25 Fun, Unique Family Vacations: Where To Stay and What To Do

Family vacations usually look like an all-inclusive family-friendly resort, a Disney vacation, or maybe even a cruise. The goal of a family vacation can be varied. From maximum fun to relaxation to keeping the kids entertained, a lot is riding on each trip you take with kids. So it’s understandable that you’d want something tried and true when traveling with your family.

But what about trying out alternative accommodations and activities, like staying in a yurt or even an Earthship?

Not sure what a yurt or Earthship is? That’s okay. Keep reading to learn about these and other fun, unique family vacation ideas.

What Is an Alternative Vacation?

Merriam-Webster defines the word “alternative” as an adjective that means different from the usual or conventional. So an alternative vacation can be defined as a vacation that’s unexpected or different from what we usually think a vacation should be.

Some examples of alternative vacations include farm stays, houseboats, safaris, and even lighthouses. These types of accommodations are more common than you think, in fact, and you can find them all over the U.S. and in various international destinations. Though they’re unique, you may not have to go too far from home to experience them.

Keep in mind that many of these alternative accommodation types are usually outdoors, or at least don’t come with amenities you’d find at a hotel or resort.

Alternative Vacation Activities

When you don’t plan to spend your time at an all-inclusive resort or hotel with a lot of features already built-in, you’ll have to put in extra effort to plan activities for your family.

During stays on a farm or ranch, you may have the opportunity to work with your hands, feed the animals, or participate in a cooking demonstration. If you’re camping, glamping, or staying in a cave during your alternative family vacation, you might find that all you need to stave off boredom is to spend time outside and participate in activities like hiking or kayaking.

And if you find yourself in a historical location such as a haunted house (yes, a haunted house!) or a hostel in a metro location, you could add walking tours and museums to your itinerary.

A lot of the options on this list are in the great outdoors, and as such, it’s worth touching on how to immerse yourself in the environment while preserving its beauty for those that will visit after you. This practice is called Leave No Trace.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace is a national education program that teaches people how to preserve nature when exploring the great outdoors. The organization works with both individuals as well as those who manage public lands.

Leave No Trace outlines 7 principles to follow, many of which you’re probably already familiar with. They are as follows:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare: Proper planning such as one-pot meals and packing trash bags to clean up after yourself reduces waste. Planning where you’ll hike, camp, etc. prevents avoidable damage to an area that can’t handle such activities.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Unless you’re skilled in the practice of Leave No Trace, stay away from remote or undisturbed areas.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly: Improper disposal of waste (any and all kinds) can negatively affect wildlife, water, and other people.
4. Leave What You Find: Avoid disturbing live trees and plants, leave natural and cultural artifacts, and don’t alter existing sites such as a fire ring. If you move things like pinecones, put them back before you leave.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts: Campfires, though the traditional way of cooking when camping, are not as sustainable as stoves which have minimal impact on the environment and don’t require firewood.
6. Respect Wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance, keep loud noises to a minimum, secure scented food items and keep them out of reach of animals, and don’t set up camp closer than 200 feet from a water source.
7. Be Considerate of Others: Be familiar with outdoor etiquette such as the common rule that hikers should yield to equestrians, stay quiet at camp to avoid disturbing other campers, and avoid bright clothing and equipment which can contribute to a place feeling crowded.

Bottom Line: When experiencing nature and an otherwise alternative form of vacation, be aware of wildlife as well as other human beings, and try to leave as little impact on the environment as possible.

How To Prepare for an Alternative Vacation

A lot of the options on this list will require you to spend time in the nature. That could be a good thing or bad thing depending on who you ask, but either way, you’ll want to be prepared.

The principles of Leave No Trace are listed above to get you started on how to treat the environment, but some specifics can make your time easier and more enjoyable.

Make Peace With Being at Peace With Nature

It probably goes without saying that an alternative vacation spent camping, glamping, or staying in an igloo will be much different than staying in a 4- or 5-star hotel. And that’s the point.

Being within the stillness of nature should let you relax and truly disconnect from the highly-stimulated environment that you’re probably trying to get away from. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cites a study that shows that being outside is great for our physical and mental well-being by reducing stress, heart rates, and even muscle tension.¹

Choosing one of the alternate vacations on this list might prove to be exactly the kind of vacation you need.

Pack Responsibly

Little things become big things when you have to bring everything with you, so think twice about what you really need to pack.

