Perhaps because I never actually attended one as a kid, I’ve always had an idealized nostalgia for sleepaway camps as an adult.
So now, in my summer travels as a couple, with friends, or on multigenerational trips, I’m often on a perpetual quest for sun-soaked shenanigans, booking stays at hotels and resorts that foster idyllic, outdoor exploration.
For my 30th birthday, for example, I captured a similar playful spirit with my closest friends in Vermont at an “adult summer camp”-themed weekend that culminated in a passionate game of capture-the-flag.
It made me realize that any great summer camp-cation needs three things: a location in nature, a sprawling list of outdoor activities, and the chance for guests to forge their own journey. And many hotels make that a cinch.
Whether planning a trip for your inner child or looking for a vacay to amuse the whole family, these unique properties keep the childhood summer magic alive for all ages. Nestled in nature and saddled with adventure, these hotels and resorts unleash a sense of wonder that is the perfect cure for cabin fever.
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Camp Wandewega in Wisconsin
A stone’s throw from Chicago, Camp Wandewega is something out of a Wes Anderson fever dream with its private lake dotted with impossibly twee log cabins.
Every new arrival to the camp is greeted with their own adventure kit including supplies for fishing, s'mores, boating, sports and grilling, before being set free on the 25-acre wilderness playground to carve out their own adventure.
The campground is outfitted for everything from archery to tennis to shuffleboard. Just be warned: for those of us who identify as “outsidey” and not “outdoorsy,” know that Camp Wandewega commits to the rustic bit. Don’t expect AC or be surprised if you find a lady bug in your bedsheets. However, a dripping canvas tent after a sun shower is no cause for alarm; it’s all a part of the charm. Camp Wandewega is an ode to “simpler times," wrapped in a tartan bow. What s’more could you ask for?
Scribner’s Lodge in New York
A quick jaunt outside of NYC will take you to Scribner’s Lodge, a breathtaking, modernist mountain retreat nestled in the Catskills.
Guests are ushered inside the wood-paneled interiors by the intoxicating scent of palo santo, which sets the tone for the curated, multi-sensory nature of a stay at the lodge.
A longtime favorite of city dwellers looking to cosplay as outdoorspeople, Scribner’s Lodge has continued to expand their offerings and facilities. The lodge recently added cabins and beefed out their events programming to include meditation classes, tarot readings, and pool parties.
The cozy on-site restaurant, Prospect, whips up farm-to-table fare that is a love letter to the region. Don’t be fooled by the relaxed pub atmosphere, this is not your average canteen; the head chef’s background is Michelin star-studded.
Scribner’s also bills itself as a “basecamp” to the outdoor splendor of the region, but it’s hard to want to leave the serenity of the lodge, which includes a pool (it moonlights as a skating rink in winter), sauna, and bonfire area.
For those craving the trappings of camp with all the creature comforts, Scribner’s is the spot for a quick getaway.
Basin Harbor in Vermont
Basin Harbor is the kind of resort that becomes a tradition, perhaps because it is one. With over 140 summers under their belt, it’s been owned and operated by the aptronymic Beach family since its inception. To say the Basin Harbor has learned a thing or two about R&R since 1882 is an understatement of the past century and a half.
My grandparents used this Vermont retreat as a couples’ getaway during their courtship, to return with their full brood decades later. We rolled in three generations deep, everyone dispersed on their own adventure arcs, reuniting for a dinner on the firefly-lit docks.
Whether you want to kick your feet up in an Adirondack chair, swim in the lake, or tan by the pool, the Basin Harbor is well-equipped. The massive campus is ideal for large groups and it caters flawlessly to a diverse range of interests, whether golf, boating, tennis, pool, or playground, so every guest can choose their own summer adventure.
Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia
If Mountain Lake Lodge has a certain familiarity to it, it’s not coincidental. The historic resort served as the iconic setting for the “Dirty Dancing” movie.
Today, the Virginia mountains are still a picturesque backdrop for acres of good, clean summer fun. Don’t miss archery tag, which is their signature activity that combines the principles of dodgeball with bow and arrows, and is guaranteed to bring out your inner child.
Whether here for a summer fling or something a bit more serious, your experience is up to you. Lake or pool? Lodge or cabin? Mountain Lake Lodge doesn’t make guests choose. The resort is appointed for every need, whim, and adventure, ensuring the whole family will have the time of their lives.
Sorrel River Ranch in Utah
If a summer camp and luxury wellness resort conceived a lovechild in Utah, they would name it the Sorrel River Ranch. This is not the sleepaway of your childhood, it's a graduated outdoor adventure for a discerning palette.
The ranch is cozied next to the Colorado River in Moab, Utah, which has topped my travel bucket list for some time now for its otherworldly red-rock setting. Luxury in cowboy boots, the log canopy beds of the Sorrel River Ranch’s cabins are a far cry from canvas-covered bunks.
The Sorrel River Ranch could rest on its laurels with farm-to-table dining, extensive wellness programming, top-drawer accommodations, or the breathtaking landscape. But their inclusion on this list is really earned by the range of outdoor adventures they offer.
Where else can you skydive, horseback ride, and river raft all in one place? Guests mention scheduling ahead excursions and treatments before arriving on property to ensure the hotel can adequately staff the secluded campus.
Tetherow Resort in Oregon
Tetherow distills the elements of summer camp (nature, shared experiences, and outdoor adventure) into something that can be swilled around in a wine glass on their patio overlooking the Cascade Mountains.
A sophisticated spin on summer camps, Tetherow's resort campus offers a litany of adult fun with golf courses, a pool, sauna, and wine tastings. The access to Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest makes the lodge an extravagant base to explore the rugged landscape on foot, bike, stand-up paddle board, or raft.
If guests are seeking civilization after a day of high-desert hikes, nearby Old Mill District is the walkable heart of Bend, featuring a vibrant food scene and open-air amphitheater. Hopheads can embark on a different kind of hike in the Bend Ale Trail, a self-guided tour through the dozens of breweries the city boasts.
The Shortcut
Look for three things: a natural setting, a long list of outdoor activities, and the freedom to build your own schedule. That combo is what makes a camp-style stay.
Camp Wandewega in Wisconsin skips AC and Wi-Fi entirely for a rustic, back-to-basics stay. It's part of the charm (really).
Basin Harbor (Vermont) has been family-run for 140 years and has enough going on, from golf and boating to tennis, to keep all generations busy at once.
Sorrel River Ranch in Utah packs skydiving, horseback riding, and river rafting onto one property. Book excursions before you arrive.
