The Family Behind the Adventures
Friendly Family Adventures is a website designed to inspire families to see the world — and show you how to make it happen, one adventure at a time.
About Me
Hi, I’m Rene, the traveler, mom, and educator behind Friendly Family Adventures. My love for travel began at a young age, road-tripping across the United States with my family. But it truly took off after my first trip to Europe as a teenager — that experience opened my eyes to how big, beautiful, and diverse the world really is.
With a teacher’s salary and a lot of determination, we made it our mission to explore the country together. We’d pack up the car as soon as school let out for summer break, not always knowing where we were headed — sometimes flipping a coin to pick our direction or asking locals for the best hidden gems. Whether camping under the stars or staying in budget hotels, we chased good food, beautiful scenery, fascinating history, and the best water parks we could find. Those adventures took us through 42 states, and countless unforgettable moments.
Through Friendly Family Adventures, we hope to inspire others to do the same: to see the world, make lasting memories, and realize that amazing adventures are possible — no matter your budget or background.
After college, I earned my degree in Math and Special Education and spent the next 15 years teaching — while squeezing in every bit of travel I possibly could. During my early years as a teacher, I was determined to teach my first son that life is about memories, not material things.
In my early 30s, I met my soulmate — someone who works in the field of education as a video producer and shares my passion for storytelling and exploring the world. We built a blended family and continued exploring every chance we got. Today, our family includes kids ages 7, 9, and 24, along with my oldest son’s girlfriend, and together we’ve traveled through 49 states and 14 countries across Africa, Europe, and North America — with dreams of visiting every continent.
