Haley Holt

“Whooooooooa! It’s huge!” Maddie June and Rob exclaim as they approach The Ark Encounter, an exhibit in Williamstown, Kentucky. The Ark, spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, was the special reason for their father-daughter trip. Six days of Rob, Maddie June and the “Midwestern Missile” (their Vandoit van) on a journey to see the Ark and make lifelong memories along the way.

Off To The Ark

The pair left early to prepare for the seven hour drive ahead from Wisconsin to Kentucky. The smooth, traffic-free sunrise drive was the perfect way to start such a magical trip! Upon arriving at The Ark, Rob and Maddie were blown away by the size of Noah’s Ark, but more so by the size of Noah’s faith. “Thinking about how much faith Noah had to have, even though everyone called him the village nut!” Rob shared. “This trip was a great opportunity for me and Maddie to have a one-on-one conversation about faith and trust in God, even when it sounds crazy. Being an adult can muddy the waters and make us lose aspects of that trust, but Maddie reminds me daily to have a childlike faith.” After spending a whole day at The Ark, they went back to the van for dinner and went to sleep.

A Special Breakfast Stop

The next morning, Rob decided it was time for another very special experience for Maddie: Waffle House. This may sound odd, but to Rob and his grandfather, Waffle House is a well-loved place to eat. Maddie’s great grandfather passed away a few years ago, so of course he wanted to share this with her. With her belly full of good food and heart with memories and laughter, they headed out to find their next stop.

Mini Vandoit Reunion

As pro vanlifer’s, Rob and Maddie made minimal plans. An impromptu phone call to friends and fellow Vandoit owners, the Raabe’s, led to their new destination. Rob called on a whim, remembering the couple and their daughter, who is around Maddie’s age lived in Kentucky. After 10 minutes of catching up, he happily invited Maddie and Rob to, in old southern hospitality fashion, “come down and stay for as long as we want!” So they hopped in the van and drove south about 3 more hours. After arriving, the Raabe’s took Rob and Maddie to Mammoth Caves; the longest underground cave system in the world! “God has really provided some incredible lifelong friends in our lives, and Brian and Beth Raabe are two of them. We talked like we had just seen each other last week, even though it had been since the Vandoit Owner’s Experience in June of 2022!”

Catalyst To A Simpler Life

About two months ago, the Nitz family had their two year van-iversary. Within these two years, they have had countless experiences and friendships they would not have otherwise had. They describe the van as “the catalyst to a simpler life.” After purchasing their mid roof DO model, they sold their house and everything in it and moved into an RV. This, combined with their new Vandoit, equipped them with everything they needed.

“Although this trip was a little while ago, it was still the best gift any father could receive. Thank you Maddie June for making me a dad, encouraging me to strengthen my faith, and being a light to the world!” – Rob Nitz

“We laugh so much more when we’re together in the van.” – Rylie Scott.

From the mouths of babes, Liz and Ryan Scott are hearing exactly what they needed to hear after packing up their Vandoit for a 22 hour drive with kids Rylie (12) and Otis (9). With almost every state and 10,000+ miles under their belt, the Scott’s are ready for a road trip on a moment’s notice. Liz, van owner for one year, shares what it is like to be a mother intentionally choosing van life for her young kids. 

“When we heard Rylie say that, it was just so affirming. We’re doing something right with our kids” Liz stated. “It’s crazy to hear a 12 year old say something like that because she’s just so right.” Ryan adds. 

“The ‘Inconveniences’ Bring Us Closer”

After speaking with Liz, she explains the simplicities of vanlife are overwhelming all because of what you lack. The biggest factor being a small space. Although they were all very close before joining the vanlife community, they have learned removing the conveniences of home such as many rooms, creates the environment of inclusion Liz describes. “It’s not just that mom is in the kitchen making lunch, the whole family is making lunch together.” This is of course because the main living area of the van is used for, well, everything.

“We upgraded to the van from a truck with a rooftop tent, so naturally this feels roomy in comparison.” Liz says. Now in a mid-roof DO model, the family is forced to share a schedule. This is Liz’s favorite thing about extended trips in her van because of the physical closeness. They grow, learn, and bond tighter with every mile they drive.

Vandoit Is A Vehicle– Literally And Figuratively– To Do Anything. 

Well-traveled kiddos, Rylie and Otis, are homeschooled. Liz and Ryan made this decision in order to prioritize their exposure to the world and this is exactly what their Vandoit allows them to do. Along with the experiences of climate, wildlife, culture, etc. “Our family can live in a world that is much simpler,” Liz states. “The purpose of us getting a van is to eat, sleep, and see stuff. Simple as that.”

This is vanlife. Pulling into a campground at random and making a hotdog with the kids or changing routes on a whim to see a field of sunflowers along the road, is the epitome of owning a Vandoit. 

The [Not So] Simple Moments

Vanlife is not without its challenges. There will be moments where the struggles are heavy and the circumstances seem against you, but “the burdens are so much lighter when we’re all together,” Liz states. “Whether we’re in the van for a day trip or for two weeks, we always come home with a perspective shift and we see clearer.” 

Liz and Ryan boast about their kids as great travelers. On top of being well-behaved and well-bonded, the two are in love with the journey–not just the destination.  “Once, we were on a trip with about five hours left of driving and it was dark. We were all tired, hungry, and ready to be done. Otis chimes in to say he loves driving in the dark.” Once again, from the mouths of babes, life is simple again. 

“In the end, we’re doing this for our kids. The inconveniences will fade once we leave a campground and the memories will last forever.” Liz Scott