While glamping has been gaining steam for years now, the travel trend that melds an outdoorsy experience with comfortable beds and high-pressure shower heads seems poised to gain an even bigger share of the hospitality industry. Its appeal is apparent mid-pandemic. As Cristina DeVito, co-founder of glamping company Collective Retreats, poetically puts it: “Instead of large HVAC systems, we have fresh air and a breeze. Our hallways are winding paths through open spaces or tree groves.” In other words, glamping properties are made for social distancing. In May, Collective Retreats’ Texas location saw a 35 percent increase in booking.
Glamping might at first feel like a summer inclination, but a stay in the fall or even winter provides an ideal option for safely getting out of the house and under the stars. Glampsites often reach into the thousand-dollar price range, but these options are more down to earth, as perhaps they should be given the genre and our current economy. Each one is driving—or ferry!—distance from a key city. (I’ve been using Turo, kind of like the Airbnb for cars, which is a generally more affordable and easier-to-coordinate option than your average old-world rental company.) If you’re looking to land more on the camping side of the category, but with a queen-sized bed, then an Assateague Cottage on Maryland’s Eastern Shore will serve you well. For an all-things-considered experience, Collective Retreats has you covered with its in-tent continental breakfast and fall tasting menu that starts with a glass of Veuve Clicquot. Get more inspiration for an outdoor excursion—whether you’re in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, or DC—below.
Yosemite National Park, California
Assateague Island, Maryland
Westport, Washington
Governors Island, New York
Catskill, New York
