For most, a hotel is a pit stop along the way to another destination. It’s merely a place to eat or sleep before moving on in the morning. For others, the vacation itself is the trip to the hotel – and for good reason. If you’re looking for an interesting weekend get-away, try sleeping in a tipi, in a tree house, or in a cave!
Tipis
Chi-Chi Tipi is located on the Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. Here, you’ll sleep in an authentic tipi where you’ll be able to gaze up at the sky through the ears of the tipi. Luckily, a few modifications have been made. The tipis are made from fireproof canvas. Instead of sleeping on the ground you’ll have the opportunity to sleep on a sleeping bag that has been attached to an air mattress. Members of the tribe will be happy to guide you on horseback riding tours or through art workshops. They’ll even teach you how to raise your own tipi, if you wish!
Treehouse
Treehouse lodging is a new and interesting experience. The Cedar Creek Treehouse in Mount Rainier National Park gives visitors the opportunity to sleep high up in a 200-year-old red cedar. A bridge gives visitors the opportunity to cross into a fir tree where they can gaze at the nearby surroundings from a 100-foot high observatory.
Another treehouse can be found at Teton Tree House near Jackson, Wyoming. The treehouse boasts multiple levels – if you can make it up the 95 steps to get into the lodge to start with!
Lighthouse
The Rose Island Light on Rose Island, Rhode Island was once a working lighthouse. The lighthouse is run privately and gives visitors the opportunity to experience what it is like to run a real lighthouse. Everything has been restored to look like the original, including the sinks and fully furnished kitchen. While it’s better to visit in the fall and winter, where you can stay for more than one night, be prepared to stay an extra night (at no additional charge) if the weather is too rough for you to return safely from the island.
Yurts
Yurts have long been the home of Mongolian natives and once you’ve spent the night in one, you’ll have no trouble understanding why. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota will host your yurt experience and is perfect for those spending the weekend skiing the Banadad. Your fully equipped yurt will have both wood and gas stoves, dishes, sleeping bags, and bunk beds. You can choose to cook for yourself or choose to have a host attend to the chores on your behalf.
Cave Lodging
Kokopelli’s Cave Bed and Breakfast, located at the four-corner meeting place of Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona come together, can be found 70 feet below the surface. Visitors start by following a downhill path, at the end of which they’ll arrive at a ladder, which will take them to the front porch. The bed and breakfast only has one room but has a full kitchen, waterfall style shower, and a hot tub. Pack light! The trip downhill is one thing, but you’ll have to climb back out of the cave eventually!
Visit the following websites for more information about alternative lodging:
Save Our Treehouse
Lodgepole Gallery & Tipi Village
Dragonfly Den
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