There was once a time that I thought anything short of sleeping in the dirt was a “soft” experience. Always eager to test myself, I sought out the the rawest of experiences nature had to offer. But these days I’ve come to realize that it’s not all about making miles and climbing the highest peaks. I’ll always love being deep in the bush facing whatever challenges come my way, yet there is something to be said about sitting around a fire with a full cooler and a hot meal in your belly. Those little luxuries, were what I thought to be, the definition of camping in comfort. Recently I’ve discovered that I was wrong. I was recently shown that there’s an even more luxurious way to camp. This “high-flaunting” way of camping is commonly known as glamour camping, or glamping. Allow me to share what I found to be a shocking experience (as someone who is not used to the finer things in camp life.)
When arriving at the “glampsite” our first stop was the lodge. It was a two-story building with tall windows, multiple fireplaces, a bar, lounge, and an observation window complete with a telescope, star map, and a damn good view.
A woman greeted us at the door and sent the staff to unload our “luggage” from the car. We were lead to a long table and given a menu featuring the many dishes available from their gourmet kitchen, all ingredients bought fresh daily. Coffee was offered, as well as beer and wine. A delicious meal was served, including appetizers, entrees, and desserts. After sitting back for awhile with yet another cup of coffee, we were lead to our tents.
As a man with simple standards, I never expected to find myself in a tent with power, a full-sized bed, and a private bathroom. When I found that I would be enjoying those very things, I felt that I might as well be staying at the Taj Mahal. As I came down the stone steps I was greeted by the sight of a raised platform tastefully lit by string lights along the banisters.
As I stepped onto the platform I came to a large canvas wall tent and our bags that had been brought ahead of us. Inside of the tent were two beds, one full-size and another twin, as well as lighting, power outlets, furniture, and a platter in the corner with water and beer.
Impressed with my accommodations, I sat and marveled at what was in front of me. I took in the quaint, little setup and laughed in disbelief before remembering that the tent was only one half of the package: there was a private bathroom too.
Being excited about a bathroom may seem silly to the uninitiated, but when you’re used to, ahem, taking care of business into a 6-inch hole in the ground, a bathroom is a big deal. The small structure was attached to the platform and accessible from the outside. Upon opening the door I found a rustically decorated private bathroom, shower included, and sparkling new porcelain.
Towels and toilet paper were provided and the shower had an overhead skylight so one could bathe beneath the stars.
Afterwards, feeling like the king of the campsite, I laid back on our outdoor seating to enjoy the sunset, which the platform was thoughtfully built to face. Taking in the stars before laying back in a real bed was quite the treat. Fresh air and fresh sheets is a combination that’s hard to beat.
My takeaway is that if you have someone in your life that is against camping, perhaps try taking them glamping. It has all of the joys of camping and more, without any of the discomforts. Luxurious and low-risk, it may just be enough for such people to have a good time and get them more interested in what the outdoors has to offer.
Sleep comfortably and keep your boots wet.
Wet Boots, Worn Packs, and Other Wonderful Things 