For the Willink family, travel has never been about escape or spectacle. Long before children entered the picture, it was already a way of moving through the world with intention, curiosity, and openness. Over time, that mindset evolved into something deeper. Travel became a shared family language, a set of values, and a framework for how they raise their children.
Known online as Third Coast Tribe, the Willinks document life outdoors, on the road, and at home with a rare balance of honesty and inspiration. Their story resonates because it does not present family travel as effortless or idealized, but as something real, flexible, and deeply human. What they share is not a fantasy version of life on the move, but a lived one, shaped by compromise, resilience, and joy.
From selling their four bedroom home and backpacking Europe before the era of Google Maps to hiking
Native American ruins with a two week old newborn, the Willinks have built a life where exploration and grounding coexist. Over the years, their journey has quietly inspired other families to rethink what is possible with children, and to approach travel not as an interruption to family life, but as part of it.
I spoke with the Willink family about how travel became central to their identity, what their children have taught them about curiosity and adaptability, and how staying rooted in community has reshaped their idea of home.
You’ve built a family travel identity that feels deeply authentic and relatable. What was the moment when you realized travel wasn’t just something you did, but a core part of your family’s life and values?
Before we even had kids, we were always trying to live intentionally. As a couple, we sold our four bedroom home, white picket fence and all, and everything in it. We decided to backpack Europe and see 11 different countries, and this was before Google Maps.
We learned that living intentionally also meant living authentically and learning about others and their cultures. This brings life to travel, and brings perspective to life.
Once we had kids, we talked about continuing this perspective in every way possible. We knew it would not be the same, but we knew it was possible. When we had our first baby girl, when she was two weeks old, we went to some Native American ruins to hike and learn. And so our kids’ journey of travel and adventures began.
When you first started documenting your adventures, did you imagine it would become a resource and inspiration for other families? How has that responsibility shaped the way you share?
We started sharing photos back in the day on Instagram because we loved the art of photography. Once we started traveling more and posting pictures with our kids in them, our following started to grow and questions started to come in around the ins and outs of traveling, exploring the national parks, and getting outdoors, specifically with kids.
It was then we realized we were building something more than a following. It was a community of people joined together by something much bigger than us.
Over the years, we have heard incredible comments like, “We booked our first trip because of you,” or, “I did not think this was possible with kids.” While that is so encouraging to hear, it is also a humbling responsibility. It keeps us honest about sharing not only the highs, but also the challenges that come along the way.
We do not want to sell a fantasy version of family travel. We want to show the real thing.
How do you approach planning trips with young children? What are the practical and emotional considerations that guide your decisions when choosing destinations or activities?
It usually starts with a date night. We go on what we call a quarterly business meeting date, where we celebrate our last three months and plan out our next three months. It is dinner and drinks, dreaming mixed with a dose of reality when we look at what we have saved up. We bring our computers on these dates and look at rewards points, travel deals, and what is next on our bucket list. That is step one.
Step two is the booking and planning out the itinerary. For us, we like to plan with a pencil. Meaning, we put somewhat of an itinerary in place, but we warn the girls that things could change. There is a famous phrase in our household, which is to “hold everything loosely.”
That means if the toddler is being a toddler, we may need to step out, miss dinner, or miss the sunset. If our flight gets delayed, we may need to stay the night in a different city. And if changes happen, we try to always remain optimistic. We tell ourselves, “We get to explore a new city tonight.”
The last thing I will say about this process is that compromise is important. We all have different ideas about what constitutes an enjoyable trip. We have limited time off work, so whether it is a beach, a mountain, a city, or another country, we try to be considerate of what everyone wants to do.
What have your kids taught you about travel, about curiosity, resilience, or experiencing the world, that you didn’t expect?
Our kids taught us that the world does not need to be impressive to be interesting. They will spend an hour at a river throwing rocks and climbing on them, then call it the best day ever.
It has shown us that kids are far more resilient than we give them credit for. Kids can push through a nap, miss their bedtime, or sleep on the ground from time to time and be okay.
How do you embrace that chaos while keeping it fun and meaningful for the whole family?
We stopped trying to control it. People have told me that I have a very relaxed parenting style. This does not come naturally for me, but I was trained as we adventured with them young.
Once I was able to accept that chaos is part of the deal, everything got lighter. Once I slowed down and found the mini adventures in every small moment, life got so much better.
Someone always melts down at the worst possible moment. But chaos also means laughter, inside jokes, and stories we will tell forever. The focus for us is always on creating happy memories.
You relocated to be closer to family after time living out west. How has being rooted in community influenced your sense of home, even as you continue to explore together?
We realized that much of our time was spent coming home to our people rather than venturing out. So we moved to be by our roots so we could spend more days with them. Then when it was time to travel, we would have the ability to do it more easily.
This is not for everyone, but it has been working for us.
Family travel today often blends logistics with life lessons. What is the most important life skill or value you feel your children are gaining through travel?
Gratitude, adaptability, and living intentionally. Is three okay? Travel teaches kids that plans change, and that is okay. That discomfort is okay sometimes. That the world will not always bend to them, but they are capable of navigating it anyway and finding the good.
It also builds empathy. Seeing different cultures, landscapes, and ways of life expands their understanding of what normal even means.
Travel schooling comes with both challenges and rewards. What has surprised you most about educating your children while exploring the world?
I feel like I could write a whole book on this one thing. Travel school and the impact it has on my girls is incredible, especially how connected they are to real life. Math shows up in mileage and maps. History feels alive when you are standing where it happened.
We have been surprised by how little forcing learning requires when curiosity leads the way. It is amazing to see how engaged they are with their surroundings and how much better they retain knowledge by experiencing things rather than just hearing about them.
Looking ahead, what kind of adventures, projects, or family experiences are you most excited to explore next?
We are excited about a season full of camping trips, unexpected opportunities that seem to land right when we need them, and, fingers crossed, a true bucket list destination or two, possibly overseas.
More than where we go, it is how we go that matters most. The heart of all these adventures is doing them together as a family and choosing experiences that are meaningful, that help us grow in gratefulness, and not just things that are Insta worthy.
We are also pouring a lot into our website right now, sharing travel itineraries, practical tips, and honest ideas on staying healthy in body, mind, and soul while on the road.
We love what travel can open up in people, especially in a rapidly changing world. Our hope is to keep things real, stay grounded, and help others grow through connection, curiosity, and experiences that actually make a difference.
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The Willink family is the team behind Third Coast Tribe, a family travel and outdoor lifestyle platform centered on intentional living, exploration, and connection. Lovers of hiking, traveling, creating, and documenting, they share practical guidance and honest reflections on traveling with children, exploring the outdoors, and building a meaningful life rooted in curiosity and community. After spending five years living out west in Arizona, they relocated to the Third Coast in 2017 to be closer to family while continuing to travel together. You can find more of their work at www.thirdcoasttribe.com.
