Mindy 12/15/24 Mindy 12/15/24

Air Travel with Toddlers, When you Live Full-time in your RV

Flying with toddlers while living full-time in an RV requires extra planning. From packing one suitcase for four to using compact car seats and a SlumberPod for climbing toddlers, we’ve found solutions to make travel easier. Plus, I’m sharing tips for securing your RV while you’re away and keeping kids comfortable on the go.

Living full-time in an RV means we rarely need to fly—our home goes wherever we do! But sometimes, flying is the best option, like if you're wintering in Florida but want to visit family up north for the holidays. 😝 Preparing for air travel takes some extra thought, especially since we don't have the same conveniences we had in our home!

For example, we don’t carry much luggage in our RV—just one hard-sided suitcase stored in the back of our "garage" (aka the storage under the kids' bunks in the back of the fifth wheel). This suitcase holds our winter gear, extra bedding for guests, and hand-me-down clothes for our kids. Now, we're tackling our first flight with just that suitcase for the four of us! Here’s how we’re preparing and what we’re learning along the way.

The Perfect Car Seat Setup

We love our Maxi Cosi car seats, but they are big and heavy so it’s impractical to fly with them without our bulky travel carrying bags. Unfortunately though, we didn’t have space to bring along these travel bags in the RV. We’ve also learned from experience that rental car seats are often uncomfortable and not a great fit for our kids. So since we couldn’t bring ours and the rental car seats were out of the question, we found a better solution: the RideSafer portable car seat and a Hiccapop Uberboost inflatable booster seat.

These lightweight, compact options are certified for motor vehicle use in all U.S. states and territories and are perfect for air travel. Our 4-year-old and 2-year-old love wearing their “climbing harnesses,” and the inflatable booster makes them feel like big kids. Plus, these items fit into a small backpack we can carry on the plane. Even if our luggage gets delayed, we know our kids will have safe, reliable seating when we arrive.

I can’t tell you how relieved I am not to be lugging massive car seat backpacks from the truck to baggage claim and check-in areas! Traveling with these compact alternatives makes the process so much easier while still ensuring our kids are safe and comfortable when we land.

Prepare Kids for Single Stroller

We’ve always used a compact double stroller for air travel, but for this trip, we’re sticking with a airport-friendly single stroller for convenience. Our current double stroller is fantastic, but it is too large and unwieldy to manage at the airport, so the single stroller will have to do.

This change requires some prep since our 4-year-old prefers riding in the stroller, but our 2-year-old still needs it more. We’re bracing for lots of "taking turns" and carrying kids, but that’s life with toddlers!

Pack Light

With only one suitcase for our family of four, packing light is essential—especially when it needs to hold winter gear! We’re prepping by packing just 2–3 outfits each, plus essentials, and relying on carry-on backpacks for overflow (this hiking fam does have it’s fair share of those). We've prepped our family to keep holiday gifts small—not only is our luggage space limited, but so is our RV's storage!

To save space, we also pre-purchased some items, like diapers and wipes, to be shipped directly to family. This not only lightens our load but ensures we have everything we need when we arrive.

Fortunately, because we’ve flown home before, our family has helped us out by keeping key items on hand—like pack 'n plays, sleeping mats, and everything needed to make the kids’ stay comfortable. Having these items ready saves us from having to pack or buy bulky baby gear, making travel much more manageable!

Keep Toddlers Contained & Comfortable

If your toddler has started climbing out of their pack 'n play but you haven’t transitioned them out of a crib yet, a SlumberPod can be a lifesaver during travel. This portable privacy pod fits over a pack 'n play, creating a dark, cozy environment that feels like walls around them. It not only deters climbing but also helps toddlers settle in for naps and bedtime by blocking out distractions.

For families who aren’t quite ready to make the leap to a toddler bed, the SlumberPod is an excellent way to maintain the status quo while traveling. It gives you the flexibility to get through your trip before making big changes to your sleep setup. Plus, it’s lightweight, easy to pack, and quick to set up—perfect for life on the go!

