The Smith family: An inspiring story about the Around the World caravan
When journalist Mac Smith was hired as a correspondent for Airstream's "Around the World Caravan" in 1963-64, he decided to take his wife and their three young children on this unique adventure. Nearly six decades later, the Smith family looks back on this most extraordinary Airstream adventure and recounts how the experience shaped their lives forever.
Airstream's "Around the World Caravan" was truly the adventure of a lifetime: 105 people in more than 40 Airstream caravans covered over 31,000 miles and crossed more than 30 countries. They traveled from Singapore to Portugal for 403 days. Mac Smith was commissioned by Airstream to document the journey and took his wife Jackie and their three children, Scott, Judy and Lorie, with him. Mac later wrote a book about the caravan entitled "Thank You, Marco Polo: The Story of the First Around-the-World Trailer Caravan".
Almost 60 years later, the Smith family recounts their incredible travel experience and the indelible impression it left on their lives. Experience the Around the World Caravan through the eyes of the Smith family in our new video.
McGregor "Mac" Smith, Jr., then a journalist for the Miami Daily News, applied to Airstream to become a correspondent for the "Around the World Caravan". This caravan had long been the dream of Airstream founder Wally Byam, but he passed away in 1962 without seeing his dream realized. Wally's friend and Airstream Chairman of the Board Andy Charles took charge of the trip in his honor, while Airstream Club International Director Helen Byam Schwamborn planned the trip and worked with local authorities to ensure safe passage. Mac and Jackie were thrilled when they learned that Mac had gotten the job and were looking forward to exploring the world with their young son Scott and daughter Judy. However, there were some delays due to State Department concerns and other complications. For example, Mac and Jackie had welcomed their youngest daughter Lorie into their family when the trip came up. Concerned that this might keep him from traveling, Mac reportedly contacted Andy Charles to discuss the situation. Andy asked about Lorie's size, and when it was determined that she would fit in the Airstream's bathtub, it was decided that she could sleep there comfortably during the trip.
True adventurers, the Smith family set off in the Around the World Caravan with Scott under 7, Judy under 5 and Lorie 9 months old. The family traveled in a 26-foot 1963 Airstream Overlander (BRN 8511). They were also accompanied by Jackie's parents, Buz and Millie Cordes (BRN 7305).
The group of 105 caravaners met in Los Angeles in September 1963 for the kick-off banquet. They then traveled to Hawaii, Japan and Hong Kong on the S.S. President Cleveland before reuniting with their Airstreams in Singapore to officially begin the caravan. From there, they traveled through South Asia, behind the Iron Curtain and across Europe until the closing ceremonies in Portugal on October 31 and November 1, 1964. During the trip, Mac wrote articles to document the journey for the club newsletter "The Caravanner", the Miami Daily News and several other publications. Upon his return, he published a book about the trip in 1966 titled "Thank You, Marco Polo: The Story of the First Around-the-World Trailer Caravan".
Sadly, Mac Smith passed away in 2018 at the age of 92 after a long and fulfilling life. In March 2019, we were lucky enough to visit Jackie, Scott, Judy and Lorie. They invited us into their home to share their incredible story. We were deeply inspired by the beautiful photos, home movies and their memories of the caravan. It was clear that the caravan had shaped their view of the world and brought them closer together as a family.
Their stories were simply breathtaking and revealed the adventurous spirit of the Airstreamers. The Caravanners invited locals into their Airstreams, explored Angkor Wat, visited the Taj Mahal and Roman ruins. They pulled their Airstreams through the mud, procured fuel and bought food and clothing at local markets. Along the way, the Smith family and other Caravanners fulfilled Wally's dream of "contributing to the promotion of international friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world through personal contact."
Perhaps Scott's words capture it best: "It's been the adventure of a lifetime, I'm so glad my parents did it. The thing I'll take with me for the rest of my life is respect and care for the people of the world."
One thing that made the trip so special for the Smiths was that they were able to experience it as a family. Although it was often asked if it was difficult to travel with such young children, Mac wrote in his book: "And if we had one special advantage in traveling 30,000 miles and 31 countries, it was having our children with us. And if we hadn't played catch with them in the flower beds, how would we have been able to lie on the ground together and see the Taj Mahal through a garden full of flowers?"
The Smith family's story continues to be a source of inspiration for life-changing adventures and a reminder of the power of personal connection through travel. While not everyone has the opportunity to travel the world in an Airstream, Airstreamers know that every time they hitch up their trailer, they do so with a sense of freedom and adventure. New horizons are waiting to be discovered.
Where will your next exploration trip take you?