Holiday Glamping – How Festive!

Give yourself the gift of glamping this winter and take a trip to a location that offers plenty of holiday festivities as well as winter fun. Consider these glamping spots:

Leavenworth, Washington: This charming town in Washington State ranked as one of the top 25 Festive Christmas Towns in America, according to House Beautiful magazine. First thing on the holiday to-do list is make a reservation for one of the charming tiny houses at Leavenworth Tiny House Village and get set to make merry. One unique holiday experience would be a visit to the Nutcracker Museum that displays 7000 nutcrackers from over 50 countries. And of course, a visit to the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm puts you up close and personal with distant kin of Dancer, Prancer, and the whole team that guides Santa’s sleigh. To enjoy all the fluffy white stuff (Leavenworth averages 89 inches of snow in winter), consider snowshoeing, snow tubing, snowmobiling, sledding, and skiing. Check out Leavenworth.org for more info on outdoor sports. Downtown Leavenworth does not disappoint with its twinkling lights and perfect setting for browsing the shops and wine tasting, among the snow-capped mountain backdrop.

St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine, Florida: According to travelawaits.com, St. Augustine, Florida, is a great place to spend the holidays. The reasons include plenty of twinkling lights (more than 3 million!), festive decorations and all kinds of special events. Starting with the Nights of Lights, which runs through January 31, 2023, and offers great selfie opportunities so you can be the centerpiece of the all the dazzle. Two of the best spots for the shots include the Bridge of Lions and the Plaza de la Constitucion. Rent a cabin or cottage at Bulow and enjoy the Florida sun in winter, holiday shopping in St. Augustine or the nearby St. Augustine Premium Outlets, and the Lighthouse Illuminations exhibit at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, which runs through January 14.

Santa Barbara, California: ZooLights, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s holiday lights display features more than 50,000 LED bulbs lighting up a spectacular animal adventure, holiday-style. Illuminated lanterns showcase the animals and nature scenes representing wild places from around the world. The 36th Annual Parade of Lights at The Harbor takes place on December 11 and several holiday pop-up markets will be open throughout the month where you can find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. Makers & Wares Market in downtown Santa Barbara and Yes Store at the La Arcada Shopping Center are just two of these great markets to browse. Check out the glamping accommodations at Rancho Oso and get set for some great glamping to kickoff the holiday season.

Rancho Oso Cabin
Rancho Oso Cabin

Dallas, Texas: If everything is bigger in Texas, then it stands to reason that holiday events are crazy big, too. Book a glamping cabin at Bay Landing and check out how the Big D does the holidays. Enchant Christmas Dallas seems like one-stop shopping for holiday fun. In addition to the interactive light maze adventure, there is also ice-skating, a holiday marketplace, live entertainment, and the Tipsy Tree Lounge with all kinds of holiday spirits (the drinking kind, that is)! What’s a holiday celebration without food? If you’re a foodie, you’ll enjoy the Downtown Lights Holiday Foodie Tour, a curated food tour through downtown Dallas. You can eat, drink, and enjoy the “Merry Everything” holiday lights and displays.

Cabins at Bay Landing RV Campground
Bay Landing RV Campground

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Sense-ible Glamping

Of course, glamping is good for the soul as it provides the opportunity to disconnect from everything and reconnect with nature. It’s good for the body too as it lowers stress levels and provides plenty of opportunity for exercise in the great outdoors. Glamping is also good for the senses – and we found some locations that will delight all five of them. Next time you’re planning a trip, keep these sense-sational spots in mind.

Touch: Sand – gritty, soft or silky. Tree bark – rough, smooth, notched. Snow – cold and wet. There are so many tactile experiences to be had while glamping. See how the beach feels beneath your feet when you stay Oregon’s beach town location of Pacific City or the cold snow falling on your face when you stay in a tiny house at Leavenworth Tiny House Village in winter. How about a healing touch? The vortexes of Sedona are said to provide just that. Book a cabin or tiny house stay at Verde Valley and see if you experience this unique touch of healing energy.

