There’s nothing quite like the great outdoors… especially when you can manage to enjoy them with the comforts of a cozy bed, spacious walls, and tasty food. That’s why we love glamping, which has all the benefits of a traditional camping experience but without as much dirt. If one of your resolutions is to spend more time in nature this year, glamping is the way to go. Start by indulging in some glamping inspiration, then check out the most popular destinations and start planning a delicious camping menu. 2018 is the year of being one with the outdoors: Here’s how to embrace it and get your glamp on.
1. Make the time. The first step in glamping more is to make a commitment to do it. Pick a long weekend, set aside a few vacation days, or choose to be further away from the city life on your upcoming vacation. Another way of putting this is “find your why.” Maybe it’s that being in the woods makes you feel like a kid again. Maybe you want to really, truly be out of reach of cell service. Maybe it’s all the awesome health benefits of being in nature. Maybe you want some killer Instagram photos. Whatever it is that makes you want to get outside, hold on to that and make it a priority.
2. Turn your car into an adventure-mobile. Whether you’ve got a compact sedan or an ATV, you can make small additions that will turn your auto into the perfect adventure getaway vehicle. At a minimum, keep blankets, lighting, camp chairs (or a hammock!), and a cooler in your trunk for impromptu trips. Adding an inflatable mattress and tent means you could overnight in the woods anywhere, anytime.
3. Decide where you want to go. A national park or a ranch in the middle of the country? A beachside or tree-covered forest? Near home or hundreds of miles away? Starting with your intended destination can help you figure out what you can afford and how much planning responsibility you want to take on. National parks will require you to bring your own gear and likely reserve a spot well in advance, where you might be able to find a killer yurt on a whim in a rural area with only a few days’ notice.
4. Decide what kind of glamper you want to be. Glamping runs the gamut of accommodations, from large tents to yurts and teepees to cabins or RVs. From there, you can decide whether you want to rent your main gear for a weekend and find a location on your own, rent a cabin, or even pay someone to set up a whole glamping affair for you.
5. Invest in your own gear. If you’re looking to spend your time in tents, you’re probably not going to find the most luxurious glamping gear at average outdoor stores, which cater more to small-tent campers. As with most things, Amazon has its fair share of affordable tents, including 10-person, three-room options, and gorgeous canvas yurt-style tents. If you’re tent-bound, you’ll also need to consider how you’re going to cook — whether it’s on a coal grill or a fancy camp oven — and how to stay clean — which might mean embracing a little bit of greasy hair or investing in a camp shower. If you think you’ll favor more sturdy accommodations, it’s still a good idea to have some essentials with you, like portable, unbreakable cookware (and utensils!), lighting options, and chairs. Campsaver and Sierra Trading Post are great options to find these things at a discount (not to mention warm clothing you won’t mind getting a little dirty).
6. Get familiar with glamping-focused companies. Tentrr finds beautiful locations, sets your tent up for you in advance, and plans awesome outdoor adventures nearby. Glamping.com and Glamping Hub help you find resort-level glamping destinations all over the world. Hipcamp functions as a kind of glamping Airbnb, featuring everything from treehouses to Airstreams to just gorgeous stretches of private land where the owners will let you stay for a fee. And don’t forget Airbnb itself — you can often find a cabin or RV parked in a stunning stretch of land for remarkably cheap.
Do you love glamping? Show us your campsites by tagging us on Instagram @BritandCo!
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(Photos via Getty)
