The gentle outdoors
Want to experience the great outdoors but the prospect of hungry bears and rough ground make you break out in hives? Glamping (think glamorous camping) might be the ideal vacation for you. Perhaps a glass-domed igloo, or a yurt in Big Sur (top image) would do the trick. Take a peek at destinations where the creature comforts are as spectacular as the setting. (Text: Enrique Gili)
1. Hotel Kakslauttanen Igloo Village, Arctic Circle, Finland
In Finland high above the Arctic Circle, Hotel Kakslauttanen Igloo Village makes the most of the wintry setting. Visitors come from far and wide to witness the aurora borealis, visible 200 nights of the year in far northern climes.
An overnight stay in temperature-controlled glass-domed igloos enables guests to watch the night sky as the heavens unfurl around them. Bring thermal underwear and warm boots for daytime winter excursions in the taiga.
2. El Cosmico, Marfa, Texas, USA
Cowboy culture and the avant-guard merge in Marfa, Texas. In a region largely devoid of people, the isolated cow town could have faded from existence, if not for the artists living and working in the ranching community. In recent years, cultural tourists have been making pilgrimages to the lonesome high plains of West Texas, emboldened by tales of the cultural hub blossoming in the hinterland like a cactus flower. Inky black skies, eerie ghost lights and unspoiled vistas ensure El Cosmico, a campground cum arts hangout, attracts plenty of visitors.
3. Mahinui Treehouse, Big Island, Hawaii
Play Tarzan and Jane at least for a while. Imagine soaking in a hot tub while perched in a treehouse tucked into the canopy of a tropical rain forest. The two-story Mahinui Treehouse is at the base of one of the most active volcanoes in the world. If that doesn’t quicken your pulse, you’re most likely dead. Roam in quiet solitude through an emerald forest and immerse yourself in the lush landscape, using the ultimate tree fort as base camp.
4. C Lazy U Ranch, Granby, Colorado, USA
Nestled into the Willow Creek Valley below the ramparts of the Continental Divide, the C Lazy U dude ranch has been welcoming riders of all ages and skill levels since 1946. Bordering Rocky Mountain National Park and bounded by protected wilderness areas, the landscape has remained nearly unchanged since settlers first arrived during the 1850s. People come to this slice of paradise to saddle up and ride through pristine alpine meadows, letting the seasoned staff worry about the rest. After a day on the range, visitors can rough it in palatial tents equipped with king-sized beds and carpeting.
5. TreeBones Resort, Big Sur, California, USA
Photo: Ryuji Morishita
Along the storied coastline of central California, the mountains march steadfast into the ocean. Hermits, poets and New Age seekers have wandered these woods and camped amid the towering timber to write and think. TreeBones Resort blends comfort and camping in an idyllic location perched on the edge of the continent. The site accommodates 16 cliff-side yurts plus one human nest. Lucky campers can spend the night in a woven art installation with a bird’s-eye view of the landscape. Campers can listen to the white noise of the Pacific Ocean while gazing at untamed terrain along this wild stretch of Highway 1, midway between Santa Barbara and San Francisco in the heart of Los Padres National Forest.
6. Nomad Ridge, The Wilds, Southeast Ohio, USA
Instead of flying to Africa, go on safari on a budget. The Wilds, a wilderness park, is the brainchild of conservationist and wildlife advocate Jack Hanna. Nomad Ridge, a safari-like camp, is located in rural southeast Ohio overlooking 10,000 acres of open space, mimicking the African savannah and providing humans and wild animals with ample space to roam. After a day of watching giraffes and rhinos ambling on the veldt, spend the night in a comfy yurt.
7. Cabanas Cuatrocuatros, Baja Norte, Mexico
Photo: Cabanas Cuatrocuatros
Baja Norte is at the centre of a food revolution capturing the hearts and minds of foodies with an appetite for adventure. Once the stomping grounds for laid-back surfers and commercial fishermen, Baja Norte now attracts well-heeled travellers with a taste for locally produced food and wine. Cabanas Cuatrocuatros, a luxury campsite tucked into a vineyard, caters to the new crowd. Two hours south of San Diego near Ensenada, the campsite is an excellent jumping off point for the Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's leading wine producing region.
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