The older I get, the less I need in terms of space. When I lived in Sydney, I lived in a tiny room that had sparse furniture but it was exactly what I needed since I was living out of a backpack. Even when I travel, I like to choose unique accommodations that are small on space, but are just what I need.
Most were found on Airbnb, while others are found in state parks. Best of all, these places were all less than $100 per night to rent. It’s safe to say that I fully am sucked into the tiny house movement, always looking for a way to be more of a minimalist. Do you want to stay in tiny spaces like I do? Look no further.
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Yurt: Lander, Wyoming
Easily one of my favorite places I stayed during my national parks road trip, I started to seriously consider yurt life. Instead of staying at the hotels in downtown Lander for a friend’s wedding, my sister and I stayed at nearby Sinks Canyon State Park (book here). The yurt had its own porch, grill, and furniture and the bathrooms were a short walk away. You’d be surprised how spacious these Mongolian-style semi-permanent tents are!
Barrel Cabin: Helen, Georgia
Helen is a nice weekend getaway from my hometown of Atlanta and is inspired by Bavarian villages. In Unicoi State Park, a short drive from town, you can stay in the lodge, campsites, and typical cabins. But they’ve also transformed former wine barrels into two-level loft cabins (book here).
The lower level has a full kitchen, living room with television, back porch, and a bathroom while the upper level has just enough space for a bed and dresser. While there’s no Internet, it’s a perfect place to disconnect.
Tiny House: Asheville, North Carolina
After my creative retreat in Nicaragua last year, I knew I wanted to set aside more time to work on creative projects beyond my actual work. So earlier this year, I found myself the cutest tiny house right outside of Asheville on Airbnb (book here) for some much-needed alone time.
It was definitely small, but I could see myself living somewhere that small because it still had everything I needed. Downstairs, there was the bathroom, large kitchen, dining table, and seating area with a TV loaded with Hulu and Netflix. The steep stairs get you to the sleeping area, which isn’t for tall folks, but suited me.
Carriage House: Huntsville, Alabama
I visited Huntsville for a conference a few years back and wanted to stay downtown, but not at an average hotel. I ended up at an Airbnb that is the carriage house (book here) behind a stunning historic home a short walk from the convention center. It had a gorgeous garden, a full galley kitchen, bathroom, and two beds. It has a studio setup, but I would love living somewhere like this that has neighbors, but is still a private space without roommates.
Sailboat: Charleston, South Carolina
I try to go back to Charleston every year, but staying downtown has gotten very expensive, especially since there are no hotel rooms under $200 and that doesn’t include parking (except for the NotSo Hostel!). And since you can’t rent your place on Airbnb downtown, I looked elsewhere.
I ended up staying on a sailboat in the Ashley River (book here), just a short drive over the bridge to downtown. The small space didn’t bother me, but it was tight for two people. The weather was also problematic one night, but I could definitely see myself staying on a boat again.
Cabin: Deadwood, South Dakota
Another small but ideal space was at a campground in Deadwood last summer. I had previously been car camping, but found that to be difficult here. Like with my yurt in Lander, this cabin (book here) had an outdoor seating area and bunk beds. There wasn’t a kitchen, but there was indoor seating and guest areas with the bathhouse and bar a short walk away.
Guesthouse: St. Petersburg, Florida
Most recently, my mom and I stayed at a guesthouse (book here) behind a main house in a neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida. It was perfectly located, 15 minutes from downtown and 15 from the beach. There was so much nice outdoor space, shared by their pets, including chickens.
Inside, we had bunk beds with a kitchenette and lounge area with a TV for us to watch Fear the Walking Dead. The bathroom had a full shower as well. They also said we could borrow bikes if we needed to, but we didn’t end up doing it. I loved this place and could certainly stay again!
I love these types of spaces and am even staying at another guesthouse on an upcoming trip to Austin. Have you ever stayed somewhere like this?
If you also love tiny living, check out my Tiny Living Pinterest board!
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