Moms! Let me tell you about Glamping at Wildhaven on the Russian River in Healdsburg.

Sitting along the Russian River this location is perfect for a cozying up in your warm tent, enjoying time around the campfire, picnicking, and floating the river - all while staying close enough to Healdsburg to access downtown and all that Sonoma County has to offer.

We spent two nights in the Premium Double Queen Riverside tent and even with 24 hours of rain we had a lovely time enjoying our tents, Sonoma County, and cooking on our firepit.

What you should you know:

The tents are simply marvelous! They really are a luxury experience. You will have everything you need for a restful escape. Both fans and heaters are provided for the unpredictable Northern California weather. The queen size beds are heated and the bedding is not only beautiful, but comfortable. We loved snuggling in and reading together each night. Each tent also provided multiple charging stations so we were able to keep our phones and other gadgets charged for the weekend. There is WiFi, but it doesn’t support streaming so don’t plan on having a NetFlix marathon, but really who would want to when you could be enjoying the sunset from your covered porch or relaxing in your hammock?

Campsites are drive-up and you can park directly behind your tent which makes loading and unloading a breeze! There is one closed road in front of the Riverside tents that is ideal for scooting and bike riding so don’t forget to bring your scooters and bikes! With that there is some traffic noise, the canvas walls are thin and some of your fellow campers may need to arrive late or leave early. There are also RV campers on site that add a bit to the humm, but Wildhaven provides earplugs for every guest, clearly they are considering ever need for your comfort!

Speaking of canvas walls the walls are thin and you don’t want to keep your neighbors up. Quiet hours are 9 pm - 8 am. I encourage parents of tiny humans to come prepared with quiet activities planned for your little ones who rise with the sun, or do what we did: take advantage of the early morning light, pack up quietly and head out for a hike in one of the many hiking spots in Sonoma County!

Many of you moms reached out to ask about restrooms and I am not surprised because managing tiny bladders is a lot while traveling. The restrooms are clean and lovely, with masks required. Depending on where your tent is it is a short walk, but even the furthest tents from the restroom are not far. With three kids ages five and under in our tent we chose to bring a travel potty for the late night potty needs and walk to the restrooms during the day.

The showers are very clean and quiet lovely - it’s glamping, not camping, so much nicer than you would find at most campsites! Each shower is it’s own room, no community showers which means less risk of germs. There is one larger shower that is ADA accessible. Wildhaven provides wash clothes and towels so one less thing to pack!

Now for meals! There is a communal space for meals with two grills and sinks for washing dishes. We did one meal on the grill because we wanted to boil water for pasta, one meal at our firepit, and grabbed a few meals to-go in town. The food in Sonoma is amazing so we didn’t want to miss out on the wine country fare, but we also wanted the camp food experience. For us the firepit makes the step up in cost of premium tents completely worth it. We loved grilling hot dogs and roasting marshmallows at our own tent, but the communal grills and picnic tables offered everything we needed for a more complicated meal with less fuss. Do be sure to bring your own grill tools and check out the Wildhaven Instagram for some fun glamping meal inspiration! If you forget anything or just want to add some fun to your glamping stay there is a shop on site to purchase wine, snacks and fire wood.

Now for the best part: (maybe the second best part, because I really loved the heated beds) the site is on the Russian River. Wildhaven offers access to the river from two locations - one is a lovely rock beach under a rustic bridge, and the other is a private stairway that leads to a smaller beach that seems more ideal for floating. There are also picnic tables along the edge of the property that allow you to enjoy a meal while looking down on the water below. You'll need to bring your own river chairs, beach towels, and floats.

This location really is an ideal place for people who want to enjoy the river and everything else that Sonoma County has to offer before cuddling near the fire or in a nice warm bed!

-Sarah Montoya