Heed the call of the wild at these luxe sites.
DIABLOMAGAZINE: July 28, 2023
If you love the outdoors but don’t want to give up your creature comforts, chances are you’ve tried glamping—and you are not alone. Glamorous camping is projected to bring nearly $3 billion in global revenue this year, with much of it in the United States.
Here are four upscale glamping spots in Northern California that will let you explore your wild side while leaving you refreshed.
Safari West, Sonoma
Botswana meets the Bay Area at this popular preserve, where animals roam in a pastoral 400-acre setting dotted with 30 canvas cabins. The custom-designed platform tents are imported from Africa and are reminiscent of romantic bungalows on the Serengeti.
Each dwelling has electricity and lighting, luxury bedding, a private bath, and a deck with views of the Mayacamas Mountains. Drift off to sleep under the stars while the wildebeests moan and a gentle breeze ripples the tent walls. Overnight stays include breakfast in the Savannah Café, which also dishes up an evening barbecue, or braai (pronounced “bry”) as it’s known in South Africa.
In addition to being an attraction since the late 1980s, Safari West is a wildlife foundation with a mission of education, conservation, and exploration. The star of the almost 900 animals that live here is a baby rhino born on the property on April 2 and named after Safari West founder Peter Lang’s father, Otto. Daily safaris take explorers rumbling over the rolling hills in old 1950s military vehicles, where they can spot everything from bongos (African forest antelope) to buffalo.
Costanoa, Pescadero
Escaping to the shore is always a treat, but the San Mateo coast has the added appeal of being so remote that Wi-Fi and cell service are spotty at best. It’s in this region of farms, sandy beaches, and lost-in-time towns that you’ll find yourself communing with nature.
Activities at Costanoa’s eco base camp include hiking on the property and at nearby spots like Año Nuevo State Park, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, and Pescadero State Beach. An on-site recreation center has mountain bike rentals and hosts everything from guided bird-watching tours to yoga and tie-dye workshops. Or you may opt to soak in the quiet from an Adirondack chair in front of your tent bungalow.
The canvas dwellings come with amenities like electricity, comfy beds, and electric blankets. Take a short walk to a Comfort Station and you’ll find showers, heated floors, and a sauna. Guests who want added niceties can stay in the lodge or in one of several cabins on the property. Costanoa even has its own spa and the farm-to-table Cascade Restaurant and Bar.
Alila Ventana, Big Sur
What’s not to love about Big Sur–one of the most ruggedly beautiful places on earth? Alila Ventana has a reputation as an ultraluxurious resort, and its glamping options don’t disappoint. Deep in the redwoods, guests get the fresh-air benefits of camping in elegant safari-style tents with electricity, high-quality mattresses, dreamy soft sheets, heated blankets, hardwood floors, and more. The tents at the 20-acre redwood canyon glamp site come with complimentary s’mores kits, firewood, and a fancy common bathhouse with aromatherapy products, heated floors, and teak wood showers.
New for glampers is access to Alila Ventana’s acclaimed restaurant, the Sur House. Take a short trek on the trail from your tent cabin, and you can dine and sip small-production local wines as you look out over mountains, forest, and sea. Glampers can also purchase a Spa Alila day pass that includes a treatment and full access to the resort’s meadow pool, infinity hot tub, sauna, and more.
Sequoia High Sierra Camp, Giant Sequoia National Monument
There may be no more pristine place to glamp under the stars than the environs of two national parks—Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Sequoia High Sierra Camp is only open in summer (mid-June to mid-September) but being persistent about getting a reservation is worth the effort.
This upscale hike-in camp (located less than a mile from the parking lot) is high in the backcountry of the Giant Sequoia National Monument and makes the perfect base camp for day hikes to lakes, streams, mountain vistas, and meadows. When you work up a hunger with all that exercise, a hearty meal is waiting for you in the dining pavilion. In fact, guests get a daily breakfast buffet, pack-your-own picnic lunch, and gourmet five-course alfresco dinner.
You’re guaranteed an excellent night’s rest in one of Sequoia High Sierra Camp’s 32 tent cabins. Each 330-square-foot retreat includes either a king or twin bed with a plush-top mattress, down pillows, and triple-sheeted linens. The accommodations are designed to take advantage of the natural surroundings, sporting oversize shuttered windows and sitting areas to bring the outside in. The bathhouse is shared but has showers and modern toilets.
Glamping Basics: What to Know
Think outside the box when you’re looking for glamping locales. There are dozens of small venues that offer everything from Airstream trailers to tree houses and yurts. As long as it’s upscale and outdoors (not a hotel or motel room), it’s technically glamping.
Bring warm clothing. Some glamp sites provide electric blankets, but your stay can get chilly, especially if you have to venture out into the night air for a bathroom break. The best sites include lanterns for after-dark walks, but you may want to bring a flashlight or your smartphone as a backup.
The aforementioned glamping resorts all have dining services, so there’s no need to bring your own meals. Some sites even prohibit food in your tents as it can attract critters.
Develop a mindset for adventure. There won’t be televisions or room service in these digs, but you may find that nature is more entertaining than you ever imagined. The call of the wild can be contagious.
Ginny Prior 