Generational RV Travel: 5 Stories of RVing Families

Generational RV Travel: 5 Stories of RVing Families
Learn how these families are passing down a love for RVing.

By: Noel Fleming & Chris Miller

Family road trips hold magic that reverberates for years to come. Memories are created, and the retelling of stories cements in us the value of traveling together. Somehow it becomes ingrained in us, almost as though part of our DNA … passed along from generation to generation.

Be inspired to pass on your love of RVing with these five stories of Winnebago owners who are making memories on the open road with loved ones.

Grandchild-Inspired RV Travel

Children are natural lobbyists when they feel passionate about a cause. Letters to Santa, birthday wish lists, pleas for five more minutes of snoozing or extensions of curfews, and so on. It’s hard to say no to that confident voice and those pleading eyes. Powerful lobbying tactics worked for 10-year-old Willow when she decided she wanted to experience RVing.

Her grandparents, Cal and Kathy Holser, travel in a Winnebago View, and when she learned that they would be attending Camp Winnebago in Iowa, she set her plan into motion. She wanted to experience RV travel and see other states. The Holsers had never traveled with a grandchild in the RV, and she was certain it was time to right that wrong. In a well-crafted persuasive letter, Willow pointed out how much fun it would be to travel together. She peppered the note with promises to help with chores, assurances that she could be independent and entertain herself, and a pledge to provide stories and songs.

Her campaign techniques were successful! The grandparents could not resist her strategic marketing. Traveling with grandkids had been a consideration for Cal and Kathy, but busy schedules had always prevented the possibility. Camp Winnebago came along at the perfect time, coinciding with the end of Willow’s soccer season.

Cal and Kathy flew Willow from her home in Oregon to their place in Michigan. They recounted with pure delight nabbing the last available seat on the flight. From there, they hit the road together to Forest City, Iowa.

And true to her word, Willow fulfilled all of the campaign promises contained in her persuasive letter. She helped by learning how to put pads under the jacks and directing the backing up of the rig. She independently busied herself at the rally, enjoying event activities such as tie-dye, rock painting, and donuts and coffee (“just a smidge”). She regaled the grands with stories of foxes and adventures, and performed nightly serenades from her bunk above the Winnebago View’s cab.

Their time together was a grand success and even planted seeds of other destinations they would enjoy experiencing together. The Holsers believe Willow would love to see the Utah 5 and the wildlife of Alaska.

Father-Son Bonding on a Work Road Trip

As part of the coaching staff for Bryant University’s Division 1 men’s basketball team in Smithfield, RI, Brett Putz traveled throughout the country to scout players. The team of coaches he worked with relished out of the box thinking and needed creative budgeting. They toyed with the idea of having Brett hit the recruiting trail in an RV. The problem: Brett didn’t own an RV. The solution: his parents did.

Steve and Sheryl Putz travel in a Winnebago Travato, a class B van that comfortably sleeps two. When Brett called his dad to share the novel idea and invite him to join him on his scouting trip, the answer was a resounding yes. Steve immediately recognized what a rare gift he was being offered. His main focus was on time with his son, and he viewed the engagement with his favorite sport as a doozy of an add-on. “Any time with one of my kids is like my birthday or Christmas.”

The Winnebago Travato proved to be an ideal compact motorhome for the rigorous itinerary. The father-son duo covered 3,800 miles through 7 states in 17 days. The well-constructed agenda enabled Brett to scout players from 60 schools, all while keeping the budget under $2,000.

Besides being a win for Bryant’s basketball program, it was a victory for the Putz’s. The long travel days, though hectic and fast-paced, offered plenty of time for extended conversations. They created new memories and relived old ones of days gone by when, as a younger father and as a teenage son, they traveled together in a car for AUU basketball games. Steve had the rare opportunity of not only being with his adult son but witnessing him thrive in the life he had created. Referring to the road trip, Steve concluded: “Towards the end of my life, it will be one of my most treasured memories.”

Brett echoed this sentiment during a follow-up interview with a local journalist. Tasked with efficient recruiting, Brett realized that his initial focus had been on the school’s basketball goals. He only realized the full significance of shared time with his dad when the experience was complete. Brett explained, “Going into it, I didn’t think much about it, and now it’s the part I’m going to cherish the most.”

RVing as a Family Event

Lori McQuiston and Glen Abramowski have already lived a lifetime of stories. As a para-alpine skier, Glen had faced many challenges in his athletic pursuits. He honed his competitive skills and medaled in the 1984 Winter Paralympics. When they purchased their Class B Winnebago, they started a new chapter, filled with adventures of a slower pace: kayaking on lakes, viewing Christmas lights, and traveling to live music events. 

