by The Goat | Mar 17, 2021 | Glamping
When it comes to buzz words, one that has emerged in the outdoor industry is “glamping.” Unlike camping, which is all about being one with nature and staying as minimal as possible, glamping is a way to enjoy a posh, luxurious experience, unlike anything you have ever experienced before. While glamping can be extravagant, it can also be simple, based on your preferences.
Glamping Defined
The word glamping was created by mashing “glamour” and “camping” together. Just like camping exists on a spectrum, glamping does too. You can find extremely luxurious options that rival five-star hotel rooms but in nature.
On the other end of the spectrum, which is where most glampers can be found, is when a person’s existing camping experience is upgraded so that rather than feeling like you are in the woods, you feel more like you are in the comfort of your home. With this glamping style, you can introduce someone new to camping to the great outdoors without throwing them into the trenches right away.
Camping vs. Glamping
The main factor that differentiates camping from glamping is how comfortable you are. With glamping, it can be said that you are semi-roughing it. However, there are no set rules with glamping.
Many campgrounds offer glamping sites now and, in some areas, the owner or staff even set up your campsite and provide certain luxuries. This includes things like a room in the tent for a closet to unpack your clothes or a spa-like private shower. However, just remember that each glamping experience is unique, so asking about the amenities and luxuries is a good idea to know what to expect.
If you plan your own glamping experience, you can add things like a larger tent, gourmet food, and cookware, or a better mattress. Adding stylish decorative touches is also part of the fun of glamping. For example, a string of LED twinkle lights and an elegant cocoon chair can turn your average campsite into a glamper’s dream.
There are a few tips that can help those who want to create their own glamping experience. Some of the top things to do to create your glamping campsite include:
- Bring along cozy bedding
- Take a source of entertainment
- Set up special stations (i.e., drinks, food, etc.)
- Cook gourmet meals
- Create a comfortable living area
- Add light to the glampsite
- Add a few touches of home
Are You Ready for Your First Glamping Experience?
Are you ready to enjoy your first glamping experience? This may seem like a stretch for avid campers, but many have found they are hooked to this more glamorous camping style once they try it. However, for those new to camping or who are hesitant to stay all night outside, this is a great way to ease into it. Keep in mind that with glamping, you can customize the experience to your needs and preferences. You can also book a glamping experience at a park or campsite. Due to the popularity of this style of camping, more locations than ever before offer glamping experiences.
by The Goat | Dec 17, 2020 | Glamping
Say you’re out there under the stars or the desert sun, in those beautiful landscapes and vistas that we have all across this country, and you’re looking to enjoy some excellent food on your trip. How do you make this work well?
The idea of culinary camping has become really popular these days. People like the idea of combining food, a comfort activity, with the outdoors, which provides its own therapeutic experience. In fact, many of us would even say that food tastes better outside.
Here are three core skills that we promote as we help newcomers to experience the beauty of outdoor cooking.
Handling Propane
Much of the outdoor cooking that gets done is done over a gas flame.
Yes, if you are a seasoned camper, you may want to do things the old-fashioned way and cook over a fire, but especially for more sophisticated menus, or a greater number of diners, a small propane stove or similar piece of gear is the way to go. Small propane stoves can fit in a backpack easily, and portable propane containers can, too.
The essential skill here is to know how to use propane safely – how to fit the stoves together, how to look for escaping gas, and how to fine-tune your heat flame. Like other outdoor cooking skills, this is something you learn by experience and trial and error. But you also learn by reading about the safety aspects and knowing these when you start out! Don’t just wing it with gas – because that can be dangerous. Safety first!
Knife Skills
As experienced chefs know, knife skills are essential in any kitchen, but they’re extremely important in outdoor cooking.
One reason is that the ergonomics of camping food prep are different from what you experience in a traditional kitchen. You might not have that butcher block or that counter-level cutting board to work on. So it’s important that you adjust your knife skills accordingly, and don’t wind up cutting yourself and going on a white-knuckle trip to the ER.
Protecting Your Gear
This is a broader kind of skill that, again, you learn as you go. You want to protect your good cast iron or other skillets from charring, and keep all of your portable stuff in good condition, whether that means preventing rust and corrosion or breakage.
These are just some of the fundamental skills that we promote as we help provide camping/cooking trips in the beautiful, wild and wonderful Death Valley, UT area. This business is taking off! Ask us about scheduling and more.
by The Goat | Sep 6, 2020 | Glamping
As summer comes close to an end, you may be looking to take one more vacation before the colder weather starts. How does camping with all the luxury of home sound? If you are wanting to get away from it all, without getting away from it all completely, glamping may be just the thing for you. Glamourous camping, most popularly known as glamping, involves traditional camping with all the comforts of home. Here are a few other benefits of glamping to keep in mind:
1. You take home with you
Glamping means you are camping without the challenges of regular camping. It means no more sleeping in a tent that has no room. No more sleeping on the ground. No more awkward bathroom trips. With glamping, you can camp in a real bed so you can get a good night’s sleep. You also get way more space with all the everyday conveniences (such as outlets) on hand.
2. Beautiful locations
If you have resisted the idea of camping because you prefer the luxury of a hotel, you may love the idea of glamping. Why? You get to experience the outdoors in a way that a hotel can never give you. You will be steps from a private beach or mountain range overlooking a scenic view. You will be immersed in nature in a way you would never get with a hotel.
