Little House on the Prairie: Family Values, Nostalgia, and Travel Inspiration

As a young girl, watching a television show with my family was a favorite pastime after hours spent at school or outside. A favorite for us was Little House on the Prairie, the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s childhood reimagined from her books.

The fact that I shared the same first name as the adorable young girl on screen may have played a little into it. But it went beyond a shared name.

There was an incredible sense of family and the visual illustration of a time long gone that called to my heart. Everything also had a slightly idealized view of the past, which offered an opportunity for discussion with my parents.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Netflix.

Why Little House Still Resonates

Over the years of homeschooling my boys, I began to see a pattern of families seeking out older TV shows. While modern entertainment options may look cleaner or flashier, some also tackle topics avoided by families who are mindful of the content they bring into their homes. So, the call for extremely family-friendly shows like Little House on the Prairie grew.

One of the big appeals of Little House on the Prairie was the strong family bonds. These are shown through how members of the Ingalls family interacted. You can almost feel for yourself the extreme love Laura had for Pa, and he for her. Also, viewers can see how life in the sparsely populated areas required a strong family unit.

Another reason is the idea of a simpler time. Demands on time were different. Hard work was a given, with most evenings spent quietly with family. This is in stark contrast to today, where the explosion of technology has us surrounded by thousands of options at any given time.

Families had minimal possessions, which were well-tended and purchased with intention. There wasn’t a big box store with cheap items to fill their homes. Things were repaired rather than tossed and replaced.

Finally, the storytelling portrays historical struggles in an accessible way. Those values admired in the Ingalls family help to make the historical elements meaningful.

Learning American History Through Storytelling

Little House on the Prairie, both as books and TV, has become iconic in showcasing Westward expansion and pioneer life. Kids may never realize they are learning about history as they read or watch, which makes it an easy way to introduce history without it feeling like a lesson.

The biggest thing I remember from the books and show was the challenge of life during the westward expansion.

Riding in a covered wagon with all your earthly possessions, filled with uncertainty and danger, had to be nerve-racking.

Arriving at a new location with few people and carving out a life through toil seems almost foreign today.

Another time, which can be hard to imagine, was the ‘long winter’ the family experienced. For many of us, life where you have to struggle for a comfortable home (e.g. warm!) and food on the table seems foreign.

Turn Nostalgia Into Real-Life Travel

While reading the books and watching the show can help with learning about this time period, traveling to the areas featured can really bring the lessons home. They say seeing is believing and I find it to be true when visiting historical sites. A picture or video can never replace the experience of walking in places of significance.

If your family becomes hooked on Laura’s story, then a visit to key places could make for an epic road trip experience.

Each of these destinations offers a chance to step into Laura’s world in a tangible way.

Pepin, Wisconsin, is Laura’s birthplace. The museum is open May 1st through October 31st and is considered to be the start of the Laura Ingalls Wilder History Highway. If you go on the second full weekend of the summer months, you’ll have an expanded experience as reenactors take guests back to 19th-century American pioneer life.

Walnut Grove, Minnesota, has a Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and offers a Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant experience that immerses guests into life in the 1880s. The museum is open April 1st to October 31st.

De Smet, South Dakota, has the Ingalls Homestead. To see inside the structures, you need to be on a guided tour. They are open year-round with days and time changing with the season.

Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Missouri, is home to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. This was Laura’s final house. Open from March 1st to November 15th, it is a short drive from either Branson or Springfield.

A New Version of Little House

After months of waiting, the highly anticipated Little House on the Prairie Netflix series is set to premiere on July 9, 2026!

Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier. Just as in the Little House books, Laura is our window into this community, guiding us through a story of resilience, courage, and optimism.

The series has already been renewed for Season 2, in which audiences will meet the infamous Nellie Oleson and watch her rivalry with Laura Ingalls unfold.

The beloved Ingalls family will be portrayed by Luke Bracey (Charles Ingalls), Crosby Fitzgerald (Caroline Ingalls), Alice Halsey (Laura Ingalls), and Skywalker Hughes (Mary Ingalls) in what promises to be a stunning adaptation of Wilder’s classic frontier tale.

I am eager to start watching the episodes and see how they compare to the original series.

Build a Prairie-Inspired Experience at Home

Pull up the new Little House on the Prairie on Netflix and have a watch party!

Start by setting the scene. Dim the lights, pull out blankets for floor seating, and get ready to embrace a simple prairie-inspired menu.

Bake some biscuits, have a hearty stew simmering on the stove or in a crockpot, and consider something like apples or a simple cookie or cake for dessert.

If you have the time, add some hands-on learning by making your own butter.

Budget time after each episode to talk about what was seen. Ask the kids how life back then differed from their own experiences.

It’s a simple way to recreate the kind of evenings I remember from my own childhood.

In a world that often feels fast-paced and overwhelming, Little House on the Prairie offers a gentle reminder of what truly matters. Strong families, meaningful work, and time spent together are themes that never go out of style. Bringing those elements into your home can turn a simple story into something lasting and deeply personal.