Glamping is what you do when you used to camp but are now “over it”. I admit I loved camping once upon a time but I am getting to a point in my life where I want to have a break from my everyday to just BE on vacation with my family. I love the outdoors, exploring new places and having adventures, taking the path less travelled or a spontaneous detour. To make your glamping experience the most fun and least stressful I am giving you my 5 tips for carefree glamping conveniently located in Burlington, Ontario in the Greater Toronto Area.
1. Book a Glamping Cabin at Toronto West KOA
Feeling a little worn out from all the planning, packing, cooking and cleaning that goes along with camping? Yup, me too!So I jumped at the chance to experience glamping at Toronto West KOA in one of the NEW deluxe cabins.The cabins are gorgeous with a fully equipped kitchen, linens and towels included,out front you will find a patio next to the fire pit and BBQ. All we had to pack was some clothes, snacks and a few groceries and we were ready for fun! This KOA is super convenient and located just off the 401, north of Burlington in Campbellville which is close to everything but not too close. We arrived and were greeted by the friendly staff that were excited to see us and help us get checked in and familiar with the campground. Let the carefree glamping weekend begin!
Walking into the cabin I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, this was going to be exactly the break I needed. The cabin has a spacious kitchen with dining/living room to hang out or have meals in. Two bedrooms, one with comfy twin beds and the other with a queen bed. There was also a queen pullout sofa in the living room and everyone was happy to claim their sleeping quarters. The girls were ecstatic about the full bathroom with shower and promptly unpacked their flat irons and makeup. I unpacked 3 boxes of cereal ( one for breakfast, one for lunch and one for dinner)onto the cute kitchen counter and tucked a carton of milk into the fridge, meal plan done! With all the setup done the only thing left for me to do was grab a “rootbeer” and pull up a seat by the campfire while the kids explored the campground. Ahhh the glamping life, I could get used to to this.
The mining experience is fun for mom and kids too!
She couldn’t wait to dump her bag of sand into the pan to see what treasure she would find.
2.Entertainment
If you have never stayed at a KOA, then be prepared for a full schedule of planned activities for kids and adults, they take fun seriously! I think my favorite thing about the KOA experience is that the kids can have some independence and choose to participate in the activities that are happening all day long. There is great variety to keep everyone entertained, from family movie nights under the stars to themed arts and crafts, sports or karaoke to Sunday morning pancake breakfast. You will not hear one mumbled “I’m bored” all weekend. What you will hear are squeals of delight, laughter and “can we go do some mining for fossils” then the quiet little sighs of contentment as they fall into bed after a FULL day. This is where I have to give a big shout out to the staff at Toronto West KOA, they make this campground amazing! All of the staff go above and beyond to give everyone the best experience they can, even if it means making tie dye shirts after the program directors shift has ended! That is dedication, and I could see that all the staff were just as dedicated because the owners of this campground are genuinely interested in making sure you get top notch treatment and a memorable vacation.
3. Explore
I am a tad embarrassed to say I have never been to the Burlington area, I had no idea what I was missing. I love exploring new places and finding the hidden gems or local favourites like Springridge Farm. Having a farming background myself I could truely appreciate what a gem Springridge is, with something for everyone and all ages. The little ones will be delighted by the Fun Farm Yard, animals and wagon rides. Shoppers and browsers (count me in) can get lost in the multilevel home decor and gift shop , seriously, some of the most unique and on trend items I have seen. Foodies will find cupboards and pantry shelves stocked with pickles, jams, sauces and condiments to sample and made exclusively by Springridge Farm in the winter months while they are closed to the public. We all fell in love with bakery and got the Ploughman’s Lunches boxed for take out to enjoy later in the day for a picnic. Again, I have to give a shout out to the staff at the farm, so helpful and willing to chat as I asked a zillion questions about how the farm started and how they came to be such a vibrant and engaging local attraction. Definitely a must see when you are in the area!
4. Adventure
Glamping gives you more time for adventures! No more waiting in line ups for shower time or cleaning up and packing the food away after breakfast. You can get right to the main event of the day, family adventure time. Conservation Halton Parks was my pick for this trip. Our mission was a hike to Hilton Falls and picnic lunch at the bonfire by the falls. The trails are well marked and groomed to make hiking so enjoyable, it leaves you free for spotting wildlife and birds or capturing some stunning nature pics. The Bonfire and picnic area are totally unique and so picturesque, we could have stayed for hours to enjoy the view of the falls and the peaceful forest.
Enchanted by the canopy of trees.
Climbing down to the bottom of Hilton Falls
The ruins of a saw mill from the 19th century that once had an impressive 40 ft round water wheel.
Stunning view of Hilton Falls
5. Treat
Glamping is about treating yourself and the best treat for a foodie is a night out for a fabulous meal. The Mohawk Chophouse , a short walk from the KOA, has a regionally inspired menu that showcases locally sourced produce and meat which makes the farm girl in me ever so happy. I loved the western theme decor of the restaurant as it added to the appreciation of the aged steaks and burgers that are featured on the menu. Penny, our server for the evening was spot on with her recommendations of the Mohawk Burger and Red Eye Sirloin Steak and the Half Rack of Ribs. We enjoyed all of our meals but the star of the show is definitely the beef. Well aged to give you the most tender and flavourful bites of steak perfection. We had excellent service and we were fed to the bursting point with generous portion, even so Penny encouraged to try the desserts. She knows her stuff, the creme brule was delish with a lovely crackly sugar crust and the chocolate cake a la mode was polished off in seconds. We rolled home that night to enjoy our campfire and revel in glow of a good meal.
The wine wall at Mohawk Chop House
Glamping is a perfect getaway to explore the Burlington area and get up close and personal with the natural features of escarpment country. I hope you can take some time out this summer to book a glamping weekend and get to know Burlington too, if you need more suggestions check out this post for my hot list and must see while in #VisitBurlOn.
I would like to thank Burlington Tourism for inviting my family and I to discover the area! This trip was sponsored by Burlington tourism and their partners that we had the pleasure of visiting during our stay. The fun and memories made are 100% our real experience, can’t wait to visit again very soon!
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