn, I could be the small fly on the wall, and I didn’t matter one bit to their existence. It is freeing to sit quietly and just enjoy watching some beautiful animals do their thing.
]]>Each day we are alive becomes a story for tomorrow. No matter what happens in the day you are writing a story with how you spend your time. Whether it’s a difficult conversation at work, an afternoon adventure, an evening at the park, or a bonfire with friends- each significant moment becomes a story. Shelby and I have had lots of time to talk as we hike, drive, or eat meals together. One of our favorite things to do is to remember stories of old- of when we were younger, previous road trips taken, or funny things that happened with our friends. These moments are important, these memories shape who we become or, better yet, who we are becoming. These stories define relationships, unite friends, and create something beautiful that uniquely binds someone to a moment in time.
This is the reason Shelby and I are such believers of getting out and doing something unordinary. Going down the unfamiliar road, heading to somewhere you’ve never been before, exploring your neighborhood, or getting to know someone new. These possibly minor experiences become stories that get shared, passed on, and often create laughter. Now, I don’t consider myself to be a very dynamic storyteller- I’m not dramatic enough for that, but I want to live a story-worthy life. I want yesterday’s story to teach me something about tomorrow. I hope my today makes someone else laugh, cry, or be inspired to do something noteworthy. Because I believe all our stories are bound together like a journal still being written. And our pages unite us in one big narrative that is filled with hope and wonder.
The other day we snuck into a beach resort to surf some waves bigger than I’ve ever surfed before. Then we headed to a National Park we had no information about just because it had a cool name (Kejimkujik National Park). Not every day needs or can or should be this spontaneous, but it is important that everyone once in awhile go for a walk down a new trail, explore a new end of town, or jump in some cold water. If no other reason than to make a great story. Because there is a reason to live a story-worthy life. I can think of a host of people who have gone before me who have lived a story-worthy life. Whether it’s moving into a not so nice neighborhood, to be good neighbors, or going all in on a dream or a passion that draws everybody in or conquering a personal fear. These people inspire me, they make me want to live a story-worthy life.
Now I fear writing this because I don’t want to come off arrogant or like we have this thing figured out. I don’t want to communicate that everyone needs to quit their jobs and buy a bus so they can do cool things. I don’t believe that for one minute. But we want this project, this journey, this year to mean something. We want it to a have a purpose and we want it to cause people to pause and think about their own lives and to have the fullest of life. As a good friend said, this is our ‘road less traveled’- what’s yours? Our hope is that we can encourage others to take a chance, to try new things, and to explore new places while learning something along the way. We don’t have it figured out and we probably have more question marks than periods when it comes to this journey, but we believe that we’ve gotta go for it and we think others should too!
]]>A few months ago, we met a fellow bus-lifer at an art show. Steve was a tall, lanky character. I say “character” because I think he might have walked right out of a cartoon. His bus was white with bright blue rims. He attached a toy shark and a ship to the hood of it. Steve had a lightness about him; his art and his life were filled with humor, goof, and a pool full of delight. He painted comical cartoons of what I imagined were scenes from his life. I don’t know much about Steve, but he inspired me to have a lightness in life and to have a little more play and whimsy . I find myself too often getting frustrated with the smallest of troubles. I get so focused on productivity, rushing to the next thing or thinking of my to-do list. Steve didn’t seem to be like that. He walked with a slower demeanor, like he had been around the block a few times and knew there was nothing to worry about.
As we are adapting to a new pace of life, as well as having a walking little one, I find myself in tension. Constantly thinking about where we are headed next, where are we going to stay, what art needs to be shipped, what supplies we need, and all the while there are toys and dirt all over the bus. And at the same time, I am on the ground far more often than ever before, discovering things with Daisy with a new sense of wonder and awe. She loves with so much abandon, touches everything in sight and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Somewhere between 1 year old and 25 I learned that you need to be focused, productive, and have something to show at the end of the day. Somewhere along that journey I forgot the joy of grabbing a handful of sand, picking flowers in a field, or big sloppy kisses and long snuggles. Having a little one on a road trip like this is tough, but man, is it beautiful. She is learning new things everyday, and apparently we are too.
