5 Ways to Turn Your Camp Out Into a Glamp Out

Last weekend was International Glamping Weekend! Yes, apparently there is such a thing. Nothing needs awareness like the cause of glamping, right?

Photo Credit: The Resort at Paws Up

As someone who camps often, I do often get asked, “What is glamping?” In short, glamping is “glamourous camping.” It means to be out in nature but to keep the roughing it to a minimum.

Glamping means nice sheets and rugs and canvas tents. Romantic lighting, fine food, and an air of sophistication.

It is the juxtaposition of luxury and wide open spaces, soft pillow topped beds and brushy, untamed plains.

There are degrees of glamping….

From high end, lap of luxury resorts in the middle-of-nowhere….

Photo Credit: The Resort at Paws Up

Such as The Resort at Paws Up (#15 of Best 100 Resorts in World, Conde Nast) and the great safari lodges of Africa…

Photo Credit: Electrify Mag

..to DIY glamping with fine cotton sheets and Kona coffee over a campfire at a state park.

The great thing about camping, glamorous or not, is that you are required to pare life down to the simplest of things–what’s absolutely necessary for existence. Glamping adds in the luxurious bits of life, like fine food, dreamy sleeping conditions, and beautiful decor.

You can make your camping experience a glamping experience in these five quick and easy steps. I’ve selected these because they are do-able for a short weekend getaway.  Have fun with it!

Glamping Tips

• Lighting – Get a campsite with electricity and string lights around the entrance to your tent and nearby trees. Even better over a table where you’re preparing food.

This is a fun opportunity to experiment. You can use white Christmas lights, twinkle lights, lanterns, or colored. Use red lights if you plan on star gazing so your eyes can adjust.

• Fine Food – Now is the time to go to Central Market or Whole Foods and treat yourself. Fine wines, Advanced S’More Making, Irish oatmeal with fresh fruit and nuts for breakfast, good coffee, etc! Arrange an assortment of fancy cheeses on a cutting board for appetizers. What about zucchini pancakes as a side dish? Sounds yummy to me.

• Nice Bedding & Air Mattress – Make a real bed for yourself, with sheets, pillow, and blanket. Don’t use a sleeping bag. Pack your nice pajamas. Note: do not use an air mattress in winter, it wicks away heat and will leave you very cold in the middle of the night.

• Cute Attire – Have fun with it! I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that half the fun of going out to a nice dinner is getting to dress up, am I right? Same goes for glamping! One of my biggest problems with the established stereotype of outdoorswomen is that we are a subset of women, a group of folks who are grungey and live in a tree. Au contraire mon frère. We are the girl next door. Coworkers, aunts, moms, and girlfriends. We snapchat, we wear heels, we wear make up, etcetera. So why change when we go camping?

 

 

• Colorful Rug – Take a small (no larger than 3×5) rug to lay at the entrance to your tent, either inside or outside, whichever you prefer.

Of course, the best decoration–and one you can rarely get at home–is the backdrop. Nothing can compare to a luxurious little tent in the midst of a beautiful landscape.

Glamping Resorts (they do it for you!!)

• The Resort at Paws Up – Montana
• Sinya on Lone Man Creek – Wimberley, Texas
• El Cosmico – Marfa, Texas
• Tipis on the Guadalupe River – Sattler, Texas

Before you go, be sure to check out my Pinterest Board, Glamping Inspiration, for more images to whet your glamping whistle.

Disclaimer: Backpackers have some of the nicest gear around, so while I talk about adding luxury to your campout, backpackers don’t exactly have a rough deal of it to begin with. They sleep in down sleeping bags and eat off of forks made from titanium. Just sayin’.