Rustic Glamping at Glen Oro Farms

Sometimes, the only way to stay productive and happy is to rest. In the fast pace life we live daily, we tend to forget self care and self healing. We all know how healing nature is, however finding new, unique experiences while still being comfortable can be difficult. Glen Oro was the perfect self care and eco retreat for us.

This winter, we had the opportunity to visit Glen Oro Farms, a glamping and wedding venue just north of Barrie, ON. We found the hospitality to be excellent, with a full tour of both of the campsites we stayed at, as well as a full shuttle service between any of the locations within their property. There were also a ton of activities to do, such as horseback riding, hiking trails to a lookout point, a campfire outside your tent, and a sauna. Overall, we had an amazing experience at Glen Oro Farms, and would definitely recommend it to couples who want to experience camping for the first time, while still keeping the modern comfort of things like heat and running water!

Let’s start by showing you guys the Galaxygazer Dome. This stay is designed for (max) 4 people. The main bed was on their second floor, with a Murphy bed on the first floor. This dome featured two unique features: The first was on the main floor, offering a huge view of the forest that we were surrounded in, and offering amazing window light with practically the whole side of the dome being a window.

The second was on the upper level, offering a skylight for great natural light during the day, and a view of the stars during the night. Although it was cloudy and raining when we went and didn’t get to see the stars, we can definitely understand and appreciate the vibe of a couple sleeping together under the stars.

The beds and pillows were extremely comfortable which isn’t the first thing that comes to mind at an eco retreat!

For heat, we had the option of using space heaters, or a wood stove (putting our own logs in and tending to the fire). We used the wood stove for most of our stay, although we can definitely appreciate the space heaters who don’t want to put in so much work to keep the heat running. The bed also came with a heated blanket, but we didn’t feel the need to use it since the blankets themselves were super warm.

The kitchen features drinkable tap water from the sink, as well as a gas stove and a fridge. It came with all amenities that you would need, such as utensils, cooking equipment, frying pans and pots, a kettle, and more! Having a full kitchen definitely made this stay feel a lot more modern and at home.

We loved the aesthetic of the kitchen! The kitchen is also a perfect place for a mini photoshoot with your partner if you are planning a wedding here with your mini honeymoon afterwards!

The washroom featured full running water from the sink, a flushable toilet, and a shower. It came with a heater installed inside, which kept the bathroom nice and toasty (and even warmed up the floors to keep your feet warm). Everything was well cleaned, as expected.

Next, we wanted to introduce the Explorer’s Tent, designed for (max) 2 people. This is a glamping trip to impress!

This tent offers a closer experience to traditional outdoor camping, while still keeping the modern amenities like running water. A campfire was also placed outside if you wished to have a bonfire.

The tent experience is a lot more cozy and intimate! This would be the perfect anniversary date to impress. It’s an amazing trip to take your partner on for special occasions!

The tent featured a similar wood stove for heat, although space heaters were again available if you wish to go that route. One of our favorite activities was watching the fire together!

The bathroom again offered drinkable tap water. However, the shower only had hot water for about 15 min, in which afterwards it would take about 45 min for the water to heat up again. The toilet was also compostable (not flushable), as Glen Oro also focuses on being eco friendly and sustainable, However we did not find that it smelled, which was definitely a plus. The towels in the washroom were also placed right above the heater, so that you get a heated towel after exiting the shower. This was a detail we noticed and we extremely appreciate the thought put into the guests’ experience.

The Explorer Tent included a ton of board games and activities to keep you occupied and off your phone, like a chess board and playing cards. Our favourite was their included journal, where guests had the opportunity to write down stories about their stays for future guests to read, and to look back at the experiences of past guests. We loved this touch of sharing stories with one another. Although this tent did not offer a view of the stars, they also included a star projector to add to the experience of camping.

Throughout this experience, we enjoyed the hospitality that we received from all the staffs, as well as the unique features both rooms had to offer.

We would definitely recommend Glen Oro Farms to any couple who wish to spend a few nights here to escape from our modern society of social media and technology, and focus on quality time with each other!

So when are you booking to impress your partner with an eco retreat?

If you’re looking for other date ideas, be sure to check out the rest of our Toronto Date Night series!