I hope to be more like Steve, slow and easy to talk to. I want to do more things just for the fun of it. And I don’t want to rush through life too much. Our new activity is that when we are staying at a Wal-Mart parking lot (which we try not to do often), we go into the store before bedtime to get some of Daisy’s energy out. But in the past month or so, Daisy has started walking and almost running, so our time in Wal-Mart has become a little different. Now we chase each other through the clothes isles, put on masks to play peek a boo, and try to catch Daisy from pulling every piece of candy off the shelves. This time running around Wal-Mart has become a new favorite tradition of mine. We just laugh and we play, and sometimes we make the workers mad, and sometimes we put on things we’re not supposed to, but at the end of the day our hearts are full and I think we have discovered a little bit of whimsy.
]]>As we said goodbye to couple of our closest friends and family a few months ago, we were reminded of the importance of the people we surround ourselves with. We are not silos, but more like a bundle of grapes- all connected, making each other sweeter. Shelby and I, from day one of our relationship, knew we wanted to have an open door policy and that anyone was welcome to come in. We wanted our home to be open to anyone who needed a good meal, a good conversation, or just a good time. And we have been blessed (lucky enough) to have had a goofy bunch of individuals who have said “yes” to that invitation.
As we have grown into becoming parents the saying “it takes a village to raise a child,” though cliche, has been more than accurate in our experience. Being parents is a lot of work and is a huge undertaking, but having other people to do it with only makes it richer. We not only enjoy having other people to do life with, we need it. Like fresh air, we need people to speak into our lives. Having a baby has really shaken things up in our life, but when you surround yourself with people who say “yes,” amazing things happen.
And so just as it takes a tribe to raise our sweet Daisy, it took a bundle of brains to make this bus dream a reality. It was a goal of ours to try to bring as many people as we could into the project; to learn from others and to let others be apart of the journey. It was a huge learning curve as we knew very few things about building a bus and it was an awesome opportunity to learn. So we just wanted to say “thank you” to the people who helped make this happen.
So in no particular order:
Thanks to the Cones for endless nights on the cabinets and great early-on adventures in the bus. Thanks to Kailie Heim for sewing our curtains and cushions. Thanks to Kirk Blackmore for the mechanical training and troubleshooting. Thanks to Jordan Ondersma for the help with the electrical work. Thanks to Nick Williams for helping with the paint. Thanks to the Degroots for the free wood. Thanks to our parents for babysitting. Thanks to the Eidenbergers for good company. Thanks to John Vandervelde for helping cut out rusty metal. Thanks to Andy Blackmore for a place to store it in the winter. Thanks to our neighbors for helping us find some parts in a junkyard and letting us keep it in our shared driveway. Thanks to the Vankoeverings for their support and excitement, as well as some troubleshooting wisdom. And thanks to Luke Paul for helping problem solve on installing the solar panels. Thanks Daniel for hauling that spare tire on top of the bus. Thanks Caleb Thompson for our subway tile backsplash. Thanks to Carrie Rodgers for your stoke for the trip. Thanks random craigslist seller for our adventure vehicle, and a cheap price. Thanks Amanda Haadsma for taking in our cats. Thanks Grandma Williams for our outdoor rug and for our bench cushions.
As you can see, it took a few helping hands and a few people who said “yes” to this adventure of the bus and to being our friends. We LITERALLY could not have done this without them. I think my natural tendency is to walk with my head down and think I can things on my own- but nothing has brought me more joy and success than when I have let someone else wiser and smarter speak into my life and help me where I need it. So thanks friends and family, for saying “yes.”
The past couple days we had the joy of getting together with some family in West Virginia. There is something so sweet about reconnecting and sharing stories together- going on adventures and sharing meals that was a delightful taste of home. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with our parents, and were once again reminded of the bliss of connecting with our people.
