Imagine buying a house in a town you’ve never even visited… because your kids found the listing online…

That’s exactly what happened to Don & Rosellyn Kidd after years of full-time RV travel across the country.

In this episode of Take the Trip, we dive into the completely unexpected chain of events that led their family from life on the road to settling down in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — in a town they had never visited.

And somehow… it ended up being right where they belong (for now anyways..)

We talk about:

• The moment their daughters found the house that changed everything
• Transitioning from full-time RV life to stationary living
• The emotional reality of “settling down” after years of travel
• Why the Upper Peninsula keeps pulling travelers back
• Family decision-making and learning to embrace unexpected pivots
• Maintaining adventure even after leaving the road

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• What happens after full-time RV life
• Whether “home” can completely surprise you
• How families navigate huge life pivots together
• Why some places instantly feel different

Sometimes the biggest adventures start with one completely unexpected decision...

🎙️Take the Trip PodcastReal Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Follow Don & Rosellyn

​​Instagram - @The_Nomadi_Kidds

What if retirement didn’t have to wait until your 60s?

In this episode of Take the Trip, I sit down with Chris & Kelly from @my_500_sqft_life to talk about how they retired early, transitioned into full-time RV living, and completely reshaped what they wanted life to look like.

This episode is really about what happens when you stop waiting for “later.”

We talk about:

-The reality of downsizing and full-time RV life

-RV hacks that genuinely make life easier (including in those tiny kitchens!)

-DIY repairs, upgrades, and lessons learned on the road

-The emotional side of letting go of “normal” life

-Flexible travel, community, and unexpected adventures (including 1 very legendary chimp)

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

-Whether full-time RV life is realistic long-term

-What really matters once you simplify life

Sometimes the biggest upgrade isn’t a bigger house — it’s a completely different lifestyle.

🎙️Take the Trip PodcastReal Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.

Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Follow Chris & Kelly

Instagram:

@my_500_sqft_life 

@thehighwayhandyman

Tiktok: My500sqftlife

Facebook: My 500 Sq Ft Life

Think travel is too expensive right now? That’s exactly why you need to hear this. ✈️💳

Most families assume more travel = more money. But what if that’s not actually true?

In this episode of Take the Trip, I sit down with Joy and Mara from @savvytravelmamas — a mother-daughter duo helping families use points and miles, credit card rewards, and simple travel strategies to make travel actually affordable.

Because this isn’t about luxury travel hacks… It’s about real families learning how to travel smarter.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• How points and miles actually work (without the overwhelm)
• If you really need to spend a ton of money to earn travel rewards
• How families are using credit cards strategically to travel more

In this episode, we cover:

• How Joy & Mara got started with points and miles (from ZERO)
• The biggest misconceptions about travel rewards
• Step-by-step basics to start earning points
• How to choose the right travel credit card
• Why your everyday spending matters more than you think
• How to redeem points for maximum value (NOT like cash)
• Organizational tips to keep it simple and sustainable
• Real ways families are traveling more without increasing income

Travel doesn’t have to be reserved for “someday.” With the right strategy… it becomes a lot more accessible than you think.

🎙️Take the Trip PodcastReal Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Follow Joy and Mara

Instagram: @savvytravelmamas

Facebook: Savvy Travel Mamas

The Savvy Travel Moms Podcast

Their Website (FREE GUIDE!)

****Use Code FLY560 for a discount on their paid guide!

Referenced During This Episode:

The Points Guy

Card Pointers App

I thought we were ready for RV life… but we made some mistakes that made it harder than it needed to be.

In this solo episode of Take the Trip, I’m sharing the real, unfiltered lessons from our RV journey — the things I would absolutely do differently if we were starting over today.

Because RV life isn’t just about hitting the road. It’s about how you plan, spend, connect, and adapt along the way.

And a few small decisions early on? They can make a huge difference.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• Why I wish we prioritized community sooner (and how it changes everything)

• The RV gear we bought… and barely used

• Why starting social media earlier would’ve opened more doors • Managing expectations with family while living on the road

• The budgeting mistakes that can drain your savings fast

• Choosing the right RV layout (and what I’d pick now)

• Why researching RV brands and customer support matters more than you think

• The upgrades I wish we made from day one

RV life can be incredible — but it’s a lot easier when you learn from someone who’s already done it the hard way.

🎙️Take the Trip PodcastReal Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.

