5 Glamping Tips for an Unforgettable Adventure With Your Teen
Glamping—short for glamorous camping—is basically the best of both worlds: all the wonder of sleeping outdoors, wrapped in the comfort of homey conveniences. Imagine unzipping the flap of a cozy canvas tent strung with twinkling lights, only to find a plush queen-sized bed, real end tables, and even a loveseat waiting inside. It feels a little bit magical.
My first glamping adventure happened this summer when my fifteen-year-old and I (plus our two adventurous mini Aussies) needed a spot to stay on our way to Duluth, Minnesota. I’m usually a die-hard tent camper, but thunderstorms were in the forecast and glamping felt like the perfect upgrade.
These five simple tips made our stay smoother, more comfortable, and so much fun. I hope they inspire you to get outside, breathe in some fresh air, and try a new kind of adventure with your teen!
Bring charged-up headlamps and off-grid lighting
Being an experienced camper, I tend to bring ambient and task lights that are rechargeable or use batteries. Solar charged fairy lights are great for lighting up dim zones. Headlamps can also help with in-tent lighting as well as for treks to the composting toilet at 11 pm.
Prep food ahead of time
Knowing that the afternoon and night would be stormy, I made dinner and breakfast burritos before we left while my kiddo showered after soccer practice. This way we could enjoy simple meals without having to do the dishes that night or in the morning. In full geeking-out-on-food-safety mode, I allowed the cooked ingredient components to cool, and then I assembled, rolled, packaged, and labeled the burritos individually. I added salsa, cultured plain yogurt, and avocado to our cooler so that we can add them later. Although the AirBnB description mentioned a having grill and picnic table, I packed my ultra light backpacking and Coleman stoves, fuels, and matches as back ups. I couldn’t get the grill to light, so my backpacking stove came in handy.
Set up stations
Organizing my camp or glamp space helps everyone settle in. As soon as we rushed into our tent, escaping the rain and high winds, I started setting up a pup zone for leashes, water, food, treats, and doggy beds. In another space, I set out a hydration and nourishment station complete with our mini cooler and water bottles. Our backpacks with clothes and toiletries went into another zone. My kiddo and I reassessed the initial choices for theses stations and then made adjustments.
Bring extra cozy provisions
Highly subjective and customizable, there is something to be said for having an extra plush blanket from home when you are far from home. I’ve even been known to bring a flower hanging basket from home to our off-grid cabin because it increased our ruby-throated hummingbird viewing opportunities. On this trip I tucked in my favorite ceramic mug for morning coffee, extra treats for the puppies, essential oil spray, and my alpaca socks. My teen packed her slippers.
Make an entertainment kit
As much as I love cribbage, my kiddo wasn’t interested in playing. We had other options that we could do together or separately: A deck of cards, journals, and phone games like Head’s Up. Because this was a short trip, I didn’t pack very much for entertainment. This particular AirBnB had a spa that we could use that had hand weights, yoga mats, a sauna, and walking paths.
