I spent a recent evening and morning glamping in Ithaca, New York, and had the time of my life. Yes, all in less than 24 hours (kid free!).
Firelight Camps was gracious enough to host my beau and I for this experience. Honestly, I was excited about checking this bucket-list item off, but I was also a bit weary about the idea of sleeping in the woods–what about all the lions and tigers and bears?! Silly, I know, but really…bears.
But then I remembered that glamping = glamorous camping, camping on a new level. While you do sleep in a tent like camping the ‘old-fashioned’ way, there’s no tent to pitch, no sleeping bag to unroll, no fire to build. Whether in a tent, yurt, airstream, hut, villa or treehouse, glamping is a way to experience the great outdoors without sacrificing luxury.
Hmm, this was sounding sweeter and sweeter. Click through for the details of my glamping adventure and you may just decide to indulge too!
#GoMommy: Glamping At Firelight Camps
The glamping site sits on the grounds of La Tourelle Resort & Spa in Ithaca; the gateway to the renowned Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. The tents mark the trailhead to Buttermilk Falls, which forms part of the Finger Lakes Trail system, treasured for its collection of impressive gorges, waterfalls and swimming holes. Being the beginning of fall, it was a little chilly for us to go chasing waterfalls, but there’s always Spring/Summer 2015! The pathway above took us from dinner at John Thomas Steakhouse (right next to La Tourelle) to the lounge tent where we checked in, had a complimentary glass of wine and met other glampers.
Dinner at John Thomas Steakhouse was delicious, though pricey. We got full on steak, salmon and creamed spinach.
Approaching the lobby tent, it’s well-lit and accommodates a crowd.
Inside the lobby tent, you’ll be checked in by the super friendly host (who was also our bartender). Here we bought homemade s’mores to roast over the fire. You can charge your phone here as well.
Firelight our bartender/host/concierge also sparked the campfire for us as we settled around the fire ring under starry skies for some marshmallow roasting.
The spa/bathhouse was 400 ft from our tent and was almost bigger than my NYC apartment! It features: two full bathrooms with hot water and a small sauna and lounge area. There is also complimentary use of the locker rooms, steam showers, sauna, and bathrooms at August Moon Spa (4 min walk) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Now this is stylish camping. The safari tents are furnished with hardwood floors, a king or queen bed, and furniture inspired by tented camps from around the world. We stayed at the Pond Deluxe tent which sleeps four with a King bed and futon, is next to pond and closest to the bathhouse facilities (yay!)
Each of the beautiful safari-style tents includes a private balcony with two rocking chairs. It was great to wake up and sip coffee out there.
Here’s what the Deluxe Pond Tent looks like from the outside.
Another view from the balcony where we were able to soak in our surroundings and unplug–even if only for a few hours.
The tents also feature: hardwood floors, mesh screening to keep the critters out, 300 thread count linens, battery powered lanterns (there is no electricity in the tents), and a heater which they turn off at 1:30 a.m. There’s extra blankets in the room, but the cold temps were definitely a recipe for cuddling time.
A coat rack and chair at one side of the tent.
A futon on the other side of the tent.
The lobby tent in the morning, a welcomed sight and site with coffee brewing inside.
The complimentary, locally-inspired continental breakfast selection included seasonal fruits, Wide Awake Bakery wood-fired oven breads with preserves, frittatas and quiches, homemade granola with fixin’s, and a twenty-four hour beverage station with Forty Weight Coffee, tea and trail snacks.
We tried a little of everything, delicious.
After breakfast we took a walk around the grounds and surrounding trails.
Firelight Camps is currently closed for the season, but they re-open May 1st through October 31st. We can’t wait to return with the kids next time.
