Melanistic Magazine Vol. 15

GLAMPING: The Soft Life

From childhood to adulthood, my love for the outdoors has been unwavering. It made no difference to me if that meant chores on my parents’ acreage or recreational activities like hiking, biking, or days at the beach. When I migrated to Canada, it didn’t take much to persuade me to try camping. I have avoided the more rugged tenting in the outbacks but I have enjoyed hitching a tent trailer to my SUV and setting off for a few nights at a lake or river. Being in nature, detached from the daily hustle allows me to relax and refocus. That said, Camping is a lot of work! The preparation and maintenance of the campsite can be labor intensive.

These days, I’m a champion for the ‘soft life’ which drew me to the ‘Glamping Domes’ popping up throughout Alberta. They appeared to offer the simplicity of camping but with more at-home comforts. Simply Glamping is a newer site only an hour and a half west of Edmonton in Barrhead. Operated by a retired or rather redirected couple, Wayne and Lynn. Here is what I loved about the experience:

• Domes are well spaced so that each campsite has privacy.

• Each dome is heated with comfy queen sized beds and clean linens - scratch the sleeping bags and extra blankets.

• The kitchen area is on the covered deck. It’s stocked with all your basic utensils, cooking equipment, a grill with a single stove top burner and a portable sink. This made for easy outdoor cooking while remaining fairly sheltered from the elements.

• Our firepit was pre-stacked with wood and kindling. We needed only to strike the lighter to get the fire going.

• Each dome has a private outhouse. If that’s still a cringe, the flushed washroom is a three minute walk. Showers are under construction but will be an added amenity for future campers.

• A play area with trampoline, tetherball and day swing sits at the center of the grounds providing entertainment for both adults and children.

• Walking trails loop through the forested area for safe exploration and stillness.

I fully intend to explore a few more of these glamping domes over the summer. For those curious about camping but not enthused about roughing-it, I highly recommend this experience!

A BIT OF HISTORY:

This particular location carries a unique history that Wayne and Lynn hope to preserve. The original owners of this property were one of the first Black settlers from North Carolina, migrating between 1912 -1913. Walker Beaver, the son of the original settlers, bought the property in the 1920s, developed his homestead, and raised his family here. Several old buildings that were originally built by him will be salvaged by the current camp operators. Wayne and Lynn also hope to erect a commemorative plaque on the property along with the artifacts they’ve salvaged from Walker Beaver - weaving this history into the Simply Glamping experience.