Blog

Nov 06, 2024

This Walmart Bell Tent Will Fulfill Your Wes Anderson Fantasies

Conjure a mini "Moonrise Kingdom" in your own backyard Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us? I am not what you would call

Conjure a mini "Moonrise Kingdom" in your own backyard

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

I am not what you would call outdoorsy. To clarify, I love being outdoors—I feel real guilt when I squander a beautiful day—but if presented with the option of, say, spending a week in a portable polyester shelter versus a luxury country inn with room service and plush robes, I will unapologetically opt for the latter. That's why my family was surprised when I came home from a recent shopping trip with a 15- by 15-foot canvas tent from Wal-Mart. I had gone to my friendly neighborhood superstore to buy marbles for my son—this YouTube channel has sparked an obsession, I'm afraid—but as I wandered the toy-adjacent aisles, I laid eyes on this classic bell tent that I had already seen a time or two online courtesy of some influencer sort singing its praises. And while I am not a camper, I very much have a soft spot for retro camp style—think vintage binoculars and old-school scouting memorabilia—and this tent made me feel as if I could create my own miniature Moonrise Kingdom in the backyard.Because I had no business buying a tent, I went down an internet rabbit hole looking for reasons not to. "Maybe it has overwhelmingly bad reviews," I thought. Nope, not the case. To be fair, there are a few naysayers (a small handful, really), but they seem like more serious tent-purchasing types, and I'm mostly here for aesthetics, not protect-me-from-extreme-weather. (It's also worth noting that any higher-rated camping tents tend to cost four times as much.) "Maybe it's smaller than advertised." Actually, this 8-person tent is far roomier, per the commenters. And then I realized it comes with LED string lights (!) flanking the entrance, which edged me over the add-to-literal-cart cliff. This tent would solve all of my problems. My kids' summer schedules are alarmingly unstructured. At least now they'll have a headquarters, and at $149 it's a whole lot cheaper than camp tuition. It would also presumably bring more magic to backyard movie nights.

Short story short, I brought it home, and have no regrets. Just as I'm not what you would call "outdoorsy," my husband and I are not what you would call "read-the-instructions people," and we still managed to set this thing up with very little drama. (This truly means more than you know.) As far as investments go, this little beauty has already delivered maximal bang for the buck, and I'm convinced my children's core 2024 summer memories will center around this tent, even if they adamantly refuse to wear the cute little chain-stitched camp neckerchiefs I bought them.

Psst: To really bring this whole camp thing to life, don't miss all of the fun to be had at Camp Country Living, including recipes, arts and crafts, outdoor games, and more.

Rachel Barrett is the Editor-in-Chief of Country Living. She can't pass up a vintage seascape, drives an '89 Woody Wagoneer (that is, when it'll start), and hopes to buy you a lemonade at a future Country Living Fair.

Family-Friendly Labor Day Activities

41 Summer Pasta Recipes for Warm-Weather Dining

What's the Difference Between Ice Cream & Custard?

Editors’ Picks: Farmers’ Market-Inspired Recipes

Our 50 Favorite Summer Movies of All Time

Try These Reimagined Nostalgic Ice Cream Treats

We Love How Bougie This Country Music Fest Is

This Is the Best Way to Stay Cool This Summer

Catch of the Day: Berry Pickin'

The Easiest, Breeziest Dresses to Wear This Summer

61 Super-Fun Things to Do This Summer

August Holidays to Wrap Up Summer on a High Note