Come say hey @takethetripfam

She was convinced she’d hate RV life… but also knew their “normal” life needed a change…

In this episode of Take the Trip, I sit down with Jeff and Monica Grant — a family who didn’t set out dreaming about RV life… but found themselves rethinking everything when packed schedules and housing frustrations weren’t giving them the life they actually wanted.

What started as hesitation turned into a complete lifestyle shift — one that changed how they travel, parent, and even educate their kids.

We talk about the real transition — not just the highlight reel — from structured, predictable days to learning, living, and figuring it out on the road.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• What happens when one partner isn’t sold on RV life… but you try it anyway

• What finally made them consider RV life..

• The reality of leaving behind routine and “normal” schedules

• How their kids are navigating school on the road

• The unexpected learning that happens outside a classroom

• Travel mishaps and the moments that don’t go as planned

• Why engaging with locals has shaped their experience on the road

• How this lifestyle has impacted their family dynamic

• The difference between what you expect… and what actually happens

RV life isn’t always the obvious choice.

Sometimes it’s the one you didn’t think you wanted — until it changes everything.

Follow Monica & Jeff

Instagram: @deanandgertieexploretheworld

Facebook Dean and Gertie Explore the World

TikTok: @deanandgertie

Youtube: Dean and Gertie Explore the World

Their Website

What if the goal isn’t to do it all perfectly… but to do it well enough to actually enjoy your life?

In this episode of Take the Trip, I sit down with Stephanee to talk about full-time RV living, motherhood, and the quiet pressure so many women carry to “do it right” — and what happens when you finally let that go.

Their first attempt at RV life didn’t work.

They stepped away. Regrouped. And came back with a completely different mindset — one rooted in flexibility, community, and embracing what she calls a “perfectly good enough” life.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• What it looks like to let go of perfection in motherhood, travel, and daily life
• How RV families create a lifestyle that actually feels sustainable
• Why doing “less, but better” can change everything

In this episode, we talk about:

• Their first experience with RV life — and why they walked away
• What changed when they decided to return to full-time RV living
• The pressure to “do it all” — especially as a mom
• Redefining success through a “perfectly good enough” mindset
• The realities of RV life with kids (beyond the highlight reel)
• Building community on the road — and why it’s not always easy
• Work camping, flexibility, and creating a rhythm that actually works
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations and choosing what matters most

You don’t have to do everything.

You just have to do what works for your life.

🎙️Take the Trip Podcast

Real Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Follow Stephanee:

Instagram: @aperfectlgoodenoughlife

Facebook:A Perfectly Good Enough Life

TikTok: @aperfectlygoodenoughlife

Support our Episode Sponsor: 

Camp Champ is Cheltec’s premium line of advanced, 100% biodegradable RV holding tank treatments, engineered to eliminate odors, break down waste, and improve tank performance without harsh chemicals or masking fragrances. Built on proven industrial-grade technology, Camp Champ is designed for RVers who value reliability, environmental responsibility, and confidence throughout their camping lifestyle. Use the code “TaketheTrip” for 25% off!

You ever realize you’ve been following someone for years — but barely know their real story?

In this episode of Take the Trip, I sit down with Gaby from @adventureswithgabygaby for a conversation that goes beyond just the funny, relatable moments she often shares on social media — and into the real life behind it all.

Because while her content might make you laugh, there’s a deeper story underneath: family dynamics, military life, marriage, motherhood, and the balancing act of showing up online while living a very real, very full life offline.

We talk about how her journey started, what’s changed over time, and why the most meaningful parts of her life aren’t always the ones that make it to the feed.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• How families make RV life work while still managing careers, school schedules, and a home
• What content creation looks like when your real life doesn’t fit a single niche
• How family travel changes when kids grow older and dynamics shift

In this episode, we talk about:

• Gabby’s journey from a weight loss page to RV life and travel
• The role humor plays in her content — and why it works
• The parts of her life that don’t always make it online
• Family travel, parenting, and evolving dynamics as kids grow
• Marriage, communication, and keeping things real
• The impact of military life on their family and lifestyle
• The pressure of social media — and choosing authenticity anyway
• Creating memories over material things

Not everything fits into a caption, a reel, or a perfectly timed post.

And sometimes… the real story is the part you don’t see.

🎙️Take the Trip Podcast

Real Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.

Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Follow Gaby:

Instagram: @adventureswithgabygaby

Facebook: Adventures with Gaby Gaby

TikTok: @Adventureswithgabygaby

YouTube: Adventures with Gaby Gaby

Support our Episode Sponsors: 

Camp Champ is Cheltec’s premium line of advanced, 100% biodegradable RV holding tank treatments, engineered to eliminate odors, break down waste, and improve tank performance without harsh chemicals or masking fragrances. Built on proven industrial-grade technology, Camp Champ is designed for RVers who value reliability, environmental responsibility, and confidence throughout their camping lifestyle. Use the code “TaketheTrip” for 25% off!

Miacademy is an online learning platform for families with kids in grades K–8. One of the things we love most is the flexibility — kids can mix grade levels and move at their own pace since they have access to the entire K-8 course catalog. Features like read-aloud lessons, captions, transcripts, and engaging worksheets help kids build independence while learning. The lesson structure makes it easy to balance learning with field trips, travel, and other real-world enrichment.

Try Miacademy for just $1.99 for the first 30 days, and use code TRIP20 to save:

• 10% off monthly subscriptions

• 15% off annual and lifetime plans

• 20% off family lifetime plans

This wasn’t about travel at first — it was about feeling stuck… and doing something about it.

In this episode of Take the Trip, I sit down with Jessica from @We Chose Adventures to talk about how she went from an overwhelmed mom to building a life centered around outdoor adventure, homeschooling, and meaningful family travel.

What started as simply getting her kids outside turned into something much bigger — a complete lifestyle shift that redefined how her family lives, learns, and explores together.

We talk about the real side of traveling with kids, the power of community (especially for women), and how Jessica now helps other families experience travel differently through thoughtful itineraries and hidden gems — especially across the East Coast.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

-What it actually looks like to pick up travel after you’ve started your family

- How families make homeschooling + travel work together

-How to build community when you choose a different lifestyle

-How to stay in a sticks and bricks and still feel connected to nature and adventure

In this episode, we talk about:

• Going from non-traveler to building a life around adventure

• The moment everything shifted as a stay-at-home mom

• An uncommon decision to downsize their home to prioritize travel and family time

• Why planning itineraries can completely change your trips

• Hidden gems on the East Coast (including underrated destinations)

• Women’s hiking groups and the power of community

• The evolution of content creation in the travel space

• Travel mishaps, group trips, and the stories you don’t expect

Travel doesn’t always start with a plane ticket.

Sometimes it starts with stepping outside… and realizing you want more.

🎙️Take the Trip Podcast

Real Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.

Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Follow Jessica: 

Instagram: Wechoseadventures

Facebook: We Chose Adventures

Group Travel Details:

Support our Episode Sponsors: 

Camp Champ is Cheltec’s premium line of advanced, 100% biodegradable RV holding tank treatments, engineered to eliminate odors, break down waste, and improve tank performance without harsh chemicals or masking fragrances. Built on proven industrial-grade technology, Camp Champ is designed for RVers who value reliability, environmental responsibility, and confidence throughout their camping lifestyle. Use the code “TaketheTrip” for 25% off!

Miacademy is an online learning platform for families with kids in grades K–8. One of the things we love most is the flexibility — kids can mix grade levels and move at their own pace since they have access to the entire K-8 course catalog. Features like read-aloud lessons, captions, transcripts, and engaging worksheets help kids build independence while learning. The lesson structure makes it easy to balance learning with field trips, travel, and other real-world enrichment.

Try Miacademy for just $1.99 for the first 30 days, and use code TRIP20 to save:

• 10% off monthly subscriptions

• 15% off annual and lifetime plans

• 20% off family lifetime plans

We thought we were prepared for anything… until our RV broke down and no one could help us.

In this episode of Take the Trip, Bill and I share one of the most stressful travel days we’ve ever had — when our Keystone RV majorly malfunctioned just an hour into a drive home for a funeral.

What started as a routine travel day quickly turned into a full-blown roadside nightmare. Our leveling jacks/slide came down while towing and just wouldn’t retract - we were stuck on the side of the road with kids in extreme heat, and to make things worse — roadside assistance told us no one could tow us because our rig was too big. Thankfully no one was injured, but it was scary and so very stressful. 

Yeah… not exactly the plan.

We walk through exactly what happened, how we handled it in real time, and what we learned the hard way about RV maintenance, coverage, and problem-solving on the road.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• What actually happens when your RV breaks down mid-trip

• Can roadside assistance always help RVers?

• What do you do when no one can tow your rig?

• What does insurance cover?

• Will my RV brand have my back in an emergency? 

In this episode, we talk about:

• The terrifying RV jack failure that left us stranded in our 5 year old Keystone Avalanche. 

