Guest Author: Valerie Cook
You might know us as The Nomads Family — and that name didn’t come out of nowhere. Tim and I (Val) met while working in ski resorts and spent years traveling full time afterward. These days, we live a slightly more settled life in a cozy ski town in Sweden called Åre, together with our two kids, now 6 and 10 years old. But that nomadic spirit? Still very much alive.
Whenever we can, we’re out exploring — sometimes nearby, sometimes far away. This summer, we packed up our Jeep with a rooftop tent and set off on a two-month road trip across Europe. One of the highlights? A few dreamy days in Laax, Switzerland.
Rooftoptent nights & wooden boat dreams We kicked off our Laax camping adventure at the TCS Camping Flims, sleeping in our trusty rooftoptent. We were pleasantly surprised by the endless variety of things to do with kids. From bombing down the Runca Trail on mountain bikes to slow-paced adventures like walking along the Connbächli stream with homemade wooden boats — there was something for every speed.
That little stream turned into one of our most magical family memories. We gathered some wood, got creative with the kids under the shade of our awning, and made boats we hoped would float. Spoiler: they didn’t... at first. The mast was too heavy. But after some quick engineering (aka unscrewing the mast), the boats sailed beautifully for nearly 5 kilometers downstream.
Our youngest, Ziggy, declared: “Mom, I’ll never ask for snacks on a trail if there’s a stream like this — it’s so fun.” Note to future campers: bring tools and let the kids get crafty. The trail becomes an adventure in itself.
Glamping at 2200 meters: Cozy, quirky, and cowbell-charmed
After two nights at the TCS campsite, we traded our tent for a touch of mountain luxury: the TCS Pop-Up Glamping at Nagens Alp. We hopped on the bus with our backpacks and arrived to a sight straight out of a fairytale — a field of beautiful Lotus-style tents, nestled between grazing cows and rustic barns, just beside Stalla, an old stable turned mountain restaurant.
Camping at 2200 meters felt special in itself, but glamping here went beyond expectations. Each tent had real beds, a heater, a coffee machine (praise be), two mattresses for the kids, our own private terrace, and even our own Kompotoi compost toilet. Not to mention: an actual sauna with a view and dream-worthy mountain showers.
We went all in — sauna session first, followed by a cozy three-course dinner at the restaurant. Waking up to the sound of cowbells felt like nature’s version of a wake-up call.
River hikes, brave points, and shepherd sticks
After a hearty breakfast buffet the next morning, we packed our daypacks and set off toward Segnes, a scenic area perfect for playing in the river. Hiking with a six-year-old sometimes requires creative motivation, so we came up with a few games:
- Brave Points: awarded for going knee-deep in freezing water or mud-hopping to the other riverbank
- Mountain Flower Hunt: find one in every color
- Shepherd Mode: picking up hiking sticks from the lift station and bringing them back to the stick station near the glamping site (because yes, it really made us feel like mountain herders)
The kids were all in. We splashed around, got muddy, floated down the river, and laughed a lot. The day ended with crackers, cheese, and a panoramic picnic — not fancy, but perfect.
What we packed (and loved): Gear that goes the distance
If you’re wondering what kind of clothes worked best — both for a mountain glamping stay and a road trip in general — here’s what we swear by:
- namuk Mack zip-off pants: absolute favorites. The kids love to unzip them halfway and wear them “chill style” around the ankles — quick to zip back on when the temperature drops.
- Merino layers: perfect for hiking and sleeping. The kids slept in their merino baselayers and often kept them on under their regular clothes in the evenings.
- namuk x KEEN sandals: great for hiking and river play.
- PrimaLoft jackets & rain jackets: always in the backpack. You never know when you’ll get caught in mountain mist (or fall into a stream).
- namuk cotton tees: fun, comfy, and surprisingly durable.
The real win? Durability. Our kids climb, jump, slide, and occasionally fall into cow poop (true story — Fenna went down hard). But the namuk gear? Still going strong. No holes, fast-drying, and ready for the next day’s adventure. Honestly, the quality is just incredible.
Final thoughts from the trail
There’s something magical about mixing rustic nature with just the right amount of comfort. Laax gave us both — the DIY joy of wooden boats and cow-dotted meadows, along with hot saunas, great food, and cozy beds under starry skies. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down, breathe in the alpine air, and maybe, just maybe, carve a little boat to float downstream.
