After spending Christmas 2024 in Minnesota where our pipes froze (lesson learned: never again!), we knew we wanted to try something different for the 2025 holiday season. So when Ethan’s parents, Laurie and Rob, suggested flying down from East Grand Forks to spend time with us in the South, we jumped at the chance. We hadn’t seen them since July, and the idea of exploring Savannah and Charleston together sounded perfect.
What we didn’t expect was the electric car charging saga, Goose’s terrifying highway crossing, and just how much history would hit us in ways we never anticipated.
Meeting in Savannah
We rolled into Pooler, just outside Savannah, on January 2nd after leaving our friends’ place in North Augusta. Laurie and Rob flew in and met us at the Airbnb we’d rented for the week. The plan was simple: they’d rent a car, we’d keep Charlotte parked at the house where the babies could stay comfortable, and we’d spend our days exploring Savannah together.
We’d actually made a quick stop in Savannah last November on our way to Florida. My friend Dani wouldn’t stop raving about the pralines, so we had to pull over near the river and try them for ourselves. That quick taste was enough to know we wanted to come back and really experience the city, and doing it with Laurie and Rob made it even better.
For four days, we walked all over town. We did a ghost tour where we learned that there are more people buried under Savannah’s streets than anyone really knows about. The city built over old cemeteries, and you’re literally walking on top of history with every step. We explored the Savannah History Museum, took a Civil War walking tour, and visited the Owens Thomas House & Slave Quarters.
One of our favorite meals was at The Olde Pink House. The food was incredible, but the real charm was the little bar in the basement. With holiday decorations still up in early January, the whole place felt magical. The Christmas tree and lights brought the space to life. We ate on the top floor but made sure to explore every corner of that historic building.
Honestly though, the best part wasn’t any specific restaurant or tour. It was just being the four of us together, walking the streets, talking about everything and nothing, and soaking in the Southern charm of the city.
The Morning Goose Went Missing
Then came the morning that still makes my heart race just thinking about it.
We were in Charlotte early one morning, around 7 AM, with the van plugged into the house to charge. We’d left the door cracked open just a bit for the cord. Goose, being Goose, found that tiny opening and slipped out.
When we checked the Tile tracker on his collar, our stomachs dropped. He was across the highway, in a completely different neighborhood from where our Airbnb was located.
All I could think was that he’d been hit crossing that busy road. Ethan and I started searching immediately, panic making it hard to think straight. We had a feeling he was under a car based on where the Tile was pinging, but then the tracker went silent for a bit. Instead of trusting our gut, we kept searching the wider area, convinced he’d moved.
An hour of frantic searching later, we came back to that same car. Goose was wedged between the bottom of the vehicle and some kind of protective shell underneath. We could see him, but he wouldn’t come out.
Here’s the thing about Goose, and probably most cats: when they panic, they freeze. Even with us calling him, even with both of us right there, he would not move. We rang the homeowner’s doorbell. Neighbors called them. No response.
So Ethan crawled under the car with a stick to gently poke Goose toward me on the other side. The only way to get him out was to make him uncomfortable enough to move. I wrapped him in my hoodie the second he got close enough, and thankfully, he wasn’t injured. Just absolutely terrified.
We usually keep both a Tile tracker AND a Tractive GPS tracker on all three of our pets, especially when we’re out in the woods. We’d gotten lazy at the Airbnb, figuring they were safe inside the house. Never again. That couple of hours took years off our lives.
The Electric Car Adventure
If the Goose incident wasn’t enough excitement, we also had the ongoing saga of Laurie and Rob’s rental car: a fully electric vehicle.
Neither they nor we have any experience with electric cars. The rental place in Savannah didn’t have anything else available, so electric it was. What we quickly discovered is that neither Savannah nor Charleston are particularly electric-car friendly.
We probably spent the equivalent of a whole day trying to figure out where to charge this thing. Right before getting into Charleston, we finally found a charging station about 17 minutes north of downtown. We pulled in, plugged everything in, and waited while the car charged.
Except it didn’t. We hadn’t connected it properly, and the whole stop was for nothing.
Cue Laurie and Ethan having their own little adventure trying to find a working station. They drove around Charleston looking for anything available downtown. No luck. Finally, they found a station on the way back toward Savannah, maybe 20 minutes from downtown Charleston.
Rob saved the day by taking the car out early the next morning to get it charged at that station so we’d actually have a vehicle for the rest of the trip. Ethan had found the spot but wasn’t sure it would work, so Rob took a chance. Thankfully, it paid off.
We had some good laughs about the whole ordeal, but I’m pretty sure we cured Mom from ever wanting to buy an electric car!
Charleston: Where History Hit Different
After our time in Savannah, we spent January 6-9 in Charleston. The vibe here felt different from Savannah. While both cities are gorgeous and dripping with Southern charm, we focused more on nature and heavy history in Charleston.
Our Airbnb was right downtown, so we walked everywhere. On one of our first days, we took the ferry out to Fort Sumter. One of the rangers pointed out fingerprints on some of the bricks in the fort and said something that stopped all four of us in our tracks.
