Best Glamping in Colorado – Approachable Outdoors (2024)

I have a tradition with my college best friend – every summer we take one night and escape to the mountains, that’s how we first found Collective Retreats a few years ago and immediately fell in love. It’s everything you love about camping – sleeping under the stars, fresh mountain air, waking up to horses grazing outside your tent – but with five star accommodations.

Collective Retreats Vail is actually a few minutes past the little ski town, nestled in the foothills of Wolcott. It’s on a working ranch (so not dog-friendly) but horses, goats & donkeys are hanging out just a few feet from the tents making the experience that much sweeter.

The fun starts when you check into the property because you hop in an ATV and they haul you up the hill to drop off your stuff. To stay the staff is kind and accommodating is an understatement. From hiking recommendations to questions – anytime you need anything they’re just a text away.

We stayed in one of the Summit Tents, which has king-sized beds, adirondack chairs on a front porch and a private bathroom. Just up the hill there are the journey tents which share a bathroom but get a higher view from the hilltop.

Inside our tent were bathrobes, a heated blanket, Yeti cooler already filled with ice and water, and a french press and tea station. Highly recommend saving hair wash day for the rain shower and deliciously scented products. My favorite part of the bathroom is unzipping the windows for fresh air and views while you shower.

Once you’re settled in there’s a daily Sage Happy Hour at Three Peaks Lodge where there’s an entire full-service bar set up. It’s pefectly in between all the Summit tents and just a quick walk down the hill from the Journey tents. If you’re heading there after dark there are lanterns lining the little paths.

This time we did the Bubbles and Branding which included a bottle of prosecco, the most unbelievably delicious charcuterie board and then you get to brand your own board! Naturally, I went with A & O for Approachable Outdoors. Somehow both times we’ve stayed there the Chef’s Tasting Menu hasn’t been available (I’m just taking it as a sign to go back again) so this stay we did the BBQ Experience.

Once we had fully guaranteed we would receive help grilling, we got to work and I have to say – I’m impressed at how well we did! Honestly, the food is so delicious you can’t go wrong. Our box included a carne asada steak, chicken thighs and two local sausages made of rabbit and rattlesnake – trust me, they were incredible!

In the morning we wandered the property for a wellness walk and spent some time with the horses after breakfast. I’m so happy the experience was just as wonderful as we remember it.

This escape also came at the perfect time for me. I had so much fun planning the Approachable Outdoors Benefit Bash and fundraiser raising money for children’s cancer research with the Morgan Adams Foundation, but it absolutely drained me. Thankfully I had help from friends and family but most of the operation is just me. Between working full time, the new-ish puppy and executing the fundraiser, I was in need of a break and the best place for me to do that is in the mountains.