Why choose to camp when you can GLAMP?! Modern technology has brought us pretty far and I, for one, won’t be taking it for granted. Hiking, swimming, bonfires, are all fantastic, but give me a gas fire table, hot tub, warm, cozy bed and I am a lot more eager to seize the day. One of the most unique and beautiful glamping experiences I had was about twenty minutes from Asheville at The Glamping Collective where we slept in a wall-to-ceiling, clear Ultra Luxe dome.
Picture an igloo, but transparent on one side with floor-to-ceiling views of the stars, the snow, the changing leaves, or whatever season the great outdoors is featuring. Western North Carolina is always beautiful. On the cusp of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the breathtaking peaks are covered in trees that change from dark green pine in winter to lush green leaves in summer. If you’re more of an autumn person, you’ll find plenty of fiery reds and oranges here as well. No matter what time of year, you can see it all from The Glamping Collective’s private 160-acres.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to take our trip in the middle of winter during a blizzard. We parked our car less than 30-feet from our dome entrance and unloaded our supplies, storing them in the safety and warmth of the dome. Eager to explore the grounds, we wrapped our scarves tighter, pulled our snow pants higher, and trekked through the snow. The Glamping Collective has five miles of private hiking trails that led to some pretty amazing snow-covered views. We took the Ridgeline Trail as it was the shortest before starting a bonfire in their community space. The logs were precut, snow-covered, and waiting for us. It was easy-peasy to start with their handy lighter and fire starters available.
If it had been summer, utilizing their many picnic tables and grills would have been perfect, but as it was snowing pretty hard, we decided to cook in their fully-stocked kitchenette. The dome had it ALL. High ceilings and 400 sq ft of luxury. Besides our own food, we didn’t need to bring a thing. They had a pour-over coffee setup for the morning, pots and pans for cooking on a plug-in stove topper, a mini fridge and amazing water pressure in both the kitchen and bathroom. The bathroom had a two-person shower, heated floors, heated toilet seats, and the entire place was so clean. My favorite part was the plush king-sized bed front and center in the warmth of the insulated dome. After eating and playing a few games at the table, we cuddled up and watched the snow fall out the massive dome window. Talk about romantic.
The next morning began with a dip in our private hot tub and coffee by the patios outdoor gas fire table as the sun rose. It was a lazy day of s’mores, relaxing, and snuggles before heading back out for another hike up Sunset Summit Trail. On our way up the mountain, we enjoyed seeing the other accommodations. The Ultra Luxe Dome is incredible, but the glass cabins had us very curious. As we walked, we realized the Sunset Summit Trail is not for the faint of heart. It is only 1 mile up and 1 mile back, but my heart was racing. When I say it was worth it though, I mean it. The sunset over the mountains was breathtaking. With 40 mile views in every direction, it was the perfect way to end the last night of our trip.
This was glamping done RIGHT. It was romantic, warm, memorable, and something we will never forget. With the different types and sizes of stays available at The Glamping Collective, it is perfect for families, friends, or lovers. With the amenities and activities, it is perfect for those who love the outdoors and those that don’t. This was our first honeymoon stop of seven and an incredible way to kick off the adventure with a bang. Sleeping in a dome is not only incredibly instagram worthy, but a bucket list item we can now CHECK off the list.
Address: 2504 Crabtree Mountain Rd, Clyde, North Carolina 28721
Contact: host@theglampingcollective.com 828-492-3620
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-5pm
Class and Sunshie 