Tag: camping

Travel to New Heights This July 

If corn is supposed to be as high as an elephant’s eye come July, we got to thinking about other high things. For instance, did you know the highest recorded cornstalk was 45 feet – found in western New York. Or that the tallest building in America is New York’s One World Trade Center soaring 1776 feet into the sky. What else is way up there..? 

Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground
Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground

From a mountain perspective, consider a glamping cottage at Thousand Trails Green Mountain in Lenoir, North Carolina and head to nearby Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountain range. A challenging 5+ mile trek will get you to the top, but a drive to the summit is also possible. The distinction of the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard goes to Cadillac Mountain, which can be found in Maine’s Acadia National Park. Book a cozy glamping cabin at Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort or Narrows Too Camping Resort to visit Acadia and possibly watch the sunrise from atop Cadillac Mountain. A stay at Lake George Escape Campground will put you less than 40 miles from the highest spot in the Adirondacks – Mt. Marcy, which has an elevation of 5,343 feet.  

Cabin Glamping at Chehalis RV Campground
Cabin at Thousand Trails Chehalis

On the west coast, a tiny house stay at the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village is the perfect place to explore Oregon’s highest elevation, Mt. Hood, which is 11,245 from sea level. For spectacular views of Washington’s highest peak, Mt. Rainier, book a cabin or cottage stay at nearby Thousand Trails Chehalis which offers pretty great views of this snow-capped beauty in the Pacific Northwest.  

From a man-made perspective when it comes to high things, the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, Nevada is the highest free-standing observation structure in the US towering 1,149 feet above the Las Vegas Strip – book a glamping cabin at Thousand Trails Las Vegas to experience the views from “the Strat.” Coming in at #2 on the list of tallest observation towers, the Tower of the Americas stands at 750 feet. It was built for the San Antonio’s World’s Fair in 1968 – book a cabin at Thousand Trails Medina Lake to experience the 360 degree views from this tower.  

Cabin at Thousand Trails Pine Country
Cabin at Thousand Trails Pine Country


For nearly 25 years after it was built in 1973, Chicago’s Willis Tower was the tallest building in the world. Surpassed by a skyscraper in Malaysia, it now ranks as the 12th tallest building in the world and the third tallest in the Western hemisphere as well as the US. Book a cottage stay at Thousand Trails Pine Country to take the roughly 90-minute drive into the city to see the Willis Tower and the magnificent views from its Skydeck.   

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5 Things to Do in Gettysburg, PA

If you’re planning a glamping trip to Pennsylvania, stop by and wish Drummer Boy Camping Resort a very happy birthday as this glamping location in historic Gettysburg is turning 60 this year! Book a glamping cabin or cottage and enjoy a glamping retreat at this wooded resort. And while there are plenty of activities and events on site, the historic Gettysburg area offers plenty to see.


1. Of course, the number one attraction in Gettysburg is the Gettysburg National Military Park and we can guarantee, even if you’ve been before, you will learn something new with each visit. From the historic battlefield to the museum to the living history events, a visit here is always worth the time. For details, visit https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm.

Downtown Gettysburg, PA at night
Downtown Gettysburg, PA


2. The Adams County Pour Tour blends a nice mix of breweries, cideries, distilleries, meaderies and wineries on a self-guided beverage trail tour through downtown Gettysburg as well as the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside. For more information and suggested itineraries visit destinationgettysburg.com/pourtour.

Round Barn
Round Barn


3. The Round Barn is a must see for several reasons – it is one of the only remaining round barn structures left in the US, and it has a wide variety of seasonal fruits, plus jams, jellies, baked goods and crafts, including Amish crafts.

4. Lots of fun facts about the apple, plus all kinds of history and artifacts can be found at the National Apple Museum. There is also a gift shop and a Summer Concert series. For information visit https://www.nationalapplemuseum.com/.

5. Some serious horsing around is on the agenda in the area and activities can include a visit to the Land of Little Horses or a tour of the historic battlefield on horseback. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the Land of Little Horses, a performing animal park that has not only miniature horses roaming around but also several shows, a Western Town and a pig colosseum complete with pig races. For details visit landoflittlehorses.com. For a guided horseback tour of the battlefield, check out the tours available through Hickory Hollow Farm (hickoryhollowfarm.com) and choose the one that works best for you!

Family enjoying a cabin at Drummer Boy Camping Resort
Cabin at Drummer Boy Camping Resort

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Tiny House, Big Hype

The Tiny House Movement is taking the glamping community by storm. Bigger is definitely not better in this case, because these unique accommodations are even being bought and used as family homes. These tiny home owners and glampers are living in about 200 square feet, and they are lavishing in the mini–minimalistic lifestyle. Skeptics may wonder why and how people would choose to be confined in that small of a space all the time. As interesting as the concept may sound to those “bigger is better” believers, inhabitants of the homes fall in love with the experience. The hype for tiny homes is real and verifiable not only for how cute they are, but for benefits they have not only for your health but also the environment. 

Henry, a tiny house at the Tuxbury Tiny House Village.