Things like toilet paper, shampoo, and sunscreen should all be biodegradable or harmless to nature. You might also be required to pick up after yourself, so don’t forget to bring trash bags.

Restaurants and room service likely won’t be available during an alternative vacation, so you’ll also have to think about bringing a portable stove, plates, utensils, and all food items.

Camping bathroom and shower tents, portable toilets, and even headlamps are all camping gear to consider bringing to make life a little more comfortable.

Let Your Kids Help Decide

One way to get your kids excited and on board with an alternative vacation is to help them decide where to go.

Let them live out their royal dreams in a castle hotel, or pretend to be cowboys with a farm stay or visit to a ranch. They could even choose to stay overnight in a decommissioned train car or treehouse high in the sky.

25 Unique Family Vacation Ideas

1. Cabin

Staying in a cabin is sort of like “camping light.” You get 4 durable walls to keep out the critters and the elements, but you may not have amenities like Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

You will likely have a stove or oven to cook on, a refrigerator, and cooking supplies. A private, indoor bathroom will be nice after long days of hiking.

A cabin also serves as a great first foray into outdoor living. While not quite camping, you could choose a more secluded destination off the beaten path and out of the way from things like cell service and crowds of people. Cabins are popular accommodation options near national parks, so they’re not hard to find.

It’s the perfect setting to reconnect with your family, no matter the ages of your children.

2. Castle

As children, we watch Disney movies and read about fairytales that often take place in a palace or other dreamy location. We learn to covet royal experiences and place an emphasis on the glitz and glamour that must come along with the gold, diamonds, and tiaras of living in a castle.

It turns out that staying in a castle is not only a possibility, but it’s actually pretty common.

While there aren’t a lot of castles you can visit (and stay at) in the U.S., you can find castle accommodations with varying amenities all across Europe. You can expect formal dinners and lots of activities to keep you and your family occupied when staying at a castle.

The outdoor areas will also likely be manicured to perfection.

Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland welcomes guests all year round and even has a family program that includes a LEGO Butler. You could also stay at Amberley Castle in Sussex, England, or at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria, where “The Sound of Music” was filmed.

Hot Tip: There aren’t many castle hotels in the U.S., but there are a few. Check out the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, or The Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

3. Cave

The next on our list is certainly not as glamorous as a castle, but it can provide a fascinating experience.

At the first mention of a cave hotel, you might be reminded of whitewashed caves in Greece with arched ceilings and walkways and a view of the ocean from the bed. However, you can stay in a cave hotel right here in the U.S.

Beckham Creek Cave Lodge is located in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas and is built into a natural cave. The 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home can be rented by the night and comes with a full kitchen.

At the Grand Canyon Caverns and Inn, you can elect to stay in a cabin or the cavern suite located 200 feet underground. It’s an open-air concept room with 2 beds and a separate seating area in the middle of a cave.

4. Container

Container hotels are made from repurposed shipping containers and you can choose to stay in one on your next vacation. Staying in a container can feel similar to a cabin but, depending on the location, can have the amenities of a hotel.

Flophouze Shipping Container Hotel in Round Top, Texas, does just that by recycling shipping containers and utilizing sustainably harvested wood in each of its renovations.

Container Cabin in the Catskills is another option for a container hotel … this time in New York. The hotel is set on over 20 acres and cabins feature kitchens and even a sauna experience.

5. Covered Wagon

Covered wagons were prominent in the 19th century as a mode of transportation and were pulled by horses. Now, you and your family can spend the night in a decommissioned and updated covered wagon at several places around the country.

Conestoga Wagon stays are just one accommodation type featured at Capital Reef Resort in Torrey, Utah, a certified International Dark Sky Place known for world-class stargazing. The wagons are available seasonally from May through September and positioned with a view of the Red Cliffs.

Hot Tip: You can be comfortable sleeping in the great outdoors, even in the rain, when you stay in a covered wagon. Unlike a tent, the wagon’s wheels keep you safely above the ground and away from any potential flooding.

6. Dome Camping

When electing to dome camp, you’ll find yourself in a bubble of sorts. Depending on the material and design of your accommodation, you’ll have unobstructed views of your surroundings. You should be able to look up and see the sky from the inside.

Domes can be exactly like cabins, save for the shape of the dwelling, or they can be closer to camping tents. Either way, your family is in store for something special.

