Canadians love getting outside, marvelling at our country’s natural beauty, and spending time with family and friends. Camping is probably the best way to do all that at once.

But some of us find less joy in camping’s more challenging aspects like starting fires, sleeping on the ground, and giving up all the comforts of home.

For us? There’s “glamping.”

What is Glamping?

A portmanteau of ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping,’ the term “glamping” first gained popularity over the last decade in the United Kingdom, before quickly spreading to North America and beyond. Of course, similar outdoor activities, like luxury safaris, have been popular for over a century. But recently, there has been a clear surge of interest in making camping as elegant an experience as possible.

In its standard definition, glamping involves being in nature within outdoor living in structures that are more stable and permanent than fold-up tents. We’re talking military style canvas tents, yurts, teepees, trailers, or domes. Unlike in folding tents, there is room to stand up and walk in glamping “tents,” and often extra space for beds, chairs, dressers, and more.

Typically, these accommodations are rented nightly, just like hotel rooms. Depending on the operator, glamping getaways offer other comforts like fresh sheets, access to full kitchens or grills, and even prepared meals like at a B&B. Other perks might include private decks, electricity, cable & internet, and activity tours.

BUT…glamping is also a state of mind. You don’t need to stay in a designated glamping area or even in a typical glamping tent in order to “glamp.” All you need is a willingness to up your game and bring some style, refinement, and yes, a touch of opulence, to your camping experience.

This can be achieved in many ways by paying close attention to how you sleep, eat, drink, and play, as well as what you wear and where you stay. We’ve compiled a handy guide to all of it!

Where To Go in Western Canada

For traditional glamping accommodations, there are several fantastic options in Western Canada.

Wya Point Resort

In British Columbia, there are the amazing coastal yurts at Wya Point Resort near Uculet; plush ‘tipis‘ in the Monashee at YD Guest Ranch; swanky Airstream trailers at WOODS on Pender Island; and the palatial tenthouse suites (including hydrotherapy tub) at the Sunshine Coast’s Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on the Sunshine coast.

In Alberta, there are the deluxe tipis and trapper’s tents in the Rockies at Sundance Lodges, massive canvas wall tents at Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, comfort tents with handmade furnishings at Dinosaur Provincial Park, and the unforgettable rustic accommodations at The Nest near Slave Lake.

In Saskatchewan, there are multiple yurting locations near Prince Albert Provincial park and more, while Manitoba boasts provincial parks with nine more divine yurting options.

Tourism Saskatchewan

Another great option is searching for any provincial or national park offering oTENTiks. These tent-cabin hybrids have sprung up all across Canada in recent years and offer gorgeous glamping potential at very reasonable rates.

But again, glamping is not so much a place as a state of mind. Just remember, wherever you are, roughing it doesn’t need to be rough. Focus on the details, treat yourself to a few finer things, and, overall, just imagine any camping experience more like a retreat than an expedition.

What to Bring Glamping

The short answer is ‘the best.’ For example, instead of just throwing any old clothes in a bag, grab some casual-cool outfits to put you in a glamorous state of mind. Of course, this includes your favourite and most chic outdoor gear, including hats, shorts, and sunglasses. And don’t forget to bring the finest sunscreens and bug repellants. You know, the good stuff.

If you’re bringing your own bedding, try to make it as much like home as possible, with quilts, comforters, and blankets, instead of a simple sleeping bag. Also, do ANYTHING you must to stay off the ground. Whether it’s a cot, hammock, or air mattress, happy glampers have one firm and final rule: no sleeping on hard, uneven ground.

A few other glamping essentials:

High-Capacity Charger: “Getting away from it all” doesn’t mean you need to be fully disconnected. Glamping, after all, is about having the best of all worlds.

“Luxury” Camping Chairs: Let’s face it, glamping is more about sitting in nature, and not so much about tearing up a hiking trail. You’ll want a great camping chair to sit in for hours and watch the world go by.

Shade On-Demand: Once again, when glamping, you want it all.  And that includes sitting in the sun while still being able to escape to the shade. Ah, life’s good.

Fab Floaties: Floating on a tire’s inner tube, you might have a ball. But you’re definitely not glamping. For that, you’ll need a floaty with sleekness, style, panache, and above all: the ability to recline.

Chic Coolers:  A fully-functional cooler needn’t be an eyesore. We’ve got great options for chic coolers that will keep your food fresh and totally up your campfire style.

What To Eat While Glamping

There is no reason to completely avoid classic camping foods like hot dogs and s’mores while glamping, especially if you’re bringing kids. But! Part of the fun of a proper glamp experience is bringing a touch of elegance to everything you do. And that absolutely extends to the food.

Here are a couple deliciously classy options to get you started. Of course, as with all things, you’ll find many more incredible and ingenious options on Pinterest!

Lemon Chicken & Potatoes in Foil

INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 round slice of watermelon, about 1 1/2 inch thick
• 4 ounces vanilla greek yogurt
• 4 ounces low fat cream cheese
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)
• 4-5 strawberries, sliced
• 1 banana, sliced
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Full instructions at: TheCookieRookie.com

If you have any more questions about glamping, or want to stock up for your next adventure, visit London Drugs in-store and online today.

Happy Glamping, Everyone!

That’s no moon, that’s the Star Wars TIE Fighter Premium 10,000 BTU Portable Propane BBQ! If you just can’t help but embrace your love of Star Wars, this barbecue was designed for you, and I had the pleasure of reviewing it so you can get a better sense of just what it’s like. From the unboxing, to assembly, to putting it through its paces and finally enjoying dinner, it was an experience that had me feeling far more excited than usual for cooking, and rewarded the inner nerd with plenty of Star Wars Easter eggs. It’s also approved by the CSA (Canadian Standards Association), so you can rest assured that you’re getting a quality cooking machine. so, those might not be the droids you’re looking for, but this might be the barbecue you’re searching for instead!

