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19 Spots to Do Summer Camp Like a Grown Up
Running wildly through forests, zip-lining into lakes, learning how to ride a horse or shoot a bow and arrow, telling stories around a campfire. All these activities fall under the umbrella of a summer well spent. And yes, most likely...
photo by
Ruschmeyer's
Running wildly through forests, zip-lining into lakes, learning how to ride a horse or shoot a bow and arrow, telling stories around a campfire. All these activities fall under the umbrella of a summer well spent. And yes, most likely at summer camp. But no longer is that summer camp experience just for the kiddos – now adults are getting in on the action too. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite spots to explore the great outdoors, maybe do a little crafting and enjoy time with friends old and new. Oh, and there’s wine, people.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
With the trailhead to Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park just outside your tent flap, Ithaca by Firelight is the go-to for upstate NYers looking to hike, forage, swim under waterfalls, and camp in luxury. There are 18 safari tents with pretty sweet setups here, so head on up with a gang in tow for all the sleep away camp vibes.
Located just outside Chicago, this former mafia hangout spot is a cool camp for adults and kids alike. Set by the lake, you and your crew can spend your days boating and swimming or hanging in the clubhouse/treehouse.
Nine tented cabins with wood flooring, decks, hammocks and wood-burning stoves are set in the woods at this Catskills outpost. Here Here is a chill spot for a getaway, and includes a communal bathhouse as well as an open-air restaurant with a wood-burning oven.
Quaint stone cottages, modern wood cabins with walls of windows and spacious houses dot the mountains of this sprawling 5,200 acre ridgetop resort in The Great Smoky Mountains. Blackberry Mountain is an adventure outpost that makes nature feel like home and home feel like some kind of lush, luxurious paradise.
Hidden in the forests of Philo, this Mendocino County wilderness getaway is designed to appeal to groups looking for a relaxed, health centric weekend. The Land is a dry property that offers curated experiences like guided hikes in the redwoods, yoga on the lawns and farm-to-table cooking classes.
Set just an hour and a half from Toronto, Whispering Springs feels worlds away from the city. Dense old-growth forests set the scene for a collection of safari tents and bell tents here, and there’s a watering hole that serves craft beers and hard ciders from Northumberland County along with local wines and wood-fired pizzas.
Summer camp vibes abound at Captain Whidbey, a waterfront lodge property on Whidbey Island that’s been around since 1907. The 30 recently revamped historic rooms, suites and cabins are perfectly curated with local mercantile finds, and the new restaurant knocks the old-school mess hall concept outta the park.
If you’re looking for grown-up summer camp vibes in Montauk, look no further than Ruschmeyer's, where the cabins are cozy and the spicy margaritas are best enjoyed beside the bonfire. There’s always a buzz of energy at this Hamptons hotspot, so be prepared to spend your days beachside and nights getting into the best kind of trouble.
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Can you even have a trip to Grand Canyon without using Under Canvas as your basecamp? We think no. This glamping outpost of tipis, safari tents and safari suites is located just 30 minutes from the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. This crew here is happy to get your activity agenda sorted, offering everything from horseback riding to guided hikes to whitewater rafting trips.
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Accessible by seaplane, Clayoquot Wilderness Retreat in Tofino is remote, wild and a whole lot of fun. If you’re looking to try your hand at fly fishing, paddle boarding, bear watching, rappelling, kayaking, or any other outdoor activity, this spot should be right up your alley. Bring along a handful of friends and it’ll feel like camp in no time at all.
Head out to the California redwoods with up to 300 of your favorite party people. With a combination of cabins, glamping tents and a full-size lodge, you could take over the whole place or just head out for a week or two with your closest buddies in tow. Try your hand at old school camp activities like archery, rock climbing and lawn games.
Weekend retreats, mini camps and customized programming are all options at the all-empowering Campowerment. Built to encourage optimal health, happiness, productivity, parenting, business empowerment, spirituality, fitness, finance, and more, these camps are multi-faceted and a whole lot of fun too.
Round up a crew of 8 to 16 friends and rent out this whole spot for an epic weekend of camp vibes by the beach in San Clemente. With a mix of RVs and pop-up tents, this throwback campsite is too legit to quit.
Tucked into the hills along the eastern ridge of Calistoga, Triple S Ranch is an old Victorian farm that dates back to the 1860s. Mountains, vineyards, orchards and towering redwood trees surround the property’s 14 cottages. Highlight for those making a summer camp weekend out of it: there’s a bunk room that sleeps up to six guests (very) comfortably.
Take your pick between sleeping in a geodesic dome or a log cabin at this Canadian getaway. Bring along your besties for your share of bonfires, barbecues and late-night stargazing just like the good ole days.
You won’t find any kiddos around this 18-guest reef resort. Sal Salis in Western Australia is set on the famed Coral Coast, so this version of summer camp is all about underwater adventures like scuba diving, snorkelling and swimming with whale sharks.
The Resort at Paw’s Up is luxury camping at its finest. A foodie paradise, this is nothing like the summer camps of your childhood, but we mean that in a very good way. The resort is spread out into mini-camps that you can easily take over with your own crew for a couple of nights or weeks at a time.
Spend your summer days horseback riding and exploring the mountains of Western Montana at Triple Creek Ranch. With a mix of cabins and cottages and a whole lot of outdoor activities, this is a true ranch life experience. And hey, isn’t getting outdoors what camp is all about?
You can zip-line, kayak and even hop into a hot-air balloon at this Berkshires camp for adults. Plus, this is a camp for grown-ups, so you can actually drink wine and live life on your own schedule too. Pretty rad for a group getaway, dontcha think.
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