Perfect Perch
There was once a time when sleeping on tree branches and nodding off among nature on a platform high above the ground would have been considered child’s play: no more. Treehouses have come a long way since Crayola blueprints and Swiss Family Robinson pipe dreams; the new breed of treehouse experiences are decidedly grown up, and they are as elevated as the platforms on which they reside.
Treehouse hotels have risen in popularity in recent years, offering a level of luxury that’s above glamping and an experience that rivals even the most exclusive brick-and-mortar hotels. Today’s treehouse hotels are equipped with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, butler services and many also include Instagram-worthy hot tubs for soaking among the treetops. From a treehouse with a wood-burning fireplace and walk-in shower, to a posh perch that touts glorious views of the dancing lightshow that is the aurora borealis, here are three of the most outrageously opulent treehouse hotels to rest your head.
THE ARCTIC TREEHOUSE HOTEL
In most parts of the world, people chase the Northern Lights — hopping on snowmobiles, trekking out to remote snowy fields by snowshoe, or even crossing icy waters onboard zodiac-style boats — in search of this natural phenomenon. But for guests at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, the lights come to them. Each of the 52 TreeHouse suites (as well as the five GlassHouses and three executive suites) were designed in a way that allows guests to gaze out through floor-to-ceiling windows from their perch among the trees to watch the impressive lightshow, with a freshly brewed Nespresso in hand, in the comfort of a warm, private space.
The hotel opened in 2016 in the Lapland region of Finland, where the Northern Lights regularly appear more than 200 nights of the year. Encounters with the lights are more likely between mid-August and early April, but the hotel is open year-round to offer treetop experiences among the dreamy woodlands of the Arctic Circle. Despite the hotel’s seemingly remote appeal, it is only a 10-minute drive from the city center of Rovaniemi, which is the official hometown to both the Rovaniemi Airport and Santa Claus himself. The region is alive with folklore and tradition, and the experience at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is no exception.
The hotel is surrounded by forest, and the design of the wooden treehouses was chosen to blend into the surroundings while helping preserve the natural beauty and ecology of the region. The treehouses are finished with local Finnish wood and feature green roofs that help minimize the hotel’s footprint, while the interiors were designed with an exclusive combination of local tradition, Lappish heritage and modern Scandinavian design.
Many of the treehouses can be connected to offer ample room for family gatherings, but most of the communal gatherings take place around a roaring fire at the main building, which was designed to be shaped like a snowflake. Meals at the hotel are served at Rakas Restaurant, where a modern approach on Lappish delicacies like reindeer, fish and wild berries offer an exciting dining experience for guests choosing to dine indoors. Adventurous diners can take their meals outside, where the resort can plan personalized meals cooked over an open fire pit or served in a secret forest location for an unforgettable add-on to an already memorable woodland experience. arctictreehousehotel.com
ACRE TREEHOUSE HOTEL
Canopies of native palms peek just barely above the private terraces at the Acre Treehouse Hotel, where, as guests enjoy their morning beverages, birds nested just outside the thatched walls greet them with a familiar song. The natural surroundings and melodic sounds of nature throughout this 25-acre resort were what inspired owners Cameron Watt and Stuart McPherson to open an eco-centric oasis that’s both rich with new experiences and filled with an unwavering essence of free spirit.
The duo opened the resort in 2015 with a highly anticipated restaurant and bar, and the resort’s culinary roots have stayed strong as the property expanded to include multiple dining options and 14 treehouses — including a treehouse spa — throughout its 25 acres along the Baja California Peninsula. Each treehouse comes equipped with a terrace, bathroom, closet, outdoor shower, king-sized bed with a mosquito net, high-speed internet and a curated minibar.
The arrival is part of the experience, where a dry riverbed crossing — only accessible by 4x4 — sets the stage for the authentic and natural encounters awaiting at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. Mornings at the resort begin with a complimentary pastry, coffee or tea, and fresh-pressed juice; following breakfast, guests are invited to join morning yoga classes in the mango orchard or take a dip in the onsite pool. Afternoons are spent exploring the ACRE organic gardens and citrus groves, competing on the bocce ball and pickleball courts, or getting acquainted with the critters at the onsite animal sanctuary that’s home to rescued puppies and other rescue animals (donkeys, horses, etc.), free roaming peacocks and dwarf goats.
Once the sun goes down, pre-dinner aperitivos begin to flow, where the ACRE cocktail bar serves up creations like a Ginger Mezcalita (Acre tobala mezcal and poblano chili liquor with ginger syrup, fresh pineapple and lime juice) or an Animas Sour (bourbon whiskey, Liquor 43, citrus from the orchard, passionfruit and coconut foam). Evenings are spent dining under the stars or gathering with new friends around the bespoke fire pits. acrebaja.com
POST RANCH INN
Each of the 40 uniquely designed rooms at the Post Ranch Inn offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Los Padres National Forest to the east, but only the seven treehouses provide guests with the chance to sleep nine feet off the forest floor among the giant oak trees themselves. The inn is located off Highway 1, where the 100-acre resort clings close to the cliffs and, at times, buries into the cliffs themselves as the inn is home to the first-ever earth-sheltered hotel rooms in the United States (the Ocean Houses).
Each treehouse features its own private stairway entrance, where a triangular shaped room awaits with modern interiors that include luxuries like organic bath products, an iPod docking station, a wood burning fireplace and a king bed outfitted in organic linens and an organic mattress. Spacious walk-in showers take forest bathing to the next level, but it’s the corner window seat and skylight in the middle of the room where most guests spend their time gazing up at the trees (binoculars are available for loan to give guests the best views possible).
Breakfast is complimentary for all guests of the inn, where cooked-to-order eggs and freshly baked pastries await at the Sierra Mar restaurant onsite. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner, but the ultimate treetop experience at this resort is in-room dining from the private balconies of the seven treehouses. Days at the treehouses are spent either roaming the forest on a guided hike, taking part in a revitalizing yoga class, or luxuriating at the Post Ranch Spa with a nature inspired treatment or meditation session.
The inn partners with Dr. Michael Breus — a.k.a. the Sleep Doctor — to offer an exclusive sleep program to Post Ranch Inn guests staying two nights or more. The program includes a sleep-enhancing dinner, relaxing treatments from the Sleep Spa Menu, a bag of curated sleep-friendly gifts and access to Dr. Breus’ on-demand “Sleep Sessions” video series. Although the experience is available in any of the inn’s accommodations, Dr. Breus’ program is best enhanced with the soothing and natural sounds that trickle in gently through the treehouse walls from the verdant forest beyond. postranchinn.com