O'Phalen Adventures

Tag: travel tips

  • National Park Passport: The Best Souvenir!

    National Park Passport: The Best Souvenir!

    We are a fulltime travel family of five, and I’m going to share why I think our National Park Passport is the very best souvenir option out there! We have visited almost 40 National Parks, and we have collected a lot of beautiful and sentimental items from those parks over the years. But this National Park Passport is the best! And I feel like a lot of folks we meet in the parks don’t know about them, so I’m excited to share this souvenir idea on the blog.

    Before we talk about that, let me share all of our posts about National Parks and some of our absolute travel essentials with you! We absolutely love our Yoto players for entertaining kids on long road trips, too.

    Okay, let’s chat about the‎‎ National Park Passport now!

    National Park Passport: What Is It?

    This little National Park Passport (find it here!) functions a lot like a regular passport would. Except obviously it’s not a legal document! But the basic idea is the same. You collect stamps as you travel into National Parks across the country. Here’s a sneak peek inside one of our pages:

    National Park Passport: Where to buy it?

    You can buy these National Park Passport books inside most of the big National Park visitor’s centers. However, you may want to consider buying them online in advance of your trip for a few reasons. One, those visitor’s centers are often PACKED with long lines and chaos. It might be easier to simply have one shipped to you before trying to hit a visitor’s center that’s busy and closes early.

    Two, many of the National Park sites you might want to visit may not have extensive gift stores. You might know that there are 63 “National Parks,” but did you also know that there are actually 429 National Park units in the system? Yes, there are National Historic Sites, National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas that most people don’t even know exist. When we lived in NYC, I had NO IDEA how many NPS units were all around us. But those sites count for stamping your National Park Passport, and they’re probably a lot closer to your home than you think! But they probably don’t have an extensive gift shop 😉

    National Park Passport: Why is it the best souvenir?

    Okay, so why is it the best? A few reasons.

    One is that you buy the passport just once and then you can collect souvenir stamps from all of the National Park units for free for the rest of your life! Stickers might cost $4-5 each, ornaments might be $12-15, and shirts range from $25-50 at the parks. Those add up fast! If you want to collect those too, go for it. But this passport and stamp situation is so much more cost effective over the long term! We’re rocking our National Park Passport that we bought back in 2016 still.

    Another reason is that most of the stamps you collect in the park have the date you visited attached to them. It’s fun to log when and where you’ve been that way, especially if you revisit a park many years later and can re-stamp with a new year!

    I also like the passport because it’s compact and low waste. We live in an RV, so space for collectibles is at a premium. But even if we didn’t, I appreciate that I’m not collecting plastic items that will wear out and get tossed in a few years.

    National Park Passport: Where do I get the stamps?

    Okay, you’re convinced to get a passport, but you’re wondering how to find the stamps? I’ve got you!

    They’re generally in the visitor’s center of the big parks. You can often find them sitting out on the counter near the rangers, but sometimes they have their own stamp table somewhere else in the building.

    For parks that are really spread out, the ranger stations will sometimes have the stamps available so you don’t have to drive an hour just to get the stamp. If you’re really struggling to find one, don’t hesitate to ask the rangers!

    And there have been a few times when I forgot to pack my National Park Passport. Never fear! There are usually squares of scrap paper next to the stamp, and I’ll just stamp one of those and glue it into my book later.

    If you’re wanting to collect National Park stamps, but aren’t sold on the whole passport idea, I have seen people use the stamps in other items. My personal favorite idea besides the National Park Passport was when I saw a grandma buying her grandkids picture books and stamping inside the cover so they would remember when and where the books came from. So cute! If you’re looking for some book ideas, check out our list!

