Get Ready to Go Glamping

We are getting ready for an upcoming Glamping trip and I am so excited!  I found several new gadgets that I'm going to love having on this trip making it even more glamorous and fantastic than the last time... You can see our prior Glamping trip via the link below: 

DIY Glamping Trip with Photos

Our upcoming trip will include a new color scheme, some "Must Have" Glamping gadgets and several new decor items. Also another family is joining us for the trip so we will have an additionally decorated tent and more fun decor for the whole family.

I have a slightly larger vehicle this time, so I'm hoping to fit everything in and still be able to fit my hubby in the car!!! 

Would you like to go Glamping? 

Diana

Glamping - Putting A Bit of Glamour in Camping

The weather here in Southern California is amazing this week.  It is time to get out and enjoy the outdoors!  I am thinking of planning another camping trip :)  I do enjoy camping, but I like to make it a bit of a Glamping trip.  


The point of glamping is adding a bit of glamour to your campsite.  Glamour + Camping = Glamping!  Yes, those of us that like to decorate, tend to decorate everywhere we go!  Note: glamping usually includes restrooms with flushing toilets somewhere close by (this is my one major requirement... lol).  

(via: TinyHouseBlog)

The above picture shows a tent mounted to a deck foundation with heavy logs for the frame.  It is likely a permanent structure.  This would be cool if you lived on a large piece of property and could do this out in your own wilderness!


I love pitching our own tent somewhere between the trees and nature and then adding decorative accessories to make it feel homey and then add a throw rug for the floor.  This next picture, is a stunning example!  

(via: ErinsFabBlog)

I love this!!!  Fabric over a portable gazebo frame.  A romantic table setting... and plenty of candles and lanterns!

 (via: We Heart It)

(via: Sentimental Stones)

There are actually some Glamping campgrounds that are like 4 star resorts.  They have permanent pitched tents that are already fully decorated and most have bathrooms.  I've seen glamping places that use yurts and even log cabins too.  However, if it's a log cabin, I think it is pretty hard to call it camping!  Some of these places completely take the work out of camping.  Personally, I like a little work when camping... Like watching my husband pitch the tent and watching him blow up the air mattresses (hehe)... and then I get to go to town on the decorating part :)  


While I was blogging this post,  I took a little break and got spontaneous.  I actually went onto Recreation.gov and booked our favorite campground (Dogwood) for our anniversary in June (without even asking my hubby if he was okay with it...)  I think he will be!  The campground we love is located in our local mountains, near Lake Arrowhead, here in California.  It is also close to one of our favorite restaurants, The Grill at Antlers Inn.  


This camping trip I will be going for a romantic glamping trip.  No premade tents here...  We will do all of the work to make it our special one of a kind site!  We will also be doing some of our own cooking at our campsite, but we will definitely go out for a nice dinner for our anniversary and probably do breakfast on the lake at Belgian Waffle Works.  Yum!

This map shows where we will be camping/Glamping in June :)  I'm soooo excited to start planning!!!

 The Grille At Antlers Inn, Twin Peaks, CA

Okay, I got totally sidetracked!  Now, back to GLAMPING... If you don't want to do all of the work setting up your own campsite, there are many glamping campgrounds around the U.S. and throughout the world.  


These next two pics are from El Capitan Canyon near Santa Barbara California.  They have tents and cabins depending on your preference... and even have a health spa (Canyon Spa) on site where you can get a massage or other treatment.

(via: ElCapitanCanyon.com)

For those that like to go a little bit country, check this next picture out.  It is at a place called the Resort at Paws Up, in Montana. You can check out their very cool resort: HERE

Below are some pictures of glamping in other parts of the world.

Glamping in Britian (via: RoughGuides.com)

  Glamping in Australia (via: Travelettes.com)

If you are interested in glamping, you can do a search on the internet for "Glamping + location" you can find a ton of information for locations near you that offer glamping.  Everything is already set up for you at these places.  


A few informative sites that I found are listed below:

GlampingGirl.com  - This site lists 33 glamping sites that are in the US and over 20 other countries that have glamping sites

GlampingHub.com - Information for glamping in the US, Canada, Europe and a few other countries...

If you are like me, you don't mind a little work and you love to decorate, then you can Glamp pretty much anywhere you can pitch a tent... even in your own backyard! 


