Month: January 2025

5 Things to Do in Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers, Florida, and the towns surrounding it have plenty to do no matter what your trip’s “must-do” list includes. There are beaches and fishing and shopping and museums and history tours and so much more. The list is as endless as the miles of sandy beaches available for doing nothing more than simply relaxing in the sun. So, when you’re done with the beach, consider these things to do. And before you go, make sure to book your Florida stay at Pine Island KOA Holiday, Encore Pioneer Village or Encore Ramblers Rest so you can be close to all the action.

Vacation Cottage at Encore Pioneer Village
Vacation Cottage at Encore Pioneer Village
  1. Estate Plans: We’re not talking about financial planning here, but instead making plans to visit the winter homes of both Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. These “winter estates” provide a glimpse into how these inventors spent their days off.  Visitors can view the homes and gardens of these forward-thinking men as well as see memorabilia and historic artifacts of both Ford and Edison. For more information, visit edisonfordwinterestates.org.
Moonlight Garden at Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's Winter Estate.
Moonlight Garden at Thomas Edison and Henry Ford’s Winter Estate.
  1. Take Refuge: That is, take a trip to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on nearby Sanibel Island. This is a 6,400-acre refuge that is home to more than 270 bird species, 35 mammal species, and 60 different reptiles. There are opportunities for hiking as well as a 4-mile Wildlife Drive where you can catch glimpses of the wildlife that inhabit the refuge. For hours and information, visit fws.gov/refuge/JN_Ding_Darling.
  1. Seek Shell-ter: If you know anything about shelling, then you know that both nearby Sanibel and Captiva Islands are considered some of the best shelling beaches in North America. Located on Sanibel Island, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is the only accredited museum in the US devoted to shells and mollusks. It began in 1984 with a bequest from a local shell collector and grew from there. The museum’s newest exhibit is an aquarium gallery filled with living mollusks. Other exhibits include shells from around the world and an exhibit that details shells have influenced art and architecture across cultures. For details, visit shellmuseum.org.
Ft. Myers & Caloosahatchee River, FL.
Ft Myers & Caloosahatchee River, FL.
  1. Meet up in Matlacha: Matlacha is an island in the Gulf about 15 miles from Fort Myers. Matlacha is a colorful, quaint old fishing village now home to shops, art galleries, and opportunities for crabbing, clamming, shrimping, and just enjoying the laid-back vibe of this historic town. As you cross the bridge to the island, watch for all the anglers trying their luck at catching the tarpon, red fish, and snook that run in the tidal current beneath the bridge. The Matlacha Bridge is also known as the “Fishingest Bridge in the World” thanks to its abundance of fisher-people.
  1. See Stars: The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a great mix of indoor and outdoor activities. The planetarium offers daily shows and the nature center portion includes a butterfly house and a raptor aviary. There are also two hiking trails that meander through several different eco-systems. For hours of operation, show times, and details on what you can expect when you go, visit calusanature.org.

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Find Your Perfect Cabin Retreat This Year

Amongst the woods, there lies a cabin from where we watched the sunset…This lovely poem by Jihal Sharma goes on to count the ways a cabin stay can be cozy and charming and relaxing and more. In fact, cabin camping is up 101% according to industry reports so why not take a cue and plan some cabin stays when glamping with us.

Cabin at Thousand Trails Pacific City
Cabin at Thousand Trails Pacific City

In the Pacific Northwest consider a glamping cabin at Mt. Hood Village Resort, Thousand Trails Pacific City or Thousand Trails Seaside. Of course, the Mt. Hood area is a natural playground all year round so skiing in winter at the iconic Skibowl, the blooming fields of flowers along the hiking trails come spring, stand-up paddling and kayaking on the Hood River come summer and the beautiful palette of autumn as the trees change colors. Pacific City and Seaside are both great for exploring the rugged Oregon coastline with activities like clamming, fishing and water sports.

