It’s clear that so many desktops watching The Simpsons on TV would leave their mark. One of the things that struck us the most about the animated series’ props was the school bus that Bart and Lisa ride to school every day. These vehicles became an icon of the United States for us, since we are not used to seeing them in circulation in Europe. We collected keychains, miniature buses, they even played in our birthday cakes… All wishes were more or less controlled. But the desire to have a school bus of their own resurfaced when, a few years ago, we met a couple who had bought their own yellow bus to camp and travel around the United States at leisure. That’s when our mind started to think about what was still a dream back then… Can we get a Molabus of our own? We didn’t have it yet and we had already christened it.
We broke the piggy bank, we made calculations and we saw that the dream from back then had to stay there. Although we don’t stop fighting for it. We told it in our first book, a 2019 travel guide to the country’s west coast; We had to choose between taking the guide ahead or taking a bus and camping on it. But if something sets us apart, it’s our tenacity to make dreams come true, and although it went away in that moment, it did just a little… We keep going wrong and we keep fighting for it.
We decided to work on more destinations in our guides, agendas, invest more to make our dream come true… After a failed purchase attempt, we were very aware that acquiring a used school bus remotely and in a foreign country it was anything but easy.
Luck crossed our path and a follower of our blog Mola Viajar introduced us via Instagram to Mabel and Antonio, a couple who controlled mechanics and lived in the United States in a school bus they had converted themselves. We teamed up and bought ours on December 31, 2021, just before the grapes: either we took that train or it left without us. It was like this.
On December 31, 2021, just before the grapes, they bought the school bus thanks to the help of a couple who followed their blog “Mola Viajar”: Adrián Rodríguez (Mola Viajar)
They were our guardian angels, they were responsible for getting a bus for sale that was the size we were looking for (not overly large) and in good condition and they started tuning it. First they informed us about all the changes with an attached photo; we were so excited. But as that began to take shape, communications were cut off. They wanted to give us the wow factor when we first saw it and boy did they succeed.
Not only that, the six of us bonded so beautifully that we went traveling together for a few weeks. She with her bus and we with ours, but traveling as a family. This has helped us tremendously in getting the hang of driving on American roads and adjusting to camper life with two kids, clearly outside of our comfort zone.
A picture showing the result of the interior reform of the school bus Adrián Rodríguez (Mola Viajar)
The journey started in San Francisco and the route took us along Highway 1, one of the most scenic roads in the country, with spectacular views. In it there are beaches, cliffs, animals in their habitat that can be seen with the naked eye and that amaze everyone… The ingredients to make this adventure an even more beautiful dream.
After spending a few days in Los Angeles enjoying, among other things, amusement parks that we have not previously been able to visit due to the usual rush of a trip, we arrived in San Diego, a charming little town for both children and adults. that were unknown to us then and now have become indispensable.
From there we switched states and went from California to neighboring Nevada, which is home to Las Vegas: Sin City, Elvis Presley and what happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas. Although this is an adult entertainment center where casinos, shops and fun have reigned supreme for over 18 years, there are plenty of plans for children. Of course, you have to take into account that you cannot walk around the casinos with minors. In any case, if you are looking for a way, you can enjoy the city with them: for example, by choosing a hotel with a swimming pool; there are some with children’s games and even this time we visited a set in a circus that occasionally had juggling shows.
Another star stop on the road trip was the Mammoth Lakes, a quintessential mountain resort town very close to Yosemite National Park which is made up of several lakes and where it is very easy to recharge batteries and enjoy the camper van life enjoy .
Camping with the new caravan on the way along the west coast of the United States Adrián Rodríguez (Mola Viajar)
After a few months with family, traveling slowly, enjoying the moment, switching between city and nature, our journey ended where it began, in San Francisco. The bus stayed parked waiting for the next adventure, which if nothing happens will be next September. And until then there are many miles ahead of us, this time in the fresh air of the American national parks.
But be careful, although this was our beautiful dream, it wasn’t all a flower path. First of all, without someone we trust in the United States, this seems impossible. Secondly, the administration of the country does not always make it easy to get the papers in order, a lot depends on the official who touches you.
On the other hand, despite the fact that you can go on an adventure because places are always canceled at the last minute, campsites usually run out of places months in advance, so finding a place is not always easy, wherever you want; Organization is a plus with this type of route. The size of the caravan you take with you can also be an issue when visiting certain national parks so once again being organized and informed is important.
“Road trip” with mandatory stops, like this one at the iconic Peggy Sue’s on Route 66 en route to Las Vegas Adrián Rodríguez (Mola Viajar)
Let’s not forget the weather. No matter how well prepared you are, it can go up against you in places like the Nevada desert, where we ended up deciding to park the bus and stay in a hotel with a pool to beat the 40-degree heat of mid-June (Imagine August…) And if we add to that the insurance prices, garage visits and the fact that a gallon of gas is closer to the clouds in the United States than a Boeing 747… But that’s about it plus the dream of being able to see animals in the wild from your bed and that too, so counting only the good would be unfair.
Despite everything, chasing this dream has paid off for us, so whatever’s on your mind, we encourage you to have a little hope and apply it, why not give it a try? Sometimes the path ends well with stones and flowers.
Tips for a “road trip” with children
The best advice we can give you for traveling with children to undertake such a “road trip” is to be patient. Proposing an ambitious schedule of visits is only possible if your son or daughter follows your lead. If not, you can turn a quiet vacation into “when does this end?” So it’s better to go with low expectations about adding visitors and with a good attitude and an irrepressible desire to spend time with family.
On an operational level, what works best for us is to combine amusement parks, children’s museums, parks with swings in the cities themselves and other children’s activities with visits more dedicated to adults, such as B. a national park to alternate. In this case, which may be appealing to children, but not as much as we would like, it’s always good to check the official websites for the attractions they offer for them. For example, they can get Junior Ranger records which will involve them much more in the visit and learn from it.
If your trip is a “road trip” with camping, the nightly campfires and the “marshmallows” are a perfect combination for you. And get your imagination ready: It’s a good time to tell stories, play the ukulele, play board games, games of skill, or whatever you like best. Since coverage is often low, tablets are out of the question. Fantasy, warm up, get out!
Adrian Rodriguez Y Gosi Bendrat Since 2008 they are the authors of the blog Mola Viajar. Both on their blog and on their YouTube channel, they tell how they travel the world with their children Daniela and Oliver.
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