Renting an RV to Blend Our Families for the First Time on a Road Trip
BEST DECISON WE MADE!
They say that road trips are a true test of any relationship, and that goes double when you’re blending families for the first time. Throw in a rental RV and you’ve got the potential for a truly chaotic adventure. But don’t worry, with a little bit of preparation and a whole lot of patience, you can make it work. We discovered that it was the perfect way to bring the families together and create amazing memories. In this blog post, I’ll share the steps we took to make our trip a success and how it helped us bond as a newfound family.
The Destination
Since we are both military, we made the plunge to blend our families during our relocation to Buda, Texas. The girls were in Arizona (mine) and the teens were in El Paso (his), so we planned our route as a pickup then journey to our new home. We started in Tuscan, Arizona -then to El Paso- then we took the “scenic route” to Central Texas by exploring New Mexico before making the trek east to our brand-new home. The scenic drive put everyone in a relaxed mood, preparing them for a fun-filled adventure together.
Get a big enough RV!
RV rentals come in different sizes, and it is essential to get one that will comfortably accommodate your family. We knew that our RV should have enough space for everyone to move around, even while driving. We also ensured that it had all the necessary amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom, and enough sleeping space. We prefer an RV that sleeps 10 which gives us the ability make our coffee and breakfast an enjoying some quiet time without having to wake up the teens (we know how they love to sleep in).
Incorporate individual interests
Our youngest was 4 and the oldest as 16, so finding the right type of places and activities was crucial. Our destinations were nature based, with hikes, canoeing, caverns, and even an alien museum in Roswell, NM. This worked out since each of us were able to participate and enjoy each activity without isolating any certain family member. What was great about the sites we chose to visit, was that we were all able to disconnect and enjoy the outdoors with one another.
Embrace spontaneity
While having a plan is important, being open to spontaneity is also necessary. We had several unplanned stops on our trip that ended up being the most fun and memorable experiences. This is where the kids had the most say on our trip and we got to decide as a family what our next unplanned adventure was. We ended up stumbling upon a Ranch that offered a dinner and show with activities, and shooting targets we were all able to participate in. Or when the kids were tired of homecooked RV meals and yearned for something “delicious” as they put it, which led to stopping at a local pizza place and parking by a nearby lake to enjoy our meal. Being flexible allowed us to explore new things together and make lasting memories.
Blending families is never easy, but with the right mindset and a little effort, it can be incredibly rewarding. Taking a road trip together helped us bond as a newfound family, creating memories that will last a lifetime. By choosing this route, picking the right RV to meet our family’s needs, planning out activities and stops tailored towards the whole family, and the willingness to add some spontaneity to the trip, we succeeded in blending our families together. We arrived at our new home together in central Texas a bonded family which made the added player of moving to a new city together much smoother.
