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Head to the hills for a calming vacay.
Let’s be real: More often than not, a vacation isn’t actually a vacation. It’s a jam-packed itinerary of late nights out followed by early morning activities, leaving you returning home far more exhausted than when you left.
But change can be found quietly tucked away in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Enter Wunderland Resort, a high-end campground off a gravel road in Old Fort, ideal for indulging in a calmcation (read: a calming vacation where restoration actually happens). The secluded grounds are backdropped by rolling peaks and a complete lack of cell service—the upper corner of my phone read “SOS” my entire stay—making it refreshingly easy to prioritize genuine rest over a sightseeing checklist.
The resort serves up space for tents, RVs and campers, plus upscale tiny home-like cabins for anyone craving the perks of the outdoors sans the setup, bugs or weather drama. But whether your refuge has running water or not, a peek inside the musically inclined bathhouse is a must (pro tip: Each bathroom has a different theme—and song!).
I spent the night in the newly unveiled creator villa, which feels purpose-built for unplugging and creative flow. Inside, a midcentury-modernesque conversation pit houses a pullout keyboard and musician biographies lining the walls. Outside, a porch stocked with a table, chairs, fire pit and a hammock built right into the deck served as a primo spot for sunning and stargazing.
As I quickly learned, a stay at Wunderland is very much a build-your-own adventure. If disappearing is the move, bring a bottle of wine and a book to settle into your porch or one of the many tucked-away nooks on the grounds. For a more literal cleanse, pack a swimsuit to work up the nerve for a cold plunge (I did not, thanks to freezing temps) followed by a bask in the sauna.
While doing “nothing” is absolutely allowed, outdoor adventures are still on deck to get your nature or movement on as its own recharge. On- and off-site ops beckon from foraging tours for a walk on the wild side to fly-fishing, hiking and mountain biking in the surrounding Pisgah National Forest. And because you can’t really call it a trip to WNC without chasing a waterfall—Catawba Falls is an ideal short drive + easy hike combo, and the ephemeral Glassmine Falls can be spotted just off the Parkway.
When you crave a reentry to civilization, Old Fort delivers charming small-town energy with just a single grocery store (don’t sleep on the Piggly Wiggly) and a handful of shops and restaurants. And Black Mountain and Asheville lay in wait just down the road for some bigger city ventures once you feel refreshed and renewed for a robust hit of culture, food or people.
All to say: If your idea of an ideal getaway involves fewer plans and better sleep, it’s high time for a holiday of true relaxation. wunderlandresort.com
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