3. You won’t break the bank
Although it sounds like it can be more expensive, glamping is much less costly than staying at a resort or hotel. There are way more overhead costs with a resort, but with glamping, you are more likely to support the local community. Also, with glamping, you will want to stay longer. Thanks to the comforts of home, you won’t have to worry about undercooked food, cold showers, and smelly bathrooms.
4. You reduce your ecological footprint
Glamping gives you a new appreciation for nature. Large resorts are difficult to build and often destroy surrounding land in their construction phase. When it comes to glamping, it can happen anywhere. It also has minimal constructions and requires fewer resources. It leaves a smaller footprint because the cabins, tents, yurts, and huts don’t have as much assembly.
5. You take something great, and make it even better
The outdoors are great, camping is a fantastic activity. But sometimes, you just want to chill, and real camping can be quite a lot of work, especially if you don’t have it down to a science.
What better way to vacation this summer than by glamping in the outdoors. You get to immerse yourself in the nature around you without having to rough it. Contact Canyons and Chefs for our chef-driven luxury expeditions.
by The Goat | Jul 13, 2020 | Glamping
Glamping is a popular buzzword in the outdoor realm, and for good reason. It’s the hottest new trend in getting out and enjoying nature. For decades proceeding, camping had a rather vast spectrum that ranged from minimalists who slept on the ground in remote areas to RVers who took advantage of the many RV parks available. Glamping is now pushing the envelope when it comes to a posh experience and luxurious camping accommodations. Now, you and a group of your best friends, lovers, or revelers can access the remote, spectacular areas while still enjoying some of the creature comforts you can find at home, or even upscale hotels and resorts.
Follow along as we delve into the wondrous world of luxury, style, and comfort, all in the wondrous world that is our natural backyard!
What is Glamping?
The word itself really isn’t surprising. It is a mash-up of the words “glamour” and “camping.” Just like traditional camping, glamping has a spectrum. On one end, you have elevated campsites that feel more like home than a tent, and on the other, you have uber-luxe settings that are actually more like five-star hotel suites found in the great outdoors.
Much like regular camping, glamping is essentially what you make it. For some, glamping may be as simple as bringing along a subwoofer for your Ipod, while for others glamping may be essentially an actual five-star resort adjacent to a wooded area, with perhaps a fire. However, true glamping is simply an ultra-elevated outdoor experience.
Glamping vs. Camping
One of the biggest differentiators in these two experiences is your overall comfort level. With glamping, you are semi-roughing it. With that being understood, there are no hard-and-fast rules. If you decide to book a glamping getaway, the provider you go through may provide you with a campsite and offer you various luxuries, such as a private shower, closet to hang your clothing, and even a private chef for amazing meals.
However, if you take the DIY approach to glamping, it may just mean a larger tent, more luxurious mattress, or even using gourmet cookware. More decorative campsite touches are also a part of the fun of glamping. You can think of it as decorating buy using an outdoorsmen’s sensibility. If a string of LED flamingo lights, an elegant camp chair, an artsy rug, or even a French coffee press is what speaks to you, then it is a definite candidate for your glamping experience.
A First-Timer’s Guide to Glamping
If glamping is something you want to try, there are several options to consider. For example, you can choose an all-inclusive glamping getaway. If you go the all-inclusive route, you may find it’s expensive; however, having a professional plan all the details of the trip reduces the stress on you. There are numerous resorts and purveyors of glamping experiences. Glamping resorts tend to be more of closed-in experiences closer to staying at a hotel in nature, whereas expedition outfitters tend to take inspiration from resorts and take that into private backcountry surroundings.
Another option is to book a glamping rental. You can think of this as a rental service for yurts, but you can find other options, too, such as tiny houses, trailers, and tents. Chances are there are more glamping options in your area than you realize. Indeed, simply booking a yurt close to a National Park or natural beauty is sort of a hybrid between full-scale galmping and DIY glamping. Your Yurt and experience is basically what you make it.
You can also become a DIY glamper. This means that you take the entire experience into your own hands and take steps to elevate and glam-up your camping excursion. This may take some careful planning, but it will be worth it in the long run. Fancy tent? Cheffy meals? Trailer-towed backcountry hot tub? The choices are yours!
Are You Ready to Go Glamping?
As you can see, there is quite the appeal to glamping. If you want to make the most of your adventure, be sure to keep the tips and information here in mind. It will pay off and ensure that you and your entire family have a great experience, regardless of where you go or what you do. Straddling the two worlds of wilderness adventure and front-country creature comfort is the very essence of human evolution: from survivalist to tourist!
Guided Glamping Expeditions
Hiking and exploring our National Parks or any beautiful landscape is a special experience. Although it is possible to see these places yourself, hiring a guide outfitter is a great idea. For instance, guiding services provide logistical support, and plan everything for your best possible trip. They provide a great safety net on the trail, and are trained in backcountry medicine. Above all, they provide a depth of knowledge of the region that turns a walk into a true adventure.
Canyons and Chefs provides all of the support you need, and pairs that with professional chefs and expert geologist/guides. Our meals use fresh ingredients and are inspired by local farms, culture, and cuisine. We utilize a mobile professional kitchen as a backbone for cooking over the fire. Furthermore, we provide top-of-the-line gear and passion for the places we explore. Summed up, you can explore these wild places, but going with Canyons and Chefs can create an even more memorable experience. Don’t be shy, and call us!
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