Enjoy A Unique Vacation Away From Crowds In These Quirky Idaho Airbnbs

From the remote, quiet lakes and wild, rapid rivers, to the mountainous wilderness areas and nearly 130 hot springs, Idaho is full of adventure and just waiting to be explored. Whether you're taking a winter road trip through snow-covered landscapes or hiking adventurous trails in Idaho's national forests, you're going to need somewhere special to rest your weary head at the end of a busy day. Luckily, Idaho has you covered if you're looking for a peaceful, secluded, and one-of-a-kind Airbnb to escape to.

Giant potatoes, enormous flower pots, repurposed lookout posts, double-decker buses, and happily stranded shipwrecks have more in common than you might think. Yes, they're all unique accommodations, each one situated in the beautiful Idaho countryside, far from the madding crowd and far more memorable than your standard hotel room. Here, it's just you, the wide open farmland, and amazing sunsets that darken into some of the best stargazing in the Gem State. And honestly, after a night in a giant potato, an ordinary hotel just doesn't cut it anymore.

Staying in a giant 6-ton potato may not be at the top of your wish list, but it should be if you're looking for a cool place to stay in the land famous for potatoes. Located around 25 miles from Boise, the Big Idaho Potato Hotel is probably the most well-travelled potato in the U.S. Once a prop for the Big Idaho Potato Tour used to celebrate the Idaho Potato Commission, the owner received the potato as a gift and decided to recycle it, transforming it into a surprisingly stylish, one-bedroomed Airbnb complete with equally quirky decor.

You'll have plenty of space for reflection here, as it sits on 400 acres of remote, wide-open farmland with just Dolly the Jersey cow to keep you company. Sitting within its own little prairie garden, the recycling theme continues with a former silo that is in fact the bathroom, complete with a cosy fire and bathtub inside. Popular with guests who have called it comfortable and surprisingly spacious, with one guest describing it as "the most serene and unique Airbnb I've ever stayed at." When you're ready to venture further, you won't be stuck for things to do, as the giant potato isn't far from Boise National Forest, a vast mountainous landscape with over 250 lakes and countless hiking trails just waiting to be explored.

As Idaho is one of the best states to see the Northern Lights in the U.S., what better place to look out at the colorful glowing ribbons in the night skies than from the lofty heights of an old lookout post? Lovingly restored in a cozy winter cabin style, this is the ideal location if complete solitude is what you need. High up on the slopes of Crystal Peak in northern Idaho, and surrounded by miles of untouched forest for as far as the eye can see, Crystal Peak Lookout is located near the tiny town of Fernwood, around 80 miles south of Spokane. Open all year round, you'll need a 4WD to make your way along the remote four-mile dirt track in summer and a snowmobile in winter. And with only the forest animals for company, this is truly the place to disconnect.

Airy and bright, this luxury treehouse Airbnb has a wood-fired stove that crackles to life, warming you up after a day's hiking along the pine-scented forest trails. With just one bedroom providing the perfect viewpoint to watch the sunrise over the swaying treetops, it's the ideal romantic getaway. Down on the deck, at the foot of the lookout, the small wooden hut hides a wood-fired sauna within, perfect for chasing away the cold and unwinding under the trees. A guest favorite and appreciated for its quiet and secluded location, one guest said, "The views were gorgeous, and they provide everything you need for a perfect stay."

If you thought it couldn't get any stranger than staying in a potato, you should head to The Flowerpot in Burley. Blending perfectly into the quiet Idaho farmland that surrounds it, this marvellous stay is perfect for the green-fingered among you. Sitting conveniently next door to a flower farm that bursts into full bloom between April and October, you can go and choose a colorful bouquet to brighten up your own flowerpots. With its perfectly round walls decorated in natural tones, it has one bedroom and can sleep up to four guests. And just because it's small in size doesn't mean it's short on luxury, with its rooftop patio giving you the ideal place to escape, relax, and watch the stars.

Winner of the Airbnb OMG! fund, a competition that gives entrants the chance to win $100,000 to build something weird and wonderful, The Flowerpot also has a fire pit and a hot tub just outside amongst its own little garden to make it extra cosy. Nearby Burley has lots of shops and restaurants, and The Flowerpot is only 30 miles away from the Pomerelle Mountain Resort with plenty of family-friendly ski slopes, if you're staying in winter, and 35 miles from City of Rocks National Reserve for a Summer day out hiking or climbing. Guests love staying at the whimsical Flowerpot and are quick to sing its praises. One guest said, "The Flowerpot is a little slice of heaven! It had everything we needed and more."

No need to head to the U.K. to do a bit of sightseeing from the heights of a double-decker bus, there's one sitting in the middle of a field not far from Caldwell, just 28 miles away from Boise. This unique stay has the claim to fame of being the first double-decker bus turned Airbnb in the U.S., and was delivered all the way from England. The Idaho views may not look like the English countryside, but are beautiful nonetheless, with some stunning sunsets over your own private tree-lined garden and miles of Idaho farmland disappearing into the distant mountains. The imaginatively decorated bus with its vintage seats and country style decor, sleeps up to four guests and has an outdoor dining area with a fire pit where you can pull up a pint and imagine yourself in a friendly pub. 

There are plenty of walks nearby where you can wander for miles alongside the canal, and it's handily located just off I-84 for when you want to take a trip into town. For foodies, it's worth taking a trip into nearby Caldwell for its food scene. A feast for the eyes and taste buds alike, Caldwell has a wonderful selection of gourmet restaurants, and if you time your stay for March, you can sample some delicious dishes during Caldwell Culinary Week. For wine enthusiasts, there's the Sunny Slope Wine Trail, with a visit to the area's celebrated vineyards. The Flowerpot is a favorite with guests who appreciate the cozy, comfortable space that's full of character.

If you've always dreamed of playing pirate for a day or two, The Shipwreck is the perfect solution, appealing to both adults and children alike. Nestled into a quiet cove on the banks of Williams Lake, not far from Salmon, Idaho, this is what you call a hidden treasure just waiting to be found. Enjoy the peace and quiet with nothing but gentle waves lapping against the hull, tranquil mountain views reflected in the lake's still waters, and let your imagination take over as you stride across the wooden deck. Decorated in true period style, both inside and out, it's like stepping back in time as you make your way into the shipwreck and explore the three decks containing a well-stocked galley kitchen, a cabin with bunks for the crew, and the captain's quarters up at the top, complete with nautical accessories everywhere you turn.

Salmon is about a half-hour's drive away if you need to nip out for supplies, but there's plenty to do around the lake, such as hiking, fishing, and boating. Setting off on a treasure hunt along the water's edge is a must, where you can really appreciate the natural beauty of the place and the abundance of wildlife that lives here. Guests at this secluded pirate's paradise have left rave reviews, with one guest saying, "The owner has gone above and beyond to make sure that the whole stay is an incredible adventure."

After scouring through many popular Airbnbs in Idaho, we gathered five unusual stays that have been lovingly designed and cared for and that receive consistently high ratings. Chosen because of their popularity, originality, and the way they blend naturally into the Idaho landscape, these unique properties offer a quiet place to escape to, and leave a lasting memory on those who stay there.