Glamping: Camping with creature comforts. A portmanteau of glamorous and camping, the word originated in Canada or the UK, or possibly both.
USA Today reported in March that the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, in British Columbia, "is offering 'glamping' on a fjord on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Tents have Persian carpets, down duvets and even electricity. There's a sauna and hot tubs on site, and activities including fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, hikes and wildlife-watching."
And from across the pond: "It's official, camping is cool and the new Marks and Spencer Glamping collection is the stylish way to enjoy the great outdoors,” said Sally Bendelow, head of the British retailer's home design division (quoted in the UK Home Ideas blog).
The Ontario Parks blog, in an eager bid for trendiness, touts "glamping on the cheap." Suggestions: Book a yurt or a cottage instead of a tent; bring along a slow cooker or portable grill to "whip up your favourite culinary cuisine with ease." OK, it's "not exactly a spa," the OP bloggers admit, "but provincial parks in Ontario offer clean facilities and hot showers. You can achieve an 'au natural' look while still maintaining the basics of good hygiene."
Down here in the Lower 48, I just learned about a glamping opportunity that sounds dreamy, but hardly "on the cheap": the Sequoia High Sierra Camp, billed as a "deluxe wilderness retreat."
A friend of mine once said that her idea of "roughing it" was a slow bellhop. Gotta love it.
Posted by: christa | July 02, 2007 at 12:00 PM