For some, roughing it is all part of the fun of camping. For others, camping would be awesome if it only happened at a resort. The concept of “glamping” is a great compromise, gaining popularity every year. Fortunately, the options for where to do it increase every year too. Real Food Traveler’s Health, Wellness & Spa Editor, Carole Jacobs, has put together her guide to great places to go glamping in the U.S. and Canada.

Save this article about where to go glamping in the U.S. and Canada to Pinterest to help you plan your adventure. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Skip the Grit, Grime & Grunt and Go Glamping, the Civilized Way to Embrace Nature 

Call me a pampered princess, but if a weekend in the wilds doesn’t come with a bathtub, a flush toilet, and high thread count sheets, I’m outta there.

All of which makes me a perfect candidate for glamping, a hybrid word for “glamorous camping” that sidesteps everything I’ve always hated about roughing it: The bugs, the critters,  the ten-ton backpacks, the pricey freeze-dried cuisine that tastes like quicksand, squatting behind a bush you hope is inoccupato, looking for love in all the wrong places – and trust me, a pup tent is about as wrong as it gets…

Unlike camping, with glamping, you luxuriate in designer digs (safari tents, cozy cabins, Airstream trailers) furnished with cushy beds, ensuite bathrooms, and fully equipped kitchens. At some glamping outfits, you can dine on chef-prepared gourmet fare in the dining tent; lay your body down for a massage in the spa tent; unwind and meditate in the yoga tent, and let adventure pros show you the ropes – whether you want to shoot rapids, bag a peak, or fly across the sky on a zipline like Wendy in Peter Pan.

So, forget about ending a long, hard day on the trail with a long, hard night on the ground. With glamping, there’s no heavy lifting required. The only thing you need to pack in is your credit card. Here’s some of the best places in the U.S. and Canada to try glamping. 

UNDER CANVAS This national glamping company runs 13 luxury tent camps across the country, all near national parks, monuments, or famous national landmarks or landscapes. The camps are pet- and kid-friendly and located at Columbia River Gorge, WA; Yosemite National Park, CA; Moab, UT; Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, UT; Lake Powell and Grand Staircase Monument, UT; Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD; Yellowstone National Park, MT (camps at North Yellowstone-Paradise Valley and West Yellowstone); Glacier National Park, MT;  Acadia National Park, ME; and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN.

4-star surrounds: Stay at the Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, or Grand Staircase camps for Flintstone-esque scenery amid a maze of red, orange, and yellow canyons, cliffs, and crags. Head to the Yosemite or Glacier camps for thundering waterfalls, wildflower meadows and craggy peaks. Camp by the edge of the shining sea at the Acadia camp, near geothermal wonders at the Yellowstone camps, and on an original gold mining settlement at Mount Rushmore.

Designer digs: Resembling living, breathing sculptures, the tents are crammed with creature comforts, including plush mattresses, fine linens, rustic Western Elm furnishings, battery-operated fans and lanterns, fire pits, and access to posh bathhouses. Deluxe tents have ensuite bathrooms, woodburning stoves, and decks.

Head out: The 5-star scenery near your tent camp is your natural playground. Thrill to white-water rafting Class 3 rapids and ziplining at Bryce; canyoneering, rock climbing, and hot-air ballooning at Zion; and paddleboarding big waves and hiking to crashing waterfalls at Columbia River Gorge. Wander through forests and meadows to historic homesteads at Great Smoky Mountains National Park; explore the desert solitaire immortalized by author/desert rat Edward Abbey in Moab, and hike chasms and canyons at Grand Canyon and Grand Staircase.

Kick back: Rise and shine with morning yoga and unwind after a long day with a massage in the spa tent, family scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, or canvas painting. Or enjoy an all-day wellness program that includes yoga, classes on native pollinators and sustainable farming, wine tasting at a scenic vineyard, and stargazing, at Columbia River Gorge.

Fuel up: Under Canvas offers an ever-changing menu revolving around seasonal and locally sourced ingredients and café-style dining with seasonal breakfast and dinner items (excluding Moab and Glacier).  Each camp has its own unique, locally inspired menu that includes hot breakfasts with bottomless coffee and tea; charcuterie boards, fresh salads, sandwiches, parfaits, steak, burgers, local seafood, and kid-friendly nosh for lunch and dinner,  and craft cocktails, local wines, craft beers, and nightly fireside s’mores. Guests enjoy dining in tent cafés and/or outdoors overlooking scenic views of rivers, lakes, meadows, slot canyons, or Mount Rushmore.

