10 ONLY-IN-AMERICA STAYS
Add a little rock-star spirit to a stay in the USA with Melinda Browning’s pick of out-of-the-ordinary resorts and holiday homes
With Americans heading for their national parks in droves as an escape from Covid, the past few years have seen a boom in out-of-the-ordinary accommodation options in some of the country’s most incredible destinations.
Why waste your US holiday staying in cookie-cutter hotel rooms and uninspiring motels when the country has as many unique lodging options as it does jaw-dropping landscapes? From the desert to the big smoke, whether you’ve got the budget for a campsite or a six-star luxury lodge, you’ll find a stay to suit in the USA.
1 SHELDON CHALET ALASKA
It’s hard to imagine a more remote, more breathtaking place to stay than Sheldon Chalet. Accessible only by helicopter, the five-bedroom luxury retreat is perched atop a glacier and surrounded by the rugged scenery of Alaska’s Denali National Park. Book a helicopter to drop you off for a spot of hiking, fishing or skiing – or simply stay put and gaze at sweeping views of snowcovered mountains between meals prepared by the in-house chef using locally sourced, wild-harvested ingredients. Best of all, between September and April there’s a good chance of spotting the aurora borealis. sheldonchalet.com
2 INVISIBLE HOUSE JOSHUA TREE, CALIFORNIA
It blends into the landscape like a real-life Magic Eye – but that hasn’t stopped this “invisible” architectural masterpiece catching the attention of the rich and famous. Built by American Psycho producer Chris Hanley in 2019, the property has previously been leased by celebs such as Alicia Keys and Demi Lovato, and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky describes it as “one of the most spectacular homes in the world on all of Airbnb”. It’s not only the dazzling exterior and the surrounding 36ha of private desert that make it unique. Inside, features include a 30m heated swimming pool running through the living room. invisible. house
3 CLEAR SKY RESORTS GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA
The Grand Canyon’s bucket-list status is already well established, but the addition of Clear Sky Resorts makes it more appealing than ever for families. Located 20 minutes from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim entrance, the resort’s “sky domes” are decked out with cool themes including space, spies and ’80s video games, and can accommodate up to seven guests.
There are also family-friendly activities on site, including a jumping pillow, frisbee golf, movie projection dome and food truck. The resort is open from April to November. grandcanyon.clearskyresorts.com
4 BAR W GUEST RANCH MONTANA
Kevin Costner’s star turn in Yellowstone has seen cowboy-cations become one of the hottest US travel trends. At Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish, the traditional ranch stay has had a modern update. Newly built log cabins launch this year, while glamping tents are available during the summer months in addition to the original lodge accommodation. On-ranch activities include trail rides, rodeo games, cattle work, hiking, swimming, and sleigh rides in winter, while Glacier National Park and Whitefish Ski Resort are a short drive away. thebarw.com
5 COLLECTIVE RETREATS GOVERNORS ISLAND, NEW YORK
Think of New York accommodation and chances are a cramped hotel room springs to mind. Collective Retreats on Governors Island is as far from that as you can get, just an eight-minute ferry ride from downtown Manhattan. The 70ha island is a car-free zone, featuring stunning views of the city skyline, peaceful green space and outdoor spa pools. Collective Retreats’ glamping tents and containers are kitted out with 1500-thread-count linens, Wi-Fi and air-conditioning, plus there’s a viewing deck to watch the sun set over the harbour, and daily yoga sessions. collectiveretreats.com
6 TAOS SKYBOX STARGAZER NEW MEXICO
The town of Taos is best known for its history – the World Heritage-listed Taos Pueblo is one of the USA’s oldest communities, but its latest attraction is thoroughly modern. Launched last year, the Taos Skybox quickly shot into the ranks of Airbnb’s most wishlisted properties.
And one look at the one-bedroom container’s striking location, on a 12ha site 2100m above sea level, explains why. By day, it’s surrounded by spectacular high desert vistas, and by night, the star-filled desert sky is the focus. airbnb.com.au
7 YONDER ESCALANTE UTAH
It’s not often a caravan park shower is a holiday highlight, but Yonder Escalante is not your average caravan park. This glamping resort offers shiny vintage Airstreams with luxe fit-outs, sleek modern cabins, an Insta-worthy pool and a drive-in movie theatre where you can watch the big screen from a vintage car. Even RV sites and tent sites come with their own firepit. But the pièce de résistance is the spa-like bathhouses with luxury toiletries and outdoor rain showers that are almost as incredible as the scenery you’ll encounter en route along Highway 12. stayyonder.com
8 THE MIRROR HOTEL NORTH CAROLINA
Hidden in plain sight, the soon-to-open Mirror Hotel is the first of its kind in the US and boasts 18 cabins that blend in to the natural landscape near Asheville. On a 22ha property along the Appalachian Trail, surrounded by forest and hot springs, the cabins are designed to reflect the natural environment and let guests “disappear into nature”. Inside, they have luxury amenities, while outside, the private decks are equipped with hot tubs and hammocks. The hotel is slated to open this month. tomsfinds.visitmirrorhotel.com
9 KATE’S LAZY DESERT CALIFORNIA
The next-best thing to your very own Love Shack awaits at Kate’s Lazy Desert. Owned by B-52s singer Kate Pierson, this collection of vintage Airstream vans was decorated by artists Phillip Maberry and Scott Walker – whose house featured in the Love Shack video. Colourful and kitschy, the Airstream hotel is set in the Mojave Desert, 20 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park. If you’re chasing Love Shack vibes on the east coast, Pierson also rents out a beach house at Cape Cod and a cabin in New York’s Catskills. lazymeadow.com
10 DUNTON HOT SPRINGS RESORT COLORADO
A ghost town turned upscale resort, Dunton Hot Springs sits among the picturesque San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies. With its historic hand-built log cabins converted into luxury accommodation, it’s safe to say the miners who once called the town home wouldn’t recognise the place. There’s also a waterfall, a bathhouse fed by Colorado’s only geyser, and an array of activities from horseriding to snowshoeing across the sprawling 200ha property. Nearby Dunton River Camp offers glamping in summer. duntondestinations.com