5 Unusual Hotels Where Sleep Is Part of the Adventure

Most hotels are the same: beige walls, reliable Wi-Fi, a decent pillow. They're fine. But if you're the kind of traveler who wants the accommodation to be part of the experience — not just somewhere to crash — these five places are worth knowing about. From a submerged research lab off the Florida Keys to a historic haunted ocean liner in Long Beach, these beds are anything but ordinary.

011. Dog Bark Inn — Cottonwood, Idaho

Ever slept inside a 12-foot beagle? Here's your chance. Dog Bark Inn is a bed-and-breakfast carved into the world's largest dog-shaped structure, handbuilt by chainsaw artists Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin on their property in rural Idaho.

The suite includes a queen bed on the ground floor and a loft with two twin beds — sleeping up to four. The surrounding property has 26 real beagles roaming around, breakfast includes dog-shaped food, and yes, the bathroom features a fire hydrant. Rates start around $89/night.

It's goofy, charming, and genuinely one of a kind. If you've ever called yourself a dog person, this is the pilgrimage.

022. Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast — Farmington, New Mexico

This one is for anyone who ever wondered what the Flintstones' house actually felt like. Kokopelli's Cave is a fully furnished living space carved 68 feet below the surface of a sandstone cliff in the Four Corners region. It was originally excavated as an office for a geologist — then converted into a rental property.

The interior is surprisingly livable: a real kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area with authentic cave walls exposing layers of petrified wood, carbonized plant matter, and cross-bedded sandstone. Rates run around $265/night and sleep up to four. The views from the cave opening — overlooking a canyon — are exceptional.

Bring a flashlight and comfortable shoes. The descent requires a short hike.

033. Jules' Undersea Lodge — Key Largo, Florida

This is the world's only underwater hotel, and it operates out of a former marine research habitat 21 feet below the surface of the Emerald Lagoon. To reach your room, you scuba dive down — there's no elevator. The lodge accommodates two guests at a time.

Through the 42-inch porthole windows, you'll see reef fish, barracudas, and snappers going about their night. Your room includes full scuba gear, a pizza dinner, snacks, and bottled water. If you want a private chef, one will literally swim down to cook for you.

At $800+ per night, it's not cheap. But there are very few experiences on earth like falling asleep 21 feet underwater while the ocean moves around you.

044. The Queen Mary Hotel — Long Beach, California

For a unique sleep experience without leaving Southern California, the Queen Mary is right in your backyard. The historic ocean liner — which transported over 750,000 troops during World War II, including Winston Churchill — now sits permanently docked in Long Beach as a hotel, museum, and event venue.

Cabin rooms range from intimate original staterooms to more spacious suites, all aboard an authentic 1930s Art Deco ocean liner. Room rates start around $100/night.

The ship also has a reputation as one of the most haunted places in California. Common reported sightings include a woman in a white evening gown near the first-class pool and a young girl wandering with a stuffed animal. Whether that adds to the appeal or not is entirely up to you.

Even if you don't stay overnight, the day tours and dining are worth the visit. It's a genuinely fascinating piece of history.

055. Red Caboose Motel — Ronks, Pennsylvania

Nestled in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the heart of Amish farmland, the Red Caboose Motel is exactly what it sounds like: real retired railroad cabooses converted into hotel rooms, sitting on authentic tracks surrounded by pastoral countryside.

Each car sleeps up to four with two beds and a kitchenette. Some cars have views of the working farm fields. Rates start around $95/night, and the on-site diner serves classic comfort food.

It's a great family trip, especially for anyone with a kid who's ever been obsessed with trains. The surrounding area is also worth exploring — Lancaster County has excellent local food, markets, and scenery.

06Bonus: 3 Unusual Hotels Worth a Longer Trip

  • Magic Mountain Hotel — Chile: A rustic lodge shaped like a mountain with a waterfall cascading off its roof, surrounded by old-growth rainforest in Huilo-Huilo. Accessible only by suspension bridge or boat.
  • Icehotel — Jukkasjärvi, Sweden: Built from scratch every winter from ice and snow, above the Arctic Circle. Every room is sculpted differently. Dog sledding and northern lights come standard.
  • Ariau Amazon Towers — Manaus, Brazil: Eco-lodge built into the tree canopy of the Amazon rainforest. You wake up to howler monkeys and macaws. Walkways connect the treetop rooms to each other.

07How to Sleep Well Away From Home

Unusual accommodations are exciting — but they don't always come with the same sleep quality as your bed at home. A few things that help:

  • Bring your own pillow if you're particular about loft and firmness. Hotel pillows vary wildly.
  • Pack earplugs or a white noise app — unique hotels often come with unique ambient sounds (ocean creaks, cave echoes, train sounds).
  • Adjust your bedtime gradually if you're crossing time zones.
  • Keep the room cool — most people sleep better at 65–68°F.
  • Avoid heavy meals close to bedtime — travel tends to shift eating schedules, which can disrupt sleep.

And when you get home, if your mattress doesn't feel as good as it used to, that's worth paying attention to. Sometimes travel sleep is actually better not because of the hotel, but because you've stepped away from a worn-out mattress. Visit any of our 5 LA Mattress Store locations to explore what a better night's sleep at home could feel like.

Looking for more sleep content? Check out the LA Mattress Sleep Blog for practical sleep advice, or explore our full mattress collection to find your ideal bed.