    And if you’re planning a big road trip with kids or looking to learn how to camp off-grid near the National Parks, we can help with that! Check out our store with instant digital downloads:

    I hope this post was helpful in giving you a new idea for National Parks souvenirs! If you want other ideas, let me know in the comments 🙂

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

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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  • Powerful Black History Month Ideas for Traveling Allies

    Powerful Black History Month Ideas for Traveling Allies

    Black History Month ideas, Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy sculpture in Birmingham, Alabama | O'Phalen Adventures

    It’s Black History Month 2024, and learning about Black History is an important aspect of our homeschooling studies. One of my favorite things to write and share about is how we integrate our full time travel life with ideas about justice and helping to co-create a better future for everyone. I have several Black History Month ideas I’d love to share for allies who love to travel, families who are educating non-Black children (either homeschooled or supplementing a school education!), or anyone seeking to learn and expand their own ideas about equity.

    Please note that I am not Black, I’m not an “expert,” and I will always defer to the Black community for how the non-Black community should observe Black History Month and what Black History Month resources are appropriate for us to use. I have spent about a decade (not long enough!) on my intentional anti-racist journey, and my hope in writing this is to share what I’ve learned and how I integrate it with those who are newer on their journeys and eager to learn.

    Black History Month Ideas for Traveling Allies:

    Shop Black Owned Businesses

    One way we strive to “vote with our dollars” is by supporting Black-owned businesses as we travel (also note: we capitalize the word Black! Here’s why if you’re curious). There are some ways we look to find these businesses in new places, an easy one is to simply google something like “Black owned restaurants in Phoenix,” for example. Here are some other strategies I use:

    • Use Yelp to search for “Black owned” and look for the app’s badge that notes where businesses have self-reported as being Black owned
    • Try an app like Blapp that lists only Black owned businesses in the area
    • Follow travel influencers and news outlets and save Black owned businesses to try later (they’re often especially recommended during Black History Month!)
    • When presented with similar options for things like Airbnbs or RV parks, choose to spend money at the one with a Black entrepreneur at the heart

    Ultimately, it may take a few more minutes to investigate what the options are for a Black owned business in the area you live in or are traveling to (and it’s more complicated because of…you guessed it…systemic racism!). But it’s absolutely the right thing to do to put in the extra effort to support these businesses as a non-Black family, and I think committing to supporting more Black owned businesses is one of my most important Black History Month ideas. Also, it’s no sacrifice because these businesses are totally rad. I mean, just check out these birthday cupcakes I got in North Carolina:

    Black-owned bakery cupcakes in North Carolina

    Take a Black History Themed Trip

    I honestly don’t see enough non-Black families doing this in my opinion. We did a long weekend civil rights trip to Montgomery, Alabama with my homeschooling bestie, and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. I plan to write about that trip in more detail soon, but in the meantime, here are some Black History trips I’d recommend:

    • Selma, Montgomery, and Tuskegee, Alabama
    • Nashville, Tennessee
    • Topeka, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri
    • Washington D.C.
    • Harlem, New York

    The Civil Rights Trail website has more ideas for locations to visit and even some suggested itineraries by state that are highly worth checking out! I wonder if more families don’t take trips like this because it seems boring or a “downer.” I’m here to tell you that you can be reverent, engaged, and respectful, and your family can still really enjoy themselves on a trip like this:

    Civil rights museum in Montgomery, Alabama; a Black History Month ideas | O'Phalen Adventures
    Civil rights trip to Montgomery

    Experiencing the places where landmark civil rights struggles took place was at times serious and heartbreaking, but it was also so moving and profound that I would recommend it to any family who approaches it with a thoughtful heart. As someone who probably loves who travel (since you’re on my blog!), I hope a Black History trip gets added to your Black History Month ideas list.

    Visit a Black History Museum on Other Trips

    Perhaps a Black History trip isn’t in the cards this year (although you’ve saved it for next year!). The good news is that there are incredible hands-on Black History Month ideas for learning basically anywhere. A quick google search for the museums in your area might turn up some surprising local results. And if there aren’t any “Black History” specific museums, consider searching for “famous Black people from [your state]” and visiting their historical homes or places honoring their lives and contributions.

