Cypress Valley Canopy Tours, Spicewood
www.cypressvalleycanopytours.com
Opened in 2005 and touted as the first true canopy ziplining tour in the United States, the 88-acre spread about 90 miles north of San Antonio boasts three very sweet treehouses: the cozy single-room Juniper and Willow, and the larger Nest. For more privacy, the Lofthaven treehouse yurt has its own bathhouse and soaking pool. The aerial resort also aims to blend recreation and education in a two-hour guided eco-tour that includes five ziplines, two skybridges and a rappel to cap it off, plus a close up look at native flora and fauna. The lofty goal, say owners David and Amy Beilharz on their website, is to encourage people to “spend more time in nature. Our hope is to provide an enlivening adventure while instilling knowledge and a desire to protect our natural resources.”
Geronimo Creek Retreat, Seguin
www.geronimocreekretreat.com, www.besttexastravel.com
With the outlet malls of San Marcos a mere 20-minute drive away, the retreat is perfect for getting away from it all with retail therapy nearby if needed — ideal for girls’ getaways and family reunions. Otherwise, enjoy hanging out in one of five picturesque Tipis surrounding a stock tank, each with its own picnic table and firepit for small talk and stargazing. Fully furnished with a kitchenette, private bath and queen size beds, each Tipi sleeps up to six. Guests can kayak, paddleboard and fish or swim off the large dock at Geronimo Creek that runs alongside the nearly four-acre property. The retreat’s newest additions are “fully furnished elevated glamping cabins, like a treehouse-Tipi combination,” says Patrick O’Toole, General Manager at parent company bestoftexastravel.com, with a kitchenette, DVD, Netflix and access to shared facilities with private baths to come.
Green Acres ATX, Elgin
www.greenacresatx.com, www.airbnb.com
Self-described “artists, dreamers, writers and entrepreneurs,” co-owners Brad and Noelle Otts and Aaron and Jamie Ivey describe their 25-acre, tree-filled complex 25 miles east of Austin as a “boutique glamping retreat for all.” Accommodations include Yurt 1 and Yurt 2 with a shared bathhouse, Spartan Mansion (aka tiny house), a restored 1964 Airstream Land Yacht and a spacious luxe Lodge. Organic bedding, eco-friendly toiletries, communal barn, shared outdoor kitchen and more keep guests relaxed — one goal when they opened near Elgin in March. “Our lives are so inundated by technology, people need to get outside the city,” says Brad Otts. With a burgeoning wedding business and plans for more lodging, a concert series and special events, Otts envisions a premier glamping and event destination for their “big vision of hosting people. We have a passion for true hospitality.”
The Texas Bell Tent, Spring Branch
www.airbnb.com
It may be just one tent, but it’s a beaut. Measuring 20 feet in diameter and 12 feet high at the center, with a private bath nearby, the lovely Texas Bell — set on a custom-built deck of reclaimed wood — sleeps up to four with queen and twin beds. Open since April 2016, the tent is a year-round draw thanks to an ideal location halfway between New Braunfels and Boerne on Hwy 46. Owner Leslie, with husband Jess, is amazed by the response. Never having glamped, the couple has certainly mastered the vibe — one family has already visited 11 times. Everything from fresh flowers to spa services to dietary restrictions can be arranged in advance. “I want everyone who comes here to feel that they are special and cherished,” says Leslie. “Being pampered is what glamping is all about.”
For more info, www.glampinghub.com.