The arrival of spring brought on sheer anticipation for getting outdoors for camping and exploring. I love escaping to the peaceful northwest surroundings near a river or lake….unplugged from the distractions of everyday life.
I hate to admit however, that I’m just not the kind of girl that loves sleeping on the ground in a tent. -So a tent camping trip would consist of hauling an inflatable mattress, a fan (if I’m camping with an electrical hookup), and all kinds of extra items to help make the stay more comfortable. -And the work of packing those items really takes the fun out of the whole experience!
We have been keeping our eye on teardrop trailers for a while now, so we were excited to take out a rental from Aero Teardrops. With our Yeti cooler packed down with food and drinks, a backpack of clothes, and bedding items (pillows, sheets, blanket), we were off on a stay at Paradise Campground in the Willamette National Forest. My husband is a fly-fisherman so we were excited to get a campsite right next to the McKenzie River.
Paradise is a popular campground, but even if it is crowded with all sites full, you will not notice because the old growth grove of fir and cedar trees provide a sense of privacy at each site. Many of the sites are next to the river, with others tucked away in the forest. The smell of cedar and the sound of the roaring river offer the perfect backdrop for a few nights of camping.
My husband spent the day fishing, and although he caught 5 or 6 fish, the water was rushing too fast for him to have a great day on the water. But as they say, a bad day of fishing beats a good day in the office.
Our rental trailer, “Flora”, came loaded with all the essentials I could want: coffee press, water kettle, mugs, metal stemless wine glasses, wine bottle opener, plates, flatware, cutting boards, utensils, pots and pans, dish towels, etc. A drawer pulled out to reveal a 2-burner cooking stove with a small propane tank. With the crisp, cool mornings, we utilized this several times to boil water for coffee or tea while we listened to the river roar and watched rafters floating down the McKenzie. High Country Expeditions offers rafting trips that begin 8 miles up the road at Olallie Campground and end just past Paradise Campground, for those looking for an excursion during their camping trip. For us, we craved an easy-going escape to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and Paradise provided that, but it was obvious that the rafters were having a fun time and could be a perfect excursion for those wanting more adventure.
The evening time was the best! We enjoyed playing card games and making s’mores (using Keebler Fudge Stripes instead of graham crackers and chocolate bar). The Aero Teardrops trailer has built-in speakers inside and outside. We were able to stream my off-line Pandora from my phone to play our favorite music. With lights in the galley and interior of the trailer, we had enough modern comforts without taking away from the experience of enjoying the outdoors. At night, the sofa unfolds to form a queen bed. At the head of the bead, a narrow window is directly overhead, allowing you to fall asleep with visions of shining stars in the midnight sky.
At the foot of the bed are built-in cabinets to hold all of your clothing and belongings. There was much more cabinet space and the interior felt bigger than I had anticipated. The top of the cabin featured a fan and vent. The fan, lights, speakers all ran off the battery and lasted the entire weekend for us. It really felt like a home away from home. So cozy! And comfortable!
Using the teardrop trailer as a rental allowed us to try out the experience before considering buying a teardrop for ourselves. With the lightweight trailer that could be pulled by any of cars, easier to store than larger campers, and the ability to have it loaded and ready to go, makes the teardrop trailer so appealing! We were very impressed and will be considering purchasing one in the future.
Reservations for Paradise Campground in Blue River, Oregon can be made online at www.reserveamerica.com. The campground has both vault and flush toilets available, but no showers, and no electric hookups. It does offer some first-come/first-serve sites, but this is a popular campground, so reservations would be the best way to go. Blue Sky Market is about 6 miles down the road and provides a place to pick up last minute snacks, toiletries, and bundles of firewood before you reach your campsite.
-Guest Blogger, Kristin Grill
