O'Phalen Adventures

Author: The O’Phalens

  • Things To Do in Sedona with Kids: Astonishing Hikes & Epic Adventures

    Things To Do in Sedona with Kids: Astonishing Hikes & Epic Adventures

    Sedona with kids, child looking out over Seven Sacred Pools in Sedona | O'Phalen Adventures

    Sedona doesn’t normally top the list of family destinations, but there are so many things to do in Sedona with kids! Our family of five has been full-time traveling for over three years now, and Arizona is a place we keep coming back to. It has such diverse and amazing landscapes, and the weather from Fall to Spring is pretty lovely, too.

    This was our first time in Sedona, though, and we enjoyed our time here a lot. The obvious downside to Sedona is that it’s crowded because everyone else enjoys it, too! But the worst of the crowds can be avoided or mitigated with some planning and utilizing off-peak hours. Plus, although I wasn’t a big fan of the shuttle system to some of the hikes (mostly because they don’t run often enough IMO), our middle child loved the shuttle ride more than the hikes. So if you have a bus-loving kid, there’s that!

    Let’s talk about all of the wonderful things to do in Sedona with kids though!

    Things to do in Sedona with Kids: Hiking

    Most visitors to Sedona are probably here to experience the absolutely epic hiking. I’ve shared some hikes here that range from “not really hiking” to “moderately challenging even for our experienced hiking family.” If you’re new to hiking as a family, check out my 10 best tips for hiking with kids to get started!

    Raven Caves

    Raven Caves is a perfect very short hike for families that want to do some cave exploring. The caves are so amazing for kids to climb in and around, and they’re so close to where you park. It’s also way less crowded than the more popular Sedona hikes. Just be sure to hold onto little ones’ hands! And bring a headlamp.

    Airport Mesa Vortex

    You can hike a moderately challenging loop around Airport Mesa, or you can just watch the sun set at Airport Mesa Vortex. For the vortex, park at the lot on Airport Road and walk a few minutes to a perfect sunset view. Get there early because the lot is small and it’s a popular sunset spot.

    Bell Rock

    Bell Rock is another relatively short and easy hike that’s perfect for children and grandparents alike! The views are gorgeous, and the hike is less than a mile long. Do this one early or later in the day because the sun is relentless here.

    Subway Cave

    Now we’re on to the more challenging hikes! Subway Cave was probably the hardest hike we did for two reasons. One, it was just long at over six miles. Two, the scramble into the cave was the trickiest we’ve done so far as a family. We made it, though! Definitely wear toddlers. The view in the cave is unbelievable, but you’ll want to hold kiddo hands tightly. The cave is reached via Boynton Canyon Trail; use the map so you don’t miss the Cave Spur (turnoff)! Parking is challenging here, but there’s more parking on Boynton Pass Road. Your America the Beautiful Pass on your dashboard counts as paying for parking!

    Things to do in Sedona with kids, Devil's Bridge | O'Phalen Adventures
    Devil’s Bridge

    Devil’s Bridge

    The Devil’s Bridge hike is one of the easier “iconic” Sedona hikes in my opinion. It’s 4 miles round-trip, and you can shave off half that with a 4×4 vehicle that you’re brave enough to drive on Dry Creek Road to the trailhead. We saw people doing it in older SUVs and trucks, but we also saw someone rip their truck’s step off. I wouldn’t take our F350, but I would definitely drive it in a rented Jeep! We just hiked to the official trailhead from Dry Creek Vista Parking, which is very small. There is more parking on Boynton Pass Road, or you can take the free shuttle. Just pay attention to when that last shuttle arrives!

    Soldier Pass

    Soldier Pass is another iconic Sedona hike (and the main picture for this post is from there!), and it’s one of the shorter ones. The round-trip hike to the cave is under 4 miles. You can also hike just 15 minutes to the stunning Seven Sacred Pools if you’re not up for a longer hike. This hike was probably the most scenic we did on the actual hike itself and not just the end destination. The parking lot is tiny, and it’s completely closed Thursday-Sunday when you have to take the shuttle.

    Cathedral Rock

    Cathedral Rock is one of the most famous Sedona hikes, and one of the more challenging vertical climbs on this list. It’s a short 1.5 mile hike, but it gains more than 700 feet of elevation and involves lots of scrambling. We turned around about 2/3 of the way through because I wasn’t comfortable with the kids, but it’s doable for the adventurous family with kids 7+! And the views are amazing. This parking lot is also tiny, and it’s completely closed Thursday-Sunday when you have to take the shuttle.

    West Fork of Oak Creek

    Oak Creek is just north of Sedona, and it’s different from the rest of these hikes for a few reasons. One, it’s not a “red rocks” hike, but the canyon is still pretty. Two, it would be a great hike for really hot days because it’s shaded and you follow the creek to splash in. And three, you can do less than the whole hike and still find enjoyable views. Similar to the other hikes though, the parking lot is busy. Go early because it only opens to allow new cars in a few times a day once it’s full. Parking is $12. I’ll be candid and say that this was by far not my favorite hike we did, but I did include it here because I think it’s a good option for hot days.

    Things to do in Sedona with Kids: Sightseeing & Exploring

    For those who don’t want to or can’t hike, there are still beautiful options for things to do in Sedona with kids. Here are some of my suggestions!

    Chapel of the Holy Cross

    The Chapel of the Holy Cross at sunset is not to be missed, in my opinion. We are not a religious family, but the sunlight streaming through these glass windows and the architecture of the building are both breathtaking. Respectful reverence is appropriate when entering, as with most places of worship. But it’s otherwise totally kid-friendly to walk in and sit for a few minutes. My kids enjoyed taking turns standing in the place where it appears the Jesus statue is looking at you.

    Things to do in Sedona with kids, Chapel of the Holy Cross | O'Phalen Adventures
    Chapel of the Holy Cross

    Jeep Tour

    If hiking is too challenging or not your family’s thing, there are many Jeep tours in the area that can get you out to similar red rocks views. We didn’t take any to recommend, but the Pink Jeep Tours looked fun!

    Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole

    There are a few places around Sedona with fun swimming holes for hot days, and Grasshopper Point is one of the most accessible. A short walk takes you to a fun swimming hole, where you’ll probably want water shoes if you have them! This is also the perfect place for a picnic. $12 for parking.

    Sedona’s Rainbow Trout Farm

    The Rainbow Trout Farm is a fun excursion for kids who’d love to catch a fish! You pay by the fish you catch (and $1.50 per person to fish). You can grill them yourselves, or you can take them home. There is no catch and release.

    Tlaquepaque Stroll Arts & Shopping Village

    This is a charming upscale arts and shopping area that might be fun for families to walk around. They have really unique stores, art galleries, and outdoor sculptures, and the Spanish-inspired architecture is gorgeous. There are also really special outdoor events for things like Dia de los Muertos and a December lantern walk. Check for events during your visit!

    Watch sunset from Javelina Cantina or Molé Sedona

    These two Mexican restaurants are casual enough for families and boast incredible red rocks sunset views. Enjoy the view after a busy day and get some delicious food to go with it.

    Oak Creek Native Goods Stalls

    On your way back from the Oak Creek hike, stop in this parking lot and browse authentic Native arts and crafts for sale. My kids were enamored by the beautiful beadwork and immediately wanted hair clips and bracelets.

    Oak Creek

    Sedona Public Library

    You know we love a library when we travel (have you read my library cards for non-residents post yet?). I’ve included the library on this list because it would be a great option to cool off or stay out of a stormy day!

    Harkins Theatres Movie Theatre

    There is a small movie theatre in Sedona that would also be a great option for inclement weather days. Or if your legs are too tired from all that hiking!

    Things to do in Sedona with Kids: State Parks & National Monuments

    Slide Rock State Park

    Slide Rock State Park should top the list of things to do in Sedona with kids if 1. It’s warm enough to be in chilly water and 2. Your kids are big enough to swim. You can absolutely visit with smaller kids, but the rock water slides are the best part. Wear water shoes for traction, and be prepared for it to be busy in the summer. $20 for a car to enter.

    Red Rock State Park

    Red Rock State Park is one of the most beautiful state parks ever. There is a small visitor center, cool guided ranger programs, and lots of family-friendly trails with stunning red rocks views. Entrance fees are $7/adult, $4 for 7-13, and free for 6 and under.

    Montezuma Castle National Monument

    Montezuma Castle is a neat national monument site in Camp Verde, not too far from Sedona. Check out the massive cave dwellings of the Sinagua People and an educational visitor center with a Junior Ranger program. $10/person or free with an America the Beautiful Pass.

    Tuzigoot National Monument

    Tuzigoot National Monument is another Sinagua pueblo dwelling in Cottonwood, and it makes for a quick, uncrowded stop. Really interesting museum with the indigenous history of the area, and a pretty view of Jerome in the mountains. $10/person 16+ or free with an America the Beautiful Pass.

    Palatki Heritage Site

    Palatki Heritage Site is another cliff dwelling that also features petroglyphs. You will need a reservation to visit, and it’s down a rough 6 mile dirt road. But it is stunning! Tours are free.

    Camping on the road to Palatki

    Things to do in Sedona with Kids: Day Trips

    If you want to stay in Sedona on your Sedona trip, I wouldn’t blame you. But since we stayed in the area for months, I feel it would be irresponsible of me not to mention the other fun family activities around here! Here are some things to do within 90 minutes of Sedona if you’ve exhausted all of the things to do in Sedona with kids.

    Jerome

    Jerome is such an adorable little ex-mining town in the mountains. You can visit Jerome State Historic Park, stroll the artsy downtown, and take in the breathtaking views. For more Jerome ideas, check out my friend Mel’s post on one day in Jerome.

    Verde Canyon Railroad

    For your train lovers, the Verde Canyon Railroad in Cottonwood is not cheap, but it is a fun (and scenic!) excursion. Some say it’s more scenic than the Grand Canyon railroad, and there is a December holiday train.

    The Science Vortex

    The small but fun Science Vortex is an affordable outing for families who love science or need an indoor break. It’s only open on Thursdays and the weekend, but if you can catch it, it’s a blast. Family admission is only $15, or free with an ASTC reciprocal membership.

    Out of Africa Wildlife Park

    The Out of Africa Wildlife Park is not a cheap experience, but may be worth it for animal lovers. It’s a walking or driving safari style zoo in Camp Verde that also features a zip line for older kids and adults. Tickets start at $28.

