Festival Glamping

Now that winter has officially ended, many of us are already ‘springing’ ahead with an eye towards summer.

Over the past several years, festivals have become all the rage with music lovers. Despite their growth in popularity, there’s a growing number of music fans who don’t want to deal with some of the hassles and discomforts associated with these large outdoor gatherings.

A recent Festicket survey found that a large percentage of festival goers were not only willing to travel long distances to events, they wanted to do so in comfort.  While only 8% of people stayed in a luxury hotel when attending festivals in 2013, a whopping 80% are planning to travel in style and stay in a luxury hotel this year.

To cater to this growing market, more and more event organizers are offering “glamping” as an alternative for their more discerning ticket holders.  Here are some examples:

firefly-music-festival-gear-patrol-slide-17

Wakarusa Music Festival– June 5-8th at Mulburry Mountian in Ozark, Arkansas:

The rapidly growing global trend of glamping has made it’s way to the Ozarks.  This is the classy and elegant way to experience the festival at its fullest.  So whether you’re going General Admission or VIP, specially designated glamping tents will give you the opportunity to rest up in luxuery (and privacy) in-between acts like The Flamping Lips, Michael Franti Spearhead, and String Cheese Incident.

Firefly Music Festival – June 19 – 22 in Dover, Delaware:

For 2014, Firefly camping will provide concert goers with unique and exciting amenities outside the festival gates including a farmer’s market, yoga, food trucks and even more live entertainment.  For $699, you can buy a Glamping Package that includes:

4 nights/5 days camping for up to 2 people

Private air-conditioned tent (12’ x 9.5’)

Minimum 20’ x 45’ site with space for a standard car or SUV

2 cots with pillows and blankets

Preferred check-in location

Power source for personal electronics

Glamping Lounge access

Complimentary shower fast passes

Private restroom facilities

Access to “The Post” for cell phone charging stations, ice sales, and water refills

tipi at alt fest 2

Alt Fest – August 15-17, 2014 in Northamptonshire, England:

If you’re into bands like The Cult and Marilyn Manson and want to survive The Alt in style, the organizers have you covered.  Compared to other festivals whose camping rates are based on a per-person charge, Alt Fest offers an inclusive flat rate to keep things simple.  Each of their glamping options comes with a variety of perks, such as memory foam mattresses, solar powered lighting, rugs, scatter cushion, and more.

The legendary US punk band, the Dead Kennedy’s once said, “Give me convenience or give me death.”  Thanks to glamping, attendees don’t have to lug all their camping gear back and forth and there will be no precarious tent-based construction to deal with.  Best of all, when the concert is over, you can simply walk away knowing that the Alt Fest “glamping gophers” will take care of everything.

altfest

The Indianapolis 500  – May 22-26th in Indiana:

Not all large gatherings revolve around music.  Although the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been used for a lot of things in its long and storied history, storied history, but never for anything quite like this.

For the first time, Indy 500 fans will be able to go glamping during race weekend.  The Speedway is offering packages ranging from $650 to $1,100 that include an assortment of luxuries, such as a tent with tarp floor and windows, queen-sized beds, a private shower area, electronic hookups and access to a glamping lounge.

All packages include four nights and five days.  Tickets for Coors Light Carb Day on May 23, Legends Day on May 24, and the race on May 25 are required and must be purchased separately. 

Ranch at Emerald Valley: A Gem in the Mountains

The Broadmoor Resort and Spa is known for its 5-Star, 5-Diamond status, so when a glamping opportunity is available through the world-renowned resort, guests know they are in for a treat. Located 40 minutes from the Colorado Springs haven via private transfer, the Ranch at Emerald Valley is a luxury lodging opportunity set in a serene mountain environment high in the Colorado foothills.

Main Cabin Lake view vert

Originally a logging operation and then an exclusive fishing camp, the historic grounds have been re-purposed for the Ranch at Emerald Valley. Offering private log cabins complete with wood-burning fireplaces, heated floors and bathrooms that are not only chic but rustically charming, the ranch is primed for a luxury stay akin to the Broadmoor. Two central, stocked fishing ponds are ideal for idling away the afternoon, with gourmet chefs on-hand to cook your catch of several varieties of trout or help release back into the stream-fed waters.

Hiking

Wild raspberries appear throughout the property in season, ripe for picking they are the most organic, natural fruit you may ever have. Nibbling a few on my hike up the Emerald Valley Pipeline Trail, we passed towering aspen groves, crystal clear mountain streams, and a historic cabin fireplace that make for a wonderful and scenic hike steps from the central camp. Horseback riding is also available from the stables and knowledgeable guides speak of the history and ecology of the local area.

