Need the within scoop on what it’s like to remain in a KOA Deluxe cabin? Questioning the place to go tenting within the better Mystic, Connecticut space close to Rhode Island seashores, Foxwoods Resort, and the Mohegan Solar on line casino? Learn our KOA Mystic assessment to get the within scoop on the tenting cabins and the KOA Mystic Vacation campground in North Stonington.
We aren’t an RV household and as a lot as I really like glamping, my earlier tent tenting expertise is restricted to a few music festivals with my teen youth group and the occasional evening in a tent with my brothers and sister within the yard. At any time when I hear my mates discuss how a lot enjoyable they’ve had tenting, I do not forget that I’ve this factor about loos with flush bogs and operating water. And by factor, I imply they’re a requirement. I’m additionally not the very best sleeper, so sleeping on the bottom shoulder to shoulder in a confined area? Um, no thanks.
For our household journeys, I choose a one-bedroom suite with a king mattress and a pull-out sofa in a separate residing space. However I believed we must always strive tenting as a household, so when KOA reached out to see if I might be fascinated about attempting their “glamping” possibility (e.g. KOA tenting cabins), I used to be comfortable to provide it a strive.
KOA operates 486 campgrounds throughout North America, lots of which have tenting cabins and deluxe cabins. We determined to take a look at an area Mystic KOA in Connecticut, which is shut sufficient to dwelling to make it an ideal weekend getaway and well-located to take pleasure in all of the sights round Mystic.
We have been invited to remain in one of many KOA Deluxe Cabins. The cabin configurations differ from campground to campground, however ours was arrange railroad type, with one room after one other entrance to again. We entered right into a residing area, kitchen, and eating space, adopted by the toilet on one aspect and bunk beds on the opposite, and ending with a separate bed room with a queen mattress. It was greater than sufficient area for our household of three and the cabin provided all of the facilities we would have liked to be comfy, together with air con and warmth.
We have been truly actually excited to expertise “tenting” in consolation and had visions of nature hikes, campfires, and, after all, s’mores. What we discovered was that there’s a distinct distinction between tenting and a campground. I lately listened to a extremely good dialogue of this subject on the RV Household Atlas podcast, declaring the professionals and cons of “wild tenting” versus campground tenting. What we discovered is that campground tenting is as a lot about connecting with folks as it’s about connecting with nature as a result of campgrounds appear to be all about group.
KOA Tenting Cabins Evaluation
Be aware: Our keep was hosted by Kampgrounds of America. All opinions are our personal.
After we arrived on a Friday night in October, it was pouring rain and I might barely see the place we have been driving as we made our option to our assigned cabin. It was too darkish to see what was round us. All I knew was that I used to be extra grateful than ever that we have been NOT sleeping in a tent that evening. As a substitute, we unpacked, turned on the warmth, and settled in for the evening.
The bunk mattress mattresses are lined with a thick rubber cowl so it was a bit exhausting to maintain the sheets in place, however the master suite was appointed like a easy mountain lodge room, with comfortable bedding, nightstands, and a rack to hold our garments.
Fortunately, Hannah introduced her sleep masks as a result of there isn’t any separation between the bunk beds and the principle residing area beside a small wall the width of the bunk mattress. And since Glenn was excited to nonetheless get to look at his beloved Mets on the big flat-screen TV within the residing space, she was nonetheless in a position to get to sleep so long as he stored the amount low. I used to be comfortable to seek out out that the campground was WiFi enabled so it was simple to leap on-line and share footage of the cabin.
The residing area was additionally fairly comfy with a pull-out futon, a flat-screen TV, and a eating desk that might seat 4. For those who have been staying at a cabin on a resort, you may really feel it was a bit easy, however for a cabin on a campground, I discovered it extra luxurious than I anticipated.
Earlier than we left, just a few folks had commented in regards to the cabin, questioning if it will be clear. General, it was pretty clear. The additional sheets regarded like they may have been dropped on the ground and I wanted to brush them off a bit, and so they clearly wanted to do a deep cleansing of the warmth grates within the lavatory to get the mud bunnies, however I’ve stayed at lodges with related points. It doesn’t endear me to these properties by any stretch, however given my decrease expectations for campground residing, it didn’t make me uncomfortable, I simply didn’t stroll round barefoot.
