There's a lovely trend in vacation stays that really picked up steam a few years ago, and it's the notion of being surrounded by nature but still retaining a few creature comforts. We don't know if we'd call any of these nine places in the U.S. "glamping" trips (we imagine there'd still be potential bug run-ins at a least a few of these places), but they're certainly a little more luxurious than hiking in with your own tent and supplies. Spread out across the nation, there seems to be a yurt, tent or teepee option for whatever sort of landscape you're looking for. Where will you head to first?
Top Row:
1) The Resort at Paws Up — tent camping in Montana
2, 3) El Cosmico — tent and yurt camping in Marfa, Texas
4) Cedar House Inn & Yurts — yurt camping in Georgia
5) Dunton Hot Springs Hotel — teepee and cabin luxury camping in Colorado
Bottom Row:
6) Yurt Home and Gardens — yurt living in Hawaii
7) Frost Mountain Yurts — yurt camping in Maine
8) Oz Farm Cabins — yurt and dome camping in California
9) Wigwam Motel — "camping" in wigwam-shaped buildings in California
10) El Capitan Canyon — safari tent camping in California
Give us the teepee, luxury tent and yurt dirt: Are they fun? Worth the money? A try-it-once-but-never-again thing? Let us know!
MORE TENTS, TEEPEES AND YURTS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Tent Hotels
• Amazing Tents & Tipis
• Suburban Tipi
• Trailers, Yurts & Teepees at El Cosmico Lodging
• Luxury Camping: Dunton Hot Springs
• Roughing It: Tent Bedrooms
• 5 Yurt Escapes
Images: 1: The Resort at Paws Up website; 2, 3: El Cosmico website; 4: Cedar House Inn & Yurts website; 5: Dunton Hot Springs Hotel website; 6: Yurt Home and Gardens website; 7: Frost Mountain Yurts website; 8: Oz Farm Cabins website; 9: Wigwam Motel website and 10: El Capitan Canyon website.
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We stayed in a yurt in Bon Echo Provincial Park in Ontario at the end of May this year. It was basic, but perfect for us non-campers! It has electric heat, a BBQ, bunk beds that sleep six, and a resident chipmunk! We loved it, will do it again, and highly recommend it!!!
Don't forget Falling Waters in Western North Carolina. They have yurts and camping. Rafting, tubing, zip lining, biking, hiking, train rides and so much more just moments away. Headed there this weekend!
http://www.fallingwatersresort.com/yurt_village.htm
we yurted it up last week and loved it. there was no electricity in the yurt, but there is a big difference between a two-man ten with sleeping pads (and a dog squeezed in there) and a big, hardwood floor yurt with a mattress and chairs!
a little yurt don't hurt.
I've stayed at StoneWind Retreat outside of Chester Arkansas. It's a WONDERFUL high end yurt retreat. Massages are offered, meditation classes, hot tub on the deck- full bathroom and kitchen as well as full heat/cooling... it's very very nice, fully furnished. Totally wonderful weekend retreat.
Also, we've stayed in yurts on the coast of Oregon. I think they are owned by the state parks system, and are not as luxury, but AWESOME location right off the beach, and really really fun. (not to mention very cheap).
We want to go back there again on vacation as well!
Love yurts!
There are yurts available in nearly every state park in the country (US that is). It is cheap and awesome--I stayed in one on the Oregon coast that had a skylight, room for 5 people, an electric heater, a deck for cooking with a wee stove, and was a 5 minute walk from the ocean! it was the best little camping trip, and very plush. you have to RSVP one ahead of time though, they are completely booked during the summers.
Sounds really cool, but what is the peeing/bathing situation at these places?
had a fantastic time in hawaii at this yurt:
http://www.luanaspa.com/accommodations.php
bathroom was outdoors nearby, and had a friendly frog living in it.
one of the most memorable and lovely places i've ever stayed! would love more yurt vacations in the future.
@HeyNowTex: The yurt we stayed in was in a provincial park campground, so there were two yurt sites and a million regular campsites. There were "comfort stations" with washrooms and showers.
i lived in mongolia for a few years where yurts have been the traditional home for thousands of years. even though i lived in an apartment, i stayed in a yurt a few times. they are definitely comfortable and make for a memorable night's sleep. i am happy to know that i could stay in a yurt here in the states if i go to the right park!
I would SO do this...in spring or fall. And I'm an indoor girl, so the yurt is apparently just house-y enough for me. Love. (Unfortunately, currently dwelling in Oklahoma, I don't suspect that there's a yurt to be had for many, many hundreds of miles.)