Let’s Get Festival!

Nothing better than a festival in the summer air to make us appreciate the season. From flowers to wines to artists and more, these festivals should be on your agenda for the next two months.

If you plan it right, you may still be able to catch the tulip blooms in Holland, Michigan. While the annual Tulip Time Festival runs from May 4-12th, you will still be able to see blooms if you miss the festival. The town’s streets have six miles of “tulip lanes” while Windmill Island Gardens is known for the massive tulip displays. This attraction also offers visitors fields of other blooming perennials as well as an historic windmill, plenty of Dutch history and walking trails and wildlife glimpses. Book a stay at Thousand Trails Bear Cave and you’re about an hour’s drive away.

Leavenworth Tiny House Village
Leavenworth Tiny House Village

Leavenworth, Washington’s traditional Maifest is set this year for May 10-12. Book a tiny house stay at Thousand Trails Leavenworth and enjoy the festivities which include Bavarian dancing and food along with a traditional Maipole. The Festzug Grande March parade is set for Saturday at noon and will feature horse-drawn wagons, dancers and adorable Bernese Mountain dogs.

Yurt at Thousand Trails Pacific City
Yurt at Thousand Trails Pacific City

Set aside May 17 and 18 for an other-worldly experience at the McMenamins UFO Fest which honors the 1950 Trent saucer sighting. All kinds of fun await festival goers, including costume contests for adults and pets, a street fair, music, films and expert panels. Book a cottage, cabin or yurt at Thousand Trails Pacific City and you’re about 50 miles from the festival.

Cabin at Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay
Cabin at Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay

A glamping cabin rental at Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay is a must if you plan on attending the Gloucester Arts Festival, a month-long cultural event in this Virginia town with events running all month. The festival kicks off on May 31 and runs through June 29 with events throughout the area including workshops, art shows, artisan markets and more. For details visit gloucesterartsfestival.com.

It’s all about the artichoke come June 8-9 in Monterey when the Monterey County Fair and Events Center hosts this year’s Artichoke Festival entitled “Where Fun Blossoms.” The event promises entertainment, chef demos, wine tasting, a parade and, of course, an Artichoke Queen and all kinds of artichoke-focused foods. A glamping accommodation at Marina Dunes RV Resort is a must if you are planning to attend this unique event.

Cabin at Thousand Trails Rancho Oso
Cabin at Thousand Trails Rancho Oso

Santa Barbara is home to one of the largest, and most popular, summer solstice parties in the US. This year is the 50th Summer Solstice Celebration held in Alameda Park and promises all kinds of fun over the three-day event that runs from June 21-June 23. Book a stay at Thousand Trails Rancho Oso to welcome the Summer Solstice Cali-style.

Don’t miss the Adirondack Food and Wine Festival scheduled for June 29-June 30 in Lake George, New York. Glamp at Lake George Escape Campground and enjoy the two-day event that will feature food trucks, artisan food producers, crafters, craft beverage makers, and, of course, over 120 of New York’s best winemakers.

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Squeeze in the Sunshine: Best Beaches for a Late-Summer Getaway

If you didn’t have enough beach time this summer or want to make that last grab at fun in the sun, head to the beach. They’re less crowded and not so hot this time of year, but they remain the ultimate slice of summer. Here are some late-summer beach trips to consider:

Cabin at Mays Landing Campground
Cabin at Mays Landing Campground

Atlantic City, New Jersey: Back in the day, and we mean way back, from the late 1800s to the roaring ‘20s, Atlantic City was the beach. Come September, the beach is less crowded and offers gentle daytime temperatures ranging between the high 60s and low 70s with ocean breezes. The water temperature is a lovely 72 degrees – perfect for the activities you can enjoy here including surfing, kayaking and fishing. Take a break from the beach and stroll the iconic Boardwalk for shopping, eating, and salt water taffy opportunities. Book a glamping cottage or cabin at Mays Landing Campground to enjoy AC Beach!

Bar Harbor, Maine: Book a stay in a glamping cabin at Mt. Desert Narrows or Narrows Too to enjoy September in the charming coastal town of Bar Harbor and take advantage of several beaches here. Sand Beach, located within Acadia National Park, is a great little beach set between the mountains and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy swimming and the views but stay for the sunset and the night sky show as this is a great spot for stargazing. Another beach to check out within Acadia is Echo Lake Beach – again, a small beach that is great for swimming, picnicking, and spectacular scenery in the form of the soaring cliffs of Beach Mountain.

Coronado, California: On a peninsula in the San Diego Bay sits Coronado, a beautiful resort town home to the historic Hotel Del Coronado and several beaches. Coronado Central Beach has glimmering golden sand, the Hotel Del as a backdrop, and is a great beach for swimming, boogie boarding, walking, and tide pooling. North Beach is dog friendly so if you’re traveling with your furry bestie, this is the place to get that last bit of summer sun in. Swimming, walking the beach and, of course, a good game of frisbee or fetch are best done here. Silver Strand State Beach offers two beaches as it’s split – spend some time on the oceanside stretch of beach and then head over to the strip of beach along San Diego Bay. Activities here include shelling, fishing (with permit), kayaking, and swimming. Book a glamping cabin or cottage at Thousand Trails Pio Pico to check out Coronado beaches.

Rockaway Beach, Oregon: Rent a glamping cottage, cabin, or ultra-cool yurt at Thousand Trails Pacific City and experience one of Oregon’s best beaches at nearby Rockaway Beach. Of course, Cloverdale has plenty of beaches to enjoy so close to home, but we thought a day trip to Rockaway might be fun. Rockaway offers seven miles of sandy beach with several access points along the way. This beach is great for rock hounding and tide pooling. Swimming is an option in September but the water temps are around 62 degrees, so wetsuits are a good idea. While you’re here, grab an original Pronto Pup – considered the original corn dog since 1941. Rockaway Pronto Pup is open on weekends year-round. In Cloverdale, beaches to explore include Green Acres Beach (for a horseback ride along the beach experience, visit beach-rides.com) or Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area with its soaring sand dune and oceanside stretch of beach.

Cabin at Thousand Trails Pacific City
Cabin at Thousand Trails Pacific City

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