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5 reasons why we love a road trip – California dreaming

Blog

4 Feb
I am a dreamer. I love to be spontaneous, and I love an adventure. For as long as I can remember I have dreamt of owning a campervan. The idea of throwing a few essentials into the van and hitting the road, in search of rolling hills, lakes or sea air…well there really is nothing quite like it. For the last two years we have explored the UK with our little ones, spending evenings on the shores of Loch Lomond, surfing the waves in Cornwall and Devon, and eating fish and chips on Tenby beach. So I guess it is safe to say that there are so many reasons why we love a road trip.
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I say that I am a dreamer, but really I just spend my days thinking about new adventures, with the hope of adding a few more pins to our wall world map. So how does a California road trip sound? Sounds amazing doesn’t it?! I have thought about a trip like this for so long, and I kind of already have it planned in my head. We would start in San Diego, and just spend a few days exploring. San Diego home rentals are an ideal option for a base to allow you to spend a few days here, explore and really take in the sights. We would stop by at La Jolla, Balboa park, and San Diego Botanic Garden, maybe take a Harbour cruise… before hitting the road and moving on in search of the next destination.
 
 Image- Pixabay
We would travel north, passing through Los Angeles… through Santa Barbara..then continue north to Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Cruz before ending the road trip in San Francisco.
 Image – Pixabay

Reasons to love a road trip

  • Reasons to love a road trip
    • A new day a new adventure
    • Time together
    • Flexibility
    • Spontaneity
    • A chance to slow down
Travelling with kids can be daunting…overwhelming, even. As a parent you still have this wish to continue to travel, see the world and keep on ‘living that dream’…yet the thought of a long flight, an airport dash and lengthy transfer times, juggling the suitcases, hand luggage and tired toddlers – well it can bring on a headache just thinking about it. We have always tried to live by the ethos that our holiday starts the moment the journey begins. The moment we hit the road… our adventure begins. That feeling of heading off, with music playing in the background, and anticipation in the air of what is to come. So there you have it?! It really is as simple as that – we love a road trip.

A new day a new adventure

Wherever we travel, we always try to move on every couple of days. It breaks the journey up, and allows for us to pause and recharge our batteries. Each day brings with it a new adventure. Moving on every couple of days ensures that you really get to see so much in a short space of time. If you don’t fall in love with a destination…well you can take to the road and move on to the next. You are in total control of where you go and what you see and how you get there. When we travelled to Scotland a couple of years ago, a four-hour journey ended up taking us nine hours, mostly because we kept taking detours, making numerous stops to take in the beauty of our surroundings.

Time together

I know it sounds cliché, but I have some really fond memories of taking to the road, driving, and just chatting. We have honestly had some of our most important and life changing talks sitting stationary on a motorway with the radio on and the sound of the kiddies chattering in the background. Sitting in a confined space for any length of time allows you to get lost in a deep and meaningful conversation. To bond and to laugh. Needless to say I kind of love the old-fashioned car games, the hours singing at the top of our voices to our road trip play list, (there is nothing quite like I-Spy with a three year old who makes up the rules!) and I always smile as I remember the numerous detours for those emergency toilet stops and dashes to the nearest service stations for coffee and ice-cream.

Flexibility

Road trips bring about a certain freedom, and a break from routine. A time of having no real plans, where you can move on as often or as little as you like. Road trips mean that you are not confined to fixed times, and there is no set itinerary.
We are that family who are always late.Yes always. And yes, I really did miss that flight to South Africa. Road trips allow for you to travel at your own speed, with no set departure or arrival times. You can just travel when the time is right, throw in ad hoc stops when you drive by a beach where the sea is glistening through the car window… shouting at you to pause for a moment. You can call the shots.

Spontaneity

A couple of years ago we took a great British road trip. We had no plans, we had no idea where we were heading and we made no pre-booked reservations. When it rained, we packed up and moved on to a new destination and we told the kids that we were ‘chasing the sunshine’. Road trips allow for spontaneous travel. You can change direction, you can stop a night in a place that steals your heart. You can take a moment for an evening picnic, to enjoy the sunset and those new-found views.

A chance to slow down

The thing I love most about a road trip, is not only those moments of laughter and chatting, but also those quiet and peaceful times where you stop for a while, take in the scenery and gather your thoughts. Road trips force a period of unplugging from the world. Having no Wi-fi and sometimes a patchy phone reception allows for you to focus on your surroundings, clear your mind and concentrate on the here and now.
 Image Pixabay
 
So would you love a road trip?
 
