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Star Wars House – Orlando, FL
Airbnb
If you’re planning a trip to a galaxy far, far away, Airbnb has the perfect place for you to stay in Orlando, Florida. Twelve Parsecs is a 9-bedroom house located just 15 minutes away from Disney World, making it the perfect place for a family of Jedi warriors to rest their heads while visiting Galaxy’s Edge. The home includes a heated pool and resort amenities at the Champions Gate Oasis resort that include a water park, two golf courses, a splash pad, a game room, a theater, and more. The hosts have also left behind 16 Star Wars Easter eggs for guests to find. Read more here.
Sleeps: 16
Cost: $477/night
Online: airbnb.com
Bedrock Homestead – Boulder, UT
Airbnb
Live out your Flintstones dreams at this hydroelectric homestead and working farm. You’ll have an entire west wing to yourself and a shared kitchen and common rooms. Climb to the top of the cave to see the expansive stars and enjoy your morning coffee up there. The area has numerous options for hiking, mountain biking and exploring.
Sleeps: 5
Cost: $275/night
Online: airbnb.com
Area 55 Futuro House – Joshua Tree, CA
For a totally “out of this world” adventure, book a few nights at this restored Futuro House in Joshua Tree. This totally off-the-grid home has fresh water in the outdoor shower and a fire pit where you can eat under the stars. Solar power is available to charge your small electronics but there’s no WiFi, just board games to enjoy in this gorgeous area of California.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $295/night
Online: airbnb.com
Related: Your Ultimate Guide to Palm Springs with Kids
Pirate Ship Adventure Cabin | Lyndon Station, WI
airbnb
Ahoy, me hearties! Pirate-loving littles will definitely want to spend a night aboard the “Passing Wind,” outside of Wisconsin Dells. The unbelievable Pirate Ship Adventure Cabin has room for six and is guaranteed to make memories. A slide, swing set, and tons of pirate décor add to the fun. Parents should know that the ship’s two bedrooms are separated by a short 15-foot walk across an outdoor lower deck, and bathrooms are a short walk away.
Sleeps: 6
Cost: $108/night
Online: airbnb.com
Fillmore Treehouse with Farm Stay—Fillmore, CA
via Airbnb.com
Drive about an hour north of LA and you’ll discover this secluded treehouse in an orchard of orange and avocado trees. It’s located on a working farm with chickens, goats, ducks, and more—which makes it an ideal spot for a parent-kid getaway (only two guests are allowed). The recently built treehouse boasts a comfy queen bed, a cute kitchenette, and a full-size shower. Watch the sunset from the large deck, complete with a fire pit to satisfy your s’mores fix. After dark, you and your little one can enjoy some stargazing far from the city lights.
Sleeps: 2
Cost: $214
Online: airbnb.com
Sleep in a Train Caboose – Joseph, OR
Airbnb
Wake up to this gorgeous view in your green caboose. The caboose is located behind an original Train Depot built in 1906 which used to be located in Enterprise, Oregon. It was moved in 1980 to its present location, one mile north of the town of Joseph, to serve as a residence. The caboose is completely self-contained with a small fridge, electric stove top burners, table and stools, a shower with rainfall shower head, linens and towels, cooking utensils, and an RV-style toilet room. There is one main bedroom with a full-size bed with a memory foam mattress. Two twin bunk beds are separated from the main bedroom with drapery.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $145/night
Online: airbnb.com
Related: All Aboard These Incredible Train Car Vacation Rentals
Off-Grid UNIMOG Zombie-Proof Adventure – Kimberly, AL
Airbnb
How cool is this Airbnb? This 1966 UNIMOG was used as a movie prop in the Hunger Games and the Walking Dead. Two people can sleep in the UNIMOG and there are spots for additional people to sleep on the open-air sleeping loft. You are totally off the grid at this spot as you’ll drop your car at the farm’s goat pen and throw your belongings in the back of the UTV. Staff will drive you what will seem like a hundred miles away from society onto the 105-acre sanctuary. You will hike beautiful scenery, play in the river and chill in your lounge chair on an observation deck that lets you truly escape the world below.
