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Our Bucket List – 2017

Travel

9 Jan

So as you have probably gathered, travel and  family adventures has become a huge part of our lives. We love planning special family trips and time away,  to make those cherished family memories,  which I am sure you all agree are priceless.

At the beginning of every year we sit down as a family and talk about where we would most like to visit over the next year. M has always been actively involved in our discussions and now this year lil_E has been able to join in too.  We then look to start planning our big holidays and weekend breaks,  which is so exciting.  Since starting this blog I have been amazed by some of the most beautiful places that you all have visited and this in turn has inspired me to put together a bucket list for the year. So without further ado here is our family bucket list for this year.

Bucket List – 2017

  • Peppa Land.  Ok this was lil_E’s only request. So it seems we will look to visit Peppa Land when the weather warms up. I have some ideas to stay in a tree house cabin, to make it even more special or we may just stay in Otis of course. But Nonetheless – Peppa Land is a must!

  • Northumberland Coast – This is Mr S’s request. We travelled the west coast of Scotland last year in Otis and it was our favourite trip to date. I will do a separate blog about this trip as it was breathtaking. Mr S would really like to do the North East Coast this year, and having a look at the pictures on the Internet I can’t  help but agree.

  •  London – We like to visit here every year, and I find it is really special  around Christmas time. We would like to take the kiddies to see some more of the sights, M really wants to do the London eye, and Buckingham Palace, and Mr S would like to visit some of the great London parks- maybe hire out a pedal boat in Hyde Park. We visited London at Christmas and would love to explore more of the City.img_5713

 

  • Disney Land Paris – This is on my wish list every year.  We were lucky enough to take M when she was three, but I would love to return now with all three of my mini me’s, particularly now lil_E is heavily into Disney princesses.  We didn’t make it last year as babyS was only a couple of months old and we felt it was a bit soon to take such a long road trip but I am hoping we can organise a visit- maybe via Eurostar.   I think there is no better time to visit than Christmas, and with M’s 7th birthday at the end of November I am really hoping we get to visit this year towards the end of November.img_2719

 

  • Family Festival. – We do try to visit a family festival every year. we absolutely L O V E them. We are yet to decide which family festival to visit this year as there are so many wonderful family festivals to choose from, but this has to be on our bucket list for the year. There is nothing better than donning those flower head garlands, kicking out any routine, and enjoying all the activities that the festivals have to offer. Last year we were lucky enough to visit Camp Bestival and the girls loved the activities and life music. They adore putting on those fairy wings and face glitter and having a late night dance…. The girls L O V E  the live music. .

 

  • City Break –We love a city break, and sometimes we do cheat slightly and visit a city by train. The girls (particularly Lil_E) loves trains so it is a real adventure for her when we go by train. Last year we visited Manchester, London and Chester.  Mr S would like to visit Liverpool and I would like to visit Bath or re visit Edinburgh – so a City Break is definitely on the cards.img_0810

 

  • Road Trip – This is the one trip of the year that we don’t plan. We like to have no plans, no rules, no bookings, no planned destination. We just drive and see where the road takes us. We have done this every year since we had Otis, and although I guess it is brave – particularly as we never know if the campsites we stumble across are fully booked – we just love the excitement of spontananity. No routine – aaah I love it. I would like to add a little trip to the Isles of Scilly this year so maybe we will just head South and see where the road takes us.

img_3725

So there you have our family holiday bucket list of 2017, this is not exhaustive and I hope that we will enjoy M A N Y family adventures in Otis this year. I am looking forward to sharing all of our family trips, adventures and memories with you. Where would you like to visit this year ? Are there any places on your bucket list that you would like to share ?

Would love to hear from you – follow me on Instagram  or  Facebook !

 

3 Comments

Previous Post: « My Goals for 2017
Next Post: Road Trip – Scotland (Part1) »

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Comments

  1. Mum in Brum says

    January 22, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Fab list – I love the idea of just seeing where the road takes you! We have a boat so also spend a lot of our breaks each year in the UK and it really does offer so much. We’re also planning a London break soon – it’s been a few years since we last visited and we always have such a fab time. Good luck with your plans x

    Reply
  2. Ella says

    January 26, 2017 at 10:23 pm

    I have one to add!!! Bring Otis to Rhos Neigr in the Summer! Harry and Poppy (and me!!) would love having visitors!!! X

    Reply
  3. Ella says

    January 26, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    And…there’s so much fun to be had on Anglesey and so many places to explore! 😘

    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 🌈

📸 credit @canonuk

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