Let’s go glamping! Glamorous camping, that is
Latest money video |
 Find a great home for less than $500,000 Dec. 11: TODAY’s Al Roker talks to TODAY real estate expert Barbara Corcoran about some great deals for homes across America that cost less than a half-million dollars. |
 | Special feature |
.vsmall.jpg) | Go glamping! Want to sleep under five stars — for $2,850 a night? These glam resorts take camping to a luxurious level for those who have the cash to spare. |
6. Remember KOA Kampgrounds. They’re all over the United States and Canada, and they’re fun! If you’re a bug hater and a person who doesn’t want to haul a bunch of gear, you can stay in a KOA cabin or cottage with your family for about $60 to $150 a night, depending on the size of the accommodations. (A larger KOA “lodge” with a full kitchen sleeps six.) Other options for overnight accommodations cost as little as $30 a night. KOA welcomes pets, so you don’t have to make elaborate dog-sitting arrangements before you skip town, and each KOA site offers a whole slew of activities and amenities, such as climbing walls, jumping pillows, petting zoos, pools, movie screenings, dog playgrounds, grocery stores, laundry facilities and clean restrooms with private shower stalls. “Campgrounds are like the last small towns in America, and they give you freedom and a sense of safety,” noted Jim Rogers, chief executive officer of KOA. “You may not let your kid out of your sight in a mall, but in a campground he’ll be half a mile away and you’ll feel fine.”
7. Focus on food. OK, here is where you can truly get creative and turn any regular ol’ camping adventure into a glamping adventure. Why limit yourself to Clif bars, dried apricots and trail mix? With some advance planning, you can dine on lamb shanks, mashed potatoes and asparagus, all prepared on your trusty, double-burner camping stove and served up with crusty bread and a good bottle of red wine. Yes, wine! In glasses, even! The fabulous Web site GlampingGirl.com gives oodles of advice about going gourmet while camping. It suggests tricks for enjoying steaks, salmon, grilled vegetables and real brewed coffee in the great outdoors, and the site highly recommends the cookbook “Campfire Cuisine: Gourmet Recipes for the Great Outdoors” by Robin Donovan. She also offers this advice: “For a true glamping trip we recommend a portable bar that includes a cocktail shaker, stainless steel martini glasses, a corkscrew, and a bottle opener.” Hmmm! One last tip about food: If you’re sleeping in a tent, never, EVER store food inside your tent with you, especially if you’re camping in bear country. Instead, store all food in the trunk of your car, or string it high up in a tree to keep wild animals at bay.
8. Comfort is key. In addition to the comfy suggestions offered in tip No. 4 about car camping, also consider these fun ideas from GlampingGirl.com:
- A hammock
- A doormat for the entrance to your tent, as well as a dustpan and hand broom
- An outdoor area rug, which, in addition to being funny and attractive, also will help minimize the amount of dirt you track inside the tent
- A silk sleeping-bag liner
- A portable shower and shower tent (Be sure to use biodegradable shampoos and soaps!)
- Necessities such as toilet paper, sun block, insect repellent and citronella candles to keep mosquitoes away at night
- A cooler on wheels
- Your pets
- Good music! As GlampingGirl.com points out: “Glamping is not about off-key chords on an acoustic guitar around the campfire or rounds of Kumbaya. Don’t forget your iPod and some portable speakers.” She even suggests some ideal glamping playlists here and here.
 |
KOA If you’re a bug hater and a person who doesn’t want to haul a bunch of gear, you can stay in a KOA lodge that sleeps six and has a full kitchen. |
9. Go part glam, part grubby. Purists, here’s a tip for you. You can do the traditional hiking and tent-camping grind for several days straight, and then reward yourself at the end with a cushy hotel stay — ideally in a hotel room that has a jetted soaker tub. Or, you can do hard-core tent camping, but figure out a way to carry at least one or two indulgent items with you. For instance, maybe you can carry a full-size pillow somehow, or some yummy foods that aren’t freeze-dried. I’ve personally found that Gouda cheese, nice crackers and Grand Marnier aren’t TOO heavy if you pack your backpack carefully in every other sense! (Once again, remember to store any and all foods in a bag high up in a tree, some distance away from your tent.)
10. Get in the right frame of mind. This is your vacation, after all. Try as hard as you can to let go of the stresses of your regular life. To adopt the correct mindset, consider this advice from Jim Rogers of KOA about what the “spirit of camping” requires: “Clear ears to hear the laughter of children, the singing of birds and crackle of an open fire. ... A grin, stories to share, no complaints, no diet, no thoughts of the 401(k), and leave the site better than you found it.”
Sources and resources:
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM 10 TIPS |
 10 Tips Section Front |
| Add 10 Tips headlines to your news reader: |