Securing the RV

Before leaving, we’re taking a few extra precautions to ensure our RV stays safe and sound:

Weather Prep: If cold weather is expected, keep the heat on to avoid frozen pipes.
Water Supply: Turn off and secure water connections to prevent leaks while we're gone. A neighbor of ours once had a slow shower drip that became a major leak while they were away—don’t let that happen to you!
Bug/Critter Control: Vacuum the RV and place Irish Spring soap in the underbelly to deter pests.
Notify the Camp Host: Letting them know we’re gone adds an extra layer of security.

Travel Smarter: Consider an Uber/Lyft

Instead of navigating an unfamiliar airport and its parking situation, we’re opting for an Uber. While it’s an added expense, it saves time and reduces stress. Being dropped off at the airport entrance—especially with toddlers and our single stroller—feels like a worthwhile luxury.

This is our first time flying since moving into the RV full-time, and it’s a learning process. I’ll be back with updates and lessons learned once we complete our trip. For now, these tips have helped us prepare for a smoother journey. Have you flown with toddlers while RV living? I'd love to hear your tips!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

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Mindy 11/23/24 Mindy 11/23/24

10 Ways to Prepare Your RV for the Christmas Holiday with Toddlers

Here are our suggestions for preparing for Christmas with toddlers in your RV!

The holiday season is a magical time! Making your RV festive is fun for toddlers and adds an exciting seasonal layer of adventure and creativity. Here’s how we deck the halls and prepare for Christmas in our fifth wheel, focusing on creating a toddler-friendly environment that keeps the spirit bright without adding stress.

Cozy Up the Mantle & Setup your Beloved Stockings

Having a fireplace in our RV is a game-changer during the holidays! There’s nothing like gathering around it for books, cuddles, and play on chilly winter mornings and nights. It also gives us a special place to hang our beloved stockings, making it easy for Santa to find them. Every Christmas, I adore bringing out our homemade stockings from our late Nana and they are a cherished part of our celebrations. Also, dress up the mantle with garlands, soft lights, and holiday decor that is easy to store, and adds some seasonal touches that bring warmth and cheer to your RV. Our mantle selections are as follows:

Elf on the Shelf Adventures, RV-Style

Elf on the Shelf is a big deal for our 2 and 4 year old toddlers, and we need to keep it simple in our RV. RV space is limited, especially spaces out of reach for our 2 year old, so finding creative spots for our Elf, Oprah Twinkletoes, will be a challenge. I’ve been searching for simple setups - and have command strips and masking tape ready to go. See our instagram @realizethatdream for our future reel on these setups. AND I’ll be excited to add more to this post after the holiday. 😆

Go for Easily Storable Decor

With limited storage in the RV, it’s crucial to choose holiday items that are compact and easy to store. Small, lightweight decorations like light strands, fabric decor, and soft pillows work beautifully and are easy to tuck away in vacuum storage bags after the season. Stick with a few favorite items that spark joy without overwhelming your RV space. The items we selected include:

Snowflake Pillows (here, here and here)
Soft Snowflake Lights

Don’t Forget a Christmas Tree

This may sound a little crazy, but I didn’t think we could do Christmas right for our toddlers without a tree… and, I was correct. A lit tree brings an instant holiday glow to our space and the kids are obsessed! Weighing just under 6 lbs, we found the perfect 3’ tall pre-lit tree and have gathered non-breakable ornaments from our travels, reminding ourselves of the fun we’ve had. Our tree stores nicely behind our couch when it’s not in use.

Create Outdoor Holiday Spirit: Rope Lights & Window Lights

For the outside, rope lights create a festive boundary around the RV, and battery-powered lights in the windows make our camper sparkle. Choose lights that are easy to set up and store. Our toddlers love helping with these outdoor decorations, and the final look makes the whole setup feel extra special when they see it all aglow.

