By KATRINA WOZNICKI, Lonely Planet
We all know that lodging can make a break or vacation, but staying somewhere unique – a tipi, say, or a giant bird’s nest, or even spending the night underwater – can turn a humdrum holiday into an unforgettable trip.
Take “nesting” to new heights in Big Sur, California. Image courtesy of Treesbones Resort.
America’s entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds, and that includes one-of-a-kind lodging you won’t find anywhere else. For those wishing to forgo hotel chains, consider taking a break at these places, which range from cozy, country bed and breakfasts to something more akin to an aquarium.
Get cozy in the Great Outdoors
America’s only “Human Nest” for rent is at Treebones Resort (treebonesresort.com), a glamping hot spot in Big Sur, California. Built for two by eco-artist Jason Flynn, the Nest overlooks the Pacific and gets booked up several months in advance. Call the design “twigecture”, and if you don’t mind sacrificing some privacy, the nest offers a one-of-a-kind view as you sleep in a tree under the stars (it doesn’t rain much in Big Sur). “Although the nest is completely open to the elements, with no amenities besides an outdoor mattress, and a spectacular ocean view, it is our most popular accommodation,” says manager Megan Handy, the daughter of owners John and Corinne Handy. “It is a very unique experience. We have ‘nesters’ who come back year after year.”
Treebones also provides swish yurts, but if you prefer a more rustic experience, visit Falls Brook Yurts (fallsbrookyurts.com) in Minerva, New York, hidden in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, which are part of the Appalachian Trail stretching all the way to Georgia. Yurting is great for lovers of the outdoors on a budget who don’t want to invest in or haul all that camping gear. Inside the fully furnished yurt you’ll find a working kitchenette, tables, chairs, a sofa and bunk beds for six. The outhouse latrine is just 15 steps from the front door. There’s no running water at the yurt; you can either carry bottled water on the 20-minute hike from the road where you parked, or use the buckets provided at the yurt to bring water up from the nearby brook, though be sure to boil the water first before bathing or drinking it. (I showered outside in full view – there’s no one for miles around – by dousing myself in liters of Poland Spring.)
Have your pizza delivered underwater
What started out as an underwater research station eventually inspired Jules Undersea Lodge (jul.com) in Key Largo, Florida, one of the world’s few operating underwater hotels. Dive down 21 feet below the surface and stay in one of three 20-foot underwater chambers where you can sleep, eat, and watch whatever swims by your window. Diving experience is a plus, although beginners can take a brief introductory course provided by the lodge before enjoying their accommodations. Forget bellhops! Your luggage is brought to you in a watertight container. If you’re feeling peckish in your capsule, order a pizza – also protected by a container from meeting a watery end. Founder and owner Ian Koblick, who is president of the Marine Resources Development Foundation, says the neighbours are often as curious about the guests as the other way around. “What can the fish see, that’s what I say?” Koblick jokes. “There are manatees in the lagoon, and fish coming and going. It’s a unique experience and the closest you’ll ever come to living in another world other than going into outer space.”
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