Glamping — a combination of “glamor” and “camping” — is the new way for non-outdoorsy folks to enjoy nature

Have you heard about the treehouse resort that’s opening this summer in Tennessee? Of course you have! You read all about it in Newsworthy (Issue 908). As it happens, the new treehouse resort (where you get to camp out in real live treehouses) is just one of the many glamping resorts all over the world.

Glamping — a combination of “glamor” and “camping” — is the new way for non-outdoorsy folks to enjoy nature. If you love roughing it in the wild, go ahead and stick to your amenity-free tent. But if you like the idea of immersing yourself in nature while still having access to your creature comforts (hello, running water), then turn the page for some virtual glamping experiences.

YURTS, NESTS, AND TREES

Over in Big Sur, California, there’s a treehouse resort that’s ready and waiting. Okay, so the Treebones Resort doesn’t exactly have the flashy treehouses that the new Sanctuary Treehouse Resort in Tennessee is promising (those will have slides, trap doors, drawbridges, and copper clawfoot bathtubs), but it does have something that the Sanctuary doesn’t — yurts!

Yurts sound cool, but what are they exactly? A yurt is a large, round tent that is built over a wooden frame. So it’s like a tent, but sturdier and more permanent. It also sounds way more exotic, which is always a good thing when you’re on vacation.

Perched on ledges that run among the cypress trees, the yurts aren’t exactly treehouses but they’re close enough. Each yurt comes with fresh linen and towels and has proper furniture — no sleeping bags for you. There’s also a sink with hot and cold water, but toilets and showers are in a separate building. Still, the yurts offer a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean, which you can enjoy from the Adirondack chairs on your very own deck.

If you absolutely must have your own facilities, then you can check into one of Treebones’ two autonomous tents. An autonomous tent is just as fancy and hi-tech as it sounds. It looks nothing like a tent. It looks more like an airplane hangar from outer space, with a curved white exterior. The interior is huge, with 12-foot ceilings, wooden floors, and a bathroom. And the Adirondack chairs on the deck come with a fire pit for roasting s’mores.

For those brave souls who want a different camping experience, Treebone also offers human-sized nests. These are literally nest-like wooden structures that contain absolutely nothing. There is just enough space for visitors to lay out a sleeping bag. The resort recommends you pitch a tent nearby just in case it rains. It’s the exact opposite of glamping, but still pretty cool!