Craft a Christmas Wall

Holiday crafts are a great way to keep toddlers entertained, and you can create a “Christmas Craft Wall” to showcase their creations. Use sticky tack to hang paper snowflakes, handprint art, and other kid-friendly crafts (we love Hobby Lobby & Target’s Mondo Llama). This wall not only adds festive décor but also makes your little ones feel proud of their holiday work. A few of our selections include…

We are also excited to incorporate our new Christmas Around the World in Homeschool Days program featuring stories, crafts and recipes from cultures around the world into our routine! We want to introduce our toddlers to global cultures at a young age, while also traveling the US in our RV.

Pull Out the Christmas Pajamas

One of our favorite traditions is bringing out Christmas pajamas early in the season—and we’ve made it even more fun by involving our Elf on the Shelf! Our elf, Oprah, brings the kids their Christmas pajamas the day after Thanksgiving when she makes her grand arrival for the season.

This tradition started when our daughter was 2. Initially, we’d gift pajamas on Christmas Eve, but last year I thought, Why wait? By bringing them out earlier, we can enjoy them all season long! Now, it’s a cherished part of our holiday kickoff.

Bonus Tip: Christmas pajamas aren’t just for Christmas! On special movie nights during the year, when the kids have done an extra great job with listening or sharing, we make it even more magical by wearing our Christmas pajamas along with preparing our popcorn. If you’re looking for a fun, simple family idea, this one’s a winner!

Give Back to Your Local Community

Even if you’re not in your hometown, the holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community you’re currently visiting. During our travels, we’ve discovered unique ways to spread holiday cheer and teach our kids about generosity. For example, while staying in Corpus Christi, we came across a Salvation Army Angel Tree at Walmart, where we could pick a tag and provide gifts for someone in need. In larger cities, we’ve seen Giving Machines—part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ annual Light the World campaign. These vending machines allow you to “purchase” gifts for those in need around the world.

Whatever way you choose to give, it’s a great opportunity to show your kids the importance of helping others. Whether it’s donating toys, food, or time, these small acts of kindness make a big impact—and create meaningful holiday traditions that your children will carry with them for years to come.

Bring Out your Holiday Movie Faves

Nothing sets the holiday mood like cozying up with your favorite Christmas movies! Some of our family favorites include:

The Polar Express – A perfect pick for little ones who are starting to get excited about Santa (and trains).
Mickey & Minnie, Once Upon a Christmas – Short and sweet for those toddler attention spans.
Dr. Suess The Grinch (new animated version) – A holiday must-watch that always gets giggles!

And after the kids go to bed, Mom & Dad’s favorites…

Elf – Bringing laughs and holiday cheer.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation – The ultimate chaotic and silly holiday experience.
Christmas with the Kranks – A lighthearted comedy about holiday joy.

Whether it’s family fun or a date-night vibe, holiday movie nights are an easy and enjoyable way to embrace the season.

Keep It Fun, Safe, and Toddler-Friendly

With toddlers, it’s tempting to aim for picture-perfect décor, but remember that practical, fun, and safe is the way to go! In an RV, kids can often reach everything, so opt for decorations that are lightweight, unbreakable, and easy to handle. A child-friendly holiday space is one where they can explore and play without constant “no’s” – making it all the more enjoyable for everyone.

Celebrating the holidays in an RV with toddlers is about making memories. With a little creativity, you can transform your RV into a cozy, festive, and toddler-friendly space that’s bursting with holiday cheer. Embrace the magic, keep it simple, and most importantly, have fun with your little ones as you celebrate the season in your own unique way!

Do you have suggestions for us?! Drop a comment!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Mindy 11/20/24 Mindy 11/20/24

Why you may want to Consider ‘Downgrading’ your RV Mattress to a Queen

Why you may want to consider a queen instead of an RV king mattress...