    Flagstaff Snow Park

    If you’re visiting in winter months, Flagstaff Snow Park looks like a blast. Tubing starts at $25 a person for a half day.

    Things to do in Sedona with kids, looking at a meteor crater north of Sedona | O'Phalen adventures
    Meteor Crater

    Meteor Crater

    This amazing Meteor Crater is northeast of Sedona, and it really is an impressive natural wonder. Tickets are $27 for teens and adults, $18 for kids, free for 5 and under.

    I hope this post helps you plan by giving you lots of ideas for things to do in Sedona with kids! If you visit, let me know in the comments 🙂

    For more about how we travel with kids, check out these posts:

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    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • RV Bedroom Renovation: Spotlight on This Beautiful Transformation!

    RV Bedroom Renovation: Spotlight on This Beautiful Transformation!

    RV bedroom renovation | O'Phalen Adventures

    I’m thrilled to share the details of our RV bedroom renovation with you today! If you missed the complete renovation post, you can head here to see the other rooms and a horrible before photo.

    I’ll list absolutely everything we used, and I’ll break it down by section. But first, let’s start with the mood board, shall we? I always recommend creating a mood board for any renovation project. It helps keep you focused and makes the whole thing so cohesive. If creating one feels overwhelming, I’d LOVE to help you. Click here to book.

    Here’s what I created for our bedroom:

    RV bedroom renovation mood board | O'Phalen Adventures
    Bedroom mood board

    I was really going for desert sunset (which is also what the exterior paint job ended up channeling, too!). The goal was warm and relaxing, which I think it totally achieved.

    Our shower stall is in the bedroom, so I’ll include details about the shower in this post. The toilet closet / bathroom details I’ll share in another post.

    RV Bedroom Renovation: Colors

    Paint colors: Walls and doors are Behr Swiss Coffee

    Primer and paint details: Everything was primed with Kilz adhesion primer and painted with Behr semi-gloss interior paint

    Flooring: Lowe’s Smartcore Interlocking Vinyl Plank that clicks together with no glue or subfloor prep

    RV Bedroom Renovation: Details

    Orange Fabric for Headboard: Velvet rust-colored fabric from Joann plus cotton batting stapled to a giant cardboard box side

    Bedding: Dusty Rose duvet cover from Walmart

    Throw Pillows: World Market, similar here and here

    Slide Trim: 1″ x 6″ Wood Board Sanded and Stained

    Copper String Lights: LED battery operated fairy lights

    Greenery Over Closet: Two magnolia leaf garlands from Michaels

    Pink Area Rug: World Market Redondo Mat

    12v Light Over Bed: Low profile puck light

    Dresser: Thrifted and re-stained

    Dresser Hardware: Brushed gold cup pulls

    Sign: Aldi Aisle of Shame find, similar here

    Green Lamp: Kate Spade emerald green table lamp we already owned

    Chandelier: Normal RV light fixture; surrounded by embroidery hoop draped in these beads, these beads, and twine

    Bedside Hanging “Nightstand”: Hanging wall organizer

    Curtain Track: Bendable ceiling track with these hooks in place of closet door

    Mirror: Gold oval mirror

    Shower Tiles: Palisade vinyl wall tiles in Rain Cloud

    Shower Doors: Corner glass shower and base

    Shower Fixture: Rain shower system in Oil Rubbed Bronze

    Greenery Hanging Off Shower: Hobby Lobby, similar here

    Laundry Hamper: Woven laundry hamper lives in the shower

    Exterior Bathroom Door Sun: 6″ embroidery hoop and square wooden dowels spray painted gold

    Blackout curtain: Terra cotta curtains

    Cream Blackout Shades: Levolor Cut-to-Fit Blackout Shades

    White Bedroom “Door” Curtain: IKEA Merete curtains

    Curtain Tie Back: Made from twine and beads leftover from chandelier project

    Floor Vents: Metal Floor Register spray painted brown to match flooring

    Washer & Dryer: Black & Decker apartment washer and Panda portable dryer

    RV Bedroom Renovation: Summary

    I love how all of the colors and textures came together to create a relaxing sanctuary feel for our bedroom. This room didn’t get nearly as many “wow worthy” splurges as the kitchen and living room did (like the wallpaper!). That meant that the magic was in the details here. Small projects like creating a custom lightweight headboard out of a cardboard box, DIYing a bead chandelier, and fashioning a gold sun on the bathroom door had a massive impact.

    The stunning shower in the corner was the one big transformation in this room. And if I had it to do over again, I would hire a plumber to connect all of the plumbing. I finally figured it out after three weeks, but learning how to move the drain in an RV was an adventure! If you’re cutting vinyl tiles like the ones I used in the shower, you need this Ryobi multi-tool saw. I used it every day during this renovation.

    We also unexpectedly had to replace the bedroom slide floor because of water damage. That was a three day very un-fun project, but more doable than the internet makes it sound. I’m so glad we did it! If you find unexpected water damage when you start demoing your RV, don’t panic. Most of it is fixable.

    Head back to the RV Renovation Post to see the rest of the rooms!

    Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.

    For more of our RV renovation, head to the main post or check out any of these:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • Best Museums for Kids NYC: Insider Tips

    Best Museums for Kids NYC: Insider Tips

    Best museums for kids NYC, kids in front of NYC street art | O'Phalen Adventures

    We may be a nomadic family now, but we launched from Brooklyn! We lived in New York City for almost 15 years. So who better to share a list of best museums for kids NYC?

    There’s a common misconception that NYC isn’t a great destination for families, but I think that couldn’t be further from the truth. True, there are certain transportation and crowd logistics to overcome. But it’s so worth it for the vast array of cultural experiences NYC has to offer!

    This list encompasses my absolute favorite museums in New York City that I think are great choices for families. Some are children-oriented, but most are just amazing choices for anyone that happen to be interactive and kid-friendly. Those are the museums that are always my favorite anywhere — welcoming to children, but still fascinating for adults!

    If you’re taking a vacation to NYC, let us help you plan! Learn how to have a fantastic trip from people who lived there:

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    Now let’s get to the good stuff!

    Best Museums for Kids NYC List:

    American Museum of Natural History

    The American Museum of Natural History is world-famous for a reason: it is amazing. It’s also massive! There are dinosaur bones, a planetarium and butterfly garden, rare gems, all the animals your heart could desire, and even an entire blue whale sculpture hanging from the ceiling. This museum is the quintessential big-city museum for animal lovers (like most kids!). Bonus points for watching A Night at the Museum before your visit to get the family extra excited.

    Admission starts at $28 for adults, $16 for kids (suggested admission for Tri-State area residents!). Advanced ticket reservations required. This museum is right off Central Park, which makes it perfect for before or after a park picnic.

    Museum of the Moving Image

    The Museum of the Moving Image is one of those museums that I would recommend to almost anyone visiting NYC. It’s the only museum in the country dedicated to the art, science, and technology of movies. They have Star Wars memorabilia and a hands-on Jim Henson exhibit, plus a bunch of programming for families. There are exhibits like a booth where you can practice recording your own voiceover. It’s a super fun place! Plus, tickets are more affordable than some of the more famous museums.

    Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children. If you head to Astoria for this museum, get some Greek food in the neighborhood while you’re there!

    Best museums for kids NYC, two kids sitting on vintage subway seat | O'Phalen Adventures
    New York Transit Museum

    New York Transit Museum

    The New York Transit Museum is the *ultimate* destination for kids who love things that go! The basement of this museum is a decommissioned subway station filled with vintage subway train cars. You can walk through all of them and observe how subway technology and comfort evolved. It is fascinating! There are also interactive kid-friendly exhibits upstairs like a nearly life-sized play bus. This museum is a can’t-miss if you have a train loving kid (or grownup!) in your group.

    Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children. FREE if you have a museum membership with ASTC reciprocity! This would be a great museum to combine with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

    Brooklyn Children’s Museum

    Of all of the many children’s museums in NYC, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is the best in my opinion. The Manhattan one is fun, but always absolutely packed. In Brooklyn, there are some small animals to observe, a giant bus to play on, a grocery store to pretend shop in, and rotating exhibits upstairs. My kids’ favorite part was always the water play section, though, where we have spent so SO many happy hours. Bonus is that parking is easy right outside this museum if you’re driving in.

    Admission is $15 a person, free hours on Thursday afternoons. Consider adding on time in Prospect Park or at the Prospect Park Zoo to your day here.

    Best museums for kids NYC, two kids at Brooklyn Children's Museum | O'Phalen Adventures
    Brooklyn Children’s Museum

    Tenement Museum

    The Tenement Museum is another super unique-to-NYC experience. It offers guided tours through historic tenement buildings to illustrate the history of immigrants in NYC. It’s a really interesting experience with paid actors leading the way. I would take mid-elementary kids and up, only because standing still and quiet might be challenging for the younger kids.

    Admission is $30 per person. If you make it downtown to this museum, I highly recommend adding on time in Little Italy or Chinatown. Wo Hop is our favorite Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood.

    The Morgan Library & Museum

    The Morgan Library & Museum varies in its exhibits widely, but I’ve included it on the best museums for kids NYC list mostly because of the library. It took my breath away the first time I saw it because it truly resembles the library from Beauty & the Beast. If you have book lovers or Belle wannabes in your family, this museum is worth a stop. It’s also so conveniently situated near other outings you’ve probably planned in Midtown, unless the other museums on this list.

    Admission is $22 for adults, free for 12 and under. This museum is right near the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, and 5th Avenue shopping you might already be planning.

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art is another one of those iconic NYC museums. It’s massive (you could never see it all in one visit or ten!), so there really is something for everyone. Some of the special exhibits are absolutely mind-blowing if you love art. Our kids always especially enjoyed the Egyptian rooms, where you can walk inside a whole temple. To help get your kids even more excited about visiting The Met, read The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The kids in that story live in the museum for a week!

    Admission is $30, free for under 12 (suggested admission for Tri-State residents!). Afternoon tea at Alice’s Tea Cup would be the perfect combination with a visit to The Met.

    The Cloisters

    The Cloisters is an homage to all things medieval. Medieval art set in a building incorporating medieval architecture. Plus gorgeous gardens! What kid wouldn’t want to explore a castle and then stretch legs outside in a beautiful garden? This museum is a fun excursion way uptown where it’s a more relaxed vibe for anyone feeling overwhelmed by urban life.

