Page 23 - Sandy Jackman Pantai Hotel

Who Rules the Home?

By Jim Mutton Glamping…The New Camping

By Eva Starr

Glamping, otherwise known as glamorous-camping, has been
around longer than before The Real Housewives of Orange County
brought it to fame in April of 2012. Glamping can be traced to the
Victorian era when big game hunting was all the fashion. Safari
tents and Bell tents were extensively used across Africa and India
with servants to look after your every need.
The modern-day El Capitan Canyon (http://www.elcapitancanyon.
com/) Resort began as a rustic private campground in 1970 on a
300-acre site directly across from El Capitan State Beach, before
being re-opened in May 2001 as a Glamping-Resort. Choose
between rustic log cabins, canvas tents on wood platforms or your
round communal style Yurt.

El Capitan Canyon, where the Real Housewives and myself
camped, is a mere 20 miles north of Santa Barbara. Located in a
seaside pocket on 300 plus acres on the picturesque Pacific coast,
the nature lodging experience at El Capitan Canyon was created
for those who have the desire to totally unwind, relax and commune
with nature.
east-coast wood because I used
Let’s be clear, the housewives almost a whole bag of newspa-
of orange county glamped there pers and the only thing on fire was
in 2001, I went for a three-day my blood pressure. The next two
birthday retreat a few days ago - nights, I surrendered and bought
for my 59th birthday. I’m saving fire starters from the campground
my 60th for Italy, Paolo Maldini store: The campground market has San Diego Woman
and me. everything already packaged in kits
for you. Convenient, but $50 for a
I did my research and read the hot-dog kit for two? For that price I
yelp reviews so I could get a feel could buy stock in Oscar Mayer. 23
for what to expect and to bring.
I did call the El Capitan desk five One morning I decided to venture
to six times before my trip asking out on one of the trails and see
every question under the sun. nature at its best. What I did see
Once you’re in the woods and a was two deer, a squirrel and a big
four-hour drive from home, you sign posted at one point on the trail:
don’t want to take any chances. WARNING: A juvenile mountain lion
Unless of course you’re Vicki has been spotted proceed with cau-
Gunvalson, and then you’d prob- tion. Even though I’m a roughing it camper from way back, where
ably have an entourage to handle the details. there’s a Jr., there’s a Papa. No thanks, I’ll stick to seeing a squirrel
here and there and head back to the cabin. On the way back I
I booked a cabin near the creek; of course I knew the creek would did come across a strange looking piece of art tucked away in the
be dried out. What can I say I’m from Ohio? I wanted the feeling woods called The Nest, which was my ‘find’ of the hike.
of being by some sort of water, dried out or not. The cabin was
knotty pine, with a big double bed, and a loft for the kids, (of which From El Capitan you’re a ten-minute walk from the beach, which is
mine are grown and still in Ohio). There’s a stand-up shower, a known for its tide pools and marine life. I did get a glimpse of a real
mini-fridge and a microwave. I brought my own dishes, a wine live starfish attached to a rock, which was the thrill of my trip, run-
glass, and a corkscrew, the most important items. After all I was ning a close second to drinking Frances Coppola’s Petit Syrah with
celebrating my birthday. I bought wine and champagne, just in case my turkey dogs on a half-lit fire. I guess the fire and I had some-
I couldn’t decide which I should pair with the turkey dogs or the thing in common.
smores.
Glamping is worldwide, and has really taken off in England, Wales,
I bought firewood from Home Depot in town before I left but they France and Portugal. As for the US there are 397 Glamping places
were out of fire-starters. No problem, I have a neighbor who has a to choose from. Be sure to do your homework and make it a family
ton of newspapers that should do it. I’m a camper from way back. affair. In the meantime, I’ll wait for Italy and Maldini.
When my kids were young we camped on the ground with no elec-
tricity, running water or any of the extras; I can surely light a fire.
Little did I know California wood must be different from mid-west or