First Afternoon at Santa Barbara Auto Camp

First of all, let me say I was very excited and more than a little anxious about staying at the Santa Barbara Auto Camp. The rates are reasonable and with the mild February weather here in Santa Barbara, I was kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop… it somehow seemed too good to be true. I’ve stayed in a rehabbed vintage trailer before, but never one that had a nicer bathtub than I have at my house! So far I’m blown away by what a great job they’ve done here. They have really thought of everything and made this a fun “something different” option for lodging… in an actual trailer park. Even better– all the Airstreams have been custom renovated here in Santa Barbara by local architect Matthew Hoffman’s firm, HofArc, using sustainable methods and materials.

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A few days prior to my arrival, Hillary at the Auto Camp sent me a confirmation email with a passcode to get into my trailer. Since I have my lab, Scarlet, with me, I got assigned to Suite 1, a 1973 Vintage Airstream Sovereign that is both pet-friendly and has a killer clawfoot tub.

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I got into my trailer without a problem and the wifi works well. There are is a great Guest Book and Neighborhood Favorites guide to tell you about all Santa Barbara’s “Funk Zone.” The 31 foot Airstream is described in the guest book as “This isn’t your Grandma’s trailer, but if it were she’d have been the talk of the neighborhood, especially if it was an RV Park.”  It has Brazilian koa wood flooring and Direct TV. There is attractive landscaping (complete with bamboo) and an outdoor barbeque area. There is a small mini-fridge and a well edited minibar featuring many artisanal items made here in Santa Barbara.  There are two beach cruiser bikes with lights and helmets. The location is ideal to explore by foot. There is a bar next door, a yoga studio across the street, a Ralph’s and a Trader Joe’s all within a block.

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It was still a bit warm when I checked in at 4pm, but the Airstream has climate control and it wasn’t stuffy at all. Scarlet enjoyed sniffing around and chilling out with me near the BBQ area. The Santa Barbara Auto Camp is so charming two passersby even stopped by to ask about it while I was sitting outside.

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My first thoughts are that this would be an excellent place for a group event like a bachlorette party or girls trip. It’s funky and fun, but comfy (hello– the bathroom amenities are Malin + Goetz) and I can’t wait to explore the neighborhood and try out the bathtub! My mother would die if she knew how excited I was to spend a few days glamping in a trailer park. It’s even lit by fairy lights at night.

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Yurts Go Global

For most people, the term “glamping” is associated with luxurious tents, and for good reason.  From Africa to the American West, savvy travel outfitters have been offering ready made safari-style tents to discerning travelers for many years now.

The art of glamorous camping, however, is no longer limited to just canvas tents.  Today, everyone from alpine skiers to birdwatchers seeking access to the great outdoors can choose between yurts, tipis, airstream caravans, and cabins to get closer to the action. Options can range from rustic, no-frills shelters to luxurious, temperature controlled enclosures offering up more resort-style amenities.

The Marine Corps Times recently published a story, Yurts Take Camping to  the Next Level, about one increasingly popular choice among glamping enthusiasts: yurts.  The following is an excerpt from that article:

First made famous by Genghis Khan’s fabled cavalry of Central Asian nomads who conquered Eurasia some 2,000 years ago, these circular domed tents still serve as homes for thousands of modern-day Mongolians.  These days, most yurts used for camping have at least plywood floors, canvas-and-lattice sidewalls and a skylight, and are typically equipped with at least beds, chairs, a table and cooking equipment. The higher-end yurts can rival fancy hotel suites.

Few people in the U.S. know yurts better than Alan Bair.

He fell in love with their simple, intrinsic beauty entwined with rugged, functional design about 40 years ago, so he built is own yurt in Oregon and lived in it through the mid-70s while working on reforestation projects.

It wasn’t long before word got out and requests began to pour in. Today, Bair’s Pacific Yurts not only is the original U.S. manufacturer, but it’s also one of the biggest, supplying everyone from resorts and state and national parks, to even the military.

If you stay in a yurt, chances are it will be one of Bair’s.

Over the years, he’s added plenty of improvements, while staying true to same basic design used by Central Asian nomads for thousands of years.

“The traditional yurt’s encircling rope or woven tension bands are now a steel aircraft cable sitting neatly on top of the lattice wall,” he says, while the latest in modern architectural fabrics have “replaced the outer covering of felted wool or canvas, and NASA-developed insulation provides lightweight but effective temperature control.”

Some of Bair’s favorite yurt getaways:

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1. Orca Island Cabins, Alaska

Comfortable “off-grid” rental yurts located on a small private island in Resurrection Bay, just nine miles from Seward. Rates start at $239 per person per night and include round-trip water taxi to Orca Island, use of kayaks, rowing skiffs and stand-up paddle boards, fishing gear, binoculars and firewood.

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2. Cliffside Park, Wash.

Yurt rentals for active-duty and retired service members and their families on beautiful Whidbey Island. Overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Peninsula, this Navy-run campsite offers six furnished 16-foot yurts with twin-over-queen bunk beds and a full-size futon. Rates: $25 per night in summer/$20 per night in winter.

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3. Oregon State Parks

“Yurt rentals are scattered throughout the state, but the majority are … along the beautiful Oregon coastline,” Bair says. With more than a dozen campgrounds now offering yurts, you can choose from rustic rentals situated near a central bathhouse or deluxe yurts with indoor kitchens and bathrooms. With its sandy beaches and towering sea cliffs, eight-person rustic yurts at Sunset Bay, for example, range from $36 to $50 per night.