After sundown: End the day with trivia, bingo, fireside chats, movie nights, live music, and stargazing. Or enjoy camp-specific events, which range from sunset cruises and bioluminescent kayak tours at Acadia to star parties, astrophotography, celestial-themed fare and lodging in stargazer tents at the Zion, Moab, and Grand Canyon camps, all affiliated with DarkSky International.

Under Canvas’ Stargazer tent in the Grand Canyon. Photo courtesy of Under Canvas.

AUTOCAMP and FIELD STATION Autocamp and its sister brand, Field Station, run a total of nine camps across the U.S., with a 10th AutoCamp opening in 2026. The camps are pet- and kid-friendly and located within 30 minutes of a national park, scenic landscape, or landmark, and within 15 minutes of a town. AutoCamps offers lodging in Airstream trailers and tents in camps in or near Cape Cod, MA; the Catskill Mountains, NY; Russian River, CA; Sequoia & Kings Canyon and Yosemite national parks, CA; Zion National Park, UT; Asheville, NC (reopening in fall 2025); and Hill Country, TX (opening in 2026). Field Stations offer lodging in restored/upscaled lodges and motels at camps in Moab, UT, and Joshua Tree, CA.

4-star surrounds: Enjoy seaside glamping and exploring Martha’s Vineyard at Cape Cod Autocamp, mountain camping at the Catskills Autocamp near the site of the legendary Woodstock festival, and glamping in the desert at the Joshua Tree and Moab Field Stations.

Designer digs: AutoCamp offers overnight lodging in modernized Airstream trailers with Caspar beds, luxury linens, spa-inspired showers (some Airstreams have soaking tubs), small kitchens with a microwave and fridge, a couch, table, outdoor firepits with a grill, and firewood delivered to your door. You can also stay in an Adventure Tent with access to a bathhouse. The Field Stations’ renovated and upscaled lodges and motels have indoor and outdoor furnishings, linens, basic cookware, coffee, and a fire pit with a grill.

Head out: Pedal down the Shining Sea Bikeway at Cape Cod; hike beneath a canopy of towering centuries-old trees at Sequoia; trek past aquamarine lakes, tumbling waterfalls and snowcapped peaks at Yosemite; and explore the Sonoma redwoods and the best of California wine country at Russian River.

Kick back: Most camps offer morning and/or evening yoga under the stars. Camp-specific programs range from Monday meditation at Yosemite to forest bathing in the Catskills.

Fuel up: Airstreams and cabins have microwaves, and cabins also have stovetops. All lodging includes fire pits with cooking grates, firewood, starters, and grill kits for purchase. Some camps also have Kitchens and General Stores that sell hot and prepared meals and grab-and-go options, with camp-specific fare ranging from breakfast quesadillas at Joshua Tree and vegan pesto pasta at Yosemite to oysters at the raw bar pop up in Cape Cod. Or head into a nearby town for dinner and drinks.

After sundown: Settle in around the campfires for s’mores and live music; enjoy yoga, outdoor bingo, and movie nights, or join local astronomers for private stargazing tours.

Glamping in an Airstream at AutoCamp in the Catskills. Photo courtesy of AutoCamp.

THE CONSERVATORY COLLECTIVE (Meredith, Aspen, Vail and Naturita, CO; the Catskills, and Governor’s Island, NY; Cypress Valley, Marfa, and Marble Falls, TX; Hill Farm, VT; three camps in Mount Tremblant, Quebec; Cashiers and Great Smoky Mountains, NC; Nimmo Bay, British Columbia, Canada; Denali National Park, AK, and multiple camps worldwide in Mexico and the Caribbean, Europe, South and Central America, Antarctica, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

4-star surrounds: The champagne of glamping outfits, the Collective’s exclusive retreats range from a rustic chalet overlooking glaciers in Denali, with helicopter service, a private chef and alpine guides; to an historic regenerative dairy farm in Vermont; a deluxe log cabin yoga/ mind-body sanctuary in the Rockies near Aspen;  an upscale tent/cabin retreat on the car-free parklands of Governor’s Island just a short ferry ride from Manhattan; a retro motor lodge and log cabins in the Catskills, and more.

