Glamping in Gainesville.

A little known fact about me: I’ve never been camping. It’s on my list of things to do before I die, but to be honest, I’m in no rush. The idea of staying in a tent surrounded by bugs, with no electricity or running water, doesn’t exactly have me packing my bags in a frenzy. I love spending time outdoors as much as the next gal, but I don’t have much of a desire to sleep in it.

My Eagle Scout husband, on the other hand, would go camping every other weekend if you let him. (Our walk-in closet is overflowing with his camping gear.) Which is why, when it came to planning our annual couples’ getaway, I thought it’d be nice to do something camping-adjacent: Think peaceful nature getaway, but with a hot shower and a cozy linens. I’m a creature of comfort, after all.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to look far. An hour drive north of Frisco, Gainesville is home to DFW’s first luxury sky dome—glamping at its finest. When I happened upon the AirBNB listing, I knew it would be the perfect compromise for our weekend alone, with its “floating” king-sized bed, outdoor bamboo shower, and private hot tub. But the pictures online don’t do the place justice; once we arrived on the property, I was instantly under its spell.

Everything about the setup is serene, from the front porch fire pit to the leaf-adorned staircase leading up to the entrance. Inside, the earthy-meets-modern decor and giant picture window, paired with all the perfect little touches (white robes, mood lighting, sparkling “wine,” jazz music!) prepared by the hosts makes it a lovers’ paradise. Situated on a hill under a canopy of oak trees, the dome feels incredibly secluded, even though we were only about 250 feet from the owners’ house (a fact I found reassuring in the middle of the night).

Honestly, had we brought our own food, I could’ve stayed put for the entirety of our trip, especially since the November weather was gloomy and grey. But I had heard good things about the town of Gainesville, so we meandered out a few times to enjoy a meal and explore the shops. I mentioned to Scott once or twice how nice it felt to just hop in the car and go wherever our hearts led us—without having to make a plan or pack a millions things. That kind of spontaneity is rare for us now, for obvious reasons, and it reminded me of how we used to be before we had our babies.

Which I guess is the whole point of these blessed getaways, right? To remember who we were to each other before we became Mom and Dad—lovers, best friends, soulmates, adventurers—and to remember that we still are. This alone time together, while scarce, is sacred; it helps us to reignite those parts of ourselves that get lost in the shuffle of daily routines, to-do lists, and diaper changes. It also gives us a chance to really miss our kids, which is something I recommend to all parents. (That said, it wouldn’t be possible without our parents, who are not only willing to keep the kids—but who look forward to it.) Scott and I are better because of it.

A list of places we tried (and loved):

Krootz Brewing Company, for a flight of beer and a really good burger.
House of Brews,* for coffee + no-frills breakfast.
Sarah’s on the Square, for a soup-and-salad lunch—or, if you prefer, chicken fried steak.
Grandma’s House Bakery, for a slice of any flavor cheesecake. (We split the snickerdoodle.)
Deschain Cellars, for good vino + lovely patio lounging.
Historic Downtown Gainesville, for boutique hopping.