    Admission is $30, free for under 12 (suggested admission for Tri-State residents!). Explore Fort Tryon Park afterwards or hop across the river into the Bronx to tour Yankee stadium.

    Queens County Farm Museum

    The Queens County Farm Museum is a working farm that has been producing food for New Yorkers for over 300 years. There are livestock, seasonal events like hay rides, and an interactive children’s farm. This is the perfect outing for anyone looking to connect with local agriculture within the city limits.

    Admission is free, except on certain ticketed days. Out of towners might consider combining a trip here with the New York Hall of Science or a delicious meal in Queens’ Koreatown.

    New York Hall of Science

    The New York Hall of Science is a fun and interactive science center for all ages. It’s packed full of hands-on exhibits that range from complex science to toddler play. My kids always adored the interactive bubble exhibit. This is the perfect way to end a trip through the best museums for kids NYC.

    Admission starts at $22 for adults, $19 for children. FREE if you have a museum membership with ASTC or ACM reciprocity! Out of towners might consider combining a trip here with the Queens County Farm Museum or a delicious meal in Queens’ Koreatown.

    Bookmark this post with the best museums for kids NYC from someone who lived there with kids for a long time! I hope it helps you as you plan your NYC visit. And let me know if you have any questions in the comments. If you’re interested in museums in other places, check out our best museums for kids list!

    Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.

    For more of our travel tips with kids, try these:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • Things To Do in Valdez Alaska: Exciting Adventures

    Things To Do in Valdez Alaska: Exciting Adventures

    Things to do in Valdez Alaska kayaking in Valdez Glacier Lake | O'Phalen Adventures

    Paddling with glaciers, dozens of waterfalls, epic mountain passes, and adorable small town charm. There are so many fun things to do in Valdez Alaska! We highly recommend a stop there on any Alaska adventure.

    If you need help planning an Alaska itinerary, check out our guide to RVing Alaska! You don’t need to have an RV or to have kids to find this useful, but we do have suggestions for both. Continue below for our best ideas for things to do in Valdez Alaska!

    Cover page of RV Alaska with Kids travel guide, Alaska vacation ideas | O'Phalen Adventures

    RV Alaska with Kids Travel Guide

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    If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.

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    Okay, now for the list of things to do in Valdez Alaska! Here goes:

    Thompson Pass

    Things to do in Valdez Alaska, O'Phalen family of 5 hugging in Thompson Pass | O'Phalen Adventures

    If you’re driving into Valdez, you’ll get to enjoy one of its most breathtaking sights before you even get there: Thompson Pass. If you arrive by water, I highly recommend finding a way to drive up to Thompson Pass if you can. It is STUNNING. After a whole summer in Alaska, we started to wonder if we could still be blown away. Then we drove through Thompson Pass, and the answer was YES! This photo and the cover photo for our Alaska e-book was taken there (by Denaa Photography!). There are several short loop trails you can walk straight from the turnoffs up there, and you should definitely spend time doing that.

    Bridal Veil Falls & Horsetail Falls

    These are other gorgeous sights you’ll pass on the drive into Valdez from the rest of Alaska. Both of these waterfalls are right off the road in the canyon you drive through after descending from Thompson Pass. There are pull-offs right alongside the road, and you should plan to stop. Horsetail Falls had a rainbow at the bottom both times we saw it, and Bridal Veil Falls had stunning cascades and light.

    Valdez Glacier Lake

    Perhaps my most memorable experience in Valdez was kayaking in Valdez Glacier Lake. The main photo for this post was taken there! I did a lot of paddling in Alaska this summer. But this was the only place I found where you could launch straight from the shore and kayak with icebergs. You can take a tour from town if you don’t have your own kayak or don’t feel comfortable paddling alone. Give as wide a berth as possible to icebergs! Remember that they are several times larger under the water than they are above. And they often break or roll without warning!

    Solomon Gulch Hatchery

    This was the other one of my favorite things to do in Valdez Alaska. This salmon hatchery becomes a sea lion and sea otter buffet during high tide! Watching these adorable creatures feast on fish (only in the summer!) was unexpectedly delightful. Bears also frequent the area, but we didn’t happen to see any. But stay bear aware!

    Allison Point Fishing

    Things to do in Valdez Alaska, fishing from Allison Point | O'Phalen Adventures

    Just a bit further up the road is an excellent spot for salmon fishing when the salmon are running in summer. There are so many salmon that my family caught a couple, and that is without any knowledge of fishing whatsoever! Visit Prospector Outfitters if you need fishing gear and/or advice.

    Hiking Trails

    There are several pretty hiking trails around town. We tried out the Dock Point Trail and the first section of the Shoup Bay Trail. Dock Point Trail is easy and short, with some pretty views of the harbor. Shoup Bay Trail is long and we only completed the first couple of miles before we ran straight into a bear on the trail and turned around. The trail had beautiful views of the bay and grasslands (pictures above!). Even cooler? It was absolutely PACKED with salmon berries during the last week of July. We picked so many that we were able to make Salmon Berry Pie to share with our campground neighbors!

    Museum Visits

    There are two small museums in Valdez. They’re worth checking out in inclement weather or if you want more background on the city’s history. There is the Valdez Museum and the Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum. The Valdez City Library is also surprisingly charming if you need somewhere to hang out on a rainy day.

    Walk the Harbor

    Valdez’s harbor is tiny, but adorable. Walking the harbor and ducking into the adorable shops won’t take all day, but it is worth the time. Duck into The Coffee Co. or Valdez Brewing for a drink. See if you can spot any of the town’s “bunny infestation” bunnies (yes, really)!

    Boat or Kayaking Tour

    If you’re got money to splurge, consider taking a boat or kayaking tour to Columbia Glacier. This glacier is one of the most active glaciers in the world, leading to dramatic calving events that make for an unforgettable day. If you’re not up for paddling, there are wildlife boat tour options that look incredible, too.

    Day Trips or Overnights from Valdez

    There are several other amazing excursions just near Valdez that you might want to consider on your trip. You could take a ferry to Cordova, one of Alaska’s adorable and tiny off-the-road-system towns. You could visit McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (the largest in the U.S.!). Closer by, Worthington Glacier is a quick stop off to a nice glacier view.

    We loved our time in Valdez, and we loved that it seemed to have a higher locals to tourists ratio. Plus, the adorable bunnies hopping around definitely didn’t hurt But the absolute best part was the incredible glacial activity and up-close wildlife viewing. There are so many fun things to do in Valdez Alaska.

    Is Valdez on your list? If you want our favorite Valdez campground recommendation, you can find it in our Alaska e-book!

    For more about our epic adventure in Alaska, head to the main blog post or check these out:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • Travel Journal for Kids: Instant Download Unique State Worksheet!

    Travel Journal for Kids: Instant Download Unique State Worksheet!

    Travel journal for kids / state worksheet | O'Phalen Adventures

    Today I’m really excited to share the printable travel journal for kids I designed! I’ve looked before for a state worksheet for kids that I felt captured the information I wanted my kids to journal about and remember. Since I never found one I loved, I designed my own!

    This travel journal for kids / state worksheet is perfect for full time travel families who are roadschooling OR any family taking a family vacation! It gives kids the opportunity to document what they learned and reflect on the experience with questions like:

    • What foods are special in this state?
    • Who are the Indigenous people of this area?
    • Did you see any new plants or animals?
    • What was different about how kids live here?
    • Share a random fact about this state?
    • Share some topics you’d like to learn more about after visiting this state?
    • Plus room to draw maps and tape souvenirs!

    This travel journal has two different leveled options: one for young elementary kids who need more room to draw and less room to write, plus one for older kids with the ability to journal more in-depth. The other thing I’m excited about for this state worksheet is that it features two pages for parents or caregivers to journal about the trip, too.

    I also love tying back what we visited and studied into our homeschool learning by reading books and watching documentaries. This journal includes space for you to log what you did in those ways, too.

    State Worksheet / Travel Journal for Kids

    State Worksheet / Travel Journal for Kids

    $2.00

    If you’ve ever wished for an easy way to capture what your kids learn as you travel, this is it! Forget other state worksheets that require boring, irrelevant details like the state flower. Let’s write about what we learned and experienced! This state worksheet digital product includes leveled worksheets for kids: one two page log…

    Category: ,
    Tags: , ,

    This kid travel journal is a digital download only. After purchasing, you can print as many copies as you want to right away!

    I love the idea of kids keeping a log of what they’ve learned for years as part of an amazing homeschool portfolio or family travel keepsake.

    For more family travel tips, try these posts:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

    Get an email when we post and never miss an adventure:

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  • Free Library Card: The Ultimate List for Travelers

    Free Library Card: The Ultimate List for Travelers

    Image of hand holding free library card options | O'Phalen Adventures

    It’s no secret that one of the best resources in the world is a free library card. Especially if you’re homeschooling! Our public library branch in Brooklyn was one of the hardest things for me to leave behind when we became a full time travel family. BUT that doesn’t mean we’ve given up on libraries!

    And as I’ve spoken to a lot of traveling families, I’ve discovered that not everyone knows how easy and accessible it can be to get a non resident library card! So I’ve decided to put together a resource to help traveling families with information about where to get a free library card (or cheap library card!) as a non resident.

    Why Get a Free Library Card as You Travel?

    Libraries are an amazing resource just to visit, even without a library card. But when we’re in one place for a bit, being able to check out books for all of us is a gift. Libraries also offer some extra perks, depending on the library. California libraries, for example, offer a California State Park Pass to save you some money. Many libraries have discounted or cheap museum passes for their city, as well. And some libraries we’ve been to even loan household items like a leaf blower or Instapot!

    Is Every Library on This List Offering a Free Library Card?

    I included libraries that charge a small fee for non-residents. It’s often worth it to me to pay when we’re staying somewhere for a few weeks or longer!

    Why Would I Bother With an E-Card?

    Libby, Kanopy, and Hoopla offer electronic resources that are an invaluable resource. We check out hundreds of ebooks a year through the Libby app. I read the books on my phone and Kindle, and our oldest has her own Kindle that she can read library books on, too. Kanopy and Hoopla offer movies, music, and more! We love using them to check out a musical album to listen to for awhile or to watch an interesting documentary.

