California glamping: 5 fantastic camping options an easy drive from the Bay Area
It may feel like summer is over, if there’s anyone school-aged in your household. But it would be a shame to waste these gorgeous days ahead just because our weekday mornings are starting a little earlier.
Why not plan an “it’s not over yet” glamping getaway, with just enough adventure mixed with some cushy ease? There are so many cool spots up and down this vast state of ours where you can rough it without really sleeping on the ground.
Here are a few pockets worth visiting next time you feel like camping … very, very comfortably.
On the Mendocino coast
Mendocino Grove offers the perfect combination of real camping spiffed up with some comfort and class. Your site has all the camping necessities — a picnic table, fire pit, lock boxes for food (there’s a lot of wildlife here), sliding door trash bins and the campground vibe that we all remember, with kids gathering at the swing set and playing tag.
But instead of sore backs and muddy feet, you’ll be sleeping in luxe canvas tents on decks, complete with leather scoop chairs, heated blankets, fresh linens, fresh-cut flowers and electricity. The bath house is stocked with organic body products, and there’s a full-service spa, sauna and yoga deck.
Add ons, including a s’mores kit and a cook box with enamelware, glass tumblers, salt and pepper grinder, olive oil, knives and a cast iron skillet, make things even easier.
Head for the Meadow Commons, a central gathering space, to enjoy the oatmeal bar, tea and coffee each morning. (That tea bar is open 24 hours a day.) And the commons hosts dinner on certain nights, a live music series and a beer, wine and espresso bar.
While there’s pretty much everything you might need at Mendocino Grove, civilization is so close, you can actually see the cozy town of Mendocino from some of the tent sites. Head into town, if you don’t feel like cooking in camp, or drive a couple of miles in the other direction for a meal at Terra Farm Kitchen.
This newly opened restaurant is part of the SCP Mendocino Inn & Farm. There are 10 locations in this distinctive hotel chain — the initials stand for soul, community and planet. Meander the property, visit the flock of chickens — there’s a table in the lobby with chicken food, if you’d like to take the ladies a snack — and say hello to the llamas, Mo, Larry and Curly. Then head for the main lodge for wine, pizza ($20-$25) and salads ($15) made with locally grown produce.
Russian River sojourn
Guerneville may be a small town, but it’s something of a glamping epicenter. You can find at least three awesome spots to glamp here near the main attraction, the Russian River.
AutoCamp is all about the Airstreams. This luxe camping company has nine locations, including sites near Joshua Tree, Yosemite and Sequoia national parks. Each one features clusters of the retro silver bullet trailers set around a central, modern hub with a little store full of provisions ranging from great local beer and wine to whiskey, picnic fare and grilling essentials for your fire pit. Complimentary breakfast includes granola blends plus coffee, tea and cocoa. And you can borrow one of their cool cruiser bikes for a spin around the riverside-meets-redwoods neighborhood.
Dawn Ranch is like a rustic fairy land, complete with full-service spa, upscale restaurant and private river access. Tucked in the heritage orchard, you’ll find glamping tents, canvas structures with fire pits, Adirondack chairs, free snacks and coffee set ups, plus luxe bedding and decor. The modern bath house is nearby, complete with redwood and brass finishing touches, plus irresistible Le Labo 33 bath products. This is camping for those who do not prefer camping.
Highlands Resort was recently purchased and renovated by Basecamp Hotels founder Christian Strobel and chef Crista Luedtke, who has pretty much revitalized Guerneville with her dazzling array of food and hospitality projects, including boon eat + drink, BROT and boon hotel + spa. Highlands is known for its cabins and rooms, but glampers will want to check out the seasonal Coyote Camp, complete with king size beds tucked inside canvas scout tents in a redwood grove. The adults-only Coyote Camp is open from May 1 through Sept. 30.
Paso Robles wine country
The Trailer Pond just may be the cutest candy-colored cluster of vintage trailers you’ll ever find. Five adorable trailers sit on the rim of an irrigation pond at Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery, where founders Bob and Lynn Tillman first planted 31 acres of organically and regeneratively farmed Rhône varieties in 2003. This is a spiffed-up campground, with enough country rusticity (lizards of every size, limited cell service and original fixtures from the 1950s and ’60s) paired with amenities that will make you stay and unplug for awhile, including a wine fridge/honor bar, Turkish towels and a communal fire pit.
Take a sunrise hike through the grenache vineyards. Come sunset, you’ll want to linger on the pond deck with a glass of delicious grenache blanc. You can also book more comprehensive tastings at the winery, including a Summit Vineyard Tasting that brings you up to the stunning Sundowner Deck with views as far as the eye can see. These five trailers are also bookable as one pod for special events and occasions.
If You Go
Mendocino Grove: Tent rates start at $239 per night. 9601 Highway 1in Mendocino; https://mendocinogrove.com/
Terra Farm Kitchen: Terra Farm Kitchen is open from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday-Monday at the SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm, 3790 Highway 1 in Albion; https://scphotel.com.
Autocamp: Trailer rentals start at $247 per night. 14120 Old Cazadero Road in Guerneville; https://autocamp.com
Dawn Ranch: Glamping tents start at $197. 16467 Highway 116 in Guerneville; https://dawnranch.com
Highlands Resort: Coyote Camp tents are $199. 14000 Woodland Drive in Guerneville; www.highlandsresort.com
Trailer Pond: Trailers are $225. Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery, 2825 Adelaida Road in Paso Robles; www.thetrailerpond.com
And still more …
Occidental: Sonoma Treehouse Adventures; www.sonomacanopytours.com/treehouse
Yosemite: Under Canvas; www.undercanvas.com/
Pescadero: Costanoa; https://costanoa.com
Big Sur: Alila Ventana; www.ventanabigsur.com/glamping
Big Sur: Treebones; www.treebonesresort.com