We’ve come to love our 23-foot Thor Gemini through the good times and the bad. Sure, there have been repairs and frustrations. We’re currently trying to figure out whether we can repair or need to replace our CD/DVD player.

Still, every so often, we toy with the idea of going a new direction with a pull-behind.

Recently, a friend asked us for advice about what kind of trailer to buy. She’s already got a beefy pickup and is adept at pulling an additional vehicle. We were able to answer most of her questions, but it’s clear that we are firmly entrenched in the motorhome camp.

Then, we stayed in a couple of trailers and those comfortable experiences got us thinking. Here’s what helped soften our stance.

Vintages Trailer Resort: On a trip to Willamette Valley to connect with our friend, Ken Sands, we booked a couple nights at this adorable park near McMinnville, Ore. A sizable chunk of the space is dedicated to permanent residents, but there’s a lane dedicated to an impressive collection of “canned hams” from days gone by.

The retro Airstreams and Shastas have been lovingly restored and updated. There are grills and outdoor fire pits at each site, as well as a seasonal pool and bright outdoor gathering space near a clubhouse. Our trailer had a comfy living room, a kitchenette and all sorts of storage. It felt so spacious. We could get used to this.

Our catchup session with Kenny, who we worked with at the S-R many years ago and who has now lived in the other Washington for more than 16 years, was a pleasure that included seared salmon and so many stories.

Surf Grove: Located on Cox Bay near Tofino, British Columbia, this expansive campground has a few stationary trailers available to rent. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, appreciating the easy access to the beautiful beach. This area has a number of commercial parks, as well as campgrounds at the spectacular Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. We checked them all out and declared Surf Grove a gold-medal champ.

The comfortable sites are surrounded by trees and shrubs, offering privacy and a connection to nature that you just don’t get in many RV parks. Each had a fire ring and blazes roared each night we were there.

Our trailer had a private bedroom behind a door and a large living space with a well-equipped kitchen. It felt very home-y. We could definitely get used to this.

Then, on our final day in this very special destination, we watched as a driver deftly tucked his pull-behind into a site and sighed: We’re a long way from accomplishing that.

Lesson learned? We love the concept of a trailer, as long as we don’t have to drive and park it. Ha! If we do go there, the InTech Terra, Lance’s 2075 model and the 22-foot Wildwood from Forest River are top of the wanna-buy list.

Maybe we can hire someone to haul it from place to place? You laugh, but even if you went that route, it still might be cheaper than buying a new pickup when all is said and done.

Holiday gifting

We sure appreciate our loyal readers and would love to send you a little something to show it. Send us an email at goingmobile@spokesman.com letting us know your address and we’ll send you a Going Mobile sticker. If you prefer to send snail mail: Going Mobile Travel, Spokesman Review, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, WA 99201.

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