
Our Open Road: A Nomad Family Invites Us Along For The Ride
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photos Courtesy of Our Open Road
Ever dreamt of taking your family on an epic road trip that just never ends? Well, you’re about to meet a couple—and their two children—who did just that. In October 2012, Los Angeles residents Emily and Adam Harteau and their 21-month-old daughter packed up a 1990 Volkswagon Westfalia and set out on a one-year trip that turned into a life-on-the-road adventure with no end date in sight (it’s all chronicled on their blog Our Open Road).
They’ve now launched a popular 24 Hour Bazaar filled with travel treasures to support themselves, caught the attention of The New York Times, and even welcomed another baby girl along the way. Here, Emily (who you might recognize from Project Runway) shares her thoughts on their nomadic family life and motherhood on the road—along with a little photo travel diary. Get ready for some major pangs of wanderlust!
- "When we departed in 2012, our plan was to be gone for one year. So, the original intention wasn’t quite as large a commitment to ‘raising a family on the road’ as it has become. When, 5 months into the trip, we decided to slow down, it was much easier to grasp the concept that earlier I could not have fathomed. It is now a very conscious decision to raise our family on the road, but it was a slow evolution into it and one that we continue to address and adjust as our needs change. For example—we rented a little house in Brazil starting 2 weeks prior to delivery, and for 2 months after. It was necessary to nest for a bit and welcome Sierra into our lives from one vantage."
- "Time is the greatest gift: Waking up slowly, teaching through experience, being connected to the patterns of nature, sharing grand vistas, and simple moments."
- "When we departed Los Angeles in October 2012, Colette was 21 months old. She was walking, a bit of talking, nearly potty trained, and ready for adventure."
- "Hesitations seem like fears in nice clothes, and fears are just that—fears—they are not a guarantee. Living in the shadow of what may come is not how we choose to live. We looked at all the possibilities we could imagine, both good and bad, discussed how we might address them, and then prepared accordingly, trying to get to the root of the hesitation, rolling out all scenarios. For example—we made color photocopies of our passports, international drivers licenses, insurance, and other documents. Whenever we are pulled over we present these copies, never the originals. Trading expectations for experiences is a shift that continues to reward us with a present-minded focus."
- "Adam and I have owned the van for 10 years. There was very little period of adjustment to life on the road, as it was a duplicate of how we would spend nearly every available weekend exploring glorious California. Our life on the road when we departed was not that radical of a shift to Colette. She has now spent more time living on the road and in the world than not. I spent my whole pregnancy with Sierra on the road—I had prenatal care in Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, where she was born."
- "In Los Angeles, we are blessed with a tribe of friends and family that is readily available (and wanting) to babysit. An occasional adult evening is a cherished opportunity, but well worth the trade off for the life we live on the road and in the world."
- "My first trimester was very difficult, as most of it was spent around 12,000 feet. The challenges of that elevation coupled with early pregnancy hormones left me quite green. Luckily, Adam was able to spend a lot of time with Coco, so I was able to get much needed rest. We chose to have Sierra in Florianopolis, Brazil, which is the only non-Spanish speaking country we have been to on the trip. We thought our lack of Portuguese would be really hard, but it proved to not be as big a challenge as we imagined. Florianopolis is the center of the natural birth movement in Brazil and the public care we received was so supportive."
- "I'm a born-and-raised Cali girl. I was born in Santa Cruz, raised in Sacramento, and moved to Los Angeles at 17 to attend college at Otis College of Art and Design."
- "I am the middle of three children. I have an older brother, James, who is an elementary school teacher, and a younger sister, Laura, who is a fashion merchandiser. My parents would load us all up into the caravan each summer for as long as my mom, a lactation consultant and midwife, and my dad, a family doctor, could arrange to be gone. We would set off to explore some gorgeous area of the states, usually including a National Park—Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Hoh Rainforest. The ‘family road trip’ is very much in my blood and these early experiences are essential to who I am."
- "Typically we wake in the morning and I make breakfast while Adam plays with the girls. And routine kind of stops there for our family. Even when in non-nomadic mode, we are not schedule kind of people and relish exploring each new day as it unfolds."
- "Buenos Aires is not just a city for lovers, it is also a great city to visit with families. Parks, museums, galleries, and yummy restaurants abound. Conguillío and Huerquehue National Parks in the Chilean Lakes District are enchanting. Hiking with kids has such a balancing effect, all while burning that energy they have! Uruguay is a small, safe country that is easy to travel in—the East Coast is especially dreamy. Cartagena, Colombia is a wonderful small city where the light seems to dance on every corner. The Big Island of Hawaii is like our second home, and is a phenomenal place to visit with kids. Sea turtles, golden sand, and tropical water—what more could anyone ask for?"
- "Do it! Even small doses of life unplugged give great rewards. And you can read my 10 tips on road trips with toddlers here!"
- "We are definitely not minimalists. Pattern, texture, and color are all important elements that we seek to balance in our small space."
- "Our home brings us to new destinations. It is a very grounding experience to be able to explore the world and then return to the comforts of your own space. I cook most of our meals, and my small (but mighty) spice cabinet can transform the humblest ingredients."
- "Our collection of dashboard treasures is one of the rare occasions we have something that is just for aesthetics. Colette is always on the lookout for ‘treasures’ on our hikes. We have gathered rocks from remote beaches and glacially carved stones from the base of Aconcagua (the tallest peak in South America), dolphin vertebrae and cholla cactus from Baja, Mexico, flamingo and parrot feathers, and countless other wonders."
