Hi, we’re the Thomas Family!

Collage of family moments featuring a couple holding hands outdoors, a woman taking a photo of flowers, a man and child riding a train, and a man walking with two children in a park, with a circular overlay in the center displaying "Thomas family goes EST 2023."

Our family of four is based in Southern Illinois.

We spend our weekends exploring communities, attending local events, sampling eateries, camping, or simply binge-watching our shows on the couch together.

We love being a Midwest family, and want to show others how great this life can be. While most of our adventures take place in Southern Illinois, we try to showcase our surrounding states so folks know “what’s beyond the forest”.

We showcase our adventures on social media: @thomasfamilygoes

Jessi is a Certified Autism Travel Professional, dedicated to helping everyone enjoy all aspects of Southern Illinois, and educating those in the hospitality industry on how we can create more inclusive spaces for neurodivergent individuals, through the business Shawnee Sensory Safe Travels.

She also runs the Content Creation & Coordination business, Southern Illinois Social Media.

Through this business, we create content for the hospitality & tourism industries. This includes restaurants, events, lodging, & everything that makes a town worth visiting!

We love giving recommendations and shout outs to local businesses. If you’re interested in hiring us for promotion, or need a recommendation, shoot us a message! If we don’t respond it has went to spam - feel free to reach out on our social media platforms as well!