When people ask me why we love RVing so much, I don’t immediately think about the miles we’ve traveled or the campgrounds we’ve visited. I think about the memories we’ve made along the way.
Our Bighorn 31RL has been more than a way to travel; it has been a place where our family has gathered, explored new destinations and slowed down enough to enjoy life’s simple moments.
From raising eight kids on camping trips to now traveling as empty nesters, every Heartland RV has been part of our family’s story. Looking back, these are five memories that remind me why this lifestyle has become such an important part of our lives.
Camping With All Eight Kids
Some of our best family vacations happened inside a Heartland RV. With eight children, hotels were never the easiest option. Our RV gave us the freedom to travel together, cook our own meals, explore at our own pace, and spend quality time outdoors.
Days were filled with hiking, biking, swimming, fishing and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. Even rainy days became memorable as we played games, watched movies and spent time inside the camper.
Those family camping trips taught our kids that the best vacations aren’t measured by how much you spend, they’re measured by the memories you create together.
Watching Our Grandkids Discover Camping
Now we are in a different chapter and it’s just as rewarding. Watching our grandchildren experience camping for the first time brings everything full circle. Seeing their excitement over catching frogs, making s’mores, exploring trails and sleeping in the RV reminds me so much of our own kids years ago. While we now have a couple’s RV, the pull-out couch and ample floor space make it so they can all come with us. It’s incredible watching a new generation fall in love with the outdoors.
Turning Our RV Into a Mobile Office
People often think travel writing is all about vacations. It is a lot of research and travel, for days on end. The reality is that our Heartland has become my mobile office. I’ve written countless blogs from campgrounds, edited videos while overlooking lakes, answered emails from picnic tables and planned upcoming adventures from inside the RV. I’ve even written two books at the kitchen table.
There’s something special about finishing work while watching the sunset outside your window.
Finding Hidden Gems Across the Midwest
One of the greatest gifts our Heartland RV has given us is the freedom to discover places we never would have found otherwise. We’ve explored charming small towns, scenic state parks, waterfront campgrounds, family-owned restaurants, Amish communities, hiking trails and hidden attractions that many travelers drive right past. Still, since we are camping, we have time to explore.
Some of our favorite destinations weren’t on a bucket list at all; they simply became memorable because we took the road less traveled. Those unexpected discoveries have inspired hundreds of stories that I’ve been fortunate enough to share with readers.
Slowing Down Together
My favorite memory isn’t tied to one campground. Sitting outside with a cup of coffee in hand, listening to the birds sing and watching the campground slowly wake up has become one of my favorite parts of the RV lifestyle. There’s no schedule to follow and no rush to be anywhere. As life has gotten busier, our Heartland RV has given Matt and me something that’s increasingly hard to find: the opportunity to slow down, be present and appreciate the moment. Those peaceful mornings may seem simple, but they’ve become some of the most meaningful memories we’ve made along the way.
More Than Just an RV
Every Heartland RV we have owned has represented a different season in our family’s story.
It carried us through years of raising children, family vacations, career changes, new adventures and now a season of traveling together as a couple while making new memories with our grandchildren.
The destinations are wonderful, but when I look back, it’s never just about where we went. It’s about the people sitting around the campfire, the meals shared around the table, the laughter that echoed through the campground, and the freedom to wake up somewhere new.
That’s what makes RVing so special. We often get asked about our favorite RV trips, but the truth is… It’s never just about the destination. Heartland RVs have been the backdrop for some of our family’s greatest memories, from camping with all eight of our kids to introducing our grandkids to campfires and s’mores, to discovering hidden gems across the Midwest and even serving as my office while I write about the places we love.
What’s your favorite RV memory?
Brandy Gleason
Heartland Pathfinder: Bighorn 31RL Fifth Wheel
