Photo:
Meredith Charaba
“This is tent-tastic!” my 3-year-old daughter exclaims, her arms stretched wide at the entrance of our canvas cottage. And to her, with no other point of comparison, this is a tent. After all, it’s what we’re staying in for our weekend camping trip at Lakedale Resort.
She’s never had to duck into the two-person camping tent that barely fits our air mattress — the one we pitched on trips before we had her. In the canvas cottage, she’ll have a full bathroom with running water, and her own king-size daybed. There’s a slight breeze through the mesh windows, and a firepit just outside waiting for evening s’mores. This is glamping.
Glamping, it turns out, is the ultimate hack for us as a family. It’s everything I love about camping and none of the things I don’t. It’s an easy way to experience the great outdoors without the stress of pitching a tent (or searching for the nearest porta-potty). Barely five minutes in, I can tell we’ll love it here.
Our San Juan Island glamping adventure
We grabbed our check-in paperwork from a table outside the resort lodge before we headed toward our canvas cottage. On our first evening, we explored the resort and settled into our accommodations, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.
Saturday morning started with the sound of rain tapping against our canvas roof. I was worried our day’s plans for a rowboat ride and fishing were dashed, but as the friendly staff member at the general store reminded us about Washington, “If you don’t like the weather here, just wait 10 minutes!”
We made the most of it while we waited for the sky to clear, grabbing breakfast in the mess hall before heading to the activity tent for a morning of tie-dyeing T-shirts. The activity tent — like the general store and campsites on the north end of the property — operates seasonally from May to October. It’s a tradition for families who visit Lakedale Resort, often every summer, to tie-dye a new shirt each visit. My daughter chose the vertical stripe pattern from a handy laminated sheet tutorial, and the staff helped us fold and band the shirt for dyeing. I did the same for mine, then followed my daughter’s lead on the order of colors for our tie-dye stripes. The T-shirts dried in the tent overnight, and we were thrilled to have souvenirs to take home.
For our afternoon rowboat ride, we headed to the general store first to sign up for an hour boat rental (which are free for guests, including canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddle boats). We also borrowed life jackets and fishing poles from the store, and grabbed a $5 bag of bait. I hadn’t fished since I was a kid, and I was excited to share that experience with my daughter (while also quietly hoping we didn’t actually catch any). We spent that hour rowing around Neva Lake, casting lines and watching the water. It was so peaceful.
After returning the rowboat to the dock, my daughter headed straight for the nearby lawn games. We played a competitive round of Connect Four, but our other options by the dock included ping pong and a giant Jenga set. And there are even more ways to play by Dream Lake: a volleyball court, giant chess and checker boards, bocce ball and horseshoes.
A sense of nostalgia
On the path between the two lakes, we found a bike rack filled with bikes for guests to borrow during their stay. My daughter gasped when she saw a little pink Radio Flyer tricycle just her size, and went for a short ride down the path with her dad by her side.
We later swapped our casual camping clothes for swimsuits and took a dip in the swimming beach at Dream Lake. I regretted not bringing beach toys for my daughter to play with, but she was content wading through the water, giggling as she splashed me.
It felt like we had traveled back in time to summer camp in the ‘90s. Without internet, we set our phones down for the weekend, easily swapping screen time for a round of “Go Fish!” in our tent with a cute deck of cards from the general store.
Adding to the nostalgic feel, we took photos with my instant film camera. I loved seeing my daughter decide what was important enough to capture on film — she took photos of my husband and me by the lake, but was also thrilled to capture close-ups of the green grass, blooming irises … and a pitch-black photo of the firepit at night (next time we’ll bring more film).
We roasted late-night hot dogs and s’mores over the campfire. I loved seeing my daughter’s face light up as she squeezed her roasted marshmallow between two graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallow oozing out onto her hands. (Another perk of glamping: being able to immediately wash any sticky marshmallow residue off our hands in the cottage bathroom before bedtime.)
Exploring nearby attractions
When you’re glamping, exploring the area is part of the experience. Many of the glamping locations in the Pacific Northwest offer easy access to hiking trails, nearby state and national parks, and other fantastic opportunities for outdoor recreation. While glamping tents tend to be more comfortable (and even luxurious) compared to regular tents, they’re really just something to look forward to after a full day of outdoor adventure, rather than the main attraction.
San Juan Island was easy to explore during our stay. We headed into Friday Harbor to pick up a picnic dinner before driving to nearby Lime Kiln Point State Park. We sat on a picnic table looking out across the Salish Sea. We were hoping again for a whale sighting, but settled for gorgeous views of the coastline and lighthouse. On our drive home, we saw a little red fox walking in the tall grass along the road.