    We had a fantastic time learning about legendary athlete Jesse Owens in his Alabama hometown. It was a quick day trip from where we were staying in Huntsville to renovate our RV. Any vacation or road trip you already have planned is an excellent opportunity to investigate and prioritize a stop to learn some new-to-you Black history. Either in your destination or as a quick stop along the way, taking the time will be a worthwhile endeavor, especially this month. I challenge you to find some Black History Month ideas in person near you in February!

    Jesse Owens’ childhood home

    Follow Black Travel Influencers on Social Media

    The algorithm intentionally shows you people who are just like you, and that includes racially (ugh!). It takes intentionality to have a multicultural Instagram feed, but I highly, HIGHLY recommend it. If you love to follow travel influencers, consider replacing some of your lesser faves with some amazing Black travel influencers instead. Some of my faves are The Mom Trotter, Black Adventure Mom, The Traveling Child, Black Adventure Crew, and Mr Crim (who’s not strictly a “travel” influencer, but I found him because he taught me about St. Louis before we visited!).

    Mitigate the Impact of Your Travel on Black Communities

    This one is heavy and difficult, and there are no simple answers. But let’s take a deep breath and walk through it together for a moment. Just as we consider the impact we have on natural resources as we travel, we should be considering the impact our travel has on Black communities, as well. There are so many ways we can talk about this, but a few of the main ones that come to mind are gentrification, police violence, and climate impact.

    Gentrification, where a neighborhood’s current residents are displaced by wealthier (and likely whiter) residents, is a real problem in Black neighborhoods. Airbnb and other short term rentals definitely exacerbated the problem, as well. That’s one of the many reasons why I sought to rent from Black owned Airbnbs when we used them, because at least the wealth was staying within the community more frequently that way. There’s no simple answer to the question “how do we stop gentrification?” but it’s a problem we should be aware of and talk about within the traveling community to avoid contributing more than we have to.

    The other big elephant in the room when it comes to white folks traveling in historically Black neighborhoods is police violence. Nice white people (I’m including myself here!) were raised to think of police officers as community helpers and to call 911 in any emergency. And while I’m not saying to *never* call the police, I am advocating for white folks to be extremely, extremely careful about calling the police in any instance where non-white folks are present. Having lived in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, I can say that calling the police is a serious decision that many white people take way too lightly.

    Finally, one of the most shocking statistics I read recently is that, because of the legacy of racist redlining, Black communities on average tend to be a full degree hotter than white communities. As we consider how to reduce our climate impact as travelers, we should keep in mind that the communities that suffer the most from climate change will not be the white ones. This section is definitely not the easiest on the Black History Month ideas list, but I feel it’s important enough to be worth saying in this post.

    Black History Month Ideas for All Families

    Listen, Watch & Read Black History Resources with Your Kids

    Whether your children are homeschooled or not, it’s almost certain that their curriculum could use more Black History. Here are some Black History Month ideas to watch, listen to, and read.

    John Lewis is a family hero after watching Good Trouble

    Here are some resources we’ve loved watching together:

    Here are some things we’ve loved listening to together (pulled from our favorite podcasts!):

    There are just too many amazing books for me to list, but I’ve started a Black History Month ideas book list here with some of our favorites. Don’t forget to check out your local library for book recs, too! And I highly recommend following Stories of Color on Instagram for amazing kid book recommendations all year long.

    Black History Month Ideas for Anyone

    Pay Community Level Reparations

    What are reparations? The NAACP calls for “a race-centered economic empowerment package for African Americans that builds generational wealth and accounts for not only slavery but the decades upon decades of economic pillaging.” So basically, money to pay back hundreds of years of stolen labor and subsequent racism that Black Americans have endured and which continue to set Black families behind.