After prolonged debate, we recently decided to ‘downgrade’ our RV king mattress to a queen mattress. This came after months of suffering from a lack of sleep/comfort on a VERY firm RV mattress. One of my personal requirements in our RV was a king mattress - we had one at home and I really liked the additional sleep space - so I really did not want to get a queen. However hubby presented me with some great reasons and Amazon Prime Day had a huge deal on a mattress brand we know we love, so I decided to team up with my husband. I wouldn’t trade that decision because of the following reasons!

Can Buy a Well Known Mattress Brand

RV king mattresses come from several companies we are not familiar with. While they may be great, we liked the bigger name companies that everyone buys for their homes. We are also big mattress in the box fans and own several different brands that we are all extremely happy with in our home. Amazon Prime Day was offering a great deal on a medium firm Casper mattress which is what we have on our king bed at home. We knew we’d be pleased with it and by golly, we are! It is so nice to sleep again and in a mattress we knew we’d like before making our online purchase.

Bedding Essentials are Not ‘Custom’

While we had already purchased an RV king mattress protector, it is nice to now have bedding that fits other beds in our home and camper. It is also amazing to not need to buy special RV king sheets and have sheets that also fit the kids RV beds in a pinch.

Extra Floor Space for Kids & Folding Laundry

Going from a 72”x80” mattress to a 60”x80” mattress gives us a whole extra 960 square inches in our bedroom! That is 6 inches on each side! I feel so refreshed having that extra leg room to get in and out of bed, squeeze around toddlers, and to fold laundry in the space. Anywhere you can find extra space in your RV with toddlers will feel very rewarding.

Morning Cuddle Sessions with your Husband

While I loved that a king bed gave me the ability to not be touched in the night, I now have the benefit of rolling over and being able to snuggle with my husband (and we can also squeeze in the kids in the morning)! I wanted a king for when we had wee babies in times of those hard nights, but we ended up sleeping with them in their rooms/beds instead of having them sleep with us so we didn’t have to break that habit. The need for a king for that reason went away and now that our kids sleep well, its even less of a concern. We get to sleep in more than we used to (we used to awake at 4-430am for work!), so this cuddle time is a very special time for us. In our king bed, we’d just roll out of bed it seemed like. RV life has generally given my husband and I more time to enjoy each other and this is one of the many reasons I have more happiness in this lifestyle.

Have you appreciated a smaller bed in your RV space?! Tell us your thoughts on this!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Mindy 10/14/24 Mindy 10/14/24

10 RV Cooking Essentials that are Great for Toddlers

10 RV cooking essentials with toddlers.

Cooking in (or outside) an RV is a ton of fun! Doing this full time, we prepare A LOT of meals in our camper. While everyone thinks of cooking outside over the fire while camping, that is not always the case when you do this full time and with toddlers. We often cook in our outdoor kitchen - to keep an eye on kids, to enjoy the outdoors, and to keep the camper cool in the hot summer months - but we also cook inside a lot. Space is limited in an RV so choosing wisely on the cooking tools to bring with you is super important. We’ve compiled 10 items we can’t live without in our RV kitchen!

Blender

We love smoothies because they are quick, easy and can be made on the go! A lot of times it is a great way to get some power greens into our toddlers who don’t always eat their veggies. Blenders can also substitute as a food processor for making dressings and marinades. We love our Nutribullet because it is compact, lightweight and easy to clean. Sometimes we’ll have to make multiple batches of smoothies, but we don’t find that terribly inconvenient.

We really like this blueberry smoothie, but we make a few tweaks. We use vanilla flavored greek yogurt, pink Himalayan sea salt, and super greens powder.

Instant Pot

We know lots of people that don’t have Instant Pots, but we are big Instant Pot people! We love the ability to cook meals in one pot very quickly for our toddlers. There are so many meals you can cook in these! We were surprised at first to see how well pasta can be cooked with the rest of your ingredients - no boiling in a separate pot! Our go tos are Mexican chicken, cheesy chicken broccoli and rice, sausage ziti, chicken and dumplings, and pot roast - but that list really goes on and on. We love our 8 quart Instant Pot Duo! Even if you don’t think you need it, we recommend the 8 quart over the 6 quart - we like to make more when we do cook and have freezer meals prepared.

