As a gay dad of three under 9 years old, we are constantly trying to figure out more fun and unique experiences for our kids. Theme parks can be fun, but I believe they’re overrated, especially when we, as parents, have the ability to create a more unique and memorable vacation experience.
An unforgettably exciting adventure awaits you when you let go of being “in control of your surroundings.” I for one need to be in control at all times. If I am not, my anxiety kicks in hardcore. If you can relate, listen when I tell you – let go of all that and step into and embrace a this way of travel on vacations. We have had three RV vacations and they were magic! Even with significant bumps along the way. All three experiences had three completely different vibes.
The first one we went on was to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in December 2019. Y’all. It was absolutely magical. Especially because I am a stump jumper from South Mississippi who has not seen much snow in my days. Well, this vacation coincided with their very first snow fall of that year. Watching the snow fall from the windows as my husband made breakfast with Christmas music by the Carpenters really sealed the deal.
This trip was before our little boy was born, so the memories we have with the girls really stand out from this adventure. Dollywood, decked out in festive holiday attire, was the cherry on top for me. I really feel that the RV allowed us to be immersed in the wilderness. The campsites were all fantastic with all the amenities — USUALLY. But hands down, it was one of our favorite vacations of all time.
After that trip, Douglas was excited to keep the RV momentum going. He really nailed it by finding an online site to rent RVs of all types and sizes. Outdoorsy.com lets you find the perfect one that fits your budget. And no — I am absolutely not being paid to promote this site. I’m genuinely sharing my experience to help anyone out there who wants to elevate their vacations.
A year later, we decided to roll the dice again and plan another one! This time, we set our sights on New York. Could we pull it off again? Yes. Yes, we did.
The beautiful summer in New York was unlike anything my redneck brain had ever seen. Cooking on campfires and grills, s’mores, RV kitchen pasta, and so much more made this one epic.
Unfortunately, our latest RV trip had some disastrous moments. This past summer, Douglas planned a Grand Canyon trip that would take us around the majestic National Parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon is everything! Our RV was not. I will spare you the details, but let’s just say the underbelly of the toilet was broken and could not drain. The temperature was literally 120 degrees and we were in the middle of the damn desert. It stunk and I was hot AF. And this time, we had all the babies. All 3 of our heavy, energetic, and wild children. My nerves were wrecked and the gay sprinkles in the beginning turned into mustard on a hot fudge sundae. And a cherry on top of that sundae was when we arrived at the Delta counter to fly home, everything was canceled for 3 more days! It was never ending. I literally cried. Y’all! For real!
But, despite it all, the memories the kids made on this trip were incredible, and our oldest becoming a Junior Ranger was a standout. She found a sense of pride and to this day she still beams with it. No regrets.
I’ll close by saying that choosing something so adventurous is risky. But if you don’t take the risk, you won’t reap the rewards. Sure, it could turn into a winter wonderland, or it could be a fiery blowout. Just plan accordingly, embrace the RV lifestyle, and maybe don’t go to the desert in the middle of summer!
Love, NolaPapa
NolaPapa.com was created by gay dad, Erik Alexander from New Orleans, Louisiana. His mission was and always will be to broaden the barriers of today’s American family. Find blogs, children’s books and his podcast with inspiring stories told from Hollywood to Broadway.