The lavatory itself was small however purposeful, with a bath/bathe with dispensers for shampoo and physique wash (that wanted refilling), a small sink and vainness, and a bathroom. What actually shocked me was the inclusion of a hair dryer. That was surprising for “tenting.”
The subsequent morning we found one other surprising amenity, a Keurig espresso machine and Okay-cups. No fussing with espresso pots over campfires right here. I had introduced alongside some primary provides and was in a position to repair us up some eggs for breakfast.
I needed to scrounge round for a pan that wasn’t too scratched up and a spatula to scramble and serve, however we made do. My largest criticism in regards to the cabin was how poorly the kitchen was stocked. We didn’t notice it at first however there have been solely a few forks, which meant we needed to get actually artistic when cooking and consuming our spaghetti later. Since this was presupposed to be “hassle-free” tenting, I anticipated the kitchen to have the fundamental plates, glasses, utensils, pots and pans that you simply’d discover in your common seaside or mountain home rental. For those who plan on cooking, I might carry alongside your individual primary provides (see my glamping packing listing.)
Mystic KOA Campground Evaluation
Thankfully, after we awakened on Saturday morning, the solar was shining and we have been in a position to discover round us. It was a shock to stroll out the entrance door and discover ourselves tightly surrounded by different cabins and leisure automobiles (RVs). It was clear that many of those RVs weren’t there for simply the weekend, as they’d porches and even gardens, giving the campground a trailer park really feel.
However as I walked all the way down to the camp retailer to select up some provides I had forgotten, I noticed folks having fun with their espresso on their entrance porch, neighbors chatting, and children taking part in collectively within the campground playground. I acquired the sense that that is the place folks got here commonly to attach with like-minded folks and escape day-to-day life in a spot the place they will benefit from the niceties of life with a change of surroundings. We skilled the same vibe after we stayed on the Tuxbury Tiny Homes in New Hampshire, as it’s a part of an RV campground.
After having fun with an ideal day in downtown Mystic, we wished to move again to the KOA to make the most of a few of the campground’s facilities. We missed the scheduled hayride round, and the lengthy tube slides have been closed, however all of us had a blast on the leaping pillow.
There was definitely lots to do across the campgrounds, from mini golf, to swings, to a playground. Throughout the summer time in addition they have an inground swimming pool obtainable for friends. There are additionally bike leases and pedal carts.
As we walked via the campgrounds and loved the swings, we noticed teams gathering round campfires, households taking part in catch collectively, youngsters making new mates, and canine…heaps and many canine profiting from the canine park. That night, the campground was internet hosting a household film evening on the pavilion. Whereas I’d wish to see the brand new Cinderella, we had an appointment with a campfire outdoors our cabin.
We had introduced alongside a few bottles of wine and it was actually enjoyable to pop the cork and luxuriate in a glass of wine on the porch swing. After a easy dinner of spaghetti (eaten with knives and spoons for lack of forks), we headed outdoors to take pleasure in our campfire in our outside picnic space.
The camp retailer sells every part it’s essential construct a campfire, from wooden, to fireplace starter, to particular kits that flip your flames completely different colours. Simply take into account that when you can carry some provides from dwelling, it’s unlawful to carry firewood throughout state strains. The shop additionally sells s’mores kits, however go early earlier than they promote out. I’d introduced our personal marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate, however forgot our super-duper skewers, however fortunately we have been in a position to choose up some wood skewers on the camp retailer.
Whereas I might have loved a bit extra of an genuine campfire expertise within the woods with out neighbors, I vastly loved the comforts of the Deluxe Cabin on the Mystic KOA. I additionally acquired an actual sense of the group that exists in campgrounds and see the attraction of an RV-lifestyle. If we do determine to department out to some wild tenting sooner or later, we acquired a enjoyable lesson in campfire cooking with a hands-on program on the close by Denison Pequotsepos Nature Heart. (See my full listing of issues to do in Mystic with youngsters.)
For those who don’t need to splurge on a cabin, be certain to take a look at these automobile tenting ideas. Or, get extra details about road-tripping utilizing KOA campgrounds.
For those who take pleasure in one of these glamping or cabin tenting, you must also take a look at:
PIN THIS FOR LATER
