How to plan treehouse vacations

So, you’ve decided on a treehouse vacation this year? Good choice. These moss-caked, pine-scented stays promise to be totally unique and out of the ordinary. They’ll have you treading the Pacific Crest or soaking in hot tubs near the Appalachian Trail, all while sleeping to the sound of creaking oaks and redwoods. This guide can help you plan your jaunt, with destination inspiration and booking tips aplenty.

Picking the right destination for treehouse vacations

There’s not only one part of the country where you can plan that treehouse vacation. There are loads. What’s more, different places offer different experiences. Compare the redwood groves of California, where cabins will put you near wave-lashed ocean beaches, to the mist-gathering valleys of the Blue Ridge, home to bluegrass bars and moonshine distilleries.

Californian treehouse vacations

California isn’t all about whizzing around Venice Beach on roller skates or soaking up the rays in San Diego, you know. The Golden State also hunches up to granite peaks in Yosemite and comes clad in thickets of mighty sequoia trees in the north. Treehouse vacations are possible all over, but amazing pads can usually be found clutching the redwoods of the Coast Ranges, hiding in the ponderosa pines near the Half Dome, or dotting the banks of Lake Tahoe.

Tennessee and Appalachia for treehouse vacations

The great arc of the Appalachian Mountains has proven to be top territory for treehouse vacation lettings. Tennessee, especially, is a doozy. As you venture to the south-eastern edge of the state, the Great Smoky Mountains take over around Gatlinburg. Classic moonshine and banjo-plucking country, it’s got hearty cabins that will leave you feeling like a real pioneer. Georgia and North Carolina also beckon in these parts, with Asheville’s deluxe tree homes, and Bavarian-styled lodges in the woods near Helen.

Oregon and Washington treehouse vacations

The Pacific Northwest is known as a particularly wild corner of the country for treehouse vacations. Things take a turn off-piste there, what with the sloshing Puget Sound, the lonely San Juan Islands, and mighty snow-caked peaks like Mount Hood on the menu. In short – put Oregon and Washington on your radar if you really want to get away from it all.

Choosing the right type of treehouse vacation rental

Before you select that hideaway in the mountains and woodlands, it’s definitely worth getting a feel for the range of various treehouse rentals that are available. Some will leave you feeling like Davy Crocket, while others have an A-lister edge, touting high-life luxuries to create a romantic vibe.

The most luxurious treehouse vacation rentals of all

The backdrop might be ancient oaks and colossal sequoias, but inside your treehouse vacation home things can be positively Ritz-like. Cue the crème-de-la-crème of the category, which includes plush cabins that brim with faux-fur blankets, king-sized beds, real-wood fireplaces, and sleek fitted bathrooms. Outside, there are top-of-the-range BBQ grills on wide decks, and the occasional hot tub to boot.

Go remote on that treehouse vacation

At the other end of the spectrum from luxurious treehouse stays are these rustic and off-radar options. Above all else, they promise total seclusion, and a bolthole that’s near to breathtaking wonders. That might mean somewhere hiding between the ponderosas on the cusp of the bear-trodden Yosemite Valley. It might mean an age-old cabin wedged into the hazy heights of the Blue Ridge.

Family treehouse vacations

There’s no reason why you can’t plan a treehouse vacation for the whole crew. There are complexes of treehouses that mean you can snag multiple rentals in the same place, all with the added benefit of shared amenities like games rooms and bubbling Jacuzzis. Add to that a selection of large-scale treehouses with bunks and primary bedrooms, oversized gardens, and big self-catering kitchens.

How to get great deals on treehouse vacations

It seems the popularity of the treehouse vacation is never-waning. Folk will always want an escape to the age-old woods of Appalachia or the Rockies or the Coast Ranges. And why not? It’s a trip that promises to shorten the bucket list and get the imagination flowing. All that can mean wallet-friendly deals are tricky to come by, but the handy hints below should be able to help on that count.

Always start planning treehouse vacations early

The perennial demand for treehouse vacation rentals, and the relative lack of them compared to traditional villas, chalets, and condos, means that you’ll often be left high and dry without a cabin if you start seeking yours at the last minute. You’ll also lose out on the lowest-priced getaways if you wait for them all to sell out.

Be flexible with your destination

If you get stuck on a single destination, you’ll be limiting your choice of treehouse vacation rentals considerably. It’s okay to focus on a whole region – Appalachia, say, or the Sierra Nevada – but there’s always more of a chance you’ll steal a bargain by casting that accommodation net far and wide.

Choose fall for a real deal

Spring has the blooming wildflower meadows on the cusp of Mount Hood. Summer opens the Appalachian Trail to crowds of hikers looking to conquer the Blue Ridge and the Smokies. And while the pluses of those two seasons are many, there’s also plenty to be said for fall-time treehouse vacations. In Maine and Kentucky and the like, you’ll get the forests changing color. Along the West Coast, parks like Yosemite are much less busy. What’s more, rates in glamping stays of all sorts will tend to drop in September and October.