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You and your friends can stay in Instagrammable retro campers and drink wine on a California vineyard

Molly O'Brien   

You and your friends can stay in Instagrammable retro campers and drink wine on a California vineyard
  • The Trailer Pond is located on grounds of the Alta Colina vineyard in Paso Robles, California.
  • The on-site trailers were renovated to reflect their original interior from the 1950s and 1960s.
  • Each camper sleeps two, but guests can rent out all five trailers for special events.

Nestled on the edge of a waterfront view, the Trailer Pond marries the outdoors with Instagram-worthy aesthetics all in one campsite.

Guests can stay in renovated, vintage trailers while also exploring the family-owned Alta Colina vineyard and winery in Paso Robles, California, which is about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Insider spoke with Melissa Swanson, Alta Colina's director of hospitality, to learn more about the scenic spot.

The campsite is open for most of the year

The pond's camping season runs from the first weekend of March through mid-November, so it's open to enjoy for the spring, summer, and fall.

"Spring is my favorite time of year here with the wildflowers," Swanson said. "Right now if you walk on the dock you can see all the tadpoles. At night, the frogs chirping and singing almost sound like music."

There are five individually named trailers on-site available to rent for a unique camping experience. The 1958 Kenskill Deluxe, 1959 Terry, 1962 Aristocrat, 1959 Shasta, and 1957 Deville all sport custom-built beds that sleep two people.

Rates for the campers start at $275 per day, with a two-night minimum stay. And although there is no Wi-Fi in the trailers, guests can connect to the internet at Alta Colina's on-site tasting room.

Since the location's primarily a vineyard, guests must be 21 or older to stay on the site. That said, each visitor receives a complimentary wine tasting.

Each vintage trailer has its own personality and is located on the vineyard

Inside of each camper, you'll find a purposeful tribute to the 1950s and 1960s in terms of decor and amenities.

Each vintage trailer is designed to pay homage to its original interior - some of them still have the ice boxes they came with while others boast modern mini-fridges and a small kitchen (but cooking is not permitted inside the trailers).

There's no central air-conditioning, so summer visitors should expect hotter temperatures during the day with cooler ones in the evening, which is the ideal climate for a productive vineyard.

Although the trailers don't have their own bathrooms, there's a custom-built outdoor shower with privacy panels and two restroom stalls. There's also a vanity nearby with running water for brushing teeth or washing hands - plus it features a scenic reflection of the vineyard.

"This is one of my favorite spots - every time I go to wash my hands there's this beautiful vineyard view in the background," Swanson told Insider.

Guests also have access to Alta Colina vineyard, which was founded in 2003.

The site mainly produces Rhône-style wine from grapes grown on its 31-acre vineyard, which sits at a higher elevation, peaking at 1,800 feet above sea level.

In addition to enjoying the wine, guests can explore the entire property to hike, bird watch, and stargaze.

The Trailer Pond can be booked for small trips or events, like bachelorette parties

Guests share the outdoor space of the site, so you can make a reservation for yourself and a travel buddy and meet other campers along the way.

There's also a spacious outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and a burner stovetop for guests to share, complete with running water, a large sink, and supplied cooking utensils like dishes, pots, and pans.

For special occasions, groups can also book all five trailers to enjoy the grounds for themselves.

When a group rents out the entire pond, they can request a farm-to-table meal experience with locally made food and add activities like ax throwing, dance lessons, or massages on the dock to the agenda.

Plus local attractions like the beach, Hearst Castle, and San Luis Obispo are all about a 45-minute drive away from the site and can make for a fun day trip.

Even without those additions to the itinerary, the Trailer Pond has places to hike, enjoy wine, and meet the local wildlife, like the two resident ducks the team refers to as Donald and Daisy.

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