Forget everything you thought you knew about camping. There’s no sleeping bag wrestling, no middle-of-the-night tent stake repairs, and no questioning why you didn’t just book a hotel. Welcome to glamping—and right here in Oscar Scherer State Park near Osprey, it’s becoming the Suncoast’s answer to the question: “How do I experience nature without suffering?”
Timberline Glamping Sarasota has quietly transformed what could’ve been just another state park into a destination where comfort and wilderness actually get along. Co-owners Anayancy Escarpanter and Alex Escarpanter built something intentionally different. Guests arrive to find safari-style tents already furnished with real beds, climate control, electricity, and stylish touches—everything is ready to go. “It’s that instant feeling of relaxation,” Anayancy explains. There’s no setup, no surprises, just immediate access to the outdoors without the traditional camping hassles. What started as just two campsites has grown into five unique accommodations, each equipped with fire pits, grills, hammocks, and outdoor seating areas that face the natural beauty of the park’s 1,300-plus acres.
The location is practically unfair. From here, you’re minutes away from Siesta Key Beach, Nokomis Beach, downtown Sarasota, and Venice—but you’re also deep enough into the park to actually feel like you’ve left civilization. During the day, visitors hike through pine flatwoods, bike the nearby Legacy Trail, paddle South Creek, or hunt for the rare Florida scrub-jay. The wildlife here is genuine; the trails are real. But come evening, you return to your private campsite to grill dinner and gather around a fire pit that actually works, rather than fumbling with damp wood and questionable fire-starting techniques.
What makes this work, Alex points out, is the intentionality: “It’s about slowing down. People are constantly busy. Glamping creates an opportunity to reconnect with nature and with each other in a meaningful way.” That’s not marketing fluff—it’s the whole point. Without the noise and crowding of typical hotels, families actually talk again. Couples actually disconnect from their phones. The evenings become the highlight, not an afterthought to a long drive home.
The glamping trend isn’t slowing down, and for good reason. Travelers are increasingly tired of generic hotel rooms and eager for experiences that feel authentic—especially if those experiences include actual comfort. Timberline Glamping Sarasota works closely with Florida State Parks to ensure the operation complements rather than competes with the natural setting. That partnership matters. This isn’t overdevelopment masquerading as eco-tourism; it’s a thoughtful middle ground between roughing it and checking into a chain hotel.
With only five sites available and summer booking well in advance, if you’re thinking about this, don’t wait. The Suncoast has plenty of beautiful places to visit—but very few that let you experience them without sacrificing your comfort or your sanity.
