Hotel rooms are all well and good, but are they fun? Not really. How about vacationing in a tree house, underwater or perhaps in a giant shoe? Here are some of the unusual accommodation choices available:
High Above
Who says tree houses are just for kids? Adults can get their tree house fix at resorts such as Secrets on the Lake in Queensland, Australia, where the tree houses are built far enough apart that you have total privacy, and come with such amenities as private balconies, huge showers, fireplaces and sunken spa tubs overlooking the lake. Closer to home (if you're in the US), The Winivian resort in Connecticut offers a whimsically decorated (but very comfortable) tree house with a full bar.
For something a bit more sparse, head to Vasteras in Sweden, where local artist Mikael Genberg has created "The Woodpecker", a traditional Swedish red cottage 42 feet above ground, right smack in the city center. You climb up a rope ladder to the tiny, IKEA-furnished cabin, which in spite of its small size, has a bed, table and chairs, a balcony, and thank goodness, a toilet. And if you book the De Luxe package, you will get breakfast and dinner delivered.
Down Below
How about letting the fishes watch you for a change? At Jules' Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, FL, you can spend the night in their 2-bedroom, underwater research lab located in a mangrove lagoon. And it's not all stainless steel counters and test tubes - it has air conditioning, hot showers and a fully stocked kitchen. The only downside (to some of us anyway) is that you have to scuba dive your way down there, so if that's something you can't picture doing, this is not for you. If you do want to visit but are not a certified diver, you can take Jules' 3-hour non-certification course for those who just want to spend the night.
If diving to your bedroom is the last thing you want to do, but still want to give sleeping underwater a try, book a ticket to Vasteras in Sweden, where Mikael Genberg has once again created an unusual abode (his latest project is building a little red cottage on the moon). The Utter Inn, an over/underwater two-story house in Lake Malaren looks like a classic Swedish red cottage with a wraparound deck floating on the lake, but inside, the bedroom is one flight down, 9.8 feet below the surface. The upstairs has a bathroom and small kitchen, but if you'd rather take in the scenery than cook, no worries. Once again, the De Luxe package will provide you with breakfast and dinner (delivered by boat).
What About That Boot?
When Judy and Steve Richards built their two-story cottage in the shape of a giant boot, there was more than one pair of raised eyebrows in Tasman, New Zealand. But the boot, located between the Able Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks has proven incredibly popular. And no wonder: intended for couples, it's adorable, romantic, warm and cozy (there are fireplaces both indoors and out as well as sub-floor heating) and fully equipped (except for a kitchen - building codes prohibit that - but an organic breakfast is delivered to your door daily, as is dinner, upon request).
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Post Date : Oct 21, 2011 08:26:32
