Happy summer, Farmhouse Style fans. Managing Editor Lisa Sloan here. Do you love the great outdoors but don’t love roughing it? I feel you! I adore the natural beauty of field, forest and stream and enjoy gathering around a campfire to cook and share stories, but I really appreciate a comfy bed and indoor plumbing. My family frequently gives me a hard time about it, but what can I say—traditional tents give me flashbacks to a bad childhood experience at scout camp–let’s just say I was not a happy camper.
Luckily, there’s an option that includes the best of both worlds (and one I could totally see myself embracing)–glamping. A combination of “glamorous” and “camping,” this travel trend allows you to commune with nature in comfort and style.
Though the word was just added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016, the luxury camping experience dates back much further. In 16th century Scotland, an earl prepared to host visiting royalty by erecting an opulent tent decorated with items from his own palace. And later, in the African safari parks of the 1920s, wealthy travelers were accommodated in tents featuring electric generators, folding baths and cases of champagne!
Today, those interested in glamping can choose from a range of unique structures, such as tipis, tiny houses and cabins, yurts, treehouses, domes, travel trailers and more. For example, the folks at Asheville Glamping in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, offer everything from cozy treehouses built for two to family-sized domes complete with an indoor slide, to air-conditioned safari tents. And Progress Park is a 12-acre site in Louisville, Kentucky, that has a selection of new and restored vintage airstreams available for rental in a setting that has a nature trail, playground and pond for swimming, kayaking and other paddle sports. If you are looking to find these types of accommodations near you or in an area you’d like to visit, you can find loads of resources at Glamping Hub.
But you don’t have to leave home to get a taste of the glamping experience. You can set something up at home, from something as simple as tricking out your traditional tent with carpets, cushions, decorative lighting and décor, to purchasing an at-home glamping structure. There are glamping-style bell tents available on Wayfair for less than $600.
Enamelware brand Golden Rabbit, known for swirled enamel dinnerware, has introduced a line of “Glampware”—sets of enamel dinnerware meant to elevate your outdoor experience. These sturdy and pretty dishes, bowls and mugs can be used to set a striking picnic table filled with gourmet goodies to enjoy al fresco. No more flimsy paper plates! And with four different designs, they are perfect for your backyard adventure or to take with you on the road.
If you’re upgrading your accommodations and dinnerware, you might also enhance your traditional camp-out activities with an outdoor movie. Cast your favorite streaming service to a projector and play a favorite film against a fabric screen or sheet.
Whether you travel or stick close to home, glamping can satisfy your taste for adventure with a bit of luxury along for the ride. Have you been glamping or do you plan to? Tell us all about it in the comments!
Click here for 10 Tips to Turn Your Next Camping Trip into a Glamping Trip!
