RVing: a family affair

The Lynns wanted to make the most of their family vacations and RVing provided the answer

When Albert and Teresa Lynn discussed family vacations, they came to a number of conclusions. They both enjoyed road trips, but they weren’t so fond of hotel rooms and they also weren’t into “roughing it.” With five children ranging in age from four to 14, these were important—but limiting—observations. When the Lynns then decided to purchase an RV, they realized they had found the perfect solution.

“The biggest advantage of RVing for our family has been the ability to go out many more times throughout the year and to save money over other family vacations like air travel and cruises—especially with the seven of us travelling together,” said Albert. “An RV gives almost limitless freedom to do the things that we really enjoy doing as a family, and it makes it fun no matter what the weather is or where we happen to be.”

Family holidays

It’s been four years since the Lynn family first purchased a 2009 Tango 289BH trailer. One season later, at an RV show, they discovered a new class of ultra-light trailers with bunkhouses, slideouts and outdoor kitchens. The Keystone Premier 31BPHR could be towed behind the Lynns' current vehicle and the family of seven readily adopted the new “portable hotel room.” They now spend many weekends in their trailer each season, as well as taking extended holidays about once a year, generally around the Pacific Northwest. They have also made one trip to Ontario.

“On our big road trip across the West we stayed at some great campgrounds and saw attractions like the Mall of America and the SPAM Museum,” said Albert. “But the most memorable event for me was near the end of the road trip while heading home. We had just left the campground and were on the highway when my wife noticed smoke coming from one of the trailer wheels. We discovered that the wheel bearings had burnt out, which had been caused by a bent axle. We spent an extra three days at a nearby campground waiting for parts and repair.

“The reason why this turned out to be the best memory for me is because we spent time exploring the area, learning about and making connections with the small town of Deer Lodge, Montana—somewhere I never knew existed before. We visited the Old Prison Museum and a few other local attractions. It was a ‘stop and smell the flowers’ moment that we were forced to take, but ended up enjoying a lot, and (this memory) now has a special place in my heart.”

Making it work

While RVing has been the ideal fit that Teresa and Albert were looking for in a family vacation, they do have to allow a little more time for things than most RVers do. Travelling with kids changes your travel style and the Lynns are always on the lookout for things that might interest the family, or destinations and RV parks that can keep the youngsters engaged. The pace is, overall, pretty relaxed—but since when is that ever a bad thing? The key, said Albert, is not to stress about the little things.

The Lynns generally start driving around 8 a.m. and allow for a number of breaks, including about an hour for lunch. Books, music and electronics help keep the family occupied and they’ll try to stop for the night by 4 p.m., leaving plenty of time to get comfortable before dinner.

An RV allows for flexibility, and children are generally adaptable, but Albert’s first piece of advice is to have a routine and schedule that the kids can get involved with. If they know what’s going on, they’ll be more likely to adjust. Ultimately, RVing has given the Lynns an opportunity to form family memories and traditions. For example, they now make sure to spend every Halloween at their favourite campground where the festivities, decorations and trick-or-treating have become an anticipated part of the year.

It’s been a journey in more than one sense, but the Lynns look forward to many seasons of RVing to come.

“Being in the Pacific Northwest means we get our share of rain and cold,” observed Albert. “Having the RV means we can still get away and be warm and comfortable wherever we are. Our RV season is much longer because of that. When the weather is good, we’re able to sit around a campfire and stargaze through the night. With an RV we’ve got the best of both worlds, inside and out.”