Stay Cool With These Great Water Retreats

Door County – WI

The perfect mix for summer fun in the sun is some glamping with a side of water! And when we say water we mean the rivers, lakes, and oceans just waiting for you to enjoy near your favorite glamping spot. Here’s a water-based itinerary to keep in mind:

Wisconsin Water: Like its northern neighbor, Minnesota, Wisconsin has plenty of lakes and waterways to explore via canoe and kayak as well as for fishing fun. A few glamping options include Tranquil Timbers in Door County. Up here on this beautiful Wisconsin peninsula, you’re surrounded by the waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay. There are also several lakes in Door County including Kangaroo Lake in Baileys Harbor and Little Lake (named because it is the smallest) on Washington Island. Rent a cabin, cottage or yurt at Tranquil Timbers and explore the waters of Door County. Another fun Badger State glamping location with a lakeside location is Neshonoc Lakeside. Located on one of Wisconsin’s best fishing lakes for walleye, bass, northern pike, and perch, there are several glamping cabin rentals available here if you’re angling to fish this summer! And, you can’t forget the waterpark variety found in the Wisconsin Dells, aptly considered the water park capital of the world. The Tiny House Container Village at Yukon Trails is about 10 minutes from the action, and are a great choice for a unique and sustainable Dells getaway!

Neshonoc Lakeside – WI

Oceanside: If you’re wanting to spend your summer glamping oceanside, there are several options to choose from. The waters of the Atlantic can be easily accessed with a visit to our East Coast locations including Mt. Desert Narrows and Narrows Too (rent a glamping cabin at these great Bar Harbor spots); with a tiny house rental at Tuxbury Pond Tiny House Village in New Hampshire; and the idyllic resort towns of Cape Cod (check out the cottage rentals at Gateway to Cape Cod). Heading south for warmer Atlantic waters? Check out the Florida glamping cabin rentals at Miami Everglades and Sunshine Key Tiny House Village in Big Pine Key. Pacific Coast options include  Oregon’s Pacific City or Seaside (rentals include glamping cabins and cottages), where the beach is just steps from the campground.

Encore Sunshine Key

Running the Rivers: Can we really divide people into ocean, lake, and river people? If you feel more in tune with rivers, then consider these glamping locations, including the one where a river literally runs through it. That one is California’s Ponderosa, which has the South Fork of the American river running through it. A great place for rafting, tubing, and canoeing with great glamping cabin rentals. Head to Bend, Oregon to explore all the Little Deschutes River has to offer. Rent a glamping cabin, cottage, or yurt at Bend-Sunriver and paddle, tube, or canoe the scenic waterway and enjoy the view.

Thousand Trails Ponderosa

Lake Life: When you glamp with Petite Retreats, living the lake life while glamping is one sure thing. Countless glamping locations are located lakeside. So, if your mantra for your next glamping trip is “Sorry can’t. Lake. Bye.” then we have some choices for you. Lake Minden, located in California’s Sacramento Valley, has a 41-acre private lake onsite that is perfect for boating or fishing for catfish or largemouth bass. Lake life in the foothills of the Sierras? Texas has lake offerings too including Lake Conroe with its 22,000-acre lake world-famous for fishing and great glamping cabin rentals. Speaking of rentals, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes are also available for rent. Alabama’s Hidden Cove sits on Smith Lake known for its crystal clear waters and great fishing. Rent a glamping cottage or cabin and see for yourself.

Thousand Trails Hidden Cove

So much water, so little time! Check out petiteretreats.com and see what body of water can be found at your favorite glamping location.

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Take a Vacation, Please!

A not so pleasant statistic is that the U.S. falls well below other countries when it comes to paid time off. Europe is far ahead of America when it comes to providing paid time off for employees. According to a May 2022 article in Travel + Leisure, Austria provides 25 days of paid annual leave, plus another 13 for public holidays, totaling 38 paid days off. France and Spain each offer 36 in total and Germany provides 30 days. The U.S. average is 10 days a year.

An even sadder statistic is that 54% of Americans don’t use all their vacation days. A 2019 study by the U.S. Travel Association showed that U.S. employees left approximately 768 million vacation days unused in 2018. And most Americans say they have too much work to do to take vacation time. That sounds pretty counterintuitive since studies show that vacation can reduce stress and increase productivity upon return to work. 