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4. Treebones Resort, Calif.

This 16-yurt resort includes “comfortable accommodations perched on Big Sur hillside with breathtaking ocean views,” Bair says. Enjoy the heated pool and outdoor sushi bar. An ocean-view yurt for two with a queen-sized bed starts at $255 per night and includes a breakfast buffet and morning yoga classes. All yurts are located near a central bathhouse.

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5. Fort Tuthill Recreation Area, Ariz.

Near Flagstaff and operated by Luke Air Force Base, Fort Tuthill is the perfect launching pad for a slew of outdoor adventures that range from whitewater rafting to skiing and snowshoeing. Yurts include two twin bunk beds, a wood-burning stove, as well as a refrigerator and microwave. Take in the views from each yurt’s large deck. Rates: $25 per night in winter, $50 per night in summer.

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6. Summit Mountain Lodge, Utah

A secluded luxury venue, the lodge offers 14 tastefully decorated yurts in southern Utah near several major skiing venues. Some include bathrooms, while others share a large bathhouse. Rates range from $75 to $225 per night. Be sure to ask for the 10 percent military discount.

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7. Cypress Valley Canopy Tours, Texas

What Bair describes as “one of the most unique yurt rentals” you’ll likely find, these accommodations are built high in a Cypress tree and accessed by suspension bridge. You’ll have your own private bathhouse with a waterfall-filled tub that overlooks the ravine below. Located near Spicewood, Texas, overnights for two adults start at $300.

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8. Maine Forest Yurts, Maine

Located 30 minutes from Portland, this 100-acre wilderness property includes comfortably furnished yurt rentals and plenty of tent sites. Best yet, stays are free for all active-duty service members and veterans.

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9. Savage River Lodge, Md.

These luxurious yurt rentals come complete with radiant floor heating, oversized shower, fully plumbed bathroom and king bed. Located near Frostburg, Md., double occupancy rates start at $225 per night.

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10. Killington Resort, Vt.

If you enjoy a good meal after a full day on the slopes, consider the Ledgewood Yurt at one of Vermont’s most popular ski resorts. Enjoy a snowcat-drawn sleigh ride to a comfortable heated yurt, where you’ll feast on a five-course meal. Prices start at $59 per night.

A Vineyard Tree House

Text by Anne Collins Howard, HoneyTrek.com
Photographs by Mike Howard, HoneyTrek.com

The mountains and vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina are spectacular, but when enjoyed from Entre Cielos Hotel and Spa they become transcendental. Set on a vineyard at the foothills of the Andes, the Small Luxury Hotels of the World property has 15 rooms and one of the most unique suites we’ve ever stayed : The Vineyard Loft—a modern tree house hovering over acres of Malbec vines.

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A tree house architecture firm Baumraum was brought in from Germany for the perfect pod and the in-house design team completed the fantasy with sleek and seductive interiors. Recently opened, we were amongst the first couples to glamp here.

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Views to the Andes mountains and our outdoor bathtub, lured us out to the terrace every night for sunset and champagne.

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The Vineyard Loft is one of many fabulous spaces at Entre Cielos. In the main building of the property, each tower is a duplex wrapped in graphic imagery of figs, mushrooms, cherries—and other flavors of full-bodied wines. The patterned design is able to change depending on the season or vision of chief designer Daniela Wager for architecture that never gets old. The next motif on her list? The typography of wine words.

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Creators of the first traditional hamam in Latin America, Entre Cielos brings the Turkish bath tradition to a new level of decadence and relaxation. Wrapped in flauta towels we basked for over three hours in the herbal steam room, exfoliated in the Kese shower, soaked up the vinotherapy in our couples wine bath (yes, I said wine bath), and ended in the relaxation room nibbling on fruits and nuts. Heaven is an understatement.

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In the morning, we awoke to the Katharina restaurant’s fabulous buffet breakfast. Fruits, cheeses, eggs-to-order and cappuccinos were served to perfection amidst the chic décor. When we returned for dinner, we curled up by the fire for a special five-course meal, complete with Argentinian asado steak.

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There is no better way to explore wine country than by bike. You have ultimate freedom to winery hop at your leisure, stop for photos, soak in some sun, and breathe in the earthy aromas of the vineyards. To make this happen, Entre Cielos had Baccus Wine & Bike Tours deliver bikes and a custom map of the most charming wineries in the area.

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The first stop on our ride was Bodega y Cavas de Weinert, founded in 1890. We loved the informative tasting given in this divine cellar. The chief winemaker was our guide and with her guidance, we tasted wine in a whole new way. Not to mention, the 2009 Late Harvest Pinot was to die for!

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We biked the afternoon away, stopping at vineyards for tours and tastings and ended at the very impressive Alta Vista. With bottles dating back to the 1950s and modern tasting room–complete with personal sink for cleansing the palette and glasses–the winery left us with a warm fuzzy feeling.

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When a hotel is this good, you want to hang on to every last minute. On our last morning we stretched our stay with room service to the Vineyard Loft. It is not easy bringing carafes of coffee and poached eggs down a gravel road and up the stairs of a tree house but the staff didn’t even flinch. Aficionados of service and style, Entre Cielos holds up to its heavenly name.

For HoneyTrek.com’s walk-through of the Entre Cielos Vineyard Loft, watch this video.