GLAMPING IN A CABIN IS CAMPING WITH ADDED COMFORTS!
Glamping in a cabin is one of my favorite traditions. There is a back story of how we started vacationing this way. I grew up with traditional camping. We had tiny two-man tents, sleeping bags, and lived on cereal and sandwiches, and occasional items cooked over the fire. Was it fun? Absolutely! I loved finding new campgrounds, being in nature, and having fun. Was it comfortable, absolutely not! A sleeping bag and the ground was the worst way to sleep. Hello, backache!
Fast forward to when I started my own family, I decided to take my first son tent camping. He was almost 5, and I was pregnant with my second child. I wanted to have this experience with him before the new baby came. It sounded good in theory. But then the storm came. It rained so hard that we took our son to the car. After we cleaned out the flood in our tent, next came the 2 a.m. pregnant lady bathroom runs. It was the worst. But what we did discover on that trip, was that we enjoyed the Jellystone Resort that we stayed in, it was full of amenities. And while we explored, we discovered the cabins. There were cabins of all sizes and they looked great from where we were standing. I was converted right then and there at that moment! I wanted to be a “glamper”.
WHAT IS GLAMPING?
Glamping is known as “glamorous camping”. While glamorous may not be the exact right word (some of the places are anything but fancy), glamping is a much nicer way to camp. The first time that we rented a small glamping cabin, we thought that it was amazing. There was a bathroom with a small shower stall, an air conditioner, a small table and chairs, and bunk beds. Compared to the tents and air mattresses, it was great. The cabin had a tiny porch so in the sunny times we were able to pull up our picnic table into the shade. We had a tiny cooktop so that we were able to cook actual meals. Hot dogs and smores were still made on the fire, but this way it was not our every meal.
We were so excited to have these comforts, I knew that I would never go back to tent camping. I like to refer to glamping as “camping with comforts”. You still do all the campground activities and connect with nature, but in the evening when you want to rest, you can do so a little more comfortably.
WHAT TYPES OF LODGING FOR GLAMPING IS AVAILABLE?
The rental options for glamping are many. Our preferred lodging option is a cabin. It is basically a tiny log cabin. In addition to camping, there are cottages, bungalows, teepees, yurts, and treehouses (yes, we have stayed in one!). The resorts have so many different options these days for comfortable non-traditional camping. A quick google search and you can find many options. Resorts, state parks, and private campgrounds have so many glamping options. Those options typically include many amenities such as swimming, jumping pillows, water slides, golf carts, arcades, fishing lakes, mini-golf, paddle boats, etc. In addition, some of the resorts that are chains have the same amenities all over the country, so that you know what to expect at different resorts. There are also many different resorts so that if you enjoy something different each time, that is an option as well.
Washington Post wrote an article during Corona virus because if the increase in glamping last summer. There are some great ideas in here showing different options for glamping:
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NON-TRADITIONAL CAMPING?
- Private bathrooms & showers
- More cooking options with a cooktop
- A place to go for peace and quiet
- More comfortable places to sleep than a tent and sleeping bag
- Air conditioning when you need it
- Privacy
- More personal space for your belongings
Some people enjoy “roughing it”, getting the authentic experience of camping out in nature. And then some people, like my family enjoy the camping feeling while also being more comfortable. For instance, one of our most favorite things is having a private bathroom and shower rather than using a bathhouse and community bathroom. In addition, we enjoy being able to go to bed without being disturbed by those around us. You hear a bit less of other families staying up late making noise when you have walls around you. There are many benefits of glamping in a cabin that make the price over traditional camping worth it.
IS GLAMPING IN A CABIN FOR YOU?
That is the question. For my family, glamping has brought unexpected surprises. For example, at the end of a vacation that we were on, I planned a stop for two days at a resort near Asheville, NC. I thought that it would be fun to try a treehouse cabin. While the stop presented some challenges for us (we did not plan ahead and did not realize that there were no grocery stores nearby the resort, rain, etc..), we made the best of it and had fun. It rained for about half a day, and we had a wonderful time up in the trees watching Netflix and had some great laughs. When it stopped raining, we headed out and swam, did water slides, and checked out the lake. It was a super fun stop on our trip and my kids have asked us many times to take them back.
To decide if glamping is for you, I suggest making a list of what type of experience that you want on your trip, what activities, and what types of comforts are important to your family. Then do your research with your end goal in mind. It helps to know what you want as far as lodging and activities. One thing to remember though is to embrace making memories when things do not go as planned. On our treehouse trip, we did not plan on no grocery store nearby, but we did have many laughs creating our meals from the campground store. We had to get creative and we still laugh about it today.
Need ideas of where to go glamping? REVEL has a video of the top 25 Glamping Destinations in the United States. There are some amazing locations on that that I have on my list!
Research the resorts and plan a trip! You will not be sorry. I have a feeling that you will really love it and make many lasting family memories!
GLAMPING IN A CABIN IS AN AMAZING AND FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY. I RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE TO TRY IT AT LEAST ONCE!
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST AND WOULD LIKE TO READ OTHER POSTS FOR ADVENTURES, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE:
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Bucket list – why you should update your list now!
Making Memories with a FAMILY GAME NIGHT!
FUN things to do this SUMMER with kids!
Wandering – Four ideas to try now!
Joanne says
That is pretty much the ONLY way I’ll “camp.” We too tried sleeping in a tent once when our boys were young and it was awful… luckily we tried it out in our yard one night so the house was nearby but I don’t think I had ever had a worse nights’ sleep.
cbrooks0312@comcast.net says
I agree, I will never go back to tent camping. I love glamping!
Denise Gardiner says
This is the first time I have heard of glamping, and as a senior, this is a much more comfortable way to go! How cute the cabins look and love all the conveniences you have. I would be willing to try the teepees as long as they had a private bathroom and a comfortable bed. Nice to know about all the amenities that can be available for added fun. Thank you for sharing!
cbrooks0312@comcast.net says
Thank you for checking out the post! We learned about glamping about 9 years ago and have been doing it ever since. Like you, my most important comfort choices would be a bathroom and a bed.
Dee | Grammy's Grid says
Lots of fun in the past in a cabin with the grandbabies!! Thanks so much for linking up with me at the Unlimited Link Party 29. Pinned!
cbrooks0312@comcast.net says
I love glamping in a cabin. It is great when you want to come in from outside, and have a spot for a rest, personal restroom, and a shower! Glad to hear that you are enjoying it with the next generation!
Lisa Blair says
Great article, Catherine! My husband and I stayed in our first glamping cabin in May. We had a good experience and will probably do it again in the future.
~Lisa, Visiting from Unlimited Link Party 29, #104
cbrooks0312@comcast.net says
I am so glad to hear that you liked glamping in a cabin! We do it year after year and it is a great little adventure every time. We switch up the cabin type occasionally and loved the loft-style cabin this year. Thank you for visiting my site!-Mrs. Accountable
Amy Johnson says
I have never stayed in a cabin, but I have stayed in tents. I actually like sleeping in a tent, but we have had rain issues which can ruin a camping experience.
cbrooks0312@comcast.net says
Thank you for taking a look at my post! I stayed in tents many times in my youth and a few times as an adult. Once I discovered glamping I have never gone back because there is no flooding, being afraid of lightning, etc. Try it out sometime and I bet you will like it! The thing that I like the most is a private restroom and a bed.