Photo Credit: Ranch Seeker (CC)
It’s one of those made-up fusion words meant to convey the idea of “glamorous” camping, a concept adopted from African safari tradition and catching on in California and elsewhere in the world. Glamping for DogTrekkers might involve a dog-friendly platform tent, yurt, tipi, Airstream trailer or any other kind of outdoors-oriented lodging where guests aren’t required to pitch a tent.
Vintage travel-trailer parks have jumped on the glamping trend, offering a fun twist on the RV experience. One dog-friendly example is AutoCamp Airstream Park in Guerneville. Located 90 minutes north of San Francisco in the heart of Sonoma’s Wine Country, these modern Airstreams are outfitted for your comfort with full bathrooms, spacious bedrooms, kitchenettes, and individual outdoor spaces. It's just a 5-minute drive from Camp to Russian River beaches; wineries, redwood groves and the ocean are also nearby.
AutoCamp has 2 other locations in California; AutoCamp Johua Tree, located on the outskirts of Joshua Tree National Park and AutoCamp Yosemite, near the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Both offer dog-friendly airstream rentals.
Yurts (circular, tent-like structures fashioned after nomadic dwellings in Mongolia) are an especially popular glamping option. And while bare-bones yurts (bring your own sleeping bag) are springing up in many state and regional parks, few of them are dog-friendly. An exception can be found at Mount Madonna County Park near Watsonville, where dogs are welcome to join their people in two units, one sleeping up to six, the other up to eight. Each comes furnished with bunk beds, mattresses, fold-out futon, locking door and a deck with picnic table, fire ring and bear box. Free showers are nearby; all you need to bring is sleeping bags, food, utensils and lawn chairs. Mount Madonna, by the way, offers 14 miles of dog-friendly hiking trails.
Photo Credit: Ranch Seeker (CC)