Historians believe that dome homes were actually man’s first foray into building homes, and as such, they’re very durable against bad weather.

7. Earthship

An Earthship is a style of architecture designed from upcycled, natural materials and is meant to cause as little disruption to the local environment as possible. It’s a comfortable way for your family to go off the grid and experience a truly sustainable vacation.

Built by Earthship Biotecture in Tres Piedras, New Mexico, the autonomous homes are constructed to heat and cool themselves with solar and wind energy. They collect rainwater into a filtration system that’s then used throughout the home. They even contain and treat sewage to water the plants.

Earthships are available as nightly rentals in Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico.

Your kids can learn more about Earthship living before staying in one by reading through the company’s kid-friendly digital book, which explains the concept of the homes. The digital slides are available in English and Spanish.

8. Farm Stay

You could stay at a working farm or ranch where you can help take care of the animals, the land, and crops and cook your own food. Farm stays are a great way to volunteer your time as well as learn more about where your food comes from.

Farm Stay USA is a great resource to find farm stay accommodations in the U.S. and you can search based on your interests. Accommodation types include cabins, tents, barns, kennels, and more.

Activities during a farm stay include traditional farm activities like helping to feed the animals, cheese making, gathering eggs, and gardening.

Some unique activities that you can experience include maple sugaring, learning more about permaculture farming, or tractor-drawn wagon rides.

9. Floating House

Different from houseboats, floating houses are built on top of a floating foundation and are connected to utilities like gas and electric. Unlike a houseboat, they cannot move around and do not have a motor.

Floating homes can be found all over the world, including Sausalito, California, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Older versions of these homes were built on top of logs and as time goes on, the wood begins to disintegrate. This is actually part of what’s happening in Venice, Italy, in addition to rising water levels in the canals. Newer floating homes are built on concrete and with steel beams.

A floating house is reminiscent of an over-the-water bungalow where you could go for a swim and come right back to your room(s).

10. Glamping

Glamping has grown in popularity over the last several years, with glamping tents and campgrounds found all over the country. As the name suggests, glamping is meant to be a glamorous camping style with amenities not found during traditional camping.

A major difference between glamping and camping is that everything is already set up for you. Spacious tents are decorated with full-size beds, mattresses, and bedding, and sometimes they’re even equipped with a furnished outdoor area.

Accommodation types include tents, domes, cabins, and more.

Glamping.com should be your first stop if you’re interested in a glamping vacation. You can search based on the destination, accommodation type, and outdoor setting such as beach, mountains, or island.

You can also check out our guide to the best glamping resorts in the world for more information.

11. Hobbit House

New Zealand’s Hobbiton — the film set that includes Bilbo Baggins’ home from “The Lord of The Rings” — isn’t the only hobbit village you can visit and even stay in. In fact, hobbit houses are located all over the world and can easily be reserved on Airbnb.

Slightly different from caves, hobbit houses are built into hillsides and are in the shape of a tube. In addition to their unique location, hobbit homes also feature rounded windows and are typically only a few hundred feet in size (to accommodate their tiny occupants, of course).

Airbnb is your best bet for finding a hobbit house to rent. You’ll find them all throughout the U.S., including in Washington, Montana, and North Carolina.

12. Haunted House

A truly unique place to visit on vacation is a haunted house. But have you ever considered staying overnight in one?

If you answered “yes,” then you’re in luck because there are plenty of haunted houses to choose from.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado was Stephen King’s inspiration for the hotel in “The Shining” and is rumored to be the current haunting grounds for its former owner and his wife. You could also check out The Equinox Hotel in Vermont where, supposedly, President Lincoln’s wife Mary Todd Lincoln’s ghost has been spotted.

And if you’re into more witchy things, maybe a stay at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans is more up your alley. Guests have reported seeing the ghosts of former employees and even children on the 14th floor of the famed hotel. The Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts has reportedly been haunted since it opened in 1925.

Hot Tip: Salem, Massachusetts, and New Orleans, Louisiana are both known to be particularly haunted. Your family can check out ghost tours and historical tours in either city.

13. Hostel

Hostels aren’t just for broke college students and backpackers. Hostels come in all sorts of configurations and with different amenities, so it’s possible to find one that fits your family’s needs. Hostels are common in big cities but are also located in remote areas.

