How the places we sleep become the stories we carry

There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when you choose a place to stay that’s more than just a bed for the night. It’s the difference between visiting somewhere and truly experiencing it. Over the years, some of our most memorable travels have come not from the destination alone, but from the structures we stayed in along the way—treehouses tucked into forests, ice hotels carved from snow, spaces that invite wonder the moment you arrive.

A Place That Becomes Part of the Story

When you stay in a unique structure, the accommodation itself becomes a character in your journey. You don’t just remember the town or the view—you remember waking up surrounded by ice sculptures, or falling asleep to the creak of trees swaying in the wind. These places slow you down. They pull you out of autopilot and into presence.

Think about it: years later, you’re far more likely to say, “Remember that night we slept in the ice hotel in Quebec?” than “Remember that standard hotel room?” Unique stays have staying power in our memories because they engage all the senses—temperature, texture, sound, light.

Treehouses: A Return to Wonder

Treehouses awaken something deeply familiar and deeply forgotten at the same time. They remind us of childhood forts and secret hideaways, while offering the comfort and intention we crave as adults.

On one trip to Hawaii, reaching our treehouse was part of the adventure itself. The path wasn’t obvious—you accessed it through what felt like a secret entry, tucked quietly into the landscape. Finding it made the arrival feel earned, like you’d been let in on a small, beautiful secret.

Sleeping among the trees shifts your perspective—literally and emotionally. You wake with the birds, notice the weather more, and feel held by the landscape rather than separate from it. There’s also a gentle invitation in a treehouse: to unplug, to step outside more often, to sit with a cup of tea and do absolutely nothing except watch the light move through the branches.

Ice Hotels: Ephemeral Beauty

Ice hotels are the opposite experience in some ways—and just as powerful. They exist temporarily, shaped by cold, artistry, and impermanence. Staying in one is a reminder that not everything is meant to last forever, and that beauty can be fleeting and extraordinary because of it.

One of our most memorable stays (and our first trip together!) was in an ice hotel in Quebec. Before we even headed to our room, we were trained—yes, trained—on how to properly get into our sleeping bags so we’d stay warm through the night. It felt part expedition, part ceremony. Wrapped in layers, surrounded by sculpted ice walls glowing softly in the dark, sleeping there felt both daring and deeply cozy. It sharpened our senses and stitched itself into our shared story in a way no conventional hotel ever could.

That night still comes up in conversation years later, not because it was comfortable in the usual sense, but because it was unforgettable.

Why These Stays Matter

Unique accommodations invite us into story-worthy moments. They become landmarks in our personal timelines—touchstones we return to in conversation, memory, and imagination. They often inspire creativity, deepen connection with travel companions, and encourage a more intentional way of moving through the world.

In a culture that often prioritizes efficiency and sameness, choosing an unusual place to stay is a small act of rebellion—and a meaningful one. It says: This trip matters. This moment matters.

Choosing Experience Over Ordinary

If you’re planning a trip and debating where to stay, consider choosing the place that makes your heart beat a little faster. The one that feels slightly unconventional. The one you can already imagine telling stories about years from now.

Because long after the bags are unpacked and the photos are shared, it’s often the place you slept—the treehouse, the ice hotel, the unexpected structure—that you remember most.

A Gentle Invitation

Those experiences—being trained to sleep warmly in an ice hotel, discovering a treehouse through a hidden forest path—shaped how we think about travel, place, and belonging. They reminded us that where you stay can invite you into presence, wonder, and connection.

That spirit lives on in our own treehouse and forest spa here in Vermont. Tucked into the woods, it’s an invitation to slow down, warm up, and reconnect—with nature, with yourself, and with the people you bring along. Whether it’s a quiet night in the trees or time spent moving between heat, cold, and forest air, the hope is the same: that your stay becomes part of your story, something you’ll still be talking about years from now.

If you’re feeling the pull toward something a little different, a little more memorable, we’d love to welcome you into the woods.