“Let’s play family!” These three words became a frequent request from our (then) 2.5-year-old daughter soon after we’d taken a six-day van trip together.

For weeks building up to the trip, we wondered if we were mentally equipped for the “adventure.” And days upon returning from the 734-mile journey, feeling and looking more exhausted than when we’d left, we questioned if it were really a vacation.

We were sold on the romantic idea of the freedom to go and land wherever and whenever you desire illustrated by #vanlife images posted on social media by our child-free friends. However, we were in no financial place to buy a six-figure souped-up Mercedes Sprinter van.

So, we jumped at the chance when our friends at Adventure Wagon invited us to take one of their versatile builtout Sprinter vans for a multi-day spin, complete with a refrigerator, comfortable mattress and power station offering five days of off-grid power. Adventure Wagon’s motto, “van life for real life,” made us seriously consider the potential we have to buy a low-mileage van for $35,000 and slowly build it out as it becomes financially feasible.

We aren’t the only ones interested in trying van life. According to a survey conducted by Lonely Planet and Fiverr, 70% of “anywhere workers” are parents traveling with their children. “How difficult could this be?” we thought. The pandemic hastened the demand forcamper vans, and despite the pandemic adventurebeing over, van sales have continued to increase. There are also options to rent a van from owners on sites like Outdoorsy or Cascade Van Rentals rather than taking on the commitment of purchasing one.

We thought simpler would be better. We packed Eagle Creek packing cubes (color coded for each person) in Adventure Wagon’s soft overhead storage compartments to create a little organization. But in the end, we had to embrace the chaos that quickly ensued and learn to focus on the moments outside together.

We drove 27 hours from Boulder to Buena Vista to Crested Butte to Gunnison to Ouray to Hotchkiss and back to Boulder. Our first night, we camped at a designated dispersed campsite overlooking the Arkansas Valley and the Collegiate Peaks. Outside Crested Butte, we parked at Musician’s Camp alongside a rushing creek, steps away from the iconic Maroon Bells. In Gunnison and Ouray, we “cheated” with a much-needed hotel room for a shower and space. In Hotchkiss, we stopped at Big B’s Orchards for dinner and drinks. There we parked for the night in the middle of a blooming apple orchard.

While my husband and I were interested in stopping for gushing waterfalls, our daughter had an eagle eye for playgrounds; we learned to forgo the waterfalls (the sound bothered her ears) and stop frequently for the playgrounds. We took the time to sit in the sand and play with her — even when it was in the middle of urban sprawl en route to somewhere (we thought) more beautiful.

My husband and I had dreams of hiking gorgeous remote trails together as a family. In reality, our daughter was interested in walking short distances and then stopping by streams to explore. We took turns getting our exercise in while the other played with her.

Even after the trip was over, we continue to learn about travel through our daughter. Now, she plays with a toy camper van at home — and she doesn’t mimic the arguments over who is peeing when or where the damn jackets were stored. She packs her tiny backpacks with random items for her next “trip” — a small stuffed dog, crayons, binoculars, a tiger mask — and doesn’t stress over having too much or too little or the wrong things.

While our van trip with a toddler revealed rifts in our team, it also magnified our strengths and helped us see Colorado differently. Authors of the new book Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and World Schooling share a similar perspective: “The sensory experiences of travel lay down foundations for all learning. Enjoy thinking about your journey through your toddler’s eyes. If you share their mindset of wonder, you’re all on the same team.”

Go. Take the opportunity of playing family in new ways.

Originally published in the Summer 2024 issue of Spoke+Blossom.

On the Road, Together — Vacationing with a Toddler In A Camper Van Strengthened Our Family + Changed Our Perspective On Travel