Tented Camps: Summer Camp-Inspired Family Vacations

Going away to summer camp has long been a cherished childhood milestone. It provides kids with rich sensory experiences and vibrant memories. Summer camps satisfy critical early development needs, too. They encourage kids to get physically active throughout the day, try new things, and enjoy loads of fun childhood adventures. Tented camps encourage kids to get unplugged and move away from electronics while remaining engaged and entertained through interpersonal engagement and creativity.

Kids get to reconnect with the marvels of the natural world while participating in activities that build communication, cooperation, and negotiation skills within a close-knit community. And to top it all off, summer camps let kids be themselves, rising above others’ expectations and societal pressures.

But what if your kids haven’t had the opportunity to attend camp this summer? Consider taking your whole family on a fun outdoor adventure to one of these summer camp-inspired resorts.

Utah’s Camp Sarika by Amangiri

Nestled in southern Utah’s remote Amangiri, Camp Sarika offers guests sweeping views and endless outdoor adventures. The camp sits on 600 acres of sandstone mesas and slot canyons and features ten tented pavilions. While capturing the essence of rugged living, your family will enjoy the amenities of a big summer camp experience, including a private terrace and plunge pool. But you’ll still benefit from the close-knit communal experience of a summer camp with a communal pavilion, showcasing a spa, restaurant, and pool.

Enveloped in the quiet beauty of the desert, you’ll quickly appreciate how the camp got its Sanskrit name “Sarika.” The term translates as “sky” or “open sky.” Expect a full dose of sunny periwinkle skies by day and dark starry by night. You’ll also enjoy opportunities to challenge family members with activities ranging from gentle hikes to via ferrata climbs. Pristine night skies afford stunning stargazing opportunities with furnished telescopes provided. Best of all, if your family wants a day of extra pampering, the property’s resort and restaurant are just a five-minute drive or 30-minute hike from your camp. Learn more about Camp Sarika and why your family will love it.

Montana’s Resort at Paws Up

At Montana’s 37,000-acre Resort at Paws Up, located in picturesque Montana, enjoy soaring scenic views, bountiful kid-friendly activities, and plenty of opportunities to get back to nature. Located in a pristine Rocky Mountain environment, age-appropriate, supervised activities include horseback riding, hiking adventures, nature education, a visit to the Skyline Aerial Adventure Park, exhilarating lake excursions, and much more.

The resort also contains more than 100 miles of trails intersected by the Blackfoot River, offering the ideal combination of exhilarating fun and seclusion. If you’re looking for the intersection of incomparable luxury and unspoiled natural beauty, the Resort at Paws Up has you covered. Best of all, when you book your vacation through Our Whole Village, every child in your party will receive our exclusive perk, a half day at Kids Corps.

California’s Ventana Big Sur

“California Dreaming” takes on a rugged and exhilarating new meaning at the Ventana Big Sur. Located near a 20-acre redwood canyon, the property sits at the intersection of the verdant, rolling Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy expansive views of the Golden State’s coastline while exploring hidden hiking trails and scoping out local land and marine wildlife. If you’re not picky about the time of year for your “summer camp experience,” get a front-row seat to the spectacular monarch butterfly migration that comes through the area from October through January. Or enjoy whale watching opportunities twice each year when Gray whales pass by in December and early February.

Best of all, the resort offers adventurous families a choice of 15 double-occupancy “glamp-sites,” complete with sinks with hot and cold running water, picnic tables, propane and wood-burning fire pits, and electric lamps. Campers share bathhouse amenities, including teak-enclosed showers with heated floors. In other words, you can have luxurious amenities while surrounded by outdoor adventure. Find out more about Ventana Big Sur and how to plan the ideal family summer camp-inspired adventure.

Colorado’s Dunton Hot Springs

What’s one of our favorite things about summer camps? The chance to explore unique locations while learning about geology, geography, and history. Few properties better wrap all of these topics into one experience than Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado. The first townsite was established here in 1885, attracting a 300-strong mining camp that persisted until 1918 when the area became a ghost town. But after seven years of restoration work, Dunton booms once more, complete with a Wild West saloon and a dance hall. Unlike some of the other camps on this list, Dunton isn’t strictly tented. You’ll find most of the site’s accommodations housed within historic buildings.

But if you’ve got your heart set on sleeping under canvas, book Christie’s Tent. The all-season platform tent has an en suite bathroom, gas stove, and even a chandelier above the master bed. It’s a charming and whimsical take on the classic nature experience that your family will fall in love with. Activities at Dunton prove endless, including fly-fishing the Dolores River, hiking the immense, towering San Juan Mountains, and heading out on off-road Jeep excursions. And after a day of play, nothing beats decompressing at the resort’s historic hot springs. Here’s everything you need to know about a summer camp-style stay at Dunton Hot Springs.

Montana’s Ranch at Rock Creek

Live out your ranch dreams at Rock Creek, located on 6,600 acres of pristine Montana ranchland near Philipsburg, a historic mining town. Situated in the heart of Western Montana, the resort comes with outstanding cuisine and amenities while channeling authentic frontier living. Best of all, your family can take advantage of the “canvas cabins” offered at the resort, enjoying the opportunity to get back to nature while still enjoying a warm and comfortable night’s sleep. Each tent includes a king bed and two twin beds separated by a privacy curtain. You’ll also enjoy a screened porch, a deck looking out on Rock Creek, and a gas fireplace for cozy evenings together.

What about the outdoor activities offered at Rock Creek? Adventures for the whole family include fly-fishing, wildlife exploration, and horseback riding. And if you book a luxury tent near the creek, you can watch the horses get released from the pen every morning at 7 am, a breathtaking, camera-worthy experience. You’ll find a wide array of hiking trails of various skill levels, which will let you get back to nature. What’s more, dinners at the resort include vegetables grown on-site and organic bison, elk, beef, and fresh fish for a hearty, robust finish to each day. Check out all that the Ranch at Rock Creek Resort has to offer.

Soak Up Outdoor Adventure With Tented Camps

Channel the best aspects of summer camp vacations at spectacular resorts across the United States, featuring tented camps. When you opt for a summer camp-inspired experience, your entire family will make incredible memories while enjoying the many critical benefits of getting back to nature. Best of all, parents don’t have to live vicariously through the postcards sent home by their kids. Instead, they can get in on the fun!

Can’t wait to start planning your next family vacation? Neither can we! Let’s hop on the phone to discuss your family’s unique travel style and goals. We can help you craft a detailed plan to turn those vacation dreams into reality.