    A few of these libraries even offer electronic cards that you can apply for online, meaning you don’t even have to drop by the branch to receive one.

    Am I a Resident If I’m Staying Somewhere For a Month or Longer?

    Keep in mind that libraries have varying responses to whether a campground address or bill is proof of residency. Libraries not included on this list may give out free library cards to “residents” of RV parks, but I haven’t included them unless someone has personally verified that or it is clearly defined on their website. Some libraries also give full borrowing privileges to people who work in the area, which doesn’t apply to us, but may apply to some traveling families.

    Can I Buy You a Coffee for Putting This Together?

    Yes, please! This list took over 40 hours to compile, and it is my absolute pleasure to share it with you. But if you want to buy me a coffee for my efforts, it would be appreciated!

    Now, on to the library details 🙂

    Free Library Card for Travelers Database:

    LocationNon-Resident PolicyCostVirtual Card?Ebooks?
    Alabama
    Gulf Shores Thomas B. Norton Public LibraryVisitors with valid photo ID and home address can get card$0Must visit in personLibby
    Huntsville-Madison County Public LibraryNon-residents can get card for a fee, photo ID required$20 annual fee for individual, $35 for familyMust visit in personHoopla
    Mobile Public LibraryResidents only, but “rent receipt” qualifies, so may accept RV park receiptFree for residents of Mobile CountyTemporary cards for residents available via online applicationHoopla
    Tuscaloosa Public LibraryNon-residents can get card for a fee, photo ID required$10 annual fee per personMust visit in person, must renew annually in personLibby
    Alaska
    Anchorage Public LibraryOut of state visitors can receive 3 month card with 3 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby
    Fairbanks Public LibraryYes, contact a branch for detailsContact a branch for detailsMust visit in personLibby and Hoopla
    Homer Public LibraryTemporary visitors can receive a 6 month card with 10 item limit“A small fee”Must visit in person, share proof of home mailing addressAlaska Digital Library
    Juneau Public LibraryVisitors staying for 28+ days may receive a temporary card with 2 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby
    Mat-Su Library NetworkNon-residents can pay for card$10/4 months and 3 item limit or $35/annual and full privilegesMust visit in person
    Seward Community LibraryTemporary visitors can receive a one year card with 3 item limit with local temporary address$0Must visit in person and share local reference (“landlord”)None for temporary cards
    Arizona
    Apache Junction Public LibraryEasy Access card with 3-item limit for anyone with any photo ID$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    Camp Verde Community LibraryTemporary cards issued without residency proof, limited access$0Must visit in person
    Flagstaff City – Coconino County Public LibraryNon-residents can receive a 1 year library card$0Must visit in person, temporary cards upgraded after 1 yearLibby and Hoopla
    Lake Havasu City (Mohave County)30 day non-renewable card if address not verified, local business receipt with name and address accepted$0Can register onlineLibby
    Mesa Public LibraryAnyone who lives in Maricopa County for 30 days a year is eligible for a free card, or non-residents can purchase a card$0 or $40/yearCan register for an e-card online here or a full card in personLibby, Kanopy
    Page Public LibraryTemporary visitors can receive a 6 month card, 6 book limit$25Must visit in personLibby
    Phoenix Public LibraryEasy Access card with 3-item limit for anyone with any photo ID, non-residents can pay for full access card$0 or $40/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Quartzsite Public LibraryNon-residents can receive a 1 year card$0Must visit in person
    Scottsdale Public LibraryVisitors can receive a 3 month card, 10 item limit$0Must visit in personHoopla and Kanopy
    Sedona Public LibraryVisitors can receive a 1 year card$25Must visit in person, provide photo IDLibby
    Arkansas
    Bentonville Public LibraryVisitors can receive a 1 year card, digital checkouts only$0Must visit in personLibby
    Fayetteville Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a cardAnnual fee not disclosed, financial aid availableMust visit in personLibby
    Garland County Library (Hot Springs)Non-residents can pay for an annual card$30Must visit in personLibby and Hoopla
    Texarkana Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for an annual card$20E-cards for digital materials hereLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    California
    Anaheim Public LibraryAnyone in the world can get a digital card to access digital resources$0Can apply online here, must apply in person as of 2025CloudLibrary
    Kern County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for an annual card (CA residents free)$25Must visit in person with photo IDLibby, Hoopla, CloudLibrary
    Los Angeles Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for an annual card (CA residents free)$50 (pricey, but great ebook selection!)Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    Monterey County Free LibrariesOut-of-State residents can apply in personAsk in personMust visit in personLibby
    Palm Springs Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for tiers of cards$12/1 month, $24/3 months, $36/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Riverside County Public LibraryOut-of-State residents can pay for an annual card, will accept RV park receipt for free card$0 or $10 for Out-of-State Resident cardMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, CloudLibrary
    San Francisco Public LibraryVisitors can pay for temp card (CA residents free)$10/3 monthsMust visit in person and provide temp SF addressLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    San Diego Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for an annual card (CA residents free)$32.50Must visit in personCloudLibrary
    San Jose Public LibraryNon-residents can receive a 1 item/digital items limited card$0Can apply online for e-card hereLibby and Hoopla
    Santa Barbara County LibraryNon-residents can receive 3 item card$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Sunnyvale Public LibraryWithout proof of residency, instant e-card for e-books or limited 2 item card$0E-card available here, in person for physical materialsLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Colorado
    Boulder Public Library3 week courtesy card with 5 item limit available$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Denver Public LibraryVisitors staying for at least 1 month can apply for provisional card$0?Must visit in personLibby and Kanopy
    Mesa County LibrariesTemporary visitors may apply for a limited 3 month card or pay for full access$25/3 months full accessMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Ouray Public LibraryVisitors staying 3+ weeks may receive temporary card with no item limit$0Must visit in persoonLibby
    Pikes Peak Library DistrictLimited cards may be issued when proof of address is unavailable$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Pitkin County Library (Aspen)Full library cards issued with no proof of residency$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Summit County LibraryVisitors can pay for a card$10/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Connecticut
    Ferguson Library (Stamford)Visitors can put down a refundable deposit for a temporary card$25/6 months, refundableMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Hartford Public LibraryWithout proof of residency, e-card is available$0Must visit in personLibby and Kanopy
    New Haven Free Public LibraryWithout proof of residency, e-card may be available$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Delaware
    Dover Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for an annual card$25/yearMust visit in person, e-cards online with a Delaware addressLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Rehoboth Beach Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/1 month or $25/yearMust visit in person, e-cards online with a Delaware addressLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Wilmington Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a limited one-month card or full privileges annual card$10/1 month and limited privileges or $40/year for full accessMust visit in person, e-cards online with a Delaware addressLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Florida
    Broward Public LibraryVisitors can receive a free e-card or pay for an annual card$0 or $38/yearIn person for regular card, instant e-card online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (Tampa)Non-residents can pay for a card for physical items only$35/yearIn person only unless you have a local addressNot available for visitors
    Miami Public LibraryNon-resident cards are expensive, but e-cards for digital items are available with local address$0E-card online hereLibby, Hoopla
    Monroe County Public Library (Key West)Non-residents can pay for a card$30/yearCan register online hereLibby
    Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative (Destin)Non-residents can pay for a card$30/6 monthsMust visit in personLibby
    Sarasota County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$15/3 months, $25/6 months, $40/yearMust visit in personCloudLibrary and Hoopla
    St. Johns County Public Library System (St. Augustine)Non-residents can pay for a card$7/1 month, $15/3 months, $50/yearMust visit in personLibby and Hoopla
    Georgia
    Athens Regional Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearApply online for an e-card here or get full access card in personLibby
    Cobb County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$40/yearMust visit in personLibby and Kanopy
    DeKalb County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card, “rent receipt” counts to prove residency$35/year for non-residentsMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Fulton County Library System (Atlanta)Non-residents can pay for a card, homeschooling parents in the area eligible for free card$40/year or free for homeschoolersApply online, but must pick up card in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Live Oak Public Libraries (Savannah)Non-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Hawaii
    Hawaii State Public Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$10/3 months or $25 for FIVE years (!!)Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Idaho
    Boise Public LibraryTemporary cards are available for 3 months with a 2 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Coeur d’Alene Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$30/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Idaho Falls Public LibraryTemporary cards available with a 2 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby
    Lewiston City LibraryTemporary cards are available$0?Must visit in personLibby
    Illinois
    Champaign Public LibraryTemporary resident card available, RV park may qualify, 6 month card/10 item limit$0Apply for an e-card hereLibby and Hoopla
    Chicago Public LibraryVisitors can use a Chicago address for an e-card or get full access by leaving cash deposit for items checked out$0 or ???Apply for an e-card here or visit in person for full accessLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Lincoln Library (Springfield)Temporary resident or non-resident card availableCall or visit for detailsCan apply online here or in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Peoria Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a cardCall or visit for detailsMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Indiana
    Evansville Vanderburgh Public LibraryTemporary and e-cards available$0, Visit a library branch to confirm eligibilityMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Iowa
    Cedar Rapids Public LibraryQuick library card with no address proof, 3 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Davenport Public LibraryVisitors can bring their home library card to borrow items$0Must visit in personLibby
    Iowa City Public LibraryTemporary cards for up to 8 weeks available with 2 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Sioux City Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/1 month, $25/3 monthsMust visit in personLibby and Kanopy
    Kansas
    Kansas City Kansas Public LibraryE-cards available to anyone within the library’s service area, digital items only$0Can apply hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Lawrence Public LibraryTemporary one year card available for campground residents, 3 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby and Kanopy
    Salina Public LibraryCards may be granted to temporary out-of-state residents$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Wichita Public LibraryE-cards available without proof of residency, digital items only$0Must visit in personLibby
    Kentucky
    Boyle County Public LibraryVisitors can receive renewable 30 day card, 10 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby
    Louisville Free Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby and Hoopla
    Mary Wood Weldon Memorial LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby and Hoopla
    Nelson County Public LibraryNon-residents receive a card$0Must visit in person
    Louisiana
    Calcasieu Parish Public LibraryTemporary cards available for 3 months, 3 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby and Kanopy
    Lafayette Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card, 10 item limit$20/yearMust visit in personLibby
    New Orleans Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$50/yearMust visit in person or email librarianLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    Shreve Memorial LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card, 5 item limit$20/yearMust visit in personLibby and Hoopla
    St. Tammany Parish LibraryVisitors can receive a free 1 month card or pay for a card$0 or $30/yearMust visit in personLibby and Hoopla
    Maine
    Jesup Memorial Library (Bar Harbor)Visitor cards availableAsk a librarianMust visit in person
    Lithgow Public Library (Augusta)Non-residents can pay for a card$15/3 months, $30/6 months, $60/yearMust visit in personCloudLibrary and Hoopla
    Portland Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$20/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Wells Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/3 months, $20/yearMust visit in personCloudLibrary
    Maryland
    Baltimore County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$50/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Montgomery County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Prince George’s County Memorial LibraryTemporary residents can receive a free card$0Must visit in person for full access or apply online for 6 month digital accessLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Worcester County LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/yearLibby, Hoopla
    Massachusetts
    Boston Public LibraryAges 13-26 can receive free Books Unbanned card for “frequently challenged” digital collection$0Apply online hereLibby
    Springfield City LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$35/yearMust visit in person for full access or apply online for digital accessLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Vineyard Haven Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card with a 10 item limit$10/yearMust visit in person, card works at all Cape Cod libraries and Martha’s Vineyard/NantucketLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Worcester Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/yearMust visit in person for full access or apply online for temporary digital accessLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Michigan
    Capital Area District Libraries (Lansing, etc)Non-residents can pay for a card$25/6 months or $50/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Gloria Coles Flint Public LibraryVisitors can apply for a temporary e-card for digital access$0Apply online hereLibby, Kanopy
    Peter White Memorial Library (Marquette)Non-residents can pay for a card$35/3 monthsMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Traverse Area District LibraryVisitors can receive a 3-month card with 3 item limit (no digital)$0Must visit in person with hotel or campground receipt
    Minnesota
    Fergus Falls Public LibraryDoes not require documentation$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Red Wing Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$5/1 month, $10/3 months, $20/6 months, $40/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Scott County Public LibraryWelcome cards for visitors, two item limit and digital access$0Must visit in personLibby
