Page 32 - Indulge August/September 2015
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GLAMPGROUND
Luxury camping brings hotel amenities to the outdoors

By Linda Doell

Imagine going camping but instead of a a part of nature without having to rough 5 Close Encounters “Just to see the people’s faces — old
sleeping bag, you roll out of a king-size it. The accommodations can range from and young—when they come is worth it,”
bed and step onto a hardwood floor tents and yurts with floors to permanently Gosciminski says.
inside the tent. parked Airstreams, train cars, planes Other glampgrounds have treehouses
Or walk out onto a private balcony and more. Prices vary depending on the and rustic cabins with posh interiors and
of the tree house you stayed in last “glampground” and its location. Those other amenities that remind you more of a
night. Or open the door to the train pods at the Skylodge Adventure Suites 5-star hotel than a campsite – and that is
caboose-turned hotel room. There’s even in the Sacred Valley of Cuzco, Peru, cost part of what makes it a unique experience.
transparent pods for you to stay in on the about $300 a night, depending on the “A traditional hotel requires you to travel
side of a Peruvian mountain. options chosen. to activities and destinations,” Hutchings
Welcome to glamping, where you can Here in the Lehigh Valley, glamping says. “The hotel is ‘disconnected’ from
have your camping without missing out on hasn’t quite caught on yet. In fact, the the activities and experiences. With
luxuries like air conditioning, electricity and closest glampground to the Valley is glamping, the accommodation is part of the
full beds. Rent A Caboose at Catawissa Railroad experience.”
“Glamping is attractive to travelers Co. in Catawissa, Pa., where you can stay
because it offers the best of two worlds — overnight in seven restored train cars. Ryan Hutchings of Glamping.com
nature and luxury,” says Ryan Hutchings, Owner Walter Gosciminski said many of gave Indulge Lehigh Valley some
general manager of Glamping.com. “Many his guests are families looking for a unique recommendations for glampgrounds
travelers want something ‘different’ these experience in lodging and go to nearby within a short drive – great for a
days. The different usually involves going Knoebels amusement park. weekend getaway:
someplace new or experiencing something “The others are either celebrating a H Moose Meadow Lodge
out of the ordinary. In the past, that special occasion or an anniversary,” he Treehouse, VT
meant giving up certain luxuries — nice says. “We try to keep them as original as H Savage River Lodge, MD
bed, food, service. But with glamping possible with knotty pine and tongue-in- H Ithica by Firelight, NY
your accommodation not only includes groove boards. We didn’t want to make H Posh Promitive, NY
the luxuries you want but you also get the them into mobile homes. About 80 H Sterling Ridge Resort, VT
experience along with it.” percent of the guests prefer our cabooses
Popular in Europe, Asia and the that don’t have bathrooms because
western U.S., glamping is quickly they really want an experience that’s as
spreading in this country as a way to be authentic as possible.
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