Five Stunning Spots for Bostonians to Go Glamping
From the coast of Kennebunkport to the forests of New Brunswick.
Photo by Douglas Merriam
Sandy Pines Campground
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport’s Sandy Pines Campground has whimsical accommodations for glampers of all tastes, from professionally designed safari tents to camp cottages and hideaway huts. Luxury is the key word here—shower towels, face cloths, and beach towels are provided by Sandy Pines, and the campground’s laundry service will exchange your towels for clean ones each morning if you can remember to leave your laundry bag outside your tent. The in-tent chandeliers and big puffy beds don’t hurt, either.
Sandy Pines Campground, 277 Mills Road, Kennebunkport, Maine, sandypinescamping.com.
Photo courtesy of Huttopia
Huttopia White Mountains
Albany, New Hampshire
Situated in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Huttopia is said to exude “a cosmopolitan air.” Why? Well, thanks to its on-site food truck you can graze on crepes, cappuccinos, and homemade pizza. Founded in Lyon, France, in 1999, Huttopia is a network of outdoor getaways that combines camping with comfort and convenience. The company operates more than 30 locations in France and Canada, and launched its first resort in the United States in 2017 in New Hampshire, later followed by a second location in southern Maine. The lakeside Albany getaway boasts a heated pool, a private beach, canoe and paddle board rentals, a game hall, and more.
57 Pine Knoll Road, Albany, N.H., canada-usa.huttopia.com.
Photo by Nina Gallant
Tops’l Farm
Waldoboro, Maine
Glamping is inherently upscale, but Tops’l Farm in Waldoboro, Maine, takes sophisticated outdoor recreation to new heights. The resort comprises 83 acres of pasture and woodlands on the Medomak River, making for an idyllic setting to host activities like adult summer camp—which features bookable axe throwing and archery lessons—and pre-packed picnic dinners on Fridays and Saturdays (think: local pulled pork with homemade buns and delicious vegetarian options) complete with sides and a dessert. Glamping accommodations are rustic-minimalist, and upon check-in be sure to pick up your vintage cooler packed with provisions such as coffee and pastries.
365 Bremen Road, Waldoboro, Maine, topslfarm.com.
Photo by Victoria West via Ridgeback Lodge
Ridgeback Lodge
New Brunswick, Canada
Meet Dream Domes. These geodesic structures at Ridgeback Lodge in New Brunswick are clad in floor-to-ceiling bay windows, offering sweeping views of the surrounding forest. Each dome comes with a wood-fired Japanese hot tub, not to mention a king-size bed, a private bathroom, a kitchenette with pots and pans, a fridge, a hot plate, a tea kettle, a coffee press, and more. Dream Domes are open in wintertime, too, and have a wood stove for when temperatures drop.
86 Old Reach Rd., Kingston, New Brunswick, Canada, ridgebacklodge.com.
An Airstream Suite from AutoCamp’s Yosemite location. | Photo by Aaron Leitz
AutoCamp Cape Cod
Falmouth, Massachusetts
For fair-weather naturalists who don’t want to crash in the deep woods at all, how about a cushy night’s sleep by the beach? After operating two locations in California, west coast-based AutoCamp has decided to bring its luxurious lodging to Cape Cod. When it opens next spring—you can book your stay now, starting from March 1, 2021—campers can opt for a seasonal canvas tent, tiny home-style accommodation, or the brand’s claim to fame: Airstream trailer suites. Each silver, 31-foot coach is decked out with a Tempur-Pedic mattress, flat-screen TV, sofa bed, organic bath products, and a sleek kitchenette stocked with wine glasses. Outside, you’ll be able to cook over a private fire pit or head over to the mid-century modern “clubhouse” to grab some grub and a cold beer.
836 Palmer Ave. Falmouth, autocamp.com.
