Get in the Olympic Spirit: Where to Watch & Play 

The eyes of the sporting world are on northern Italy as the 2026 Winter Olympic games are being held in and around Milan. The best of the best will compete in winter sports including ice hockey, curling, skiing, figure skating, bobsled and luge. If the anticipation of the games or viewing the games gets you in the mood to try out some of the sports or become a spectator, here’s some places to check out: 

Ice Hockey: The leading contenders for medals this year include the USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland. If you want to catch some exciting NHL action stateside, consider these teams when glamping nearby: 

If you’re glamping in Florida, you can attend a Tampa Bay Lightning or Florida Panthers game. The Panthers, the league’s back-to-back defending champs (they won the Stanley Cup in both 2024 and 2025), play their home games at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Nearby glamping accommodations can be found at Encore Miami Everglades. Benchmark International Area is where you can catch a Tampa Bay Lightning game, and Encore Forest Lake Village is a great place to glamp if you’re planning to catch this three-time Stanley Cup winning team. Several players currently on the roster for each team will represent their respective home countries in the Olympic games. Other NHL teams with an opportunity to glamp nearby include the Las Vegas Kings (glamp at Thousand Trails Las Vegas); the San Jose Sharks (glamp at Thousand Trails Morgan Hill) and the LA Kings (glamp at Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon).  Several players currently on NHL team rosters will represent their respective home countries in the Olympic games. 

Cabin at Thousand Trails Morgan Hill
Cabin at Thousand Trails Morgan Hill

Figure Skating: If you want to try out your axel, toe loop and salchow, that means you want to take to the ice. Houston’s Ice at the Galleria, located inside Houston’s Galleria Mall, can be a spot to at least put on a pair of skates and try your best. Stay at Thousand Trails Lake Conroe to be near this opportunity. Glamp at Thousand Trails Russian River to check out California’s Snoopy’s Home Ice, an indoor ice arena in nearby Santa Rosa. Enjoy outdoor ice skating at Curry Village Ice Skating Rink located within California’s Yosemite National park. Book a stay at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes to take to the ice here.  

Snowy Cabin at Tahoe Valley Campground
Snowy Cabin at Tahoe Valley Campground

Skiing/Snowboarding: Aside from a tremendous amount of talent and training, to ski and snowboard with the best you need some great “powder” and maybe a few moguls. If you fancy yourself as a mini Lindsey Vonn (three time Olympic medalist in downhill skiing) or Shaun White (five-time snowboarding Olympian), head to these slopes near our glamping locations. In Washington, glamp at Thousand Trails Thunderbird and take the drive to The Summit at Snowqualmie or stay at the Leavenworth Tiny House Village and enjoy skiing at Leavenworth Ski Hill. Another tiny house glamping option would be the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village to be near the excellent skiing at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl and the Timberline Lodge. California’s Lake Tahoe area has plenty of skiing/snowboard options so book a stay at Tahoe Valley Campground and see which ski hills align with your skill level.  

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The Ultimate Guide to Pet Friendly Vacation and Glamping Destinations

Speaking of happy places, if you’re a pet lover, then any place you can travel with your pets has to be a happy place. Here are a few ways you can bring the pup(s) along, glamp, and have the freedom to let them tag along at these dog friendly places.

Cottage at Tall Chief Campground
Cottage at Tall Chief Campground

Seattle, Washington: The pet-friendly cottage at Tall Chief sleeps four humans and is the perfect glamping spot to host a getaway with your pet. Dog-friendly outings when heading into Seattle can include the Washington Arboretum; Gas Works Park, a lovely grassy park built on the site of a former gas works plant that offers paved walking paths and great views of Lake Union; and leashed dogs are welcome to explore the iconic Pike Place Market. Several breweries welcome dogs too including Fremont Brewing and Outer Planet Brewing.

Cabin at Lake George Escape
Cabin at Lake George Escape

Lake George, New York: Our Lake George Escape resort is extremely pet-friendly as all of the glamping accommodations welcome pets. Once you settle in, get ready for an Adirondack adventure with your furry friend. Don’t miss all the opportunities to explore Lake George with your pup in tow – from a brewery (Bolton Landing Brewing Company) or a winery/cidery (Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery) to a hike with views of the Hudson River (Hudson River Park) and a sunset cruise on Lake George (Lake George Waterfront Cruises).

Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver Yurt
Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver Yurt

Bend, Oregon: Choose from a pet-friendly cabin, cottage, or yurt at Thousand Trails Bend-Sunriver and explore “the outdoor playground of the West” on four legs or two! Most of the Deschutes National Forest is dog-friendly. The North Fork Trail is shady thanks to all the Douglas firs and offers a shorter 4-mile loop as well as a 6.7-mile loop. Of course, you’ll find the Bend Ale Trail here – because Bend is also known as “Beer Town USA” and most of the breweries along the trail welcome pets. If you’re up for shopping for new gear for you and your pet, check out the Patagonia store in Bend which welcomes pets and has some good gear for them (and you), too!

Carmel, California: Carmel is considered one of the most dog-friendly cities in California so it’s no wonder dog-lovers and everyone’s favorite Golden Girl, Betty White, kept a beach house here for over 40 years. Rent the pet-friendly cottage at Marina Dunes and see what makes Carmel so dog-gone pet-friendly. Sip and stroll with your pet and enjoy some of the offerings from the Carmel-By-the-Sea Wine Walk which has plenty of pet-friendly tasting rooms or take to the sugary sand at Carmel Beach, which welcomes dogs. After beach time, check out the Fountain of Woof in Carmel Plaza and let your pet drink from the fountain for good and you can explore the shops here, too! Also, most restaurants that have patio seating welcome dogs as well.

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