Designer digs: Depending on the camp, you’ll stay in a swank safari tent on Governors Island or in the Texas Hill Country; a rustic-chic log cabin in Aspen, a luxe glass dome with a hot tub and fire pit,  in a luxury RV on a 1,000-acre dude ranch outside Vail, in a boutique mountain inn tucked high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in a solar heated pod in Antarctica, a Scandinavian-style cabin in Mount Tremblant; a solar-powered treehouse; 2-story dome, vintage trailer, Cosmic Kasita, safari tent with a stargazing skylight, and a Mongolian yurt in Texas; and an historic miner’s cabin near Telluride.

Head out: Be the first person to step inside a cavern at Ruth Glacier in Denali; go paddling in Nimmo Bay; hike and scale peaks in Mount Tremblant, Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Rockies, go horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking  on a Colorado due ranch; and more.

Kick back: Unwind in wood-fired Dutch hot tubs, saunas, and cold plunge pools; go swimming in pools, lakes, and streams; cast a line in a mirror lake; enjoy yoga and Pilates, ‘copter to a 10,000 year old glacier or dip into the Pacific after a sauna session on a floating wellness dock at Nimmo.  Sack out in hammock in Texas or play lawn games in Vermont.

Fuel up: Every camp is a culinary celebration, with chefs churning out locally sourced farm-to-table or sea-to-table cuisine. At Hill Farm, chefs craft menus inspired by what is coming out of the ground and the surrounding farm community. At Nimmo Bay in BC, meals are often locally foraged, highlighting wild vegetation and ingredients caught on the day’s free dive. Feast on BBQ in Texas, and savor Hudson Valley flavors with a Mexican twist at Casa Susanna in the Catskills, led by a James Beard Award-nominated chef.

After sundown: Most camps offer stellar stargazing (several are DarkSky properties) as well as evening campfires with s’mores and live entertainment.

PAWS UP MONTANA, Greenough, Montana:

4-star surrounds: Located 25 miles east of Missoula, this 37,000-acre luxury spread (a favored haunt of Gwyneth and Leonardo) at 8,000 feet overlooks the densely forested Bob Marshall Wilderness and the jagged peaks of the Swan and Garnet ranges. From its designer tents and spa village to its chef-prepared cuisine to camp butlers, it’s the pinnacle of glam roughing it for you and your very pampered pooch.

Designer digs: Gwyneth swears by the resort’s designer safari glamping tents, equipped to the max fine linens, The Last Best Bed®, chic rustic furnishings, private ensuite bathrooms, heat, and AC. The tents, clustered in six “camps” set along rivers or creeks, overlooking meadows and/or atop cliffs and bluffs, come with private dining pavilions, chefs, and camp butlers that cater to your every whim, plus a fleet of fat tire e-bikes for getting around the resort.

Head out: Horseback ride or hike on 100 miles of trails; fly-fish on 10 miles of private river;  pop wheelies on the Bike Flow Trail; ATV to Lookout Rock;  raft and canoe; rappel and zipline along the Skyline aerial ropes course; geocache; horse whisper; play cow croquet; engage in cattle drives and rodeos; or  visit the resort’s Island Lodge on Salmon Lake for catch-and-release fishing, bouncing on the floating trampoline, jet skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, paddleboats, swimming, pontoon boat tours, wakeboarding, wake surfing, and waterskiing.

Kick back: Head to Spa Town, a cluster of white tents on a boardwalk overlooking a meadow of grazing horses, for facials, hydration therapies, “Altitude Adjustment,” “Chi Balancer,” and a “Wag the Tail” massage for your furry friend. The fully equipped 24/7 Huff-and-Puff Fitness Center, set in a Pooh Bear log cabin, offers all-things fitness, plus forest bathing, sound bathing, breathwork, private yoga, one-on-one hikes, and apothecary classes where you can craft beauty products.

Fuel up: Enjoy chef-prepared breakfasts and dinners served family-style at your camp pavilion (savor homemade huckleberry pancakes, baby back ribs or grilled salmon, and goat cheesecake, with beer and spirits). Lunch is fresh salads to bison burgers at the Trough, the ranch’s casual eatery.