Accommodations at Lakedale Resort
Our cozy canvas cottage had enough space that we didn’t feel cramped, but it still felt like an adventurous weekend sleeping (almost) outside in nature. Even with the nearby tents and cottages occupied, the resort was mostly quiet, serene and relaxing.
Lakedale Resort has a full range of accommodations, from classic campsites to log cabins, each with a unique vibe and different amenities. The lodge is reserved for guests ages 16 and older, making it an ideal setup for a multigenerational glamping trip — the grandparents can have a more traditional hotel-style stay while families with kids have more of a camping trip.
Getting to Lakedale Resort
It took us the day to get up to San Juan Island, but it felt like part of the adventure. Ferry reservations need to be made weeks in advance, and you’ll need plenty of time to account for traffic, check in at the terminal and even explore the beach.
The voyage from Anacortes to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island was just under 90 minutes. I packed snacks, playing cards and a coloring book for my daughter. While we briefly watched for whales from the deck, it was too windy and chilly for us to stay out the entire ride. Bring a jacket to stay out longer!
From the Friday Harbor ferry terminal, it was about a 10-minute drive to Lakedale Resort, past wild gardens, open pastures and glistening lakes.
More Pacific Northwest glamping destinations
I do not doubt that there is more glamping in our future. Luckily, there’s an abundance of Pacific Northwest spots that offer this kind of elevated camping experience. These four fantastic glamping destinations are at the top of our travel bucket list:
- Under Canvas, White Salmon River Valley: This upscale glamping getaway spot just opened its tents in May. You can expect luxe tents that sleep 2–6 people, with ensuite bathrooms and organic bath products. There are nightly campfires with complimentary s’mores! Nearby outdoor adventures abound.
- Pacific Dunes Resort, Copalis Beach: The premier glamping tents here fit a king-size bed and wood-burning stove, with a private patio and firepit to boot. You’re welcome to bring a tent to the glamping site if you want a space for the kids to hang out. There’s direct access to the beach, a refreshing bathhouse and even a coffee shop and beer garden on-site.
- Skamania Lodge, Columbia River Gorge: Splurge on a stay at Skamania Lodge, where glamping amenities include a full soaking tub, heated mattress, gas fireplace and white noise machine. Play board games with the fam, take in forest views from the deck or indulge in spa services at the lodge.
- Silver Ridge Ranch, Easton: The glamping tents at Silver Ridge Range come equipped with cots, sleeping bags, pillows and a lantern. Sit on the deck while you barbecue for dinner, and stock your beverages and snacks in the provided ice-filled cooler. For a truly unique glamping experience, book a weekend in the Star Dome, which has clear ceiling panels to watch the night sky. The ranch has trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Pro tips for parents and what to bring
Glamping combines the comfort and convenience of staying at a hotel or resort with the outdoorsy and adventurous experience of camping. For families, this means that there is no tent to set up, no sleeping bags to unroll and no stress. You get to just show up to a fully prepared campsite (just bring the marshmallows!). It’s a laid-back way to introduce kids to the magic of nature without sacrificing the comforts of home. Still, there are certain things to keep in mind when planning (and packing for) your trip.
- Bring the essentials: Fill a cooler with ice and pack your drinks, fruit and veggies for the weekend. It’s always a good idea to pack camping essentials, including a first aid kit, bug spray and a lantern. We got firewood on-site.
- Pack for the weather: As we all know, weather in Washington can vary in the summer, even day to day. We experienced both warm sunshine and pouring rain during our glamping trip, and I was glad I had packed layers for everyone. We stuck to fleece pajamas for our daughter, since the tent still got chilly at night (even with an electric fireplace!).
- Check with the resort on arrival time: Since these are hotel-style accommodations, be prepared for a later arrival time at glamping resorts to allow time for staff to prepare the glampsite.
- Make the s’mores: This is the quintessential evening camping activity, and was truly one of the highlights of the trip for us. There’s just something magical about watching the marshmallow toast over the open fire, and making those memories with kids.
- Take a tech break: I am on my phone more than I’d like to admit. While the resort we stayed at had Wi-Fi at the general store (which I used to check in with our pet-sitting family), most of the property lacked cell and internet service. My phone turned into a camera for the weekend, and I couldn’t mindlessly scroll through apps. What a nice break!
More camping ideas for Seattle-area families: |
Editor’s note: This trip was hosted by Lakedale Resort, but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.
