Design-minded travelers often fit architecture- and design-related explorations into every trip they take. But, why stop at just viewing when you can actually stay in a variety of classic styles from coast to coast? Vacation homes allow travelers to actually spend a night in the architectural styles they admire. The following homes are listed with Vacasa.
1. Eleven Alliance, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Style: CAPE COD
With its unprepossessing charm, the traditional Cape Cod invokes visions of seaside romance and wind-swept coasts. But this cape is an archetypical hilltop house whose boundless views of Nantucket Sound belies its rustic roots. Clad in plain shingles, the interior offers the richness of red-oak beams and luxurious French doors leading to the deck. From there, sit back and enjoy the ferry’s comings and goings.
2. Private Log Cabin, Franconia, New Hampshire
Style: LOG CABIN
The log home, most famously associated with President Abraham Lincoln, arose out of the need for a functional shelter made from materials at hand. We’ve come a long way from that, yet log cabins are still popular for the way they allow nature and home to coexist harmoniously. The traditional construction of this four-bedroom cabin with dovetailed logs would have made Old Abe proud, but the wraparound deck, hot tub, and metal fireplace are lavish amenities he could never imagine.
3. Maine Retreat, Bethel, Maine
Style: CONTEMPORARY
What is contemporary architecture? That’s hard to nail down, but open plans, unconventionality, and evocative design are often the hallmarks. This 10-bedroom Maine manse is one of those you-know-it-when-you-see-it moments, with its dynamic, asymmetric design and sleek—yet family-friendly—interiors. And the Androscoggin River is close enough to beckon you off your cell and into nature.
4. Modern Ocean Drive Condo, Miami Beach, Florida
Style: ART DECO
For Art Deco at its finest, there’s no place better than South Beach, or as the locals call it, SoBe. This knockout 2-bedroom condo has all the trademark flourishes—rounded edges, geometric patterns, and balconies—but the bright sunshine and ocean views from the rooftop pool are what make it all about Florida.
5. The Bird House, Taos, New Mexico
Style: ADOBE
The adobe style—earthen walls, stone floors, wood ceiling beams—harkens back to the Spanish conquistadors and the melding of their building ideas with those of the indigenous population. This 1920s restored villa, nestled beneath the Sangre de Cristo mountains, has all these elements in a modern-day rental. For local culture, the 1,000-year-old community Taos Pueblo is a short drive away.
6. Lilac Victorian in Eureka, California
Style: VICTORIAN
This lovingly restored split-level house in Northern California on the Redwood Coast is no over-dressed Victorian. Instead, this serene dame is a lilac dream boasting tasteful ornamentation—scalloped siding, stained-glass details, and decorative trim. But if extreme Victorian is your thing, a block away is the Carson Mansion, often considered the style’s uber-expression of excess.
7. Desert Villa, Palm Springs, California
Style: MIDCENTURY MODERN
Architects working in the middle of the 20th century—from which midcentury modern gets its name—literally created the city of Palm Springs, so it’s no wonder the streets look like a set from Mad Men. This desert dazzler is a prime example of what makes the style’s popularity so enduring: flat planes, an open floor plan magnified by floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding doors that seamlessly connect indoors and outdoors, and neutral colors with occasional bursts of color. This rental villa will make your vacation feel timeless.
8. Pile of Bricks, Seattle, Washington
Style: TUDOR
Tudor architecture is often associated with quaint English storybook cottages. The steep pitched roofs, tall windows, and heavy exterior brickwork were perfect for areas of the US with snowy climates, so finding a Tudor in the Pacific Northwest is a rarity. This roomy rental has 3 bedrooms, plus a loft and crow’s nest to relax in. The dark exterior is balanced by the extra windows and clean white walls within.
Vacasa created this list in honor of World Architecture Day.