Before burnout hits and you make a mistake that could find you with plenty of days off, we suggest you get out and glamp! Hit the beach, climb every mountain, go off the grid, and for heaven’s sake, turn off your computer and work phone (we know you need the personal one for the Instagram shots of the great vacation you’ll be documenting)!

And, while experts suggest 8 days is the sweet spot for a full recharge, long weekends and a few days here and there could be just the recipe that helps Americans have their cake and eat it, too, when it comes to work/life balance.

One way to recharge is through grounding, or earthing, by walking barefoot in the sand. Grounding is said to reduce stress and tension levels. Glamping locations that allow plenty of silky, soft sand underfoot could include Oregon’s coastal getaway spots, cozy cabins at Pacific City and Seaside RV Resort. Another idea – combine grounding with the benefits of the relaxing colors of the tiny house rentals at Sunshine Key Tiny House Village in the Florida Keys and you’re well on the way to a destressing vacation. Plenty of sand for grounding or other fun can be found at Marina Dunes, which is adjacent to the Marina Dunes Preserve on California’s Monterey Peninsula. An ultra-cool glamping tent or high end cottage is the way to relax here.

How about a long weekend getaway that’s not too far from home, but far enough to leave the office woes behind? Is Seattle your place of business? Take a quick two-hour drive to Leavenworth, rent a tiny home at the Leavenworth Tiny House Village, and enjoy the outdoors. Fish, swim, hike, bike, or simply sip some wine in the Bavarian-styled village of Leavenworth. If Nashville is where you make the big bucks, take a break and head to the new Natchez Trace Tiny House Village. In a little over an hour, you can be relaxing in a perfectly appointed tiny house with lakefront views and fishing and hiking available onsite, plus the 3-mile lake here offers kayak and canoeing opportunities.

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

Speaking of water, blue space (lakes, rivers, oceans, even waterfalls) has been shown to lower stress and anxiety as well as boost mood and psychological well-being, per weforum.org. Rent a cabin at Wisconsin’s Neshonoc Lakeside Camping Resort or Lake George Escape, tucked away in New York’s Adirondacks, with the Queen of America’s Lakes as the centerpiece. Bend-Sunriver is a great place to soak up blue space healing power thanks to the location on the Little Deschutes River, and it offers cozy cabins and yurts.

Narrows Too Camping Resort
Narrows Too Camping Resort

Other destressing options for quick getaways or all those eight days can include forest-bathing (head to our favorite forested glamping options including Yosemite Lakes or our Bar Harbor resorts, Mt. Desert Narrows and Narrows Too). Forest-bathing requires you to take a walk in the woods and be mindful of your surroundings, engaging your senses and stopping every so often to just take it all in. Plus, we’ve got glamping options in the lands of the healing vortexes Arizona’s Red Rocks in Sedona or Joshua Tree National Park in California (check out tiny home or cabin rentals at Verde Valley or a colorful cottage at Palm Springs, respectively.) 

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Rent a Cabin

On many fall bucket lists you’ll find “Rent a Cabin” as one of the list-makers because a cabin in a wooded location with the trees changing color and the crispy fall air all around is about as autumn-y as you can get. So, let’s get to it! Here are a few cabin locations to consider:

Mt. Hood Village in Welches, OR.

Mount Hood Village (OR): Mid- to late-October is prime color time in the Mt. Hood area so choose from the deluxe or standard cabin rentals at Mt. Hood Village in Welches and bask in the fall colors. The Mt. Hood Scenic Loop is a great way to see the vibrant red, gold, and orange foliage, or a hike or bike ride in the Mt. Hood National Forest will do the trick. Try fly fishing in the autumn air – plenty of outfitters in the area can set you up or point you in the right direction. Visit www.mthoodterritory.com for more information.

Seaside RV Resort (OR): How about an Oregon Coast adventure this fall? Book a cabin at Seaside and enjoy the Oregon coast. Check out the wineries, coffee roasters, and craft breweries for a sample of these neat Oregon offerings (northcoastfoodtrail.com). Walk the beaches, which are just as beautiful, but less crowded now that fall has arrived. Check out Oswald West State Park for hiking and a beautiful beach, Short Sand Beach.

Appalachian RV Resort in Shartlesville, PA.

