Travel fantasy: The Hudson Valley

Crikey, how rad is this rental house in the Hudson Valley? It's only 2.5 hours from New York City, and the property has three bedrooms, a claw-foot tub, heated towel racks (!), an apple orchard, and a sauna. It would be such a fun weekend escape.

Vacation Fantasy: Sardinia

New York has been freezing this week; it almost feels like winter. So I've been drooling over these photos of Sardinia, where Aron and Ashley just went on vacation. They rented a boat (awesome!) and motored up to hidden beaches. Aren't their photos amazing?
P.S. Random fun fact: Did you know that Sardinia has one of the highest percentages of people who live to be over 100 years old?

Travel fantasy: Poet's loft

When Abbey found this amazing California rental house, my jaw dropped. The house is near Point Reyes, where you could hike to the lighthouse and eat fresh cheese. And it has a hot tub. Damn. Wouldn't you love to stay there?

Travel fantasy: Cinque Terre

Jacinta just went to Cinque Terre, and her gorgeous photos make me want to hop on a plane. Wouldn't you love to be eating fried fish and jumping off rocks into the sea right about now? I can almost feel that refreshing, goose-pimply water.

(Via Lost)

Travel fantasy: Treehotel

Treehotel is a brand new design hotel in northern Sweden, less than an hour from the Arctic Circle. The Mirrorcube room, above, has a double bed and roof deck, and you access it by rope bridge. I can't believe how beautiful it is! Wouldn't you die to stay there?

P.S. More travel fantasies.

(Via Black Eiffel)

Airbnb

Alex and I often rent houses when we go on vacation. It's fun to meet the homeowners, you instantly feel like a local, and rentals are typically more budget-friendly than hotels. We usually find places through HomeAway or vrbo, but I just discovered the vacation rental website airbnb, and I'm officially obsessed. I've spent an embarrassing amount of time lately browsing through their listings and daydreaming about future trips. I'm especially loving the majestic homes in the Hudson Valley, maybe for a little family getaway this summer!

(Thanks, Yolanda)

Iceland escape

My dad is obsessed with all things Iceland, and the country really does feel magical. This teeny house is perched on a cliff on Elliðaey, a southern island in Iceland. How amazing does it look? I'd love to ride a bike down that hill or lie in the grass at midnight.

P.S. Would you be brave enough to walk around the very edge?
P.P.S. More travel fantasies...

Travel Fantasy: Treehouse Point

Newlyweds Jasmine and Scott stayed at Treehouse Point in Washington for their honeymoon, where they hiked through the woods and slept in a treehouse among the stars. Jasmine said everything was "magical," despite her "pretty fierce fear of heights." One night, when a crazy storm blew in, they gazed at the lightning through the skylights. What a fabulous place! Wouldn't you love to go?

(Photos by Treehouse Point and Jasmine. Via Pia Jane Bijkerk)

Travel fantasy: Dunton Hot Springs

Yowza. I've been researching hotels this week, and my eyes popped when I stumbled across Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado. Get this: Dunton is a restored ghost town (!) tucked into an alpine valley, with cozy cabins, a holistic spa, hot springs, and an award-winning organic restaurant in the old saloon (naturally). And, if that's not enough, you can reserve the whole town for 42 friends! Can you imagine?

Where have you been daydreaming about traveling these days?

(Via Plaisir Simples)

Vacation fantasies

During this dreary weekend (what is with all this rain?), I've been parked on my sofa, drooling over the Mr. and Mrs. Smith website. Their hotels are ridiculously amazing. Ridiculous. (You can also create a honeymoon registry, which I think is brilliant.) My favorites...

Loving these lush gardens and sparkling pool in Provence.

How rad would it be to stroll up to this Paris hotel and its funny hats?

You could sip wine and watch the sunset at a 900-year-old castello in Tuscany...

...or make friends with elephants, take outdoor showers and drink cocktails under glowing trees at a South African resort.

Where would you want to go? :)

(Top photo of Belize)

Travel Fantasy: Scottish Highlands

Wouldn't you love to stay in this cottage in the Scottish Highlands? It's so gorgeous. A great book + fresh groceries + a bottle of wine + people you love = the perfect vacation. P.S. I watched Rachel Getting Married this weekend. Have you seen it? It's so good!!!

Travel Fantasy: Sailing in Maine

How's this for a vacation fantasy: Hopping aboard the Windjammer in Maine, where you can take anywhere from two-day to two-week trips.

You tell ghost stories and eat homecooked meals and keep an eye out for birds, seals and whales. "It's so completely different from anything resembling 'real life,'" says Lisa, whose brother runs the boat. "Being in a big schooner, kerosene lamps, games, rowing, swimming if you're brave, lots of wool, cute boys, excellent food, and pretty, pretty Maine."

Doesn't it sound amazing?