- "I love bright color and bold pattern. Everything has to be durable enough to withstand extreme temperatures, long distances on bumpy roads, and swings from super-dry to heavy humidity. So, it is a real case of form and function. I made most of our van décor in Los Angeles before we departed. Our front seat covers are made from a chenniele that is as durable as it is comfy, I over-dyed the fabric that I made curtains from, and cut a blanket we bought in Baja years before we departed into the back seat cover. On the road, I found an old industrial sewing machine so I could modify a hand-crafted rug we fell in love with to fit the floor’s unique shape. In a space the size of most walk in closets, we have no room for anything nonessential."
- "Most nights we are all in the van, which has two beds—one upstairs, one down. Colette and Sierra go to bed upstairs, while Adam and I remain awake for a bit either reading, working, or occasionally watching a film. When we are ready for bed, we transfer Coco downstairs and when or if she wakes in the night, she joins us up top for a snuggle sesh."
- "Our first child, a son we named Aaro, was stillborn after a long and difficult labor. Heartbreak just seems too small a word to describe this sad reality. Colette was conceived on his first birthday and to hear her first victory cry was overwhelmingly beautiful. Coco’s birth, though a ‘normal’ delivery, was highly mechanized. To have an un-medicated natural birth with Sierra was a truly fulfilling experience for me as a mother."
- "It seemed impossible that I would be able to love another as much as I love Colette, but as my mother wisely told me, 'love is not like a pie, there are not only so many pieces, it is ever expanding.'"
- "Super fun, but certainly we are much slower to get anything done."
- "Learning to slow down and hold each moment for the treasure it is."
- "I try to focus on the positive aspects of life, not letting fear rule."
- "We have moved away from a village community, so it is hard for many first time mothers. Modern women have not learned through experience, as we would traditionally have. Many mothers now look to the internet for inspiration and answers to the questions they have. Do not be afraid to ask for help and to learn from your friends and family. For postpartum, ask a friend to set up a meal tree, where your friends can come to visit and meet the baby, while bringing a meal for the whole family and spend a few minutes doing housework or errands on their way over."
- "Aaro: He pierced our hearts like an arrow. Colette Nova: Colette means victorious, Nova (as in supernova) is a fast moving star. She fits both these names very well. Sierra Luna: My great-great grandmother was named Sierra Nevada Wolff, and I always admired this fantastically strong name. Her father was a California gold miner in the 1850’s and crossed her namesake mountain range. During my pregnancy, we crossed many sierra, and spent many nights beneath the moon."
- "Colette is such a passionate burst of energy and dedicated to whatever she encounters. Sierra is the yin to Coco’s yang. She brings an introspective balance to our extroverted family."
- "I have been blessed with the most loving, caring mother who has always showered me with unconditional love and support. I hope to bestow that gift to my girls."
- "Pre-road it was a bit more daring than it is on the road, but I try to avoid the tan tourist trap."
- "Having kids has not changed my style so much as living out of a tiny van has! My closet is now relegated to a small space: two pairs of jeans not 20, five pairs of shoes not 50. Everything is about 1/10th of my previous options, which have to strike the right balance between form and function."
- "Anything in my closet at this point is a staple: My Luci sunglasses by Raen, Alba organic sunscreen, and Ergo baby carrier are my three key items."
- "I am a hat person, and have been lusting after a Gladys Tamez Millinery hat for ages. Ace & Jig makes a collection that is as good for my life on the road as anything I’ve seen. I adore everything Mara Hoffman. Bridge & Burn makes some great staples. And for the girls, Ultra Violet Kids makes the most amazing line of kids clothes, all produced in Los Angeles."
- "I have always worked in fashion, having worked as a tradeshow co-ordinator, buyer, sales manager, and co-owner of a women’s collection called Smoke & Mirrors Clothing. Before we hit the road I worked as the design assistant and production manager at Newbark."
- "When, after 5 months on the road into our one-year plan to travel, we decided to slow down, we knew we had to create some income on the road. Adam and I created 24 Hour Bazaar, which is a flash sale of artisan goods from the road. It is a wonderful work that I enjoy so much, putting my roster of skills to use, working with local craftspeople. While this is our main source of income, hitting the road has also allowed me to invest time in some of my other interests like writing and cooking. I have been working on a cookbook very loosely since 2004 and have always enjoyed writing. Each post on our blog, Our Open Road, is like a chapter in a book. I hosted two pop-up dinners, 'Puertas Cerradas,' at Lux/Eros Lodge when I was back in Los Angeles in October and it was greatly rewarding to create a seven-course vegetarian dinner for guests. We will be back in California this summer, and I am looking forward to creating more pop-up dinners. Adam and I are working on several exciting projects, and always dreaming of new ones!"
- "Yes, we are flattered that people think we are that interesting!"
- "I am incredibly happy to have the situation that I do. But on the road, there is not the option of having external childcare for almost any period of time, which can be challenging when Adam and I are trying to work on a new blog post, article for Conde Nast Traveler, or manage the 24 Hour Bazaar."
- "That I have somehow figured out a way to travel the world with my children and make it work!”
- "Perhaps some day we may be less nomadic. One dream situation is to open an eco-lodge with an organic garden, small restaurant, art studio, and a perfect wave out front…but that requires being in one place and for now our hearts and life is on the road. California will always be a place to which we return. It is where most of our friends and nearly all our family is. But for now, life for us is on the road, each day is still a thrill."
- Because...naked babies.
- Learn more about Emily and her family's journey on their Our Open Road blog,
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