Camping in the 60s [View all]

When I was 8 and 10 ('62 and '64) we "camped" from MA to CA and back. (Dad was a teacher) Camping was just coming into popularity and reservations were rarely needed at campgrounds. We had a setup almost identical to this photo. I *think* the trailer had two wheels and maybe another window or two (all had screens). The top of the trailer bed had a mattress where Mom and Dad would sleep and then we had a double decker bunk bed cot thing. Three kids would rotate. Top bunk. Bottom bunk and the ground with a blow up mattress. Underneath the trailer mattress was open storage and Mom had a pretty good portable kitchen set up. Lunch was always at a rest stop. Cold sandwiches with either carrots or celery and a hard boiled egg. Dinner was at a campsite, with a Coleman stove and lantern. The highway system was pretty new but even then, Dad would opt for more local side routes when available. On very rare occasions, we would stay at a motel/hotel, but they *had* to have a pool with a slide.

(Oh. And our towing vehicle was a VW bus.)