How many trips start with, “I want to be anywhere but here!”
And how many trips start with, “I want to be anywhere but now.”
The answer to that second question is probably more often with each passing day. Retro travel and vintage vacations are becoming a hot trend. Are you on board?
What Is Retro Travel?
At its core, retro travel is experiencing the past during your trip of today. Take a step back in time, when pioneers traversed the country in covered wagons. Strike out on the highways for a taste of the classic road trip era, full of kitschy motels and drive-in diners. Relive the best of the 80s by hauling your kids to your favorite childhood vacation destination. Anything goes when you’re searching for the (real or perceived) glory days of the past.
The line between retro travel and nostalgic tourism is a bit blurry, but why let details get in the way of a great trip? Whether you’re reliving a past experience or pretending to step back in time to before you were born, you’re in for a treat.
Why is the Retro Travel Trend Popular?
Retro travel isn’t new, but there are signs that the trend is picking up steam. Reports estimate that anywhere from 50% to 90% of people traveling with their kids are choosing to return to their own favorite vacation haunts. The goal: Give their children the same great memories they have from their youth.
Retro travel goes beyond pure childhood nostalgia, though. Many see it as a form of escapism.
They’re escaping to a time that makes sense again; no more questioning what to expect when you already know the end of the story, so to speak.
They’re escaping to a pre-digital age when immersing yourself in a destination or relaxation was easier without the constant tether of text and email.
They’re escaping to a place that feels unspoiled, where only the best of modern conveniences made the cut — comfy beds, convenient transit, smallpox vaccines — and everything else was relegated to another universe.
The “good ol’ days” are often a myth we tell ourselves. We remember the best while our brains conveniently discard the rest. But with retro travel, that’s OK.
When the escape is temporary, there’s little harm in romanticizing the past. So what’s holding you back? Pack your old-school suitcase, pop in your road trip mix tape, and enjoy the ride.
5 Ways to Take a Vintage Vacation
1. Go to summer camp (for adults).
If you pine for the days of archery, followed by arts & crafts in Cabin 15 and a bit of pool time, then it’s time to head back to summer camp.
Summer camp for adults is all about retreating to the carefree time of your youth when the biggest concern was not setting your marshmallow on fire (or blowing it out in time to salvage your s’more).
More and more of these are popping up across the country. Some help you relive your favorite memories from childhood, while others are themed — surfing, space camp, even a few that are clothing optional.
Why not enjoy a week at sleep-away camp, disconnected from Zoom calls and emails, and reconnected with nature and the people around you?
2. Stay in a classic hotel or motel.
Mid-century America was packed with mom-and-pop motels. The end of World War II brought a highway system that made cross-country travel easier and increased the need for convenient, clean places to sleep, even in the most remote areas. Enter: The motor lodge.
Today, these motels that reflected regional personalities have been replaced by hotel chains. If you’re willing to forgo gyms and spas, highspeed Wi-Fi, and some of the other modern amenities of major chains, staying in these throwback motels can be a real treat. The best have been painstakingly maintained to keep their classic charm, and they’re often still run as a small business vital to their communities.
While clearly not a motel, The Beverly Hills Hotel is a prime example of retro lodging. Other favorites you’ll love to check out include:
- Desert Hot Springs Inn in Hot Springs, California: Surprising spa services in a vintage desert locale
- Thunderbird Inn in Savannah, Georgia: Self-described as being at the intersection of “yes ma’am” and “dude”
- Blue Skies Retro Resort in Willow City, Texas: Mid-century trailers ... with private baths
- Itty Bitty Inn in North Bend, Oregon: Casual quirky vibes, like Oregon does best
- The Dive Motel in Nashville, Tennessee: Renovated ‘50s motor inn-turned-psychedelic ‘60s digs
3. Take a road trip.
The best way to get to those mid-century motels is via road trip. Route 66 is always the classic drive, ranging from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. But it’s not the only gem of a route.
The Lincoln Highway, although it has different names depending on which stretch you’re on, runs from New York City (Times Square to be precise) to San Francisco. You’ll make stops in Chicago, Denver, and Salt Lake City along the way.
Highway US 20 takes you on a northern route from Massachusetts to Oregon and includes fine examples of Americana like the Jell-O Museum in New York and Yellowstone National Park out West.
On each of these routes, keep your eyes open for classic roadside attractions, often created out of misplaced local pride or in an attempt to draw tourists off the beaten path to a hidden hamlet instead. Some of these stops are famous purely for being weird, but we’re not going to judge.
- The Coffee Pot in Bedford, Pennsylvania: An 18-foot coffee pot built in 1927, it was originally part of a gas station and restaurant, then a bar. While you’re in the small town (population: 2,900), swing by Dick Dunkle’s Deco Gas Station. It’s closed now, but the Art Deco architecture is worth a look.
- Giant hatchet sculpture in Bentonville, Arkansas: Why? Why not? It weighs 1,300 pounds, and the blade is actual steel.
- Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota: Tour it, catch a concert, shop the farmer’s market, and enjoy the corn murals. There’s (surprisingly) endless fun to be had at this unique venue, especially if you make it in time for the Corn Palace Festival in August.
- World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World Largest Things in Lucas, Kansas: This is what you get when you combine an obsession with irrationally big things with a desire to make them irrationally small, then put them all in one place. It doesn’t make sense ... but it doesn’t need to, either.
- National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada: Exhibits include cars through history, including race cars, cars once owned by celebrities, and old-timey cars dating back more than a century.
Be sure to refuel at classic diners, drive-ins, and unusual restaurants along the way.
4. Go camping.
Camping usually harkens back to simpler times. For those of us of a certain age, we’re immediately thrust back a decade or two when we see that black and red KOA — Kampgrounds of America — logo. KOA was founded in the 1960s on the simple premise of giving road trippers a safe, clean place to pitch their tents or hook up their RVs while they explored nearby attractions.
The first franchise of its kind, KOA continues to be an icon of U.S. travel, especially in out-of-the-way areas.
The ‘70s airstream camper was another icon of its time. While these looked like they were trying to make a comeback in the last decade, they didn’t have the staying power. But if it’s still a dream to stay in a classic trailer, you can find them as vacation rentals, particularly in the Western U.S.
5. Book a transatlantic ocean liner cruise.
Some of you might be thinking, “The ‘60s aren’t vintage! I remember them perfectly.” And to you, we tip our hats. If you’re looking for a retro travel ideas that go a little farther back, consider an ocean liner cruise.
Travel across the Atlantic by steamship was the ultimate luxury in the early 1900s. It’s still possible, although less common and popular today.
Cunard offers a few transatlantic sailings on the Queen Mary 2 throughout the year. They’re typically two- or three-week round-trip journeys from New York to England and still packed with luxury. This is definitely a situation where you’re there to enjoy the journey, not just the destination.
Ready to Retro Travel?
Retro travel can take you to some strange places. It’s a good idea to be prepared for some strange happenings, too. For the emergencies and snafus that you can’t control, travel insurance can help. Learn how Seven Corners can protect your money, health, and belongings — even on road trips — and get a quick quote at SevenCorners.com.
About the Author
This article was written by Becky Hart, an ‘80s kid who fully recognizes that her idea of “retro” will make her mother’s eyes roll.
