The USA’s 8 most unusual novelty stays

For those who prefer an accommodation that offers an experience over a nice place to sleep, there a quite a few wacky and wonderful options in the USA.

From sleeping high among the treetops in the woods of Ohio, to staying on the farm on which the Sound of Music’s Von Trapp family settled after fleeing the Nazis, there’s something to thrill every type of traveller.

This article is the fourth in a series called ‘Book.the.US’, wherein we’ll showcase the diversity of Booking.com’s portfolio to tie in with a competition of almighty proportions; North American travellers are in with a chance to win $50,000 to experience as many of these remarkable accommodations as possible within a 50-day timeframe.

You can enter the competition here.

The Mohicans Treehouses, Ohio

Sleeping high among the treetops in the woods of Ohio, you can stare up past the forest canopy towards a pitch black night sky filled with stars. There’s a choice of four wooden houses with The Mohicans, each balanced between the tree trunks floating above the Mohican State Park, a space containing thousands of acres of parkland and river.

Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, Tennessee

When big-band leader, Glenn Miller, wrote a song called ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ in 1941, little did he know that it would one day save the eponymous station; 30 years later, a group of investors rescued the grand Beaux-Arts building and converted it into a hotel, inspired by the popular tune. Step inside the arched lobby and you’ll feel transported to the early 20th century (which was when the station opened) with its domed ceiling, marble floors and chandeliers. Sleep in a restored railway car and explore the 16-acre property, including refurbished train platforms and old railway lines as well as new additions like an indoor pool and a comedy club.

Trapp Family Lodge, Vermont

As any devoted fan of The Sound of Music will know, it was a true story. Having narrowly escaped the Nazis in Salzburg, the real von Trapp family toured the world as a musical troupe. Eventually, they settled in a small Vermont farmhouse that is still owned by the eldest son of Maria and Baron Georg Johannes von Trapp but now takes paying guests. There’s skiing, yoga, hiking and local wineries nearby. But the real draw is the connection to this fascinating family, with history tours of the lodge that detail their adventures, and horse-drawn carriage rides.

The Vintages Trailer Resort, Oregon

Experience a slice of Americana in Oregon wine country at The Vintages Trailer Resort. This collection of 1950s Airstreams is spread across a 14-acre rural plot, looking out towards the vineyards of the Willamette Valley. Borrow the property’s bikes for a day’s cycling expedition then spend the evening dangling your feet in the pool, relaxing in the hot tub, or enjoying a BBQ with a glass of fine local wine.

The Boathouse, Nebraska

Stay in a luxury boathouse on the edge of a tranquil, 12-acre lake in Nebraska for a chance to get away from it all. Guests can use the canoes, swim, sunbathe, do yoga on the lake’s island and catch fresh fish to grill on the outdoor fire for dinner.

21C Museum Hotel Bentonville, Arkansas

This cool, offbeat Arkansas hotel is a trailblazer. Its creators, Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, strove to make contemporary art accessible by building a non-exclusive hotel with its own art museum. This fully-formed, illustrious 12,000-square-foot space showcases avant-garde permanent and temporary exhibitions, while also being interactive, laid-back and welcoming. Dine at the hotel’s Hive restaurant to sample award-winning, creative southern fare and then take a glass of wine with you to admire the gallery at your own pace.

Emil Bach House, Illinois

Recently fully-restored, the Emil Bach House is a masterpiece designed by visionary American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Like a living architectural museum, this Prairie-style structure with enormous windows, cubic geometry and a Japanese-style tea house sits on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago. It was commissioned by an admirer of Lloyd Wright’s work. But now, this historic home is open to the public for weekly guided tours, events and overnight stays.

Red Caboose Motel, Pennsylvania

For the chance to sleep in a classic, wood-panelled rail car from the Pennsylvania Railroad, check into the Red Caboose Motel. You can also stay in the adjacent historic farmhouse where you can feed and pet the farm animals. The rail car bunk beds make for a cosy night’s sleep, with breakfast taken in the dining car and movie nights held in the farm’s barn on a huge projector screen. Spend your days taking a small train or horse drawn buggy ride and sitting by the Strasburg railroad tracks to watch the steam engines chug by a couple of times a day.

Thyme For Bed – Bed & Breakfast, Indiana

A concrete dome in the middle of the Indiana countryside, Thyme For Bed is an unusual place to spend the night. Take a turn around the garden and sit on the swing under the willow tree, before watching the sunset from the porch and listening to the crickets chirp in the moonlight. The circular suite has a central fireplace and a jacuzzi for soaking in as you watch the flickering flames.

Borden Flats Lighthouse, Massachusetts

This striped sparkplug lighthouse, floating in the middle of the Taunton River in Massachusetts, has quite a history. It’s been battered by a hurricane, struck by lightning and was named after a wealthy local family who were mired in murder mystery in the 19th century. Recently, it was extensively refurbished and is now available for overnight stays, offering a rare opportunity to stay in a historic, working lighthouse.

*The Booking.com Chief Booking Officer Contest (initial entry period) begins on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time and ends on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Each Phase #1 Finalist will be contacted on or about Saturday, March 24, 2018 by email or phone and have until 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 to enter their video submission for Phase #2 judging. The Grand Prize winner will be announced on or about Friday, March 30, 2018 and their travels can begin as soon as they want.