If you’ve ever wasted a whole evening scrolling through websites and social media to find unique places to stay in New England and the Northeast that feel special… you’re not alone.
That’s why we built the TLJ Map of Themed & Unique Stays.
A completely custom, one-of-a-kind interactive map designed to help families skip the endless search and head straight to the fun.
This map brings together 60+ unique places to stay in New England and the Northeast.
From themed boutique hotels in small towns to off-the-grid cabins with modern amenities and guest rooms like you’ve never seen before.
Imagine spending the night in a castle overlooking the Hudson Valley, or a historic lighthouse on Cape Cod with sweeping Atlantic Ocean views and 360° sunsets.
Maybe you want to live out your Viking-life fantasy on a Vermont lake or wake up in a five-story shoe-shaped house in Pennsylvania.
Or does your family want to kick back at an all-inclusive lakeside resort with a private beach, tennis courts, and easy lake access for carefree days?
They’re ALL on the free TLJ Map of Themed and Unique Places to Stay!
Instead of juggling screenshots and bookmarks, open the map below, filter by interest, and save your favorites.
This interactive TLJ Map of unique stays in New England and beyond is free and always growing with the coolest new places to stay.
TLJ Tip: Bookmark this map or drop the link into a new note on your phone so it’s ready for your next family vacation or weekend getaway.
How to Use the TLJ Map of Themed & Unique Places to Stay in New England & Beyond
Think of this map as your shortcut to the cool stuff… seriously.
Here’s where it gets fun:
- Choose your unique stay: flip between Themed Hotels, All-Inclusive Resorts, Waterpark Hotels, or the truly Unique Stays that don’t fit in a box.
- Find your family’s must-haves: toggle tags for things like pet-friendly spots, indoor pools for splash-happy kids, year-round outdoor pools for winter cannonballs, horseback-riding stays, and even quirky cabins & cottages across New England.
- Save it for later: when something catches your eye, save your favorite spots or drop the map link into a new note on your phone so it’s right there the next time you’re planning a short drive getaway.
The best part?
This TLJ Map of unique stays in New England and Beyond is free and always growing!
Every time you open your TLJ Map, there’s a good chance you’ll spot a brand-new place worth adding to your bucket-list family vacation.
What Counts as a Themed or Unique Place to Stay?
Not every hotel or rental makes it onto the TLJ Map of Themed and Unique Stays.
Each spot has to feel like part of the adventure… not just a bed for the night.
For Families Who Love a Fairytale Inspired Stay
Check into one of the 18 themed suites at Adventure Suites in North Conway, New Hampshire… think treehouse rooms, in-room hot tubs, and private movie theaters.
Or stay at The Roxbury Motel in the Catskills, where each room feels like you stepped onto a movie set… from Cinderella-style ballrooms to Wizard-of-Oz-inspired emerald walls.
Have kids that love Cartoons? They will go crazy for The Cartoon Network Hotel in Lancaster, PA.
For Families Who Live for Epic Waterslides and Year-Round Outdoor Pools
This TLJ Map goes way beyond the usual Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Indoor Waterpark Hotel… you can still expect to see these on the map.
This is where you’ll find unique places to stay where the waterslides stay open rain or shine, plus resorts with outdoor pools in winter so kids can swim in the snow.
For Families Who Want the Ease of an All-Inclusive Resort
If you’d rather have meals, activities, and lake fun all rolled into one, check out Quisisana Resort in Maine, where live theater follows a day on the water and evenings end with music drifting across the lake.
Or spend a week at Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake in Maine, an all-inclusive family resort that trades screens for canoes, lawn games, and s’mores by the campfire under the stars.
For Families Who Crave a
One-of-a-Kind Stay
Stay in a retro 1967 Airstream at a drive-in movie at Hotel Caravana, or a five-story shoe-shaped house in Pennsylvania, or even a Viking-style cabin resort in Vermont that looks like it belongs in a storybook.
For a quieter weekend, browse our picks for the best Connecticut Airbnbs... from rentals with indoor pools to sleeping in a gorgeous silo.
If food is part of your family’s adventure, you’ll love this list of quirky New Hampshire restaurants in unexpected locations.
