For several years now I have been seeing this “glamping” trend everywhere. And much like everyone else – I was just dying to try it. I finally got my chance- and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Tucked in The Ozark Mountains on Table Rock Lake, just an hour and 45 minute drive from NW Arkansas, is my paradise.

Big Cedar has been a long standing oasis for my family. For years we have spent weeks and weekends making lasting memories here. We have even spent some holidays at Big Cedar. Having a special visit from an Elf Tuck-in for our young son is one of my favorite memories at Christmas time. From sitting around the fire (with an endless supply of dry fire-wood), playing games, lounging in the lazy river, watching The Singing Cowboy preform down in The Buzzard Bar, to getting fresh cookies delivered every night to the room, Big Cedar always does things right. So…when I heard they had bought an old camp ground on Table Rock Lake and they were renovating it to be a glamping camp ground. I knew it would be epic! Welcome to Camp Long Creek!

As soon as they opened, I went online and booked. It was a bit of a splurge for us, but it was totally worth every penny. We decided to book it between me and my husband’s birthdays as our gift to each other. In a world where most of us have everything that we need, adventures and experiences are our favorite gifts for each other.

Pro tip: Sunday thru Thursday check-ins can run about half the cost of a weekend check-in. Whoop whoop! All the fun with half the expense means we can go on another adventure.

We live in such a hectic world that it is a complete breath of fresh air – literally – to get out into nature with your spouse without leaving all of the comforts of home. And, Jonny Morris, the creator and brains behind Big Cedar, never misses a detail.

So, our journey begins…

First, we called in the day before to check on an early check-in. Boom! We got it! We got all unpacked, settled in, and went straight to the front porch to sit and listen to the water lap up on the shore.

We decided to grill out for our first night. My advice to cooking when staying in one of these glamping tents is to really think like a camper. The tents have a mini fridge and a tiny coffee pot, so there’s not a lot of options when it comes to cooking. There are gas and charcoal grills at the tent sites. We brought pre-made pork and veggie kabobs from Fresh Market – Easy! Threw those on the grill and voila! Dinner was served.

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Much like regular camping, the people you meet are super friendly. You can stay inside and be as much of a recluse as you want to be, or go out and make new friends. We made great friends our first night just sitting around the campfire. They are fellow Big Cedar lovers and just had to come check out the new campground. We shared so much in common. It really is crazy who you meet camping.

After a few fireside drinks we headed off to bed. Wow! Super comfy bed and pillows. I love a comfy bed more than anything when I travel. This is a 5 star!

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We woke up to the sunrise the next day, made our morning coffee, and headed out to the front porch once more. We watched all the fisherman speeding off to their fishing holes and caught up on some magazines. We really needed this down time! I mean, can anyone ever get tired of this view?

Later, we decided to take a walk around the campground. It was a beautiful day. We took a peek at some of the other camping options; they are all so adorable! They had fire-pits scattered throughout the campground along with sand volleyball, an infinity pool, and a beach going into the lake. And, oh yeah, an adorable air stream food truck with all kinds of picnic type foods and ice cream desserts. You can rent ski boats, pontoons, and jet skis from the Long Creek Marina. Seriously- endless activities for kids and families in the summer.

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Pro tip #2: While walking we decided which two glamping tents have the best view – you might try asking for one of these when booking… #37 and #38.

In the afternoon, after our walk, I made a little charcuterie board for us to snack on. Simple and quick snack to pack when ”camping”. Just then, a little pop up shower came through. It was an absolute necessity that we lay down and take a nap on that comfy bed and listen to the rain fall on the canvas. After we were thoroughly rested from our nap, we decided to order in a little room service for dinner. That’s right folks! Room service while camping. It really doesn’t get any better than that. We ordered in a pizza and Cobb salad from The Devils Pool Restaurant. Nothing fancy, I know, but we are not fancy people.

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After dinner, the rain cleared and it ended up being the most beautiful evening. I finally had my chance to try out that outdoor tub. My husband made an awesome fire-pit (Which is super easy because your room comes with fire starters, kindling that is pre-notched to stack properly and long matches). I poured myself a glass of wine and completely relaxed – again. After the bath we continued to sit around the fire and solve the world’s problems one by one…if only it were that easy.

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On our last morning, we sat out on the porch again and drank our coffee while our dog Abby watched the squirrels and geese. That is one of the other things that makes Camp Long Creek so delightful; they are pet friendly! It is so hard to find a place to vacation with your pets. I am sure that many of you, like us, relax better and enjoy ourselves a little more when we have a dog by our side. They even have a dog park that you can take them to so they can run and play.

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There were really so many things that I loved about this trip. I really hope that you can and will take advantage of all Camp Long Creek has to offer. Please reach out to me or comment below with any questions that you have. I will try to get them all answered.

Click the link below to book your adventure!