Pack Your Hippest Bags: 7 of the Quirkiest Hotels in America
December 30, 2015
For many people, the holidays mean travel season. But that travel isn’t always particularly glamorous. (Unless you like the idea of crashing on the futon in your parents’ basement or in your significant other’s childhood bedroom. Awkward.)
If you feel like treating yourself to something a little bit more memorable (not to mention comfortable), consider this your excuse to explore some of the quirkiest hotels around. From underwater resorts to converted libraries, elementary schools—even prisons—they’re all totally destination- (and Instagram-) worthy.
JULES’ UNDERSEA LODGE, KEY LARGO, FL: What does it take to rank among the quirkiest hotels in America? Being underwater helps. Jules’ Undersea Lodge is the only hotel of its kind in the country. To get to your room, you need to strap on some flippers and swim 20 feet below the water’s surface. (Only certified scuba divers can book a stay, though the hotel offers courses for those who’d like to learn.) Then there are the in-room portholes, which offer a very different kind of view. Hint: a whole lotta fish.
Image courtesy of connelid/iStock
Image courtesy of connelid/iStock
THE LIBERTY HOTEL, BOSTON, MA: It’s not every night you can say you slept in jail—and left feeling refreshed. For a consequences-free night behind bars, Boston’s Liberty Hotel is one to visit. A perfect example of creative urban renovation, the 300-room hotel has certainly given an old landmark a new lease on life, while still preserving cool architectural features. (Don’t worry: no communal showers.)
Image courtesy of The Liberty Hotel
Image courtesy of The Liberty Hotel
LIBRARY HOTEL, NEW YORK, NY: For Borges, paradise was a library. We’re guessing he would’ve felt right at home in New York’s Library Hotel, then. The hotel’s concept is inspired, after all, by the Dewey Decimal System. Its guestrooms come filled with books (curated by the Strand) that reflect topics ranging from literature to philosophy. An on-site reading room encourages guests to curl up with a good book, and the writer’s den is ideal for those inspired to do some creating of their own. Write on.
Image courtesy of the Library Hotel Collection
Image courtesy of the Library Hotel Collection
MCMENAMINS KENNEDY SCHOOL, PORTLAND, OR: Remember the good old days? When naptime and recess were part of your daily routine? For those with a bad case of scholastic nostalgia, McMenamins Kennedy School is the place to stay. A renovated elementary school, the hotel still bears many traces of its past life, including chalkboards in the guestrooms and lots of historic trim. But then there are the more modern additions…like the on-site craft brewery. Yeah, that probably would’ve landed you a timeout, back in the day.
Image courtesy of Liz Devine, McMenamins
Image courtesy of Liz Devine, McMenamins
RADISSON VALLEY FORGE, KING OF PRUSSIA, PA: It might look like a normal hotel from the outside, but don’t be misled. The Radisson Valley Forge is a perfect carnival of kitsch, thanks to its many themed fantasy rooms, which range from “Caesar’s Palace” and “Pharaoh’s Tomb” to “Russian Ice Castle” and “Star Gazer.” That last one sound familiar? Yup: the spaceship-themed room made a silver-screen appearance in “Blue Valentine.”
Image courtesy of Hunting Lane Films/Silverwood Films, via MovieStillsDB
Image courtesy of Hunting Lane Films/Silverwood Films, via MovieStillsDB
WINVIAN FARM, MORRIS, CT: This one goes out to all the holiday travelers who’ve spent one too many days with family. Spread across 100-odd acres, Winvian Farm’s 18 cottages keep things nice and private. But this is also one of the quirkiest hotels around for a reason: here, “cottage” can mean “tree house,” “secret society temple,” or “restored 1968 Sikorsky Sea King Pelican HH3F helicopter.” Definitely an upgrade from a living room pull-out.
Image courtesy of Winvian Farm
Image courtesy of Winvian Farm
FEATHERBED RAILROAD, UPPER LAKE, CA: If you were obsessed with The Boxcar Children as a kid, you’re probably gonna like the Featherbed Railroad. A pretty B&B up in California Lake Country, the hotel consists of nine cheery, vintage cabooses. But don’t worry about comfort: the themed railcars are outfitted with goose-down comforters, dining nooks—even Jacuzzis. ‘Cause roughing it old-timey style can still be grand.