Enter two energetic grandkids, Colin (age 9) and Mara (age 12) who set their sites on joining Lori and Glen in their 21-foot RV. Now that could be a new Olympic event — maneuvering through obstacles inside a confined space with two adults, two kids, and one purebred border collie. Reportedly the inside of the rig was a sight to behold: picture upheavals and displacements of avalanche proportions. 

Yet, this team of true champions performed their personal bests at Camp Winnebago. They huddled together each night, going over their options and planning a play-by-play strategy for the next day. They each found plenty of events that appealed to them. Puzzle and pie competitions plus roaming Karaoke for Mara. Friendship bracelets for Colin. Festivals, dog park adventures, a car show, ice cream and bingo for all.

Lori and Glen were thrilled to share their grandkids with the Winnebago community, and they were instantly embraced. Watching them together, adapting and celebrating each person’s strengths, brings to mind the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together”. Coincidence? We think not.

Next stop … Backbone State Park, a destination near and dear to the family. 

Generations of RV Travel

Michael Vamper entered the world of RVing decades ago when his extended family was looking for the most budget-friendly way to travel from Miami to New York. After researching options, they landed on the idea of RV travel. They dove into it headfirst, as four families traveled together in a single RV! Michael still recounts, with a chuckle and a shake of the head, the memories of that trip in the 80s.

He now travels with his wife Zeudi and their two children in a Winnebago Class A motorhome. Finding the right rig was key for raising kids and working on the road. They bought the 35-foot Winnebago Vista LX bunkbed floorplan in 2018 when their daughter Noah was only six months old, and their son Zayden was three. Now at ages eight and ten, they continue to use the space efficiently.

The kids love having their own space for downtime, and mom and dad appreciate the functionality of the different living spaces. At this time in their lives, they balance work, travel, and caring for aging parents. Time together on the road offers a reprieve, great content for their homeschooling, and an opportunity for Zeudi to attend work conferences away from home. 

They usually drive 4-5 hours per day, seek out unique experiences along the way, and often stay at Harvests Hosts that appeal to the children. (Note: GoLife Perks members can receive 50% off a Harvest Hosts classic membership!)

Michael works remotely during the week, while Zeudi and the kids work on their schooling. Rand McNally always comes through with interesting places, and the Garmin (lovingly dubbed “Stella”) offers guidance. Math and science are naturally found in abundance at every location. The family is even traveling to connect in person with other homeschool families.

At home on the road, Noah and Zayden agree that it’s sad when it’s time to go back to their sticks and bricks house. They prefer life in the coach, and they especially love spending time at Jamaica Beach, TX. Big Bend and the Redwoods are dream destinations yet to come. They would stay on the road, if not for the fact that they miss their extended family. Wait … is it time to revisit the ‘80s? Come on Michael, four families wasn’t really that crowded, right?!

Becoming a Winnebago Family

Stefanie and Jason Whittington began their life together in California. Their love for travel and an active lifestyle paired well with RVing. When they decided to consider other states for their next home, exploring their options on the road made sense. RVing served as an ideal tool for researching different parts of the country. 

The couple worked remotely from their coach during the day and explored the outdoors in the evenings. On the weekends, they could pack their days with activities and familiarize themselves more extensively with each destination. The couple usually stayed a week or two before moving on. 

After two years of research, they chose Colorado — or perhaps Colorado chose them. Other big changes were also on the horizon, and they soon welcomed their first daughter. The gene for wanderlust was passed down to her, and they all explored Iceland together when she was six months old.

Soon afterwards, Winnebago welcomed Stefanie to their team as a product manager. Although she would work remotely from their home in Colorado, she spent an initial work period of three months on site in Forest City, Iowa. True to their core love of adventuring together, the three Whittingtons packed up their necessities and moved to Iowa where they stayed at a local campground in a Winnebago Forza. While Stefanie was getting acclimated to her role with Winnebago, her daughter was getting acclimated to family life in an RV. They each took to their new roles with great affinity!

Fast forward to the present, the Whittingtons are now a family of four. They still live in Colorado and travel in an RV as much as possible. Jason and Stefanie have reflected often on the ways traveling with two daughters, ages three years and four months, has changed their travel routines and expectations.

Their plans and pace are decidedly more low-key and flexible. Gone are the days of 14-mile hikes and full-day excursions. A successful day of exploration may be a trip to a lake or a short walk to explore a pond. The natural mourning of the old travel ways was replaced with a newborn appreciation for the small details in nature, the joy of simple actions and the wonder of seeing it all through the eyes of their children. Most recently, they traveled to the Badlands of South Dakota. They enjoyed the Black Hills, Custer State Park, The Needles Highway, and of course frequent rest times. Perhaps we would all travel better if naps, snacks, and pocketfuls of random rocks were a part of every day.

Thank you to the families that have shared a glimpse of their stories. We salute all of you road warriors who choose to travel together. You who compromise, who share space, who negotiate agendas, who shuffle budgets and make things happen because you understand the value of shared experience!