This accommodation type is budget-friendly as well as an alternative vacation idea thanks to the shared common space where you’re encouraged to meet other travelers. It’s common for there to be a place to cook meals in a hostel, too, so you can save money by cooking your own food versus eating out every day.

A downside to staying in a hostel, rather than a traditional hotel or resort, could be having to share bathrooms with other guests or a lack of privacy depending on the room type you choose.

Bern Youth Hostel in Bern, Switzerland, and Backpacker’s Hostel K’s House in Kyoto, Japan are just 2 options for family-friendly hostel accommodations. They even feature private and family rooms with bunk beds.

Hostelworld is a great website to start your search at — it even allows you to filter your search results by Family Room.

14. Houseboat

Earlier in this list, we mentioned floating houses, which are built on top of a floating foundation but are otherwise stationary. A houseboat on the other hand is a house on a boat that can be moved from place to place.

You can think of a houseboat vacation as you would camping because they share similar activities in an outdoor setting. Water sports, stargazing, and lounging in the peace and quiet of your surroundings are all major draws for those considering renting a houseboat.

Houseboat rentals are available on lakes around the U.S., but Southern Kentucky is said to be the country’s houseboat capital. Here is where you’re most likely to find houseboats up to 2,000 square feet with multiple bathrooms and sleeping arrangements.

Houseboats are also popular along the canals of Amsterdam and you can even rent them on the Seine River in Paris.

Hot Tip: Houseboating.org is the Airbnb of houseboat rentals with everything you need to get started when searching for houseboats, including destination guides and a blog that details all there is to know about this accommodation type.

15. Igloo

Staying in an igloo may not be as uncomfortable as you’d think.

That’s because the igloo protects you from potentially harsh winds outside. And the heat generated from your own body warms the inside of the igloo thanks to the densely packed snow which forms insulating walls.

Igloo and ice hotels are most common in countries like Finland, Norway, and Canada, but can also be found further south in France, Germany, and Austria. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland boasts log chalets and ice and glass igloos as accommodation types.

16. Lighthouse

Lighthouses traditionally guided ships and boats safely into the harbor and served as a warning that shallow water or land was near and not to come too close. Now, thanks to radar and other technological advances like GPS, lighthouses are used less and less. But some of them now serve as pretty cool accommodation options.

Understandably, lighthouses are located along the coast in states such as Alaska, California, Maine, New York, and Rhode Island.

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse is near Mendocino, California and you can rent out the restored home of the former Head Lightkeeper. The home comes with 4 bedrooms, a kitchen, and laundry. Or check out Little River Lighthouse in Rockland, Maine where you and your family can rent out the 3-bedroom keeper’s house from 1888.

17. Off the Grid

Off-the-grid vacations let you and your family genuinely disconnect from your current lives. It’s also a fantastic way to put Leave No Trace guidelines into practice.

Being off-the-grid means that your dwelling or accommodations aren’t connected to the electrical grid. Some places take it even further and are also not connected to utilities and running water. Electricity and power could come in the form of solar panels.

Vacations that fit into this category of course include camping, but also staying in a tree house, taking a water rafting or kayaking trip, or even taking an Uncruise. Uncruise ships do not have Wi-Fi and, though comfortable and serving sustainable meals, allow you to reconnect with your family and make new friends without the distractions of the internet and social media.

Hot Tip: Spencer Pond Camps near Little Spencer Mountain in Beaver Cove, Maine, offers rustic and remote cabins. Cabins are non-modernized but well-equipped with games and woodstoves for warmth and cooking. Visitors can enjoy the use of kayaks, canoes, and even fishing at Spencer Pond.

18. Ranch

A ranch vacation can be whatever you make it, from working ranches where you can get your hands dirty to luxury dude ranches with every amenity imaginable. No matter which route you prefer to take to get to your ranch vacation, you’re in for a treat.

Similar to a farm stay, but usually with a little less work, staying at a ranch gives you and your family the opportunity to spend quality time outdoors. Hiking, horseback riding, fly fishing, and skeet shooting are all common activities you’ll find available to you on a ranch vacation. There might also be an array of accommodation types, including a cabin or a barn.

And because your food will probably come from the animals that live on the ranch or nearby, you’ll get to try out local delicacies. Other local items to try might include handcrafted soaps, lotions, or textiles, giving you the ultimate immersive experience of a different way of life.

