You’ve probably heard the popular term “glamping” and might be curious, “Where is the best place to go glamping”? I’m so excited to tell you about the best glamping in North Carolina!
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Andrea, I'm so excited about glamping in North Carolina! Let's skip right to it.
What is glamping?
Maybe you’re thinking, “Wait… what is glamping”?
Glamping is a severe upgrade to traditional tent camping. The term “glamping” comes from the concept of glamorous camping. The point of glamping is to allow yourself to be immersed in nature (like camping) without sacrificing typical creature comforts. Glamping has unique camping options with the perfect combination of nature and luxury.
What's the difference between glamping and camping?
If you’re wondering, “How is glamping different from camping” get ready because I’ll break it all down for you.
Traditional Camping
With a nicer traditional camping experience, you have the best tent you can purchase at an outdoor store, and a sleeping bag or possibly a queen bed in the form of a blow-up mattress. MAYBE you have a community bathroom with an outdoor shower and hot water, if you’re lucky. There might be a picnic table to eat the food you cooked over your fire ring or camp stove. (Think, “less is more”.)
And then there’s the glamping experience… which is a lot different.
Glamping
Imagine bringing all the comforts of home out into nature. You might have luxuries like a coffee maker, a comfortable bed with luxury bedding, and hot showers in your private bathroom! (Think… “more is more” because there are perks to having hot running water and electricity”.)
It’s possible to have luxurious tent extras like ceiling fans or chandeliers, a private hot tub, and maybe an air-conditioned accommodation! (*GASP*)
Where is the best glamping in North Carolina?
Now that you’re excited to go glamping in North Carolina, let me tell you about the BEST place I just visited!
Elk Hollow Resort
THE GLAMPING LOCATION:
Elk Hollow Resort 74 Elk Hollow, Bryson City, NC 28713
Elk Hollow Resort is located in the charming small town of Bryson City, North Carolina. It sits near the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. This beautiful glamping resort is a short drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (It’s about a half-hour drive.)
If you want to feel secluded, relaxed, and recharged then THIS is one of the best places to make it happen! After driving up a long stone road you will start to see each glamping site set back in the great outdoors, secluded just enough for the perfect amount of privacy. I enjoyed hearing the sounds of Mother Nature and listening to the water from a nearby creek as I sat out on our private deck.
If you are looking for the best glamping location for romantic getaways, you will find it at Elk Hollow. It is designed to be the perfect spot for couples and small parties. One of the things I love best about the tents and yurts is that they are NOT kid-friendly. You won’t be seeing or hearing any little kids. (Think solo retreat, romantic getaway for a couples retreat, a trip with your bestie, or a girl’s trip with your grown daughter.) Good times!
If you want to do more than simply relax among acres of forest at the resort, don’t worry. Bryson City has plenty of fun things to do so this is a perfect base camp to relax and recharge in between enjoying outdoor adventure activities like whitewater rafting, ziplining, or taking in beautiful mountain views while hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
THE GLAMPING OPTIONS:
Elk Hollow Resort has a few different lodging options so there’s something for everyone’s needs.
CABIN:
There is 1 very large cabin, called Lookout Lodge, which has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It sleeps 7-10 people and is designed for more of a large group/family experience. This is a fully furnished family-friendly log cabin with bunk beds and lots of fun games. The panoramic views of the mountains are breathtaking.
YURTS:
There are 2 yurts at the resort with a short walk between them. (It’s a great option if you want to have two completely separate spaces for the same group of people.) Hidden Falls has 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom and it sleeps 1-2 people. Spicewood has 2 bedrooms and 2 private bathrooms and it sleeps 2-4 people.
The yurts are hard-sided and have glass domes that let light pour in. These yurts are a great option if you want the security of a formal structure, rather than a canvas tent.
SAFARI TENTS:
Elk Hollow Resort has 7 safari tents at the resort. One of them has 2 bedrooms and 2 private bathrooms and it sleeps 2-4 people. Six of them have 1 bedroom and 1 private bathroom and they sleep 1-2 people.
Each glamping tent is made out of sturdy material and they have adjustable window coverings to allow light to come in or to close for privacy.
These are the types of tents we stayed in when we visited. Since these luxury tents are what most people imagine when they think of high-end “glamping” they are what I’m going to show you in detail. (Get excited because Elk Hollow makes it a 5-star unique glamping experience!)
THE GLAMPING AMENITIES:
Glamping is a new experience and I’m here for it! Although each option Elk Hollow Resort offers is unique, here are the standard amenities you can expect to find in the yurts, and the safari tents.
- free Wi-Fi
- private bathroom with a large shower and a soaking tub
- either a king-size bed or a queen-size bed
- private firepit
- full kitchens with dishes, utensils, and appliances
- private decks with outdoor furniture, an outdoor grill, and string lights
- seating areas
- areas for dining
- air conditioning and heating
- books/games/board games
- smart tv
- bedside tables and lamps
- personal hot tub
The Private Outside Decks:
The decks are a great place to relax and listen to nature. They have a dining area and furniture for lounging. (Those chairs are La-Z-Boy recliners.)
That is a real front door with a passcode to open the door to the tent. There are cameras on the Elk Hollow property for your safety.
I loved having a private hot tub to relax after exploring the local town of Bryson City during the day. We also had our own firepit which was so much fun for making smores.