The unboxing itself was quite exciting, as there are plenty of little details included with this barbecue. Lifting it from the box, you can instantly see its charming resemblance to a TIE fighter, with the X-shaped design and metalwork designed to look like the front window of the fighter. The similarities become even more apparent once you hang the side trays in their place – they form the iconic wings of the TIE fighter when flipped down, and provide a sturdy place to do meal prep and organize food once they’re flipped up. The sleek black finish gives it a classic appearance in your back yard, with subtle red accents adding an edgy touch. An imprinted Star Wars logo at the front gives an official nod to the films. The next surprise was the instruction guide, which came sealed in a mysteriously heavy envelope. Opening this envelope revealed not only a set of instruction cards with prints of your favourite Star Wars characters on the back, but a metal engraved collector’s certificate listing the stats of the barbecue. It was an extra-special touch that instilled the inner geek with a sense of nerdy glee. But the details didn’t stop there, there was more to be discovered as we assembled this BBQ.

Set up was simple – the barbecue is mostly assembled straight out of the box. All you have to do to get ready to cook is install the thermometer and front handle by simply screwing them secure with the included tools. Then just slip the dripping collection pan in below and connect the barbecue to your propane source, and you’re ready to go! As you go through this process, you’ll be sure to notice the thermometer. It’s one of the most unique aspects of this model, as it is designed to look like a gauge on an instrument panel. As the needle rises with the temperature, you almost feel as though it could suddenly jump you into hyperdrive.

The outside frame is constructed from cast aluminum for a sleek look and durable design that resists rust and corrosion. The barbecue weighs in at about 20 kilograms (44 pounds), making it a bit heavy, but it is fairly easy to grip and carry when you want to have cookouts while picnicking. It is simple to connect to a standard propane  bottle using the hose included with the barbecue. As always, be sure to check that you have connected them properly with a tight seal that doesn’t leak, and always connect it with the propane tank valve securely closed.

The cooking surface itself is made from strong cast iron and is crafted in the circular geometric shape of the Imperial Crest (come over to the Dark Side…we have steaks!). One of the best surprise highlights of the grill may well be the reverse Star Wars logo in this grill surface. Crank up the heat and lay a steak or burger on top of it, and it grills the logo (facing the right way) right into your meat! (While the Imperial March plays in your head). The 220 square inch surface gives you plenty of space, so you can cook up to eight or nine hamburgers at once, or mix things up like we did, with a steak or two, a few kebabs and some veggies. This makes it ideal for the average-sized family. With 10,000 BTUs of power at hand, it cooks remarkably quickly. Our array of steak, kebabs and tomatoes were ready in under 10 minutes. A handy knob a the side lets you control your heat with ease for nuanced cooking.

Digging into the array of meats and veggies, we were very happy with the results of our cookout. The kebabs were juicy and tender, vegetables had delicious flavour and the steak was, well, anything but Chewie. The fact that everything had cooked so quickly was also a great aspect, as it would have been very easy to keep a steady flow of burgers and hot dogs cooking if we wanted to have a larger cookout with a few friends.

After dinner was done, clean-up was very minimal. The cast iron grill is made up of two pieces, which can be simply lifted out and washed in the sink if needed, but a quick sweep with a wire brush should do for cleaning. The drippings pan below is also easy to remove and wash if needed, though we barely had any drippings either. The two side trays can be removed and washed as well, in case you spilled any food, or can simply be wiped down before setting them to their vertical position for storage.

Overall I was very impressed with this compact Star Wars barbecue. While it’s not the most high-tech barbecue on the market, this little model delivers reliable quality, delicious results  and is packed with attention to the little details. Whether your kids are die-hard Star Wars fans, or you’re indulging in your own fandom, it certainly brings a special aspect to outdoor cooking that will leave you smiling. The best part is, you won’t even have to go to a galaxy far, far away to find one – just check your local London Drugs!

Everyone is raving about the latest gadget. Fidget Spinners are the new must-have toy for both adults and kids. Fidget Spinners are available online now at londondrugs.com.

Can’t wait for a delivery? London Drugs we will be hosting 2 4  5 NOW SIX ‘pop-up’ stores May 18 – 21 where you can get your own Fidget Spinner – this weekend!

Locations are:

710 Granville Street
Vancouver

20th and Lonsdale
North Vancouver

West Broadway and Cambie
Vancouver

Guildford Mall
Surrey

Valley Fair Mall
Maple Ridge

Lougheed Hwy and Barnett
Coquitlam Centre

Come on by and join the latest craze!

Not recommended for children under 8.

At London Drugs, we sell everything from cameras to candy, lipsticks to memory sticks. So it’s no shock that some of our many products are a bit, well…bizarre. And that’s okay. We love being surprised by some of our weirdly wonderful items.

Once before, we celebrated our favourite odd appliances. This time we broadened our scope to include all things nifty, neato, and unexpected.

Enjoy!

Gidget Widget Cube

Bike Brightz

Hardbite Beet Chips

Cover Blubber Food Saver

iHome Bluetooth Dual Alarm Clock

This “clock” does everything. It wakes you up with progressive sound and light meant to mimic a natural sunrise, but also plays streaming music, can be used as a speakerphone, and glows in five selectable hues. Plus, it looks like a giant frog’s eye. So that’s pretty neat.

Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker