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Thursday, 6 November 2014
Saturday, 1 November 2014
Glamping in California - Top 5 glampsites
California is a glamping enthusiasts playground with lots of quirky and unique places to stay, anywhere that's bonkers enough to host an annual dog surfing competition, where pooches of all shapes and sizes ride those infamous Californian waves fully kitted out in shades with doggy-boards is a place I want to explore. Known for it's laid back culture, big imagination and individuality, I like many others set off to the golden state to pursue my dream, that wasn't to become a Hollywood star but to discover what California had to offer a glamping enthusiast like me. With it's incredible coastline and natural beauty it promised great adventure, and certainly didn't disappoint. Here are my top five glamping spots not to miss.
1: The Human Nest | Treebones Resort | Big Sur
The Nest at Treebones Resort - cliff-top glamping site overlooking the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of Big Sur, is probably the most adventurous glamping option I've ever seen and is certainly not for the faint hearted. Made from a collection of wood created to form a human nest structure, it's neither waterproof or heated, the idea is to rock up with a sleeping bag and nestle down for the night under the stars, falling asleep in the most natural and magical environments. Really quite something, well providing it doesn't rain of course!
For travellers looking for something a little more comfortable, Treebones Resort has other glamping options including several luxurious yurts and a treehouse, all with outstanding views and next to an outdoor pool, shower facilities and restaurant. The restaurant serves up rustic meals using ingredients grown from on site kitchen garden - deliciously wholesome and feelgood food guaranteed to restore much needed energy after a day adventuring the Redwood Forests.
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| The Nest |
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| Kitchen Garden |
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| Yurts Treebones Resort |
For travellers looking for something a little more comfortable, Treebones Resort has other glamping options including several luxurious yurts and a treehouse, all with outstanding views and next to an outdoor pool, shower facilities and restaurant. The restaurant serves up rustic meals using ingredients grown from on site kitchen garden - deliciously wholesome and feelgood food guaranteed to restore much needed energy after a day adventuring the Redwood Forests.
2: Trailer Trash | Hicksville | Joshua Tree
Hicksville motel park is quite possibly the coolest place I've stayed, located 5miles from Joshua Tree Hicksville started out as an artists retreat with on site recording studio, musicians and writers escaped here to be creative. It's distinctively American with a 24hour jukebox playing rock and roll tunes, festival going musos lazing by the pool, drinking beer and soaking up the sunshine.
Each trailer has it's own story, I stayed in the Sideshow - an old circus caboose Uncle Higby used to travel the country in showing off his sideshow oddities and selling potions. The story was brought to life by the imagination of set designer from TV series Carnivale who created a freak boutique complete with fortune telling Zultan - as seen most famously in film Big.
Anything and everything goes here, you are encouraged to socialise with guests, play dress up - Fifi trailer has a wonderful selection of wigs, star gaze from the roof top jacuzzi and it's motel etiquette to show all guests your trailer, so to speak!
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| Pee Wee Gypsy Wagoon |
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| The Integratrailor |
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| The FiFi |
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| The Sideshow |
3: Hippy House | Rainbow House | Big Sur
Rainbow house is the wild vision of owner, creator and craftsman Don Louis, built into the hillside of the redwood trees along the Big Sur coastline staying here gives you a window into Don's world. This bronzed Californian ex beach bum has created a rustic unconventional hidden paradise in a very humbling setting. Rainbow House is brightly painted handmade spacious wooden hut crammed full of wonderful trinkets and mismatched furniture giving the place a very distinctive personality and charm. The coastal fog and tall trees gives this place an mystical atmosphere but when the fog lifts, you an see to the ocean from the roof top veranda. It's a truly natural, whimsical and beautiful spot that you can't help but fall in love with because of the hard work gone into creating it.
There are trails dug into the hillside for guests to explore with places to relax, it's the perfect retreat to listen to music, watch the sunset, drink wine and play cards.
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| Rainbow House |
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| Living Space |
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| Big Sur |
4: Cabin Fever | Far Meadow | Yosemite National Park
A traditional wooden Cabin on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park, for those who like remote places and appreciate well thought through design - all solar powered, eco friendly and built around the base of a huge tree. We found ourselves eating alfresco, lighting fires and sitting outside listening to the wildlife. A great family glamping spot with lots of space for kids to run around and an tire swing that keeps them entertained for hours. It's just over an hour to drive into Yosemite village, some of the most incredible scenery on the way and once you get there hire bikes to get round the park and see some of the less popular hidden waterfalls and trails. They have other glamping options available in the summer months including vintage trailers and caravans.
