Leah and Sam McNell are both active-duty military service members, living in Monument, Colorado, who work hard and play even harder. Since becoming Wayfarians in 2021, every weekend has been filled with biking, skiing and traveling all across the country. One winter, they even took two weeks off work to drive all across the West, hit five ski resorts, and chase powder days. They camped in parking lots close to the slopes and always had a warm place to crash at the end of the day.

“We were gone every weekend,” Leah says. “It was just the two of us, no strings attached.”

The McNells are still getting out every chance they get, but life looks a bit different these days.

Two years ago, they welcomed their son, Trim, and in February they’ll add a little girl to the family as well.

Now, with a toddler in tow, their adventures look different, but they certainly haven’t paused their over-the-road adventures. The McNells still get out often one- or two-night trips. They’ll pack the van Friday afternoon, buckle Trim into his seat, and hit the road with minimal planning.

“Honestly, that’s one of the things we love most about the van,” Leah says. “We can make game-time decisions, camp on BLM land, and not worry about reservations. It’s flexible. It’s easy. And that’s the only way we’re able to make it happen right now.”

Flexibility is key for their family, because toddlers aren’t known for sticking to agendas.

“I don’t think we realized how difficult it would be, especially because our kiddo, he does not sleep,” Leah explained. “But we never remember the sleepless nights, we always just remember the experiences we share, and so that’s why we keep doing it.” 

And sometimes the best option is the pivot.

“Usually we plan two-day trips. But sometimes if there is no sleep involved in that first night, we say, ‘Nope, we’re packing up, and we’re going home.’ But the nice part about the camper van is being able to adjust plans on the fly.”


With baby number two on the way, they’re already thinking of how they’ll accommodate their growing family with the options of adding a two-person seat in the back, and maybe even towing a teardrop trailer. “We’re just going to keep figuring it out,” Leah says. “Because not going isn’t an option for us.”

The McNells love the simplicity of the van for their adventures, and they’ve figured out a few key items and accessories that make traveling with a little one easier. Some of their must-haves include:

• Clip-on high chair: “It goes perfectly on the Wayfarer counter.”
• Dometic cooler: “It’s great for storing milk, especially when I was breastfeeding.”
• Power station and solar panel: “It keeps our fridge going on longer trips without worrying about ice.”
• Noise machine: “We’re really big on the white noise machine and trying to keep that bedtime routine.”
• Hiking backpack: “We’ve turned the van around for that one before when we forgot it.”

With a toddler, the McNells haven’t lost their sense of adventure. Trim rides with mom and dad on a seat on their mountain bike and toddles down trails with his own hiking stick. They also plan to get him out on the slopes this winter. Their weekends might be smaller in scale, but the memories they’re making are big.

“We were very adamant about not changing our lifestyle,” Leah says. “Those 48 hours in the van are our way of showing our kid what we love, even if it’s sometimes kicking and crying.”

As Trim gets older, Leah is watching him light up on every trip.

“The last trip we took to Estes Park was probably our most memorable because he is at that age where he understands more. He knows we’re going hiking and biking. We had a campfire and he had his first s’more.”

The McNells will stay closer to home for the next few months while they prepare to expand to a family of four, but the next trip isn’t too far away.

“It will probably be in March or April, and we’ll keep it really close to home for a one-night trip. The guys can be in a tent, and then I’ll be in the camper van with our two- or three-month-old at that point.”

That trip likely won’t be smooth sailing either. But for Leah, it’s all worth it.

“There’s going to be blowouts, spilled milk, and no sleep,” she says. “But I never come back from a trip saying it wasn’t worth it. You just remember the good times.”