Letting the Adventure Unfold: A Family Road Trip from Calgary to Penticton in the Gear Bus™

If anyone knows how to road trip with kids, it's Adrianna.

Based in the Canadian Rockies, she's the founder of Kids Who Explore, and a self-proclaimed "hiking and adventure mom" - the kind who's been packing trail snacks and timing nap windows since her oldest was in a front carrier.

Alongside her husband and their two little ones, she's spent the past few years testing just how far, wild, and spontaneously a young family can travel.

Their recent family road trip from Calgary to Penticton wasn't about discovering somewhere new - it was about doing it differently. With room to breathe, adjust, and embrace the beautifully unpredictable rhythm of road-tripping with toddlers. Think sibling squabbles, scraped knees, and spur-of-the-moment creekside rock-throwing sessions.

With the Gear Bus™ stacked - bikes, hiking packs, climbing gear, a well-stocked snack bag, and so much coffee - they pulled out of Calgary ready to let the adventure unfold on its own terms.

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The Route: Flexible, Kid-Friendly, and Full of Surprises

Adrianna and her family left Calgary with a destination in mind but no tight timeline. "One of the biggest things with traveling with kids is that we need to connect with nature," she shared. So they travelled on feel - pulling over when someone got antsy, or when the view was just too good to pass up.

Their road trip mantra: Some stops would be planned. Others wouldn't. But all would work with the family, not against it.

Canmore

An early win. They swung through to stock up on their favourite local snacks and made full use of the van's open layout. With the snack bag wedged between the front seats, Mom and Dad could pass back provisions on the fly. The Lagun table doubled as a snack station and a toy table - a small touch that kept the backseat peaceful.

Banff

A quieter lake just off the road turned into a dreamy midday reset. Parked at the tree line, the kids burned off energy running through mossy paths and over fallen logs. Adrianna laid out a fresh picnic and brewed coffee on the camp stove. After exploring down to the water's edge and getting their fill of sticks, stones, and forest air, naps came easy.

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Field

When the post-nap wiggles kicked in, Field made the perfect pull-over. A quiet, mountain-ringed playground gave the boys dirt, rocks, and room to roam. Parents grabbed coffee, the kids ran laps, and no one felt rushed. "At this point, they're just super happy to be on the road trip - it's an experience all in itself," she said.

Revelstoke

A natural halfway point and a place to slow down. Rain rolled in, but the Gear Bus™ kept things cozy. Pizza to-go became a full family dinner inside, with seats swivelled around the table, cards spread out, and the soft patter of rain against the roof. "It made it this really nice little haven for our family to connect," Adrianna said. "The kids were super content."

Later that night, the kids climbed up into the pop-top, headlamps lighting the way, giggles on the ladder, musical beds as prefrences changed. Plenty of corners to keep the peace - even when the brothers needed a breather from each other.

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Welcome to the Okanagan Valley

By the time they dropped into the valley, everyone had found a groove. No rush, no expectations, just bikes, beaches, bugs (if you have boy toddlers, you know), and a little wine country thrown in for good measure.

The drive into Penticton came with the best detours - lake dips, gravel pullouts, and snack breaks galore. The kids splashed in the shallows while Dad knocked out a few work emails from the Lagun table - seat swivelled, laptop balanced, nature all around. "You're able to have that harmony that we were never able to have in an SUV," she said.

Can you road trip comfortably with toddlers? According to Adrianna, absolutely - you just need the right setup.

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Orchards and Vineyards

They camped at Farming Karma beside rows of cherry trees. One kiddo was still asleep when they arrived - no problem. "You have your own little space and haven for your child to nap and rest and have some peace," Adrianna said. One parent stayed, and the rest of the crew headed to the tasting room for a lineup of delicious fruit sodas.

Then it was off to her family's vineyard in Penticton - home base for sunny days outside: biking, hiking, climbing, and chasing bugs. Mornings were slow and golden: pancakes on the camp stove, coffee in hand, sun spilling into the valley. Just enough structure to keep everyone happy, and enough chaos to keep it fun.

Biking, Climbing & Hiking

Some adventures stuck. Others fizzled fast. One stop was the Pentiction Pump Track - a perfect warm-up before biking the scenic KVR Naramata Bench Trail. But after a few laps, an interesting rock took priority. "The biggest thing with kids is attention span," Adrianna laughed. "It's like 'great, you did ten minutes of mountain biking and now you're bored,' so let's just pack this rig up, and hit the beach. We were able to be on fire with activities."

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They joined a "learn-to-climb" program at Hoodoo Adventures Climbing Wall, then graduated to Skaha Bluffs, where the kids picked wildflowers and spotted snakes between mini ascents. Adrianna fit in some short day hikes too - enough to scratch the hiker itch - and the Gear Bus™ kept transitions seamless. "I'm like 'wow, I'm standing, and my kids are super happy.'"

It was hot. The kids were dusty. Expectations were right where they needed to be. "One of the things in the outdoors with kids - and you have to totally release this expectation - they get gross." Off came the layers, feet got wiped, everyone cooled off in the shade of the van, and it was on to the next thing.

City playgrounds or wilderness trails, everything was in reach. And every evening ended the same: sunset views from the pop-top.

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For Adrianna's full rundown of family-friendly stops in the Okanagan, check out her blog post here.

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The Gear Bus™: Built for the Way Families Really Travel

For families who live to explore - but also need snack access, nap zones, and space to pivot - the Gear Bus™ makes road-tripping with kids not just possible, but enjoyable.

Top Gear Bus™ Features for Families:

• Murphy bed + optional pop-top: Create the ultimate kid-approved camp setup. Great for musical beds, midday naps, and nighttime glow-stick missions.
• Modular interior layout: Seating for up to 10. Add seats when the cousins tag along, pull them when it's just the core crew.
• Massive gear garage: Pack for every "what if?" - because toddler attention spans don't care about itineraries.
• Four-season climate control: Comfortable kids (and parents), whatever the forecast - or how often you hear "I'm too hot."

If you're wondering what's the best van for road tripping with kids, this might be your answer.

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