Sight:  What can be more picturesque than field upon field of blooming tulips? Check out the Skagit Valley come spring and stay at La Conner. Or, catch the spectacular views from Yosemite National Park any time of year. Plan to stay in a yurt or cabin at Yosemite Lakes and see just how beautiful every inch of this treasure is. The Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys made the list of the “50 Most Beautiful Places in the U.S. You Can’t Afford to Miss” (according to attractionsofamerica.com), so book a colorful cottage stay at Fiesta Key RV Resort and Marina and find out why after a short drive along the Overseas Highway.

Sound: Rolling waves hitting the sand; wildlife sounds in the night, the clip clop of horseshoes, the rustle of the trees – can you hear these sounds? Most definitely if you glamp with us at California’s Rancho Oso where guided horseback rides are available. Or, rent a tiny house at the Sunshine Key Tiny House Village and let the sounds of the ocean relax you – it’ll be right outside your window. So many of our locations are nestled in the woods or in the quiet wilderness. What about the sounds of camp-side laughter? Wherever you’re glamping, gather your crew at dusk and recap the day, tell jokes, and play games to evoke this always-pleasing sound.

Bend-Sunriver Yurt
Bend-Sunriver Yurt

Smell: How about the smell of a pine forest – check into a yurt at Bend-Sunriver and check out Deschutes National Forest, which is home to thousands of fragrant Ponderosa pines. The smell of Seattle’s Pike Place Market is a mix of exotic spices, flowers, coffee beans, and more mixing to make it memorable for sure. Add in another yurt experience with a stay at Tall Chief and see how many scents you can identify at one of Seattle’s most visited attractions. What about the plethora of smells emanating from a botanic garden? Plan to stay in a cabin at Bay Landing and head into Dallas to experience the scent-sations of the blooms found at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

Cabin at Miami Everglades
Cabin at Miami Everglades

Taste: How do you taste glamping? Well, for our purposes, you glamp near a unique foodie experience. For example, sample succulent Maine lobster when you stay at our Bar Harbor resorts or try an iconic Door County, Wisconsin, fish boil when you stay in a cozy cabin at Tranquil Timbers in nearby Sturgeon Bay. Enjoy the fruits of the sea when staying at our Pacific Northwest locations and taste seasonal Chinook salmon, Dungeness crab, or Oregon Pink Shrimp or oysters. A stay at Natchez Trace means Nashville’s culinary treats, which include hot chicken (named for the healthy dose of cayenne pepper used), buttery, flaky biscuits, and the oh-so-gooey and sweet Goo Goo clusters. Miami is all about classic Cuban cuisine which can be experienced through a food tour. Check out miamiculinarytours.com when you stay with us in a cabin at Miami Everglades.

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No FOMO this Summer

Things sure do look a lot different than they did in Summer 2020. In fact, some people are finding their calendars are filling up faster than ever. Apparently, spending some time in quarantine has given everyone a severe case of FOMO (if you aren’t hip to the lingo, FOMO is short for fear of missing out). Here’s a quick roundup of events, openings, and fun things to do this summer to avoid that FOMO:

Across the country, state and county fairs are making up for lost time and planning some great events. Some summer fairs of note include the Wisconsin State Fair (August 5-15), the Maine State Fair (July 29-August 7) and Oregon’s Clackamas County Fair (August 17-21).

Narrows Too in Trenton, ME.

Florida is glad to welcome back the Key West Key Lime Festival (July 1-5); Maine’s iconic seaside town of Bar Harbor will host the 55th season of the Bar Harbor Music Festival through July 25; and the Lake George Music Festival is back after its 2020 hiatus and will run August 18-25. Nashville will host the Music City Brewer’s Festival on July 31 which will highlight local, regional, and national breweries along with live music and lots of fun games and then in August welcomes the Blended Festival (August 13-14) which blends music, celebrity chefs, and all kinds of culinary delights.

“Fiesta In Santa Barbara” by Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Oregon’s Mt. Hood area has plenty of summer fun on tap including an Outdoor Vintage Faire (July 17-18) and the Oregon City Festival of Arts (August 14-15) while Bend, Oregon’s summer events include Bend Summer Festival (July 10-11) and Balloons over Bend (July 23-25). Sunny California events include the Monterey Artichoke Festival (July 24-25) featuring all things artichoke, plus live music, and cooking demonstrations while beautiful Santa Barbara will honor their roots with the Old Spanish Days Fiesta, set to run August 4-8 with plenty of music, dance, and pageantry.

Major theme parks are open again and new rides and attractions include Hershey Park’s Candymonium steel roller coaster, which opened last summer and a thrilling new stunt show at Universal Orlando, the Bourne Stuntacular, promises a lot of excitement as does the park’s Jurassic World VelociCoaster.

And don’t forget the beaches, woodlands, trails, bike paths, and our beautiful national parks are all open again and welcoming back everyone who missed summer fun in 2020. So, check out our fabulous accommodations at PetiteRetreats.com, make a reservation and see all there is to see. No FOMO here!

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Fields of Flowers

Is there anything more summery than a sunflower? From the canvases full of these flowers painted by Van Gogh to the real-life sunflower fields across the U.S., a glimpse of these sunny flowers is bound to make you smile!

Tiny House Clara at Tuxbury Pond Tiny House Village in South Hampton, NH.

Coppal House Farm in Lee, New Hampshire, will host the 2021 Sunflower Festival from July 31 through August 8. Book a tiny house at Tuxbury Pond Tiny House Village and make plans to see these sunnies in bloom. The festival will not only have the fields open but will also have a daily farm stand, food vendors, and live music.

Thompson’s Strawberry Farm in Bristol, Wisconsin, does have a pick your own strawberry option (mid-June to early July), but it also has fields and fields of sunflowers where you can pick your own, too! The sunflower picking season runs from July through October. Drive on over from your cozy cabin at Plymouth Rock (about 90 miles), pick a bunch and head back to camp! 

Cozy cabin at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, WI.

Won’t the sunflowers you harvest at Oregon’s Lee Farms Sunflower Festival look great in your tiny house accommodation at Mt. Hood Tiny House Village? The festival begins August 6 and runs through the month. Learn about the sunflower, enjoy a hayride through the sunflower maze, listen to some live music and frolic among the fields of 30 varieties of sunflowers. For more information, visit oregonsunflowerfestival.com.

Book a cabin at Spring Gulch in New Holland, Pennsylvania, and make plans to attend Maple Lawn Farms Sunflower Festival 2021. Less than 45 miles from your cabin, you’ll find roughly eight football fields’ worth of blooming sunflowers. Variety is the spice of the sunflower festival here because in addition to the classic sunflower, the farm also has 40 different types of sunflowers planted. There’s the Red Sea section where the blooms are a beautiful velvety red. There’s the Land of the Giants where the sunflowers tower over the visitor walkways. Plus, there’s food, music, and a bajillion great photo ops! Visit sunflowerfestivalpa.com for all the details.

Some of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous paintings were those of the sunflowers he painted in the south of France. An interesting way to immerse yourself in these fields of flowers is to visit the unique Immersive Van Gogh, a digital experience of Van Gogh’s most famous works, including those sunflowers, at various locations across the U.S. The experience is currently at several locations including Dallas (through October 3, 2021); Orlando (opens October 7, 2021); San Francisco (through September 6, 2021) and Nashville (opens November 4, 2021.) Visit petiteretreats.com to reserve a unique accommodation near these cities. 

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Yosemite Yurts – A Natural Place to Stay and Play

Yurt Yosemite Lakes Groveland, CA

Most people visit our national parks to get closer to nature and  see nature at its best – meaning unspoiled and pretty much in its pure and original form. So, if you’re planning a trip to Yosemite National Park, which showcases ancient Sequoia trees, waterfalls, granite cliffs and 400 species of wildlife over its 1,200 square miles, the co-existence with nature shouldn’t stop when you leave the Park.

