8 places to experience nature without pitching a tent

Outdoorsy lodgings can be found all over the United States, from Hawaiian beach huts to a fire tower with views of the mountains in West Virginia. Here are eight other lodgings options, many of them brand-new, to celebrate America’s wild landscapes.

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort, Colorado

Rocky Mountain regions of Colorado are home to geothermal hot springs, and those at Mount Princeton resort are among the steamiest in the state at 120–140 degrees F. While relaxing in one of the in-ground pools, visitors to the resort can gaze up at the 14,204-foot Mount Princeton, which is a part of the imposing Sawatch Range. However, relaxing in the creekside springs is the highlight. To mix cold creek water with hot pool water and reach your ideal temperature, move the stacked rocks that form the natural, freeform pools' borders. The fact that those hot springs don't stink is another thing that makes them special. They don't contain sulphur. Take a road trip along the 800-mile, 23-location Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop to visit more of the state's hotspots.

Terramor Outdoor Resort, Maine

Terramor Outdoor Resort offers 64 canvas and wood glamping tents with cozy-chic interiors, including Pendleton wool blankets, pour-over coffee setups, and ensuite bathrooms, five miles from Maine's Acadia National Park and its 58 miles of hiking trails. A restaurant serving wood-fired pizza and s'mores ingredients, a wellness tent for massages, and a heated pool are also located on Terramor's 60 acres. Due to its proximity to a marsh, a variety of sounds can be heard there, including the snap of a beaver tail, red-winged blackbird calls, and barred owl screeches. It's a gorgeous, untamed chorus. Bar Harbour, which is 15 minutes away, serves as the starting point for boat tours and whale-watching excursions that take people to see razorbills, guillemots and puffins along the rugged coastline of Maine.

Hill Farm by Sagra, Vermont

The company that runs Hill Farm, Sagra, was founded by David Rust. He claims that Sagra "connects guests directly with where their food comes from." The Equinox Mountain Valley in Vermont has been transformed into an agricultural tourism destination using the old dairy farm's picturesque grounds and charming structures. Visitors can choose to stay in a restored inn from 1830 or one of the inviting cottages dotted around the property. Cooking-related activities are the norm here, including food preservation classes, working farm tours, and ingredient-foraging excursions with Austin Poulin, chef of the farm's newest restaurant, the Grange. Grange, which is housed in a lofted, rustic-chic barn, combines products from Hill Farm (such as koginut squash and celery root) with those from nearby suppliers (such as grass-fed lamb and pungent cheese). The Battenkill River, which flows through the farm, offers fly fishing for trout as well as walking trails. The antique stores, markets, and cafes of historic Bennington are a 25-minute drive away.

ULUM, Utah

In the desert near Moab, Utah, surrounded by red sandstone formations and sagebrush, Under Canvas has recently debuted its newest upscale glamping resort. The 50 ensuite canvas and wood tents at ULUM, which is 45 minutes from Canyonlands National Park and 30 minutes from Arches National Park, have king-size beds, jumbo decks, and evaporative cooling systems for hot desert days. The Southwestern restaurant at ULUM serves spicy breakfast eggs, strong coffee, and dinners with short rib tacos and chile-rubbed cauliflower steak in its glass-walled, mid-century-style lodge. Views of furry neighbours like coyotes and black-tailed jackrabbits can frequently be had from an outdoor deck. Stargazing, nightly live music, and swimming in the hot and cold plunge pools are all resort amenities. Whitewater rafting, hikes, and mountain biking can be planned by a "adventure concierge" in nearby parks.

Malaekahana Beach Campground, Hawai’i

On the North Shore of Oahu, a 37-acre campground is bordered by coconut palms and laps a turquoise section of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can rent one of the 25 hales, or huts, that are based on the traditional Hawaiian sugar plantation homes, or bring their own camper or tent. On-site showers and restrooms are shared, and a camp store sells ingredients for cooking over campfire rings. Malaekahana Beach, according to owner Mark Reynolds, who grew up nearby, may be the only place on Oahu where you can experience old Hawai'i. No structures taller than two stories are in view. The calm sea at Malaekahana belies the North Shore's reputation for massive waves, making it the perfect place to use the kayaks and stand-up paddle boards that are available for rent nearby. CLIMB Works Keana Farms offers zipline tours over fields of tropical fruit with views of the ocean less than a mile from the campground.

Thorny Mountain Fire Tower, West Virginia

Travelers can make reservations to spend the night at the top of this 65-foot fire tower in West Virginia's Seneca State Forest's purple mountains up to a year in advance. The restored 1930s building, which has 69 steps to climb, was designed to house rangers who combed the nearby Greenbrier Valley for forest fires. The perch now accommodates up to four guests per night during the warmer months. You'll sleep on a cot, and the restrooms are at a nearby ranger station, which is far from glamping. But thanks to wraparound windows, visitors can enjoy 365-degree views of the sunrise and sunset. Additionally, the Seneca State Forest provides eight comfortable cabins as well as rustic campsites. You will have access to the park's hiking and mountain biking trails no matter where you stay. A short drive will take you to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, where you can take tours of a sawmill company town from the early 20th century or ride on a steam-powered train.

Sanctuary Treehouse Resort, Tennessee

This quaint Tennessee resort has seven elevated cedar cabins surrounded by 40 acres of live oak, black walnut, and maple trees just outside of Dolly Parton's hometown in the Great Smoky Mountains. Slides, rope swings, and drawbridges combine with rustic designs (tin roofs, stone sinks) that are especially appealing to children. The grounds are alive with wildlife. According to co-owner Amanda Jensen, "We have a set of bald eagles that flies through and hangs out every day, as well as deer, turkeys, and rabbits. "A 35-mile drive away Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers hiking among the vistas and waterfalls, as well as rafting on the Pigeon River and ziplining through beech and oak forests.

Mendocino Grove, California

This tent resort, located two miles outside of Mendocino, a town renowned for its Victorian architecture, is set against the untamed Pacific Coast of Northern California. 60 safari-style tents with leather deck chairs, plush bedding, and fire rings for outdoor grilling are located on a bluff with cypress trees and ocean views. If you struggle to ignite a fire, a "campfire valet" can be of assistance. According to campground owner Teresa Raffo, "We get guests who have never slept outside before." Our mission is to introduce people to nature without the hassle of organising equipment or pitching a tent. Retro bathhouses, a cedar wood sauna, and a bocce court are shared by visitors. A 3/4-mile trail on the property leads to an ocean viewing deck through a bishop pine forest. You can rent kayaks and outrigger-style redwood canoes at Catch a Canoe, which is close by, for paddling on the Big River Estuary where you might see harbour seals or otters.

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