Tag: EPCOT

The 12 Ways of Glamping

Everyone has their own ways to kick off the fun of the holidays, but our preferred method is through glamping! Here are 12 places to consider for a holiday season glamp.

1. Bend, Oregon: Book a glamping cottage, cabin or yurt at Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver to start. Bend is great for outdoor winter activities like cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. You can ice skate at The Pavillion, which even has night skating, or for foodie fun, visit The Podski, which offers a variety of local food trucks and live music.

2. Mt. Hood, Oregon: Another great Pacific Northwest location for snow fun. Of course, a tiny house at the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village is the perfect spot to stay when exploring the great outdoors in Mt. Hood. Don’t miss the historic Timberline Lodge and the iconic Mt. Hood Skibowl, which is great for night skiing.

3. Nashville, Tennessee: The Natchez Trace Tiny House Village is a perfect home base for exploring the sights and sounds of Nashville and the surrounding area. For holiday lights, check out the 10th Annual Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood Gardens or Zoolumination at the Nashville Zoo. For an all-out holiday extravaganza head to Gaylord Opryland to experience Christmas at Gaylord Opryland with all kinds of festivities, light displays, ice carvings, holiday treats, gingerbread competitions and more.

Lyla at Natchez Trace Tiny House Village
Lyla at Natchez Trace Tiny House Village

4. Orlando, Florida: The colorful cottages at Encore Tropical Palms are the glamping accommodation to book when planning a trip to the Orlando area during the holiday season. The Magic Kingdom holiday events include EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays (through December 30) while Universal Orlando has Christmas at Hogwarts and Celebrate Grinchmas, and of course all the local downtown areas including Kissimmee and St. Cloud will have festive lights, holiday décor and a variety of holiday events.

5. Palm Springs, California: How about a desert holiday countdown? A sunny cottage at Thousand Trails Palm Springs in Palm Desert puts you in perfect proximity to enjoy the special Holiday Market which is part of the regular Thursday evening VillageFest, Wildlights at the Living Desert (through December 30) and Snowtopia at the Palm Springs Air Museum that will feature 60 tons of real snow, plus Santa and hot cocoa and is scheduled for December 20-22.

6. Monterey, California: A cool yurt at Marina Dunes RV Resort can host you during a holiday getaway to explore California’s Monterey Bay area. Holiday events include Christmas on the Wharf, which runs weekends through December 22 and Ice Skating on the Bay, which features an outdoor ice rink open through January 5.

7. Key West, Florida: Spend several days ringing in the holidays in the sunny Florida Keys and consider these events to get you in the spirit: The Key West Artisan Market (December 15, 22 and 29); the Key West Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights & Festive Nights Tours (evenings through December 23); the Stock Island Holiday Lighted Boat parade on Big Pine Key (December 13) and Boot Key Harbor Christmas Boat Parade on Marathon (December 14). Take your pick from a tiny house at the Sunshine Key Tiny House Village or a colorful cottage at Encore Fiesta Key.

Cottages at Fiesta Key Resort
Cottages at Encore Fiesta Key

8. Lake Tahoe, California: Head to Tahoe Valley Campground and rent a glamping cottage or cabin to enjoy the events at this gorgeous location which include the Northern Lights Festival at Incline Village (through December 25) and the spectacular Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade at Granlibakken Tahoe where skiers illuminate the ski hill with torches followed by the arrival of Santa and his elves.

9. San Diego, California: If holiday parades are your things, consider a getaway to San Diego which has at least 5 different holiday-themed parades running through December including the Gaslamp Pet Parade (December 14) and the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade (December 27). Holiday light shows include the All that Jazz Light Show Spectacular on Coronado Island (through January 5) and the Old Town Trolley Holiday Sights and Festive Nights Tour, which runs through December (note: does not run on December 24 and 25). For your accommodation, Thousand Trails Pio Pico in Jamul has you covered with cabins and cottages!

Cabin at Thousand Trails Pio Pico
Cabin at Thousand Trails Pio Pico

10. Miami, Florida: Choose from a variety of glamping accommodations at Encore Miami Everglades and take in the holiday events planned in the area. Night at the Garden, which runs through January 2025, is a neon wonderland at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden while Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park, is billed as a “Candyland-inspired spectacle” that features thousands of lights, amusement rides and several immersive installations that promise to provide the perfect backdrop for a photo (through January 5); and Zoo Lights Miami which runs through December 30.

