Simply Glamping

A relaxing stay in nature.

That’s how I would describe my first-ever glamping experience at Simply Glamping, a glamping site located near Barrhead. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to come here and stay in one of the domes during the weekend. It’s a fairly short drive from Edmonton, about an hour and a half away. I had a very enjoyable stay here and would definitely recommend it!

Simply Glamping was started in 2022 by a lovely pair named Lynn and Wayne. Both of them are kind and gentle souls with a strong passion for nature. They wanted to create a space where others could escape and disconnect within the forest. You can read more about their story here but if you get the chance to visit and stay, you’ll be able to meet them in person and see how wonderful they both are.

There are 5 different types of domes that you can stay in:

Stargazer Dome (accommodates 2)

Happy Dome (accommodates 2)

Whispering Aspens Dome (accommodates 4)

Group Dome (accommodates 4)

The one that I stayed in was the Group Dome because my boyfriend and I went with another couple. This dome has its own private area with an outdoor kitchen, seating, firepit, hammocks, and porta potty. The cost is $250 per night.

The inside of the dome is quite spacious. There are 2 queen beds and a small table with 2 chairs. If you’re wondering what the temperature of the dome is like, it was warm during the day but we were barely inside the dome anyways. In the evening, the dome was actually at a good temperature for us because there was a propane heater inside. Extra blankets are provided in case you’re cold but I wore normal pajamas and had a good sleep with the blanket that was on the bed.

My favorite part about the dome was the view looking into the forest. It was quite nice to wake up and see this in the morning! At night, there are string lights that turn on inside the dome once it’s dark out.

Attached to the dome is an outdoor kitchen for cooking and eating in. The kitchen has pretty much everything you need so you don’t have to bring much to the site except for food. Here’s what’s provided: BBQ, pots and pans, dishes, cutlery and utensils, and glasses and cups.  There’s drinking water and a portable sink with its own water. There’s dish soap and sponges for washing dishes. For tea and coffee, there are tea bags and instant coffee. A teapot and kettle are provided, and mugs for usage. If you’d like to bring your own coffee, there’s a coffee press. The following condiments are available: salt, pepper, garlic, and olive oil. One thing to note is that there is no fridge so bring a cooler if you need it. There’s a bar-style seating area with 4 chairs. As you can tell, Lynn and Wayne have really thought of everything in terms of cooking and dining.

Here is some cooking inspo and what I ate during my stay here: sausages and caesar salad, ribeye steak and mushroom truffle risotto, and avocado, bacon, egg on a bagel with campfire beans and fruit. The greens we had with the steak were actually given to us by Lynn and Wayne from their garden!

Included with your dome rental is a firepit area with firewood. Extra firewood can be purchased for an additional cost once you’ve run out. We spent most of the evening here and even had a chance to connect with Lynn and Wayne over the fire.

There is a private porta potty located near the dome but if you’re not a fan of those (like me), a flush toilet was recently installed in a nearby trailer. The trailer isn’t located directly at the dome but it was a very short walk away from ours. Lynn and Wayne are also in the process of installing a hot shower inside this trailer. Until then, there’s an outdoor shower you can use with shower bags of hot water provided upon request.

A nice place to take a nap is in one of the hammocks, which is part of the private area. There are 2 hammocks here. On a side note: who else thinks UGG needs to sponsor me for this photo?

In terms of activities, we enjoyed the “playground” a lot. Lynn and Wayne intended it for both kids and adults so that adults can also have fun! There’s axe throwing (with plastic axes), a trampoline, a climbing dome, a tetherball, and a net with badminton rackets and birdies. Another activity is board games and cards; you can either bring your own or play the ones that are inside your dome. And lastly, there are several forest and meadow trails to explore. All of the trails lead back to the glamping site so don’t worry about getting lost. Lynn and Wayne have also provided a hand-drawn map inside the dome.

If you’re looking for a chance to escape the city or spend more time in nature, I would certainly suggest doing it here. The domes are ideal for anyone – couples, families, friends, or even solo. From the beginning to the end, I had an amazing experience as well as everyone that I went with. Lynn and Wayne provided great hospitality and communication. What stood out for me was how passionate they are about Simply Glamping. They want you to come out here and enjoy your time in nature, and I hope that you will be able to just like I did.

Simply Glamping