Iliana's glamping village on hood canal
Video and editorial courtesy of Explore Hood Canal | Photos via Mike's Beach Resort
Tucked into the forest along Hood Canal a fantastical glamping experience awaits! Iliana’s Glamping Village has all the comforts of home while providing a one-of-a-kind alternative to traditional hotel stays. Elevated and lined to protect you from the elements, luxe tents include electricity, Wi-Fi internet, comfortable beds, dining areas, coffee makers, toasters, outdoor BBQs, lawn chairs, fire pits as well as access to warm showers and flushable toilets too.
For nearly seven decades, the Schultz family has owned and operated their waterfront rustic and welcoming Canal getaway, Mike’s Beach Resort. Mike and Iliana work closely with their son Xoan and daughter Sara, and her husband, Matthew, who also raise oysters on the Resort’s tidelands. We recently caught up with Sara to learn a little about the history of Mike’s and their expansion into the glamour-camping market.
“Mike's Beach Resort was built by my grandparents in 1951,” recounts Sara in the tour of the facility, “they named it after my father, Mike. They started off with a few cabins on the Hood Canal and kept building more every few years.” Along with the recent addition of the glamping village the resort features fully equipped cabins on the glittering shores of Hood Canal. Many of the units are pet-friendly and, along with the beach providing hours of distraction, there is a playground and hiking trails close by. The resort also hosts a boat launch, dock, moorage, kayaks for rent, and air for scuba diving visitors. Mike’s is very popular with dive groups with numerous famous cold water dive sites in the area. Many guests return annually to enjoy the shrimp, crab, and salmon seasons on the Canal.
All the comforts of home await!
Coffee, microwave and more for glamping!
Did we mention flushing toilets?!
Photos ©Natalie McDonald/Where the Wilds Are
Following the curve of the valley and arranged to provide privacy and views of the Canal below the road, the cluster of platform tents at Iliana’s Glamping Village offer a unique experience that rivals the amenities of a boutique hotel. Each tent is elevated and lined to protect guests from the elements and include electricity, comfortable beds, dining areas, coffee makers, toasters, outdoor BBQs, lawn chairs, fire pits as well as access to warm showers and flushable toilets. Many of the units include fold out futons for additional guests and all the units are custom furnished with a PNW theme. And yes, there are even chandeliers and fans!
Iliana's Glamping Village is located near Olympic National Park and Forest. Guests can access the vast wildnerness and experience the sights and sounds of the old growth forest and verdant meadows bursting with wildflowers in spring and summer. There are rugged trails and some of the most beautiful flora and fauna in the world. Cool, hidden swimming holes beckon on hot summer days, while the fall season brings spawning salmon in creeks and snowcapped peaks in the winter - this region is magic in every season!
Access to the National Forest are at Hamma Hamma, Lake Cushman, Duckabush and Dosewallips. CLICK HERE for a detailed map of the Olympic National Forest.
Photo ©The Egresis
"As a bonus-bonus," Sara states proudly as she gestures to the bay below, "we have an oyster farm right on-site." Their oyster farm, Olympic Oyster Co, offers access to a U-Pick shellfish portion of the beach and is open for one hour during low tide for harvest by guests with shellfish licenses. Farm tours and shucking lessons are seasonally available, guests can book a tour at www.olympicoysterco.com. During the summer months of July and August, Mike's Beach Resort features live music from local bands, and an outdoor grill with oysters and burgers on Saturday nights. See website for Chill and Grill event details HERE.
Inspiring and guiding those who are seeking a different kind of trip, Iliana's Glamping Village encourages immersion with the natural world, a broadening of horizons and a deeper engagement with one’s surroundings. It is our honor to provide a space where relationships between ourselves, each other as well as nature can be fostered and strengthened all the while staying dry, warm, and cozy.
Iliana's Glamping Village
Book your glamping getaway HERE! Enter promo code: ScenicWA2024 for a 10% discount. Enter code at checkout!