Airbnbs are back! And just in time for summer 2020.
“People, after having been stuck in their homes for a few months, do want to get out of their houses; that’s really, really clear,” Airbnb’s chief executive Brian Chesky told The Los Angeles Times.
In the time of the coronavirus, people are looking closer to home (think: within driving distance) and for longer periods of time — two- or three-night stays now look like weeks, even months, when you can.
And while many places have already been snatched up for prime summer months, you can always look ahead to September and October. The coronavirus, it seems, isn’t going anywhere. (And Airbnb has adopted more flexible policies to help us all weather the unknown).
Here are 11 places that scream family-friendly escape.
Douglas, Massachusetts
A whole island to yourself. Seven-acre Dodd Island, at the heart of Whitin Reservoir, is a rustic escape (think: outhouse). But if you are seeking escape and solitude — and perhaps a little fishing — this is it. Two cabins and a 12-foot rowboat, provided. It's about an hour outside of Boston.
Mount Desert, Maine
The listing doesn’t lie: This is a stunning waterfront home right in Acadia National Park (with a price point to match). Most walls facing the water are glass, so as not to interrupt the sweeping view of Somes Sound. Kids, especially, will love the private swimming rocks, firepit, playhouse, and sleeping loft.
Palm Springs, California
Summer is off-season in Palm Springs, true. But this midcentury gem has a turquoise saltwater pool — and fewer crowds.
Lake Arrowhead, California
This pitch-perfect modern A-frame is a five-minute walk to Lake Arrowhead and a 20-minute walk to town. One guest — as part of a family of four — wrote, “a true little cabin in the woods where you feel far away from the world.”
Red Hook, New York
Less than two hours from New York City, this cabin boasts a secluded rustic-modern vibe on 3.5 acres of woods. There’s a pool, heated year-round, and a solarium you can sleep in.
Shelton, Washington
Shelton is the westernmost city on Puget Sound, and it’s home to this 1,000-square-foot detached guest house, with 350 square feet of private Puget Sound beachfront and access to a pool. The owners have an art studio on the premises.
Holland, Michigan
There’s room for 12 in this newly remodeled, tastefully appointed modern cottage , a block away from Lake Michigan.
Mallets Bay, Vermont
Fewer than seven miles outside of Burlington, Vermont, this charming lakeside cottage doesn’t look like much from the road. Inside, though, and out back, with a dock right on Lake Champlain, it’s practically magazine-worthy, with room for one large family or two families in the same quarantine pod.
Lempster, New Hampshire
Talk about postcard-perfect. It’s a 10-foot jump into the lake from the rocks, and when you get bored of that, you can kayak over to Blueberry Island. This rustic cottage has a lovely master, and then a mess of beds to choose from for the kids.
Sante Fe, New Mexico
You can have a whole wellness retreat at this guest house that's 15 minutes from downtown Santa Fe. Sauna. Gym. Pool. Biodynamic gardens and greenhouse. And, should you want, spa services and vegetarian food from the owners’ businesses in town.
Leander, Texas
Take your pick — a dip in the saltwater pool or in Lake Travis, just below. Or both! This three-bedroom vacation home is less than an hour from Austin.
