Despite being well into our 3rd year in our Airstream, we’d never been to a rally or organized Airstream event until this summer. Color us chagrined perhaps, but the first two years simply exploring beautiful Colorado was its own reward. We sure made up for it with Camp Airstream — Yellowstone though! 

The best part was easily simply gathering and getting close with other Airstreamers, but the organizers did a fantastic job with all the little things that make an experience even more special:

• They have a custom-built Airstream outfitted with a massage table. Rest assured we availed ourselves of it.
• Another custom Airstream contained a lounge where you could just hang out and check out Airstream memorabilia.
• There was a spot on the eastern edge of Red Rock RV park set aside for our 10 rigs, and our views each morning across the plains and mountains were hard to beat. 
• Folks know how to be creative with food when traveling, as our pot luck dinner featured one unique and delicious dish after another.
• While no one could obviously “arrange it”, it was fun seeing a variety of bison and a wolf (a few folks saw a moose too) on our private tour while in Yellowstone.
• Actually interesting icebreaker questions helped us get to really know each other each night at happy hour.
• Opal, a gregarious 11 y/o and daughter of Jay, Airstream’s Content Manager, was a standout helping make sure everyone  got what they needed.

While most events are organized and run by local or regional chapters, this was the first since Wally Byam’s days where the mothership organized something outside of the clubs. It was well-timed, as we were passing through Yellowstone National Park on our way to the Pacific Northwest anyway. So it was easy to make the inaugural week (of 16 total this summer) at gorgeous Red Rock RV in Island Park, Idaho, reasonably close to Yellowstone’s west entrance.

(Those of you in New England where traveling between three states in a day is commonplace, it’s pretty rare out west to go from Idaho through a bit of Montana into Wyoming and back again without flying!)

Since this was a pilot for Airstream, we don’t know what (or if) they’ll plan next. But if this one’s any indication, we’ll be signing up for it. In the meantime, we loved getting to know our other birds of a feather as it were, and starting what are likely deep, rewarding friendships. Jay said it best: that we were all friends we just hadn’t met yet.

Oh, and lest you think we didn’t take any pics inside Yellowstone, we’ll very soon be re-launching Holland Photo Arts, and will be adding a Yellowstone National Park collection, just for you!