    So far, the political will isn’t there for nationwide reparations, but as individuals, we can do our own part. Consider a Black-led organization in your community to donate to or fundraise for this month. And remember that this isn’t charity, it’s owed.

    A somber moment in Selma

    Remember That Every Month is Black History Month.

    Implement these ideas all year long, whether it’s February or not. Much like our family prioritizes learning Indigenous People’s history and culture whether it’s November or not, we also prioritize learning about the historical and current Black community all year, as well. We hope you do, too.

    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 about how we travel and learn thoughtfully, check out these posts:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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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

    $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:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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

    * indicates required

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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

    $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:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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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:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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

    * indicates required

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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:

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    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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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: ,
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    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:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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  • Full Time Travel Family: 10 Lessons We’ve Learned

    Full Time Travel Family: 10 Lessons We’ve Learned

    4 different travel photos as a full time travel family | O'Phalen Adventures

    Our family has always been what I’d describe as adventurous, but we kicked it up a notch in 2020 when we became a full time travel family.

    We were professional theatre people in New York City for over a decade, then both parents made career shifts after starting a family — Kate got her MPA and Dan became a recruiter. The pandemic was difficult, but gave us the precious gift of remote work. Because of the shift to remote work, our family has never been closer and we are able to pursue our dream of becoming a full time travel family.

    When we left NYC in 2020, we planned to be away for just the summer on the coast of Maine in a charming and remote coastal village. That summer turned into a year and a half of airbnbs all over the country, which turned into buying and renovating our own RV, which turned into a life as nomads for the foreseeable future!

    Lessons we’ve learned as a full time travel family for over three years:

    1. Adventure can be found anywhere. Yes, anywhere.

    As a New Yorker, I definitely had preconceived notions about what parts of the country were worth a visit. I can say now after three years as a full time travel family and 49 states down, those notions were mostly unfair. I was surprised by how much I loved Tucson and Page, Arizona. I had a ball in Cincinnati and Lexington. And I was delighted by Kansas City. Those places would absolutely never have made it on my travel bucket list, but there was so much to see and learn in all of them. There are adorable local libraries and underappreciated national park sites. There are fantastic tiny restaurants and unique hole-in-the-wall museums (like Haines’ Hammer Museum!).

    I know that not every family can become a full time travel family, but I promise that there is fun and adventure to be found wherever you are. Local attractions can be really fun with the right mindset. One of our favorite memories is when we had a spring break staycation in New York and checked off all of the places we’d never been to as if we were tourists in our own town.

    Family in front of the Manhattan bridge before we were a full time travel family | O'Phalen Adventures
    Brooklyn in 2019

    If expensive travel isn’t in the cards, what fun things are day trips from your home?

    2. Staying at home with kids all day is almost as exhausting as adventuring with them, so you might as well go for it.

    This is one of the parenting philosophies I picked up early on, but being a full time travel family has really cemented it. So many families don’t take the trip or visit the museum or find adventure because parenting is so all-consuming and exhausting. I get it. Truly. But I’ve always found that it’s exhausting no matter what you do all day, even if it’s just staying around the house. So you might as well get out and do the fun things! You’ll be exhausted still, but you’ll be fulfilled and satisfied. Plus, the house stays neater when you’re out of it all day. Just saying.

    3. Kids may not remember the places you see or the things you do, but they will incorporate it into who they are.

    This is one of my best arguments for traveling while kids are too young to remember it. I’ve heard from so many folks that they want to wait and travel when the kids are “old enough,” but truly they are always old enough. Even if they don’t remember the specifics of what you do or where you go, it will be impossible for them to remain unchanged by travel. Kids build resilience and courage and flexibility and empathy by exploring the world and meeting new people. I have watched it happen with my kids, and I promise that it’s the coolest.

    Our oldest in Iceland 2017 | O'Phalen Adventures
    Iceland in 2017

    4. Reading about something in a book is amazing, but it cannot top experiencing it in person.

    I know, I know…Kate is trash talking books?? Never. I love books. So much. We love books more than almost any family I know. Exploring through books is sometimes our only option, and it is a great one.