]]>Well, we have officially been on the road for almost 3 months and it has already been quite the adventure. July and August were filled with soaking up Michigan, with great art shows all over the coast, amazing hikes, and some beautiful weddings with dear friends. It was a great way to finish out the summer months. At the tail end of August we set sail for Ontario, Canada and loved getting to explore Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River that connects to it. We were able to spend some time in French Quebec and explore Old Quebec City which felt like a little taste of Europe. Then, we continued to head northeast for Nova Scotia which was beautiful; Rocky coasts, filled with cool little towns, unique and beautiful boats and some amazing views. From there we continued to make our way down to check out Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. Another amazing national park filled with great hikes, incredible views and lots of natural spaces. We were in love. From there we have continued our way down the east coast and are currently checking out Boston. It has been an amazing journey thus far.
The bus has done pretty well for the most part! It has truly become our home on wheels and it is beginning to feel like that. It’s still filled with all its quirks, things that don’t quite work like you want them to, and is, no matter how you swing it, only 60 square feet. So it’s been good; cozy on rainy nights and warm on cold nights. It’s got everything we need in it, with all of our gear, artwork, and life packed into every square inch. We find that we sweep it out 1,000 times a day, but the beauty is it only takes a second to do. We recently had two days in a row of mechanical issues, different problems each day, both making the bus unable to drive. But with gracious people around, some tinkering, and a few phone calls we are back on the road without breaking the bank! I think we are beginning to break in the bus, and hopefully working out all the kinks still, but we may be always doing that.
And finally our hearts and our spirits are full. Not everyday has been easy, and traveling with a little one can be a challenge, but all in all the journey has been awesome. We have loved getting to spend lots of time together as a family, to explore some new places and terrain, and to be stepping into a grand adventure that we once dreamt up years ago. We have met some really good-hearted people and have enjoyed experiencing a different way of life. And so in the next few weeks we will be continuing to explore the northeast in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and to check out some of Vermont as well. Soon we will continue heading down the east coast for Virginia and eventually North Carolina. Check out some of our pictures of the journey so far! And thanks for following along- more to come soon.
]]>A couple summers ago we hit the road to cross the country on a classic American road trip. We went from Michigan to the west coast and back. We loaded up our little VW Jetta (not cool, trendy van) and hit the open road to explore the wild west, do some hiking, climbing, and even a little surf. As we were preparing, we were figuring out how we could do it on a budget. So like any good millennial I googled “free campsites,” and the first thing that popped up was freecampsites.net. This awesome little (super simple) website has locations all over the U.S. where you can camp for free. Some are less glamorous than others. Some are parking lots or empty space behind a gas station, but some are legit, beautiful campsites.
Shelby and I just got back from three weeks in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and it was beautiful! We did spend some nights in traditional campgrounds but we spent most of it at places we found on freecampsite.net. And here is the best part, we went to some of the coolest little towns and saw some of the most epic views we never would have found if we didn’t wander off the far-too-crowded, paved road to the campground. There is something mystical about heading down new roads to unfamiliar places that is invigorating. It almost feels like looking for buried treasure and when you pull in next to that lake, or over that hill, you feel like you’ve found a gem, and maybe even like you shouldn’t be there. I think there is a myth that nicer things cost more money, in some cases this may be true, but I think usually it just takes a little bit more hunting to find. And maybe that makes it more worth it.
So my encouragement is to take a break from the traditional campground and go explore a new place! There is Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and National Forests that are beautiful, open, and the best part- FREE! You can meet some great people and explore some new places. So do it. Load up your corolla, or your Subaru if you’re cool enough, hit the road with GPS in hand and go find a cool new little spot by a lake or in a Podunk town. Go spread your tent out in a spot where you feel a little more alone and aren’t bogged down by campground rules.
The website provides you with a GPS location, and everything you need to know about the place, what amenities they have, and sometimes even pictures of what it looks like. People can comment and review a place, so you can know actual people camped there and it was ok. Don’t get me wrong, traditional campgrounds are great, and often in some really great places, but my challenge to you is to go on a real adventure, to an unknown place and enjoy a little weekend road trip exploring a new place. Start heading down that two track… see if your car will make it.