After sundown: Enjoy campfires with designer s’mores (created by the resort’s official culinary s’mores program, and stellar stargazing.

Glamping fun with PawsUp. Photo courtesy of PawsUp.

CLOUD CAMP, Colorado Springs, Colorado

4-star surrounds: A sister property of The Broadmoor, this historic mountaintop hideaway nestles in pine and aspen at 9,000 feet overlooking Pikes Peak. Get there by riding the free shuttle from the Broadmoor. Or hop a mule or hike up three hours. The 8,500-square-foot main lodge has hand-hewn beams, stone fireplaces, and an expansive wraparound deck where you can peer down 3,000 feet on The Broadmoor. Guests also have free access to The Broadmoor’s 5-star spa, fitness center, golf course, tennis courts, shopping, and restaurants.

Designer digs: Lodging includes guest rooms in the main lodge, rustic cabins, and the Fire Tower Suite perched on a promontory, with a hot tub, wraparound deck, and second-floor study.

Head out: Rise to morning yoga, take a guided hike, ride a mule, or hike six miles and 3,000 feet down to The Ranch at Emerald Valley, The Broadmoor’s elegant dude ranch. Hail the shuttle for a lift back up to camp.

Kick back: Soak in the outdoor hot tubs, enjoy bird watching, board games, camp crafts, pickleball, horseshoes and lawn games. Or hail the shuttle for a lift down to Broadmoor’s luxury spa, offering bamboo massages, oxygen infusion, ice therapy, jade stone facials and dry saunas infused with Pink Himalayan Salt Walls, steam rooms, oxygen rooms and fireplace lounges. There’s also a fitness center with a heated indoor pool, 100 weekly classes, tennis, and championship golf.

Fuel up: Hit the Chef’s Cooking Club before settling in for dinner in the stone-and-timber main lodge inspired by National Park architecture, with two massive stone fireplaces and Western-themed objects, including actor Kevin Costner‘s costume from the Hollywood film, Dances with Wolves.

After sundown: Gather round the campfire for s’mores and staggering stargazing. Or hail the shuttle for a magical night hike at The Broadmoor Seven Falls. “The Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado” features a 224-step staircase that leads up past seven cascading waterfalls illuminated in shimmering rainbow hues. Or take the in-mountain elevator 14 stories up to Eagles’ Nest Lookout.

Hungry for more? Dude Ranches with Stellar Spas.

EL CAPITAN CANYON, Santa Barbara, California

4-star surrounds: Wedged between the Pacific Ocean and Los Padres National Forest just a five-minute walk from El Capitan State Beach, this luxury cabin, cottage and yurt resort sprawls over 350 acres of undulating hills and canyons 20 miles from Santa Barbara.

Designer digs: Contemporary cedar cabins with a peaked ceiling, kitchenette, gas log stove, and full bath have outdoor porches with a picnic table, firepit and a grill. Or nab one of the resort’s elegant new Elderberry Cottages, nestled in a private village along a serene creek with AC as well as central heating for winter, and private decks, or one of the two luxury signature suites, including the Safari Cabin and Meadow Suite. More rustic digs include streamside wood-floored sleeping yurt with canvas walls, and furnished with beds, a mini-fridge, microwave, space heater, ceiling fan, domed ceiling, skylight for stellar stargazing, a picnic table and firepit with grill, and easy access to a bathhouse.

Head out: Take a guided botanical hike in Los Padres National Forest, hit the beach to wander past thundering surf and peer into entrancing tide pools, or borrow a bike and cycle 12 miles to the Goleta Butterfly Grove, where Monarch butterflies transform the eucalyptus into fluttering waves of orange, yellow and brown each fall.

Fuel up: The resort’s “Butler Chef” will prepare and serve you the meal of your dreams in your cabin or tent. You can also purchase a BBQ kit and fire up your grill for homemade meal of tri-tip, salad, chili beans, and s’mores. Or head to The Canyon Market & Deli for espresso, snacks, sandwiches, and dinners with the leaves of sycamore and oak trees rustling overhead. The resort also hosts weekly evening BBQ dinners.

