Your idea of a vacation is staying in a four-star hotel with room service and 24-hour pool access. Your significant other's idea of a vacation is sleeping on the dirt, miles away from a bathroom. Glamping (short for glamour camping) is a compromise that lets you feel pampered (and protected from coyotes) and your S.O. feel like you're camping. Slattery Vintage Estates Vineyard and Tasting Room, just outside of Nehawka, was one of the first places in Nebraska to offer this trendy form of lodging.
The only real resemblance glamping has to camping is that you're sleeping in a tent. From there, the differences become very apparent. These 10' X 12' bungalows are on platforms to give them a level, stable floor. The platforms also form small decks in front of the tents where you can sit and gaze out on the gorgeous vineyard around you or just chat.
The bungalows are all equipped with electricity, so you don't have to worry about carrying around a lantern. You also won't be completely at the mercy of the elements - the tents come with fans and heaters. For really cold nights, electric blankets are available.
Inside the tent is where just about all resemblance to camping ends. These bungalows are seriously beautiful. Equipped with full size beds (with linens), dressers with mirrors, tables and chairs, and lovely rugs, the tents are more like hotel rooms that happen to be outside.
A shared outdoor campfire encourages conversation between neighbors and makes the experience a bit more camp-like. You can buy foil packet meals from the winery to throw in the fire and have a true camping style outdoor dinner.
Even though the tents are luxuriously appointed and have a hotel-like feel, they still offer the kind of solitude camping lovers embrace. There are four bungalows, but they are far enough apart that you'll hardly be aware of your neighbors until you step outside.
And you will definitely want to step outside. Because the glampground is on the grounds of a scenic vineyard, the views are unbelievable. The pairing of winery and camping is ingenious - you can sample a lot of great wines and local beers in the tasting room, then instead of finding a designated driver to take you home, simply walk out back to your waiting bungalow.
If you're feeling especially romantic, you can even have wine and cheese in the bungalow, supplied by the facility for an additional charge.
You probably won't convince any die-hard outdoorsmen that glamping is anywhere near the same thing as camping, but the promise of electricity and beds may win over the adamant anti-camper. You'll still need to deal with the lack of an in-room bathroom, however (there's an outhouse nearby). Slattery Vintage Estates offers glamping facilities for $60 on weeknights and $85 on weekends. Their website has more information.
Although there are some solidly luxurious cabin rentals out there, this is the only true glamping site currently operating in Nebraska...as far as we know. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments.
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