Continue your nature-quest with a stay at Yosemite Lakes. Located just five miles from Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Lakes sits on 400 acres of natural wonderland and has the South Fork of the Tuolumne River running right through it! But what makes it even better when it comes to communing with nature are the unique yurt accommodations available there. There are meadow yurts, hillside yurts, and river yurts – and you can guess by the name where they are located. The plus to any yurt accommodation – regardless of where it’s located – is the spaciousness.  Thanks to the circular design of a yurt, there is plenty of space to sleep, eat, relax, and recount the day’s adventures.

Yurt Yosemite Lakes Groveland, CA

The Hillside Yurts sleep four people and sit among towering trees. The kitchenette features a refrigerator, gas stove and dining table. Sleeping options include a queen-sized and double-sized futon while the bathroom suite includes a shower. Outdoor fun continues with a gas grill and nearby picnic table and fire ring.

In the Meadow Yurts, five guests will sleep comfortably (bedding included) and can enjoy private shower within the yurt. Outdoors, the gas grill, picnic table, and fire ring keeps you right in the natural swing of things. Pets are also welcome (for an additional fee) in the Meadow Yurts. Meadow Yurts are near the river.

River Yurts have spectacular views of the Tuolumne River. The River Yurts sleeps five with a queen-sized futon and bunk beds. A private indoor bathroom with shower and outdoor accommodations featuring a deck, gas grill, fire ring, and picnic tables round out the fun.

Reserve your yurt today!

Leavenworth’s Insta-worthy Hikes

Leavenworth’s Insta-worthy Hikes

Sometimes, you gotta do it for the ‘gram, and these hikes in Leavenworth, Washington, are absolutely Instagram worthy! The town itself is the perfect selfie backdrop with Bavarian-inspired buildings and snow-capped mountains.  A trip here must include visits to the shops and eateries, leisurely strolls through the town and some wine tastings, but the real adventure, and Instagram postings, start with the 800 miles of hiking trails in the area. We’ve highlighted just a few of the most scenic spots that will guarantee you’ll be well-liked when it comes your Instagram posts. Get that phone camera ready!

Stuart Lake Trail

This trail might be one-stop shopping when it comes to amazing views and vistas – it has meadows awash with wildflowers, soaring granite peaks, an alpine lake, and is popular for birding.

Chiwaukum Creek

Hike along the creek through groves of cedar, fir, cottonwood and towering pines and in spring and summer, wildflowers in all kinds of variety.  This trail also promises a spectacular color show come fall.

Enchantments Traverse

As the saying goes, nothing worth doing is easy (or something to that affect) so if you want to experience the Alpine wilderness that is Washington’s Enchantments, you have to take a hike, and a pretty strenuous and long one, at that.  But the payoff is worth it – numerous alpine lakes, granite peaks, mountain streams, and possibly, the occasional mountain goat.

Mountain Views Leavenworth Leavenworth, WA

Icicle Ridge Trail

This trail provides views of the town of Leavenworth as well as the Wenatchee and Icicle rivers.  Towering Ponderosa pines and an abundance of wildflowers add to the charm of this trail.

Apple Capital Loop

This trail provides an interesting landmark – the spot where the Wenatchee River dumps into the Columbia River. The trail is paved and runs along the riverfront so bird and waterfowl sightings are another plus to this hike.

Hidden Lake

Find the cave trees along this trail for an Insta-worthy picture. The cave trees are old cedar trees whose bases have been struck by lightning, creating the “cave.” There are also spectacular views of Glacier Peak and old log bridges that make for some pretty cool “look where I am” shots.

Colchuck Lake

Hikers have been said to be awestruck at the sights of both the lake itself and the granite peaks found on this hike.  Other photo worthy opportunities could be the log bridges along the trail.

Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Lake Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth is the perfect spot to stay while hiking and exploring Leavenworth and surrounding woodlands, and offers plenty of picture perfect opportunities. Make your reservations today!

Five Great Ideas for a Girls Getaway

Girls trips are all the rage, and we totally get it. Who doesn’t want a memorable trip with their best friends? Check out these five great locations for your next girls getaway and get planning! Your friendships will thank you.