19. RV

An RV is an almost fully self-contained way to travel across the country. It’s the best of both worlds — the comfort of indoor living combined with outdoor adventures almost anywhere you like. A family could slowly travel to several different destinations, making stops as frequently as they like. The itinerary is completely up to you.

Vacationing by RV is more accessible than ever thanks to websites like RVshare and Outdoorsy. These companies let you rent RVs of varying sizes and amenities from other RV owners. Some will even set the RV up for you at your desired location if you don’t plan to drive it anywhere.

There’s a lot to know about driving or staying in an RV, so be sure to check out our articles about must-have RV accessories, the best generators for camping and RVs, and even the best RV toilet paper.

20. Safari Tent

Going on a safari is at the top of a lot of travelers’ bucket lists and used to be more common for wealthy retirees than family travelers. But that’s beginning to change as more safari lodges and tour companies start to cater to younger travelers in their offerings.

Staying in a safari tent is a wild way to vacation, to say the least, but it’s an alternative vacation option for families looking for an adventure.

Travelers can experience a safari in Africa as well as Asia, although the animals and experience will be varied.

In Africa, where most people think of when they think of a safari, you can visit countries like Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia for great safaris. Tour Dust, a UK-based tour operator, offers a Serengeti & Ngorongoro Family Adventure safari designed with families in mind.

In Asia, your family can safari in places such as Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka to see tigers, snow leopards, and elephants.

21. Silo

Here’s an even more unique way to stay on a farm: by sleeping in a restored grain storage container called a silo.

Silos are cylindrical structures and measure between 30 and 50 feet high, perfect for a small family or family with small children. Clark Farm Silos in Kalispell, Montana, just 40 minutes from Glacier National Park, has 5 silos right next to each other that you could rent all at once and effectively give older kids their own rooms.

Silos can be found all over the country and they feature varying levels of amenities, including some with outhouses instead of indoor plumbing.

They’re a fun and quirky way to make use of otherwise dormant farm equipment and can be found through a quick Google search or even on Airbnb.

22. Tiny Home

Tiny homes have exploded in popularity over the last decade with impressive design concepts that demonstrate how much you can do with a small amount of space.

Similar to RV or Airstream-style camping, but without the motor or wheels for towing, staying at a tiny home gives you all of the creature comforts that you’d expect at your own home, albeit in a much smaller setting.

And because there’s less room, tiny homes get to be creative in how they use their space. Bedrooms might be built above the living area so that there can be a larger space for cooking and dining. Even bathrooms are designed to feel comfortable and more spacious than some cruise cabin bathrooms.

23. Train Car

The thought of sleeping in a train car brings up vivid memories of children’s books like “The Boxcar Children,” which tells the story of 4 orphans who made a home out of a boxcar.

It turns out, however, that you can actually sleep in a train car on your next family vacation.

Train car accommodations are a unique way to recycle decommissioned passenger and freight trains. They can come fully equipped with bathrooms, separate bedrooms, and kitchens. And because they’re relatively mobile, you can find them near lakes and rivers, as well as with mountain views.

Again, Airbnb is a great place to search for train car accommodations.

24. Treehouse

In movies, treehouses are where kids go to hang out with friends as a place that’s all their own. Now you can stay overnight in one.

The treehouse options available to stay overnight in are much cooler than any of the ones seen in the movies. For starters, they can come with fully-equipped kitchens, bathrooms, and multiple bedrooms. They’re essentially cabins built into the top of trees.

You can find treehouses to rent all throughout the country, including California, Tennessee, and even at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in Florida.

25. Yurt

A yurt is a rounded and portable tent that is insulated with furs commonly used by nomadic communities in Asia. Turns out, they’re also an alternative lodging option for families.

Yurts are almost as common as glamping nowadays and offer a more comfortable way to camp for some.

Because yurts hail from Mongolia, which sees some of the harshest winters around, yurts are built to be especially warm in the winter. Unfortunately, a traditional yurt doesn’t come with an indoor bathroom, though you can find plenty of more modern yurts to stay in.

Modern yurts are often made with wood for durability while traditional yurts aim to use minimal materials to make it easier to take down and rebuild as nomads moved from place to place.

Hot Tip: Check out Treebones Resort in Big Sur, California where you can get a view of the Pacific Ocean from your yurt.

Final Thoughts

There are 25 fun and unique family vacation alternatives on this list to consider for your next family vacation. From covered wagons to yurts and everything in between, there are plenty of fun places to stay that will provide your family with lifelong memories.