How to Experience America's Most Unusual Motels

Sure, luxury lodgings are great, if you can afford them—but a cool motel can be just as fun, especially the weird and wonderful ones you can find along the roadside in the middle of nowhere. Here are some of the most unusual motels in the entire nation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Cottonwood, Idaho’s The Dog Bark Park Inn looks just like a gigantic, two-story beagle. If that’s not weird enough, chainsaw art dots the grounds, a wacky gift shop awaits, and one of the few remaining drive-ins in the West is a stone’s throw away.

2. Down south in Palm Springs, the Caliente Tropics Motor Lodge is a 1960s wonder with a Polynesian personality. The massive swimming pool and snazzy rooms with tiki décor add to the fun, and the on-site Mexican eatery ain’t bad either.

3. Check out the Bonita Motel in Austin, Texas, with a mix of eclectic architecture ranging from Asian to South-of-the-Border. The lodging boasts some very cool gardens, is hip as can be with free Wi-Fi and a cool music library, and often hosts some top-notch rock-and-roll tunes in the courtyard.

4. Visit Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort in Calistoga, California, an attractive throwback to the 1950s with an excellent spa and a great location right in the heart of the charming little town. Try a mud bath if you’re feeling adventurous!

5. Kate’s Lazy Meadow Motel near Woodstock, New York is “da bomb”—created by former B-52’s member Kate Pierson. A variety of quarters include small suites and a nifty cabin, and a humongous Jacuzzi is the icing on the cake.

6. In little Holbrook, Arizona, the WigWam Motel is a true offbeat pleasure, with the concrete cabins designed to look like teepees and a location right on Route 66. Prices are very reasonable, and the location near Painted Desert National Park is a big plus.

7. The Munger Moss Motel is an old school "auto court" motel in Lebanon, Missouri that seemingly hasn’t changed in 40 years. Right on Route 66, you can’t miss the hulking neon sign out front, and each room has its own unique name and décor.

8. Surrounded by the more deluxe hotels of South Beach, the Aqua Hotel and Lounge in Miami is a revamped old-timey wonder, with an eight-sided swimming pool and inviting little bar. A locale only minutes from the Atlantic, and relatively low prices are also bonuses.

[thebigscott]

on 7/30/2009 I'm going to have to go to Idaho now. The Dog Bark Park Inn is just too good to pass up.

[Veesites]

on 8/31/2008 Makes me want to go on a road trip and try them all out. Great tips.

[gatorgirl182]

on 8/10/2008 Thanks for the great tips!