Kick back: The Canyon Spa nestles in a fragrant mediation garden with lavender, sage, and other healing herbs. Relax with an “al fresco” hot stone massage, then take a dip in the solar-heated swimming pool.

After sundown: Enjoy evening storytelling, stargazing, and s’mores around the campfire; or enjoy an outdoor movie or concert under the stars.

THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK, Philipsburg, Montana

4-star surrounds: Set in a pristine valley in Montana’s classic Big Sky Country amid soaring mountains, pine forests, and rolling meadows 90 minutes from Missoula, this 19th-century dude ranch and working horse and cattle ranch spans 6,600 acres of untamed wilds, with a Montana Blue Ribbon Trout River running through it.

Designer digs: Settle into a bespoke cabin tent constructed of canvas, wood, and rock, individually furnished with luxurious bedding, Western textiles, antique furniture, a gas stove, screened porch facing the creek, attached bathroom, and private bathroom in the nearby bathhouse. The resort also has several homesteader wagons that can be added to any free-standing accommodation in the summer.

Head out: With 40-plus adventures, including a curated children’s program, it may be hard to decide what to do first. There’s guided horseback riding for all levels, hiking on 50 miles of trails, climbs to the ranch’s five peaks (summit all five for a spot on the ranch’s “brag board’); mountain biking, fly fishing on the ranch’s premier trout stream, a rope course, mapping/orienteering, and tours of the ranch’s 70-horse herd and cattle program.  Or explore historic Philipsburg, a restored mining town with artisan shops, restaurants, and breweries.

Kick back: Relax in the 2,000-square foot spa, with luxury treatments like sapphire hydration wraps, hot springs soaks, and sound bath meditation. Or unwind in the heated outdoor pool and hot tub. Work out: Or work out in the well-appointed fitness center.

Fuel up: The ranch is renowned for its elegant cuisine locally sourced from growers’ co-ops, with chanterelles and ramps coming from foragers, and heirloom pork, elk, bison, and grass-fed beef from local ranches. Meals range from breakfast rides to Piney Pond and Bikini Beach for Dutch oven frittatas and biscuits and gravy to “chef’s grill” dinners made in the ranch’s wood-fired outdoor kitchen.

After sundown: Thrill to a whoop-it-up rodeo with real cowboys, then head to the ranch’s Silver Dollar Saloon to linger over bourbon, whiskey, beer, cider, and American wines.

Taking it easy glamping at Ranch at Rock Creek. Photo courtesy of Ranch at Rock Creek.

ARAPAHO VALLEY RANCH, Granby, Colorado

4-star surrounds: This historic, family-owned ranch set amid forested peaks and glinting lakes on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park with a river (The South Fork of the Colorado) running through it, is a real steal with a sky-high setting at 8,333 feet that’s literally priceless. This ranch in the middle of nowhere will soon be going prime time on an upcoming episode of PBS Hometowns, so stay tuned! Originally a homestead (an early rancher put in an air strip so his piloting instructor and buddy Charles Lindbergh could fly in over the Continental Divide for visits), Arapaho evolved over the years into the popular kid-and-pet-friendly fishing and outdoor haven it is today.

Designer digs: The ranch is anchored by a historic lodge with a stone fireplace, living room, bar, billiards room, trading post, outside decks, and patios with firepits, plus the storied Red Dog Saloon, Colorado’s smallest watering hole with four stools. There’s year-round lodging in nine historic, modern, and tiny home cabins sleeping 4 to 18, with grills, fire pits, and kitchens; and warm weather lodging in glamping tents, tipis, and yurts that sleep eight, and furnished with beds, couches, and camp kitchen boxes. The ranch also has 22 tent sites, some overlooking the Colorado River, and 12 RV sites, some with hookups.

Head out: Get up early to watch the ranch’s new family of duck waddles from their wildlife-proof overnight accommodations to the ranch’s on-site pond. Arapaho is also raising chickens and offering free eggs to guests. Then take a hike! The ranch trail pushes through hushed forests to a “kissing swing” overlooking the headwaters of the Colorado River Valley (watch for moose, elk, coyote, fox, and yellow-bellied marmots) while the Monarch Lake Loop winds past waterfalls and mirror lakes to the ghostly remains of Monarch, an 1880s boom-to-bust mining camp that roared on Saturday nights before withering away to slag heaps and broken bottles.  Thrill to whitewater rafting on the Upper Colorado River, mountain bike around Lake Granby, or go horseback riding with local outfitters. Or drive 35 miles to Rocky Mountain National Park, offering 300-plus miles of hiking trails and spectacular wildlife viewing.

