Trailer treasure...

Glory Days' Claire Gormly has escaped a rather cold and dreary New Zealand winter to head off over to the U S of A this month for a once in a lifetime epic adventure, to explore all the weird and wonderful that the West Coast has to offer. Join us in some armchair tourism from the comfort of your lounge to see everything that she discovers along the way!

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When I had the opportunity to visit the United States this year, I jumped at the chance. America is the home of the larger than life and the slightly unusual not to mention a mecca for vintage! I also thought of it as an ideal hunting ground for interesting and extraordinary content for Glory Days. Over the next few weeks I will be exploring all of the delights that California has to offer and giving Glory Days readers, particularly those stuck in a cold wet winter down under, a dose of sunshine.

When I decided to do a tour of the West Coast I knew that staying in wacky places with a vintage twist was a no brainer.  The Hicksville Trailer Palace ticks those boxes and probably any other that you may think of.

The Trailer Palace has themed trailers grouped around a teeny tiny kidney shaped pool. Each trailer has been perfectly designed, and are all delightfully kitsch right down to the very last detail.

I stayed in Fifi, she is a super girly vision in purple and gold with vintage glassware and chandeliers. Designed by a wig maker in New Orleans, she has been decorated in true over the top style. I fell in love with this gorgeous little girl. 

My son had his own “Cramps” themed trailer, complete with vintage horror movies to watch and a jukebox with punk records.

The whole complex is put together in such a way that you naturally socialise with your trailer mates. A spa under a sky lit up with heat lightening broke the ice, the fire pit was lit and I got to try my very first Smore.  We wandered over to the Zombie hut, watching out for coyotes and rattlesnakes and visited our new friends in their Gypsy Caravan, which was a prop from a Pee Wee Herman movie in a former life.

I wanted to do it all - the BB gun range, the meditation teepee but alas I only managed a swim and a picture in the photobooth. I filled out my complimentary postcards and the manager promised she would send them all the way home to New Zealand.

I am now making it my lifes mission to visit enough times to stay in every one of those traliers!