Off The Beaten Path

Vacations lend themselves to new experiences. So as you plot getaways for the summer and beyond, why not stay somewhere different as part of the adventure? With the advent of Airbnb — not to mention the power of a quick Google search — your next overnight destination can include a departure from the traditional hotel, motel or campground.

Here’s a small sample of out-of-the ordinary places to get away — and provide the perfect backdrop for your Instagram vacation photos.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S SCHWARTZ HOUSE

Two Rivers, Wisconsin theschwartzhouse.com

It’s not exactly a night at the museum, but those visiting Wisconsin can sleep inside a piece of history from America’s most famous architect. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Bernard Schwartz House — Life Magazine’s “Dream House” design from 1938 — is available for a minimum of two nights on Airbnb. The four-bedroom home allows guests to experience the architect’s vision beyond a traditional tour. “Imagine watching the sun … ushering in the morning light show as the clerestory patterns are projected onto the interior brick and cypress walls,” the home’s website says. “The brilliance of Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision can only be experienced fully by living in one of his creations.”

DOG BARK PARK INN B&B

Cottonwood, Idaho dogbarkparkinn.com

Being in the doghouse can be a good thing. Operated by husband-and-wife chainsaw artists, this B&B is crafted in the shape of a two-story beagle, complete with a sized-to-scale fire hydrant in the yard. The inn accommodates up to four guests who sleep in a loft inside the dog’s head. There’s also a cozy alcove in the muzzle. Coffee and secret-recipe granola are available for breakfast, while the gift shop sells the owner’s chainsaw-created wooden dog carvings that can be fashioned into almost any breed. Oh, and in addition to humans, four-legged visitors are welcome, too.

HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

Cape Cove, Oregon hecetalighthouse.com

You don’t need to travel to the East Coast to get a taste of the salty sea life of yesteryear. Perched on the central Oregon coast, Heceta Head Lighthouse is one of the few remaining lightkeeper’s quarters on the left coast. Built in 1894 and holding a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, the lighthouse and keeper’s house are still functional. Guests ascend a handmade wooden staircase to one of six rooms with down duvets and antique furniture. Mornings begin with a seven-course breakfast that features the bounty of the land — artisan cheeses, local meats and seasonal produce.

HOTEL DE GLACE

Quebec, Canada hoteldeglace-canada.com

Looking for a cool getaway? This Canadian hot spot is the only hotel in North America made entirely of ice and snow. With 44 rooms and suites, the hotel is open January through March. The icy dwelling is constructed anew each winter by a team of 50 people over six weeks.

It spans 32,000 square feet and requires 500 tons of ice and 30, 000 tons of snow each year for its construction. Beds have a solid ice base and wood bedsprings topped by mattresses. Guests snooze inside arctic sleeping bags designed to withstand temperatures well below zero.

Still, there’s plenty of heat to be found in the form of warm bathrooms and hot tubs beneath the stars. Fans of the frozen can get their fix at the ice bar. There’s also an on-site ice chapel and a grand ice slide for guests of all ages.

–ERINN HUTKIN

Tribune Content Solutions Writer