Sleep someplace that enriches your travel experience. Here are five to consider.
Sleep in a storybook trullo house, Alberobello, Italy
In Alberobello, a storybook town tucked into the sun-drenched countryside of southern Italy, you’ll have the chance to sleep in a magical dwelling with a remarkable history. The whitewashed walls, gray stone roofs and whimsical silhouettes were created over generations as local families gathered limestone from the surrounding fields. The stones were carefully stacked without mortar, creating thick walls and distinctive cone-shaped roofs. Compact and charming, many have been thoughtfully restored with modern amenities, without losing their fairy-tale ambience. Today, Alberobello's extraordinary collection of trulli is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When booking, ask about climate control and convenient access for unloading luggage. Consider the Aia Piccola area. Parking is generally located outside historic areas. Spending at least one night allows you to experience the village after the daytime crowds have departed.
For more: www.airbnb.com
Glamorous camping at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
Fall asleep inside your luxury tent on the banks of Montana's famed Blackfoot River. Have coffee and hot cocoa delivered to your swank canvas quarters by your camp butler or join other guests in the dining pavilion for a cooked-to-order breakfast. As a Paws Up guest, you'll spend your days horseback riding, fishing, biking, tackling the ropes course or participating in the many enrichment programs scheduled throughout the year, all in the midst of 37,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Families staying in tent-filled camps have access to a recreation center where kids enjoy games with newfound friends. The Kids Corps of Discovery also provides a range of activities for youngsters, making spa time possible for grown-ups. Timber and Wilderness Estate home stays, some with adjacent tent accommodations for adventuresome youngsters, are also possible.
For more: www.pawsup.com; www.visitmt.com
Treehouse-style at Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, Washington
Explore the dramatic Pacific Northwest landscape and rugged beauty of the Columbia River Gorge, a 4,000-foot-deep canyon of the Columbia River. Choose the Skamania Lodge as your base camp and elevate your experience with a stay in one of their treehouse-style cabins. Set 15 to 20 feet in the air, you’ll sleep amid the Douglas firs in a contemporary structure inspired by childhood memories of outdoor play. Enjoy the outdoor deck, firepit, hammocks, s’mores kits, an ice-filled Yeti and a wealth of nearby activities. Renew your connection with nature through a self-guided forest bathing experience on Skamania’s creek loop trail or try your hand at disc golf or take on the Little Eagle 18 Putting Course. Check out the Columbia River Gorge Interpretive Center, and plan a trip to any of 70 nearby waterfalls.
For more: www.skamania.com
Sleep near the sea, Baja California, Mexico
With time on an island and in the mountains of Baja California, Mexico, this eight-day glamping adventure delivers visitors into the heart of nature. In La Paz, take in the cultural and architectural landmarks of Baja’s capital. Water lovers will be eager to swim, snorkel and kayak in search of tropical fish, sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks and bird species on Isla Espiritu Santo. It’s a National Marine Park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sea of Cortez. Your adventure will conclude at the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve with scenic hikes and a stay in a luxury tent camp run by a local ranching family.
For more: www.adventure-life.com
Lighthouse living at Pigeon Point, Pescadero, California
Just 50 miles south of San Francisco, enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean as you and your family learn how mariners once navigated the central California coast with the help of the 116-foot lighthouse. Be on the lookout for whales, wade into tide pools and, come nightfall, catch the sparkling star show overhead. An affordable seaside option, the unique hostel offers vacation-rental-style accommodations spread out over several buildings and is ideal for groups of family and friends. Cook your own meals in the fully equipped kitchen. Free history talks are offered on weekends.
For more: www.hostelworld.com
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