11. Dallas, Texas: Book a glamping cabin at Thousand Trails Bay Landing to be near the holiday fun in the Big D which includes the “12 Days of Christmas” exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden; Dallas Zoo Lights (through January 4) and SNOWDAY at Galleria Dallas which is winter wonderland of 20 different holiday-themed rooms, including a 1970s Christmas-themed RV.

Bay Landing RV Campground
Thousand Trails Bay Landing Cabins

12. Yosemite National Park: In addition to the beautiful scenery and the outdoor activity, Yosemite National Park also offers several holiday events including a Gingerbread Workshop (book soon; this event sells out fast) on December 21 or December 23 or ice skating at the Curry Village Rink, with great views of Half Dome and Glacier Point. If you still have gifts to buy, consider something from the Ansel Adams Gallery which offers several gift collections. Book a yurt at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes and you’re less than 15 minutes from the Park’s entrance.

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Where to Glamp to Celebrate International Day of Happiness

What better way to celebrate March’s International Day of Happiness than by spending it doing the thing that makes you happiest – glamping! We’ve got some great locations where the happiness factor is super high. Check them out:

California: You’ll be happy to know that if you book a stay at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes you’re about 15 minutes from the entrance to one of America’s most treasured national parks. More happiness can be found just taking in the sights of Yosemite, which include El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and Half Dome. Aside from the activities in the park, other happy things to do here include the Madera Wine Trail (themaderawinetrail.com), a scenic ride through the Sierra National Forest on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (ymsprr.com), or just hanging out at Yosemite Lakes and enjoying amenities like horseshoes, swimming and fishing (seasonal), or hiking the on-site trails.

Cabins at Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes
Cabins at Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes

If getting away from it all makes you happy, then Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes is your California glamping destination. There’s plenty to do here but if you don’t feel like fighting tourists, check out the quieter attractions nearby which include The Southern California Railway Museum, the Motte Historical Car Museum, or Western Science Center. Take a hot air balloon ride over the valley or explore the Temecula Wine Country. You choose – whatever makes you happy!

Florida: It’s a proven fact – sunshine equates to happiness by increasing serotonin levels. Spend some happy time in Florida at Encore’s Miami Everglades or Tropical Palms. Each offers fabulous glamping accommodations and proximity to attractions and outdoor fun. Tropical Palms in Kissimmee is near all the happiness that comes with a visit to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, plus there’s Epcot, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld Orlando. The colorful Art Deco architecture of Miami is guaranteed to make you smile and then there’s all the other fun found here from beaches to museums and nighttime fun.

Oregon: The amazing tiny house accommodations at Mt. Hood Tiny House Village are just one reason you’ll be happy you’re here. A few more things that will bring a smile to your face include the amazing views of majestic Mt. Hood, the roughly 1000 miles of trails found here, and the opportunity to spend all day outside in the mountain air fishing, biking, skiing, and taking in the beautiful, seasonal wildflower displays!

Natchez Trace Tiny House Village
Natchez Trace Tiny House Village

Tennessee: Enjoy the southern hospitality during your glamping stay at Natchez Trace Tiny House Village and up your happiness level by taking a drive into Nashville to enjoy some live music. Hearing good melodies is known to release dopamine – aka the feel-good hormone. Another activity known to increase the “feel goods” is connecting with nature. In Nashville, bike or stroll the miles of Nashville’s Greenway or take a scenic drive along the portion of the historic Natchez Trace found near Hohenwald (natcheztracetravel.com).

Washington: We guarantee once you arrive in the beautiful Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth, Washington, you are going to smile – a lot. Book a tiny home glamping accommodation at Leavenworth Tiny House Village and explore the fun of Leavenworth from the Nutcracker Museum to fishing Lake Wenatchee. Outdoor fun can include white water rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking, and river tubing, and indoor fun can be found in the plentiful breweries and distilleries found here, plus the wineries. Shopping rounds out the fun and there are plenty of festivals here every year from Maifest to a very festive Christmas season.