    However, books do have limits. And there are some things that land differently through experiencing them. You can read about the life cycle of a salmon and understand it intellectually. Or you can watch how Alaskan rhythms move with the annual salmon run. See how both people and animals migrate to chase them. Spend hours perfecting your salmon catching technique, and then learn how to clean a fish. You can taste the difference between a pink salmon and a silver salmon. Watch how human made structures block their path upstream. Discover how subsistence living crosses cultures and borders. It hits different, I tell ya.

    Fishing in Alaska as a full time travel family | O'Phalen Adventures
    Fishing in Alaska in 2023

    5. Most of us are so disconnected from the natural world, and finding our way back to it is healing.

    I can honestly say that before we became a full time travel family, I could probably identify less than five types of trees. Or birds. Or wildflowers. For parts of our earth that are so necessary and abundant, it’s shocking to me how little attention I paid them. But I think it’s really common.

    Now we have probably twenty types of field guides, and we spend a lot of time observing the world around us. My five year old correctly identified a juniper bush all on his own last week just using his books. We notice the small creatures and plants, and we speak to them with care. There’s something so healing about reclaiming the knowledge that we’ve lost through industrialization.

    6. It’s scary going way against the grain, but it’s almost always worth it.

    We’ve stepped outside of so many social norms to become a full time travel family. We’ve left the school system, we’ve insisted on remote work and created our own jobs, we’ve given up having a “sticks and bricks” house in favor of one on wheels. It takes a lot of courage to live life really differently (especially when kids are involved!).

    But wow, has it been worthwhile for us. When people come spend time with us, they are always remarking on how close our kids are, how smart they seem, and how loved you can tell they feel. Not that all of that isn’t possible living a more traditional life, but I always feel validated in our life choices when people notice these things. The proof that our kids are thriving is in the proverbial pudding.

    7. You will inspire people just by living unapologetically.

    Relatedly, I know our life inspires a lot of people. We didn’t set out to inspire anyone, we just set out to live a life that feels good to us.

    Larch hike in Alberta Canada | O'Phalen Adventures
    Larch hiking in Alberta in 2023

    But people are always inspired watching others who live life on their own terms. It can be a hard thing to do with the way our world is structured, and it helps others to know that they can do it, too. The more of us who build our own lives, the more people will be inspired to do the same.

    8. We are all capable of things we would never have imagined we are.

    Listen, we didn’t own a car for a full decade. Living in New York means you just don’t need one most of the time. So for us to go from car-less to driving a super duty truck and towing a 37 foot trailer was a big change. You could say we leaped right out of our comfort zone.

    I thought I’d never be comfortable towing our RV, but I really am a champ at it now. I backed it onto a ferry in Alaska this summer! If I can tow our house that’s almost as long as a semi, we’re all capable of more than we know.

    9. You will take pieces of every place you visit and every experience you have with you for life.

    It’s impossible to be unchanged by the travel you do. My perspective has been shifted by so many places we’ve been to and so many experiences we’ve had.

    I never would have expected that I’d come to love Alaska fireweed flowers more than my beloved bodega peonies. I’ve learned to appreciate small towns and the Midwest. Our summer in Alaska inspired me to live off grid and sacrifice long showers for unbelievable views. It surprised me to discover that I find a saguaro cactus and a desert sunset to be incredibly relaxing. Camping on BLM land has made me more passionate about protecting our public land.

    RV parked in Valley of the Gods, Utah | O'Phalen Adventures
    BLM land in Utah in 2023

    I could go on and on about the places and experiences that have shaped my views over the past few years, but my point is this: it sticks with you. And it changes you at the core. And that is an amazing gift.

    10. Becoming a full time travel family can be logistically challenging.

    Full time travel is absolutely amazing, and it can be incredibly difficult. It’s not for everyone, but for those of you who are considering it, read on!