For Families Who Want
Nature and time to Reconnect
Book a night at a Tiny House Resort tucked into the Catskill Mountains, unwind in mirrored cabins hidden among the trees outside Boston, or find a luxury yurt that’s cozy in ski season and doubles as a summer adventure hub.
Many of these unique places to stay include outdoor activities right on site… from hiking trails and covered bridges to gas fireplaces awaiting your arrival, perfect for fall foliage weekends.
Every unique place to stay on this TLJ Map earns its spot for one reason: it turns where you sleep into part of the story.
Need extra space for a group trip? Check out the best Vermont Airbnbs that pair comfort with classic Green Mountain scenery.
Craving even more ideas? Don’t miss our full roundup of the coolest themed hotel rooms in the Northeast.
If you love a stay that mixes adventure with a little fresh air, check out our favorite horseback riding family vacations across the Northeast… each one offers scenic trails, wide-open views, and plenty of ways to play outside.
Unique Places to Stay: Highlights from the TLJ Map
Here’s a quick peek at just a few stand-out unique places to stay in New England & beyond from the TLJ Map… all completely worth the detour.
TWA Hotel
JFK Airport, NY
Spend the night in a restored 1960s airport terminal with runway-view guest rooms and a year-round rooftop pool overlooking the planes.
The mid-century details at the TWA Hotel make it feel like stepping straight into Mad Men.
AutoCamp
Catskills & Cape Cod
Autocamp’s modern Airstreams and chic glamping tents give your family that cozy-camp feel without the roughing it… think private decks, fire pits, and all the perks of a boutique hotel in the woods or by the sea on the Cape.
Love the idea of camping but want real beds and hot showers? These luxury camping resorts have you covered.
Race Point Lighthouse
Provincetown, MA
Race Point Lighthouse offers a true off-the-grid escape in a historic Cape Cod landmark lighthouse, reached by 4WD and surrounded by sand, sea, and endless Atlantic sunsets.
Stone City Treehouse
Hardwick, VT
Stone City Treehouse is a hand-built, two-story treehouse stay with a spiral staircase, skylights into the trees, and space for everyone.
Find yourself tucked into a private wooded hillside in the Green Mountains for the ultimate storybook sleepover.
Desert of Maine Glamping
Freeport, ME
The Desert of Maine is more than a glamping spot… it’s a full-on family experience.
Stay in safari-style cabins, domes, or modern A-frames at the edge of this natural sand desert and spend your days exploring nature trails, night hikes, mini golf, an epic playground, and stargazing under clear Maine skies.
Red Caboose Motel
Strasburg, PA
Sleep in one of the brightly colored, restored train cabooses at Red Caboose Motel in Lancaster County, just outside Strasburg, Pennsylvania.
Have breakfast in a converted dining car and see the Strasburg Railroad Steam Train chug past… this whole area is a dream come true for train-obsessed kids.
Haines Shoe House
York, PA
Yes, you can really sleep in a five-story house shaped like a giant shoe.
At the Haines Shoe House in York, PA, you’ll find surprisingly comfortable rooms and a quirky backstory behind its roadside-attraction roots.
Plan Your Own Unique Weekend Getaway
A few of these unique places to stay in New England, especially the lighthouses, treehouses, and all-inclusive summer resorts, book up fast for popular vacation weeks, fall foliage weekends, and school breaks.
Reserve early if you’ve got specific dates in mind.
Keep this TLJ Map bookmarked or drop the link into a new note on your phone so it’s ready whenever the urge for a short drive family trip hits.
We’re always adding new stays, outdoor activities, and unique experiences throughout the year, so check back often.
You might just discover a brand-new spot that wasn’t there last time.
Ready to Start Exploring?
Planning a family weekend getaway in New England shouldn’t feel like another homework assignment.
With the free TLJ Map of 60+ unique places to stay in New England & beyond, you can skip the endless scrolling and go straight to the good stuff.
Open the map, save a few favorites, and share it with the friend who’s always in charge of trip planning.
Follow @travel.like.jess on Instagram to catch the newest locations as we add them… because the TLJ Map is never done growing.
Happy travels… and happy map-scrolling!
