I never thought that I’d be writing about camping in the winter. To say that I’m not a fan of snow is an understatement. But glamping at Glen Oro Eco Retreat on the first snowfall of the season…well that was just magical.

We spent our first night in our Explorer’s Tent as a cozy couples retreat, and then I went home, dropped off my husband and got my two older sons to spend another night as a fun Mother-Son Getaway!

Getting to your Campsite

When we arrived, we parked our car in the parking lot and let them know we were there (they gave us the phone number for the person who would be helping us during our stay) and they came and picked us up in their side-by-side which included a bed at the back for our bags.

Then they drove the scenic route to our campsite through the beautiful trails at Glen Oro Farm. They gave us a tour of the grounds to let us know where everything was. They showed us where the sauna was (more tips on that further down), where we could visit the horses, and more. We were driven to our Explorer’s Tent, but there are two other accommodation options called the Stargazer Dome or the Galaxy Gazer Dome that we passed as well that looked stunning as well.

Inside The Tent

As soon as we walked into the tent at Glen Oro Eco Retreat it’s like we entered the most magical cozy place on earth. Right at the front of the tent was a wood stove with a roaring fire that instantly gave the coziest winter vibes. The fact that the snow was lightly falling outside for the first time of the year just made it even more magical.

As we walked further into the tent there was a comfy couch, coffee table, dining table with 2 chairs, and a big comfy bed with heated blanket. There was also a kitchenette area in the room complete with small fridge, induction burner, kettle, toaster oven, and all of the kitchen wares we needed like plates, pots, pans, cutlery, etc. I brought so many items that I didn’t need because I didn’t know they were already stocked in the tent!

There was also a full bathroom in the tent including shower, sink with filtered drinkable water, composting toilet and more (more on the bathroom later).

I loved that they had a notebook on the coffee table where you can write a note about your stay. It was so cool to leaf through it and see what others experienced when they were there, and also leave a message for the next person about our stay!

Also located inside the drawers of the coffee table were games that you can play! We had some rounds of Jenga, as well as UNO All Wild and Chess while I was there with my sons.

Outside the Tent

Outside of our tent you had a firepit with Muskoka chairs to overlook the beautiful scenery. We made campfires both nights and just sat and watched the snow fall; it was stunning.

Right on the “porch” area there was a BBQ as well for if you wanted to cook outside. Next time we are definitely bringing some steaks.

The Sauna

High on the ridge of the Eco-Retreat where you can see the beautiful forest scape is the wood-fired sauna and cold plunge. They gave us a link to access the sign-up on our phones so that we had the sauna to ourselves for our hour (or more) block of time. It’s useful to know that you have to light the fire in the sauna yourself but they provide all of the materials you need as well as a changing area and towels. Just give yourself about 20 minutes for it to warm up once you light it.

The Horses

We didn’t end up seeing the horses or riding them, but there are stay and ride packages that you can get during your stay at Glen Oro Eco-Retreat. Note that these are booked separately from your stay reservation, but you get 20% off the package with your camping stay.

The Food

You can of course bring your own food to keep in your mini fridge that comes in the room, or bring your own take-out, but you also have access to a private chef or charcuterie/snack box options during your stay. We weren’t aware of this during our stay and so we didn’t book far enough in advance, but we will definitely do the private chef option next time. Chef Paul provides campers with a delicious meal prepared over an open fire from the comfort of your Glamsite, and is in high demand so if you want this option during your stay make sure you book well in advance.

Another option for food during your stay are brunch boxes, charcuterie platters and more from chopped Canada Champion and owner of the Eclectic Cafe Chef Melanie Robinson. Fresh baked goods, locally sourced ingredients, options for savoury, sweet, meats, and cheeses any of these delicious creations can be delivered right to your tent. If you want this option during your stay you need to order at least 48 hours prior to your stay.

Options to dine off-site include: The Common Stove, The Hog and Penny Pub, Rustica, and the Eclectic Cafe.

Things I Wish I Knew Before Our Stay

This is usually my favourite section to write because I can include travel hacks/mom hacks that I learned during our stay to save you from making the same mistakes!

The Toilet: The toilet in your bathroom is a composting toilet. I had never experienced one of these before, but basically liquids go in the front, solids in the back and then you cover the solids with sawdust and it vents outside of the tent when you close the lid. As they were explaining this process to us, my husband and I were exchanging glances because we were certain that there would be a smell associated with the solids if you know what I mean. I can assure you there was no smell and we were shocked! This is a great way to keep the Eco-Retreat sustainable and environmentally responsible.

The Shower: If you are planning to take a shower during your stay, make sure you limit it to under 15 minutes. That’s about the amount of time that you will have hot water for before it starts to cool down. The shower is beautiful with wood planks on the bottom and just the smell of the Eucalyptus wash and the wood was just so cozy and relaxing.

The Kitchenette: One thing that we did was bring way too many things with us that we didn’t need. I even brought a small Keurig just in case because I wasn’t sure of the coffee situation. But the kitchenette is stocked with cups, mugs, plates, utensils, pots, pans, kettle, burner, and more. They even have coffee, sugar and a french-press. If you’re a coffee lover like me make sure you bring yourself your favourite creamer to store in the fridge, but they’ve got everything else you need. I even brought us water to drink because I wasn’t sure about the drinkability of the water there, but the water that comes through the sink in the bathroom is filtered and drinkable.

The Fire: The beautiful wood stove in the room needs to be stocked continuously and that is your job during your stay. There is a box outside of your tent that holds a ton of wood for both the wood stove in the tent and your fire pit and includes fire starters and matches. There is a gauge on the stove that shows you the ideal temperature range so that even the most inexperienced camper (like myself) is able to keep the tent warm in the colder months. My kids loved the adventure of gathering the wood, starting the fire, and keeping our tent warm throughout the evening. I had to get up through the night twice to restock the fire to make sure we stayed warm while we slept. There is also a big heated blanked on the bed that you can plug in that kept us warm very well.

Other Close-By Activities: We wanted a cozy date night, and then a family games and movie night so we didn’t leave the grounds once we were there, but there are so many activities close by that you could go to during your stay. These include Vetta Nordic Spa, Quayle’s Brewery, and more.

Conclusion

Winter “glamping” at Glen Oro Eco Retreat was a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of nature in those months that aren’t our favourite, while staying comfy and cozy. We plan on making this our annual end of November tradition. Gather your friends or family, pack your gear, and get ready to embrace the magic of winter on your own glamping retreat!

xoxo Chelsea Dyan

*This trip was hosted by Glen Oro Eco-Retreat but as always these opinions are completely my own.