Living in an RV is a unique experience that has its challenges, but also has many rewards. As we have traveled around the country for the last five years, we have found that RV living requires us to be resilient, to communicate more with one another, and to be adaptable. Although most RVers live in a stationary home and take vacations in their RV, we live in our RV and sometimes need to vacation in a stationary home space! And what better way to do that than with unique accommodations!
Over these years, we have taken breaks from our RV to travel and stay in places as a way to enjoy amenities we don’t have in our rolling home. Sometimes we rent an AirBnB so that we can have space to entertain or have a larger get-together with friends, other times we splurge on a fancy hotel room to enjoy the comfort of room service or the hotel pool and hot tub. No matter where we go to stay, we always return home to our fifth wheel, happy with the choice we have made to live and travel full-time in our home on wheels.
The Lavender Castle
The Olympic Peninsula in Washington is one of our favorite places to visit. We can spend countless hours along the beaches, enjoy soaking in Sol Duc hot springs, and overall fit in well with the slower and quieter energy of the area. There is so much to see and do within Olympic National Park, but also the surrounding towns offer a break from the hustle and bustle of life. We return to the peninsula over and over again for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special times, but we don’t always like to bring the RV with us. We try to look for accommodations that are special or offer something extra for us during our stay.
A few years ago, we found the Lavender Castle in Sequim, WA. The Lavender Castle is a multi-bedroom home located close to the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula. The Renaissance vibe and attention to detail in this AirBnB all play into the overall experience of living like royalty for a night. When we stayed, we lounged on the antique sofas, drank out of goblets, and took a luxurious soak in the hot tub! It was the perfect place to spend one night after we explored the quaint artsy shops in town, visiting a local market, picking lavender, and taking a walk at Railroad Bridge Park. We grabbed some to-go food from down the road and returned to the AirBnB ready to relax. The Lavender Castle was great for us as a couple but would be a perfect accommodation for a small group to come together for a bachelorette or birthday celebration. You can even bring your furry friends since it is pet friendly. Teton and Sierra loved running around the ground floor and racing up and down the spiral stairs!
Tech Studio
We had no idea how cool the Tech Studio at Treetop Lodge in Lakeside, Oregon was going to be when we booked it. We were looking for an anniversary getaway somewhere near mid-coast Oregon before we drove down to the Redwoods for two weeks. We got a great last-minute deal on AirBnB for this place, which is sometimes the best way to score a sweet stay on a budget. Lakeside is a small town a bit off the coast but located near the Oregon Dunes area. Although the town is a bit inland, it has a small-town charm alongside peace and quiet. Lakeside is an easy drive to the Cape Arago Highway as well as a gateway to visit many of Oregon’s coastal gems. Although the area is beautiful, we had a hard time leaving this AirBnB once we arrived! The Tech Studio had a private hot tub, a giant projector screen, and a fancy computer station where you could even record a podcast.
We spent our mornings exploring the coast and Coos Bay area. We returned in the early afternoon to lounge in the comfortable bed watching national park documentaries and early 2000s thriller movies. In the evenings we soaked in the hot tub overlooking the lake, with a perfect view of the starry sky. There was a small kitchenette, which was perfect to make some small meals and snacks. The space was curated with love and attention given to every detail of what someone may need on a getaway, which made our stay more enjoyable. We always say the Tech Studio would be one of our top AirBnBs to return to because it was a perfect slice of heaven for our two-night stay.
The Dome
The Eugene Dome is nothing short of magical. We were looking for a post-holiday getaway that would offer solitude and serenity when Allie found The Eugene Dome on social media. She immediately began chatting with them about collaborating together. In exchange for our stay, Allie produced social media content, as well as images for them to use for promotional purposes. It was 100% worth it for our two-night stay at The Dome.
This gem is tucked away in the southwestern corner of the Eugene area, which means it is close enough to town for convenience, but far enough away to feel like you are in your own private oasis. The dome shape makes this stay unique, but it is the Lord of the Rings theme that makes it memorable! If you love the fantasy land that is created by J.R.R. Tolkien then you will adore the furniture, wall art, and artifacts they have gathered to create a curated Lord of the Rings experience in this space. We aren’t necessarily fantasy fans, but we loved the hobbit-like dwelling, the comfortable furniture, and the hot tub. The property even has some private trails on it, so you can hike through the forest when you aren’t enjoying the other amenities of The Eugene Dome.
We stayed two nights and didn’t leave one time. We grabbed some food in Eugene for our stay, arrived and settled in for a rejuvenating staycation. We listened to music and enjoyed the sweet acoustics of the dome, we took long showers, and we sat outside and drank mocktails. We took short walks on the trails early in the day, and on the second night we got to listen to the rain fall outside while watching the fog roll through the tall trees that surround the property.
Final Thoughts
We live in a small, movable space so we can travel and experience more. We give up things and small luxuries to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones and be more fully present. We love RV life, but sometimes we need a break. We look for stays that are unique because we love the way others have created comfort and interest through their choice of theme or decor. We often seek out places with large showers or hot tubs because we enjoy having unlimited hot water to enjoy. We like to have a small kitchen space to bring our own foods so we can stay in and enjoy the accommodations more. We also seek out queer-owned and queer-friendly stays because we want to know we are welcome in the spaces.
If you are thinking about traveling without your RV, we suggest considering what amenities and creature comforts might feel important to you. Look for accommodations that inspire your interests and will have space for the type of getaway you are looking to have. It’s great to have a home that can go anywhere, but that doesn’t mean you have to take it everywhere.
Lastly, for unique accommodations that you can enjoy with your RV check out Hipcamp sites and of course, RV rentals from RVshare!
Learn more from Wander Free and Queer with these articles:
Celebrating Pride Season with Wander Free and Queer
Springtime in Oregon: Bucket List Adventures with Wander Free and Queer