Size isn’t everything – 

Surprisingly, some of these tiny houses can easily sleep 5 people. Fully equipped with a kitchen and full bathroom, many tiny houses also have an upstairs loft area. So, if you think you and your glamping companions will be constantly stepping on each other toes, think again. You and your four favorite friends will be housed quite comfortably, and you’ll have entertaining photos to prove it.  

They push you to spend more time outdoors – 

Although the sleeping and general living accommodations are available in a small footprint, spending all of your days inside is no way to live, regardless of square footage. Nonetheless, tiny home living pushes guests to want to be outside more, ultimately expanding their living space. More time being spent outside is related to better mental health, which might be why tiny house residents enjoy the experience so much! You are truly living with the environment in a tiny house. 

A friend to the environment –

Tiny homes are environmentally beneficial. For one, they’re typically made from wood and mostly recycled material, and use much less energy and building material compared to a normal sized house. Additionally, the average house uses approximately 30,000 pounds of CO2 a year, while tiny homes use an average of 2,000. Less electricity use and less land space, the environmental impact, or lack thereof, is just one of many reasons vacationing tiny is an attractive choice. A smaller house ultimately brings a smaller carbon footprint, and we’re talking tiny. 

Staying put is so last year –

Tiny homes can also act like RVs! If you have a vehicle that can pull and RV, it can tow a road ready tiny home, and some builders (such as Tumbleweed Tiny House Company) ensure their tinies are RVIA certified. The camping world is surely your oyster as you can still be a nomad family on the go, even though you are still technically living in a house. There’s no way to feel confined in a tiny home if you can live in it literally anywhere you choose. Tired of the warm southern weather? Just move north! You will never exhaust a location living the tiny life.  

Adeline, a tiny house at the Leavenworth Tiny House Village.

 You can give the tiny house life a try by visiting any of our tiny house villages!

 

 

 

Glamping – It’s all the Rage!

Yurt • Circle M RV & Camping Resort

It may have become official when the word was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2018, but “glamping” has quietly become quite trendy over the past several years. The word itself it’s a combination, or portmanteau, if you will, of glamour and camping. The concept is simple, combine luxury amenities and accommodations with the outdoor activity of camping, and voila, you’re glamping.

But why has it become such a big thing in the last few years?  Simply put, American’s are looking to combine two of their favorite things – relaxing, and being outdoors with the caveat of making it less stressful when it comes to the accommodations part. No more making sure you arrive before dark so you can see all the tent poles, or waking up with an aching back which may wreak havoc on daytime activities like hiking and canoeing. According to a market research study done by Arizton, the glamping market will reach roughly $1 billion by 2024 in the U.S. Glamping is here to stay!

Glamping certainly amps up an outdoor experience in many ways. Accommodations for glamping are designed to give you the maximum amount of luxury, while staying true to the concept of communing with nature. What today’s glamper is looking for is camping amenities that include unique and quality sleeping options, onsite private kitchens and bathrooms, and a location that is near major attractions but still provides that “off the beaten path” feeling, while not sacrificing resort amenities and facilities.

Yurt Yosemite Lakes Groveland, CA

Of course, whether your camp or glamp, the benefits are still the same. The reduction in stress levels when you go off grid and spend time outside is tremendous.

So, how do you glamp?

First off, unique accommodations such as yurts, cabins, teepees and tiny houses are considered glamping accommodations. Yurts are spacious, and typically can accommodate queen-sized beds, bathroom suites with showers and kitchenettes. Similarly, cabins provide ample space for more luxurious amenities and plenty of space to relax and enjoy your camping company. Teepees are unique, and well, just plain cool. As for the tiny houses, these little darlings are so well-appointed they feel just like home.

Location is also a factor for your outdoor foray to be considered glamping. To be glamping-worthy, your campground should have clean, accessible bathrooms (if your accommodations do not provide private bathrooms), electric hook-ups, onsite amenities like pools and laundry rooms and should be pet-friendly (after all, if you’re a pet-lover, you wouldn’t consider adventuring without your four-legged bestie along for the ride.) Access to recreation should also be available, whether at the location or nearby.

Horses RanchoOso Photo By JulieVader

Some Petite Retreats glamping locations to consider would include:

Yosemite Lakes (Groveland, CA) – Check off access to recreation with Yosemite National Park just up the road, and the campground is pet friendly. As for accommodations, check out the yurts here.

Rancho Oso – The scenery surrounding the campground, which includes Los Padres National Forest and the Santa Ynez River, provides relaxing vibes, while the teepees are ultra-cool for bedding down after a day spent horseback riding or hiking. And yes, pets are welcome.

Mt. Desert Narrows (Bar Harbor, ME) – The rugged east coast location, proximity to Acadia National Park, the cozy cabin accommodations, and the pet friendly attitude make this campground a glamping possibility.

Other items that can make you a glamper include interesting menu items other than traditional camping fare that can be created over your campfire or camp kitchen, fun cocktails, or mocktails, to relax after the day’s events, cozy blankets and chairs to relax in, and aromatics or incense to keep things smelling fresh!

Sunset • Mt Desert Narrows Camping Resort

Check out other Petite Retreat locations and get your first glamping experience under your belt. You don’t want to be left out in the cold on this trend!