by Christopher Arnett
Native Foods Cafe
“Glamping” seems to be becoming all the rage, with its mix of modern creature comforts (private bathrooms, flat-screen TV’s, Wi-Fi, etc.) and traditional camping. And the humble yurt is riding the crest of this popular trend.
So does this mean while dining in the Native Foods Cafe in Costa Mesa, you are technically "glamping"?
But what exactly is a yurt? Where did it come from? Well, quite simply a yurt is a kind of tent (like a teepee). But it has a cylindrical bottom and conical top, with thicker walls. Overall, it’s more homelike than the average tent. Traditionally, it’s felt-covered with a wood lattice frame, and of course, it’s portable! Yurts originated with nomadic peoples from Central Asia, such as the Mongolians and Turks. Today, yurts are still the principle form of dwelling for many people in the region, especially among Mongolians.
The Mongolian nomads have evolved to transport by motorcycle... but their lodging remains the same.
But you don’t have to trek to Central Asia to experience a yurt (of course doing so would be awesome!). The Wilds, an organization in southeastern Ohio dedicated to conservation, offers luxury camping experiences through an on-site area called Nomad Ridge. The yurts here boast private bathrooms, electricity, decks, and ceiling fans. Admittedly, when I first read that visitors to Nomad Ridge had a view of wild African animals from their yurts, my internal animal rights alarm started to go off. But, after reading that the goal of The Wilds is conservation and checking out their website, I’m pretty impressed! Their self-stated core ideology includes “commitment to and respect for nature” and “social and scientific relevance.” The facility provides nearly 10,000 acres of diverse habitat, and is continuously developing programs in the areas of conservation medicine; animal management, husbandry, and health; restoration ecology; conservation science training; and conservation education. All this and yurts, too? Sign me up!
Native Foods Cafe Ohio will definitely be in Nomad Ridge. We love yurts.. hint, hint Native Foods Cafe Costa Mesa!
And if you happen to be in SoCal and are looking for a nature-filled yurt experience closer to home, check out the Treebones Resort at Big Sur. The views are breathtaking, and you can even spend the night in a “human nest!”
Made only more perfect with in-nest vegan dining! Native Foods Cafe delivery?
And of course, we at Native Foods Café could not have a blog on yurts without paying homage to a yurt that holds a special place in our hearts: Native Foods CafeCosta Mesa! Come by and check us out at our location that has made us an OC landmark. The yurt, like the food and the people, is fantastic!
This image of the yurt that houses Native Foods Cafe in Costa Mesa is courtsey of www.fourletterlife.com.
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