The Beauty of Imperfect Travel: Why We Share the Messy Bits | Mom, Map, and Miles

Road Trip Roll Call: Stacy, M, Ariel, Journey, and Winnifred

You’ve been traveling vicariously with us for a while, so we thought it was about time you officially met the crew. We’re not a polished, matching-outfits kind of travel team. We’re a little messier, a little louder, and a lot more real. Our miles are stitched together with spreadsheets, sketchbooks, squeaky toys, and the occasional…

The Beauty of Imperfect Travel: Why We Share the Messy Bits | Mom, Map, and Miles

The Beauty of Imperfect Travel: Why We Share the Messy Bits

Scroll through Instagram and you’d think every RV trip looks the same: golden sunsets, spotless rigs, kids in matching flannel holding mugs of cocoa. No one’s hair frizzy. No one’s dog muddy. And somehow, not a single bug bite in sight. But if you’ve ever actually taken a road trip, you know the truth. Real…

Journey’s Parked Here: How We Shut Down the RV Season With Love (and Lists) | Mom, Map, and Miles
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Journey’s Parked Here: Shutting Down the RV Season With Love (and Lists)

The last donut’s been devoured. The lawn chairs are folded. Ariel has patrolled the perimeter for squirrels one final time — and deemed it secure. Which means one thing: the RV season is officially winding down. There’s a particular ache in shutting the RV door for the last time in a while. It’s not dramatic…

The Art of the Campground Day: Why Doing Nothing Is Part of the Plan | Mom, Map, and Miles
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The Art of the Campground Day: Why Doing Nothing Is Part of the Plan

During our travels, there are some days when we don’t hike. We don’t tour. We don’t even leave the campground.And those are some of the best days of the trip. There’s something quietly rebellious about planning a road trip… and then not going anywhere. About waking up with a full tank of gas and choosing…

Packing Light (and Then Repacking): What We’re Bringing Into Summer | Mom, Map, and Miles
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Packing Light (and Then Repacking): What We’re Bringing Into Summer

Every year, I say we’re going to start packing light. Every year, we repack three times. Our annual summer trip kicks off the same way: me with a list, Michaela with a pile of clothes (half of them hoodies), Ariel sitting directly on top of the most important items, and Journey (our RV) waiting patiently…