Superhost Robin’s treehouse is cradled by Douglas Firs high above a vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The view has a way of making guests linger, but the beach is only a half-hour away. If you do venture out, here’s some pretty good advice: start your day with a Good Morning Sandwich at Pretty Good Advice, a produce-driven takeout spot...
Erika’s home may be tiny—this is most of it—but why put more house between you and the Southern Highlands? Before exploring the rolling hills of the countryside, stop at the Exeter General Store to ask locals about their favorite hikes over breakfast congee and coffee.
Photo: @thelazyducktinyhouse
Superhost Åse Margrete’s remote cabin makes you feel like you woke up inside a painting that’s just slightly too majestic to be real. The only way to know for sure is to walk out into the landscape, which you can do right from your front door. From there, follow the hiking trails to some of the most over-the-top glaciers and...
Superhost Candice’s rural getaway is an elegant way to get to know the Breede River Valley. When you’re out discovering local wineries and farm stalls, be sure to stop along the way at Bully & Koos for lunch with a side of butternut fritters. Back at Candice’s, you can catch up on your exercise, whether that means a vigorous swim...
Our #1 home for the holidays has no electricity, is literally freezing inside, and turns to slush every spring. Yet guests can’t wait to come back to Antti’s Arctic igloo. Whether viewed by candlelight or the Northern Lights, it’s a place you’ll never forget. In the morning, head to the nearby park to see how fast reindeer can move when...
Our #2 home for the holidays has become famous for its role in a film about a certain teenage wizard. But the real magic of the place is in the history that shines through in every detail, starting with the intricately carved front door. The surrounding village feels the same way, with hundreds of half-timbered houses nearly untouched since the...
If you never quite outgrew your childhood ambition to live in a toy store, check out our #3 home for the holidays. Superhost Nerida’s apartment comes with an enchanting toy shop attached. It’s also the sunniest spot on our list this time of year, and a charming break from rainforest and beach adventures along the Great Ocean Road. Link in...
Our top 12 homes for the holidays wouldn’t be complete without home #4. This cabin is located in a town that revels in the holiday spirit year-round. While the community might be best known for a certain seasonal employer in the manufacturing and shipping industry, there’s plenty more to do nearby, like zipping down a 100-foot ice slide or cross-country...
Our #5 home for the holidays is DeTraci’s incredible (but sadly inedible) gingerbread house in Northern California’s wine country. The magic doesn’t stop when you leave the house—the surrounding property is an equally unique, Egyptian-themed retreat center. Link in bio.
Our #6 home for the holidays puts nothing but heated glass between you and the awe-inspiring seascape of the Kvarken Archipelago. Your stay promises to be even better than the last time you celebrated winter inside a prism on the tip of a remote Finnish island under the Northern Lights. Open the hatch to hear the sea and wind or...
