A Desert Escape From The City Life

Most people picture themselves on their ideal vacation either lounging on beach or something more adventurous like zip-lining through a tropical rainforest. This year, I opted for something a little bit out of the ordinary for my family vacation and invited myself on my parent’s yearly hunting trip near Wells, Nevada. This city girl had to put away the heels to make room for my boots, forget about wi-fi and cellphone service, and choose some entertaining reading material in preparation for my journey. The plan was to get in touch with nature and get away from everyday technology.

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Although the ride felt like a never-ending desert slowly consuming my energy and interest for the last three hours, my daughter was excited to see some cows and horses on the way as she peeked through the window. We passed by a small mansion on top of a hill, many working farms, and a large lake in the middle of the desert that offers free camping areas with tables and a great view, this was sometime after passing a sign for a hot spring nearby. As much as I yearned to experience a therapeutic soak in a hot spring, I’ll have to squeeze that into another adventure because we didn’t want to arrive at night.

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It rained and poured on and off for the first two days which was surprisingly relaxing. I entertained myself with Mindy Kaling’s new book “Why not me?” which had me laughing out loud as I snuggled under a blanket and often looked out the window in hopes of seeing a wild animal pass by. Still, I took a stroll in the rain to get a better view of our surroundings and kicked the ball a few times before it began to rain again.

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The campsite we picked out was obviously a favorite among hunters and campers, near a small river that ran through the mountains and next to a beautiful landscape, and within a mine field of what we believe was cow or deer poop. The outdoor toilet facility was one of a kind and had an exclusive view like no other I’ve ever personally seen. We used the bathroom in our trailer, but had a good laugh at the creativity of the creator.

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Once our large group of family and friends returned from hunting in the afternoon, I quickly jumped on the 4-wheeler to have some fun exploring the surrounding area. It was an adrenaline rush. When I saw our neighbor had set up a large glamping tent with a wood fire burner, I knew I had to share it with everyone. I’m sure they prepared all of this themselves, but I know there are companies out there who take the hassle out of your hands and provide a full glamping set-up anywhere in the United States like Shelter Co.

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The fourth day was filled with excitement! We sighted a big herd of deer a few yards away over the mountain just behind our camp. With one clean shot, the male mule deer came tumbling down the steep hill. I had never experienced anything like it, the feeling of sadness overcame the excitement at the sight. This sport is not for the faint of heart, it is legally done with a permit to prevent over-population. Never shoot unless you have a perfect shot and it is lethal, anything less would be cruel. The meat can be sold or stored and cooked and the fur can be used as well. It took them a while to find it as the sun had just set and the night was getting pitch black. The deer was huge, meaning mature in age, with nine tips on its horns and weighing about 250lbs. He was a majestic creature. I wish I could have seen him alive and close up!

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The sun was out so this made it the perfect day for 4-wheeling and target shooting. It was fun learning to shoot a shotgun, but the 22 rifle was much easier for my petite figure to handle. We drove through the mountains for fun in search of wildlife and new paths, which we found. We saw squirrels, hawks, crows, cows, and golden eagles. The elk and deer were harder to spot because they blend and hide easily in the hills. I am still in awe of the beautiful scenery and challenge all of you to go outdoors and have an escapade of your own.

Glamping Spots Perfect for Any Season

It’s no secret that we at Glamping.com, the world’s foremost authority on everything glamping, love glamping so much that we’d like to do it all year long and we cannot get enough of luxurious camping under the stars in the coziest accommodations.

The Huffington Post names the 8 best glamping spots to visit year around, no matter the weather you can always count on an exceptional time at these destinations.

Not only do these glamping destinations embrace their natural surroundings, but they also bring guests comfort and ease through modern amenities as well as stylish furnishings that are perfect for any season!

Take a look at these eight spots, for the perfect glamping escape any time of the year.

1. The Treehotel– Sweden
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2. Kampgrounds of America– Santa Cruz
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3. The Dixie Daisy– Texas
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4. The Antlers– Texas

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5. The Hobbit House– England
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6. Elmley Nature Reserve– United Kingdom
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7. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort– Canada
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8. Whitepod– Sweden
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For more information on these eight glamping destinations, check out Huffington Post.

Glamping Mixed with Wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley

Camp Heaven is the perfect glamping destination to escape to while enjoying all the wineries in the Willamette Valley.

If camping isn’t for you, try glamping! Glamping is a new trend where you can have a one of a kind experience in nature with the best amenities and plush interiors for all your needed creature comforts.

Just outside of Portland, there’s a comfy safari tent in the middle of Oregon’s wine country that offers a peaceful respite from city life.

Camp Heaven is nestled in a patch of woods views of the stars and is the perfect place to settle in for the night, after a day of wine tasting.

Upon arrival, your safari tent is buttoned up, and the interior of the tent is wrapped in soft materials and a nightstand on either side of the bed that holds all your glamping essentials.

Each tent comes equipped with a bed, flashlights, LED candles, a space heater, heated blanket, Fuzzy robes, a coffeemaker and a DVD player with a small projector to make all glampers feel right at home.

For locals or if you are just passing through Portland, Camp Heaven lets you sleep in a comfy bed surrounded by trees, and no tent pitching required, this glamping experience is a great way to recharge your batteries and enjoy a peaceful getaway in the forest.

For more information on glamping in Oregon’s wine country, check out The Examiner.

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