As the campfire dies down, an evening chill settles over Central Virginia. I step into my tepee, but a few camp chores remain before bed: I still need to power down the TV, adjust the thermostat, and flip off the lights.
Only then can I call it a night at Sandy River Outdoor Adventures outside Farmville, where a half dozen tepees welcome overnight guests. The cone-shaped vinyl tents have heated floors, Wi-Fi, walk-in showers, and comfy king-size beds. In short, nobody’s roughing it here.
That’s the joy of glamping. From safari tents and cabooses to tepees and yurts, glamping accommodations offer travelers the opportunity to vacation in natural settings and still stay in comfortable—or even luxurious—digs. But despite the trappings, glamping, at heart, is about enjoying the outdoors.
“It bridges the gap between campers and non-campers,” says Sandy River owner Mark Smith. “Our customers are looking for a deeper connection with friends and family, and are tired of the same old concrete jungle,” he says. “This is a movement toward a deeper connection with Mother Earth and getting closer to what really feels right.”
Here are 5 places to try glamping in Virginia.
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