EVR-BarCloseup

Back at camp, the Olde Swan Tavern bar is a perfect place to grab a cocktail or glass of wine to take to the outdoor deck overlooking the fishing pond. Better yet- the fireplaced gazebo overlooking the lower pond as the sun sets over the valley with nearby two outdoor Jacuzzis. Attentive Broadmoor staff, for which the resort is known, are perfectly placed around the property; attentive but not overbearing, warm and welcoming without being a nuisance. Archery, horseshoes, canoeing and board games are also available as entertainment at Emerald Valley Ranch, where cellphone reception is sparse at best and fairly non-existent for the time being. A welcome respite from the day-to-day phone calls, texts, and social media-alerts via phone, WiFi is available on property so techies are not completely cut off from the digital world.

copper cabin interior v

Meals are one of the highlights at the Ranch at Emerald Valley. Treated to a scrumptious breakfast, light but tasteful buffet lunch and several course dinner, the culinary experience at Broadmoor delights throughout their property, even in the middle of the 100,000 acres of Pike National Forest in which the lodge is set. Utilizing local ingredients and approachable game recipes, sommelier suggestions made our meal even more delicious with perfectly paired wines with succulent offerings such as Wagyu beef ribeye, Colorado Lamb medallions and other seasonal fare. Save room for pre- and post-dessert nibbles as well. A ramekin of fresh blueberry compote over a bite of creamy panna cotta before receiving a sizzling skillet of fresh Palisade Peach cobbler with creamy ice cream, finished with house-made hazelnut truffles as a post-meal finish was delightful, if filling. I had to pass on the campfire s’mores…

SCI_6113med

Lodging at the Ranch at Emerald Valley is exceptional, the ten cabins on property unique and full of character. The cozy bungalows are free of television; fireside lounges and legendary Broadmoor beds make for a luxury in-room camping experience. Pre-prepared logs in the fireplace beg to be lit for an aroma that will fill the room with fresh pine and mountain air as the sound of the cascading water feature on property seeps through the windows. Thoughtful touches, such as the horseshoe-material door pulls and historic western art pieces only enhance the look and feel of the property. Starlit skies and the feeling of being “away from it all” comingle with the well-kept greenbelts and splashes of wildflowers on property. Thick forests, fresh mountain breezes, and chattering squirrels allow for a relaxing, nature-filled summer vacation spot in the mountains.

To book your reservations at the Ranch at Emerald Valley, visit www.broadmoor.com/EmeraldValleyRanch. From visiting with guests around the Main Lodge firepit to exploring the surrounding wilderness, the Ranch at Emerald Valley is a beautiful glamping experience to be had in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Glamping Ahoy! – UK Shipbuilders Bring Glamping Pods Ashore

Landlubbers need not fear the tumultuous seas to enjoy a night aboard a ship now that English boat builder John Knight has employed his craftsmen to build glamping pods. A recent downturn in traditional boatbuilding got Knight, who directs a campground Waveney River Centre near Lowestoft, United Kingdom, thinking of a new way to use his boatbuilding skills.

pod interior

Great care is taken in the crafting of his cabins, using authentic boatbuilding materials like sustainable larch and pine right down to the wool insulation, which ensures a warm and pleasant slumber. The boat shaped cabins are so popular that Knight plans to add more of these ship-shape pods to create a cluster at the River Centre.

lodge deck

He notes that unlike other pods that don’t take advantage of a boat’s true design, his glamping pods make “the most of the available space, raising the level of the double bed and creating storage space.” The 14ft x 10ft pods are furnished with a full size double bed above two single beds (4″ mattresses linens not included), FreeView TV, LED lights, a double socket and loads of storage space, certainly providing a level of comfort that Ernest Shackleton would approve of.

bf00a08eea02ba72d6e1536c47f16f412[1]

As well as marketing the pods to other resorts, he believes the public at large will be interested in buying the “boat houses” for other purposes such as garden studios, unique sheds or guest accommodation, and so is offering them for sale online at myescapepod.co.uk for £11,500 including VAT (value added tax). It’s believed that should the demand for traditional boatbuilding continue to wane, crafting these glamping pods will help preserve the art.

lodge interior

Tourists can find these pods at Waveney River Center at Burgh St Peter, near Beccles, just over 100 miles northeast of London, near the city of Lowestoft on the North Sea, which is the most easterly point in the United Kingdom.

lodge

If the glamping pods are booked, guests can choose to stay in one of their luxury lodges. The marina has a fleet of boats from which to choose to rent, and the Knights are expanding their on-site pub and adding a new menu with locally-sourced food.