How the McCaws built a lifetime of camping memories

This Vancouver Island family shares travel advice, must-haves and meaningful moments.

For Andrea and Craig McCaw, RVing has always been about creating memories with their family. What started as weekend camping trips with five children under the age of 10 has evolved into two decades of adventures across the Pacific Northwest. The McCaws began with a tent, then a tent trailer, and eventually upgraded to travel trailers and now a Thor Quantum KW29 motorhome. Today, with only one daughter (Caylee) still travelling with them, the family continues to treasure the lessons and laughter that come from life on the road.

The McCaws call Vancouver Island, B.C., home, but their travels have taken them as far as the Oregon Coast. Along the way, they’ve discovered unforgettable destinations, built lasting friendships, and found creative ways to adapt RV life to the needs of their daughter, who lives with autism. Their story shows how camping evolves with a family’s changing needs, and how travel always has more to teach. Andrea sat down with us to answer a few questions.

How long have you been into RVing, and what inspired you to start?

(We've been RVing for) 20 years. When we started we had five children under 10 in the home and we had to do something fun with these kids to keep them busy. We started in a tent, then upgraded to a tent trailer, travel trailers and now we have a motorhome and only have one child travelling with us now. Our kids learnt so much being outside and exploring. The memories we made together are so precious.

Do you travel full-time?

No we are currently weekend warriors but hope to transition to full time in a few years. 

What model of RV do you travel in?

We travel in a Thor Quantum KW29.

Where are you from, and where do you most like to visit?

We live on Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada.

Oh, this is a tough one. Our favourite road trip so far was down the Oregon Coast. We travelled from Victoria B.C. to Port Angeles via the Coho ferry, then travelled along the 101 all the way down to Waldport, Oregon, and back the same way. The coastline is spectacular.

Have you made any lasting friendships along the way?

Absolutely. Camping is such an amazing way to meet new people, and spend quality time with friends and family. So many memories. 

What’s a hidden gem in Canada that you'd recommend to fellow RVers?

Vancouver Island is a hidden gem for sure. The island has so many stunning locations for all types of travellers. You could spend two weeks here and still not see it all. 

Whether it’s travelling in a motorhome, tent, off-road remote camping or high end resort camping. Vancouver Island has it all. Oceans,lakes, rivers, mountains and bears! Only a few bears though, and I’ve personally only seen one from afar. 

What are some of the challenges of RVing as a family?

Traveling as a family with different aged children means packing all the things needed to entertain (that entire age range). Now we only travel with one of our children—but at one time we had a baby, a 3-year-old and and three children 10 years older. Lots of stuff was needed for those days.

Is there a piece of RV gear you couldn't live without?

My Nespresso coffee machine!!  Joking aside I would say a portable Webber BBQ for cooking outside and a portable lithium battery travel station to charge all the devices like my Nespresso machine.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about buying their first RV?

Look for the layout that best suits you and your situation that is in your budget. 

For example, we travel with a special needs daughter who needs full support for personal care. This equates to needing a large enough bathroom for both of us to fit in. That is my number one request when looking at an RV or motorhome—and storage underneath the rig. You can never have enough storage but having it under the trailer is absolutely necessary to store things like the BBQ, fire pit/wood, chairs, tables all the outdoor things.

We have had four different units and we learn something every time. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We travel as a family with our autistic daughter, and nothing means more to us than giving her enriching, joyful experiences. While it takes extra planning and effort to bring everything she needs, the reward of watching her thrive in the outdoors is immeasurable. Nature has a powerful way of nurturing every kind of soul.

If you're a family with children who have special needs, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take that leap. Step outside your comfort zone—nature welcomes everyone. There are creative ways to make it work: We use a tandem bike and a double kayak so we can adventure together and share in the experience.

RV and motorhome travel has been a game-changer for us. It lets us escape screens and distractions, and reconnect—both with each other and the world around us. Camping with a big family has been one of the most meaningful ways we’ve built lasting memories. Our children still talk about those trips, and now the older ones are making new memories by camping with their own kids.

Keep up with the McCaw Family's adventures on Instagram!