LONG BEACH, Wash. — A new kind of campground in Long Beach is making sleeping under the stars easier - and a lot more luxurious. And it was just named one of the "Best Places in the World" by Time Magazine.
“A lot of first-time campers - one of the theses of this project was to try and remove as many barriers that keep people from camping,” said Josh Simpson, General Manager of Snow Peak Campfield Long Beach.
If one of your camping barriers is 'Where's the spa?' this is your place. It has one, complete with an alder grove view. The campground’s restrooms are better appointed than most new homes and boast roomy showers.
You don't even need to set up a tent here.
"We have what we call tent suites, where we set the entire campsite up for the guest bedding, tables, kitchen, fireplace, the tent itself, and it's just like a hotel room. At that point, you just show up with your sleeping bag and pillow, and you're ready to camp." You can bring your own tent to Snow Peak, and there are also tents you can rent and set up yourself.
If tenting's not your thing, try a Jyubako Cabin.
"Jyubako is the Japanese word for tiny home. Those are fully self-contained units with climate control, bathrooms, kitchenettes, refrigerators, luxury bedding,” Simpson said.
Snow Peak is a Japanese outdoor brand that's made high end camping gear for 65 years.
The company also owns 13 luxury campgrounds in Japan and Korea where people can try the gear "in the wild."
"One of Snow Peaks missions is to restore humanity through that connection to nature,” Simpson said.
This is their first campground in the States, and it's bringing more than cool camp toys. It's also bringing Japanese style camping to America - from the house made onigiri (rice balls) in the camp store, to an emphasis on communal spaces.
"Asian campgrounds tend to be more open fields, rather than tucked away in the trees,” Simpson explained.
It all comes together to seamlessly blend mother nature – and human nature.
Long Beach architect Erik Fagerland helped build this place, which has added both jobs and a new attraction to the Long Beach Peninsula.
“The grand opening was the favorite part – watching people use what we came up with,” Fagerland said.
As the sun goes down, at the first of many Night Markets planned at Snow Peak Campfield Long Beach, campers commune with area artisans, and friends and families gather around campfires.
"I like sleeping in a tent, I like spending time with my family and friends,” said Hunter Rozmyn, a 9-year-old who was doing exactly that.
Snow Peak Campfield Long Beach is both a place to get away from it all - and get together.
"Almost everyone you see has a smile on their face and is just relaxed and unplugged and having a great time,” Simpson said.
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