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| Far Meadow Cabin |
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| Yosemite Waterfall |
5: Camper-van-man | vwsurfari | LA
Last but by no means least, the granddaddy of glamping - the campervan is the perfect way to explore the coastline and gives you a great sense of freedom to stopover wherever you want. There are loads of companies to hire classic VW or RV's, I've recommended VW Surfari as they've lovingly restored super-cool vintage VW camper buses for you to casually cruse along highway 1. All vans are kitted out with camping equipment and flower-power interiors.
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Day Tripping | California Dreaming
What can I say, California has blown my mind, such incredible scenery, great people and all day sunshine. Life on the road has been pretty sweet this past 9 days although we didn't quite appreciate how vast a place it really is - we've gone from walking miles in NY to driving miles and miles here. One things is for sure though 2pac wasn't lying when he said "it's all good from Diago to the Bay." Yes we've been listening to a themed playlist!
Here are a few pics from when we first arrived. It would appear I was really into this "edgy" filter at this stage of the trip, apologies and you will be pleased to hear I'm over this now, well sort of.
Golden Gate Bridge
Weiner Dog | Sausalito Dock | The very Dock Otis Reading wrote "dock of the bay"
Shrimping & Pimping | San Fran
Sea Lions
Treebones Resort | Big Sur | California
Big Sur radiates positiveo vibeos with a laid back culture that just draws you in. What's not to love about sandy white beaches, sea air, expansive clifftop views and towering Redwood Trees? Naturally, we had to stay another night to soak up the great atmosphere and pop into a couple of local cafés/restaurants.
We said farewell to Don and Rainbow House - he had no availability for a second night :( but we'd read good things about an eco yurt glampsite called Treebones Resort just south of Big Sur. It made sense to move on, making our way south and we both felt truly blessed to have stayed here, even if it was for one night.
We managed to book the last yurt available at Treebones. They usually have a three night minimum stay policy but i hammed up the English accent playing that slightly awkward, overly polite, apologetic Brit, channelling Hugh Grant in every role he's EVER played and it worked!
Treebones has a great reputation and I can see why, each yurt is finished to a high spec, there's a pool overlooking the sea and an excellent restaurant on site that serves quality meals made with locally sourced produce.
We ate in the restaurant that evening and had by far the best meal we've had in California. The menu is created around what's in season with produce from the kitchen garden. The garden was bursting with goodness; herbs, lettuce, beets, artichokes, avocados, limes and lemons. Each course was light, healthy and wholesome making a refreshing change after weeks of American sugar filled, processed food. Don't get me wrong I bloody love a good burger and sugary treat from time to time but even the porridge we had was made with cream and loaded with added sugar, I seriously needed to rein it in!
Aside from a fantastic restaurant and organic garden the site also has a treehouse, camping space and The Nest. The Nest is probably the most adventurous glamping option I've ever seen but not for the faint hearted. It's a collection of wood created to form a human nest structure. Its not waterproof, there's no electric or heating, you rock up with a sleeping bag and nestle down for the night. The structure offers the perfect place to fall asleep under the stars in the most natural environments. Quite something really, well providing it doesn't rain of course!
We enjoyed our stay here but neither of us were wowed by it. They crammed A-LOT of yurts in a relatively small space and were building more. I believe their aim was to create an eco community but it lacked authenticity creating more of a summer camp vibe. The "resort" element screamed cheesy American glossiness that detracted from the natural beauty it could be.
Here are the snaps. Enjoy!
The yurt
Camper loving
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Urban Oasis | Manhattan | New York
Okay, the idea of this blog was to share with you our glamping experiences as we trot around the globe so I'm cheating slightly here. Strickly speaking the Urban Oasis isn't a glampsite at all. However, our stay here in midtown Manhattan deserved a mention. This relaxed loft style hostel was the perfect bolt hole in the city close to all must dos and in a good location to explore both downtown & uptown. The clean interior in the communal space creates a chic look, but manages to still be comfortable with giant bean bags placed for guests to jump into after a busy day walking the city. We've walked miles so I feel less guilty about each dining experience which has felt like an episode of man vs food - Breakfast at Katz deli nearly finished us both! We've eaten some incredible meals over the past few days and discovered Brussels sprouts are going through a renaissance trending as a bar snack or side on lots of menus. We've drank cocktails at some excellent watering-holes Smith & Mills being the best and adventured across the city soaking up the atmosphere and seeing the sites.
For those who want to see what we've been up too, here are some snappy snap snaps...
The Loft
Empire State Building 86th Foor
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Boozy Shakes | Williamsburg | Brooklyn
Light shop | Dumbo | Brooklyn
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