Forward-thinking: Keep that happiness going all year and plan a trip to visit the Tiny House Container Village at Yukon Trails this summer. Studies show that trying something new has an effect on endorphins, so why not try a glamping experience and spend a few nights in a tiny container home, which are the hottest trend of late. Don’t miss out on the beauty of this little piece of Wisconsin which is also home to Devil’s Lake State Park where you can bird, swim, fish, rock climb, and hike. There’s also the Circus World Museum with its memorabilia and exhibits devoted to all things circus – an experience that will bring you back to happy childhood days!

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5 Things to Do in Orlando

Planning a glamping trip to Orlando soon? First, find the perfect glamping accommodation. Select from our sunny glamping cottages at petiteretreats.com that you can call “home” while you check off the items on our list! The colorful cottages at Tropical Palms as well as the cozy cabins at our Orlando location are perfect for a central Florida getaway.

  1. Day Tripping: One of the great things about Orlando is that its central location allows for some enjoyable day trips to other Florida hotspots. Options include Tampa (about 84 miles) to enjoy Busch Gardens, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, foodie tours and historic Ybor City. St. Augustine, our nation’s oldest city, is about an hour and a half drive from Orlando, but you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another world. The architecture and the history of this beautiful city are just a few of the highlights. Don’t miss the Lightner Museum and a stroll down charming St. George Street. Cocoa Beach is less than 60 miles from Orlando and this Space Coast location is full of things to do. Visit the Kennedy Space Center, find your own spot of sandy beach along the 72-mile shoreline and soak up the sun, kayak with the manatees (check out cocoabeachkayaking.com), or stroll the iconic Cocoa Beach Pier for fishing, dining, and shopping fun.

  2. Kick off the Holidays: The theme parks in the area are always a great option for fun, but come the holiday season, they really know how to bring the hype. Universal Studios offers The GrinchmasTM Who-liday Spectacular plus a regularly scheduled Holiday Parade beginning November 7 and running through January 1 that promises balloon-versions of movie favorites. EPCOT hosts their International Festival of Holidays from November 25 through December 30, which features international holiday traditions exhibited through music, storytelling, and food. Don’t miss the Cookie Stroll! SeaWorld transforms into a winter wonderland and promises holiday shows, dinner with Santa, and plenty of sparkling lights during their Christmas Celebration which begins November 11 and runs through January 3, 2023.

  3. Culture Club: Orlando has plenty of spots to satisfy your need for a cultural trip. The Orlando Philharmonic hosts a season of both cultural and pop musical events and November and December bring special holiday-themed events, as well. Check out what’s planned at orlandophil.org. Orlando Shakes is not a fast-food option for milk shakes but rather an interesting theater company that runs the gamut when it comes to productions – from their Cabaret Series to children’s events or their Signature Series which includes productions from Shakespeare to modern-day favorites like Kinky Boots. Dickens’ holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol” will run from November 30 through December 24. Details about productions can be found at orlandoshakes.org.

  1. See the Real Florida: Quick – what two things do you associate with Florida? If oranges and alligators came to mind, then we’ve got a few things for you to discover while glamping in Orlando! The Showcase of Citrus (showcaseofcitrus.com) in Kissimmee offers the opportunity to pick your own citrus fruits, take a monster truck tour of the 2,500- acre citrus and cattle farm and visit some of the farm animals here, including Poppy the Zebu and Blu the Emu. For the alligator experience, visit Gatorland, billed as the alligator capital of the world, to see not only alligators, but crocodiles, bobcats, birds, and a host of other wild creatures. There’s also zip-lining, gator shows, and other unforgettable “only-in-Florida” experiences at Gatorland (gatorland.com).

  2. Enjoy the Outdoors: Bok Tower Gardens, designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. is a spectacular visual experience of flowering foliage as well as wildlife and is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Bikers will enjoy the Orlando Urban Bike Trail that winds through both urban and wooded settings along a five-mile trail (round trip). Try a stand-up paddle adventure with Paddleboard Orlando where you can take lessons, do a trip with the manatees, or enjoy a moonlight paddleboard excursion. Check out paddleboardorlando.com to see all their offerings.
Tropical Palms Cottage
Tropical Palms Cottage

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