]]>A couple months ago I saw a picture of a guy on top of a mountain with a beard full of icicles and wind burnt skin with a caption that said celebrate discomfort. I thought that was pretty profound. A little over a month and a half into this little adventure of ours and we are finding that though I (Tyler) quit my job and we get to travel to cool places, we did not make our lives any easier. Picture perfect sunsets and mountain top snapshots are only a small portion. We actually made our lives much more difficult with more decisions, camp setup and teardown, hot and cold days, and the always elusive shower. So no, we did not embark on this adventure to stick it to the man and to get rid of all modern conveniences- we love those things! But for us to get to the places we want to get to and to meet the people we want to see, we have to embrace the chaos. We have to press into the challenge, acknowledge the not-so-pretty side and celebrate the discomfort.
Although this new lifestyle is unique, I think that more often than not we all have seasons of discomfort. Awkwardly strained relationships, seasons of uncertainty and confusion, illness and disease all penetrate our lives at some point. But I think in some weird way we need these times. They remind us of the beauty of it all. When we get out of the comfort of our little neighborhood, or out from under the blanket and wander down unfamiliar paths, choose to open new doors and get outside, we discover what else is out there. It is often uncomfortable, maybe a little awkward, but I’ve found it’s always worth it. When we step out into discomfort we discover new things about ourselves, about the world and we gain a new appreciation for our creature comforts. That cup of coffee tastes so much better, your bed so much warmer, and when you can gather with your people the time seems so much sweeter. I think, just maybe, it draws us into a deeper delight of the fullness of life.
We are just wrapping up a short few weeks catching up with friends and family in Grand Rapids, MI. It has been a joy to be back with our people and enjoying some normalcy again. But after this weekend we hit the road, and this time for several months. The nerves and excitement are setting in, and we are getting ready to say goodbye to some creature comforts for open roads and new trails. In a few days we head for the Northeast to Nova Scotia. Hoping to find beautiful sunrises and new surf breaks. Goodbyes are hard, but when you know that there is something out there for you, I think you’ve just got to go for it, no matter how uncomfortable or scary it can be. So cheers to the open road and the next adventure.
]]>Our life is “on full” right now. It’s that feeling when you have a tank of gas and the open road, or when you’ve just finished some carnitas tacos and your stomach feels full to the brim. It’s not that we have this “completeness” feeling (I don’t think anyone arrives there) or like life is all sunshine and roses, but it feels full. Our bus is packed to the max with our entire life in 60 square feet along with three people and a business. So needless to say, the bus is full. But beyond physically overflowing, Shelby and I have this feeling of fullness. Full of life, full of joy, full of emotion and, just like our life, it’s stuffed to the top.
Something I learned over the last year or so is that babies require a lot of stuff. For being such a tiny person who doesn’t take up a lot of real estate, they sure do come with a suitcase bigger than anyone else. And so obviously this journey would be significantly easier without a little one running around. Shelby and I laugh about how much more space we would have or how much easier it would be. But we both agree that with Daisy on board, this adventure feels more full… in a good way. Doing something like this with kids is not the easiest route by any stretch of the imagination, but there is a sense of abundance with having her here. Like our cups have been poured to the top. And so our exhaustion is packed to the top and our bus is loaded up, but also our joy feels like it has a newness, our laughter takes on a new light. Yes it is stressful and we have had to get real creative sometimes, but our love for our little one is filled to the brim as well and it just makes everything feel like you just ate those delicious carnitas tacos and all you want to do is sit by the fire with some good friends and have a good laugh.