    Winona Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/3 months, $20/6 months or $40/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Mississippi
    Hattiesburg LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/6 months (may apply for waiver due to need)Must visit in personHoopla
    Jackson Hinds Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Laurel-Jones County LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10 one time feeMust visit in personHoopla
    Missouri
    Joplin Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$12.50/3 months, $50/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Kansas City Public LibraryNon-residents can receive a limited card for in-person items$0Visit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    St. Louis Public LibraryWithout proof of residency, limited card available with 2 item limit and digital access$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Taneyhills Library (Branson)Non-residents can pay for a card$5Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Montana
    Billings Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$20/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Bozeman Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Great Falls Public LibraryNon-residents can purchase a temporary card$10/3 monthsMust visit in personLibby
    ImagineIF Library (Flathead County)Visitors can receive a limited card$0Must visit in personnLibby
    Lewis & Clark Library (Helena)Non-residents can pay for a card, temporary residents can receive free 3 month card$45 for non-resident card (free in 2023)Visit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla
    Missoula Public LibraryVisitors may receive a temporary cardAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Nebraska
    Kearney Public LibraryLibrary cards available to anyone regardless of residency$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Lincoln City LibrariesNon-residents can pay for a card$5/summer, $15/3 months, $60/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Morton-James Public Library (Nebraska City)Non-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Omaha Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$6.25/month, $25/3 months, $75/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Scottsbluff Public LibraryTemporary cards available without proof of residence, 3 item limit for 3 months$0Must visit in personLibby
    Nevada
    Las Vegas – Clark County Library DistrictVisitors can receive a free e-card, ask a librarian about full access card$0Visit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Pahrump Community LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card“Small fee,” ask a librarian
    Washoe County Library System (Reno)Non-residents can receive a limited card$0Visit in person or apply online hereLibby
    New Hampshire
    Lane Memorial Library (Hampton)Non-residents can pay for a card$20/4 months, $60/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Manchester City LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$50/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Portsmouth Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$35/3 months, $55/6 months, $100/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    New Jersey
    Atlantic City Free Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$30/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Atlantic County Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$25/4 months, $60/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Long Branch Free Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$20/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    Newark Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$50/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    New Mexico
    Alamogordo Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$15Libby, Kanopy
    Albuquerque Bernalillo County LibraryNon-residents can receive a limited cardAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Las Cruces Public LibraryVisitors can receive a 3 month card$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    Santa Fe Public LibraryVisitors can receive a 4 item card$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy, Hoopla
    Taos Public LibraryVisitors can receive a temporary card$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    New York
    Albany Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$50/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Brooklyn Public LibraryAges 13-21 can receive free Books Unbanned card for digital collection, anyone can receive Welcome card without ID for 3 items$0Apply online here for Books Unbanned, here for Welcome cardLibby
    Buffalo & Erie County Public LibraryTemporary residents of one month or more can receive a short term card$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Caldwell-Lake George LibraryTemporary residents of one month or more can receive a short term card$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    New York Public LibraryVisitors can receive a 3 month card$0Must visit in personLibby
    Plattsburgh Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/yearMust visit in personLibby
    North Carolina
    Buncombe County Public Library (Asheville)Non-residents can pay for a card$20/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Charlotte Mecklenburg LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$45/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Fontana Regional LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$15/6 monthsMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Haywood County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    New Hanover County Public Library (Wilmington)Non-residents can pay for a card$15/6 months, $30/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Wake County Public Library System (Raleigh)Temporary cards for 60 days/3 item limit or Non-Resident card with full access$0 for Temporary, $25/year for Non-ResidentMust visit in personLibby
    North Dakota
    Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public LibraryFree temporary cards or paid Non-Resident cards$0 or $30/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla
    Fargo Public LibraryCard can be mailed to you as proof of residence or Non-Resident cards available$20/year for Non-ResidentsMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Minot Public LibraryTemporary and Non-Resident cards available$10 for Temporary card, $25 for Non-Resident cardMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Ohio
    Cincinnati Public LibraryTemporary cards for physical items only$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Cuyahoga County Public LibraryOpportunity cards for those in transition, 3 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Dayton Metro LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Toledo Lucas County Public LibraryNon-resident cards available, ask a librarian for detailsAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Oklahoma
    Pioneer Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a cardAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Tulsa City-County Library30 day / 2 item limit cards available for visitors$0, ask about non-resident card feesMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Oregon
    Astoria Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$18/3 months, $35/6 monthsMust visit in personLibby
    Cannon Beach LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby
    Coos Bay Public LibraryProvisional cards for temporary residents$0Visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Eugene Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$11/monthVisit in person or callLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Hood River County Library DistrictNon-residents can pay for a card$20/3 monthsMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Klamath County Library Service DistrictTemporary cards available with 2 item limitAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Multnomah County Library (Portland)Homeschoolers may be eligible for a free educator cardAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Tillamook County LibraryTemporary and Non-Resident cards available$20/3 months, $50/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Pennsylvania
    Carnegie Library of PittsburghNon-residents can pay for a card$30/2 yearsMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Erie County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card for physical items only$10/yearMust visit in person
    Lancaster Public LibraryNon-resident card options available, see the librarianAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Union County Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$20/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Rhode Island
    Pawtucket Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$40/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Providence Public LibraryVisitors can receive 2 month temporary card with hotel or other receipt$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Woonsocket Harris Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby
    South Carolina
    Chapin Memorial Library (Myrtle Beach)Non-residents can pay for a card$8/3 months, $20/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Dorcester County LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$35/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Florence County Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Greenville County Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$45/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Spartanburg County Public LibrariesNon-residents can pay for a card, free 2 month Courtesy Card with 2 item limit$0 or $35/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    South Dakota
    Grace Balloch Memorial Library (Spearfish)Non-residents can pay for a card, no digital access$30/yearMust visit in person
    Rapid City Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$9.25/monthMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Siouxland LibrariesNon-residents can pay for a card, RV address not residency$17/3 monthsVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla
    Tennessee
    Clarksville-Montgomery CountyNon-residents can pay for a card$20/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Chattanooga Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card or volunteer to waive fee$50/year or 20 hours volunteeringVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla
    Collierville Burch LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$50/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Texas
    Brazoria County Library SystemTexas resident with local address$0Visit in person or apply online here and card can be mailed to youLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Corpus Christi Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$12.50/6 months, $25/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Denton Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/6 months, $50/yearMust visit in personLibby
    El Paso Public LibrariesNon-residents can pay for a card$25/6 months, $50/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Harris County Public Library (Houston)Several options for temporary visitor cards and full access e-card with local address$0Full access visitor card in person or apply for e-card hereLibby, Kanopy
    Pflugerville Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Waco-McLennan Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$30/3 monthsMust visit in personLibby
    Utah
    Grand County Public Library (Moab)Free Introductory card with local address for 1 year / 5 items, or paid Non-Resident card with full acess$0 for Introductory card, or $15/3 months, $60/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Park City LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card, homeschoolers may be eligible for a free 2 year card$20/6 months, $40/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby
    Salt Lake City Public Library SystemNon-residents can pay for a card$10/1 month, $20/3 months, $80/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Kanopy
    Washington County Library System (St. George)Non-residents can pay for a card$20/6 months, $33/yearMust visit in personLibby
    Vermont
    Ilsley Public Library (Middlebury)Non-residents can pay for a card$15/3 months, $25/6 months, $45/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Kanopy
    Norman Willis Public Library (Woodstock)Non-residents can pay for a card$70/year, but can request reduction or exemption due to limited incomeMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Rutland Free LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$45/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Waterbury Public LibraryNon-residents can pay a fee to receive an annual card$25/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Virginia
    Fairfax County Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$27/yearMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Lynchburg Public LibraryAnyone can receive a free card$0Visit in person for full access or apply online here for e-card onlyLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Mary Riley Styles Public Library (Falls Church)Opportunity Card for temporary visitors, 1 year card with 3 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby
    Newport News Public LibraryAnyone with local address can receive a free card$0Visit in person for full access or apply online here for e-card onlyLibby, Kanopy
    Roanoke Area Public LibraryTemporary residents can receive card with 2 item limit$0Must visit in personAsk a librarian
    Virginia Beach Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$10/3 months, $35/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Washington
    Bellingham Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a cardAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    King County Library SystemTemporary residents of 1-6 months can get a 5 item card$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    North Olympic Library SystemLimted card available without residency proof, RV park may qualify for residency$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Seattle Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card, Ages 13-26 can receive free Books Unbanned card for digital collection$25/3 months for non-residentsMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Spokane Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$3.50/month, $42/yearVisit in person or apply online hereLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Timberland Regional LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$8/1 month, $25/3 monthsMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Yakima Valley LibrariesProvisional card for those without proof of address, 2 item limit$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    West Virginia
    Morgantown Public LibraryNon-residents can pay for a card$20/yearMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Ohio County Public Library (Panhandle)Temporary residents can receive 5 item card with hotel or campground receipt$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Raleigh County Public Library (Beckley)Non-residents can pay a deposit to check out 2 items at a timeAsk a librarianMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Wisconsin
    Kilbourn Public Library (Wisconsin Dells)Temporary residents can pay a deposit to check out 2 items at a time$20 refundable depositMust visit in personLibby
    L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (Eau Claire)Temporary residents can receive a 3 month / 2 item card$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Madison Public LibraryEasy Access card doesn’t require proof of address, limit 3 items$0Visit in person or apply online hereLibby
    Wyoming
    Natrona County Library (Casper)Temporary residents can pay a deposit to check out 3 items at a time$25 refundable depositMust visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Sheridan County Public Library SystemTemporary residents can receive a 3 month / 2 item card$0Must visit in personLibby, Kanopy
    Star Valley Library SystemVisitors can receive a one month card$0Must visit in personLibby
    Teton County Library (Jackson)Seasonal card available for 6 months / 10 items$0Must visit in personLibby, Hoopla
    Canada
    Calgary Public LibraryLocal address accepted online, must apply from within Calgary$0Visit in person or apply online hereLibby, Kanopy
    Halifax Public LibrariesVisitors can pay for a temporary card, may accept campground address for free resident card$40/6 monthsMust visit in personLibby, Hoopla, Kanopy
    Mexico
    La Paz Public LibrariesVisitors can check out books with a local address$0Must visit in person

