Guest post by Jodi White
Some of my best memories as a child is waking up in the morning in a tent either soaked or sweating. People no longer want to ‘rough it’. They want luxury resort-style services and amenities while exploring nature. Thus, glamping a.k.a. ‘glamorous camping’ is a trend that is not only catching on but thriving.
Being from Newfoundland I grew up making due with whatever mother nature brought us. To be honest this was part of the charm. When I started to hear about glamping in Newfoundland I couldn’t believe it. Then I heard about ‘Ome Sweet ‘Ome glamping. Created by Shaun Majumder of This Hour has 22 Minutes fame. ‘Ome Sweet ‘Ome is located near Burlington, population 300, just off the Baie Vert highway near the small community of Middle Arm.
Located near his home town of Burlington, Newfoundland this site has nine glam tents and several pod cabins. Luckily a friend, Jodi White, checked it out and here is what she found.
Despite the fact that it rained during most of our time at ‘Ome’, we still got to take advantage of the picturesque natural beauty and the many sites the area offered.
Natural Beauty
There’s a beautiful playground next to a walking trail that leads to two separate swimming spots, the Brook and the Falls. Although we didn’t get to swim because of the weather, we enjoyed the walking trail and hope to go next time.
If you want a nice hike, check out Chipp’s Hill which offers you a great view of Burlington.
Don’t worry you won’t be bored even if you end up with rainy weather like we did… it is Newfoundland after all. At ‘Ome they offer a variety of games to borrow and use at your tent. Although they would rather be fishing, our boys loved the games when it was too wet to be outside.
It didn’t seem like a perk, at first, but the fact that there is no cell phone or internet service it was a luxury. We weren’t slaves to our phones. We spent time relaxing and enjoying one another’s company, and enjoying our beautiful surroundings. We experienced a freedom we hadn’t felt in many years and it made me realize just what kind of hold our phones have over us.
Note for the city folk: Newfoundland glamping is remote. You may have to make a trek to the nearest cell tower to send a text, but it’s worth it. There’s actually a large rock, next to the venue for the Gathering (a yearly music festival – check out their Facebook page – the pictures are amazing and sure to draw you in) that you can stand/sit on and get the best cell service in the area!
Comfort and Style
Each tent is named after local wildlife and located in the woods or close to the rugged coastline. The tents themselves are beautiful, roomy, cozy and clean. We had two queen beds with beautiful handmade quilts (others have one queen bed). Despite the cold and damp, we were extremely cozy at night. Each tent has a small propane heater that certainly helped create a cozy feeling.
Our tent was on the edge of the water with a small rocky ledge. Although it was a little nerve-wracking for a mom of an 8-year-old, a 4-year-old and a dog on a leash, we all survived! We wouldn’t have changed our location because our boys fished from there for house. We caught Connors and a tommy cod, all of which we released, but they had fun. Besides, nothing beats falling asleep hearing the rolling ocean.
Along with the propane heater, the tent is also fully wired so there are lights, a coffee maker and outlets, so you have all the comforts to survive. They supplied coffee, tea, fresh water and all the trimmings. Another big perk!
The bathroom was an outhouse, but it was extremely clean and housed environmentally friendly compostable flushing toilets – much better than squatting in the woods. You have to remember it is camping and you are meant to be disconnected. The showers are located in a separate building and are a bit of a hike away, we actually drove to them. We were provided with fluffy clean towels to use. The shower rooms were large, clean and private.
Grab a Bite
Remember it’s still camping! Bring your own food to cook on the fire or the BBQ since there aren’t any restaurants in town, but there is a food camper/kiosk that sells burgers, fries and poutine. If you take a drive into Middlearm (highly recommend you do – for the scenery alone) do check out the on-site café where they serve Newfoundland poutine (fries, dressing and gravy). Bring your appetite, it’s humongous! I ordered this massive and delicious meal and a medium size is enough to share with the family. Don’t miss out on their ice cream too; it is also a huge portion, which makes it’s perfect for kids to share.
If you want to continue the glamourous pampering and not have to cook, while you’re in Middlearm and grab a pizza at the General Store.
A ‘Ome for Pets too
It’s pet-friendly, so we brought our dog. When we checked in, they offered us a pet blanket to put on the bed for her. She’s not allowed on the beds at home so we brought her huge kennel and there was still tons of space for us.
One of the best things about staying there is that we felt good helping back the social efforts spearheaded by Majumder. Newfoundland has been hit so hard these past few years, and ‘Ome Sweet ‘Ome brings in revenue for a small town. All profits of ‘Ome Swet ‘Ome, the ‘Ome Fry chip can and ‘Ome Sweet ‘Ome accommodations go right back into Burlington and a community greenhouse.
You’ll feel at ‘Ome glamping with the most spectacular natural beauty with all the comforts to please any city folk.
Want to go venturing off-site?
You’ll want to make sure to check out the antiques museum and Gayla’s Bath Boutique located nearby in a split level home. You will be surprised at the unique items they have in the museum, and the boutique and it’s beautiful pink décor will brighten any rainy day. The husband and wife who run the museum and shop are quite the duo. While the husband collects antiques the wife makes bath bombs, lip balms, soap and fly repellent. It’s a great place to get affordable and natural gifts. I couldn’t believe how many Christmas gifts I got for $30.00.
When leaving check out the small light house next to their house. They have it renovated and rent it out to visitors. It’s a great play to stay with a small kitchen on the lower level with a wood stove, sitting area and bathroom. Upstairs is the bedroom with a hatch leading to the roof. If you are traveling with kids there is also room for an air mattress for the kids. You’ll want to check out the view at night. The lighthouse is right next to the venue for the gathering, but you’ll have to book years in advance as it is in high demand.
Not sure when to visit?
In August, Burlington hosts a family friendly music fest called The Gathering. Although not the biggest venue, you won’t find a better time with amazing food and music.
Getting ready for a trip to Newfoundland, check out this post.
About Jodi White
Jodi White is a lawyer and mother of two. There is no better place Jodi likes to be than getting out in nature together with her family. Living on the West Coast of Newfoundland she has lots of nature to explore.
