Tag: glamping

Here’s the difference between glamping and camping

It’s only been a few short years since the word glamping was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Back in March 2018, the dictionary listed the word with the accompanying definition “outdoor camping with amenities and comforts (such as beds, electricity, and access to indoor plumbing) not usually used when camping.” And, according to other linguistic lore, the word itself was first used sometime around 2005. But, some people have been glamping for years while others are wondering what this “glamping” is all about. Consider the following your quick guide to all things glamping: 

Why should you glamp instead of camp? If you are a seasoned camper, giving glamping a go may be just the thing needed to change things up. Another reason to glamp is not everyone enjoys tent camping and rising to greet the day after a rough night on the hard ground. Some people are looking for the perfect mix of outdoor adventure with some of the comforts of home.

For the most part, glamping involves a bit more of sleeping structure than the average tent or even those super high-end tents that sleep the whole gang and are “guaranteed” to keep you warm and cozy despite the outdoor weather. To glamp, you might consider overnighting in a yurt, a tiny home, a cabin, or cottage. 

There’s also the luxury of the indoor facilities that often accompany a glamping trip. No flashlight-required treks to the facilities at 3 a.m. or cold food because the campfire won’t light or the camp stove is on the fritz. Glamping rentals typically have indoor bathroom accommodations as well as well-appointed kitchens. Another plus to a glamping accommodation is that many of them have private fire rings, decks, and outdoor areas designated specifically for enjoying the art of socializing. 

What are good glamping accessories? Most glampers feel the need to up the ante when it comes to accessorizing and some of the most popular glamp gear includes tablecloths, area rugs, comfy camp chairs, and outdoor string lights and solar lanterns to create the perfect glamping ambience. Food and drink options also take a step up and glamping accessories in this category might include a charcuterie board, an espresso maker or French coffee press, as well as Dutch ovens and other “cuisine” cookware for camp. As for outdoor fun, glamping could include an outdoor projector and screen!

When it comes to glamping activities versus camping activities, they are pretty much the same. Most glamping accommodations are in areas that give the glamper the full opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Hike, bike, fish, swim, canoe, or kayak – here’s where glamping and camping meet. Take in beauty of nearby national parks, raft the rapids, paddle serene waters, horseback ride or zip through the trees. We have glamping locations near all these great outdoor adventures. 

Sunshine Key Tiny House Village
Sunshine Key Tiny House Village

Where to glamp? Try our tiny house options in Leavenworth, Washington, Oregon’s Mt. Hood area, near Nashville, Tennessee, or Sedona, Arizona, or the Florida Keys. A spring, summer or fall glamping trip to New Hampshire’s Tuxbury Tiny House Village is a plan-ahead trip. Glamping in a yurt can be an option any time of year at several locations in California, Oregon, and Washington State as well as spring through fall yurt accommodations in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. What about glamping in a teepee? Or a covered wagon? Both are unique accommodations that can be found when glamping with Petite Retreats. Check out our website to see where we have glamping opportunities – whether it’s your first glamping adventure or you’ve been a glamper long before it was an official dictionary entry!

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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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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!

Glamping in Style with Petite Retreats!

Thanks to the advent of “glamping,” more and more people are catching the camping bug. And, because glamping made alternatives to tent camping cool, camping is no longer just a warm-weather getaway option. With glamping becoming trendier, accommodations like yurts, cabins, and tiny houses are now sought after options, compared to the more traditional, yet weather-dependent tent and all the outdoor accoutrements associated with camping.

Glamping options like tiny houses have all the amenities of a hotel while also providing the cozy, communing with nature feeling campers seek. Cottages and cabins can range from rustic to well-outfitted yet still maintain that same “one with nature” atmosphere provided by the camping cottages and cabins of yesteryear. Yurts offer a unique way to spend time among nature in a setting that is both cozy and spacious all at once.

Whether you’re looking for a wintery glamping experience filled with hot cocoa and activities bouncing around in the snow, or escaping the cold until the winter in the North is over, there are plenty of options ready and waiting to help make your glamping dreams come true with Petite Retreats!

Is the Pacific Northwest calling your name this season? Check out the Tiny House Villages in Leavenworth, Washington, or Welches, Oregon. The Mt. Hood Tiny House Village in Welches sits amid all the winter sports activities in the area and is also close to Portland so you can get your big city fix when you’re done playing in the snow.

Leavenworth Tiny House Village has the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains (and all the snow fun that comes with it) and is, of course, is just a few miles from the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, where you may just feel like you went to sleep in Washington and woke up in Germany!