Cabin at Tranquil Timbers Campground
Cabin at Tranquil Timbers Campground

Come summer, head to Wisconsin and enjoy the six different locations that offer glamping in cozy cabins. Tranquil Timbers Campground puts you in proximity to all things Door County which include activities at Peninsula State Park, the quaint shops of the downtown areas, plus the cherry and apple orchards, wineries and art galleries. If you’re looking to explore the Wisconsin Dells area, book a glamping cabin at Yukon Trails Camping Resort or Arrowhead RV Campground to take in the outdoor activities at Mirror Lake State Park, an iconic Dells Duck Tour or the unique shops and attractions in the downtown Dells. For a glamping trip with a side of onsite fishing, consider Fremont RV Campground, which is set on Partridge Lake, Neshonoc Lakeside Campground, which is set on Neshonoc Lake which is a great place for fishing and boating or Plymouth Rock Camping Resort, which has plenty of onsite activities including kayaking.

Cabins at Alpine Lake RV Resort
Cabins at Alpine Lake RV Resort

Heading east, cabin time is available in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania. The picturesque coastal town of Bar Harbor has two options for a Maine cabin glamping gateway, camping resorts Mt. Desert Narrows and Narrows Too. Both are conveniently located to the stunning Acadia National Park and downtown Bar Harbor. New Hampshire’s Tuxbury Pond RV Campground offers glamping cabins and is less than an hour from all the fun of Boston but also offers the quiet tranquility of Tuxbury Pond and nearby apple orchards. If you’re in a New York state of mind when it comes to a glamping getaway, look to Alpine Lake RV Resort or Lake George Escape Campground. Both offer the beauty of the Adirondacks as your backdrop with plenty of outdoor activities nearby like fishing, biking and hiking. The rolling hills of Pennsylvania Dutch Country offer glamping opportunities at both Appalachian Camping Resort and Spring Gulch Resort Campground. Both provide proximity to all things PA Dutch including the Amish Country experience, horseback riding, bicycling and the historic covered bridges of Lancaster County.

Cabin at Thousand Trails Natchez Trace
Cabin at Thousand Trails Natchez Trace

Southern-style cabin glamping can be found in the T states – Tennessee and Texas and both are, dare we say, terrific places to settle in a glamping cabin while you explore the area. Thousand Trails Natchez Trace in Hohenwald, Tennessee is a great home base for being a “tourist” in Nashville or getting in some good fishing at the onsite 3-acre lake teeming with bass, crappie and shellcracker. Just outside the Big D (Dallas), a glamping cabin at Thousand Trails Bay Landing offers proximity to all the Dallas highlights including the Dallas Arts District and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden or Fort Worth with the historic Fort Worth Stockyards and the Fort Worth Zoo.

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Top Glamping Spots for 2025 Adventures

A fresh slate, a blank calendar and a new year of glamping! Here are some ideas to have you glamping all year long:

Winter:

The beautiful Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth, Washington is always worth a visit, but from late November to late February, the lights come on and by lights we mean over half a million twinkling lights from sunup to sundown. Book a tiny house at the Leavenworth Tiny House Village and explore all the fun things to do here including the Nutcracker Museum, the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm and all the great shops and wine tasting rooms in downtown Leavenworth.

The benefits of Florida in the winter include the mild winter temperatures that top out in the upper 70s and of course, the lack of snow! Florida glamping locations can include the always fabulous Florida Keys (book a tiny house at the Sunshine Key Tiny House Village or glamping cottage at Encore Fiesta Key); a colorful cottage at Encore Tropical Palms in Kissimmee so close to the Orlando theme parks, or a cabin at Encore Miami Everglades.

Yurt at Thousand Trails Long Beach
Yurt at Thousand Trails Long Beach

Spring:

The March winds certainly come in handy if you want to fly a kite and Long Beach, Washington is considered the kite flying capital of the world. Check out the World Kite Museum in Long Beach for some ideas and then go fly a kite while staying at a glamping cabin, cottage or yurt at Thousand Trails Long Beach.

