My childhood friends might remember the camper we had parked next to our house. My parents have been big into RVing since before I was born. We lived in the Washington D.C. area where campers weren’t very common and when I was in my Jr. High years I was embarrassed to drive around in it. When we would head out for our cross-country vacations each summer, I would duck down until we were out of the neighborhood so no one would see me. Here was what the first camper looked like:
Would your 13-year-old self want to be seen in that? Over time my parents sold and bought campers that were a little bigger and a little newer, but still nothing too fancy. I remember being thrilled when we got a camper with a TV and a VCR and even a microwave. That was cool.
With those memories in mind, let me give you a tour of the latest RV. My parents are now sunbirds. They have a house in St. George Utah and every summer they hop into the RV and head north to Wyoming to escape the triple digit temperatures. Fortunately for us they park the RV in Star Valley which is a little over an hour from Rexburg and we see them quite a bit in the summer. The kids love to visit Grandma and Grandpa.
We’ll start with some exterior shots. I had to take 2 to get their whole lot in.
This latest camper comes with slide-outs to expand the space. And yes, that is a satelite dish on top. They need satelite for their (not one) but two flatscreen TV’s (way nicer than the old TV and VCR I used to think was cool). First we will go inside to the “living room” area.
Here is my Mom in her kitchen.
Not only does she have a microwave, but it’s stainless and doubles as a convection oven. Those are Corian countertops. Nothing but the best for these “campers”. There is a stove-top too. Part of the counter top pulls up and it’s underneath. What a great use of space! Also in her kitchen is her laundry.
It’s a washer and a dryer. My Mom says it works just fine but everything comes out extra wrinkly. Next is the home office.
The computer and printer are on top of the dashboard of the camper. Clever eh? Moving toward the back of the camper is the dining area.
The table and benches turn into a bed and so does the couch. But that is nothing special. Even the old Winnebago did that. Next is the half bath. This camper has 2 bathrooms. That would have been a nice feature back when the whole family was traveling.
Next is the bedroom. Complete with queen-sized bed. The bedroom has the other TV.
It’s amazing how much storage is built into this little bedroom too. Finally in the back is the master bath complete with shower.
The only thing this camper is missing that the old Winnebago had was a bathtub. I have to end this post with a photo of how my parents get around at the Star Valley Ranch.
It’s an electric car. It also doubles as my parent’s golf cart but it’s so much cooler! It’s top speed is only about 30 mph, but Mike and I are jealous. We could use one to get around Rexburg. We live only a mile from campus. Could you see him commuting to work in this?
So that concludes the tour. Just to clarify, my mother says that when you have a camper like this it’s called a “motor coach.” What do you think? Could you spend a few months living in a motor coach? I could- if it was just Mike and I and it was really a motor coach instead of a camper. For the record, we had great times in the old campers that were not nearly as fancy but my parents have ruined me on camping. I just can’t take tent camping anymore I always want the amenities. What no microwave? TV? Air conditioning? My poor husband loves to camp- and the real camping not my parent’s version. Maybe someday we will have to get our own camper. I’ll sleep inside and he can sleep out in a tent.
