If you love the outdoors but aren’t into all the roughing it, or simply prefer to get your fresh air fix after a night of sleeping in a queen bed and not a sleeping bag, glamping, my friend, is for you. Commonly referred to as “boutique camping”, glamping is shorthand for “glamorous camping,” which is a more elevated way to reconnect with nature without sacrificing comfort for the sake of outdoor adventure. Over the last few years, glamping’s popularity has skyrocketed with more cozy and stylish Safari canvas tent camping sites cropping up all over the world.
This fancy manner of escapism has evolved from a trend to a well-known form of outdoor adventure travel, but in actuality, today’s glamping is really a modern spin on a centuries-old tradition. Take for example, the wealthy colonizers of Britain and the United States who would stay in these classic canvas tents while on safari in Africa. Dig a little deeper, and you can find records of monarchs who traveled the world in lavish, palatial-sized tents.
However, for the modern day glampers, a weekend away in a fully-furnished, heated tent might just suspend reality long enough to let you feel like royalty for a day or two, — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Overtime, the definition of a glampsite has even expanded to include novel architecture like yurts and treehouses. It’s a creative way to combine good design with the great outdoors that can feel less intimidating for new outdoorists who want to spend time in nature (in an admittedly bougie setting) among adventure destinations, like New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
Home to more than six million acres of mountains, lakes, valleys and local communities, the Adirondack region is the largest protected natural area in the lower 48 of the United States. Climb Mt. Marcy, elevation 5,334 feet, the highest peak in New York, ski the world-class trails at Whiteface Mountain, or dive deep into relaxation mode at a cozy glamping hub. The best time to visit the Adirondacks is May through August, which won’t help you avoid the crowds, but will provide primo conditions for outdoor adventure.
Ready for a luxe glamping getaway? The following are the 5 best places to glamping in upstate NY. Sure to please any nature lover looking for some good old Adirondacks glamping.
