Glamorous Camping
Autumn is without a doubt our favorite season in Arkansas. The humidity finally releases its stranglehold on our weather, and cooler temperatures arrive as the colors begin to pop among the trees. It’s enjoyable once again to sit around a campfire and our weekends are packed with outdoor adventure. Camping is always one of our favorite pastimes, but have you ever heard of glamping? It’s camping, leveled up. Glamping, or “glamorous camping” is all the enjoyment of the outdoor adventure, without sacrificing creature comforts. Arkansas is home to many glamping experiences, but central Arkansas is especially lucky because it’s home to Ouachita Wild Glamping Tents. This glamping company is run by an amazing mother and daughter team and is based in Mena, Arkansas.
The tents that Ouachita Wild uses are sixteen-foot, canvas “bell” tents that are completely weatherproof. Our camping trip was in early November, during a cold spell, and we were nice and toasty inside the tent thanks to a propane heater and an electric heater to use as we needed. However, if you prefer to camp in the summer heat, they also offer air conditioning inside the tents so you can sleep restfully. Speaking of sleeping restfully, they can fit three beds inside the tent! Our tent had two twin size beds and one queen-sized bed. The beds are memory foam mattresses and come complete with all the bedding, no sleeping bags are needed for this camping trip!
A Magical Experience
If you’re an avid camper and have your own cooking supplies, great, bring them along! If you’d rather take all of the planning and hassle out of your excursion, Ouachita Wild Luxury Tents can provide everything you need, and I do mean everything! We brought our own cooking set up, but they have everything you need to cook an extraordinary camp meal. They even provided camp chairs, firewood, a coffee maker, and plenty of cozy details to make the entire experience magical.
Ouachita Wild Luxury Tents thought of everything, including entertainment! When we opened our tent we were greeted with the cutest table full of card games, other games, and lots of fun. Our children immediately broke out the Skip-Bo and we had an epic Skip-Bo tournament. Though, I think our favorite entertainment was enjoying the campfire as the sun went down, surrounded by magical lighting and a gorgeous starry sky.
Pick Your Place
Our glamping experience took place at Denby Point, on Lake Ouachita, however, Ouachita Wild will set up anywhere within a sixty-mile radius of Mena, Arkansas. Their services aren’t just limited to camping either! Their tents are available for rental for special events, providing lounges at weddings or other events, and they can even do at-home setups for sleepovers or birthday parties, with options for teepees or a movie package!
One of the reasons we took this glamping trip, was to take a moment to reset for the upcoming year. If you’re able to do this with your family, I highly recommend it! Celebrate the end of the year and the upcoming new beginnings, reflect on what went well or what didn’t, and make some family goals and plans for the year ahead! It’s one of our favorite family trips in the late fall and winter season, and the magic of glamping with Ouachita Wild made it even more special.
6 Tips Before You Go
A few tips for your glamping trip:
- Remember to bring your food! You’ll want to keep your food in a container with a secure lid to keep the critters away (yes, you’re still camping).
- Don’t forget your favorite coffee or tea.
- Bring some marshmallows and all the fixings for s’mores.
- Take along a book (or five) and your family’s favorite card game.
- Don’t forget to sign the guestbook.
- Please follow all of the check-out instructions and be gentle with all of the charming decorations that make Ouachita Wild so magical.
You can find more information about Ouachita Wild Luxury Tents and check availability on their website HERE. Also, be sure to follow them on social media on Facebook, and on Instagram.
Nichole is a freelance writer located in southwest Arkansas, who loves all things outdoors including gardening, hiking, backpacking, and canoeing. She is a homeschooling mother to two, and they are entering their seventh year of homeschooling! They are an adventure and outdoor-loving family of four, who are often embarking on day trips and road trips to chase some shenanigans. As a family, they love supporting small and local businesses, especially local bookstores and coffee shops. Nichole hopes to inspire others to see the wonder and adventure in both the big and the small, close to home and on the road. You can follow their adventures on Instagram by following them at @coleyraeh.