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 reasons why we love a road trip
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T ravel Loving Family

8 Comments

Previous Post: « 5 Family travel blogs to follow in 2018
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Comments

  1. TraveLynn Family - Jenny says

    February 12, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    We’re HUGE fans of roadtrippin’. Our first holiday with our eldest was a road trip around Scotland. Like you, we loved the flexibility and also being able to cram the car with almost the content of our house. We also have dreams of one day owning a camper and after reading the intro to this post and your plans for California, I now have the theme tune to the OC in my head… 🙂

    Reply
  2. Ting at MTM says

    February 12, 2018 at 10:29 pm

    Oh, we love a road trip too, and your reasons are totally spot on! The freedom you have is so much better when you have young kids and the flexibility is paramount!

    Reply
  3. Erin Ek Rush says

    February 13, 2018 at 9:26 am

    I really love a road trip! The freedom & adventure is fantastic. I have always wanted to explore California as well so this would be a trip trip for me.

    Reply
  4. Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me) says

    February 14, 2018 at 8:54 pm

    You missed a flight to South Africa?? Now there’s a story I’d love to hear some time! I enjoyed reading about your conversations in the car. My son’s a big fan of road trips. He’s been badering me about when we’re next going on one!

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    February 17, 2018 at 9:05 pm

    We love a good road trip too! Good job really with family all over the UK;) I hope you make it over to California one day and hire a campervan for a trip of a lifetime from San Diego to San Francisco. I worked in San Fran for the summer before uni, it’s a free spirited city, you would truly love it x

    Reply
  6. Jen from Jenography.net says

    February 19, 2018 at 9:55 am

    I love these themes of spontaneity and flexibility. Too often when we travel we get overscheduled or too ambitious to “see it all”. Our kids always seem to relish the downtime, the lazing by the pool, the last-minute trip to that tiny barbecue joint or a last-minute vote on what to do that day. Inspiring post! #MondayEscapes

    Reply
  7. Morgan Prince says

    February 19, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    I can’t say I’ve ever done a road trip, I’m more of a planner. However I do like the sound of those quiet times to reflect. I do like the idea of a road trip in California though. 😉
    #MondayEscapes

    Reply
  8. Claire at Tin Box Traveller says

    February 22, 2018 at 10:22 pm

    I hear ya! We love road trips and a US one is high on our long list of holidays. We’d really need months to do it justice. I know if we went for a fortnight we’d come back wanting more! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes

    Reply

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Vanlife Family • Travel


Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights dotted around a
Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3


🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages a
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈


A vintage rainbow 🌈

Mucho love tonight - hope
A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x


💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫

💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx


🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx

Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage


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Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟 Fairy lights dotted around a Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐 I often get messages a 🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈
A vintage rainbow 🌈 Mucho love tonight - hope A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x
💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx
🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage
If this year has taught us anything, it’s defini If this year has taught us anything, it’s definitely to not take anything for granted. To take each day as it comes and to enjoy the simple things in life, finding  joy in those ordinary moments. 

I don’t need reminding of this but family and friends are everything. As are good old hugs. (I miss hugs!) And plans. Blooming love a plan. 😍

So ill keep on bobbing on here if that’s okay? I’ll keep planning, writing about our campervan adventures and sharing our van life love and outdoor life. Because we have to have hope and we have to keep dreaming.... 

Hope you are all doing okay, sending a virtual hug if you need one this weekend. My inbox is ALWAYS open, always.
🚐 4 years! 🚐 4 years blogging!! Wowzers tha 🚐 4 years! 🚐

4 years blogging!! Wowzers that has flown by!! 

I’ve had lots of new followers lately so thought I would pop on and say hello and tell you a little bit about us.

I’m Katy and I am behind Otis and us travel blog. I started the blog during my maternity leave - really because I love taking photos and wanted  a place that the kids can look back on and to document our van life adventures. I  am a full time specialist nurse and also currently working on an MSc. I am a whirlwind and life is definitely jam packed but I wouldn’t have it any other way :) 

We love our beautiful T5!! We have made so many memories and taken some wonderful roadtrips over the years. We haven’t managed to get out in the van much this year, but hey I’ve still been dreaming ... hopefully next year🤞🏻🤞🏻

We have three free spirited kiddies who love nothing more than a road trip,  sleeping in the poptop roof, exploring, beach life and toasting marshmallows. 

Mr Otis and Us, what can I say? The chilled one who has so much patience😆. He drives the many miles, lives on coffee and never ever says no to my crazy road trips and ideas. 

So here we are - the Otis and Us tribe, popping on to say hi. 
 
Thank you so much for following along, for all your interaction and love. It means the world. I love to hear from you all, every message and every comment. Thank you 🙏🏻 

Hope you will stay with us for 2021 , 

Stay safe 

Katy xx 🌈

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