The blog entry title is the slogan that the railroads marketed on brochures during the early 1900s to promote National Parks to would be tourists. The slogan was created to lure American’s to see their own natural wonders instead of going on European vacations. I’ve been watching a new series called The National Parks: America’s Best Idea by Ken Burns on PBS. I highly recommend it. You’ll learn about how extraordinary individuals like John Muir and Stephen Mathers saved pristine parts of your America from land grabbing developers, ranchers, foresters and miners. Check your local listings on PBS.org for showtimes or watch the full episodes online. How about planning your next trip to a National Park? I took the above photo at Bryce Canyon National Park back in 2003.

Here’s a photo to commemorate the beginning of Fall/Autumn titled “Last Days of Autumn.” This is a 1962 Airstream Globetrotter owned by Flickr member “bredlo.”

Got iPod? iPhone? Need a portable sound system for those trips to the beach or a picnic? I would recommend the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 based on personal listening experiences and my website, iLounge.com for giving it an A- highly recommended rating. The Pure-Fi features a 10-hour rechargeable battery, one-touch controls and Stereo XL technology. It comes with a wireless remote, AC adapter, travel case and dock adapters for various sized iPod/iPhone models. If you have a local Apple store near you stop in and give them a listen.

Do you trust plastic chocks to stabilize your Airstream? The all steel X-Chock ($50) wheel chock is placed between your two wheels and then you crank the tension with the included wrench. The X design locks your wheels in place and there’s no movement. Also available is an optional lock ($9) to secure the chock.

We all know counter space is precious inside an Airstream trailer. Use the InAndOut Trivet ($20) to set that hot pot down on the dinette table and continue your cooking on the stove. It’s a very clever trivet in that it can accommodate different sized pots and pans. While it’s flipped in you can set a small pot on it, then flip it out to set a larger sauce pan on it. Getting two or more of these would really make sense for Airstream cooking. It comes in blue, gray, olive or raspberry.

Here’s a rare sighting. A vintage Airstream Argosy trailer painted red. It makes for a bold statement on the road and quite the contrast in this photo of the week.

Here we go again folks. Another Airstream turned eatery again in Austin, TX. Vaquero Cocina’s (Spanish for “cowboy kitchen”) menu features smoked brisket, smoked corn, plantain chips, fried pies and more. One Yelp member deemed it as “The best of the non-dessert trailers on South Congress!”

With your Airstream in tow and motoring down Retro Highway you see a bit of Americana as you pass various eateries and their signs of yesteryear. Now you can eat on those signs. A set of 4 melamine Restaurant Sign dinner plates ($40) capture bygone days of flashing light bulbs, neon and hand painted signs. Also available is the Let’s Eat serving tray ($20)and a set of 36 Roadside disposable place mats ($23) to match.

Nasa is giving away artifacts from its collection, including the Airstream “Astrovan” which transports the crew to and from the shuttle’s launchpad. The “modified 1983 Airstream Excella motorhome, and has been in use since 1984.” You have to be an eligible
educational institution, museum and other organization to prescreen the artifacts. The items are free except you have to pay for shipping. You can register to prescreen at the General Services Administration website.

The sun has just disappeared behind the mountains in the distance. The grilled steak was delicious. You sit outside in your old aluminum lawn chair enjoying a nice glass of wine and and watching the kids at play. There’s a soft warm glow reflected on your Airstream. The Sun Jar ($35) by designer Tobi Wong is a glass jar containing LEDs powered by a small solar panel. Catch the sun during the day and store it for night use. The nostalgic mason jar design reminds me of warm summer nights catching lightning bugs as a kid. Those were the days.