I was reminded of this a couple weeks ago when we were in the little town of Manistee camped out on the beach and we met a guy who worked for the city. He was working near a parking lot that we were staying in and he noticed my bike so he came over to check it out and we got talking. He had quite the adventure story. I noticed his Scottish accent, so asked how he ended up here. He said in his epic, old Scottish voice, “oh thats a long story.” He proceeded to tell us that he came to The States to do some climbing in the Northeast. After being here for a couple months, he and a friend purchased a cheap, small car and headed west to climb across the country, ending up in Yosemite Valley. He was a big wall climber out west for years. He told me he was retired most of his life and so now he’s going to work till he’s dead. We were telling him about our adventure we were beginning and how we have a little one and in his poetic Scottish accent said, “ahh that’ll just make it more fun.” And I was reminded that I really wouldn’t want it any other way because the way that kid looks at you, you couldn’t trade it for the world. I think our new Scottish friend knew what a full life was all about.
For Shelby and I, it’s the little things that build up and become something beautiful that the idea of what full is to us. We know for sure that a life without modern conveniences, a washer and dryer, for our ever messy baby and full kitchen will be and have proven to be difficult. Its funny when we pull into campgrounds and people stare, maybe ininterest, maybe reminiscent like our scottish friend, and probably simply weirded out by us, ha. But these are the things we document in our brains, and remember as a little family, and laugh together. Because sitting around a campfire and taking this step back, and looking at the life we have in front of us, with few material things, it actually is a lot. It is actually packed full.
So we have made some tweaks to the bus this past week and now we are off again, headed north for the Upper Peninsula and for some climbing, sight-seeing, and hopefully to sell some art as well. The bus has a few upgrades like solar panels and some new organization to it. We are looking forward to some quiet middle-of-nowhere campfires and late night snuggles with Daisy in our little green bus. We will post current pictures on instagram @greenbusandus- follow along!
]]>What a journey it’s been already. Lots of late nights, frustrating moments, research,and a crap-ton of YouTube videos–but we are nearing move-in day and our little home is just about ready for us.
The bus conversion has been exciting and thrilling as well as exhausting and difficult. We’ve spent hours having a million conversations with different people getting their opinions, expertise, and wisdom. This has truly been my favorite part of the project. I typically enjoy problem solving and learning on my own, but working with friends who are experts in various trades has been amazing. I don’t consider myself an expert in anything and would say I’m pretty mediocre at a lot of things–a fact I’m okay with. So having the opportunity to learn different woodworking techniques, electrical troubleshooting, mechanical intricacies, and a host of other fun/not-so-fun things has been a joy.
It’s crazy to think 6 months ago this bus had no floor and you could see through the bottom to the ground. It looked like a rusted up mess. But slowly and surely, with every step taking twice as long and being twice as tricky, we are wrapping things up and moving in. I know the conversion is not done, and may never be done. I imagine it will always be a work in progress, not unlike Shelby and me. We’re never really done and that’s okay.
Something I learned about myself is that I struggle to really plan out something that’s going to be picture perfect. I am much more likely to just start putting pieces together and see if it works. Some like to map everything out and have everything ready to go before they start (probably a much more efficient way to do it). Others like to talk about all the ways you could do something (it’s great to have perspective). But for whatever reason I found that I like to just start and see where it goes. Like most things in life I don’t have to have all the boxes checked or i’s dotted before I try something. I’ve found that you rarely really find all the answers beforehand anyways, so why not just try. I’d rather jump in and see where it takes me.
Shelby and I got married at 21 and had no idea what we were doing. We started leading the youth ministry at our church, just hoping to tell some kids about Jesus and not lose anyone. We had a baby almost a year ago–when I had never even changed a diaper! If I had a plan mapped out in my head at age 18, I don’t think I would have ever imagined this, but I could not ask for a more full life.
Sometimes maps and plans are good, but in my experience it’s just better to just start putting some pieces together and see what you come up with or to get in the car (or bus) and start driving. Know that you probably won’t have all the answers and that’s quite alright.
]]>Are we crazy? Are we stupid? Are we really doing this? This is that feeling when an idea, born from a bar conversation, arrives at its culmination. We’ve got a little bit of an “oh shit” moment going on.
