About two and a half hours from the city is Gatherwild Ranch, a former apple orchard that now contains six unique accommodations and 15 acres of land that guests are invited - and encouraged - to explore. Choose from a tent, a small cabin or a yurt as where you’ll call home during your stay at Gatherwild. While the guest house is the only one with electricity (the others have solar lights for after the sun goes down), you’ll be too busy watching the sunrise from your private porch, cooking under the stars in the outdoor kitchen or catching up with friends around the fire pit at night to want to check your phone anyway. There’s also an indoor yoga studio at Gatherwild where you can book a private yoga session or a holistic facial. 

The accommodations are sustainable at Gatherwild, so be prepared to use a composting toilet and an outdoor solar shower. But getting back to nature is one of the reasons you booked this trip, anyway. If you do find yourself needing to pick up something last-minute, it’s a short 3-minute drive into town as well. No car? No problem. Located in Germantown, New York, Gatherwild is also accessible via Amtrak and the ranch’s daily pick up/drop off service. 

As you might imagine from its name, three of the four walls of The Glass House are clear panels that give you a panoramic view of the rolling hills and wildlife of the 27-acre farm in upstate New York on which it sits. But the result is so much more than you can imagine. With deer outside your window in the morning and breathtaking views of the stars at night, the overall effect is that of bringing the outside in.

The 180-square-foot house is perfect for a trip for two. You can spend the day exploring the farm - including the vineyards, orchards and lavender field - or spend it relaxing outside in the lounge furniture. The house comes equipped with a small kitchen, but there’s also a fire pit if you’re looking to grill outside. You’ll be off the grid at the Glass House but the place runs on solar panels, and you’ll have access to WiFi if you need to jump back into the real world for a second. The location itself is just 90 minutes from Grand Central by car, or you can take the train up and hail a taxi or car service from the station. 

The Outlier Inn in the southern Catskills has several tiny houses and a guesthouse where you can stay, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll want to book the geodesic dome on the property. The entire farm is about 12 acres, but the dome itself is located in a clearing of trees near the pond. Measuring 30 feet in diameter (a little over 9 metres), the dome also big enough to accommodate larger parties. You will need to bring your own beds, linens and towels, and make sure to pack some extra blankets if you visit during those months when the nights start to get chilly as there’s no central heating system. There’s an outdoor kitchen for all your cooking needs, and embrace the laidback vibe of the property with an outdoor shower or bath.

Besides the dome and the pond, there is a ton to explore at the Outlier Inn. The facility is frequently used as a retreat centre (so expect to see some other guests when you’re there), and there are a greenhouse, gardens, art workshop space and even a full recording studio. Make sure to stop by and say “hi” to the Inn’s many animals as well, including sheep, goats, alpacas, dairy goats and some free-range chickens. About 140 kilometres from the city, the Outlier Inn is accessible by car, bus or train. 

The Log Village and Grist Mill Campground are located in Granville, New York, near the border with Vermont and close enough to Lake George that you could spend the afternoon boating before retreating to a yurt in the woods for the night. There are three yurts on the property, each of which sleeps at least six, so feel free to invite all your friends. In your yurt, you’ll have WiFi access and a refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave, TV with DVD player and the bathroom, showers and laundry facilities are nearby.

There’s plenty of fishing, boating and hiking in the area, plus a small shop on-site carries a few essentials in case you forgot anything. The Log Village and Grist Mill Campground are an easy 4-hour drive from New York City.  

If you just can’t escape the city entirely, you can still get the glamping experience at Collective Governors Island. Located in the New York Harbor, the island is accessible via ferries that leave from Manhattan and Brooklyn during the summer season. There are multiple tent options at Collective Governors Islands, but all three are the perfect combination of luxury and rustic and include all the conveniences of the modern world like running water, electricity and WiFi.

While you’ll still be able to see the Manhattan skyline, with optional massages, morning yoga and chef-prepared meals, Collective Governors Island feels like a world away. Take some time to explore the entire island before watching the sunset with a cocktail at the bar at the Three Peaks Lodge.