If glamping conjures up images of cowboys waking up to coffee and breakfast at a chuckwagon or adventurous city folks being catered to out in the country, complete with fancy canvas tents, oil lamps casting a romantic glow to light up the nights, and director style camp chairs, well, you’re not far off. That’s exactly how glamping started out: a much more comfortable way to experience nature. Glamping, which got its name from combining the words Glamorous + Camping, started out as mostly safari-style or cowboy style tents. Those tents that you may have encountered on scout trips as a child, the ones that roll up on the sides to let the breeze roll through. We’ve come a long way from cots and bedrolls.
Modern glamping options have expanded to include covered wagons, plastic bubble domes, geo domes, teepees, yurts, treehouses, and unique, custom structures, like our hybrid tent-cabin-glass enclosures which overlook Lake Travis in the hill country near Austin, Texas.
Occasionally traditional cabins and Airstreams get lumped under the glamping umbrella, although little differentiates those from a traditional cabin rental.
Most glamping accommodations are designed for solo travelers looking for a private escape, or couples on a romantic getaway. Some glamping properties allow kids and cater to family travel. Few staycation options can rival the escape of unwinding in a glamping tent. Even though we’re near Austin, and near enough to Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, you truly feel a world away out here in the Texas hill country. The peace and quiet have to be experienced to be believed.
Camping lets you immerse yourself in nature. A chance to relax and disconnect from everyday life. It feeds the soul with expansive vistas, the sounds of summer cicadas and crackling winter fires. Step outside your tent in the morning and feel the dew on the grass. Hear the birds at first light. Smell the Texas hill country air and listen to the rustling of wind through the trees.
But, oh boy, does camping require a lot of work. I used to spend a week making lists of supplies to pack for me, my husband, and sometimes the kids. Sleeping bags, pillows, tents, (did we check for the rain fly? And that tarp to go under the tent? Tent stakes?) paper plates, bowls, salt, pepper, forks, knives, the camp stove to make coffee, foil, napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, regular towels, dish soap, sponge… the list was endless and took a week to organize. Then we packed the car, which took almost a day to itself. Upon arrival at our camp spot, we would divide and conquer the setup for a couple of hours, usually trying to get everything in place before dark. Often, we were spitting distance from the other tents, leading to disappointment in the crowded, noisy, reality of our weekend getaway. Then, after all the fun, came the dreaded reloading the car, unpacking the car, piles of laundry, and putting everything away.
Now imagine all the fun parts of camping without the work. Enter, glamping.
A top-notch glamping experience combines the best parts of camping with luxurious creature comforts, like a comfortable king-sized bed that’s ready and waiting for you to dive in, soft linens, outlets to charge your phone, lamps, towels, and proper furniture. Coffee, tea, and mugs right at your bedside? Yes, please! A mini fridge to store cocktail supplies. Yes, please! Heating and air conditioning are a must in Texas. You can wander outside to feel the dew, watch the hill country sunrise, gaze over Lake Travis, and immerse yourself in nature. Hike a bit. Then retreat to your carefully curated indoor-outdoor space and let someone else do the laundry.
When you get home and realize you don’t need to unpack a car full of supplies, you’ll realize every dollar you spent on glamping was worth it. Glamorous, glorious, good, great, gleeful are just a few words you’ll use to describe the sweet relief of not having to clean all that camping equipment. You can slip right down onto the sofa when you get home and let your mind wander back to the memories of coffee in a hammock.
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