Related: Discerning luxury-loving travellers have found a new niche with RVs
That’s changing. Mahony says 67 per cent used to be under the age of 55 but that number is growing. Now more people under the age of 35 are coming to it.
RVs: Best of both worlds
Maybe it’s the lasting impact of two years of pandemic restrictions. There’s no hurry among a good portion of Gen Zers and Millennials to get back to the downtown office. There’s a big push to get outdoors – hiking, fishing, camping, walking, kayaking, mountain biking – while turning off the mobile phone. More people are looking to reconnect with nature, with the therapeutic benefits that meditation and mindfulness bring.
More people looking to get out of cities
A town of around 3,000, Princeton’s RV park and camping site is jammed from Victoria Day through Labour Day, and gets another bump from European tourists through the fall. People travel there because Princeton is a real representation of how people envision B.C.’s interior when they read about it or see it portrayed on social media. It’s the postcard experience, and the RV gives you the best of both worlds, the ability to check into a luxury home on wheels after a day outdoors.
More Millennials RVing
The RV park has 73 spots and is 85 per cent booked on any given summer day, Schatz says. The adjoining campsites, right on the river, are always full. The RV park has all the amenities people need – showers, bathrooms, even access to high speed WiFi now. After all, for many people, disconnecting is the goal – but they can’t 100 per cent disconnect.
RVers and campers flock to Princeton, B.C. in the summer and early fall
“The Cascade mountains are right across from the site, and on some days you can see the mountain goats on the side of the mountain, white dots on the green grass, which is really cool,” Schatz says.
Princeton is like being out and about at a zoo, with elks, sheep, goats nearby, eagles flying up and down the river. Yes, bears too.
IPSOS study: More people intend to RV this summer
RVs offer freedom and flexibility for individuals and families. They offer convenience and comfort, cost savings, plus adventure and exploration.
A recent IPSOS survey released by Go RVing Canada showed that 49 per cent of those surveyed intend to go RVing this year, up from 38 per cent in 2022. The survey was conducted in January and included current, lapsed and prospective RVers. That was the top choice when it comes to travel.
Diverse Canadian landscapes ideal for RVing
That all points to what will be a busy summer in places like Princeton, B.C.
Top image by AD Gill Photography on Unsplash