Leavenworth Tiny House Village
Leavenworth Tiny House Village

There are also yurts at Bend-Sunriver in Oregon, the aforementioned Mt. Hood, and several Pacific Coast locations from Washington on down through Oregon. Cabins can be found in California, Oregon, and Texas. And, if you insist on spending winter on the beach, colorful cottages in Florida beckon you to locations that include the Florida Keys and centrally-located Kissimmee.

Florida speaks for itself in terms of fun and sun. Kissimmee offers perfect proximity to all the theme parks and the Keys are as close as you can get to a tropical adventure without leaving the U.S. So, enjoy a cottage in the sun and go glamping the Sunshine State.

Colorful Cottages at Fiesta Key

Pick a yurt and enjoy a stay at Tall Chief RV Resort in Fall City, Washington, which is less than a half hour outside of Seattle. Or, choose a cozy cabin at Pacific City RV Resort in Cloverdale, Oregon, and enjoy winter hiking in Cape Meares State Park. Try out staying in a cabin “Cali-style” and book a stay at Rancho Oso RV Resort, located just outside the charming city of Santa Barbara. Enjoy “America’s Riviera” as Santa Barbara is known, and take in the history, culture, arts, and local wineries.

Get your winter glamping groove on while you can! Petite Retreats provides you with lots of variety in your choice of destination, or destinations if you’ve got the time. So, get going and get glamping!

Visit petiteretreats.com to find your perfect winter glamping getaway.

Glamping Gear Guide

Glamping is all about the atmosphere and accommodations. Check out some of our favorite items to add to a more glamorous camping experience!

Glamp Up Your Atmosphere

Canvas Tent

With a bell-shaped canvas tent like this one, you’ll be on your way to glamping in no time. The canvas is waterproof too, so you’ll stay dry and comfortable.

Fabric Bunting

Add cute and colorful decor to your space by hanging fabric bunting in the doorway of your tent or from the porch of your cabin to give a pop of cheer to your camping space.

Fairy Lights

These fairy lights add a whimsical element to your campsite and are made with a flexible wire so you can hang them up and around wherever you want a bit of extra light. Find a set of lights that are battery powered or opt for solar powered, like these!

Lanterns

Light up your campsite with a vintage feel with these vintage-style lanterns. They may look like classic lanterns, but the LED lights are 21st century and have handles that allow you to hang them wherever you please.

Add soft light

Take your camp lighting to the next level when you add a colorful soft light to the inside of your tent, cabin, or yurt. These battery powered ones give off a soft illumination and last for about 8 hours.

Don’t sacrifice your gourmet meals and stellar place settings with these glamorous campsite kitchen must-haves.

Complete cutlery backpack

Take your campsite barbecue to the next level with a cutlery backpack. Neatly packed, this pack is stocked with everything you need to set up a gourmet meal anywhere you like!

Adventure Cooler

You’ve committed to the cuteness of glamping, but sometimes, you just need something that is sleek and functional to keep your food cold and the pests out. This cooler from Stanley has a sleek style, is easy to carry, and will keep ice frozen for 36 hours! Pretty cool.

Camp Vibes Enamel Mug

Enamel mugs are great for camping because they are lightweight and durable – perfect for roughing it in the woods. But grab an enamel mug with a cute design and bold colors and you’ll elevate your glamping vibes.

Tablecloth

Pop this durable tablecloth on your picnic table and instantly elevate your barbecue! Set up the plates and silverware from your cutlery backpack and you’ve got a gourmet table setting at your glampsite.

Cutting Board 

This cutting board does triple duty! With its own knife and fine wood, this cutting board also works as a platter to present your meats and cheeses.

Utensil Set

Cut down on clutter and plastic when you bring along a multi-use utensil set that has its own carrying case. Easy to pack, easy to clean, and easy to use! Each utensil has additional functions like a can opener hook on the end of the fork and a measuring tool on the handle of the spoon.

Keeping Things Cozy

Mystical Fire Packets

Turn up the volume on your typical campfire by adding these special color packets to the fire. Just remember to save this party for after you roast your marshmallows!

Wool Roll-Up Blanket 

Keep warm in style when you bring along a patterned blanket. This one is extra functional and features a waterproof side plus straps and handle for easy carrying.

 

Tapestry or Rug

A lightweight rug or tapestry can create a cozy atmosphere when hung above your head or laid on the ground to give your feet something soft to step on. A tapestry infuses your glamping site with some of your own personality and a pop of color.

Lightweight Chairs

These fold up chairs are lightweight and give off the glamping vibes with their gold color and sleek design.

Boho Style Hammock
If you love a good portable hammock for lounging with a book at your campsite but don’t like the feel of a standard nylon hammock, opt for a contemporary style that has some bohemian character to it, like this one that has a lovely fringe and inviting camel color.

What are your favorite ways to give your campsite something extra? Share your style tips with us in the comments!