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Since we have been quarantined and it's too risky to travel on airplanes, that means all of our big vacation plans are out. Local getaways and road trips seem to be the best way to vacation right now during a pandemic. Instead of dealing with full campgrounds and hotels where it's hard to socially distance, I've found that glamping has been the ultimate way to vacation while staying safe and away from people!
What's Glamping?
"Glamping" is not your traditional camping with a tent and sleeping bag, it's a mix of glamour and camping. It describes a style of camping that sometimes includes a bed, amenities, and resort style services. It's a convenient and somewhat luxurious way to camp outdoors!
Living in Oregon, I am really fortunate to be around so much nature. With that comes some really unique and beautiful spots to camp at that aren't too far away. Besides just browsing on google for campsites, some of the sites I use to find glamping spots are airbnb.com, hipcamp.com, KOA, and VRBO. A site that usually never fails is hipcamp.com, think of it as an Airbnb for camping or glamping spots! You can search over 285,000 campsites, ranches, vineyards, farms, and public parks. You can filter out tent camping, cabins, yurts, teepees, to even treehouses! *Note: currently, you can only use hipcamp in the United States.* What's great is these sites do regulate COVID-19 cleaning protocol including a five step cleaning process so you can feel safer.
Keep reading to check out some of my favorite glamping spots I've stayed at in the Pacific Northwest!
The Indio. Bend, Oregon.
"The Indio" is the airstream of my dreams! I found this little gem just browsing on google for unique places to stay in Bend. This 1963 airstream is one of many vintage trailers and tiny homes available to rent in an RV park called The Camp. The one I stayed at is called "The Indio", inspired by Indio, California, home of Coachella Valley. They are all fully equipped with a bed, kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator, toilet, tv, wifi, and even air conditioning and heater! There are public restrooms and showers as well as a community bbq area and fire-pit! It was such a fun little getaway and a really unique stay, it was also at the heart of Bend so the location was perfect!
Wolf Tipi. O'brien, Oregon.
I have always wanted to stay in a tipi and I found this one on Airbnb! It's at a campground right at the border of Oregon and California. It comes with two full size beds and a fire-pit, all you have to bring is your own bedding and lamps for lighting. Since it's a campsite there are restrooms and showers available. There is also a small swimming area on the campsite and dogs are allowed! There are different tipis available for rent that vary in size but my favorite was the wolf tipi!
Bay Point Landing. Coos Bay, Oregon.
This little spot on the Oregon Coast is amazing! This is the epitome of glamping. There are luxury cabins, tiny homes, and airstreams you can rent out with waterfront views. Not only that, there are amenities like an indoor pool, a fitness center, a general store, and a clubhouse. This was an awesome getaway to just relax with my dog. We stayed in the "Kamp Haus Cabin" with a queen bed, kitchenette, outdoor patio with firepit and complimentary wood, two tv's with Netflix and Hulu, and central heat and air. It was glamping in true fashion and I absolutely loved it!
Yurt. Elk Moon, Oregon.
Sleeping in a yurt... it doesn't get anymore PNW than that! I found this magical yurt on hipcamp.com. It's a 20ft yurt fully furnished with a bed, kitchenette, and fireplace. It was about a 40 minute drive from Portland. It was completely off grid and had a view of Mt. Hood! It's located on a private owned farm with animals on the property you can check out as well. The best part was grabbing all the blankets and pillows and star gazing on the deck at night!
Cedar Bloom Farm. Cave Junction, Oregon.
Stay in a dome overlooking the river... check! Wow, I absolutely loved my stay in this dome at the Cedar Bloom Farm. Hidden in the woods, this dome has everything you need for an amazing glamping experience from a bed, sofa, kitchenette, fireplace, and even a piano! It was so peaceful staying in there and a great way to reset in the woods. If a dome isn't really your thing, the Cedar Bloom Farm have A-Frame Cabins and Clay Domes to rent as well. The entire farm also has a sauna, communal kitchen, tea room, and showers overlooking the river. It was amazing and I will definitely be back!
Alvord Desert. Princeton, Oregon.
So this spot isn't exactly glamping but it's location is so epic that I had to throw it on the list. The Alvord Desert is a 12 mile dry lake bed located in southeastern Oregon, it's about a 7 hour drive from Portland. Although it's a bit far, it's so worth it! The playa gives you major burning man vibes. I did tent camping when I went but there are other lodging options around like the Alvord Hot Springs which has some bunkhouses to rent or you can rent an RV and take it out to the playa! If you want to know more about this magical place, I wrote a separate blog on the Alvord Desert including how to get onto the playa, tips for camping out there, and other fun things to do around the playa.
Naked Falls, Washougal, Washington.
Another spot that is more on the traditional tent camping side was Naked Falls in Washougal, Washington. It's only a 2 hour drive from Portland. Although it's not glamping, I thought this place was so cool and worth putting on the list. Naked Falls is the second largest waterfall on the Washougal River. This section of the river is a hot spot for people to come and float or kayak. This private area was closed off for camping a few years ago and was completely shut off to the public last Summer, but now it's open and listed on Hipcamp.com! There are about 11 different campsites to choose from and some sites are right on the cliff of the river! If you aren't into camping, you could always just visit the falls and have a picnic by the river or float, you just have to get a Naked Falls Parking Pass at the local Washougal River Mercantile store.
Airstream Lodge. Vashon Island, Washington.
This 35ft airstream was one of the places I found on Hipcamp, in it's past life, it was used as an undercover surveillance vehicle for the government. It was tucked away in the woods on Vashon Island, Washington and the only way to get to this island was on a 30 minute ferry ride from Tacoma or Seattle. A bit of a trek but so worth it! It was such a cool stay and you felt really secluded on a cliff on the Island. It's fully equipped with a heated king bed, a kitchen, a living room area, and a bathroom.
Schafer Boom Farm. Montesano, Washington.
This amazing spot was also found on Hipcamp, it's on a 378 acre private property and is hidden among the trees. After you book the spot, you just drive to the spot and pitch a tent wherever you want! There's hiking trails, a small lake, and the best part was there was a wooden hot tub!
<3,
Laura C.
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