One of our absolute favorite things to do is travel in search of bucket list, unique places to stay in the United States. We’re always on the lookout for accommodations that are as much of an adventure as the destination itself. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most interesting and unforgettable places we’ve stayed across the country in hopes of helping you find your next vacation! These bucket list, unique stays would make a perfect getaway for a special occasion. At all of these stays, leaving the property isn’t necessary!
Inn at Newport Ranch
The Inn at Newport Ranch is a 2,000 acre working ranch perched on the coast of Fort Bragg in Northern California. We have never stayed somewhere quite like this! The Inn has 9 rooms, each different from the next. The buildings are constructed from natural materials like redwood trees and stone.
The Inn at Newport ranch cares deeply about their land and commits to planting one redwood tree per guest. You might even be able to plant your own redwood tree if you stay here! They grow most of their own produce and source their fish, meat, and wine from local providers.
Ranch tours, mushroom foraging, and bee tours are offered seasonally. We took the mushroom foraging ATV tour and it was one of the most unique experiences we’ve done! We learned how to identify edible mushrooms and picked them to take home with us!
One visit here to the Inn at Newport Ranch and you can tell this place was so thoughtfully designed. The owner strategically placed benches around the property to have the best views and we loved the miles of private coastal hiking trails.
We left feeling relaxed and at peace after spending nearly all of our time outside, in our cozy room, or in the main lodge which still felt connected to the outdoors.
Ambiente
Ambiente is located in Sedona, Arizona and the private atriums make this one of the best unique, bucket list stays in the United States. You’ll wake up in your private glass atrium complete with floor to ceiling windows and your own private rooftop with incredible views. You can do beautiful hikes right from the trailhead on the property. Daily breakfast is included and we loved getting it delivered to our room.
The entire property is designed to blend with nature, so you’ll find reflective mirrors throughout. The property feels intimate and romantic. The on-site restaurant, Forty1, was a highlight, especially the incredible blue crab ramen! We highly recommend eating there. Additionally, the staff provides service that goes above and beyond. They will drive you anywhere within 2 miles from the property. This is an amazing amenity since many hikes have crowded parking lots.
Denali Backcountry Lodge
Not only is Denali Backcountry Lodge one of the most unique, bucket list stays in the United States, but we felt like this entire experience in Alaska was straight out of a movie.
Due to a rockslide closing Denali Park Road at mile 43, Denali Backcountry Lodge is only accessible by helicopter. This means if you stay there you’ll be one of the only people in the backcountry of Denali National Park. And with a max capacity of 24 guests, the experience is intimate and idyllic.
This is an all inclusive, luxury experience includes a scenic helicopter flight to and from the lodge, guided hikes, daily educational lectures about different environmental topics, paddleboarding/kayaking, mountain bikes, and on-site hot tub, barrel sauna, and pool table/game room. The food was outstanding and features gourmet local ingredients. They also have a fully stocked bar and creative craft cocktail menu for an additional cost. While you stay, hiking snacks, backpacks, trekking poles, water bottles, and bug nets are also provided for your use.
At Denali Backcountry Lodge, you can truly just show up and the staff will tailor activities and hikes to your specific interests and difficulty level. Some of our favorite activities were mountain biking, kayaking at Wonder Lake, and hiking the McKinley Barr Trail.
Shearwater Cove
Shearwater Cove is located off the coast of Seward, a small and cozy fishing town about a two hour drive from Anchorage, Alaska. If you’re looking for true disconnection and relaxation, this off-grid stay is it.Shearwater Cove is only accessible by boat, so you’ll start your stay with a scenic boat ride across Resurrection Bay. After about 40 minutes, you’ll be pulling in to an unassuming little cove with the most magical scenery.
Take the stairs up to your luxury yurt to check out the view and your cozy accommodation. The yurts at Shearwater Cove sleep four and there are premium yurts with better views, but the regular yurts are magical too. The best part about Shearwater Cove is the unlimited use of sea kayaks. You can paddle to a roaring waterfall or a beach with fields of fireweed, Alaska’s iconic wildflower. We even kayaked with porpoise and a seal right next to us!
If you’re in the mood to hike, try one of the three beautiful trails on property and if you get hungry for a hiking snack, you can pick salmonberries or blueberries along the trail! There is no food sold on site, but coolers are provided, so guests should stock up on groceries before arriving.
Kenwood Inn and Spa
Located in Kenwood, the heart of Northern California wine country, Kenwood Inn and Spa is probably the most romantic stay on our list of unique stays in the United States. You’re going to feel like you’ve been transported to Italy with the Mediterranean inspired architecture and lemon and persimmon trees throughout the gorgeous property.
The beautiful pool area has lounging areas, a bar, and there’s a separate hot tub area. Your hardest decision will be whether to leave your room to enjoy the property or relax in your giant room complete with a fireplace, double rain shower, soaking tub. If nothing else, the included daily breakfast and wine at happy hour will get you out of your room.
Our suite was one of the nicest hotel rooms we’ve ever stayed in! We loved the fireplace, balcony, double rain shower, and soaking tub.
Other amenities include a welcome drink and a daily happy hour with wine from a local winery as well as daily delicious breakfast. Besides breakfast, food isn’t offered on-site, but the hotel is located in Kenwood which is home to amazing restaurants. We also explored nearby Healdsberg which was the cutest town. We did a wine tasting at Aperture Cellars and had an incredible dinner Sushi by Scratch.
Kenwood Inn & Spa is also right next to amazing wineries like Ledson Vineyards and Landmark Vineyards, so if you want to venture out for wine tasting, you won’t have to go far!
December was a really quiet time to visit and the weather was perfect.
Mountain Lodge Telluride
Mountain Lodge Telluride is located in the mountain village of Telluride, and it’s only a four minute walk from the free scenic gondola to downtown Telluride so you don’t have to worry about parking in Telluride!
Not only does Mountain Lodge Telluride have some of the most scenic hot tubs and pool area, but there’s a delicious gourmet restaurant called The View.
The lodge has basic rooms, suites and even large cabins available at all different price points. We stayed in a one bedroom suite that included a fireplace, kitchen, and private patio. We ended up getting sushi from the grocery store near the gondola and not leaving the property!
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