#glamping

#glamping

On a moonless night, radiant stars blink in startling proximity to Chile's Elqui Valley. Cradled high up in the Andes Mountains and known for its clear skies, Elqui was named the world's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary. There are many myths that try to explain Elqui's mysticism, including energy vortexes. Whatever the reason, the valley has also become a holistic wellness hotspot that rivals Sedona or Ojai-but without the crowds.

Well, South African brand Alphago just released something that makes all that struggle feel wonderfully obsolete. Meet The Cube, an inflatable tent that basically sets itself up while you crack open a cold drink and enjoy the view. We're talking four minutes from bag to fully erected shelter, and the only tool you need is your finger to press a button.

"I've been camping and hiking my whole life, I moved to San Francisco and I saw the pace of life among my friends and people that I met. They said they were too stressed and I realized that they needed the nature experience that I grew up having, but they didn't know how to do it. They don't have the gear or the time and they don't know where to go...so my business partner and I realized that we should start a glamping business that made it easier for people to get outdoors, but it had to be comfortable, easy, and also fun,"

The Softshell is constructed from a timber frame clad in canvas panels, its sharply pitched form recalling a familiar A-frame cabin. The canvas outer is made from a cotton-polyester blend, and comes in khaki, dark green, or navy colorways. Inside, the modular, hybrid structure offers a kitchenette, bathroom, window, and sitting area, while the verticality of the frame makes space for a hammock-like sleeping loft suspended in netting.

Built entirely from responsibly sourced wood, The Cabana looks like the cabin you dreamed about as a kid. The all-wood construction gives it that authentic log cabin feel that most tiny houses try to fake with vinyl siding. Quadrapol isn't chasing trends here. They're building homes that actually make sense. At 24 square meters, the Cabana sleeps up to four people without feeling cramped.

A few years ago, camping with friends, I watched in awe as Becky set up her pitch. While the rest of us were stringing out guy ropes on tents as glamorous as giant cagoules, she arrived with a bell tent, duvets instead of sleeping bags, sheepskin rugs and vintage folding chairs. For all the talk of breathability, practicality and high performance gear, it was Becky's tent we all wanted to sleep in.

Now in its 20th season, the 172-acre retreat entices us with its upscale glamping tents, private suites and glass-walled cabins that house soaking tubs, handheld showers and air conditioning and heating that outperforms our current apart m e n ts. Even better, it is all backdropped by stellar views of the Manhattan skyline and Lady Liberty herself. If you've yet to experience this version of the great outdoors,

The cabin's serene location amidst the pine forest and near the beach has greatly enhanced my creative process during this digital detox, allowing for focused solitude.

It's a unique experience, not many people get to sit in the cockpit of 70's private jet.