Palm Springs CA Vintage Trailer Show

There were so many wonderful things to do during our stay in Redlands, California this winter. And one of those fabulous events was the 2022 Palm Springs CA Vintage Trailer Show that we attended with my cousin Gail and her husband Frank.

I know that you will all agree with me, that nothing is better than being with family. That’s why we loved spending a month near my cousin Gail. Gail and I have so many common interests that include our love of camping, travel, art, music and dance. What made living near her for a month even more fantastic, is that Steve and Frank also share these passions!

So when Gail asked if we had any interest in attending the Vintage Trailer Show, our answer was a resounding Y.E.S.

The weather could not have been more perfect for an outdoor event. In and out of each camper we went, taking photo after photo. These campers from the 50s have certainly stood the test of time. And the owners made sure to keep the renovations appropriate for the era in which their campers were built.

The Palm Springs CA Vintage Trailer Show is part of Modernism Week, with a mission of celebrating and fostering an appreciation of midcentury architecture and design, “as well as contemporary thinking in these fields, by encouraging education, preservation, and sustainable modern living as represented in the greater Palm Springs area.”

We saw campers of all sorts at this show. One woman, a very talented artist, traveled in her converted school bus. Her bathroom was completely tiled! It was stunning and felt more like a sticks and bricks home than a school bus. The only thing that made you know you were on a bus, was that it was long and narrow with no slide outs. Another camper, came apart so you had a boat to use! So clever.

As full time campers, Steve and I debated long and hard as to what type of RV would suit us best. For us, the Class A was perfect. We love the experience driving from one destination to the next. The view from our seats perched high through our huge windshield allows us to enjoy the scenery. And we also like the convenience of being able to use the amenities while driving down the road. I can make lunch or bring Steve a fresh seltzer while he chauffeurs me to our next stop. No. I don’t drive our rig. My feet don’t reach the pedals. Plus we are very close to 60-feet long with our Jeep in tow, and that just scares the bejeebees out of me. Honestly I don’t know how Steve does it. Thank goodness he actually enjoys driving no matter whether it’s the RV or the car.

But for weekend warriors, as we call them, these small campers are just perfect. They’re compact and easy to tow, while still giving you all of the amenities like tiny kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.

There was a time when these campers were referred to as galloping bungalows. How cute is that? Couldn’t you just imagine pulling one of these adorable vintage trailers to your campsite? Picture yourself making S’mores while sitting around your fire pit with friends and family and just to perfect the vintage vibe, you are sipping an icy cold martini.

The four of us had so much fun imagining ourselves doing just that. We were kids when these trailers were new, but we remember the lifestyle of that era vividly!!!

And as we walked to Great Shakes for their fabulous milkshakes (You didn’t think we could go to Palm Springs and not go to Great Shakes did you?) we passed a gorgeous ’57 Chevy. How appropriate.