April is bluebonnet time in Texas and the Willow City Loop in Fredericksburg is a great place to enjoy the blooming Texas State flower. Book a glamping cabin at Thousand Trails Medina Lake and head into Fredericksburg to start the 13-mile loop. Another highlight here is Bandera, which is billed as the “Cowboy Capital of the World” – located less than 30 minutes from Medina Lake, this little town is worth a look-see.

Tiny Houses at Thousand Trails Verde Valley
Tiny Houses at Thousand Trails Verde Valley

Summer:

June is one of the best times of year to visit this part of Arizona before the heat of the summer sun makes hiking the beautiful Red Rock State Park a little too steamy! Book a tiny house stay at Thousand Trails Verde Valley and explore the gorgeous scenery with don’t miss highlights like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock.

Head to the Jersey Shore for a summer vacation you’ll always remember. The Jersey Shore is great for sandy beaches, fun-and-games filled boardwalks and the rolling tide of the Atlantic Ocean where you can fish, jet ski and paddle board. There are several Jersey Shore options to glamp at – check out rentals at https://thousandtrails.com/atlantic-city-cape-may-rv-resorts.

Cabins at Narrows Too Camping Resort
Cabins at Narrows Too Camping Resort

Maine in late summer is a good time because the water is warm and the weather is not too hot. Book a cabin at camping resorts Mt. Desert Narrows or Narrows Too and explore picturesque Bar Harbor and the stunning Acadia National Park with plenty of hiking trails. Enjoy the seafood, see the sunrise for Acadia’s Cadillac Mountain, or take in an outdoor concert on the Village Green.

Tuxbury Tiny House Village
Tuxbury Tiny House Village

Autumn:

We like to think glamping and leaf-peeping pair well together in autumn. The Tuxbury Tiny House Village might be the perfect glamping spot to take in the beautiful foliage of New Hampshire. Nearby Odiorne State Park is one spot for great leaf-peeping and the Little Boar’s Head Seaside Trail is another option for a color show worth seeing!

If you want to explore the Florida Everglades, the best time just might be in November. This time of year is drier, which means less humidity and of course, less of those pesky mosquitoes. Choose from a glamping lodge cabin or bunkhouse at Encore Miami Everglades Resort and you’re less than 10 minutes from Everglades National Park.

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5 Things to Do in Pismo Beach, CA

Looking for a getaway with sand and sun? How about a glamping cottage at Pacific Dunes Ranch with access to the fabulous sand dunes as well as all the fun things to do in the area?

Cottage at Pacific Dunes Ranch
Cottage at Pacific Dunes Ranch

1. Pismo Preserve: At over 800 acres, this beautiful nature preserve is the place to go for outdoor adventures. There is roughly 11 miles of hiking to be found here on several trails that range from ¾ miles to over 5 miles in distance. Expect lovely coastal hikes with beautiful ocean views.

2. Hearst Castle: Believe us when we tell you this is worth the roughly 50+ mile road trip (plus you can’t beat the scenery along the way!) There are several ways to tour this magnificent estate built for publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst. From the spectacular indoor and outdoor pools, the lush gardens and room upon room of splendidly appointed furnishing, art and antiques, Heart Castle is a real treasure.

Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle, California

3. Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve: From the soaring dunes to the amazing sunsets, don’t miss this attraction. Fish, swim, walk the beach or just marvel at the amazing sand dune found here.

4. Pismo Beach Boardwalk: Who doesn’t love a boardwalk? The original pier was built in 1881 and has been rebuilt several times since, yet has maintained its attraction through the years. Great shops and eateries, fishing opportunities and of course great views of the ocean are the draws here!

5. Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove: From late October to early February, this is the place to be if you’re a monarch butterfly, or a monarch butterfly lover! The Butterfly Grove is the winter home of tens of thousands of migrating monarch butterflies. Open from sunrise to sunset, visitors can expect daily butterfly talks and of course the opportunity to see the butterflies that line the eucalyptus and Monterey cypress trees in the grove.

Monarch butterflies cluster in the limbs of majestic Eucalyptus trees, Pismo Beach Grove, California Central Coast
Monarch butterflies -Pismo Beach Grove, California

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