The Kitchen:
Just inside the spacious tents are the fully stocked kitchen areas. You will find a full-size refrigerator/freezer, microwave, gas range/oven, and dishwasher. The appliances are stainless steel and the countertops are quartz. This is a 5-star glamping experience!
The Sitting and Dining Area:
In this open-concept tent, the dining and sitting areas are in the same space as the full kitchen. There’s a ceiling fan to keep you cool in this space.
All the furnishings and fixtures are quality high-end pieces that are comfortable for relaxing. Although I’m not a big TV person, seeing the flat-screen TVs was a surprise.
The Bedroom:
One of our safari tents had a king-sized bed and one had a queen-sized bed. Both beds had beautiful luxury linens. We even had bedside tables with USB ports to charge our phones. There is another ceiling fan in the bedroom and plenty of lights throughout the tents.
There was a desk and chair so I could do a little work when needed. Although there were 2 air conditioning units, the ceiling fans above the bed and in the living room area were perfect for me.
The Bathroom:
This is where I was blown away. Not only did the bathroom have luxury towels, and incredible tile work in the oversized shower for 2, but it also had a gorgeous soaking tub (and of course, a toilet)! Each bathroom also had a beautiful hanging light fixture and quartz vanity.
What about privacy in the bathroom?
All bathroom windows can be covered by unhooking the ropes around the canvas window treatments and pulling them closed. There are also canvas curtains to close the bathroom space off from the main space.
But wait there’s more…
The Laundry Area:
Inside the bathroom closet was a washer/dryer combination. This was beyond what I would expect at a glampsite and super helpful so you don’t have to take wet bathing suits home in your luggage.
Here’s a peek inside one of the safari tents….
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THE GLAMPING BUDGET:
Since this is a 5-star luxury glamping experience you should expect the price point to be more in line with a luxury Airbnb or luxury hotel room, rather than a campground. When I visited the glampsites and yurts, the price was around $250.00 – 300.00 per night and I felt that it was justified by the atmosphere and modern amenities provided! (Seriously… they even had a washer/dryer in the tent!)
Are you ready to start planning your trip to Bryson City? CLICK HERE to read about all the Fun Things to Do in Bryson City, North Carolina!
Frequently Asked Questions About Glamping
Who should go glamping?
I think everyone should try glamping at least once! What a great way to spend some time in nature with your favorite people or recharge alone.
It’s a nice compromise for nature lovers who like traditional camping and someone who is a reluctant camper. It is also great for teens and older children who want to camp but don’t want to unplug from it all completely.
Try luxury glamping cabins or a luxury yurt with a real bed, a hot shower, and free wifi for the perfect unique getaway.
Have you been thinking that maybe you would want to live in one of those tiny homes? Try glamping in a yurt first to see if you are built for downsizing.
Do you love the idea of a peaceful escape in the woods to unplug from everyday life? Glamping could be a great option for you.
What should I bring to go glamping in North Carolina?
If you are glamping at a unique place like Elk Hollow Resort, then you don’t need to bring anything aside from food, drinks, and clothing because they truly have everything you need. They even have board games to play.
Each of the glamping sites has a private fire pit so you might want to bring a fire starter log and stuff to make smores. They provide the roasting sticks for you.
Make sure you pack your bathing suit to enjoy your private hot tub. They provide beach towels for drying off. (I told you they thought of everything.)
If you want to explore the surrounding areas and take advantage of the nearby attractions, then you should bring any outdoor equipment you may need. In Bryson City, they have TONS of places that offer rentals for river sports but you might want to bring your mountain bikes for the awesome mountain biking trails.
When is the best time to go glamping in North Carolina?
April, May, September, and October are the best times to go glamping in North Carolina because that’s when the weather is best for spending time outside enjoying the North Carolina mountains.
The glamping sites at Elk Hollow Resort have air conditioning and heating so if you’re just looking to stay in and relax, then anytime is a great time to go glamping there. If you go glamping at another resort in NC, and they don’t have A/C, you should avoid the warmer months.
North Carolina is a great place to see fall foliage along the Blue Ridge Parkway so fall is an ideal time to go glamping.
What activities can I do while glamping in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a ton of great outdoor activities like horseback riding, hiking, ziplining, kayaking, tubing, bike riding, and so much more. It’s a great place to fully embrace the outdoors. I liked relaxing in our private hot tub, taking a train ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, whitewater rafting, and shopping in the downtown area when I was there.
Can I bring my pet glamping?
When glamping, it’s best to check with the glampsite for their pet policy. Although some glampsites have pet-friendly lodging, Elk Hollow Resort has a strict “no pets” rule. (Leave the kids and pets with a sitter and enjoy some alone time without responsibilities.)
How do I book a glamping trip in North Carolina?
When you’re ready to book your unique glampsite you can book it directly through the Elk Hollow Resort website, or at another location through Airbnb.
Glamping is one of the most unique experiences you will have and Elk Hollow designed each and every space to be unique. Make sure you scroll through ALL the options on their website to find the perfect place for your getaway.
I hope I’ve inspired you to give glamping a try. Make sure you’re following A Capone Connection on social media, so you don’t miss out on more travel tips and inspiration!
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LET’S CONNECT: Now that you know the best place to go glamping in NC do you think you will give glamping a try? Comment below!