    There are a lot of practical considerations when becoming a full time travel family. How to make an income, what method of travel works best, how to build community on the road, what travel pace will keep everyone from burning out, how to store everything in a small space…

    If all of that feels overwhelming, we’re happy to help! You can book a call with us here. Take advantage of everything we’ve learned the slow, hard way 😉

    Book a call about being a full time travel family | O'Phalen Adventures

    I’m also available to answer quick questions about being a full time travel family on Instagram! Find me at @kateophalen any time.

    For more RV Life posts, check out the other posts we’ve written about life in an RV:

    Follow our adventures on Instagram:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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  • Hiking with Kids Tips: 10 Best Tips for Family Hiking

    Hiking with Kids Tips: 10 Best Tips for Family Hiking

    Hiking with Kids Tips | 5 year old hikes to Byron Glacier in Alaska

    After three years of almost weekly hiking with kids, we’ve learned a few things about how to have an enjoyable family hike! After I wrote my last post about the best places to hike in Alaska with kids, I realized that we’ve only been able to enjoy Alaska hiking so much this summer because we’ve practiced and re-practiced how to keep everyone in the family enjoying themselves. So I thought I’d do a little series with our best tips and tricks for hiking with kids.

    1. Start Small

    5 year old hiking slot canyon in Arizona

    We hiked 8+ miles and 3000 feet of elevation at Exit Glacier a few weeks ago, and our kids did So well. But we sure didn’t start that way! Our first year hiking with small kids, we aimed for 2 miles or less for a good hike. Even just last year, I was only aiming for 4 mile hikes! There are so many incredible short hikes, that I would recommend starting very small if you and your kids are new hikers. That way, you can build success and confidence in their stamina and your preparation skills. Plus, their little legs will just get bigger each year!

    2. Tailor Hikes to their Interests

    6 year old tidepooling in Nova Scotia | Hiking with Kids Tips

    My kids are so much more likely to be cheerful and motivated on a hike if they know the payoff includes a feature that they’re excited. This might include a tidepool, a waterfall, an abandoned vehicle, or a likely animal sighting. So one of my best tips for hiking with kids is to choose your hike wisely according to their interests and get them hyped up about what you’ll see!

    3. Pre-game the Flora & Fauna

    Peterson Field Guide to Identifying Edible Plants

    No matter where you are in the world, there are interesting plants and creatures to observe. Hiking with kids is so much fun when you’ve prepared ahead of time and can identify what you find! We’ve started collecting field guides (the Peterson Guides are among our favorites — starting with this birds guide and this reptiles and amphibians one would be fun!), and the kids get a real thrill every time they correctly identify something as small as a moth or type of fungi. If you’re visiting a National or State Park in an unfamiliar area, the visitor’s centers will often have posters displayed or field guides available for purchase in the gift shop.

    4. Make It a Game

    5 year old hiking with a stick between their legs like Harry Potter | Hiking with Kids Tips

    In this picture, my middle is hiking with a giant stick between his legs because he was pretending to be a quidditch player in Harry Potter (we’ve been reading the books out loud together lately!). This kept him from complaining that his legs were tired on a hard hike for almost a mile. We play silly games while hiking with kids alllll the time. Some ideas: pretend you’re cars that need to take gas breaks or visit the mechanic every few hundred feet, hike like a local animal that you love and make their silly animal noises, or act like that water crossing is actually a lava crossing and you can’t fall into it! This can turn a hike where we’re on the struggle bus into a fun family memory.

    5. Bring More Snacks

    Kids eating a snack on the coast while looking at a pair of gulls

    This is one of my number one pieces of parenting advice no matter the location: bring more snacks than you think you’ll need. This is especially true while hiking with kids and burning extra calories. All the snacks. Alllll the snacks.