Side Note: We’ve recently learned this can function as a sterilizer! We used to have a separate sterilizer for bottles that we definitely wouldn’t have space for in my camper. Get an Instant Pot and you can conquer dinners and bottle sterilizing!

Air Fryer

This is another tool that may seem like excess in a camper, but we seriously can’t live without it. We use this daily and even more often than our cooktop and oven! We cook chicken breasts (for our favorite chicken, bacon, avocado salad), shrimp, bacon, roast veggies, pizza, and of course, chicken nuggets and fries. We love our Instant Vortex Air Fryer which is 6 quarts, but if we could purchase one again, we’d get the 9 quart (the footprint isn’t much larger). We love the design of this air fryer and the window with light so we can check on the food as it’s cooking without opening the unit.

Toaster

We are a big toast family! Hubby makes sourdough bread that is phenomenal toasted and the kids like raisin bread, bagels, english muffins, etc. There is nothing like a buttery slice of toast and it’s a go to for our toddlers. We like the Cuisinart Classic Toaster because of the additional button functionality, but we haven’t actually upgraded our camper toaster to that yet. We had the 4 piece at our home, but we left that with our renters as our home was rented furnished.

Coffee Maker

This is for Mom and Dad, of course! We can’t survive a day with toddlers without coffee! Black and Decker makes a 12 cup Thermal Coffee Maker (that does NOT have a glass mug!) which we like. We have the 8 cup actually, but will be upgrading to the 12 cup soon as our auto feature hasn’t been working lately.

Foldable Step Stool

Our toddlers like to be involved in the kitchen and we like to encourage that so a step stool is super necessary. We really like our folding step stool as it can tuck away in our limited space. Be careful as we have experienced some pinched fingers (and bellies)!

Locking Trash Can

A locking trash can is important in a camper with toddlers to deter them from opening/playing with trash and to ensure no trash spills in case of an unfortunate turnover in the camper during travel. We keep our trash emptied during travel but you never know what may get put in the trash without your seeing it.

Food Thermometer

When my husband went to culinary school, there were entire classes about cleanliness, bacteria and food safety. Thus, we are vigilant about ensuring our food is cooked to the correct temperature and is safe for eating. We use a digital thermometer that has a rotating sensor, auto on/off feature, is magnetic and waterproof.

Reusable Sponge

So much bacteria can enter your kitchen sponge, especially when you solely hand wash dishes and handle raw meats. We had always stuck to sanitizing or replacing our kitchen sponge twice a month, but in our camper we wanted something sustainable and reusable. We purchased Norwex EnviroSponges and like their non-abrasive ability to remove tough food residues and that they are machine washable. We are able to wash them weekly in our combo unit with our towels.

Utensils

In our opinion, having utensils in the kitchen, that work, are game changers. It removes potential frustrations from using the wrong tool for the job and can sometimes prevent an injury. A few of our favorite things are:

Sharp knife: We use a Mercer Culinary 8” Chef’s Knife, Mercer Culinary Steak Knifes, and Mama’s Great Bread Knife (for hubby’s amazing sourdough!)
Knife sharpener: The Mercer mentioned above is a high quality knife that holds it’s edge, but the bouncing around in the camper will dull it over time. Keep your knife razor sharp with this adjustable sharpener. Plus it looks like a fish when it is hung up - the kids love it!
Silicon spatula: We use this silicon spatula for basically everything! It says its for cookies, but it makes a world of difference as it forms along the edge of your cookware. We use it for eggs, stews, instant pot meals, casseroles, etc.!
Silicon tipped tongs: In addition to the spatula, we wouldn’t be able to cook without these! We use them to turn chicken, bacon, nuggets, etc. and they are safe on our cookware.
Nice can opener: We like a smooth edge can opener and we are partial to Oxo.

