The Vanabond Tales
Going Places in Tiny Spaces
Welcome to The Vanabond Tales, our tiny travel blog about life on the move as a family. Here, you’ll find insights on long-term travel lived slowly — by van, by boat, and through seasonal winter bases — along with the practical realities that make it all work.
We’re Kelli, Eddie, and the newest (and smallest) Vanabond, Nora. We explore big by traveling small, moving slowly, and embracing the highs, lows, and in-betweens of life on the road, on the water, and everywhere in between.
What started as a van life diary — documenting three journeys across three continents in three different vans — has grown into a resource for people drawn to alternative ways of living and traveling. Over time, that life expanded to sail life in the Mediterranean and recurring winter stays in ski towns. Along the way, we share practical tips, firsthand insights, and honest reflections shaped by staying long enough for places to feel familiar.
Most of all, this space is about slow, self-directed travel, regardless of the means. About venturing off the beaten path, settling in rather than rushing through, and finding joy in the journey — no matter the distance or destination.
What you’ll find here
- Van Life – Long-term travel by road, from van builds and setup to the day-to-day realities of life on wheels.
- Sail Life – Learning to sail, living aboard, and navigating the practical challenges of life at sea.
- Snowmads – Winter bases in ski towns around the world — what it’s like to live, work, and settle into mountain communities.
- Making Life on the Move Work – The logistics behind long-term travel: remote work, budgeting, insurance, visas, family routines, and destination guides for longer stays.
Our travel style is minimalist, budget-conscious, outdoor-focused, and grounded in slow travel. If some or all of that resonates, we think you’ll find something worth exploring here.
We are the Vanabonds — and these are our tales.
We’re the Vanabonds — a family living life on the move, exploring big by traveling small.
Here you’ll find stories and practical guides from life on the road, on the water, and through slower, seasonal stays — from van life and sail life to the logistics that make it all work as a family.
At its heart, this space is about slow, self-directed travel, no matter how you move.
We are the Vanabonds — and these are our tales.
Meet The Vanabonds
Hi there! We’re Eddie and Kelli. Out of a shared love of travel, we met one snowy Christmas night in Estonia.
Almost a decade later, our adventures have spanned 90 countries across six continents, three vans, two sailboats — and recently, we’ve added a new traveler to our crew, Nora.
Living life on the move has given us firsthand insight into both the highs and challenges of long-term travel as a family. From budgeting and border crossings to balancing work with daily life on wheels or waves, we’ve learned a lot the hard way. Through our blog, we share our stories alongside practical guides, destination insights, and the advice we wish we’d had when starting out.
The Vanabond Tales is for solo travelers, couples, and families big and small who want to explore beyond the conventional path. With experience across van life, sail life, and the practical realities that support them, we aim to help others find their own version of freedom — whatever that looks like.
Climb aboard as we continue to wander, learn, and grow as a family.
Eddie & Kelli (and Nora)
MEET THE VANABONDS
Hi there! We’re Eddie and Kelli. Out of a shared love of travel, we met one snowy Christmas night in Estonia.
Almost a decade later, our adventures have spanned 90 countries across six continents, three vans, and one sailboat — and more recently, we’ve added a new traveler to our crew, Nora.
Living life on the move has given us firsthand insight into both the highs and challenges of long-term travel as a family. From budgeting and border crossings to balancing work with daily life on wheels or waves, we’ve learned a lot the hard way. Through our blog, we share our stories alongside practical guides, destination insights, and the advice we wish we’d had when starting out.
The Vanabond Tales is for solo travelers, couples, and families big and small who want to explore beyond the conventional path. With experience across van life, sail life, and the practical realities that support them, we aim to help others find their own version of freedom — whatever that looks like.
Climb aboard as we continue to wander, learn, and grow as a family.
Eddie & Kelli (and Nora)
The Best of the Vanabonds
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Whether you’re dreaming of life on the road, planning a long-term adventure, or figuring out how to make travel work as a family, our newsletter delivers real-world tips, honest reflections, and destination inspiration straight to your inbox.
Subscribe and follow along as we continue exploring — slowly, intentionally, and one chapter at a time.
The Latest From the Vanabonds
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Check out some of our best moments captured on The Vanabond Tales Vlog!
Dive into our favorite YouTube videos as we bring you along for life on the move — from epic road trips and sailing passages to longer stays in places that shape each chapter of our journey.
From adventure-filled travel days to the behind-the-scenes realities of van life, sail life, and slow travel with a family, our videos offer a firsthand look at both the highs and the challenges along the way.
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