    My plan is to continue adding and updating as I have time. Feel free to email me information to add or update at kateophalen@gmail.com.

    And please link and share this resource widely!

    If you’re interested in more full time travel tips, check out these posts:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • Family Holiday Travel: 7 Thoughtful Tips for a Happy Holiday

    Family Holiday Travel: 7 Thoughtful Tips for a Happy Holiday

    Family holiday travel luggage | O'Phalen Adventures

    It’s that time of the year when visiting loved ones or taking a special trip often requires family holiday travel. It can be daunting taking small children on planes or a long road trip, but I promise you can do it!

    After over three years of fulltime family travel with small children, we’ve learned a lot about how to maximize moods and minimize meltdowns. We’ve also learned a lot about setting our own expectations of ourselves and others appropriately.

    Here are our 7 best tips for smooth family holiday travel:

    1. Start small, practice now.

    If you have young kids who have never traveled before or haven’t made a long trip in awhile, find ways to practice the skills they’ll need ahead of time. If the trip will require a long car drive, try to find a short weekend day trip to take now. Parents will get the chance to practice packing (and patience!), and kids will get the chance to practice their travel skills, too. Kids are remarkably flexible learners, and giving them the chance to get used to travel before the stakes are high for the holidays will set everyone up for success. We have some ideas for kid travel items linked here if you need some new options!

    2. Download some family-friendly audiobooks.

    We often start our long drive days listening to an audiobook together as a family. The Libby app on a smartphone connected to a local library will give you instant access to thousands of audiobooks that the whole family will enjoy. Bluetooth-enabled vehicles will allow you to listen through the car’s speakers, or pack headphones for a plane journey. We LOVE our Yoto players so each kid can listen to their own audiobook, too. Bonus points for audiobooks set in the place you’re visiting or written by a local author (we listened to Anne of Green Gables when we visited Prince Edward Island, for example!). Family-friendly podcasts are another great option, and I’ve written a list of our favorites.

    3. Let go of some of the normal rules.

    We’re generally a pretty low screen time and sugar family (no judgement, that’s just what works for us!). But we are way, way, way more flexible with the rules on things like screen time and sugar on long travel days. If an extra holiday movie on the iPad or a well-timed secret stash of lollipops helps everyone make it to their destination with less stress, go for it. It’s okay to abide by certain ideals at home for 98.5% of your kid’s life and let them go in high-stakes moments.

    4. Plan extra time for every transition.

    Nothing makes parents and their children more stressed than trying to get out the door or through an airport security line too quickly. Leave earlier than you think you need to for any flight with kids so that a blowout diaper doesn’t derail you. Add in extra time to cushion when you’re expected to make it to that second Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone will be more relaxed and regulated if there’s no need to rush.

    5. Let kids have autonomy whenever possible.

    There are some parts of family holiday travel that are non-negotiable — flight schedules and inclement weather, for example. Some things that may *feel* non-negotiable might have wiggle room that helps kids have some control over their own holiday experience. Consider allowing a tired child to skip out on that late night event that’s “tradition” if it helps everyone enjoy Christmas morning together more. Bring a safe food for selective eaters to have alongside an unfamiliar holiday meal. Schedule in quiet time for a sensory sensitive child who feels overwhelmed. The more a child can feel their own needs are respected and prioritized, the happier the whole family will be all season long.

    6. Build in movement breaks for everyone.

    Long holiday meals or formal family occasions might have everyone extra antsy. Add in intentional movement for everyone as a way of staying level-headed and sane. Maybe everyone takes an afternoon hike after opening gifts or maybe there’s a special playground that can be added to the itinerary. Little bodies will be grateful for the chance to be wild little kiddos, but don’t forget about the grownups, too. Even adults benefit from a quick walk outdoors in the fresh air, especially if family tensions are running high.

    7. Prioritize family relationships, not others’ opinions.

    It can be so easy to let cranky airplane neighbors or a judgy aunt affect the way we parent. Overstimulated and under-rested kids are more likely to have meltdowns or not be their best selves. But our job as parents is to do the best we can for our kids and tune out the societal noise. Our family dynamic and kids’ self-esteem are more important than avoiding that snarky comment.

    If you’re traveling to a new state, consider printing out these kid travel journal state worksheets! They’ll be a beautiful memento of your trip and keep little hands busy:

    State Worksheet / Travel Journal for Kids

    State Worksheet / Travel Journal for Kids

    $2.00

    If you’ve ever wished for an easy way to capture what your kids learn as you travel, this is it! Forget other state worksheets that require boring, irrelevant details like the state flower. Let’s write about what we learned and experienced! This state worksheet digital product includes leveled worksheets for kids: one two page log…

    Category: ,
    Tags: , ,

    For more about traveling with kids, check out these posts:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • 3 of the Easiest & Most Beautiful Hatcher Pass Hikes

    3 of the Easiest & Most Beautiful Hatcher Pass Hikes

    It is such a bummer when I hear that someone went to Alaska and missed doing one of the unbelievable Hatcher Pass hikes. For whatever reason, it doesn’t make many Alaska itineraries, and that is an absolute shame. Our hikes in Hatcher Pass were in the top three experiences of our entire summer in Alaska, and that’s saying something.

    We spent over a month in the Palmer and Wasilla area, and Hatcher Pass hikes were a big reason for that. We think Palmer is a charming place in its own right. It’s also conveniently located within commuting distance of Anchorage so the cultural experiences there are accessible. Anchorage wasn’t our favorite location of the summer, so we preferred being outside of it.

    If you need help planning your Alaska trip, check out my e-book guide to RVing Alaska. It’s written for families who are RVing, but it’s useful for anyone! Scroll down to keep reading about Hatcher Pass hikes.

    Cover page of RV Alaska with Kids travel guide, Alaska vacation ideas | O'Phalen Adventures

    RV Alaska with Kids Travel Guide

    $25.00

    If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.

    Category: , ,
    Tags: , ,

    I’ve shared these trails in order of difficulty, from easiest to harder. We hiked them with a toddler in a carrier and kids aged 7 and 5 (do you need hiking with kids tips?). Keep in mind that trail conditions will have a HUGE impact on the difficulty of these trails. We underestimated how much snow would still be on Hatcher Pass hikes even into late June! We were post holing up to our hips in spots.

    Also make sure you check to see that the road up is even open! The road is closed for most of the year except July to September, depending on snow conditions. With that said, welcome to three of the most beautiful hikes on the planet.

    Easiest & Most Beautiful Hatcher Pass Hikes:

    1. April Bowl Trail

    The April Bowl Trail is 2 miles long and climbs 800 feet. I’ve listed it was easier than Gold Cord Lakes because you can climb just half a mile and 300 feet in elevation and stop there. That lake view is beautiful all by itself! But if you have it in you to climb higher, you’ll be rewarded with stunning 360-degree mountain peak views that stretch all the way to Matanuska Glacier on a clear day. My kids found it really fun that there was still some traces of snow to play in around one of the lakes in August. I would love the dogs home for this one.

    Hatcher Pass hikes Gold Cord Lake | O'Phalen Adventures

    2. Gold Cord Lake Trail

    The Gold Cord Lake Trail is about 2 miles long (AllTrails says 1.5, but doesn’t include the walk from the parking lot at the mine) and climbs 500 feet in elevation. When we went in late June, there was still several feet of snow on the trail. It is a mostly gentle (but steady) climb to the lake, with one short section of scrambling that my young kids did fine with. The mini goldendoodle made it, but it was a bit sketchy! The trail is often muddy, even when there’s no snow. Definitely wear boots. You can even take a dip in the (freezing!) lake if you want to.

    3. Reed Lakes Trail

    The Reed Lakes Trail is by far the hardest of these three hikes. The full trail is 8 miles long and climbs 2,000 feet, but you can stop at the lower lake if you’re worn out. Just hiking to the lower lake is 6ish miles and less elevation, but it will still challenge you. This hike makes it onto so many people’s “best hikes in Alaska” list if they make it here. It’s doable with adventurous and energetic children, but inexperienced hikers will want to start with the other hikes.

    Click to read more about the rest of our favorite hikes in Alaska. For everything we’ve written about our experiences in Alaska, check out these posts:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • Our Family Travel Adventures: Full Time Travel Family of 5!

    Our Family Travel Adventures: Full Time Travel Family of 5!