Drop us a comment if we’ve missed any of your RV cooking must haves!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Mindy 10/12/24 Mindy 10/12/24

5 Tips to Keep your Equipment Clean with Toddlers

Our 5 tips for keeping your truck and camper clean when you travel full time with toddlers.

The other day, we saw an older gentlemen cleaning his camper and truck at the campground immediately after he arrived. My husband and I looked at each other and laughed - imagining that possibility with toddlers is nearly impossible! But also, how refreshing would that be?! It is so difficult to keep up with anything when you travel full time with toddlers, let alone cleaning your truck and camper. However, here are our tips to keep up with it so it doesn’t get completely out of control!

Perform Maintenance

I’m not talking vehicle maintenance, I’m talking the simple act of removing items from the truck from the day’s adventure including clothing, gear, water bottles, toys, backpacks, and trash. We remove everything (besides the items we always keep in the truck - like toys, diapers, baby wipes, carseat food trays, etc.) every adventure/travel day. If I don’t get to it while my kids are awake, I do it after they go to bed. When you do it daily the task only takes maybe 5-10 minutes.

Spot Clean

For the truck and camper, using a no water cleaning solution goes a looong way. Often times, campgrounds don’t like you washing your vehicles and this helps you get by. We use Wax Wash All, and it’s seriously impressive. Purchase using our referral link for 5% off or use our promo code - realizethatdream - at checkout.

Invest in a Shop Vac

We love our Ridgid ProPack Shop Vac! It is extremely powerful and sucks up all the leftover snacks and crumbs in the carseats and truck. This one is also a wet dry vac which has really come in handy when we’ve had leaks in the camper in the past (yes, these were my fault!). This vacuum folds away neatly (no wheels!) which is a requirement in our camper. We actually store this in a watertight bin in our truck on travel days which are stored under the camper when we are stationary.

Wash Your Truck or Camper at Campground

While many places do not want you to wash your vehicle at the campground for a variety of reasons, some places allow it. We’ve stayed at hipcamps that are very accommodating and often times if you are just cleaning a small area (like the bugs off the front of the camper), campgrounds won’t mind. Getting the bugs off the front of your 5th wheel is not really possible unless you invest in some ‘assistance.’ We purchased a Window Washing Kit and it may be one of my husband’s favorite purchases yet!

Deep Clean at a Self Service Wash

We continue to just use spot cleaner and the window washing kit for our camper because the act of taking it plus the truck through the wash is too much work while our toddlers sit in the vehicle for us. We used to do this all the time when we part time traveled, but being in it full time has made this challenging. We’ve considered one of us taking it while the other entertains the kids at a park or indoor play but so far haven’t found enough time around naps to do so. So in the meantime, this strategy is working for the camper.

For the truck, we love the self service washes. When we team up, it takes my husband and I under 15 minutes (which equates to about $15, generally) and the kids are pretty entertained watching us work and the water splash. Our son was scared the first time, but he has warmed up to it as we’ve made it a happy/smiley/silly place. These self services have bug spray which works wonders, tire washes and all around we are pleased with the outcome. Be sure to bring your own drying towels! While we have found some laser washes that can accommodate a dually (few and far between though), they tend to be about the same price as a self service wash and don’t do as well with the crevices and bugs.

We have also heard that some companies will wash/detail your camper for you if you drop it off, but we haven’t fit that into our time/budget nor have we found a place on our itinerary that has this service available.

Bonus Tip: Purchase Rock Tamers

Rock Tamers are another tool you can use to keep your equipment clean and bonus, they protect your equipment from damage from debris spit up by your tires! While we don’t currently have these because our new truck came with big rear mudflaps, we had rock tamers on our last truck/camper setup and they make such a difference.

Do you have any tips we haven’t thought of?!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Mindy 9/8/24 Mindy 9/8/24

10 Tips to Celebrate Fall Season in your RV

10 tips for celebrating the fall season for full-time RVers with toddlers!