Another thought, indoor tents can be fun too :)

(via: SomethingsHidingInThere)

Update: For those of you that have asked:  YES,  I did get my "Glamping Trip On" after this first post... We (my hubby and I) went in July and you can see our trip in this post:  A Glamping We Will Go

Camping in Vintage Chic Style

Have you ever wanted a motor home or a travel trailer but can't afford one?  I admit I usually like the brand new one's that I can't possibly ever afford!  But, what about getting an older inexpensive one and giving it a complete face lift makeover?

The other day as I was helping my in laws post their motor-home on Craigslist, I started wondering what it would be like to give an RV or travel trailer a complete makeover... How much fun it would be to redo one in a completely soft cottage romantic shabby chic style?  Could you actually take an old and ugly RV and make it beautiful with a little paint, fabric and some cute decorative accessories?  Then I searched the internet to see what I could find.  I found out that there is a huge following for vintage retro type motor homes and RV trailers.    

I came across several RV makeovers that I do like that, but this is definitely my favorite.  It came from a site called  Home Sweet Motorhome (which is a German Blog).

I love it!  So charming... so chic... so cute.... and absolutely so frigen adorable!!!

The bathroom mirror is so much better than that you would normally find in an RV!

Such a cozy spot to curl up and read a good book or have a romantic meal... I'm lovin the candle chandelier overhead!

I love that there is a curtain to close off the drivers cabin..  The curtain being white like the walls makes it almost disappear when it is closed.

OMG... How adorable is this upper bunk kids space?  Any child would feel so welcome up there!  Then notice there is even a small flat-screen television below that cute blue light sconce.

Notice this is the same space where the u-shape table booth was... With the table lowered it makes an adult bedroom space.  Even though the space is small in the RV, the charm of the decor is HUGE!

The use of vintage linens, soft fabrics and quilts makes this space super cozy and inviting!

Lovin the cute bulletin board with fabric pouches on the outside of the Water Closet... Notice the cute WC on the bathroom door.

A cozy cottage on wheels... What a great way to travel!!!  

So much adorable cuteness in this small space... Every corner has something new... Great ideas went into creating this sweet home on wheels!

They even put their blog site title on the outside of the motor home...

Here is the amazing part... check out these few pictures of the RV before it's makeover... It was pretty ugly in it's before stage!

 During the makeover... 

It's amazing what white paint can do to clean a space up!!!  Well, paint and hard work of course.  

I love the before and after!  Stunning transformation! 

What a fun project :)  It really does makes me want my own!!!

Camping and Decorating the Campsite

This past weekend we went camping near Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains.  After setting up camp late Friday afternoon, we went to dinner at our favorite restaurant on the mountain, ate great food and had wonderful conversation.  Saturday morning we had a french toast breakfast at camp, then we spent the day visiting with family and old friends, had a barbecue on the dock and went boating on the lake.  Saturday night was spent visiting by the campfire talking and making smores.  Then Sunday morning my amazing husband made breakfast for all.  After we packed up camp, we went shopping in the Village and then headed home for a long nap.  We had a great time and are looking forward to the next time!!!

Although I did not take many pictures this weekend, Below I describe how I decorate our campsite and I've included some inspirational pictures of things you can easily do too.  Many of the ideas work for both camping and picnics.

When we go camping I like to decorate the campsite.  I don't overdo it, but I definitely have to put my touch on things.  We camp the old fashioned way with a tent.  We do bring air mattresses so we aren't completely roughing it.  I like to bring bedding and a few throw pillows for the beds along with a blanket throw across the bottom to make it feel a little like home.  In the tent I add a few of the battery operated tea lite candles for a little ambiance.  Around the camp I like to use inexpensive solar lights to light our path at night.  On the picnic table, I put a tablecloth and a centerpiece.  Mason jars work great for candles and to hold flowers.  I don't go as far as to bring an area rug, but I have considered it.  Mason jars with wire around the top can be hung from the trees with tea lite candles to add a warm glow to the space (if fire is too dangerous you can use the battery operated votives in the jars).  A few blanket throws on the folding camp chairs are wonderful to snuggle with next to the campfire.  Most of all I just have fun with it and everyone seems to enjoy the effort.

There is also what is called Glamping as is shown in the picture to the left.  There are campsites that have permanent tents that are fully decorated.  For those who would rather just show up and have some fun, try Glamping.  It can feel almost like a 5 star resort, but you get to enjoy nature, a campfire and the stars.

Look up Glamping via any search engine for a Glamp Campground near you. Whatever you do have FUN!








(Photo credits: juicybits, thingsinmasonjars.tumblr, emilylight.tumblr, stephaniericci.tumblr, elizabethandesigns, enthusiasticallyours)