Not roughing it
Glamping makes for easy outdoor stays
ORLANDO, Fla. — There was once a time when camping conjured up images of trudging through the backcountry, backpacks slung over tired shoulders while keeping eyes peeled for bears.
Some might still argue that roughing it with tents and sleeping bags is the real way to camp, but gone are the days when that’s your only option.
Now, glamping has come into the spotlight, with luxurious sites set up in beautiful places from Joshua Tree National Park to Yellowstone and beyond. The industry is suddenly exploding and could be worth $4.8 billion by 2025, according to Grand View Research.
The idea behind this phenomenon is that more people can now enjoy the outdoors without first learning how to build a fire, assemble a tent or tie up a bear bag. The trend is growing at a time when camping has never been more popular.
The number of camping households in the U.S. now numbers 78.8 million, according to the 2019 North American Camping Report. In addition, the 2020 report showed that nearly four in 10 campers say they want to try glamping, with one in three prospective campers saying the same thing.
Glamping shows it’s possible to access a beautiful place while enjoying a swanky stay. You’ll still need bug spray but will have a much better chance of getting a good night’s rest.
Glamping excursion
I spent two nights in the BirdHouse, an open-air cabin on stilts enclosed with screens and complete with three twin-sized beds, a mini-fridge and ceiling fans. It overlooked the Suwannee River and felt akin to a large Florida room attached to a house, except this one has its own porch, too.
There’s an outdoor shower sans hot water, but visitors might not mind that during Florida’s hot summer months.
It was outdoorsy without the hassle of putting up a tent or discomfort of sleeping on the ground. The accommodation feels a little warm in summer months, but ceiling fans help. And no need to worry how much ice is in the cooler — that’s what the fridge is for.
As someone who grew up camping and is used to roughing it in a tent, I had the tendency to pooh-pooh glamping when I first heard about it. But after trying it, I’m sort of hooked.
I learned that camping can now involve creature comforts such as air conditioning, plush mattresses, outlets for charging devices and, if lucky enough, a Wi-Fi router or TV.
And I still awoke early, before the sun, listening to owls “hoo-hoo” just as I would in a tent.
To learn more, go to su wan nee cabin san ctuary.com.
Growing appeal
Glamping Hub, an Air bnb like platform for naturebased luxury stays, has experienced record-breaking growth in the months since May, partially inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic and the desire to safely get away from it all.
Olivia Grafton, a public relations executive at the company, said glamping fills the void between staying in a hotel and pitching a tent.
“I think people are really starting to appreciate glamping because it is that real mix of waking up in the forest or waking up in the middle of the mountains with a cup of coffee — without having to heat it over the fire,” she said. “You don’t have to take lots of things with you, and you don’t have to buy all the camping stuff. With glamping, everything is kind of set up.”
The platform offers a range of stays — 30,000 options around the world — from canvas tents and yurts to cozy cabins and designer homes far removed from civilization.
“You are not giving up any kind of luxury at all. The benefit is your bed is there, some places even have washing machines. You’ve got a dishwasher, sometimes electrical appliances,” Grafton said. “It’s really about going back and relaxing, reconnecting to yourself and also your surroundings.”
A cursory look at the site’s Florida lodgings shows luxurious canvas tents with queen-size beds, an Airstream trailer near Miami, tiny houses to rent near Orlando, rustic cabins set away from city life and gorgeous countryside homes.
Planning tools
Here are some tools to assist with planning camping or glamping expeditions.
Glamping Hub is the aforementioned Airbnb-like platform for finding luxurious nature-based stays in locations around the world. Explore 30,000 listings. Go to glampinghub.com to learn more.
The Dyrt is akin to Yelp, with reviews of campsites and campgrounds by fellow campers. Browse more than 1 million campsites and, in some cases, check real-time availability for sites. Go to thedyrt.com to learn more.
Hipcamp‘ s platform brings campers a range of bookable overnight stays ranging from tiny homes to tent sites and treehouses across the U.S. Camp on private or public land, and filter listings with options such as “lake camping,” “pet-friendly camping” and “available this weekend.” Go to hipcamp.com.
Under Canvas sets up luxurious sites with canvas tents, plush mattresses, on-site dining, camp activities and picturesque views near some of the country’s most magnificent national parks. While the company’s 2020 season is coming to a close, they’re already accepting reservations for 2021. Learn more at undercanvas.com.