Our First Yurt Stay: 24 Hours on a Hobby Farm in Sweetwater, Tennessee
After our first tent-camping adventure, we wanted to try the next step up: a yurt. So in the middle of a freezing January, we booked a night in "The Hive," a cozy yurt on a hobby farm in Sweetwater, Tennessee, complete with goats, alpacas, chickens, and all the comforts of home. It is the perfect mix of roughing it and glamping, and it might be our favorite unique stay yet.
What is a yurt, and is it worth staying in?
A yurt is a permanent, circular tent structure with a domed top, traditionally draped in thick canvas. The modern glamping version, like ours, comes fully outfitted with a real bed, a kitchen, heat, and even a bathroom. It is absolutely worth it: you get the cozy, close-to-nature feeling of a tent without the cold, the setup, or the discomfort. For anyone curious about glamping, a yurt is a fantastic place to start.
The Hive: A yurt on a hobby farm
The best part of this particular yurt is its setting on a working hobby farm. The moment we arrived, we were greeted by goats, an alpaca or two, chickens, geese, and ducks. (Aaron, who had never been that close to farm animals, had a whole nervous-but-thrilled standoff trying to feed the alpacas without getting spit on. He kept his fingers.)
Inside, The Hive had every comfort:
A combined living room and kitchen. A futon (where our son slept), a coffee bar, a fridge, a sink, counter space, a microwave, and a toaster oven if you really want to cook.
A dining table that seats four, plus a guest book and info on what to do nearby.
A queen bed with pillows, a window, and a TV visible from both the bed and the living area.
A full bathroom, which was the real surprise. A big rainfall shower with a wand and river-rock floor (green-tinted to feel like you are outside), a freestanding sink, and a toilet.
It was toasty inside (around 70 degrees with the heat on, plus spare heaters just in case) even though it was in the 20s outside. Cozy, circular, and genuinely charming, right down to the little bee touches they added to match the name.
Meeting the locals
You cannot stay on a hobby farm and not go talk to the animals. We spent a good while feeding the alpacas, goats, chickens, geese, and ducks, who were not shy about coming right up for snacks (there was a real duck-versus-everyone turf battle over the feed). For the kids, getting that close to farm animals was the highlight of the whole trip. Just maybe keep your fingers tucked and toss the food on the ground.
What to do in a yurt with no Wi-Fi
Here is the funny part. There is no internet, so we had to entertain ourselves the old-fashioned way. Aaron and our son played games on a tablet (no internet needed), Camille spent literally two and a half hours wrestling with a Rubik's Cube, and then, right as we were settling in for bed, we opened a cabinet and discovered it was full of board games and puzzles the whole time. Of course. The lesson: a yurt night is forced, wonderful, screen-light quality time, so lean into it and check the cabinets early.
Tips for staying in a yurt
Book one with a bathroom and heat if you want the comfortable glamping experience (especially in winter).
Bring layers anyway. It is cozy inside, but you will be outside with the animals.
Pack analog entertainment. Cards, books, puzzles. Often there is no Wi-Fi, and that is part of the charm.
Choose a memorable setting. A hobby farm with animals turned a simple overnight into something the kids will never forget.
FAQ
What is a yurt?
A circular, permanent tent structure with a domed roof. Glamping yurts are outfitted with real beds, kitchens, heat, and sometimes full bathrooms.
Are yurts warm in winter?
Ours stayed around 65 to 70 degrees with heat, even with temperatures in the 20s outside. Bring layers for outside, but inside is cozy.
Is a yurt good for families?
Yes. Ours comfortably fit our family of four, and the hobby-farm animals made it a hit with the kids.
Where did you stay?
At "The Hive," a yurt on a hobby farm in Sweetwater, Tennessee.
The Verdict
Our first yurt stay was the perfect step between tent camping and a hotel: all the coziness of being out in nature, none of the cold ground. The Hive gave us a warm, charming circular home for the night, a farm full of animals to feed, and a screen-free evening of actual family time (Rubik's Cube and all). If you are yurt-curious, find one in a setting you will remember and just go. We left already wanting to do it again, and our next surprise was waiting just down the road, underground.
Want to meet the alpacas? Watch our yurt stay on YouTube: Our First Yurt Stay, and see where we went next in our Lost Sea adventure. Subscribe to Finding Our Forte for more.
