Time to Go Glamping!

(Broadry, Andrea E. McHugh) — Take some basic camping, add a dash of glamour, and voila – you have glamping! The solution to a desire to experience the great outdoors without abandoning creature comforts, glamping opens up a world of possibilities to would-be campers simply not willing to “rough it.” Camp and RV sites coast to coast may just offer the most unexpected glamping accommodations ranging from tiny houses to tented petite retreats. Think “rustic charm,” minus the need to shower offsite. 

We’ve rounded up a half dozen glamping-ready resorts ready to knock your soft, cottony socks off.  

Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina, Long Key, Florida

You know it’s a party when “fiesta” is in the name! The cottages at Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina, nestled in the heart of the Florida Keys, is located on an island all its own. The resort’s 28 tropical acres offer panoramic views of the azure Gulf of Mexico and beyond. To soak it all in but in the comfort and privacy of your own abode, the resort includes cottages which can accommodate 4-6 guests and equipped with everything you’ll need for a glamping adventure: queen size bed with linens, kitchen with coffee maker, toaster and oven (to make croissants, naturally),  microwave, and refrigerator, to keep the pinot grigio cool. Feeling social? Head to the tiki bar for sunset cocktails, mixing and mingling. 

Sunshine Key Tiny House Village, Big Pine Key, Florida

Is there anything more Florida than brightly colored oceanfront homes in shades of pink, yellow or aqua popping against the backdrop swaying palm trees and a brilliant blue sky? Put the Tiny House Village at Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina on your must-do vacation wish list as these petite retreats are steps from the water’s edge on Ohio Key (generally referred to as “Sunshine Key,” after the resort that takes up much of the 75-acre island). Located just 30 miles from Key West, the cottages ooze personality and charm and boast names like Lucy, Pearl, Isla, Kai and, of course, in homage of Keys’ most famous writer, Hemingway, can accommodate parties from two to six and include kitchens, full bathrooms, coffee makers, queen size beds, a TV and more. It’s just all…pretty tiny. Just minutes from Bahia Honda State Park, the Sunshine Key Tiny House Village is the ideal locale to experience all the Keys have to offer.

Oceanside RV Resort, Oceanside, CA

With dreamy year-round temperatures and a California dreamin’ vibe, the Oceanside RV Resort on San Diego’s North Shore brings glamping relaxation to the next level. Your Instagram audience will swoon with envy as the picture perfect glamping tents here are set on elevated wood platforms and fronted by rocking and Adirondack chairs and your own private fire pit, begging for s’mores under the stars. Inside, you’ll find comfy king beds, a mini-fridge for some bubbly, a coffee maker so you start your morning off on the right note, and a heater for those cool coastal California nights. Looking to dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean? Water’s edge is less than a 10 minute walk away. 

Gulf Shores RV Resort, Gulf Shores, Alabama

On the stunning Alabama Gulf Coast, this resort offers eight fully furnished custom-designed cottages (with lofts!) merging a modern farmhouse aesthetic with classic Southern hospitality. In true glamping style, cottages are fully equipped flat screen TVs, washers/dryers (select units), bathrooms, fully-appointed kitchens, fresh bed linens and towels and best of all for families with fur babies, they are pet-friendly! There’s one more must-have when it comes to this kind of glamping – air conditioning, as this part of the Deep South can bring the heat. Cottages can sleep up to four adults and two children with the bedroom, bunk beds, and a loft. Outside it’s all about dining and unwinding. Fire up the barbecue grill, set the picnic table and roast the perfect s’more over a fire ring.

Verde Valley RV Campground Resort, Cottonwood, Arizona

Bookended by the red rocks of Sedona to the northeast and Mingus Mountain to the southwest, the cozy cabins at Verde Valley are idyllically positioned above the heat of the desert and below the cooler temperatures of surrounding mountains. Settle into one of these rustic outposts, many of which offer panoramic views of Verde River Canyon, which welcome groups from four to six including cabins that are wheelchair accessible and pet friendly. Whether a solo traveler, a couple seeking a weekend of outdoor adventure, a family ready for their first glamping experience or a girlfriends getaway glamping style, Verde Valley’s cabins aim to please with bedding ranging from bunks to queen size, kitchenettes, bathrooms with shower and tub (BYOB — bring your own bath bombs!), flat screens and just about everything in between. Enjoy the outdoors protected from the elements on your own covered deck or cuddle up by the fire pit after experiencing a nearby desert Jeep tour. 

Mt. Hood Tiny House Village, Welches, OR 

How much character can fit in 175 to 260 square feet? A ton it seems, as evidenced by the eight tiny houses at Mt. Hood Village RV Resort in this awe-inspiring part of the Pacific Northwest. This magical part of the Beaver State, located less than an hour outside of Portland and close to Mt. Hood National Forest offers pristine camping and glamping surroundings and an endless flower of fresh air. With different design themes including farmhouse charm, modern and minimal, sleek and rugged, and natural and free, to name a few, these intimate abodes offer full kitchens and baths, ironically roomy sleeping quarters and unmatched charm. On clear days, you can enjoy views of a snow-capped Mt. Hood towering into the sky or gather in the cozy courtyard where a communal fire pit invites you to make new friends. 

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