Mike Howard - Comfortably Wild: The Best Glamping Destinations in North America

MIKE & ANNE HOWARD left on their honeymoon in January 2012 and never came home. They created HoneyTrek.com to chronicle their journey across all seven continents and to help people mobilize their travel dreams. Their story as the Worlds Longest Honeymooners, savvy tips, and blog have been acclaimed by the AP, Lonely Planet, USA Today, Cond Nast Traveler, CBS, and more. Having blogged for Glamping.com, scouted hotels around the world for Honeymoons.com, and authored National Geographics bestselling book on couples adventure travel (Ultimate Journeys for Two), the Howards were poised to write the firstever book on glamping in North America. Through their writing, photography, public speaking, trip coaching, travel advising, and social media, the Howards hope to inspire more people to explore outside their comfort zone.

Follow their adventures @HoneyTrek.

IT TOOK A GLAMPING VILLAGE to complete this book. To understand what makes each destination so special, we needed each property owners and their team members help. Your hard workfrom building inspiring retreats to answering our million questionsis what makes these pages shine. Thank you for welcoming us onto your properties and into your hearts.

We couldnt have made the journey without Buddy the Camper and all the roadside angels along the way. When we blew a head gasket in the boonies of British Columbia, we thought wed never get rolling again. While waiting on the Heiltsuk Nation for a ferry to the nearest mechanic (9 hours away), the Wilsons took us in. When we reached the Prince Rupert port, the MacCarthy GM team came to the rescue with five days of repairs and Champagne to wish us bon voyage. Complete strangers, like Montana Mike, who patched our flat tire, and Texas Jim, who extinguished an engine fire, were the ultimate roadside assistance.

We thought we could write this book from a camper, but no. With the help of the housesitting community, we found a beach bungalow in Honduras (crazy storysee HoneyTrek.com/Roatan) and a cottage in upstate New York. Thanks to Fynn and Smoochie for being our emotional support animals and Ashley, Denise, and the Roatn crew for looking out for us. Those who let us crash for extended stopovers, like Kate, Will, Ryan, Chelsea, Doc, Vallie, Steve, Sherry, and the Schmids, you helped us make a dent in this 256-pager. To our parents, Patricia, Robin, Pat, and Valerie, thank you for always checking in on our whereabouts, progress, and sanity. We love you and truly appreciate your support.

To the industry leaders, Ruben Martinez, Sarah Dusek, Rainer Jenss, Sarah Riley, and MaryJane Butters, thank you for sussing out the meaning of glamping with us. Your visionary thinking and dedication to this ground-breaking travel style have made it thrive. And thanks to Mey and Linda of Glamping.com. If we didnt write a column for you, FalconGuides might have never found us!

We wouldnt have dreamt of taking on this project without the support of the Falcon team. David Legere, thank you for believing in us, being so patient, and letting us chase our Comfortably Wild dreams. Jim Childs, chatting with you in 2016 empowered us to think differently and do the unexpected. Paulette Baker, thanks for being so smart and sensitive. Amanda Wilson and Melissa Evarts, your design skills have made this book absolutely beautiful! Meredith Dias, thanks for wrangling all the pieces and keeping this caravan moving. Ryan Meyer, love your enthusiasm and appreciate your hard work! Ethan Savel, your research unearthed some of our favorite places! And Will and Blair, thanks for taking your Beer Camp duties so seriously.

To our 288,387 HoneyTrek fans, you have kept us motivated with every Like and comment of encouragement. We cant wait to hear about your own glamping journey!

WHILE MOTHER NATURE effortlessly crafts bountiful landscapes, farmers have to work their coveralled tails off to make a seed grow. Sometimes we forget that fact when triple-washed lettuce and rounded baby carrots are neatly displayed at the grocery store. Now more than ever, its important to know where our food comes fromto honor the farmers taking the hard way by keeping crops organic, hand-picked, and heirloom.

Head to any one of these farmstays, where you can eat a tomato off the vine, gather freshly laid eggs, feed the goatsmaybe even hike with them. Walk the fields with the owners, gain gardening tips, and learn new recipes. Bring your harvest back to your Airstream trailer or bubble tent; then cook up the freshest feast. Everything tastes better when you are a part of the process.

Biking from our tiny house on Destiny Ridge Vineyard, Washington

LODGING: Vintage travel trailers

WHEN TO GO: OctApr is pleasantly warm, with loads of fresh produce, regular events, and a variety of fram festivals. Open ThursSun (inquire for longer stays), except for the hottest months (July and Aug).

GETTING THERE: Less than an hour southeast of Phoenix, its an easy drive from the city. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) is only 15 minutes away.

GPS: 33.2247 N, 111.5919 W

PRICING: Two-person trailer, firewood, vintage bicyles, and a slice of pie at check-in; $135

CONTACT: (480)987-3100

SchnepfFarms.com

NICE TOUCH: Trailer Service will deliver breakfast to your Airstream door.

REMEMBER THAT FARM you visited as a kid to pick fruit, feed the goats, and take a hayride? Those bucolic pastimes are alive and well at Schnepf Farmsand made even dreamier. Planting seeds since 1941, the Schnepfs are excellent farmers nationally renowned for their peaches, but their ambitions were always bigger than stone fruit.

In the late 1980s, Mark Schnepf saw the Phoenix countryside breaking up into housing subdivisions and the Maricopa County heritage of farming (dating back to 300 CE) at risk. Mark became the first mayor of Queen Creek and helped incorporate the town, now Arizonas premier agritourism destination. Alongside neighbors growing ancient grains and harvesting olives for their small-scale press, the Schnepfs dont grow their produce for chain grocery stores. Their 25-plus varieties of fruits and vegetables are for the enjoyment of those who visit the farm. Wanting guests to stay longer to enjoy the surrounding San Tan Mountains and their 300 acres of orchards, forest, and fields, they created The Cozy Peach: a glamping getaway with 10 travel trailers, from a 1948 Spartan Manor to a 1972 Airstream Land Yacht. Not only is Mrs. Schnepf their head farm-to-table chef, she can also wield a hammer and decorate to House Beautiful perfection. Just the right blend of nostalgic and contemporary, each trailer has been polished like a gem.

RELIC RESCUE

A curious assortment of old buildings line the dirt road in the center of the farm. When the Schnepfs see a local historic structure at risk of demolition, they try to rescue and restore itstarting with the 1910 train station masters cottage, which they rolled here on telephone poles. Now the Schnepf Family Museum, it houses exhibits on the early days of Queen Creek, the farm, and the familys own colorful history. Browse the retro photographs and a century of mementos, and youll soon realize why the governor designated Schnepf Farms an Arizona Treasure.