Families roasting S’mores around a campfire at Little Village Retreat
There’s something timeless and beautiful about kids running barefoot through the grass, collecting sticks and rocks like treasure, and asking a million questions about the clouds, birds, or how trees grow. We all want our kids to love nature—to look up from their screens, breathe the fresh air, and feel free.
But let’s be honest. The idea of traditional camping often brings with it a bit of dread, especially if you’re the one doing the packing.
I still remember one summer when I was determined to give my kids a “real” camping experience. I wanted the full unplugged weekend—the kind with marshmallows, flashlights, and the sound of crickets at night. I had good intentions, but as I stood in my garage surrounded by bins, sleeping bags, tangled tent poles, and three different bug sprays, I started to wonder if the whole thing was worth it.
My kids were bouncing off the walls with excitement while I was googling “how to keep ice frozen for three days” and praying I hadn’t forgotten the matches again. The thought of spending hours setting up a campsite only to end up cold, sore, and damp with dirt in everything just didn’t feel like the family bonding I had envisioned.
That’s when I stumbled upon Little Village Retreat.
It was like someone had read my mind: camping without the stress. Real beds, running water, a roof over our heads—and yet still surrounded by sagebrush, birdsong, and the starriest skies I’ve ever seen.
We stayed in one of the glamping tents, and from the moment we arrived, I felt something I hadn’t expected: relief.
The beds were already made. There was room to stretch out. The kids were instantly in love with the space—they darted in and out of the tent like it was their own personal treehouse, wide-eyed at the red cliffs just beyond the deck.
And the best part? I didn’t spend hours setting up or breaking down anything. No hammering in stakes, no trying to cook on a smoky fire in the wind. Everything was ready.
Over the next two days, my kids climbed rocks, built fairy houses with sticks, and took off on short hikes to explore the trails near Kanarra Falls. In the evenings, we sat around a fire pit roasting marshmallows while they told ghost stories and tried to spot constellations.
See this waterfall at Kanarra Falls in Southern Utah near Little Village Retreat
It was all the magic of camping, without the exhaustion.
There was one moment that really stuck with me. My youngest, after washing her hands in the sink at our shared bathhouse, turned to me and said, “This is the best camping trip ever.” And I had to agree. The access to warm showers made everything easier—from sticky fingers to dusty feet after a long hike. I even snuck in a quiet shower of my own while the kids were busy exploring, and it felt like a little luxury in the middle of the wild.
That’s the thing about glamping—it takes away the logistics and lets you focus on the moments. My kids got to live outside for two days. They collected bugs, watched the stars, and learned how to light a fire safely. They asked questions about trees, pointed out hawks in the sky, and remembered how good it feels to be outside for no reason at all.
We came home a little dusty, a little tired, and so incredibly happy.
Kids playing tetherball at Little Village Retreat, Near Zion National Park
Now, we talk about our “glamping trip” like it was a summer highlight—and I didn’t even have to repack the car three times or forget the tent stakes.
If you’ve been wanting to get your kids into nature but the idea of traditional camping overwhelms you, I truly believe glamping is the best of both worlds. It’s the freedom and wonder of the outdoors—with just enough comfort to make it easy on the whole family.
At Little Village Retreat, we found peace. And isn’t that what we’re all hoping for, in the middle of the noise?
So, here’s to raising kids who love the land, and to doing it in a way that lets you love the experience, too.
