I’ve always loved the outdoors, just not enough to give up plush linens and AC for a sleeping bag. For the past 10 years, my three kids — boy/girl twins who are now 20 and a 17-year-old daughter — have begged me to go camping. But I never seriously considered it until recently. That’s when I discovered glamping, also known as glamorous camping, and started thinking it might be worth a try.
Most glamping places have accommodations similar to those a hotel provides, with a bathroom and a bed with sheets. Some places offer more options like climate control or high-end furniture. With real beds, wifi, and an actual bathroom, glamping sounded a lot better than camping and felt like a perfect compromise.
When I began researching nearby glamping options, one place everyone mentioned was Terramor Outdoor Resort (yes, the word “resort” in the title helped me to book it) in Bar Harbor, Maine. The drive was almost six hours from our house, but the rave reviews from others made it seem worth the long ride.
Glamping is Trending
As I dug deeper, I realized glamping isn’t just for someone like me who doesn’t want to sleep on the ground. It’s actually trending.
A report by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) found that 34 percent of new campers are choosing glamping over traditional camping.
Glamping isn’t slowing down anytime soon, either. Last year alone, these experiences brought in $737.9 million in revenue. Looking just at North America, its worth is pegged at $885.3 million for 2024, and researchers expect it to keep growing by over 12 percent every year until 2030.
The Origins and Rise of Glamping
Before embarking on our adventure, I decided to learn about the history of glamping. It first appeared in the U.K. in 2005, inspired by the style and comfort of African safari tents. By 2006, Paws Up in Montana was offering furnished tents and ranch accommodations. The trend kept expanding, and in 2018, the American Glamping Association was founded to support the growing industry.
Cheryl Maguire’s kids hanging out in The Lodge
Are We in a Tent or a Cabin? (And 99 Other Questions)
On the six-hour drive to Terramor Outdoor Resort, my three kids and husband bombarded me with questions. They were excited but mostly confused. My kids had camped before with friends, or through the Girl Scouts, and they’d stayed in hotels. So, they were trying to figure out: “Are we roughing it or living like a Disney princess?” My two daughters would prefer the latter, and let’s face it, so would I.
Since I had never been either, I relied on my extensive research of watching a few YouTube videos. Their main question was, “Are we staying in a tent or a cabin?” According to the videos, the walls and roof were canvas, but the floors were solid wood. So, a hybrid — or as I like to call it, a “tent-cabin.” Their confused expressions suggested I had made the mystery worse, not better.
When we finally arrived, we drove down a gravel path through the woods to a large, modern triangular building with a wall of windows called The Lodge. We checked in and discovered it also had guest services, a small shop, and a dining area. A roaring fireplace surrounded by stones that stretched all the way to the vaulted ceiling. We claimed a table like it was our new kingdom and took a few minutes to strategize the rest of the day, mostly about who would sneak a peek at our mysterious “tent-cabin” first.
The Maguire family
The Unboxing of the Mysterious Chimera Accommodations
We were told where to park and then used a wagon to haul our suitcases to our tent-cabin, or whatever category this mysterious structure fell into. Since there were five of us, we had two of these mysterious chimera accommodations side by side, basically neighbors in the woods with a hint of suspense.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the room. It felt like a hotel room sneaked into the forest, with a hint of other tents lurking nearby. My son celebrated the lack of a key card, that tiny rectangle you have to keep track of like a nuclear launch code to access your hotel room. My husband wandered around inspecting everything, muttering, “OK, this is actually impressive,” while my kids explored the room, opening drawers and locating the important outlets for charring their phones.
Outside the tent was a fire pit surrounded by four Adirondack chairs, an inviting setup that made it clear evenings here were meant to be spent lingering outdoors (stay tuned for more on this later.)
The best part? A real, comfortable bed with sheets. The bathroom was also impressive, so nice it could have been in a boutique hotel, complete with a stone floor and luxurious scented toiletries like shampoo and conditioner. I have stayed in some hotels that did not come close to this level of pampering.
Sitting around the campfire at Terramor Outdoor Resort
Campfire with S’mores Glamour
After a swim in the resort pool and dinner at The Lodge, we settled into the Adirondack chairs around the fire pit. Instead of chopping wood or hunting for kindling, there was a neatly stacked pile of at least 20 logs waiting beside us. Even better, there were matches and a fire starter cube, so the wood ignited easily without starting a fire among us (pun intended)
As we sat together, fireflies began to appear, something I had not seen since I was about ten years old. Those quiet evenings around the pit became the highlight of our three-night stay.
Our DIY Hikes Got an Upgrade
As I mentioned in the beginning, I love the outdoors. So, we’ve been on many day-trip hikes. Usually, we are the brave, do-it-yourself types who figure out the path. The slight issue? We are terrible at figuring out the right path, which often results in us getting lost or, as I prefer to call it, an “extended hike” that doubles our usual daily steps.
Thankfully, at Terramor, they offered a guided hike. It took the stress out of wondering if we were about to become one with the wilderness and made the experience relaxing. Jeremy (who we still fondly refer to — hi, Jeremy, if you’re reading this!) met us at The Lodge and drove us to Acadia National Park.
Not only did he make sure we safely scaled mountains (yeah, that’s plural!), but he also successfully peer-pressured us into climbing not one but three large summits. I can guarantee that we would still be stranded in Maine without Jeremy. It was a real sense of accomplishment, and the views were the peak of the trip (yeah, another intended pun).
The Maguire crew during a hike on Gilmore Peak
Would I Glamp Again?
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I would definitely glamp again. This trip was the most memorable part of our summer, and we all loved it. The fire pit sparked joy (that’s a nod to you, Marie Kondo, wrapped in a pun), and climbing the mountains really elevated the whole experience. (Had to end it on a pun, of course.)
Happy trails to you!
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About the Author: Cheryl Maguire is an award-winning freelance journalist covering topics related to travel, science, mental health and parenting. She holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, AARP, Business Insider, AAA, SUCCESS Magazine, and many other publications. She is a professional member of ASJA and an active member of SATW. You can find her on Bluesky @CherylMaguire.