• Why roadside assistance couldn’t help us

• Troubleshooting under pressure (in the heat, with kids)

• The moment we realized we were on our own

• How one dollar store purchased came in CLUTCH! 

• The unexpected kindness we experienced along the way

• The emotional side of dealing with travel stress during a family emergency

• The time Kendra told a dirty joke at a funeral 

RV life comes with freedom and adventure — but also moments like this.

If you’re traveling in an RV (or thinking about it), this is one of those stories you’ll want to hear before you find yourself in the same situation.

🎙️Take the Trip PodcastReal Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.

Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Support Our Sponsors

Camp Champ is Cheltec’s premium line of advanced, 100% biodegradable RV holding tank treatments, engineered to eliminate odors, break down waste, and improve tank performance without harsh chemicals or masking fragrances. Built on proven industrial-grade technology, Camp Champ is designed for RVers who value reliability, environmental responsibility, and confidence throughout their camping lifestyle. Use the code “TaketheTrip” for 25% off!

Miacademy is an online learning platform for families with kids in grades K–8. One of the things we love most is the flexibility — kids can mix grade levels and move at their own pace since they have access to the entire K-8 course catalog. Features like read-aloud lessons, captions, transcripts, and engaging worksheets help kids build independence while learning. The lesson structure makes it easy to balance learning with field trips, travel, and other real-world enrichment.

Try Miacademy for just $1.99 for the first 30 days, and use code TRIP20 to save:

• 10% off monthly subscriptions

• 15% off annual and lifetime plans

• 20% off family lifetime plans

What would it take for you to completely change your life?

In this episode of Take the Trip, I sit down with Alex and Libby from TravelinThoms to talk about how a major health scare in their 20s completely shifted their perspective — and ultimately led them to build a life on the road. 

What started as weekend trips turned into full-time RV living, all while navigating the newlywed phase, demanding jobs, and running an Airbnb back home. And yes — they’re doing it with a baby. 

We talk about what it actually looks like to pivot your life after something unexpected, how they made travel sustainable, and why they chose not to follow the “sell everything” version of RV life. This conversation is real, honest, and full of perspective for anyone rethinking how they want to live. 

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered: 

• What would make someone completely change their life path? 

• Can you travel full-time and still keep a home base? 

• What does RV life with a baby actually look like? 

• How do people make full-time travel financially sustainable? 

• What happens when life forces you to slow down and rethink everything?

 In this episode, we talk about:

 • The health challenges that changed everything 

• How their RV journey started (and evolved quickly) 

• Why they chose to keep their home and rent it out

• Traveling full-time while raising a baby 

 • Building income through social media

 • Why adaptability is everything in travel and parenting

 • The importance of community on the road 

• Growing a brand (yes… including the mullet 😂) 

• What they’d tell anyone considering this lifestyle

 Whether you’re dreaming about RV life, navigating a big life pivot, or just curious how families make this lifestyle work — this episode will give you a whole new perspective. 

🎙️Take the Trip PodcastReal Talk. Zero Filter.

Conversations (and people!) that don’t fit in a box.

Come say hey  @takethetripfam

Follow Libby and Alex:

Instagram: @Travelinthoms

YouTube: @Travelinthoms

Facebook: Travelin Thoms

TikTok @TravelinThomas

Support our Episode Sponsors: 

Whether you’re gearing up for winter or dealing with it as it comes, etrailer helps keep you on the road with gear like tire chains, battery chargers, floor mats, and recovery equipment you can trust. Head to ⁠etraile⁠r to find winter gear that fits your vehicle and handles whatever the season throws at you.

Camp Champ is Cheltec’s premium line of advanced, 100% biodegradable RV holding tank treatments, engineered to eliminate odors, break down waste, and improve tank performance without harsh chemicals or masking fragrances. Built on proven industrial-grade technology, Camp Champ is designed for RVers who value reliability, environmental responsibility, and confidence throughout their camping lifestyle. Use the code “TaketheTrip” for 25% off!

Miacademy is an online learning platform for families with kids in grades K–8. One of the things we love most is the flexibility — kids can mix grade levels and move at their own pace since they have access to the entire K-8 course catalog. Features like read-aloud lessons, captions, transcripts, and engaging worksheets help kids build independence while learning. The lesson structure makes it easy to balance learning with field trips, travel, and other real-world enrichment.

Try Miacademy for just $1.99 for the first 30 days, and use code TRIP20 to save:

• 10% off monthly subscriptions

• 15% off annual and lifetime plans

• 20% off family lifetime plans