Fall is my personal favorite season and we are currently working on experiencing our longest fall yet! It started off September 9th in Fernie, BC and we are continuing to enjoy the fall colors as we venture south.

As the leaves change and the crisp air moves in, there's no better way to embrace the fall season than by making your RV feel cozy and festive. Preparing your RV for autumn and enjoying the season’s celebrations while traveling full-time with toddlers can be both practical and fun!

Here are ten creative and easy ways to enjoy the fall season as a full-time travel family!

Unveil Fall Decor

Decorating your RV for the season doesn't mean sacrificing precious camper storage space! Choose non-breakable items like fall-themed easily-compressed pillows, fabric garland, and stuffy pumpkins. This way, you can add a touch of autumn charm but they can still easily be placed in vacuum storage bags when out of season. 🤜

Here are a few items we selected from Hobby Lobby.

Craft a Fall RV Wonderland

Get your little ones involved in the decorating process by creating fun fall crafts! Gather supplies for simple projects like leaf art, handprint acorns, or painted pinecones. Display their masterpieces around the RV—it adds a warm, homemade touch and creates special memories. Plus, crafting with your toddlers keeps them entertained and engaged, which is always a win when you’re living the RV lifestyle.

Our fall crafting wall has gotten slightly out of control, but the kids are LOVING it, so I’m happy with it! We always plan an easy craft on travel days so we have LOTS of Hobby Lobby and Target options. I also use Pinterest to generate ideas and save pictures in my OneNote for super easy access. Don’t forget coloring - we have some fall coloring books too!

Here are a few of our favorites!

Stock Your Fall Bookshelf

Create a cozy reading nook where you and your toddlers can snuggle up with fall-themed books. Our kids have been particularly loving Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete, The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, and Little Blue Truck’s Halloween. Reading these stories together not only brings us lots of joy, but also encourages your kids to develop a love for books, which is perfect for some quiet moments on the road. Books are one thing we weren’t willing to sacrifice when packing to hit the road - we have several bookshelves full. 🤩

Simmer Up Seasonal Comfort Foods

Nothing says fall like the smell of chili simmering on the stove! This meal is easy to make in your RV kitchen. Pair your chili with Krusteaz cornbread, and you've got the ultimate comfort food combo ideal for those cool evenings after a day of adventure.

We also love a warm zucchini bread and have also been blown away by the prepared meals at Costco including the chicken pot pie, meatloaf and shepards pie.

Turn Your RV into a Fall Movie Den (a treat for Mom & Dad!)

Set up a series of movie nights with Harry Potter to celebrate the cozy vibes of fall. Dim the lights, bring out the blankets, and enjoy the world of Hogwarts with your husband! The series' autumnal scenery and Halloweeny elements, makes it a perfect fit for this time of year. We also watch Hocus Pocus every season. One day, we’ll introduce our kids, but they definitely aren’t ready for these yet.

Set the Mood with Soft Autumn Lighting

Create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your RV by using lowlights! Bright lights make me nutty! Try string lights, magnetic night lights or perhaps even scented candles. These lighting options add a soft glow that enhances the coziness of your space. Lowlights also help your little ones wind down in the evening, creating a soothing environment that’s perfect for bedtime.

Map Out the Perfect Trick-or-Treat Destination

One of the joys of full-time RV life is the ability to choose where you'll be for special occasions like Halloween! Seek out RV parks that offer safe, family-friendly trick-or-treating events. Some campgrounds even host Halloween activities and contests, making it a fun and engaging experience for your toddlers. We are really excited for our upcoming location and will report back! Planning your location around these events ensures that your kids won’t miss out on the traditional fall festivities, no matter where the road takes you.

Enjoy a Fall Treat!

