Africa, the Mother Continent, home to the largest variety of people, languages, wildlife, flora and fauna on our sublime planet. The African continent from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn is not one large, moist and humid jungle. Most of northern Africa is desert as is much of the south, but to…
Living in the Woods: House in the Forest, Hokkaido, Japan
All Photos: courtesy of Florian Busch Architects Japan is well-known for its spectacular cuisine, vibrant culture, and unique architecture. But House in the Forest, located in the woods outside the city of Hokkaido, is anything but typical Japanese style. This boxy yet organic-feeling dwelling appears as if its structure could be based around shipping…
Destination: Mount Triglav, Slovenia
Photo courtesy of Moon & Honey Travel Bordered by Italy, Hungary, Croatia, and Austria, the Republic of Slovenia is a mountainous country that’s full of incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. The country boasts an extensive network of mountain huts which allows for exhilarating days of hiking and climbing followed by a real bed and a…
Destination: 48° Nord Hotel, France
Photo by Florent Michel: Courtesy, Design Boom One part minimalist architecture study and one part wilderness hotel retreat, the 48° Nord hotel in northeastern France by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitecter is a minimally invasive installation of 14 geometric volumes clad in locally sourced chestnut wood. The Norwegian design team was inspired by the traditional Scandinavian hytte,…
Destination: Kūono Modern Cabin, Volcano, Hawai’i
Photos: Courtesy, www.staykuono.com. The Kūono modern cabin is a modest yet luxurious outpost situated just five miles from Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in Volcano, Hawai’i. Intrigued? Well, you should be, because this property is located on the active volcano known as Kīlauea, between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level. The Kūono Cabin…
Destination: Finnish Lapland, Finland
Photos: Courtesy VisitFinland.com The Northernmost part of Finland is known as Finnish Lapland, an area located almost entirely within the Arctic Circle and characterized by pristine wilds, the aurora borealis, and, yes, the official home of Santa Claus. It’s a region of extreme contrasts, a place that seems to unanimously capture the hearts of…
Destination: The Historic Crystal Mill in Crystal, Colorado
Destination: The Crystal Mill in Crystal, Colorado Colorado has plenty of beautiful destinations and scenic vistas, and more often than not, a handful always seems to rise to the top, like the Crystal Mill, aka, the Sheep Mountain powerhouse. It’s one of those images of “classic Colorado,” and I’d wager a guess that you’ve already…
Destination: Green Mountain Modern House, Vermont
Photos: Courtesy Green Mountain Modern House If the rolling green hills, farms, and mountains of Vermont are your kind of escape, then you’ll love the Green Mountain Modern House. This contemporary box-shaped dwelling is located in the heart of the Green Mountain National Forest near the town of Jamaica, Vermont, just minutes away from…
Destination: Red Canyon Ranch, South Dakota
Photos: Courtesy VRBO South Dakota is almost at the top of the list when it comes to the least-populated states in the U.S., but despite its low population density, there is plenty of public land (over a million acres) just waiting to be explored. This includes the Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National…
The Getaway Cabin Network is an Escape from the Urban Environment
Images courtesy of Getaway House When you ask most people where their ideal getaway is, one common answer tends to be “a cabin in the woods.” And while some of you likely live in rural areas where forested escapes are a bit closer at hand, those of us who reside in more urban settings…
Kachi Lodge on Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
Any of you who have traveled to or researched the South American continent are probably familiar with the Bolivian Salt Flats, aka Salar De Uyuni. But did you know that you can camp at 11,811 feet above sea level in a luxury eco-dome on the Salar? That’s right, the Kachi Lodge has seven geodesic domes…
Camp Out in a Forest Service Fire Lookout Tower
Photo: Clear Lake Lookout, Courtesy of Mt.Hood National Forest The attentive forest service firefighter scans the horizon diligently from their aerie lookout tower. It’s an improbable structure in an improbable place, perched high on a rocky summit overlooking an immense landscape of evergreen trees. The tower itself has stood the test of time and…
Colorado’s 10th Mountain Division Hut System
Photo by Matt Swartz: A ski tour to Sister’s hut (in the background). The 10th Mountain Division hut system is the largest network of mountain cabins in the state of Colorado, and it is managed by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, a non-profit formed in the early ’80s. The founding members were Aspen…
Destination: EcoCamp Patagonia, Chile
Without a doubt, South America is one of the quintessential overlanding destinations in the Southern hemisphere. Its enormous stretches of uninhabited terrain are punctuated with tropical rainforests, desert steppes, and jagged alpine summits. And for travelers interested in exploring South America’s most extreme and exotic landscapes, the national parks of Southern Chile’s Patagonia region will…
Stay at Bivouac Luca Vuerich for Free – If You Can Get There
Photos: Flavio Pesamosca Rarely do we get to stay at beautiful, remote mountain cabins for free, but this week, we’ve got a special offer. If you can make it to Bivouac Luca Vuerich in the Julian Alps of Northeastern Italy, your stay is free! Think you’ve got what it takes? Built as a memorial…
The Far Cabin on Maine’s Remote Atlantic Coast
Photos by Jeff Roberts, Courtesy Winkelman Architects. This 420-square-foot cabin was lovingly named the Far Cabin by its designers, Winkelman Architects. It is perched on a rocky ledge along Maine’s central coast where the owners, and occasionally their family, can escape the day-to-day routine and take in the calm of the surrounding forest and…
Pre-fab Hello Wood Workstation Cabin
Photos courtesy: Hello Wood Studio When you hear the word “getaway,” what destinations come to mind? I’m willing to bet that it’s not your own backyard. But that’s the idea behind this week’s destination. Getaways don’t have to be exotic or far from home to offer your weary soul the relaxation, restoration, or concentration…
5 Reasons to Overland Central Asia
Photos by Coen Wubbels. Author’s note: Because the region is so little known, Coen drew a map with all places mentioned in the piece. We hope you find it useful. As the word implies, Central Asia lies in the heart of Asia. The region is surrounded by big countries, including Russia, China, and Iran….
Saudi Arabia: A Primer
Editor’s Note: This article was previously published but with a major part of the story missing. It has been re-published in its entirety so that you can enjoy the whole story. We apologize for this oversight. “Americans?” “Yep” “Camels! Coffee! You come!” With a big wave of his arm, and that limited exchange, my…
Destination: Nimmo Bay Resort, BC, Canada
Photos courtesy of Nimmo Bay Resort, OMG Photos, and Gizmodo. Located on Canada’s remote Pacific Coast, the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the last old-growth temperate rainforests in the world. This 6.4-million-hectare area extends from the Discovery Islands all the way to the British Columbia–Alaska border and includes all offshore islands within this…