Sleeps: 4 but more can be accommodated. Dogs allowed.
Cost: $102/night
Online: airbnb.com
Private Island Log Cabin – Monmouth, ME
Airbnb
If you REALLY want to get away from society, this is the Airbnb for you. Your cabin is on its own private island which you access by private pontoon ride from the mainland. Spend your days fishing, boating, and swimming while you enjoy this fully off-grid adventure. Island concierge service is available if you need to have any supplies restocked during your stay. Unwind by the campfire, watch the sunset, and listen to the loons as they settle in for the night.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $196/night
Online: airbnb.com
Adventure Treehouse in Paradise – Mt. View, HI
Adventure Treehouse via airbnb.com
If your idea of a vacation means starry night skies and the soothing sounds of the jungle all around you, this cozy Hawaiian eco-cottage is the place to be. Designed to be as off-grid as possible while still maintaining a sense of luxury (meaning there’s running water, wifi, and electricity but the whole place has a tiny ecological “footprint” and is solar-powered), this small home was featured on HGTV’s “Tiny Paradise” and boasts unique (and repurposed) features in every nook and cranny. Perched eight feet above the ground, the home comes complete with a full kitchen, bathroom, living room, and loft space bedroom—as well as a swinging bridge that leads to a quiet sitting area in the trees. There’s also a jungle zip line (!), outdoor shower, and ground-level hangout space. The entire place may be small, but with two doors and 18 windows overlooking the surrounding Ohia and Hapu’u forest, you’ll have plenty of space in the views.
Note: This home is recommended for kids seven and up because of the inherent risks associated with the loft, swinging bridge, and zip line.
Sleeps: 4 guests
Cost: $180/night
Online: airbnb.com
Stay In an Historic Lighthouse – Cape Cod, MA
Wing’s Neck Lighthhouse
For a true New England vacation with a killer view, you can have this entire historic lighthouse and its adjacent home all to yourself. Located at the tip of Wings Neck Point along the western coast of Cape Cod, the lighthouse was built in 1849 and completely renovated in 2003. Formerly a U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse, the light tower still stands next to the original three-bedroom keeper’s home. Kids will love climbing the whirling stairs and subsequent ladder to reach the glass top of the lighthouse, where they’ll get a 360-degree view of the Atlantic Ocean and the adjacent rocky shores. And, when just looking at the water isn’t enough, there is a private sandy beach nearby where kids can swim in the gentle waves of the bay.
Sleeps: 8
Cost: $430/night
Online: airbnb.com
Underground in a Hobbit House – Santa Fe, TN
Airbnb
Lord of the Rings fans will geek out at the opportunity to stay a night in a hobbit house. These underground pods—located on a crop farm near Nashville, Tennessee—look like little hills from afar; but get closer and see the wooden walls and the giant round doorways. There are two pods for sleeping (for up to four guests each), with separate pods for the kitchen and dining rooms. Communal barbecue and sitting areas are located around the eco-farm to bring people together. Kids will love exploring the trails and looking for waterfalls (there are two of them) across the farm’s 15 acres. There’s also a chicken coop where you are free to collect fresh eggs for breakfast.
Sleeps: 8
Cost: $375/night
Online: airbnb.com
The Earthship—El Prado, NM
Airbnb
The Phoenix Earthship (which is located near Taos, NM, not Phoenix, AZ) is a work of art and guaranteed to make a unique family vacation the kids will never forget. The greenhouse makes a lush environment in the high mountain desert, with banana trees, grapevines, birds, turtles, and a fish pond. The entire property is off-grid, sustainable and unique. There is also a food garden, chickens, and views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Part of a massive 630-acre Earthship subdivision, the only official off-grid subdivision in the world, you’ll find stars for days. It’s also within driving distance of artsy Taos.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $270/night
Online: airbnb.com
Dome Dwelling – Woodridge, NY
Airbnb
Got a whole crew in tow? Check out this amazing dome for a group vacation in the Catskill Mountains, located in New York. There’s a communal outdoor kitchen, an outdoor shower and bath, a fire pit, a pizza oven, and a bathroom available. Kids will love swimming in the pond and adults will enjoy watching from the wood-fired cedar hot tub. The property, perfect for multi-generational families, also has bunnies, sheep and goats.