Kick back: Borrow a complimentary canoe and life vests and paddle Little Indian Lake on the ranch grounds, go paddle boarding on the South Fork of the Colorado River right from the ranch property, or spy on moose, elk, foxes and coyotes and yellow-bellied marmots. For a scenic overview of the area, take a hot-air balloon ride with Grand Adventures.

Fuel up: Grand Lake, a charming mountain town a 30-minute drive from the ranch, has several eclectic eateries and taverns, plus a Creative District with art galleries and craft shops.

After sundown: Situated on Grand Lake’s historic boardwalk, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre stages theatrical and dance performances throughout the summer. Back at the ranch, have a cold one at the Red Dog Saloon. With just four stools, it’s Colorado’s tiniest watering hole.

Glamp near the water at Arapaho Valley Ranch. Photo courtesy of Arapaho Valley Ranch.

Hungry for more? Here are 12 Dude Ranches in the American West.

ALISAL RANCH, Santa Ynez Valley, California

4-star surrounds: Years ago, actor Clark Gable rode in on his horse to this historic, 10,500-acre working cattle ranch nestled in Santa Barbara’s bucolic Santa Ynez wine country to marry Lady Ashley during filming of the Hollywood film, “Gone With the Wind.” Then as now, the horses and cattle still roam grass-covered hills that have changed little since the days of the Spanish vaquero, although today, the deer tend to graze on Alisal’s championship golf courses.

Designer digs: Spanish-style casitas have high-beam ceilings, wood burning stoves and front porches overlooking hills that heave and sigh to the horizon. There’s no TV or phone to interfere with the sound of the wind whistling through the centuries-old sycamores.

Head out: With 10,500 acres, there’s plenty of elbow room for hiking through pastures, wildflower meadows and piney woodlands; fly-fishing, paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking on the 100-acre spring-fed lake; horseback riding on 50 miles of trails; hiking in Deer Park; tennis and pickleball courts, two championship golf courses; e-biking and mountain biking; a ropes course; UVT ranch tours; horseshoe painting, jewelry, leather working, and barnyard crafts; plus classes that reflect Alisal’s ranching past, including air rifle, axe-throwing and barrel racing. Or borrow a bike for a spin along back country roads to Solvang, a Danish-style town with half-timbered buildings, windmills and Danish bakeries that crank out homemade strudel. Brake en route for farm stands piled high with just-picked produce.

Kick back: The elegant spa has organic facials and herbal massages scented with sage and rose grown on-site, and the world-class fitness center has ellipticals to Pelotons, and classes from HIIT and Flow Yoga to Mat Pilates and sound bathing. Or take a scenic spin through Santa Barbara Wine Country, with 200-plus wineries.

Fuel up:  Alisal’s California “ranch fare” is sourced from local farms, ranches, dairies, fisheries, and wineries, although with fare like duck pate and striped bass with blistered cherry tomatoes, it often reads more like 5-star. But there’s authentic ranch fare on breakfast rides and at the Western BBQ served in the arena after the rodeos. Alisal also has scores of cooking classes, including 2-day BBQ bootcamps and an annual 3-day Barbecue University (Sept. 2-5 this year) named the #1 cooking experience in America by the Food Network.

After sundown: Evening activities include outdoor movies, dance and bingo nights, rodeos, wine-tasting, and stargazing through telescopes.

Cozy up at Alisal Ranch. Photo by Teal Thompsen.

SAFARI WEST, Santa Rosa, California

4-star surrounds:  Everything from the zebras and giraffes to the safari tents are from Africa at this 400-acre glamping camp, AKA ”Sonoma’s Serengeti.” Home to 1,000 wild things from 90 countries, the former cattle ranch turned world-class conservation breeding facility delivers an Out-of-Africa safari minus a passport and was named one of USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

Designer digs: When you’re not hanging with the hyenas, you can relax in a safari tent imported from Botswana, and furnished with a soft bed, ensuite bathroom, polished hardwood floor, handmade furnishings, and a private veranda overlooking a small lake or rolling hills.