Five Great Ideas for a Girls Getaway

  1. Sedona, Arizona: This hip spot in one of the most picturesque spots in the US offers all kinds of fun, from rafting trips to hiking, new age therapies and indulgent spa treatments. The Arts scene here is hopping, too – the Tlaquepaque Arts & Craft Village is a unique experience with galleries and shops with one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry. The Sedona Arts Center has exhibits in all mediums in their Fine Art Gallery and also offers classes and workshops. Fridays in May, visit the Oak Creek Arts and Crafts Show which features 40 local artisans and craftsmen.

Another Sedona must is hiking among the Red Rocks and experiencing the “earth energy” vortexes of Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock.  These centers of energy are said to promote healing, spirituality, and enlightenment.  Verde Valley is a great spot for this unique girl’s trip and a Tiny House accommodation will make it that much sweeter. Plus, Alcantara Vineyard (www.alcantaravineyard.com) is just steps away and is the perfect spot for a happy hour with your favorites.

Tiny House Verde Valley Cottonwood, AZ

  1. Santa Barbara, California: An agenda here for a girls trip could include wine tasting, shopping, beach time and amazing sunsets. Start with a winery tour with Rooted Vine Tours (www.rootedvinetours.com), a group that focuses on family-owned, boutique wineries. The per person cost includes door-to-door service, a picnic lunch and tasting fees for up to four vineyards. It’s a great way to (safely) see and sample the nearby wineries. Watch the sun set on a great day at the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach, which is considered one of the best places to watch the sunset in SB.

Shopping in Santa Barbara can range from open-air malls to boutique-lined thoroughfares. Paseo Nuevo is an open-air mall with major retailers including The Gap, Nordstrom and Sephora while the historic La Arcada Courtyard offers smaller boutiques, chocolate shops and galleries. If you’re longing for the beach scene, consider spending the day at Butterfly Beach and stay until sunset, as it’s another one of the noted spots to watch the sun go down thanks to its west-facing location.

Rancho Oso, and its unique accommodations, is the perfect place to book a stay for an SB-style Girls Getaway!

  1. Amesbury, MA: A true hidden gem, Amesbury is located just an hour outside of Boston and will transport you to the charming, east coast town of your dreams. Spend some time downtown and sample brews at not one but two breweries located within walking distance from each other. Another gem in the adorable town of Amesbury is Cider Hill Farm (www.ciderhill.com), where you and your friends can learn the history of the farm, pick whatever is in season, and sample some of their mouthwatering seasonally themed hard ciders. Did we mention the store and cider doughnuts? We dare you to try and leave without sampling one (or two) doughnuts or purchasing some adorable home decor.

For the icing on an already perfect cake, plan a stay in one of the tiny houses at the Tuxbury Tiny House Village for cute photo ops and plenty of oohs and ahhs.

Tuxbury Tiny House Village - South Hampton, NH

  1. Florida Keys: Island hop among the Florida Keys and enjoy everything from water sports, like parasailing and scuba diving, to more land-bound adventures like a Hop-On/Hop-Off trolley tour of fabled Key West. Dolphin-watch, visit a turtle hospital, tour the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and see the endangered Key Deer at the National Key Deer Refuge.

Two great spots to stay during your Keys with the Girls trip are Fiesta Key and Sunshine Key.

Cottages, Fiesta Key, Long Key, FL

  1. Nashville, Tennessee: A girl’s trip to Music City holds more than just music in terms of things to do. Number one – eat. Number two – shop. Number 3 – take a country music history lesson.  Number four – try something out of the ordinary.

Number one – Nashville has some great eating. The Loveless Café has been serving up southern fare for more than 65 years, so they must be doing something right. Try their chicken and dumplings with a side of their world famous biscuits and homemade jams and preserves. Another Nashville staple is Monell’s, which serves up southern favorites, like fried chicken and fried catfish, family-style with plenty of southern sides!

