4 Funky Staycation Rentals Outside San Francisco
Heading to Salt Point State Park for a weekend of hiking and mushroom hunting? Book at a stay at a nearby tree house with a heated pool and dry sauna for two. (Courtesy of Hipcamp)

4 Funky Staycation Rentals Outside San Francisco

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Climbing the walls in your small urban apartment? Satisfy your wanderlust with a weekend staycation just a short drive from San Francisco and Oakland.

Vacation rental companies Hipcamp and Airbnb are known for funky, one-of-a-kind stays—you know, tree houses with saunas and hippie communes where The Dead used to play. Check in at one of these quirky spots to escape your box for a few.


Bonus: COVID-19 safety protocols and cleaning regulations have been implemented, which means you can book a stay without sweating the pandemic too much. Just be sure to wear your mask in public and minimize your footprint in small communities while away from home.

Stay in a tree house with a heated pool and sauna near Salt Point State Park.

(Courtesy of Hipcamp)

There's a sauna built for two!

A tree house with a heated pool, spa, and a sauna for two? Sign us up. Situated in Occidental near Salt Point and Sugarloaf Ridge state parks, this woodsy stay with two single beds sits atop an old redwood tree stump and promises a bird's eye view of the endless cosmos come nightfall.

The cozy, funky house has a stained-glass-windowed bathroom and a small kitchenette with views, but you'll want to spend your time outdoors lounging in the sun. Dogs are welcome.

// Sleeps up to six adults from $199/night, with a two- or three-night minimum required for most reservations; more details on hipcamp.com.

Check in at a Petaluma hippie commune where Grateful Dead once played.

(Courtesy of Hipcamp)

Back in the 1970s, Swallowtail Historic Art Studios was a hippie commune where the Grateful Dead are said to have played. Today, it's a quirky-artsy stay a few minutes drive from downtown Petaluma.

An antique Indonesian teakwood cottage sits surrounded by greenery on a property that also has a small deck and a hot tub. All wood-paneled and hung with an array of art, the place has a large living room and a bathroom with a soaking tub that redefines the word sanctuary.

// Sleeps two adults from $156/night; find more details on hipcamp.com.

Sleep in a "Mushroom Dome" in Aptos, California.

(Triumph Photography via Airbnb)

If you're planning to hit any of the Santa Cruz area's 34 beaches (all are currently open), consider checking in and glamping out at the geodesic Mushroom Dome Cabin, a short drive away from Seacliff State Beach.

The cozy, clean, and semi-rustic retreat offers a loft beneath the "mushroom cap" with a queen-sized Casper mattress. Be forewarned there's a composting toilet. Guests also have total access to the property's Land of Paradise Suite, which has a double bed and a fold-out bed, along with a small fridge, an electric tea kettle, and complimentary teas and coffees.

// Sleeps three adults with two available beds from $149/night; more details at airbnb.com.

Stay in an immaculate vintage Airstream in Mill Valley.

(Courtesy of Airbnb)

There's a tangible chill-out factor happening at this beautifully refitted vintage Airstream parked in a pretty backyard in scenic Mill Valley.

The design picks up on all those 1960s American wanderlust vibes with a retro-red kitchenette, world map wallpaper in the bathroom, and midcentury furnishings and accessories in the living space and bedroom. Kick back and pretend like you're anywhere else in any year other than 2020.

// Sleeps two adults from $150/night; more details at airbnb.com.

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