With the current landscape looking more different than ever, The Ratliff Family decided that it was the perfect time to pack it all up and hit the road. With the purchase of an RV the family is planning on leaving their house to travel west from Michigan and see as much of the US as possible. Renee and Greg Ratliff with their two kids, Lucas, 6, and Isaac, 4, and their two dogs will hit the road full time in October.
“A big part of this journey is to have the opportunity to spend more quality time with our children. We have always tried to put an emphasis on experiences and not things. We have learned to find happiness through travel and that has led us to become more open-minded and open-hearted” said Greg “We try and live a healthy and active lifestyle and to set that example for our kids. We found that being out in nature and exploring the world they are at their best. It’s fun to see the kids learning from each new place we visit. They make friends so easily and get to experience new cultures and foods.”
The goal is to expose our children to creatures in their natural habitats, educating and exploring through real-world experiences. Travel plans include visiting as many National Parks as possible. The idea is to head into nature and really see this amazing world. There are so many unique places to visit, time will be spent at our National Parks, some small towns and cities, as well as really escaping into nature with dispersed camping. This plan will allow time to disconnect from the world and technology and to really focus on time together as a family.
This will be full-time travel but that doesn’t mean it will be a vacation. There will be a routine that will include schooling and work in the morning and exploring in the afternoon and evenings. Part of the adventure will also be spent giving back and volunteering.
“It is important for us to document this time together so we can look back at the memories we are creating. We will document our adventure as travel journalists on our website and through our social media accounts as TheAdventureFamilyJournal.”