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Outdoor Americana Goes Indoors in Western Europe as Faux Camping Takes Shape

What could be taken for Americana is beginning to take root in Western Europe. Call it “faux camping” or “indoor glamping,” the idea is fun and simple: park several vintage campers in a large warehouse and deck out the space with a fun theme or atmosphere.

Take for instance BaseCamp Bonn  in Bonn, Germany, with 16 vintage caravans, two night sleepers, two Airstreams (and “quite a few other oddities to stay for the night”) parked inside a former storage facility, which now serves as an indoor campground. With its neon lights and street graffiti, BaseCamp Bonn has a young, urban feel to it, and bills itself as a hostel. It’s certainly not your typical hostel, claiming to be “the coolest place in the world- well, at least people say that’s what it is,” as the accommodations were customized by an acclaimed German television and film set designer, Marion Seul.  But another claim that it is “the only indoor vintage faux campground of the galaxy” does not hold up.

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A mere 600 kilometers away (hardly a galactic parsec) in Berlin lies the Huttenpalast, an indoor vintage trailer park with exquisite touches that give it a more well appointed character. It was founded in 2009 by designers Silke Lorenzen and Sarah Vollmer. Guests may spend the night in an old caravan or a wooden hut in a former vacuum-cleaner factory decorated like a quaint cottage environment. Huttenpalast also offers rooms with in-suite bathrooms sure to impress with high-ceiling, large-windowed factory architecture.

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Another option awaits in the beautiful city of Alkmaar, Netherlands, known for its canals, bridges and cheese market, where one can stay at the Indoor City Camping Alkmaar, which features vintage 1960s-era mini caravans located right next to the Victorie Park in the center of town. Each unit comes with a private kitchen and bathroom. The apartment and caravan can also be connected and rented as one larger unit.

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Should you not want to leave the States to enjoy the indoor vintage trailer experience, a must-see is Tad Pierson’s trailer warehouse where he runs American Dream Safari tours in Memphis, Tennessee, and has two Airstreams and a teardrop trailer parked in a fun indoor setting.  “In 2007 I parked them in the warehouse, and within 6 months it all took shape,” says Tad. The trailers are not for rent as of yet, but guests of his famous Memphis tours can visit the park, which Tad is considering renting out soon on a seasonal basis.

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Glamping is often associated with extravagance of course, but this experiential travel is priced just right: BaseCamp Bonn starts at € 24 per night (about $33US), Huttenpalast begins at € 55 per night and ranges up to € 135 for accommodation for 4 people. Indoor City Camping Alkmaar starts at € 40 per person, and all include a breakfast, bed linen, and wifi. Now you can take that vintage camping trip to Europe and leave the camper at home!

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A Peek Inside the Glamping Tent from 90210

The elaborate setup (pictured above) is the work of Outdoors Geek, a Denver-based outfitter whose self-proclaimed mission is to make quality camping gear accessible to everyone, at any place, at anytime. Their mission taken literally, means outfitting those of us who prefer luxury camping or glamping to traditional camping.  Outdoors Geek offers glamping options including canvas tents furnished with queen-size beds, couches, and even carpet.

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Outdoors Geek was enlisted by 90210 to create a glamping set for their Season 5 episode entitled “Into the Wild” as reported on CNN’s post ‘Glamping’ in style. It’s also worth noting Olympian Ryan Lochte made a cameo appearance in the episode as himself.

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In an ironic twist, traditional campers often turn their nose up at luxury glamping comforts stating that it’s not camping and referencing some uncomfortable part of “real” camping. Let’s just agree to disagree about how we spend our vacation time.

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Boomers Collect Travel Experiences Instead of Stuff

Fancy home? Garage filled with exotic sports cars? Forget about it. Today’s affluent boomer doesn’t measure life by high-end material things. Instead, unique experiences are their preferred bragging right, especially when it comes to travel.

This is no surprise to me. Traipsing around the world writing about active travel for boomers—and experiencing a few luxurious adventures of my own—I’ve met my share of baby boomers intent on experiencing a destination through doing rather than seeing.

DSC_8973-okBagan Lodge in Myanmar

Where do affluent boomer travelers find their unique experiences? Adventure cruises, small luxury tours to formerly forbidden lands like Cuba or Myanmar, walking holidays featuring luxurious lodging, or safaris are at the top of the list. The combination of adventure, security and comfort allows boomers to explore in style. After all, our generation is known for being somewhat high maintenance.

Samburu IntrepidsSamburu Intrepids, Kenya

But don’t take my word for it. The Resonance Report 2013 says, “In 2012, 59% of affluents 55+ defined retirement as ‘a time to travel and explore new places’ and 42% of them are planning international travel in the next 12-24 months.” The report goes on to say that affluent boomers list touring wine country, visiting remote locations like Antarctica, participating in gourmet cooking classes, going on safari or traveling on the luxurious Orient Express as some of their top experiential choices.

Glamping is another top choice. The combination of comfortable, even luxurious, lodging plus an array of new adventures is the active experience that so many boomer travelers seek.

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Take safari camps, for instance. What could be better than watching elephants lumber by while sitting on the deck of a luxuriously appointed tent, including ensuite bath, at South Africa’s Gorah Elephant Camp? And let’s not forget about amenities like gourmet dining and guided game drives.

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How about learning to fly-fish? Montana’s Ranch at Rock Creek accommodates the desire to try new activities like fly-fishing while glamping in the comforts of a canvas cabin situated next to a gurgling creek.

horseback-riding-snow Trying a new activity together is one of the best ways to bond with grandchildren and guest ranches are exceptional choices for multigenerational glamping trips. The time spent learning to ride horses at Vista Verde Guest Ranch in Colorado—and the laughs you’ll share around the nightly campfire—are memory-making experiences that the extended family will always treasure.

Don’t have big bucks for your boomer travels? Glamping offers value at a wide range of price points. More importantly, the experience provides boomers with plenty of activities to satisfy the yearning to learn and explore. Shhh, don’t tell anyone—that’s what keeps us young.