Whether a relaxing beach vacation or a wilderness retreat, it can be hard to find a summer destination that satisfies the whole family. Instead of having to choose between comfort and adventure, perhaps you might prefer “glamping” this summer season. Glamping offers something for everyone -- combining the unrivaled beauty of the outdoors with the elevated amenities of a luxury vacation.
Big Cedar Lodge | Ridgedale, Missouri (pictured)
Reopening this month for the season and featuring new camp cabins this summer, Camp Long Creek sits along the 43,000-acre Table Rock Lake at the award-winning wilderness resort in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge. The “glampsite” offers a chic way for travelers to relive their favorite summer camp moments. Accommodations feature luxury glamping tents, stylish camp cabins and camp huts alongside activities and amenities for the whole family such as lake “beach” access and boating, a pool with luxe loungers and stunning views of Table ROck Lake, outdoor games and s’mores kits upon arrival, a dog park so you can bring your furry family members along, and more. What’s more, guests can enjoy casual bites from The Canteen, Camp Long Creek’s Airstream that serves delicious treats including cheeseburgers, bratwursts and canned cocktails to-go, as well as enjoy activities and dining options at Big Cedar Lodge.
La Quinta Resort & Club | La Quinta, CA
Blending luxury hospitality with the natural splendor, wide-open skies and otherworldly landscapes of the legendary Joshua Tree National Park, guests can book La Quinta Resort’s Camp’d Out Joshua Tree Experience offering a luxury glamping Joshua Tree experience in collaboration with Camp’d Out. Book a minimum 3-night stay and enjoy accommodations on the first and last night at La Quinta Resort & Club and one night in a luxurious camp setup, complete with plush resort bedding, a prepped camp meal for two, s’mores, a fire pit, overnight butler service, morning coffee, and transportation to and from the campsite. Guests can opt to enhance their experience with a private dinner under the stars expertly prepared fireside by a private chef. The once in a lifetime experience starts at $2,450
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection | Park City, Utah
Located on 3,500 private acres in the Wasatch Mountain Range, the intimate retreat exudes luxury as nature intended. The Yurts at Blue Sky sit atop two of the most picturesque peaks on property and serve as the home base for various culinary and adventure offerings. Groups of 10 guests or fewer are invited to indulge in elevated, farm-to-table cuisine by James Beard award-winning Executive Chef Galen Zamarra for an unforgettable mountaintop yurt private dining experience. Choose between multi-course wine paired dinners, fondue and whiskey tastings or a completely customized menu. For thrill seekers, explore easygoing, moderate or challenging on-site hiking trails with an experienced guide. Along the way, you will discover Blue Sky’s diverse plant and animal life while identifying various species of wildflowers and animals. Arrive to the Yurt to savor a rustic picnic lunch, partake in an alfresco, mountaintop art class or get grounded in a mediation session while taking in the stunning vista views. For an even more over-the-top adventure, take a helicopter departing outside your Yurt as part of the resort’s heli-adventures program, which includes fly-fishing, yoga or meditation, hiking and mountain biking in high alpine remote destinations.
Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort, Big Sur, CA
Guests of all ages can glamp among towering redwoods at the resort’s Redwood Canyon Glampsites that offer 15 elegant safari-style canvas tents complete with a plush glamping mattress, premium bedding and cozy heated blankets; hardwood floors; complimentary s’mores kits, firewood and fire pits; full hotel amenities at the impressive Bath House; daily housekeeping service; morning coffee and tea; handheld lanterns and reading lights; power outlets and more. The breathtaking location among the redwoods is an ideal setting for guests to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with each other over fireside storytelling, campfire meals, hikes in the forest and along Big Sur’s iconic coastline, and more.
Ventana Big Sur is a dreamy escape for an adults-only getaway where mind-body-soul experiences come alive. Guests can enjoy craft cocktails and coastal cuisine at The Sur House restaurant whose ocean-view dining terrace seemingly floats into the sky; take a dip in the clothing-optional Mountain Pool and adjacent Japanese hot baths; or connect through the Alila Experience Program with fascinating explorations and workshops including a Circle of Life Meditation Experience, Glass House Art Classes with local artists, and hiking excursions including a Wild Foraging Hike, Spiritual Hiking Excursion and Hermitage Tour, and Photography Hike Workshops.