These fingerprints likely belonged to enslaved people (children or elderly individuals who rotated these bricks to dry). For many of them, unless they have descendants who’ve preserved their stories, these fingerprints are the only thing left behind to remember them by.
We stood there looking at those marks, thinking about legacy and memory in a way we never had before. The weight of realizing that someone’s entire existence might come down to an accidental impression in clay… it was overwhelming. It changed how we saw everything else that day.
On a lighter note, we did get to see dolphins on the ferry ride to the fort! And because we were on the first boat out that morning, we got to participate in the daily flag ceremony. This wasn’t just unfurling a regular flag. This was a massive American flag that took about 16 of us to properly hoist up the huge pole on the island. Being part of that ceremony felt special.
After Fort Sumter, we walked to the South Carolina Aquarium, which was right nearby. By the time we made it back to the Airbnb late that afternoon, we were all completely spent from walking all day.
Boone Hall Plantation
We’d heard that Boone Hall Plantation was one of the few historic sites that didn’t feel like it was whitewashing history, and we’re so glad we went.
The tour guides told the real stories. They brought light to the horrors that enslaved people endured and made it clear that without them, our country wouldn’t be where it is today. To stand in a place where such terrible things happened, to learn about the profound impact Black people had on building this nation… it was an experience we’ll never forget.
Near the slave quarters, a woman who was clearly a descendant gave a presentation and spoke some Gullah Geechee, a creole language that developed among enslaved Africans in the Low Country. She explained that many people thought those who spoke Gullah sounded illiterate, but in reality, they were speaking another language entirely.
Hearing it felt surreal. It sounds like English in rhythm and cadence, but the words and structure are different. As someone who deeply believes in preserving languages, it was incredibly meaningful to know that Gullah Geechee is still alive and being kept alive by descendants in the area.
The plantation is dog friendly, except for inside the actual mansion itself, so we took turns going in with Rooster waiting outside with one of us. Worth it!
A Week in the Woods
After Charleston, Laurie and Rob headed home, and Ethan and I spent January 9-17 in Francis Marion National Forest, north of Charleston. We found a free public campground and just… exhaled. After a week of go-go-go with family (which we loved, but it’s definitely tiring!), we needed some quiet time in the woods with the babies.
There’s something grounding about waking up surrounded by trees, with nothing on the agenda except maybe a hike or a campfire. It was the perfect reset before heading to our next family adventure.
Hilton Head with Aunt Molly and Aunt Gail
On January 17th, we made our way to Hilton Head to spend a week with Aunt Molly (Laurie’s sister) and her partner Gail. We stayed until the 24th, and honestly, it was just good quality time.
The weather was colder than when we’d visited last year. Winter really hit the South hard this time, but it was still sunny and beautiful. We can’t complain too much.
Gail had broken her arm, so she wasn’t up for being out and about as much as usual, but we still got plenty of hang-out time. One night we went to trivia, and “The Parasites” (Molly, Ethan, and I) actually came in first place! We couldn’t believe it. And Gail, despite her injury, is a huge pickleball nerd. She couldn’t play, but she watched the whole time as we rotated through different team matchups.
Ethan’s Aunt Molly was there, along with Jill (Gail’s sister) and Jill’s husband Jack. Yes, Jack and Jill… we know! We set up a little tournament with rotating teams of two playing against each other.
Jack and I dominated the first two games (one against Molly and Ethan, and another against Jill and Ethan). Then Jill and Ethan beat Molly and Jack. Ethan beat Jack in singles. And then Ethan beat Molly and me when it was just him against both of us. Clearly, Ethan was on fire that day!
We also took several walks on the beach, which was lovely even in the winter. Sunset walks are always special, and Rooster was in heaven because Zip, Molly and Gail’s dog, was there too. Although Zip is pretty shy and doesn’t quite know what to do with Rooster’s enthusiastic energy!
The whole week was filled with great food, good conversation, and just being together. That’s really what made it special.
Reflections on Holidays on the Road
Celebrating the holidays while living in a van is definitely different from traditional celebrations. But we’ve found that we get to experience different places with the people we love, which creates memories we wouldn’t trade for anything.
This trip reminded us how much van life allows for flexibility. Laurie and Rob flying in to meet us, renting a place where we could all stay comfortably, then us slipping off to the woods for a week before more family time. It’s not the conventional way to do holidays, but it fits us well.
Laurie and Rob have always been supportive of our lifestyle. They miss having us closer, and we feel that too, but they’re getting close to retirement. We’re already talking about cool trips we can take together once they have more freedom. For now, these planned meetups in beautiful places work perfectly.
What made this season special wasn’t the locations (though Savannah, Charleston, and Hilton Head are all stunning). It was the time together. Walking through historic cities with Ethan’s parents, learning heavy truths about our country’s history as a family, laughing about electric car mishaps, playing pickleball with aunts and uncles… these are the moments that matter.
From Hilton Head, we headed to Houston for our next adventure. But we left the Low Country with full hearts, lots of photos, and one very happy (and safe) Goose who will definitely be wearing both his trackers from now on.
Have you traveled with family while living on the road? How do you balance van life freedom with quality time with loved ones? Drop a comment below… we’d love to hear about your experiences!
Wandering with Charlotte 
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