    If you’re new to our page, start here! I’ll continue to link new posts here so they’re always easy to access 🙂

    Our family travel adventures have taken us to 49 U.S. states, 7 Canadian provinces, and 15 countries…so far! We had absolutely no idea what an epic adventure we were in store for when we left New York City “for the summer” in 2020 and became a full time travel family.

    We lived in Airbnbs full time for a year and a half. Then we renovated a 2007 Keystone Raptor to live in. And now we’re sharing what we’ve learned.

    Here are just a few of our family travel adventures from the past few years:

    Our family travel adventures in Banff | O'Phalen Adventures

    One of the main reasons for launching this blog was to inspire and assist families who want to set off on adventures together, whether those adventures are close to home or thousands of miles away. Family travel adventures don’t have to be blowout summers in Europe. Family adventures can look like visiting a new neighborhood to try a new restaurant. Or hiking a gorgeous trail that’s just 30 minutes away. Or taking a weekend trip to that wacky museum your kid would love.

    Whether you’ve landed on our blog because you’re interested in full time family travel or you’re looking for resources that make family adventures seem more accessible, we’ve got you covered. I’ve organized everything I’ve learned and shared into categories here:

    Traveling with kids lessons from our family travel adventures:

    RV life tips and tricks we’ve shared:

    Favorite travel destinations from our family travel adventures:

    How we homeschool our kids:

    Our life & lifestyle:

    As I continue to share more of my thoughts on the blog, I promise to come back here and link everything so it’s easy to find in one place.

    If there’s anything you’re desperate to learn more about, leave me a comment and let me know! Or book a personalized call on Buy Me a Coffee or reach out on my Instagram.

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

    Get an email when we post and never miss an adventure:

    * indicates required

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  • Toyhauler Renovation: Our Gorgeous Kitchen & Living Room

    Toyhauler Renovation: Our Gorgeous Kitchen & Living Room

    Toyhauler renovation kitchen and living room details | O'Phalen Adventures

    I’m so excited to keep sharing the details about our 2007 Keystone Raptor Toyhauler renovation. Today we’re focusing on my favorite room(s): the kitchen and living room!

    I’ll list absolutely everything we used, and I’ll break it down by section. But first, let’s start with the mood board, shall we? I always recommend creating a mood board for any renovation project. It helps keep you focused and makes the whole thing so cohesive. If creating one feels overwhelming, I’d LOVE to help you. Click here to book.

    Here’s what I created for our kitchen and living room:

    Mood board RV renovation living room | O'Phalen Adventures
    Mood Board for Inspiration

    I fell in love with this wallpaper from Loomwell and pulled the paint colors for the entire RV from it. I also was really inspired by this renovated Airstream kitchen where Bonnie Christine mixed green cabinets and copper details. These two images, plus the extra details I added, guided every decision and purchase I made for this room. Let’s get into it!

    Toyhauler Renovation: Kitchen & Living Room Colors

    Paint colors: Kitchen cabinets are Behr Muted Sage and walls are Behr Swiss Coffee

    Primer and paint details: Everything was primed with Kilz adhesion primer and painted with Behr semi-gloss interior paint

    Wallpaper: Loomwell Mila Wallpaper {use KATEOPHALEN code for 15% off}

    Flooring: Lowe’s Smartcore Interlocking Vinyl Plank that clicks together with no glue or subfloor prep

    Toyhauler Renovation: Kitchen Details

    Toyhauler renovation kitchen | O'Phalen Adventures
    Toyhauler renovation kitchen closeup | O'Phalen Adventures

    Kitchen Faucet: Tohlar Gold Kitchen Faucet

    Kitchen Sink: Elkay Classic White Drop In Sink

    Kitchen Backsplash: Tic Tac Tiles

    Kitchen Baskets: IKEA Bullig Bamboo Box

    Kitchen Cabinet Hardware: Home Depot Satin Gold Cabinet Pulls

    Kitchen Countertop Extension: Oversized Heavy Duty Cutting Board with Folding Shelf Brackets

    Kitchen Counter Color: Retique It Stainable Wood Paint and Graining Tools

    Kitchen Star Light: Viluxy Flush Mount Brass Star Light with 12v Bulb

    Kitchen Utensil Bar: IKEA Hultarp Rail and Container

    Copper Colored Coffee Making Setup: French Press and Electric Kettle

    Copper Measuring Cups: Bought at TJMaxx, here are similar ones

    Copper Utensil Holder: Bought at TJMaxx, here is a similar one

    New York State Cutting Board: Bamboo NYS Cutting Board

    Produce Bags: Mesh Hanging Produce Bags

    Toyhauler Renovation: Living Room Details

    Toyhauler renovation couch | O'Phalen Adventures
    Toyhauler renovation front hall | O'Phalen Adventures

    Sectional: West Elm Andes Sofa that we already owned

    Ceiling Globe Lights: West Elm Sculptural Globe Flush Mount in 8″ (and we added a switch)

    Over Couch 12v Lights: LED RV Globe Lights

    Slide Trim: 1″ x 6″ Wood Board Sanded and Stained

    Ceiling Fan and Light: Honeywell Ceiling Fan

    Art Cart: 3 Tier Metal Rolling Cart

    Yellow Blackout Curtains: IKEA Majgull Room Darkening Curtains

    Cream Blackout Shades: Levolor Cut-to-Fit Blackout Shades

    Wall Hanging Rack: Already owned, here is a similar one

    Cork USA Map: Cork Board USA Map and Pins

    Laptop/Paperwork Wall Rack: Purchased from a discount store, here is a similar one

    Gold Trash Can: Purchased at TJMaxx, here is a similar one

    Gold Door Knob: Satin Brass Lever Knob

    Curtain Tie Backs: Made from Wooden Beads and Twine (also used for the bedroom chandelier!)

    Curtain Rod Mounts: Command Hooks spray painted black

    Floor Vents: Metal Floor Register spray painted brown to match flooring

    Toyhauler Renovation Summary

    Going back to round up everything I did in our toyhauler renovation kitchen and living room made me tired all over again. It really was doable and worth it, though! The most time-consuming part was definitely priming and painting every surface.

    Some RV renovation specific things I learned during this process were:

    • Be aware of how much weight you’re adding
    • You can use any light fixture, just add 12v bulbs and a switch if it doesn’t have one
    • You need this Ryobi multi-tool saw, I used it every day
    • Keep in mind how everything will travel on move days
    • Ripping up stuff to demo may bring unexpected setbacks (see the bedroom post) — don’t panic!
    • Swapping out plumbing fixtures can be tricky, so don’t be afraid to hire a plumber for a day to connect everything (and make sure it’s tight!)

    Head back to the RV Renovation Post to see the rest of the rooms!

    Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.

    For the complete RV renovation post, head here. For more posts on RV life:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • Yoto Player Review: An Amazing Travel Accessory for Kids

    Yoto Player Review: An Amazing Travel Accessory for Kids

    Yoto Player review | O'Phalen Adventures

    I can’t stop talking about the kids’ Yoto players. For devices we’d never even heard about a year ago, they’re now such a big part of our life. So a bunch of friends and family have asked me about whether we like them. I figured it was time to write a detailed Yoto player review!

    Here’s our experience with them as a family that travels a lot (all the time!), doesn’t do much screen time, and values low-lift educational opportunities in our homeschool life.

    Yoto Player Review: how does the Yoto even work?

    First things first — what even are these things? Essentially, a Yoto player is a fancy speaker. But what makes it really magical is that it works with Yoto cards that kids can control completely independently. Even our two-year-old can manage her own Yoto player.

    These cards can play audiobooks, music playlists, kid podcasts, schoolwork, and even interactive games. You have the option to buy the cards from the Yoto store or to purchase “Make Your Own” cards. Make Your Own cards can have any mp3 linked to them, which really makes the possibilities endless.

    You can purchase a Classic Yoto player (UK link!) or a Yoto Mini (UK link!). The main difference is the size of the pixel screen for the icons and a nightlight feature on the bigger Yoto player. We have three Minis, and I highly recommend them. They’re easy for little hands to tote around.

    Yoto Player Review: the short version!

    Okay, the short version of my Yoto player review is that I’m obsessed. Here’s why:

    • My kids adore these things. Like truly adore them. We started with just one for my early reader and ended up with one for each kid within six months.
    • They are the perfect family travel accessory. My kids will listen to them for a couple of hours of each travel day, and that is worth any amount of money to a frazzled parent towing an RV.
    • They’re relatively affordable. The cards will add up fast if you let them, but our strategy for keeping them affordable was 1. To join the Yoto Club for $10/month and get two new cards every month that way and 2. Make a lot of our own cards with library content and recording ourselves reading the kids’ favorite stories. You also can connect any kid podcast to a Make Your Own card for hours of totally free content.
    • They’re a screen-free way for our kids to be independent. We use them on travel days and at “quiet time” for our kids to have some quiet downtime by themselves. We don’t do a whole lot of screen time in our house (no judgement, just a preference), and this gives us tired parents a break.
    • They’re so educational if you want them to be. Our kids like to re-listen to the audiobook version of whatever read-aloud book we’ve just finished reading together. I think it really helps cement the story for them. We’ve also used a Make Your Own Card for our oldest to listen to multiplication facts. And last year when she was going through a mythology obsession, I took a bunch of mythology books out from the library and read stories from around the world for her card. My middle child was reciting Shakespeare after listening to the Shakespeare card. Nothing more hilarious than hearing, “We’re under siege by the Scots!!” coming from your 5-year-old’s mouth.
    • They help extended family and friends stay in touch. We’ve asked people we love to record themselves reading stories to the kids so they can hear their voices. And this year, we’re asking people to email us happy birthday greetings to put on a birthday card for them. This feature is especially lovely for kids who live far away from people they love.
    Yoto player review | O'Phalen Adventures

    Yoto Player vs. Toniebox

    Some of you might have heard of a Toniebox (or even have one!). They’re somewhat similar to a Yoto player, but there are 3 reasons why I think Yoto is a way better choice for our family:

    1. Yoto content is better suited to grow with children in my opinion. Tonies are great for toddlers, but won’t age with kids as well.
    2. Tonieboxes are larger, and the characters that play stories and music are WAY larger than Yoto cards. For a family that needs things to be compact, Yoto wins by a mile.
    3. Tonie characters are way more expensive than Yoto cards, which makes building a collection a much bigger investment.

    What are some of your favorite Yoto cards?