Image courtesy of Featherbed Railroad
Image courtesy of Featherbed Railroad
JULES’ UNDERSEA LODGE, KEY LARGO, FL: What does it take to rank among the quirkiest hotels in America? Being underwater helps. Jules’ Undersea Lodge is the only hotel of its kind in the country. To get to your room, you need to strap on some flippers and swim 20 feet below the water’s surface. (Only certified scuba divers can book a stay, though the hotel offers courses for those who’d like to learn.) Then there are the in-room portholes, which offer a very different kind of view. Hint: a whole lotta fish.
Image courtesy of connelid/iStock
Image courtesy of connelid/iStock
THE LIBERTY HOTEL, BOSTON, MA: It’s not every night you can say you slept in jail—and left feeling refreshed. For a consequences-free night behind bars, Boston’s Liberty Hotel is one to visit. A perfect example of creative urban renovation, the 300-room hotel has certainly given an old landmark a new lease on life, while still preserving cool architectural features. (Don’t worry: no communal showers.)
Image courtesy of The Liberty Hotel
Image courtesy of The Liberty Hotel
LIBRARY HOTEL, NEW YORK, NY: For Borges, paradise was a library. We’re guessing he would’ve felt right at home in New York’s Library Hotel, then. The hotel’s concept is inspired, after all, by the Dewey Decimal System. Its guestrooms come filled with books (curated by the Strand) that reflect topics ranging from literature to philosophy. An on-site reading room encourages guests to curl up with a good book, and the writer’s den is ideal for those inspired to do some creating of their own. Write on.
Image courtesy of the Library Hotel Collection
Image courtesy of the Library Hotel Collection
MCMENAMINS KENNEDY SCHOOL, PORTLAND, OR: Remember the good old days? When naptime and recess were part of your daily routine? For those with a bad case of scholastic nostalgia, McMenamins Kennedy School is the place to stay. A renovated elementary school, the hotel still bears many traces of its past life, including chalkboards in the guestrooms and lots of historic trim. But then there are the more modern additions…like the on-site craft brewery. Yeah, that probably would’ve landed you a timeout, back in the day.
Image courtesy of Liz Devine, McMenamins
Image courtesy of Liz Devine, McMenamins
RADISSON VALLEY FORGE, KING OF PRUSSIA, PA: It might look like a normal hotel from the outside, but don’t be misled. The Radisson Valley Forge is a perfect carnival of kitsch, thanks to its many themed fantasy rooms, which range from “Caesar’s Palace” and “Pharaoh’s Tomb” to “Russian Ice Castle” and “Star Gazer.” That last one sound familiar? Yup: the spaceship-themed room made a silver-screen appearance in “Blue Valentine.”
Image courtesy of Hunting Lane Films/Silverwood Films, via MovieStillsDB
Image courtesy of Hunting Lane Films/Silverwood Films, via MovieStillsDB
WINVIAN FARM, MORRIS, CT: This one goes out to all the holiday travelers who’ve spent one too many days with family. Spread across 100-odd acres, Winvian Farm’s 18 cottages keep things nice and private. But this is also one of the quirkiest hotels around for a reason: here, “cottage” can mean “tree house,” “secret society temple,” or “restored 1968 Sikorsky Sea King Pelican HH3F helicopter.” Definitely an upgrade from a living room pull-out.
Image courtesy of Winvian Farm
Image courtesy of Winvian Farm
FEATHERBED RAILROAD, UPPER LAKE, CA: If you were obsessed with The Boxcar Children as a kid, you’re probably gonna like the Featherbed Railroad. A pretty B&B up in California Lake Country, the hotel consists of nine cheery, vintage cabooses. But don’t worry about comfort: the themed railcars are outfitted with goose-down comforters, dining nooks—even Jacuzzis. ‘Cause roughing it old-timey style can still be grand.
Image courtesy of Featherbed Railroad
Image courtesy of Featherbed Railroad
