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You know what they say, wood is good, but glass is class... whether that's actually ever been said before or not, it's true, especially when it comes to renting a glass cabin in the woods. Or the desert. Or on the beach. Or forty feet up in the air in the middle of a National Park. You get the idea.
Taking a step away from the conventional Airstream or black box cabin, right now we’re crushing pretty hard on glass houses, cabins, and treehouses, too. Luckily for those of us sans cabin of our own, there are plenty of such structures for rent.
With 360-degree views through forest canopies and across desert floors, sitting high on stilts or tucked deep into the landscape, there’s just something about being immersed in nature without sacrificing any of the comforts of home that we’re all for these days. Coffee in bed while watching hummingbirds flutter right outside your window, anyone?
And while countries like Iceland and Finland have been spearheading the glass treehouse, igloo, and cabin movement for years, the U.S. isn't far behind.
Whatever your reason for wanting to experience glass houses yourself, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you the best and coolest glass houses and glass-walled cabins to inspire your next immersive adventure. Who knows, maybe you’ll even be inspired enough to build a cabin of your own.
Desert Beauty — Tucson, AZ
Vibe: Easy in AZ Surround yourself with saguaros, cacti, and other flora as you watch for quail, rabbits, coyotes, and more, all from within the inside of this Tucson home walled with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Those views are available from the bedroom or the fully-equipped kitchen, though there is a small patio space should you want a closer look, and 3.3 acres to explore too. The owner’s residence might be 100 yards away, but you'll have plenty of privacy despite this home's innate openness.
Stowe Glass House — Stowe, VT
Vibe: 5,000 Square-Feet of We’re-Never-Leaving
With glass walls facing Mt. Mansfield's famed ski runs, this five-bedroom, four-bath, 5,000 square-foot home sleeps 12 and is decked out with a sauna, outdoor pool, radiant heat floors, three wood-burning fireplaces. And if you think that’s impressive, wait until you see the views. At just five miles from Stowe Village, the Stowe Glass House is worth gathering your friends and family and splurging on a group vacation that, after two years of the pandemic, you all surely deserve.
The Glass House at Anaway Place — Richland Center, WI
Vibe: Cozy Cottage
One of seven cabins on 80 acres of land, the Glass House at Anaway Place is a Midwest gem in the Driftless area of Southwest Wisconsin. Spend your days wandering through nature at leisure and your nights staring up at the stars—this is the place to unplug and let nature take over. The Glass House has air conditioning, a gas fireplace, kitchenette, queen bed, and a detached bathroom so that you can relax comfortably during a stay at this whimsical retreat.
Hudson Valley Tiny Glass House — Marlboro, NY
Vibe: Walden in the Woods
Stepping inside this 180-square-foot, glass-enclosed cabin, you'll be left channeling your inner Thoreau with its 360-degree views of the surrounding vineyards and orchard, and the silence of sitting on 30 acres. Nestled on a working farm, this glass tiny home features a stainless steel kitchen with a mini fridge, induction cooktop, microwave, and kettle. The queen-sized bed uses a Casper mattress and there’s heat as well as air conditioning for year-round living. The bathroom is a Laveo dry-flush toilet (the same kind Matt Damon used in The Martian), which will really make you feel the world away from New York City, which is only 90-minutes away.
Glass Treehouse — Banner Elk, NC
Vibe: Southern Comforts
This glass treehouse in North Carolina looks straight out of a magazine thanks to touches of mid-century modern and details for days. In the heart of High Country in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this glass home sits amongst waterfalls, boulders, and plenty of hiking trails but isn't far from restaurants, wine tasting rooms, breweries, so you can choose to be as social—or unsocial—as you dare when staying here. Should you opt for seclusion, you can cozy up to the wood-burning vintage Malm fireplace and play your favorite movie on the Samsung Frame TV, hang outside on the deck, near the fire pit, or in the hot tub.
Summit Prairie Lookout Tower — Tiller, OR
Vibe: Peak Park Ranger
Sitting forty feet up in the air and surrounded by the Umpqua National Forest in Douglas County, Oregon, the Summit Prairie Lookout Tower is as off-grid (and off-the-ground) as it gets. Embracing nature and the local wildlife, the tower has become a bit of an urban legend, with more than 1,600 names on a waiting list for only 65 reservations available each season. With one bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom with hot water, a private hot tub, and an indoor fireplace for peak coziness during the rental season, we’ll just have to drool and daydream over these photos of the lookout tower until we can snag a reservation for ourselves. The rental season runs from the end of March to mid-November and requires a four-night minimum stay.
Octagon Glass Treehouse — Otis, MA
Vibe: Octagonal Oasis
Able to accommodate four and with two floors of living and plenty of outdoor space, this cabin in Massachusetts' Berkshire mountains is already a Field Mag favorite for a good reason. Situated amid seven acres of outdoor space, the home provides unobstructed views that put you right in nature, but from the warmth and luxury of its living room, kitchen, or primary bedroom. When you do want to venture out, there's a large deck with a fire pit, and you’re close to three ski areas and plenty of great hiking. The owner warns that the Wi-Fi is slow, so take this as a chance to slow down yourself. Isn’t that what we’re all in need of right now, anyway?
Tropical Treehouse — Fern Forest, HI
Vibe: Tempted by the Tropics
Stay 15 feet above the Fern Forest floor and 10 miles from the adventures that await in Volcano National Park at this dreamy tropical treehouse. With floor-to-ceiling windows looking out into the canopy of trees and a wraparound lanai (porch), it’s hard not to be tempted by this glass-walled treehouse set in the Hawaiian jungle. This sky-high casa sleeps two and is only accessible by ladder stairs—there's a pulley system for hoisting up your bags. Power is solar, and it’s important to note this is the rainy side of the Big Island—two reasons to slow down, take a breath, and immerse yourself in your surroundings at this tiny tropical abode.
Peaceful Ocean View Treehouse — Aptos, CA
Vibe: What stress?
While it’s clear we have a thing for treehouses, this one in Aptos, California, takes the cake. With two bedrooms and almost 360 degrees of floor-to-ceiling windows, the name says it all—Peaceful Treehouse with an Ocean View. Able to sleep six, there’s also a full kitchen, washer and dryer, parking, dishwasher, and coffee maker so you can leave your stresses at the treehouse front door (which is accessible via a bridge).
Invisible House — Joshua Tree, CA
Vibe: Blending Inn
You can’t talk about glass houses without mentioning Joshua Tree’s Invisible House—even if we may never be able to afford a stay there ourselves. Resembling a 22-story skyscraper turned on its side, this magnificent glass house has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a 100-foot indoor pool, and sits on 90 acres of gorgeous desert property. The Invisible House shares a half-mile border with Joshua Tree National Park for easy and convenient access—not that you’ll ever want to leave this place.
Bonus: Panorama Glass Lodge — Selfoss, Iceland
Vibe: Unbelievable in Iceland
No, the Panorama Glass Lodge is not in the U.S., but no list of the best glass houses and cabins is complete without at least mentioning it. With multiple cabins at two separate locations, each individual Panorama cabin features a rain shower, an aurora alert so you don’t miss the Northern Lights, a full kitchen, a private hot tub, and some of the best views you'll find in the land of fire and ice.
Published 04-14-2022