Sleeps: 16
Cost: $379/night
Online: airbnb.com
Castle with a Pool—Los Angeles, CA
via Airbnb.com
For your little knights and princesses, this newly restored 1920s castle is straight out of a storybook. Original details like stone turrets, gothic arches, and exposed beams abound. It’s a splurge, but so worth it. The grounds are completely enclosed by stone walls and offer a private courtyard off the master, a built-in fire pit, and a spacious pool to play in.
Sleeps: 6
Cost: $1,004/night
Online: airbnb.com
Related: Live Out Your Fairytale Dreams in These 12 Castles You Can Rent
Sleep in a Silo at Laughing Llama Farm—Troy, TX
Airbnb
Located near Waco, Texas, and about 20 miles from the downtown area, this expansive farm stay includes an incredibly unique converted grain silo with all the amenities, including a sleeping loft, full bathroom, kitchen, and a fishing pond on site. Visit with the sheep and llamas and relax in the peace and quiet.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $118/night
Online: airbnb.com
Go Rustic in a Navajo Earth Hut – Page, AZ
Airbnb
Have you ever thought about how cool it would be to stay in a Navajo hut, with an earthen floor and a wood-burning stove? This rustic Native American-owned traditional Navajo hut near Page, Arizona accommodates four family members and has a fully-stocked bathroom nearby and an outside fire pit where you’ll cook your dinner under the moonlight. The best part: you’ll wake up to a traditional Navajo breakfast complete with blue corn porridge, fresh fruit, and ranch coffee or tea sourced from the land. Keep a look out for roaming sheep, sheepdogs, and horses before you set off for a visit to the nearby Grand Canyon.
Sleeps: 4
Cost: $210/night
Online: airbnb.com
Float House at Jack Creek | Astoria, OR
Airbnb
You’ll love this delightful float house on the John Day River, minutes from charming Astoria. This home offers a perfect place to enjoy river recreation and relaxation. Originally a floating store, guests now enjoy all the modern conveniences mixed with old-world charm. Sitting adjacent to 16 acres of farmland, enjoy the peace and serenity of country life or use it as a jumping-off point for your adventure on the coast.
Sleeps: 8
Cost: $200/night
Online: airbnb.com
Related: All Hands on Deck: 13 Houseboats to Rent with Your Crew
A House Devoted to Candy – Orlando, FL
Sweet Escape House
The littles will forget all about Disneyworld when they step foot into this gigantic Orlando-area vacation rental that is, basically, every kid’s dream come true. Whether they’re swimming in the ice cream cone-shaped pool, hanging in the ball pit bedroom, or doing karaoke in the disco, your kids will pretty much be in heaven here. The 10-bedroom home has everything a kid would want (and then some), including an arcade, movie theatre, mini-golf course, and life-sized backyard Candyland game. The pool has a giant chocolate bottle squirting water down the waterslide; there’s a carnival-themed room complete with games and prizes, and a laser tag room that lets kids battle it out.
Rates start at $3,816 for a 2-night stay and vary by date. (It may seem exorbitant, but considering that the home sleeps up to 52 people, it could be doable if you split the cost with the group.)
Online: sweetescapehouse.com
Safari West—Santa Rosa, CA
Come to Santa Rosa for the exotic animals and stay for the one-of-a-kind overnight glamping experience at the Safari West wildlife preserve. The heavy canvas tents—imported from Africa—have hardwood floors (albeit polished), and the sounds of wildlife give the feel of camping, while heaters and ceiling fans provide home comforts. While the luxurious bedding is nice, the highlight of the experience for all ages is the more than 800 animals that roam these acres. (Note that the tents are separated from the wildlife for safety reasons.) Take a 3-hour tour of the property on an open-air safari Jeep (must be age 4 or older for this). The on-site Savanna Grill offers indoor and outdoor dining and wines from area vines, as well as Africa.
