Welcome to Rollin’ With the Dolans! I’m Patrick, and this story starts with something simple — a slow Saturday and a spontaneous idea from Tamekia: “We should go camping.”
Except, this wasn’t just any camping trip. It turned into one of our favorite experiences as a family and a reminder of how vacations reduce stress and anxiety, even when they’re last minute and a little out of budget.
Discovering “Glamping”
Our weekend took us to Williams, Arizona, about 25 to 30 minutes from the Grand Canyon, to a place called Clear Sky Resorts. That’s where we discovered glamping, short for glamorous camping.
It’s camping without all the work, no tents to set up, no packing piles of gear, no sleeping bags. Just a cozy dome with a king bed, a loft for the kids, and one nice bathroom (a luxury for a family of six). There was no TV, but we didn’t miss it.
They had a food truck, s’mores, a live musician at night, and activities for everyone — cornhole, frisbee golf, giant chess, and more. The kids loved the big jumping pillow.
It wasn’t fancy in a resort kind of way, but it was the perfect kind of simple.
Making Memories, Not Plans
The best part about that trip was how spontaneous it was. There wasn’t time to overplan or overthink. We just went.
That’s part of how vacations reduce stress and anxiety — sometimes you don’t need the countdown or the itinerary. You just need the break.
When we look back, what we remember most isn’t how polished it was, but how connected we felt. The kids all wanted to sleep together in the loft. We sat by the fire. We laughed. And even though it was one bathroom for all of us, it worked out just fine.
Why It Was Worth It
At around $400 a night, it was more than we’d usually spend and that was a good rate. But when we thought about it, we realized it was still less than most hotel stays for a family our size. Plus, we didn’t need two rooms, breakfast was included, and everything was on site.
It reminded us that you don’t always have to go far or spend a fortune to get the benefits of a getaway. Even a short vacation can help lower stress and bring a sense of calm back into your daily life.
What Science Says About It
We pulled up an article from Union Health that shared five reasons a vacation might be the best thing for your mental health:
Stress reduction
- Increased productivity
- Worry reduction
- Interpersonal growth
- Improved sleep quality
We can definitely vouch for a few of those. For us, it was about connection — the interpersonal growth. Getting out of the house, out of the routine, and seeing our kids laugh together made it all worth it.
As for improved sleep quality, maybe not for everyone. But it makes sense. When your mind finally takes a break, your body follows.
The Bigger Picture
Every time we travel, we realize something new about ourselves and our family. The time away always helps us reset, even when we come home to laundry piles and full schedules.
So, if you’ve been putting off a trip, plan that staycation, book that night away, or just take a day pass somewhere local. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to be different.
Because sometimes, that’s all it takes to remind you of how vacations reduce stress and anxiety, and how much your soul needs a break.