For me, a pumpkin beer or a pumpkin spiced latte are just the ticket! Our kids love a good fall-themed cupcake (chocolate or vanilla with fall colored icing - they haven’t gotten excited about pumpkin flavored things yet🙈)!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch and/or Oktoberfest Event

Find a local pumpkin patch wherever you travel to make some wonderful fall family memories. Let your toddlers pick out their own pumpkins to paint and/or carve, take some festive photos, and enjoy the hayrides, cornpits, slides and toys that many patches offer. While you're at it, see if there’s a local Oktoberfest event happening nearby! Many Oktoberfest celebrations feature family-friendly activities like live music, games, and delicious fall treats. This combo of pumpkin picking and Oktoberfest fun is a great way to celebrate the season and support local businesses.

Carve Out Some Fun with Pumpkin Creations

Pumpkin carving is a must-do fall activity, and it can easily be done at your campground! Choose medium-sized pumpkins that fit your space and let your kids get creative with their designs. If your toddlers are too young to handle carving tools, they can still participate by decorating their pumpkins with paint, markers, or stickers. Display your finished creations around the outside of your RV to add a personal touch to your campsite!

Do you have suggestions for us to celebrate the fall season in our camper?! This is our first year - we’d love to hear YOUR tips!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Mindy 8/30/24 Mindy 8/30/24

The Big Change Up

It all began with a crazy idea to travel while our kids were toddlers.

The decision to transition to full time RVing with toddlers is not an easy one. While Luke asked me for years to leave my job to live in an RV, I always brushed it off as a joke, and especially once kids came into the picture. It was definitely our dream, but the moment was never ‘right.’ At the same time though, once kids came into the picture, I lost my desire to be a full-time hard-working engineering mama (which I had been for about 15 years) and I realized my heart just really wanted to focus on being a Mom to my sweet babes. I knew the moments were fleeting. Everyday I dropped my kids off at daycare and received pictures of them having fun, laughing, and growing - and I was missing it!

I knew that if I didn’t leave my job, I was going to regret it - even if it wasn’t the best immediate financial decision. We had been working to become financially free for some time - we invested in our financial education and found an investment strategy that worked for us. So, after creating a detailed budget, we made the decision for me to leave my job.

Shortly thereafter, Luke also strongly felt that he hated missing the moments too. I was able to work remotely, so I had a bit more time with the kids, but he’d leave for work at 4:30am (to beat Charleston, SC traffic), return home at 3:30pm ish, we’d pickup kids at 4pm ish, have a couple hours to play, and start bedtime at 6:30pm. He felt like by the time he could enjoy the kids, they were tired and overstimulated - and so was he - and he was just waiting for bedtime to come. After further refining our budget, we decided we could make it work…IF we rented our home and lived in an RV! We still know there is a possibility that we may need to return to work - living on the stock market is, of course, up and down and a bit scary in your 30s - but we figured we could work again when our kids are a little older; school aged and with the desire to be with friends. So, we made the leap!

We found a great property manager, found someone to rent our home furnished, donated/sold a bunch of items, threw the rest in storage, sold two vehicles, bought a truck and fifth wheel that would work for full time travel, packed the camper with items we thought we’d need, said goodbye to sweet friends, left our jobs, pulled kids from our exceptional daycare, and hit the road. The change was a LOT! In fact, our older toddler had a VERY hard time at first.

There were many moments we both questioned what we were doing. It would have been FAR easier to stay home - even if one or both of us still left our jobs. We could paint those porch columns we’d been wanting to paint. We’d have breaks from our kids with our well-loved babysitters. Every time we questioned it, we’d come to the same conclusion. We knew we’d have more regret if we had the opportunity and didn’t try it, than if we did try it, hated it, and needed to come up with a plan B until we could move back into our home.

So here we are now, over five months into this, and while we definitely still have moments of questioning, we are so glad that we pushed through our self doubt and got to where we are. Everyday we are creating memories with our children that we otherwise wouldn’t have. Our hope is that we can provide you inspiration, motivation, and tips to make your dream a reality with your toddlers, whatever that may be.

What is your dream!? Leave us a comment. We’d love to help you make it a reality!

RealizeThatDream

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