UPTOURIST

Glamping is all the rage on California’s central coast these days.

Never heard of it?

Glamping gives those looking for rest and relaxation a “glamorous” camping experience. Hence the catchy new addition to all your vocabularies: glam–ping.

And the place to do it is at Treebones Resort, located on the Big Sur coastline just a half hour from the famous Hearst Castle in the state of California. For those of you who’ve been to this area, you’ll know that the drive up is an adventure in and of itself, driving the twisty winding state route 1 which is known for its misty seaside cliffs that often put you and your car or motorcycle just inches from what feels like at the time, the edge of the world!

Anyhow, back to Treebones Resort. Their glamping experience is like nothing you’ll ever experience. Do note that the owners only allow children 6 and older onto the site and that they’re not allowed inside the Human Nest (discussed below).

Their glamour camping packages include two very interesting places to lay your head down at night. You can choose to sleep in one of their distinctive “Yurts” or climb up high above the coast and relax in one of their “Human Nests” which are made from bleached eucalyptus branches. I’m going to lay both out for you, but I have to say that the Human Nest is truly an amazing experience. The experience literally offers a birds-eye view of the Pacific Ocean and all the splendorous colors offered at sundown and sunup on the Cali coastline.

The Nest:

The Nest runs $150 a night with a two-night minimum stay. This little slice of heaven isn’t waterproof, as you can likely see by the pictures. The staff recommends having a tent on hand if you want to stay dry. My recommendation would be to check the weather before you depart, as it’s impossible to realistically do so before booking your stay: Treebones books up to six months in advance. That’s how popular this site is!

Your stay includes use of pool, hot tub, hot/cold showers, self-serve breakfast buffet with scrambled eggs, waffles, homemade granola, organic yogurt, fruit preserves, coffee, tea and juice. Due to the remote location, the resort connects with the Internet by satellite, which is free to the guests, although at times, depending on the load and weather conditions the transmission speed is similar to ‘dial up. The St. Lucia mountains aren’t far away and there are tons of trails nearby the resort that you and your family can get lost in.

The Yurts:

I would describe the Yurts onsite as something inspired by a traditional Native American teepee, but built much stronger and with obvious luxury elements. The screened in open top offers a view of the sky and keeps things really airy, light and open while you lounge inside. All Yurt packages offer all the same extras as the Nest package does:

Prices for a small mountain view Yurt start at $263 for two people and two others can stay (on a futon) for $30 a night extra.

They also have partial and full ocean view Yurts starting at $275 and go as high as $347. Here’s a full list of their Yurt packages if you’re interested.

Here’s a cool pic of the interior of the lodge where you grab your meals and drinks:

There are just a couple of unique interesting options for those looking to enjoy the Big Sur coast and accompanying skyline without the heavier price tag offered in their Yurt and Nesting packages. You can head up to the property just to do some regular camping if you wish, bringing your own tent and food supplies for just $100 a night. They’ll supply you with a tent for an extra $30 (see their regular campsite rates). This is a decent option, I suppose, but why not live in the lap of luxury and be a glamper instead of a camper for a couple of days?

 

Main Image Credit: tinyfroglet/Flickr