I'm starting this new thread in response to a question posed to me on another thread. I was asked by AJ to expound on rallies. Here goes.
DW and I bought a 3 year old Airstream trailer a year before retirement (3 years ago). We expected to spend time traveling around the USA and Canada by ourselves.
However, we started reading the Airstream forum (similar to this one) at Airstream Trailer & Motorhome Owners Community . We discovered Airstreamers had a formal club (the WBCCI) which hosts rallies and caravans. We also discovered there are a number of independent rallies organized on Airforums. Soon after acquiring our trailer we visited one of the larger independent Airstream rallies in January 2011 at Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. There we met some wonderful people who have been camping together for a number of years. They invited us to meet them for another gathering at an Alabama state park in the spring which we did. We now meet up with this core group 3 or 4 times per year. Plus we joined the WBCCI and belong to a unit that schedules monthly rallies in the southeastern region. We attend 2-3 of those rallies per year and have met some great folks there. Lots of early retirees in both groups and great people to be with.
Currently we camp about 100 nights per year. I'd say 25-30% of the time is related to meeting other Airstream friends at rallies. The remaining time we spend traveling on our own. The social aspect of camping was totally unexpected for us but has been a wonderful addition to our retirement experience.
Note that other brands have clubs and there are some non brand clubs and forums as well. So you can get a flavor for these rallies I'll attach a link to videos made of a few recent Airstream rallies. I'll be happy to answer specific questions on this thread or via PM.
Canopener 2014 Airstream Rally
Alumanlina 2013 Rally
Alumapalooza 2010
Airstream Europe Gathering 2013
DW and I bought a 3 year old Airstream trailer a year before retirement (3 years ago). We expected to spend time traveling around the USA and Canada by ourselves.
However, we started reading the Airstream forum (similar to this one) at Airstream Trailer & Motorhome Owners Community . We discovered Airstreamers had a formal club (the WBCCI) which hosts rallies and caravans. We also discovered there are a number of independent rallies organized on Airforums. Soon after acquiring our trailer we visited one of the larger independent Airstream rallies in January 2011 at Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. There we met some wonderful people who have been camping together for a number of years. They invited us to meet them for another gathering at an Alabama state park in the spring which we did. We now meet up with this core group 3 or 4 times per year. Plus we joined the WBCCI and belong to a unit that schedules monthly rallies in the southeastern region. We attend 2-3 of those rallies per year and have met some great folks there. Lots of early retirees in both groups and great people to be with.
Currently we camp about 100 nights per year. I'd say 25-30% of the time is related to meeting other Airstream friends at rallies. The remaining time we spend traveling on our own. The social aspect of camping was totally unexpected for us but has been a wonderful addition to our retirement experience.
Note that other brands have clubs and there are some non brand clubs and forums as well. So you can get a flavor for these rallies I'll attach a link to videos made of a few recent Airstream rallies. I'll be happy to answer specific questions on this thread or via PM.
Canopener 2014 Airstream Rally
Alumanlina 2013 Rally
Alumapalooza 2010
Airstream Europe Gathering 2013