Recently, we went to Explore Park and rented a yurt! We completed the rental online several weeks before and it was a super easy process. The rental costs are reasonable and you can add linens, certain supplies, firewood, and more to your rental so you are prepared upon arrival.
We had no clue how adorable the camping area was until we arrived and checked in. Upon check in, we bought firewood for our campsite (because I totally forgot to do this online when we reserved the spot). My forgetfulness was no problem because the nice man at check in sold us firewood already cut and ready. Tip: You do need cash for those firewood bundles. We bought two bundles for $7 at the time, but only ended up needing one bundle of wood. We had a fire going from the time we arrived until the time we checked out, minus the hours we slept and explored.
The yurt itself slept 6, had a mini microwave/fridge, and a coffee pot. There was a bathroom with toilet and sink, YES! There was a table and 2 chairs inside as well! The skylight was an added bonus. You can remove the outer sides of the yurt, to make air flow throughout, too!
We were SO impressed with the area and how Roanoke Parks has laid out the yurts and cabins. It reminds you of a small community where camp sites are far enough away to enjoy family time but close enough to make friends, if desired. We waved to our neighbors from across the way as they were cooking steaks. The firepits have grates for cooking and a picnic table is at each site for easy meal prep/time.
We put our fire out for a bit and explored the area. We walked to the river, the historic buildings on the premises, and looked for bugs and creatures in the evening.
After we explored and played some games, we made s'mores as soon as it was dark. Our kids played flashlight tag and ran around with a few neighbor kids from neighboring campsites. They had a blast! Hubby and I enjoyed some time around the fire chatting while the kids ran all around our site.
Inside the yurt, we slept on triple full size bunk beds. The kids thought this was fantastic! We brought our own sheets and blankets, but, you can rent those ahead of time. We told stories as we fell asleep and awoke to the fresh air of yurt life. It smelled like we camped outside but we were in the comfort of a closed yurt. This mama isn't big on camping outside in the elements/ bugs, but the kids had been begging to go- so this was PERFECT!
For breakfast, we made eggs and bacon on the fire and the kids played before we packed up and headed out. We checked out the zip line course on the way out! We plan to go back and spend even more time there next time. If you are looking for a fun adventure in Roanoke to get out of the house for a change, check out renting a yurt or a cabin at Explore Park. It was a relaxing getaway for our family!
Thanks, Roanoke County and Don's Cab Inns, for having such a great set up and space for local families to enjoy!
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