Online: safariwest.com
Play All Day at a Gaming House – Orlando, FL
The Great Escape Parkside
This 15-bedroom mansion devoted to games will wow grown-ups as much as it does their little gamers. Built by the same couple who made The Sweet Escape, this bastion to all things playable lets guests walk inside their favorite board and video games. It’s a gamer’s paradise: There’s a LEGO room covered in foam blocks; a Ms. Pac-Man room that’ll make you feel like it’s 1985 (it comes with a multi-cade arcade machine and an Atari 2600); and a CLUE room that also works as an escape room. There’s also a huge pool with a lazy river and waterslide; a human whack-a-mole game that’s just begging for social media likes; a human bowling game that puts people inside Zorb balls to knock down giant bowling pins; and a giant dartboard that uses Velcro soccer balls instead of darts.
Rates start at $1,595 a night (sleeps up to 54 people).
Online: greatescapeparkside.com
Overnight on a Battleship – Corpus Christi, TX
texasfeel via Flickr
Ahoy, sailors! Grab your sleeping bag and pillow and spend the night aboard the U.S.S. Lexington, a retired aircraft carrier that has been docked in the Corpus Christi harbor since 1991 as a living history museum. Overnights on the battleship mean a unique first-person lesson in history: Not only will you get to bunk in the crew’s original quarters; you’ll also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship and hear stories from its past (the ship was heavily used during World War 2). Overnighters are also treated to a nighttime scavenger hunt, a movie in the 3D MEGA Theater, a few good old-fashioned ghost stories, a flag ceremony and two trips through the chow line.
Hint: The ship is large and there are stairs, so wear comfortable shoes.
Rate: $75 per person (for one night). Kids must be five and up to attend the sleepover.
Online: usslexington.com
Stay in a Haunted Hotel – Cheyenne, WY
If you’re going to stay in a hotel, you may as well make it a haunted one! In downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, you’ll find the beautiful Historic Plains Hotel, a National Historic Landmark, built in 1911. This hotel is full of local Wyoming art, and stained glass, and several websites claim paranormal activity at the hotel—including Trip Advisor reviews. Visitors to Cheyenne can embark on a Cheyenne Trolley Ghost Tour to learn more about the Historic Plains Hotel ghost activity and the cowboys and Indians of the wild west. Jill Pope, who has worked for Visit Cheyenne and the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, has written two books on haunted Cheyenne and she leads tours and lectures that include the Historic Plains Hotel. Whether you believe in ghosts or just love hearing folklore, a night at the Historic Plains Hotel will be a night to remember.
Online: theplainshotel.com
Slumber in the Nicest Cave Around – Parthenon, AR
Cindy R via Yelp
This is no bat cave. Beckham Creek Cave, a luxury cave dwelling (!) deep in the Ozark Mountains, features everything you’d expect in a modern villa—only it’s inside a cave. This means you’ll have four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a full gourmet kitchen, and multiple living areas with lofts and balconies … plus exposed rock walls all around and a heck of an echo. Originally constructed as a fallout shelter, this upscale abode now rents for up to $1,600 per night and has been featured by media outlets worldwide. Watch TV on a 72-inch flat-screen bolted on the rock wall; shower in the luxurious rain showers; or just hang on the couch after a day of Ozark mountain hiking, horseback riding or canoeing—you’ll feel like the coolest caveman (or woman) ever.
Note: One Yelp reviewer warned that it does get cold, despite the online promises of “thermal heating,” so bring warm clothes. This is a cave, after all.
Rates start at $2,200 per night.
Online: beckhamcave.com
Additional reporting by Melissa Heckscher & Wendy Altschuler
Please note, prices listed were valid at the time of publication but rates can fluctuate at different times of the year. If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.