Head out: Climb aboard a custom safari vehicle with a guide to scout for giraffes, impala, cape buffalo, and hulking rhinoceros, or take a guided safari walk through the preserve’s vast aviary. See demoiselle cranes preening along the path and scarlet ibis soaring overhead. Or come face-to-face with a red-ruffed lemur, search out a cleverly camouflaged cheetah, or watch the courtly flamingos parade around their lagoon home.

Fuel up: The Savannah Café provides hearty South African-inspired meals on an expansive terrace overlooking astonishing views of the hills and critters – from flamingos to giraffes. Dinner is a South African-inspired braai featuring savory meats cooked over a wood-fired grill and served with tasty sides. Or enjoy special culinary tours like “Winos & Rhinos” and “Brews & Buffalo.”

Kick back: Sign up for the Enrichment Tour Experience to learn how the preserve uses puzzles, toys, and other creative activities to stimulate the animals’ natural behaviors. Or get close-ups of the critters on a private photography safari led by a safari guide and photographer.

After sundown: Enjoy s’mores around the campfire and movie nights under the stars, then fall asleep to the lullaby of the Serengeti.

Get up close with wild animals with Safari West. Photo Courtesy of Safari West.

SPACIOUS SKIES CAMPGROUNDS (East Coast Camps in Abbot and Walnut Grove, ME; Adirondacks, NY; Henniker and Hancock, NH; Littleton, MA; Austerlitz, NY; Dorothy, NJ; Luray, VA; Fayetteville, Marion, and Spruce Pine, NC; Monterey, TN; and Savanah and Gaffney, GA.)

4-star surrounds: From RV and tent camping to lodging in furnished cabins, yurts, guest houses, and vintage trailers, Spacious Skies has glamping covered, whether you want to camp by a mirror lake in Maine; in the shadow of a peak in the Adirondacks; amid historic farmlands in New Hampshire, or in the secluded forests of the Blue Ridge or Smoky Mountains.

Designer digs: Charming cabins sleep two, four and six and blend rustic charm with modern comforts. Most have bathrooms with tubs, fully equipped kitchenettes, private wood decks with patio furniture, and all cabins are pet friendly. Camps also have RV camping with full hookups, a picnic table, and a fire ring; back-to-nature tent camping with easy access to nearby bathhouses, and special options for extended stays, full- season stays, and group stays. Some camps also offer lodging in furnished yurts and retro trailers.

Head out: Depending on the location, you can hike to thundering waterfalls; explore Civil War battlefields, raft the Shenandoah River; roam New Jersey’s brooding Pine Barrens; hike a peak in New Hampshire, and much more.

Kick back: Depending on the camp, you can swim, kayak and canoe in looking- glass ponds and lakes, fish in catch-and-release ponds and streams, play miniature golf or beach volleyball, unwind with yoga, take a dip in the swimming pool, play games in the rec hall, roam the grounds in a golf cart, set the kids loose on the playground or jumping pillow, or take Fido for a romp at the dog park.

Fuel up: Cabins and guest houses have fully equipped kitchens and outdoor decks so you can cook up your own feast. All lodging ops, including RV and tent sites, have fire pits and grills for outdoor cookouts. Some locations also have snack bars and camp stores. Or head into a nearby town for dinner and drinks.

After sundown: With minimal artificial lighting and sprawling acreage bordering lakes and valleys, several Spacious Skies camps offer a host of stargazing programs, including monthly themes inspired by the starry skies, programs with local astronomers, and space-themed activities like movie nights and kid-friendly scavenger hunts.

Hungry for more? 8 Places to See the Northern Lights  

WOODS OF EDEN GLAMPGROUND, Bar Harbor, Maine

4-star surrounds: Upscale camping experience located four miles from Acadia National Park in a woodsy setting near the quaint seaside town of Bar Harbor overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Designer digs: Luxury tents that sleep up to six have comfortable beds, full bathrooms with showers, fully equipped kitchenettes, and a covered outdoor deck with a dining table and outdoor gas grill.

