*All photos and video by Diane Covington-Carter*

I have been a travel writer for 30 years, jetting all over the world to write about hotels, spas, and luxury. I have stayed at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris, The Riva Bella Thalassotherapy Spa in Normandy, The Relais de Margaux resort in Bordeaux, among many other delightful luxury experiences.

And yet, a few years ago, my husband and I decided to invest in an alternative type of ‘slow travel’ adventure, a trailer. No TSA lines and hassle, no cramped seats on long flights, no jet lag, hotel beds (even luxurious ones), and rental cars. Just our own little piece of home rolling along behind us, on windy mountain roads,

Our trailer, dubbed “Anna-Belle” by my husband, seems tiny next to some of the giant RVs that we pass on the road. But she has everything we need to be cozy and comfortable as we explore the lakes, rivers, and beaches of Northern California. Also, at 19 feet, she fits under the size limit in all the state and national parks.

We’d listed all the amenities we wanted as we searched for the right trailer. A queen-sized bed, where we could each get out without crawling over each other. A large enough refrigerator/freezer to hold enough food for a remote campground; not a dorm-sized one.

A sunny sitting area off the kitchen, a small bathroom, including a shower and an oven—I like to bake.

After we saw the trailer new in a commercial lot, we knew we’d found our fit. That night, I searched the internet and found one used, just an hour’s drive from our home. The next day, we drove down and brought her home. The price was right, and it seemed she had only been used once or twice at the most. We even bought the truck that the seller had used to haul the trailer, also at a good price.

‘Vintage Cruiser’’ the brand of our Gulfstream trailer, fits, as we are ‘vintage’ too. She is so cute, people want to peek inside. We’re glad we waited for just what we wanted and grateful we found such a good deal. We live in a small town in the foothills of the Sierras, on an eight-acre organic apple farm. It’s true that we have more privacy at home than at a campground. But to be steps from a crystal-clear lake or a rushing river and be able to saunter down to take dips whenever we please or watch the sun disappear behind the mountains—we treasure all those amazing experiences. These adventures all lie within an hour and a half from our home.

Video, North Fork of the Yuba River, near Downieville, California,

River art. North Fork of the Yuba River, near Downieville, California

Since then, we have journeyed up the coast of Oregon, trailing back down the coast of California, feeling wonder as we passed through the giant redwoods. We’ve biked along quiet roads, kayaked in bays and lakes, hiked along creeks, rivers and beaches.

Our kayaks ready to go, near Gold Lake California

It feels fun to cook in our little kitchen, the three-burner stove and oven and spacious refrigerator filling all our needs. Soups, burritos, spaghetti with pesto sauce for dinners, French toast with blueberries for breakfast. Lunches enjoyed outside, where we can hear the river or the ocean. Evenings, we play cards, something we rarely do at home, read or chat by a crackling fire. Our comfy queen bed feels so luxurious when we crawl in at the end of the day.

Last year, camping at Donner Memorial State Park in Truckee, California, a surprise thunderstorm sent everyone scrambling. We snuggled under warm blankets in our soft bed, cozy and dry as we listened to the rain pelting the roof.

One year, we organized a three-generation family reunion at Silver Lake near Mammoth, a halfway point with our family who live in Los Angeles. We shared a double campsite, meals, S’mores and many fun dips in the chilly lake. Such fun.

Fun family reunion camping at Silver Lake, California

Anna Belle also provides an extra guest bedroom on our property when we welcome an overflow of family members. We still do the international flights, with all their unique challenges, but we so enjoy our times of slow travel, exploring the backroads just around the bend from our home, with Anna Belle, our slow travel companion.

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