It is that time of year, summer, and in the days of Covid-19, finding campsites seems impossible. So instead of our traditional camping, we thought we would give glamping a try. We traded our mattress pads and sleeping bags for a king bed with 1000 thread count sheets and cooking over a camp stove for a backyard-sized propane grill with chef-prepped ingredients.

I first heard about The Collective’s NYC location and loved that they are offering a luxury camping experience without requiring people to go far from home. I thought it was such a fantastic way to show city dwellers, some of whom might not be ready to hit the road and camp, how great an experience it can be to sleep outside and be in nature. When I looked a little deeper it turned out that the original site is in CO, and living in Denver I had to try it out.

Overall, our experience was fantastic and we recommend wholeheartedly. Will glamping replace traditional camping for me? No, but it definitely has its place, and I am sure that I would book this site for a group or an event, given the need. I was sad that we did not get to experience the Farm to Table dinner – but that, of course, is not the fault of The Collective.

Pros:

• An easy trip from Denver
• Amazing views from the property
• Friendly and enthusiastic staff
• Nightly bonfire with s’mores
• Full Bar
• BBQ Boxes were great, and the name does not do them justice
• Private bathroom in the Summit tents
• Stylish platform tent with Pendleton blanket and rustic chic decor including a chandelier
• Soft and cozy king size bed

Cons:

• Your camping tent probably keeps bugs out better than theirs
• The canvas was very noisy in the wind waking us up at night – We could have fixed this if we had tried by tightening or tying up the straps
• No kindling for the stove