Unique Destinations: Five Must-See Hotels
Check out five unique hotels that are sure to make for an interesting vacation.
July 30, 2009 — -- Hotel accommodations don't have to be bland. Why not try something new and exciting like spending the night in a treehouse, a submarine, cave or even a jail cell?
"Good Morning America" and Travel + Leisure associate editor Sarah Kantrowitz show you five unusual destination spots that are fun for the whole family.
Find out how you can shake up your vacation plans below.
The Jail House Inn in Preston, Minn.
Rates start at $62 per night.
This is an exciting and different inn in southern Minnesota. It is a great stop for people driving from Minneapolis. The inn is set in the old Fillmore county jail, which was built in 1869 and is on the national register of historic places.
Don't fret. You won't be sleeping on concrete. The rooms are decorated with Victorian antiques. There's hiking, biking, cross country skiing and a large Amish community nearby. Rates start at $62 and include a country breakfast. You can even sleep in a cell block behind bars.
Click here to learn more about the Jail House Inn.
The Napa Valley Railway Inn, Yountville, Calif.
Rates start at $125 per night.
This is a perfect choice for foodies. Not only can you tour the wine country, but you also can visit the world famous French Laundry restaurant, which is nearby.
The inn is a gorgeous, nine-suite hotel set in original 100-year-old railway cars. It's beautifully decorated and there is a coffee caboose with coffee and pastries to start your day.
Rooms start for just $125 a night — a bargain in this pricey area.
Click here to learn more about the Napa Valley Railway Inn.
Kokopelli's Cave B&B in Farmington, N.M.
Rates start at $240 per night
This hotel is basically built into a cave in Farmington, N.M., just southeast of the four corners. From the cave and the cliff tops you have an unparalleled view of beautiful southwest sunsets.
Carved out of 65-million-year-old sandstone, the cave is 70 feet below ground. You have to walk down a sloping path and take the steps and then a ladder to get in.
This 1,650 square foot, one-bedroom cave home is carved from a 65-million-year-old sandstone formation 280 feet above the La Plata River.
There is a Jacuzzi/waterfall shower, a fully equipped kitchen, and barbecue. Guests can hike, picnic, bike, and enjoy the sites in the area, which include ruins, trains to trading posts. It's very romantic for two people and big enough for a family of four to sleep comfortably. It's $260 per night.
Click here to learn more about the Kokopelli's Cave B&B.
Cedar Creek Treehouse in Ashford, Wash.
Rates start at $300 per night
If you have a fear of heights, then this hotel is not for you. Cedar Creek Treehouse is 80 miles south of Seattle and is set 50 feet up in a 200-year-old western red cedar tree, right in the canopy of a lush temperate rainforest on the base of Mount Rainier. The treehouse is two levels, 16 feet by 16 feet.
You have to walk up five flights of stairs to get to the rooms. It has skylights, a hammock, and unparalleled views in every direction. Besides Mount Rainier, there are also views of Osborne Mountain and the Sawtooth Ridge Peaks. There's also swimming and trout fishing. It's $300 per night.
Click here to learn more about Cedar Creek Treehouse.
Omsi Submarine
Rates start at $55 per night.
The Oregon museum of science and industry is one of the nation's leading science museums. It features the U.S.S. Blueblack submarine. It's a retired U.S. navy submarine, which is open for sleepovers. You can sleep in the bunks, eat in the galley and play in the engine room.
It's terrific for kids who are into the sea. They also have kids-only sleepovers.