Appalachian RV Resort (PA): Berks County, Pennsylvania, is a great place come fall with the Blue Mountains ablaze with colors and all the wonderful outdoors to be explored. Book a cabin at Appalachian and then see what’s up here. Visit the Daniel Boone Homestead in nearby Birdsboro – the grounds are open from sunrise to sunset and visitors can see the house and farm where the legendary pioneer and outdoorsman lived. There’s also the Berks County Wine Trail (berkscountywinetrail.com) and Nolde Forest State Park with its hiking and walking trails.

Natchez Trace RV Resort in Hohenwald, TN.

Natchez Trace RV Resort (TN): With a large lake perfect for fishing and pontoon rides, and trees upon trees upon trees is what makes Natchez Trace in Hohenwald perfect for a fall cabin adventure. And there are eight cabins to choose from! Take a drive on the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway or enjoy the Natchez Trace Wine Trail. Hiking opportunities could include the Meriwether Lewis Loop Trail or the Falls Hollow Falls Trails which feature a waterfall. Take and drive and explore nearby Nashville or stay at camp and fish for bass.

Yukon Trails (WI): Rent one of our great log cabins at Yukon Trails and plan on plenty of fall-filled fun in the Wisconsin Dells. Visit Ski Hi Fruit Farm for some seasonal apples and a day on the farm, which dates back to 1907.  Mirror Lake State Park is great for fall outdoor adventures including exploring the many hiking, biking, and nature trails in the park.  The deluxe log cabins sleep 6 and include a compact refrigerator, microwave, stovetop, coffeemaker, and toaster, as well as a dining booth and a covered porch.

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Summer Cabin Fun

Cabin at South Jetty, Florence, OR

There’s something about a rustic cabin that brings you closer to nature, along with evoking memories of carefree summer camp days gone by. Make it a summer you won’t forget, and experience the joys of nature, by planning a stay in a Petite Retreat cabin.

Enjoy an island getaway in Bar Harbor which is located on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Both Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort (in Bar Harbor) and Narrows Too Camping Resort (in nearby Trenton) offer summer cabins perfect for your island stay. Both offer wooded locations with views of the oceans, plenty of amenities and are family and pet-friendly. Both camping resorts are close to all that the Bar Harbor area has to offer, including the harbor towns and Acadia National Park.

Narrows Too Camping Resort, Trenton, ME

Acadia National Park offers 47,000 acres of woodland wonderland to explore from hikes and climbs to rocky beachfronts. This park is also home to Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the East Coast.  The park offers guided hikes, cruises, and nature programs including birding and creature “meet and greets.” Visit nps.gov/acad for more information.

The town of Bar Harbor offers shopping and dining as well as events on the “Village Green” which serves as the gathering place in the center of town. Summer weeknight concerts are offered free each Monday and Thursday evening from 8 to 9 p.m.  There are also several museums that feature the history of the area including the Great Harbor Maritime Museum and Mount Desert Oceanarium. Ocean cruise options include whale-watching, island tours and a chance to learn about the life of a lobsterman on the Lulu Lobsterboat Ride. Speaking of lobster, don’t miss a lobster meal at Stewman’s Lobster Pound, an authentic oceanfront lobster pound.

On the Pacific Coast, Oregon offers multiple cabin retreats, including Seaside RV Resort, South Jetty RV Resort, and Mt. Hood Village RV Resort.

Mt. Hood’s location provides the perfect opportunity for a mountain getaway and the chance to explore Mt. Hood National Forest. Spend the day hiking the trails that include Tamanawas Falls, a five-mile loop along the Hood River complete with waterfall views or the longer Timothy Lake trail that covers 13 miles and offers plenty of swimming spots along the way to cool off! Spend the day fishing or taking in one of several birding trails to see the migratory birds that make their home in the forest.  Nearby Portland offers big city fun including the Portland Art Museum (current exhibits include Art from the 1980s, running through August 18) and the Oregon Zoo, which features a set of summer concerts (oregonzoo.org).

Mt. Hood forest trail

Enjoy a cabin stay at Seaside RV Resort and enjoy the town of Seaside’s picturesque 1.5 mile oceanfront Promenade via bicycle or a long stroll.  Or get up close and personal and feed the seals at the Seaside Aquarium, also located along the Promenade. Roll into town the weekend of September 6-9 and enjoy the Seaside Wheels and Waves Car Show, Oregon’s premier auto show that showcases cars dating from pre-1965.

Wherever you choose to stay, Petite Retreats has cabins for you! Find out more at petiteretreats.com.