Head out: Go kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding in Bar Harbor; rent an e-bike for a tour around town, or head into Acadia National Park, with 150 miles of hiking trails through dense forests, around pristine lakes, along rocky coastlines, and up to exposed peaks. Cycle the park’s 45 miles of historic carriage roads or hit its two ocean beaches for swimming and tide-pooling.

Fuel up: Each tent comes with a small refrigerator, sink, cooking utensils, coffee machine, toaster, microwave, induction hot plate, electric griddle, and an outdoor gas grill. There are enough plates, bowls, cups, wine glasses and silverware for six. Or head into Bar Harbor for just-caught lobster, shrimp, crab, flounder, clams, and oysters. Don’t miss the fresh catch at Beals Lobster Pier. Bar Harbor is also home to many breweries, Irish pubs, handcrafted ice cream shops, juice bars, coffee houses, cafes, and home-style restaurants.

Kick back: Enjoy panoramic views of the mountains of Acadia National Park aboard the Cranberry Cove Ferry; take a narrated trolley ride around Bar Harbor; or go whale-watching, lobster fishing, seal watching with local outfitters.

After sundown: Acadia’s dark night skies are ideal for stargazing. Explore the night sky from the west side of Mount Desert Island while enjoying the ocean soundscape; capture the night sky from different viewpoints around crystalline Jordan Pond; gaze up into the cosmos from a blanket on Acadia’s Sand Beach or catch a falling star atop Cadillac Mountain.

A Woods of Eden Glampground. Photo courtesy of Woods of Eden Glampground.

PURE HEART RETREAT, Cody, Wyoming

4-star surrounds: Set in geodesic all-glass domes, this luxury nature, yoga, and wellness retreat is just 30 miles from the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park and 22 miles from Cody, a Wild West Mountain town and outdoor recreation haven. Named one of USA Today’s best 2025 summer destinations, Pure Heart is located on a stretch of the North Fork Highway that Teddy Roosevelt once called “the 50 most beautiful miles in America.”

Designer digs: Nestled in serene wilderness and accessible by foot traffic only, these boutique domes are 23 feet in diameter and sleep up to four in comfy queen and twin beds. Each tent has a private entrance, ensuite bathroom with a shower, fully equipped kitchen with countertop seating, free Wi-Fi, AC, and garden or mountain views.

Head out: On-site activities include yoga, meditation, hiking, cycling, and fitness classes. Explore Yellowstone National Park, a 2.2-million-acre hiking and geothermal paradise, with 1,000-plus miles of trails, 15 miles of boardwalk, and half the world’s active geysers Attractions near the East Gate include Yellowstone Lake, Fishing Bridge, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Tower Fall.  And don’t miss the action in Cody, named by USA Today as one of the 10 best small towns in the West for 2025 and a runner-up to the 10 best small historic towns in the West for 2025. Cody has some of Wyoming’s best whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking; mountain biking and cycling, horseback riding and pack trips with local outfitters, as well as spectacular hiking on diverse trails.

Kick back: Unwind in the retreat’s yoga tent, fitness room, sauna, and solarium, and get a massage. Or stroll through history in Cody. Some 27 cabins dating from 1879-1900 dot the Old Trail Town museum where Buffalo Bill established the original 1895 Cody townsite. You’ll need hours for the Smithsonian-affiliated Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a 7-acre building housing five museums that’s the oldest and the most comprehensive museum of the West. Or visit the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, the poignant site of the Heart Mountain World War II incarceration camp where 14,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned.

Fuel up: Cook up a feast in your dome’s kitchen or in the retreat’s BBQ. Or head into Cody for a night on the town and dining at one of its many restaurants, cafes, and taverns. The iconic Irma Hotel (built in 1902 by Buffalo Bill to the tune of $80,000, and named after his daughter), serves breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets every day in summer on its expansive porch. Cap the night in the hotel’s cherrywood bar, a former hangout for cowboys with the concealed bullet holes to prove it!

After sundown: The Cody Nite Rodeo is held nightly June-August, and don’t miss the live show outside the Irma Hotel, where The Wild Bunch theater group performs boisterous plays and Western re-enactments that always end in gunfire.

-Story by Carole Jacobs, Real Food Traveler’s Health, Fitness & Spa Editor