All the scheming, dreaming, and planning in January felt great because, you know, we had plenty of time and it was all still a ways out. But we have arrived. This is the moment our dreams and ideas become a reality and in a few short weeks, we move from our comfortable little house into an even smaller, rusted up, short bus. We are about to surrender our creature comforts for some mystical feeling of freedom and wanderlust.
I think there is a clash inside both Shelby and I. We are feeling the tension. The tension of anticipating an awesome adventure, the tension of leaving our life behind, and the tension of “this could all go terribly wrong.” It’s beautiful and chaotic and a little stressful, but necessary. It forces us to remember that we’re human. Life often puts me on autopilot and I become too comfortable. It’s scary but often healthy to be where this tension builds, where things change, a season ends, and something new begins. I suddenly find myself feeling fully alive. This Little Green Bus feels like the beginning of a new journey mixed with a healthy dose of fear and excitement.
I think we all need moments like this from time to time. As a pastor and good friend once said to me,
“If you’re not living on the edge, get out of the way.”
So stay tuned! Progress pictures and more posts about the adventure are coming soon
]]>So some people think were crazy, some people say were stupid and others say we are awesome. I think we are probably a mix of it all. I am Tyler, and with me, comes my wife Shelby and daughter Daisy. We are a family of three chasing a dream to convert and live in a short school bus. I am a lover of all things outdoors- surf, climb, bike, run. If its an adventure i’m in- I cannot stop myself from chasing waves, ripping trails and playing on rocks. It moves me right down to the bone. My heart beats for wild places and my mind is renewed with fresh air and dirt.
Shelby juggles many hats- mother, wife, co-adventurer, artist, business owner, mentor, hostess, people gatherer and sleep lover. Shelby is the all in one package and she does it pretty dang well. She is just about always down for an adventure (hence this ridiculous bus thing) and is an amazingly talented artist. She can take ideas from others or from herself, and magically turn them into beautiful inspiring pieces. She has learned just about everything she knows from her Grams who is a watercolor artist. Shelby is all things creative and typically covered in paint.
And finally we have our sweet Daisy. She is a lover of smiles, chubby as all get out, and a big fan of cheerios and raisins. We literally love her to death and have had the honor of parenting (keeping her alive) for the past 10 months.
So many answers to this question. I’ve worded it different to everyone. Its the culmination of years of pondering, moments of impact, life dreaming, and whimsical thinking. To say we are doing this because of one thing, would cause you to miss it. To start, we love the outdoors and there are too many beautiful people and places and simply not enough time to fully explore them. So, staying in one place, would be missing out on all that is out there.
Second, in a conversation with a friend we were processing a concept from the Old Testament of the Bible- the Year of Jubilee. This was a year that everyone took off, all debts were forgiven, slaves were set free and the land lay rest. Man, what an amazing practice, to take a break from life, to let the land “rest” and to be set free. Those words pierced my soul, and I felt this thirst for that kind of season. For a season to take a break from traditional living, to explore new places, to try new things, to gain perspective and to practice rest.
Third, we have been privileged to watch and share Shelby’s gift of artwork with a new audience which has taken on a new role in our lives. We cannot believe the support that we have felt from just doing what she loves the most. This has really been on ongoing journey as it began last year after she was working for Starbucks as a barista and painted as a hobby only to be discovered by Starbucks as they decided to print her design on a ceramic tumbler in the U.S. and Canada. Since then its been a fun road of learning what it means to be a full time artist. It allowed her to do her favorite thing first, be a mom to our sweet baby, and paint when time and nap schedules (never consistent) allowed. We are excited to see where this dream takes us as we desire to see as many hidden beautiful places and share them with you through paintings!
Last, it is our attempt to live simply. I know its a cliche used far too often and we don’t believe living simply will solve all of our problems, or make us perfect people by any means. But we would consider it more of a challenge. An attempt to reduce our footprint and see how few things we can live with.
Therefore in a few short weeks our adventure begins, and so we start here with the who and the why. I hope to document the journey, to share thoughts, reflections, stories and tips about family life, road life, art/business life and all the crazy, chaotic and beautiful things in between, but until then.
Cheers!
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