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By Lauren Wong

Over the past few years, Airbnb has been my go-to when it comes to booking my travel stays . Hotels can be so overpriced, and unless you’re at some all inclusive resort, there’s not anything particularly special about them. 

Of course there are some hidden gems here and there, but Airbnb is bursting with them. I’ve had to make multiple folders of Airbnb’s I want to visit because you can’t save more than 50 stays in one. 

I am excited to start this series and continue on with it to help you uncover more options for your stays as you travel. This way you can be excited about your travel itinerary as well as where you’ll be calling home as you’re out on the road. 

For this blog post I’ll be writing about a farm stay where you get to swim with ponies and have animals wander the background while you eat, a desert oasis in Joshua Tree, and a good, old fashioned wagon.

Arizona:

4 guests, 1 bedroom, 2 beds, 1 bath

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Go Glamping, Wild West style! I knew this was definitely a one of a kind stay, sleeping in a wagon in the middle of the desert, but I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. By the end of my stay I was sad to be leaving my little wagon behind.

My first thought was that it was definitely roomier than you’d expect from looking at it from the outside. Each wagon has its own bathroom (equipped with a modern, clean shower) right outside the wagon that you access with your key. The RV Resort has a shared common area, a pool, and hot tubs. A bonus is that it’s conveniently located about 40 minutes from Sedona. And, how often can you say that you got to spend the night in a wagon!

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Phoenix, Arizona

6 guests, 3 bedrooms, 4 beds, 2 baths

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If you’re looking to explore Phoenix without being in the middle of all the traffic and noise, this stay is perfect. It’s so quiet and peaceful here that it’s hard to believe you are in a city of 1.6 million people.

This airbnb is unique because of all the perks that come with it. Not only is it a beautiful stay, but the backyard is home to dogs, donkeys, cats, horses, miniature horses, alpacas, cows, and sheep. Run by Happy Hooves, a nonprofit, their mission is to provide animal assisted therapy and activities with their rescue animals.

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What comes with your initial booking is access to the patio where you get to see the animals go about their day. If you want a more hands-on interaction with the animals, you can book their “Embracing Unconditional Love of Animals,” through Airbnb Experiences. During my stay I had the privilege of enjoying my waffles on the back patio while feeding apple slices to a donkey!

There is also a brand new experience that they’re offering, Magical Moments With Miniature Horses at the Lake (post to come soon about my lovely experience at Lake Pleasant). You can check their calendar for availability, or just reach out to your host, Jesse. He is the sweetest, most passionate person about his animals, and ensures everyone is having a good time so you’re always in good hands with him!

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California:

White Cactus House- Tipi Sculptures - Boho Luxe

Joshua Tree, California

4 guests, 2 bedrooms, 3 beds, 1 bath

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Stay in a historic 1947 bungalow, turned hip spiritual vortex, right outside of Joshua Tree National Park. If it gives you any idea of how I felt about my stay here, I left my friend to unpack our entire car as I ran through the Airbnb, turning every corner in awe of how beautifully this Airbnb was set up. It was the aesthetic that got me.

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It’s a place of serenity with its “modern bohemian Scani vibes and Joshua Tree gritty retro charm.” The Stock Tank Pool was the perfect photo op and our go to while staying here to cool down from our hikes. There’s bags (cornhole), a hammock, two swings, and a little fire pit to sit by. Everything was just so cute!

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Once you open the beryl colored door into the backyard, you’ll be transported into this sort of sacred ground with deliberately placed representations honoring Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and the 5th Element of Self/Love. Within the cacti garden you’ll find 5 life-sized wooden tipi sculptures, each with an alchemy symbol to represent those 5 elements.

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If you’re into finding hidden gems, and cool places to stay while on your journeys, follow along because there will be more to come!