    6. Invest in Good Shoes

    Family of 5's hiking boots on their RV front steps | Hiking with Kids Tips

    It’s less important if you’re new to hiking with kids and learning to love shorter hikes, but as you hike longer distances as a family, good hiking shoes are a must. Our kids have these Keens hiking boots this year in Alaska, and we’ve been so happy with them. Investing in quality hiking gear can be expensive, but we bought the big kids their hiking boots on sale around Black Friday. Our youngest got hers from a thrift store since her feet grow so fast as a toddler. My boots also are thrift store finds since my feet grew after every pregnancy. I’m hoping to upgrade for Christmas this year, though! Your local Buy Nothing group might be another option for finding hiking boots if budget is a concern.

    7. Grab Fun Hiking “Toys”

    Toddler holding bug catcher kit | Hiking with Kids Tips

    Our honorary Aunt Clare introduced a bunch of fun hiking toys last winter that have proven to make our kiddos much perkier on hikes. Some of these are dollar store finds and inexpensive, but they are often only available there seasonally, so I’ve linked similar ones here:

    8. Pack Layers

    3 kids hiking while wearing fleece jackets in Asheville fall foliage | Hiking with Kids Tips

    Sudden temperature changes, an increase in the wind speed, or an unexpected drizzle are all extremely common on a hike. And nothing ruins a fun trip hiking with kids faster than a kiddo being uncomfortably cold. Unless it’s literally 85 degrees out, we always hike with our favorite Columbia fleece jackets rolled up in the backpack or tied around the kids’ waists. If there’s any chance of rain whatsoever, which has been like all summer in Alaska, we’ll also pack a lightweight rain jacket. Those Columbia fleeces can be spendy multiplied by more than one kid, but they take a beating and absolutely everything we’ve thrown at them across multiple years of hiking with kids has washed right out. Pro tip: get jackets in colors that look nice together in photos like the ones above!

    9. Take More Breaks

    5 year old running through Death Valley hike

    There are a lot of hikes that feel too daunting when hiking with kids if you power straight through like an athletic grownup would. But we’ve found that a great many challenging hikes can be accomplished with kids if you just slow way down and take as many breaks as you need (sometimes every ten minutes!). Pack a lunch and take one long break whenever it’s needed. Then use snacks and hiking toys and the other (plentiful) breaks you may need, especially on trails with elevation or in very hot weather.

    10. Let Them Help Choose

    5 year old hiking on Oregon coast

    Another general parenting tip of mine that translates well to hiking with kids is to let them help you choose what to do. I’ll often pull up my AllTrails app and Google Maps reviews and let them see a couple of hikes I’m considering and what the most appealing features are and give them a say in what we choose. My kids appreciate a beautiful view now and will often agree to push themselves to get to it or another fun feature (like I mentioned above!). But sometimes they’re honest about their capacity that weekend and we take it easier. Just giving them options helps them feel like active participants in the experience, instead of being grouchy about something they’re being forced to do.

    What do you think about hiking with kids — love it or loathe it? What’s been your favorite hike with kids? What are the hiking with kids tips I’m missing? Let me know in the comments!

    And if you’re considering a trip to Alaska — absolutely DON’T MISS hiking with kids there! Here’s my list of the best Alaska hikes with kids and a travel guide for your time here.

    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:

    Jokes aside, I’m impressed at how shiny and clean you keep your rig, sir. I had never towed anything before we bought our 37 foot long trailer, so you could say there was a learning curve! 📈 Winter camping in Florida can be bananas expensive 💸💸💸 but it doesn’t have to be! Tell me in the comments if this is how YOU make sourdough ⬇️ For those of you planning to RV to #Alaska, I’ve put together an itinerary packed full of our favorite experiences from our 4 months there. You’ll meet sled dogs, hike glaciers, and maybe have the best trip of your life. Everyone’s always talking about the benefits of a bigger home, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to make a tiny home cozy? 🥰

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

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