The Tin Can Tourists: How America’s First RV Club Changed Travel Forever
Episode Summary:
Before Instagram hashtags, before glossy RV commercials, there was a group of ordinary people who packed up their cars, strapped tin cans to the front bumpers, and hit the road in search of sunshine. They called themselves the Tin Can Tourists, and they built a movement that reshaped travel in Florida and across America.
In this episode, we trace the unlikely rise of the Tin Can Tourists in the early 20th century, explore how their quirky community grew into one of the first organized RV clubs, and reflect on what their story tells us about travel, freedom, and the American road. From campgrounds outside Tampa to the cultural clashes with locals, this is the story of how a bunch of scrappy road-trippers transformed not just vacations, but the way Americans imagined mobility itself.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why they were called Tin Can Tourists in the first place.
How Model T–era automobiles and makeshift camping gear kickstarted America’s first RV boom.
The surprising role Florida played in shaping the culture of long-term camping.
What tensions brewed between these early nomads and local communities.
How the Tin Can Tourists paved the way for modern RV parks, camping clubs, and today’s “van life” trend.
Why It Matters:
The Tin Can Tourists weren’t just travelers; they were innovators. They democratized leisure travel, gave birth to America’s love of the open road, and left behind a legacy that still echoes in today’s campgrounds and RV rallies. Their story is one of grit, resourcefulness, and community, a reminder that sometimes, the best adventures begin with little more than a car, a can of beans, and the open highway.
Resources & Links:
Official Tin Can Tourists Club: tincantourists.com
10 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine
It is the oldest structure in the nation’s oldest city. Completed in 1695, the Castillo de San Marcos was authorized by the Queen Regent of Spain a century after the founding of St.Augustine. It followed a brutal attack on the city by English pirates that left 60 people dead and the kidnapping of many more residents for ransom.
The masonry star fort overlooking the Matanzas River is made of a stone called coquina (Spanish for “small shells”). Coquina is a type of limestone native to coastal regions around the world. Quarried from nearby Anastasia Island, the stone comprises tiny seashells that have been compressed over thousands of years.
At the time of completion, the fort featured coquina walls up to 19-feet thick in places and 33 feet high, surrounded by a moat and protected by dozens of cannons mounted at the bastions.
After being decommissioned, the fort was declared a national monument.
Today, this well-preserved piece of history is one of the most popular things to do when visiting St. Augustine. On this episode, I give you some tips if it’s your first time exploring this landmark and run down what you should know before visiting the Castillo de San Marcos.
