An excerpt from my page, One Week National Park Road Trip From Vegas to Chicago: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Rocky Mountain
All Good Things Must Come To An End…Or Do They?
When we arrived back at home from our first national park road trip in 2016, I was definitely drinking the national park juice, if you know what I mean. I was so high on all the things we had experienced in that week, and I couldn’t come down from how mind-clearing and freeing it felt to get out and explore our beautiful country and take in the fresh air. I regretted that I had known so little about our national park system for so many years prior to this trip. Months later, I found myself still in awe, looking at pictures, telling stories of the trip to our kids, and dreaming if we’d ever do it again. I mean, we had very young kids. In the past, I had come up with many excuses on why traveling with young kids was cumbersome. We had taken short trips here and there, but nothing like what Marc and I had done. And as I flipped through the last page of our road trip memory book, I decided…I wanted my kids to experience THIS.
I wanted so much for them to experience what we had. I wanted them to appreciate our country and the freedom to explore what so many take for granted. I wanted them to know there was so much more out there than the suburban city they live in outside of Chicago. So much to experience and learn. Some of the best learning comes from DOING. I wanted them to visit our national parks and learn about the history and culture there, the landscape, and the people who lived there before us. I wanted them to take hikes and be in complete awe at the scenery surrounding them. Most of all, I wanted them to appreciate the beauty of nature and the feeling of accomplishment when you try something new or complete a difficult hike.
After our trip in 2016, we would continue to explore our national park system in a whole new way…with our kids in tow on ALL of our road tripping experiences. Since 2016, we’ve taken our kids on 3 summer road trips of varying distances…4 weeks in 2017, 5 weeks in 2018, and 2 weeks in 2019 with our girls and our newest addition, who was only 5 months old at the time of our trip. This coming summer in 2020, we are excited to take a month long trip out west with our family of 5, and I cannot wait to share it all with you!
And so began my motto…all good things DON’T have to come to an end. Not really anyway. Good things can keep going as you anticipate with excitement the next great experience; whether that be exploring someplace new or creating a special memory with your family at home. It really doesn’t matter how young or old you are…there is a mountain, a coast, a spot under a tree, or a patch of sand…that’s waiting for you, no matter how long it might take you. You will find as you begin your adventure with us and then create your own, whether it be at home or on the road, that all good things are created with a little love…and dirt! 🙂
Much Love and Adventure is Waiting For You!
-Shelley
Love and Dirt 
Such great ideas!!!
Thank you so much! Happy travels to you! 🙂