Closing the First Chapter

If you’ve been “traveling” with us, you already know it’s been almost a full year since we packed up our family into a 45’ motorcoach and left Small Town, Middle America for a 15 week adventure out west. Followed by another 14 week adventure down south after a small break for holidays at home. 

You’ve followed my daughter, Olivia, blogging through her senior year of high school. What a Senior Trip this has been! As I’ve had the joy of being her editor for every blog she wr

A Final Goodbye to an Epic Senior Year of Homeschool

Introduction

Wow, my senior year is almost over! Honestly, it feels a little unreal. This year has been nothing like I expected—full of homeschooling with joy, tons of adventure, and way more learning outside the classroom than inside it.

Traveling in our RV, hopping from National Parks to city streets, I realized school isn’t just about textbooks or tests. It’s about soaking in every little moment—the roar of a waterfall, the stories behind old buildings, or that moment wh

Homeschooling by the Shore: Adventures at Indiana Dunes

Introduction: When a Beach Day Becomes a Field Trip

Okay, so here’s the thing: Indiana Dunes is not what I expected.  Like… at all.

One minute we’re driving past people’s houses and grocery stores, and the next minute we’re standing on a beach that looks like it belongs in a completely different state—or possibly on a different planet. Lake Michigan stretches out in every direction, the wind is basically yelling at us, and there’s sand in my socks before I even make it

Homeschooling in Hiking Boots: My Top 3 National Parks

Introduction: Why Some Parks Just Stick

People always ask me what my favorite national park is. And every single time, I freeze. How do you choose just one when the parks are all so different—some dramatic, some peaceful, some full of mystery, and some that feel like home?

But after weeks of driving, hiking, learning, and trying to rank them in my head (and then re-ranking them five more times), I’ve finally landed on my top three. These are the parks that stayed with me—th

Pages and Places: The Books I Read During Our Homeschool Journey

Introduction: Stories That Stuck With Me on the Road

When we packed up our RV to begin this roadschool adventure, I knew I’d learn a lot from the places we visited. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d learn from the books I read along the way.

Between hikes, drives, campfires, and quiet afternoons, I found myself flipping through pages that somehow matched the places we were exploring. Some books hit me harder than I expected. Others opened up parts of history, nature, an

Homeschooling Through Cities: Big Lessons for this Small-Town Girl

Introduction: From Gravel Roads to City Blocks

When you grow up in a small town, you get used to waving at every car that passes, hearing crickets at night, knowing exactly how long it takes to walk from the grocery store to the library, and knowing exactly what everyone’s up to. Cities? They feel like another planet.

And yet, this homeschool road life keeps throwing me into the heart of one city after another.

Seattle’s skyline rises up like it has something to prove. San F

Homeschooling, Stars, and My Astrophotography Passion

Introduction – Learning in the Wild

There’s something magical about stargazing in a National Park. The sky feels bigger—more alive, more personal—when you’re miles away from city lights and noise. One night, lying on a blanket under a million stars, I realized that space wasn’t just something to be read about in books. It was real. Vast. Waiting.

That night sparked a full-blown passion for space, for stars, and for capturing their beauty on camera. But it wasn’t just the wi

RV Life and Homeschooling: Tips for Staying Productive in a Small Space

Introduction: Finding Focus on the Road

Homeschooling while living in an RV isn’t your typical school day. It’s full of surprises, constant changes, and sometimes a little chaos. Between the engine running, family chatting, and new places to explore, finding a quiet moment to focus can feel tricky.

But honestly, that’s part of the adventure. This lifestyle teaches me to be flexible and creative with my learning—and to make the most of whatever space and time I have. It’s ab

Homeschool Lessons Beneath the Trees of Cuyahoga

Introduction: A National Park Hiding in Plain Sight

Out of all the national parks we’ve visited, Cuyahoga Valley might be the quietest surprise.  It’s not dramatic. No giant rock towers, no geysers, no desert landscapes that make you feel tiny. But maybe that’s the charm. This park doesn’t try to impress you—it just invites you in.

We roll up expecting something small. But right away, the trees feel taller than they look from afar, and the air smells like river water an

Science Class in the Dark: Homeschooling at Mammoth Cave

Introduction: Trading a Desk for a Cave Ceiling

Some school days start with a planner and a stack of books.  This one started with a ranger, a flashlight, and a cave ceiling dripping water onto my hair. It was the best kind of trade.

The second we pulled into Mammoth Cave National Park, it felt like the rules of normal school didn’t apply anymore. The trees stretched overhead, the air smelled like cool stone and moss, and somewhere under our feet was a whole hidden world, j

Homeschooling in the Clouds: Life Lessons from the Smokies

Introduction: A Sunny Start in the Smoky Mountains

Some mornings just feel like they’re going to be good—and this one didn’t even try to hide it.  The sky was clear, the mountains were glowing in that soft early light, and everything about the day felt like a deep breath after a long week. It wasn’t about racing from one sight to the next. It was about seeing what the Smokies had to show us—and letting it surprise us a little.

We didn’t have a strict plan (which, honest

Homeschool Adventures Beneath Georgia’s Tallest Waterfall

Introduction: Mist, Mountains, and a Morning Hike

There’s something about standing at the base of a waterfall that makes you feel small in the best way. As we arrive at Amicalola Falls, the sound hits first—a steady roar, low and powerful. Then comes the mist, cool and light on my face, like the mountain is exhaling. I tilt my head back, and the water just keeps going, tumbling from heights that almost don’t seem real. Georgia’s tallest waterfall definitely doesn’t hold ba

Exploring St. Augustine: A Homeschooler’s Guide to America’s Oldest City

Introduction: First Steps on Ancient Streets

I don’t know what I expect when we arrive in St. Augustine, but it’s not this. Not the brick streets, not the way everything looks like a painting, and definitely not the wind. The breeze is strong—strong enough to pull your hair into your face and steal your voice if you’re not careful. But somehow, it fits. It adds to the feeling that we’ve stepped into another time, like the past is still blowing through the palm trees, waiti

Homeschooling at Dry Tortugas: Sun, Sea, and Surprises

Introduction

It’s not every day that school starts with a plane ride over the ocean. But then again, this whole roadschooling adventure is anything but typical.

We get up before the sun, stumbling around the RV in that half-asleep haze that makes everything feel a little dream-like. By the time we make it to the tiny airport in Key West, I’m awake enough to feel the nerves and excitement bubbling up. It’s not like we hop on planes every day, especially not ones small en

Island Lessons: Homeschooling in Key West

Introduction: Island Air, Open Books, and Unexpected Lessons

Key West doesn’t feel like any other stop we make. The second we cross over that last bridge, it’s like the world decides to slow down—and I don’t mind following its lead.

The air is warm and heavy. The streets are full of roosters who clearly haven’t read any traffic rules, and the buildings are a hundred shades of pastel. I’m caught between two feelings: like I’ve stepped into a postcard… and like I’ve final