Accommodations with fantastic perks and unexpected extras are trending upwards these days. Hopeful travelers are looking for places that are slightly secluded with one-of-a-kind amenities. Where might you happen upon Taylor Swift recording a song next door, a llama in your workout class, or portal back to a 1950s resort? Here are three Southern vacation rentals with unique extras you have to see to believe.
JuneBug Retro Resort | Asheville, NC
Unplug and rewind to a simpler time at JuneBug, a 50-acre “retro resort” just 15 minutes north of downtown Asheville. Home to 10 meticulously restored 1950s campers, half a mile of river running through the property, and one of the oldest organic farms in Western North Carolina, JuneBug is any hunker downer or outdoor lover’s paradise. The individual vintage campers sleep two to six, or rent out the whole dang thing for your next wedding, reunion or retreat. When you’re not exploring the hiking trails or lounging on hammocks above the creek, ascend to the magical (and we really mean magical) JuneBug Treehouse, or pull up an Adirondack chair to one of the firepits. For more info and to book, head to JuneBigRetroResort.com.
The campers might look of-another-era, but the amenities at JuneBug are not. Some campers have full kitchens, and all have modern bathrooms. Image: Stephan Pruitt Photography
The multilevel treehouse has a shaded deck and is open to guests during the day. Image: Stephan Pruitt Photography
Although the Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville are so close, you might not ever want to leave JuneBug. Image: Stephan Pruitt Photography
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The Cottage at Dark Horse Recording Studio | Franklin, TN
If chart-topping music and rustic glamor are more your interests, welcome to “The Cottage” at Dark Horse Recording Studio, a 10-acre riverside estate nestled in the rolling hills of Tennessee near historic Franklin and 17 miles from Nashville. At the center of the property stands a timber, stone and glass “cottage” — a 3,500-square-foot luxury home — complete with jaw-dropping interiors, a cozy theater space, a gourmet kitchen, and a screened-in workout room overlooking the property. Entering under the huge timber frame portico and into the glass foyer, you’re greeted by a concert grand piano, fireplace, and stone archways. Hike along the West Harpeth River, stroll the grounds and boardwalks, lounge in the gazebo, and take an exclusive private tour of the world-famous recording studios. For more than 25 years, celebrated artists like Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Alice In Chains, Tim McGraw, Korn, Matchbox Twenty, Carrie Underwood and Neil Diamond have holed up at Dark Horse to make legendary albums. You truly never know who you’ll see a hundred yards away making music. Guests of “The Cottage” have even been asked to hang out during a band’s session! Book your stay or see more of this truly unique rental on Airbnb.com.
The architecture and design of this house is one of the most buzzed-about topics in the reviews. Image: Airbnb
The striking, nine-foot concert piano is just one of many musical details found throughout the house. Image: Booking.com
We love the colorful stained glass and the clawfoot tub in one of the cottage’s three bedrooms. There are also two-and-half baths, and it sleeps seven. Image: Airbnb
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Alpaca Treehouse + Luxury Llama Cottage | Atlanta, GA
Retro ’50s geeks and music lovers found their dream rentals … animal lovers, listen up! This bamboo forest in West Atlanta was planted in the 1940s, and its age and density make it the perfect home for unique birds like barred owls. The lush foliage is pruned and maintained by llamas and alpacas, who feast on the tender shoots while chickens and roosters roam at your ankles. “Rumor has it that bamboo grows so rapidly, you may even hear new shoots sprouting up during the night … ” the website says. The Alpaca Treehouse is outfitted with reclaimed architectural antiques, luxury beds and linens, heat and air conditioning, and marble baths — all nestled in a beautiful bamboo forest on a working farm filled with rummaging animals. For a more on-the-ground experience, opt for the Luxury Llama Cottage, a gorgeously-restored three-bedroom, one-bathroom historic brick cottage in the front yard of the famous Alpaca Treehouse in the bamboo forest. For more information on all the Atlanta Alpaca Treehouse has to offer, head to AlpacaTreehouse.com.
It’s hard to imagine this thick bamboo forest and urban farm are just minutes from the South’s biggest city! Image: TakeYouWild
Llama yoga is held in the reclaimed barn and Figgy, the spotty rockstar llama, ventures into the barn to assist the instructor. Image: TakeYouWild
Your treehouse stay comes with all the amenities, including fresh eggs and a rooster wake-up call! Image: TakeYouWild
Here’s to these exciting Southern destinations with some more-than-you-bargained-for frills!
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