    First, you just have to get a pack of Make Your Own cards. You can swap out what’s on there at any time, which allows you to save money and always keep things fresh.

    For Toddlers, we like Kids Bop, Daniel Tiger, and Who’s In Your Audiobook.

    For Preschoolers, we recommend The Chicken Squad, Hotel Flamingo, and Funny Stories for 5 Year Olds.

    For Older Kids, we love Esperanza Rising, Minecraft the Island, and Shakespeare.

    Okay, what else should I know?

    In my opinion, a case for the Yoto is essential if you’re going to be taking it anywhere. We have these. You’ll also definitely need headphones if you plan on using more than one Yoto at a time in the car.

    There are a whole lot of options for how you can store the cards. Lots of people choose card storage like this, but I prefer to attach the cards directly to the Yoto. We use sticky tabs and rings looped through the Yoto case loop so that we can’t lose the cards.

    One great option for getting audiobook content for Make Your Own cards is Libro. You can get a free audiobook when you first join:

    I’ll end with the fact that Yoto has amazing customer service, which we’ve used several times. I’ve always been really satisfied.

    Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments and I’ll write back!

    Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.

    If you’re looking for other gift ideas, check out these posts:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • How I’m Talking to My Kids about Thanksgiving

    How I’m Talking to My Kids about Thanksgiving

    How I'm talking to my kids about Thanksgiving, Wampanoag dwelling | O'Phalen Adventures

    If you’re wondering how I’m talking to my kids about Thanksgiving? The honest answer is that I’m not talking about it all that much. Here’s why:

    If you didn’t know already, Thanksgiving is a holiday based on the story of friendship between the colonists and the indigenous people that…isn’t grounded in a whole lot of historical fact. Historical records suggest the feast that this event is supposedly based on wasn’t a big deal and probably looked more like a political negotiation than a friendly shared meal. Here’s a great video intro to this idea.

    So what do we do instead?

    One option that many indigenous folks are asking of us is to simply not celebrate “Thanksgiving.” Does this mean we can’t gather with our families and have beautiful meals together? Of course not. None of us get enough time together with our extended communities in this modern world, and we should seize hold of long weekends together whenever we can. But make it a harvest feast! Or a gratitude gathering, and consider how gratitude is built into the every day lives of Indigenous cultures.

    Perhaps read the Haudenosaunee Kariwatekwen together, which is a giving thanks that takes place before every Haudenosaunee event. It’s gorgeous.

    “We give thanks to the stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one we send greetings and thanks to the stars. Now our minds are one.”

    Excerpt from Haudenosaunee Kariwatekwen

    Poet Laureate and Muskogee Creek Nation member Joy Harjo also has beautiful poem about gathering around a table together that she reads here:

    “At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

    Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.”

    Excerpt from Perhaps the World Ends Here

    My homeschooled kids aren’t being taught about the Thanksgiving myth, and so we have the luxury of (mostly) just ignoring it. We strive to center Indigenous culture, history, and activism all year round in our roadschooling.

    But for kids who are in school and learning about Thanksgiving from other sources, I would be actively sharing information that debunks that traditional story. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the real indigenous people involved in this story and to talk about the modern day struggle for indigenous rights.

    So which Indigenous people were at the feast?

    First things first, it’s important to understand that Indigenous people are not all the same. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States, and there are many more that have not yet received federal recognition. The nation involved in the Thanksgiving story is the Wamponoag of what is now Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The tribe’s website has a suggested self-guided tour itinerary if you’re in the area. Regardless, you may enjoy learning about Cranberry Day. Cranberry Day is held in October and celebrates the cranberry (or sasumuneash) harvest. Perhaps try a cranberry recipe out?

    For some Indigenous people, Thanksgiving is a National Day of Mourning:

    Thanksgiving day isn’t just a neutral day for some Indigenous people. Many Indigenous people consider it to be a day of mourning. The United American Indians of New England has met on Thanksgiving day every year since 1970 to mourn the genocide of Indigenous peoples and organize to improve modern day Indigenous life. You can watch a livestream of the events on Youtube at noon Eastern Time on Thanksgiving. I highly recommend taking some time to do so. They feature some really wonderful speakers at the event.

    What are some resources I can use to learn more as an adult?

    As homeschool teachers or any parent who feels responsible for how accurate their kids’ education is, the best thing we can do (in my opinion) is start with educating ourselves. My two absolute favorite books for totally blowing your mind are An Indigenous People’s History of the United States and Braiding Sweetgrass. Both of these have young people’s versions that can be found here and here. I plan on using these heavily in our homeschooling as my kids get slightly older.

    This Land is a podcast that gave me so much to think about, too. Tara Houska has some incredible TED Talks that are a digestible listen. I also highly recommend learning about whose land you’re on here and looking up nearby cultural centers to visit. And my last suggestion is to find some Indigenous folks on Instagram to follow and amplify. Here are a few of my favorites: @shinanova, @notoriouscree, @indigenouswomenhike, @indigenizingartsed, @crushingcolonialism, @indigenousmotherhood, @athabascan.adventures.

    For parents with kids in public or private school, this post is a great resource for talking to your kid’s school about how Thanksgiving is being taught. There are sample letters to send to the school and everything.

    Can you recommend some kid-friendly Thanksgiving resources?

    We love the Brains On podcast. They’ve put out an episode debunking the Thanksgiving myth that can be found here: Brains On Podcast Thanksgiving episode.

    Consider cooking one of these recipes from Native chefs for your holiday meal this year. The Sioux Chef’s cookbook would make a great holiday gift, too! Spend time with your kiddos learning about the nation the chef is from and how the recipe ingredients are traditional foods for those people.

    For further study, we LOVED Kelly Tudor’s (Apache) Outschool class on Indigenous stereotypes. The National Museum of the American Indian also has a unit study resource here.

    How I’m talking to my kids about Thanksgiving all year long:

    Truthfully, the rest of my resources are applicable all year long. As Zenovia of @BlackAdventureCrew commented on my Indigenous People’s Day reel, every day is Indigenous People’s Day in our house.

    Here are some favorite kid books we love:

    We’re also big fans of watching:

    There are many modern issues facing Indigenous people that you can search more about and find kid-appropriate videos on. Some examples are: Native water and land usage rights, the expulsion of Indigenous peoples to create National Parks, residential schools, food sovereignty, reclaiming Native culture, underfunded Indian Bureau healthcare, violence against Native women, lack of economic opportunity on reservations, Native adoption rights, the Land Back movement and more. Simply understanding that Indigenous people are still here and still organizing for what is right for their communities is powerful.

    Another really simple thing we do is to be sure we always know whose land we’re on as we travel.

    If you weave discussions of Indigenous people into your everyday home life, then you don’t have to stress about how to talk about Thanksgiving. When the librarian hands your kids Thanksgiving coloring pages, they’ll feel confident in their knowledge that the true story of this country can’t be sanitized by a friendly harvest meal.

    Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.

    For more posts about homeschooling, check out these posts:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • RV Camping Gift Ideas: Unique Grownup Gifts!

    RV Camping Gift Ideas: Unique Grownup Gifts!

    RV Camping Gift Ideas for Grownups | O'Phalen Adventures

    It can be tricky to figure out what to buy an RV family, especially if they’re downsizing and moving into their RV or have been living in it for awhile. Because space is limited, you probably want to ask before making any major purchase. But these are all gifts we’ve received in the past or would like to receive in the future!

    Here are dozens of RV camping gift ideas for the outdoor adventure types in your life:

    RV Life Gear

    Outdoor Fun

    Hiking Gear

    Books

    Check out our RV e-books and printables for a unique RV camping gift ideas option! Gift guide continues below.

    National Parks

    A Piece of Home

    Photography

    Passes, Experiences & Gift Cards

    And if you haven’t checked out our RV gift guide for kids, don’t miss it:

    Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

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  • RV Checklist for Travel: Grab This Adorable Printable!

    RV Checklist for Travel: Grab This Adorable Printable!

    I’m really excited to share this RV Checklist for Travel I designed with you today!

    I chuckle when I think back to how it took us two hours to hitch up the first time we moved the RV. Thankfully, it’s been two years of owning this baby and almost as long living in it, and we’ve towed it to Alaska and back safely! You could say we’ve got travel days down to a science. We break up our move day prep into categories: the day before, the morning of, ready to go, and setup. I’m not about last-minute travel preparation!

    Even still, it’s so easy to forget something essential in the chaos of packing up your RV to travel. Whether it’s because we’re on a time crunch or the kids keep interrupting us or we’re simply under the weather, I always feel like there’s one (different!) thing that slips our mind as we pack up. That’s why I absolutely never skip using our RV checklist for travel. Never.

    So I thought I’d use my RV packing expertise and combine it with my love of designing printables to create an RV checklist for travel that’s really adorable. Voila!

    Printable RV Checklist Travel Day | O'Phalen Adventures

    Printable RV Checklist: Travel Day!

    $2.00

    Stay safe and organized with our adorable printable RV checklist for travel days! Checklist is broken down into four categories: day before, morning of, ready to go, and set up.

    Category: ,
    Tags: ,

    I designed this with the idea that you can download it, print it double-sided, and laminate it. Then it’s reusable with a dry erase marker for as many years as you need it! Bonus points for attaching some velcro to secure it to the inside of an RV cabinet. Then it’s easily within reach for you (and a partner!) to make sure you’re not forgetting any safety or sanity items as you get ready for a travel day.

    I hope it’s helpful and the pretty design makes you smile like it does for me! Feel free to ask questions or leave a comment with your most hilarious RV travel day hiccup.

    If you’re looking for more writing and resources on RV life, check out these posts we’ve written:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Here’s where you can find all of these amazing things {SAVE & SHARE!}: All these people on social media telling people DONT GO TO MEXICO WHATS WRONG WITH YOU and I can almost guarantee they don’t have a passport. Maybe it’s just having a fair amount of practice, maybe it’s hard earned confidence in my ability to problem solve, or maybe it’s true what they say about New Yorkers: If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! Our family has been traveling fulltime for almost 6 years now. We didn’t set out to be nomadic for this long, but we’ve found that Anthony Bourdain’s advice to just *move* has been so valuable to our family. With what’s happening in Mexico, it felt important to share. We’ve been traveling fulltime together for almost 6 years now 🥹

    Get an email when we post and never miss an adventure:

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