Number two – Nashville has plenty of places to shop but you might be interested in two shops that have famous faces behind them. Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James offers women’s clothing, while Uncommon James is the concept of reality TV personality, Kristen Cavallari. The store sells jewelry and other accessories, as well as some home goods. You never know which of their famous friends may pop in to shop!

Number 3 – Get to know the history behind some of the country greats who got their start here, including Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline. Museums dedicated to both are located in the same building, with the Cash exhibit on the first floor and the Cline memorabilia on the second floor. Self-guided tours of Nashville’s music mecca, the Grand Old Opry, are available as well as tours of the Ryman Auditorium, which served as the Opry’s original home.

Number 4 – You can’t get more out of the ordinary than trying a sensory deprivation tank. Float Nashville provides the opportunity to allow gravity to do all the heavy lifting, thereby relieving stress on your body with the goal of profound relaxation. Let’s all float on!

Natchez Trace is a great place to stay while exploring Nashville and the surrounding area – it’s located about 80 miles from Nashville’s downtown and features perfectly themed cabins and a beautifully renovated lodge that sleeps up to 16. Talk about the perfect spot for a sleepover!

Best of Bar Harbor

Best of Bar Harbor

Rugged, rustic, scenic, quaint, charming, historic – the list goes on when you look for words to describe a visit to Maine’s Bar Harbor. The town dates back to the mid-1700s and its charms can be found on land and sea. Dare we say, it lives up to its original name of Eden by offering an idyllic getaway for everyone? If you’re heading to Maine over the next month or so, here are just a few things you might find interesting.

Wanna See Something Really Scary?

Get to know Bar Harbor from the spooky side and take one of the many ghost tours offered. The Red Cloak Haunted History Tour (www.redcloaktours.com) offers a 90 minute walking tour through the town and Old Burying Ground while a knowledgeable guide discusses history, superstitions and more. This is a family-friendly, pet-friendly and wheelchair-friendly tour.  Another interesting option for haunted tours would be the Bar Harbor Ghost Tours (www.barharborghosttours.com), which are offered nightly from May through October. The tours provided through this group tell the history of the area through the perspective of both the indigenous Wabanaki Indians as well as that of the Euro-American settlers. They offer both walking and van options that include tours such as the Wabanaki Spirit Walk or the Island of the Dead tour.

Calling All Art Lovers!

Over the next few months, Bar Harbor will host two amazing, open-air art shows. First up is the Island Arts Association’s Annual Memorial Day Weekend Craft Fair, scheduled for May 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Come and see what the local artisans and crafters have on display (and for sale).  Later in June, enjoy the 69th Annual Art in the Park, which exhibits the works of artists in several mediums, including photography, panting and print. This event is scheduled for June 15 and 16. Both events are free, open to the public and will be held at the Village Green in the center of town.

Eat, Repeat and Enjoy

Maine is known for its lobster! So, why not get up close and personal with this delicious crustacean as well as other mainly Maine foods. The Ambrosia Cooking School (www.ambrosiacookingschool.com) offers several cooking classes that include Historic Maine Cooking, Chowder and Popovers, Please! and Maine Historic Desserts. Another option to nosh on is the foodie tour offered by Maine Food Tours (www.mainefoodietours.com) which offers tastes of the iconic Maine lobster roll as well as Maine Peekytoe Crab Cakes. Do we hear a resounding yum, err, we mean yes?

Don’t Miss the Mountain

A trip to Bar Harbor is never complete without a visit to Acadia National Park, which is hard to miss since the park’s 49,000 acres cover more than half of Mt. Desert Island. Things to do at Acadia that are available every day include hiking Cadillac Mountain, touring the park by foot, bike or car via the 57 miles of carriage roads, or enjoying the park’s Sand Beach with its amazing views.  The Acadia Birding Festival is scheduled for May 30-June 2, and is designed for seasoned and amateur birders alike. For information on this event, visit www.acadiabirdingfestival.com.

If you’re Bar Harbor bound, stay at any one of our three great Bar Harbor locations, which feature colorful cottages and unique cabins, at Narrows Too, Mt Desert Narrows, and Patten Pond.