By Kathy Chin Leong
Okay, so I cannot light our campfire, and the fire valet is off duty. What’s a poor glamper to do? I mosey to the communal deck and ignite the gas fire pit with the flick of a switch. Problem solved.
I am at Mendocino Grove, a luxury camping destination in Mendocino, California. This is called glamping, a perfect starter for families who have never camped before. It is also ideal for outdoor lovers who don’t like getting dirty. For us Baby Boomers who used to camp the old-fashioned way, this is now a preferred method since the old back ain’t what it used to be.
Mendocino Grove, all of 37 acres, is a treasure easy to miss. A small green mailbox painted with its name is the only guidepost off Highway One. My husband Frank and I will spend two nights here, the average stay for most guests.
Upon entering, general manager Michelle greets us with a smile and a tour. First on the docket is the introduction to the camp store with softer-than-soft blanket throws, signature baseball caps, and beefy sweatshirts. It vibes more like an upscale boutique than your run-of-the-mill camping supply shop. For sale are playing cards and s’mores kits to make classic camping memories. If you need pressed juice blend or a kombucha hit, you can buy it here.
Amid sky-high redwoods and lush plantings, nine neighborhoods of luxury tents are named after local towns such as Navarro and Point Arena. Tempt your non-camping friends by telling them each of the sixty tents comes equipped with wood floors, lighting, area rugs, a bed with a thick memory foam mattress, and an electric pad with dual switches to keep bodies toasty at night. To encourage guests to keep their space clean, each tent features a hand sweeper and dustpan.
A writing table with a director’s chair and a basket of shower towels for each guest is another bonus. Each space is as large as any hotel room I’ve been in. Ceilings are at least eight feet high, so you don’t feel claustrophobic.
Each unit comes with its own deck with Adirondack chairs, tree stump stools, and a coffee table. Your personal outdoor space includes a fire pit and picnic table. Propane grills are scattered throughout for personal grilling. There are no personal chefs to cook for you… yet.
Passing by a series of hammocks, we walk to Meadow Commons and learn that breakfast is served here and included daily. The huge gathering space and covered eating area is comprised of picnic tables and couches. It is so inviting that we make a point of squatting in Meadow Commons the first day with our reading materials in hand. A key amenity is the set of overhead heat lamps that activate from individual timers. The heaters create that I-want-to-nest-here effect.
Another perk is the tea station available throughout the day and night. Jars of dandelion tea to lemongrass to hibiscus, mint, and more will get the tea lovers giddy at the thought of trying something new.
For the complimentary breakfast, oatmeal is served with a dose of healthy toppings: organic peanut butter, chia seed, dried coconut, and golden raisins. You can also dive into the homemade banana bread, apricots, and boiled eggs. We sip local java and commune with the sky and the coffee house jazz in the background. A microwave is on hand 24 x 7 to warm up food and beverages.
Need something fun to do? Play bocce ball. Check out a board game from the camp store. Paddle down the river via outrigger canoe from nearby Catch-a-Canoe. Hike the gentle Fern Canyon Loop with fern forest and ocean views.
By the way, the communal deck called Lower Bath House features restrooms, tiled showers, and a sauna. It can get pretty cold here, and I saw a mom and her daughter tuck in for a few minutes just to stay warm. This is where the massage room (yes, I said massage!) is located. I booked a massage ahead of time and experienced one of the best I’ve ever had.
I particularly notice the campsite’s order and cleanliness. I thought the place had recently opened, but in reality, it has been in operation for ten years. Places like this can go to seed fast if not routinely cleaned and maintained. During our stay, workers were leaf-blowing debris off pathways. Others were delivering and replenishing firewood to the tents. Early in the morning, a crew was freshening up the restrooms.
Design mavens will be attuned to the farmhouse chic that makes this feel like a set for an HGTV design show. Details such as fresh flower arrangements add cheer throughout the facility, and new wedding-like bouquets are delivered weekly Foxgloves, ferns, and peonies in mason jars are perched like… everywhere. Another attention getter is the cluster of wicker basket chandeliers over the long breakfast farm table. The designer teas, packed in lidded mason jars, are showcased in little crates. Willow chairs look weathered but are actually comfortable and sturdy.
Even the families here look perfectly curated. The little preschooler in his bright green Patagonia puffy jacket is practicing his laps around the picnic tables. The miniature labradoodle clad in his morning sweater is happily sitting by his owner and quietly leashed. The 3-year-old politely asks Mom for oat milk.
The enterprise continually evolves with new features, such as the enclosed redwood outdoor showers installed a few weeks ago. When is the last time you rinsed under a sunlit sky and towering redwood trees?
Meanwhile, Mendocino Grove is a landscaper’s dream with berms of mixed textures with wild grasses, Japanese maples, and flowering bushes of every ilk. New plantings are seamlessly added to existing flora and fauna.
This is camping on training wheels, as your every need is fulfilled to make your camping experience magnificent. Experts are on hand if you cannot figure things out. Note to cooks: You can rent a camping cooking box for $75 that arrives with everything you need. Tablecloth, cutlery, plates, cups, wine opener, cutting board, plus tongs and spatulas, and iron pots and pans make your packing life easier. It even comes with olive oil, salt and pepper. And as for the gas grill mentioned earlier,the posted directions explain how to use it so you cannot mess up. There’s even an emergency number to get assistance if you get frustrated. You do need to bring your own ice chest to keep your raw food chilled. No refrigerators here.
The downside of glamping, however, is that you get spoiled with the hot oatmeal bars and warmed beds and fire valets. There’s no struggling to put up a tent. No yucky bathrooms with toilet paper strewn on the floor. You may never want to go back to traditional camping or even try roughing it in the woods ever. No wonder its tagline is “camping made comfy.” That’s an understatement.
Glamping here is like being in an outdoor version of a Ritz-Carlton. Hey, I don’t mind. I will return, and hopefully I will be able to start a campfire on my own.
