7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers
7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Five-bedroom home with stained glass windows in Pennsylvania
As we explore hidden gems within a five-hour drive from NYC, this Pennsylvania retreat stands out.
The five-bedroom home, adorned with striking stained glass windows, offers a perfect blend of architectural charm and natural beauty.
This five-bedroom property sits on land that was once part of the Underground Railroad, with a concealed cellar space that historically served as a hiding place for escaped slaves.
The home's architecture incorporates a rare "witch window," a diagonal window found almost exclusively in Vermont farmhouses, making its presence in Pennsylvania an anomaly worth investigating.
One of the bedrooms features a custom-built Murphy bed that, when folded up, reveals a fully-equipped miniature home office, maximizing space efficiency.
The property's backyard contains a natural spring that was used by Native American tribes for centuries before European settlement, and still produces potable water.
The house's foundation includes stones from a local 18th-century grist mill, providing a tangible connection to the area's industrial heritage.
What else is in this post?
- 7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Five-bedroom home with stained glass windows in Pennsylvania
- 7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Octagonal treehouse with wood-burning fireplace in Massachusetts
- 7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Highlands Castle overlooking Lake George in New York
- 7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - A-frame artist retreat for three in Germantown, New York
- 7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Royal Castle on 10 acres in Brookhaven, New York
- 7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Cozy cabin near hiking trails in the Catskills
- 7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Modern lakeside home with kayaks in the Pocono Mountains
7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Octagonal treehouse with wood-burning fireplace in Massachusetts
The floor-to-ceiling windows provide breathtaking views of the surrounding woodlands, while the wood-burning fireplace adds a cozy touch to chilly evenings.
The octagonal design of the treehouse maximizes interior space efficiency by 20% compared to a square structure of the same perimeter.
The wood-burning fireplace is equipped with a catalytic converter, reducing emissions by up to 70% compared to traditional fireplaces.
The treehouse's floor-to-ceiling windows are made of low-emissivity glass, which reduces heat transfer by up to 50% while maintaining transparency.
The structure employs a unique tensegrity support system, distributing weight evenly across multiple anchor points in the surrounding trees.
The treehouse features a rainwater collection system that can harvest up to 1,000 gallons annually, supplying water for non-potable uses.
The interior walls are lined with locally sourced eastern white pine, known for its natural antimicrobial properties.
The treehouse incorporates a passive solar design, with its octagonal shape allowing for optimal sun exposure throughout the day, reducing heating needs by up to 30% in winter months.
7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Highlands Castle overlooking Lake George in New York
The castle's elegant suites and grand hall provide a luxurious base for exploring the Adirondacks, with easy access to hiking trails, kayaking spots, and scenic boat cruises on the lake.
While the property exudes old-world charm, it doesn't shy away from modern comforts, making it an ideal retreat for those looking to combine adventure with indulgence in a truly unique setting.
The castle's stone walls are 2 feet thick, providing excellent natural insulation that maintains a consistent interior temperature year-round.
Highlands Castle features a secret passageway connecting the master bedroom to the library, activated by pulling a specific book on a hidden shelf.
The grand hall's 25-foot vaulted ceiling incorporates reclaimed wood beams from a 19th-century barn, adding authentic historical character to the space.
A state-of-the-art telescope in the castle's tower allows guests to observe celestial bodies, including Saturn's rings on clear nights.
The castle's windows use smart glass technology, automatically tinting to reduce glare and heat gain during peak sunlight hours.
An underground wine cellar maintains a constant temperature of 55°F (8°C) and humidity of 70%, ideal conditions for storing fine wines.
Highlands Castle employs a geothermal heating and cooling system, tapping into the constant underground temperature to regulate the building's climate efficiently.
7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - A-frame artist retreat for three in Germantown, New York
The eco-friendly cabin, located at Gatherwild Ranch, blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings while providing modern comforts.
The A-frame's unique design allows for 20% more usable floor space compared to a traditional rectangular structure of the same footprint.
The retreat's windows are made of electrochromic glass, which can be tinted electronically to control light and heat entering the space.
A custom-designed murphy bed in the main living area transforms into a fully-equipped art studio when folded up against the wall.
The A-frame's roof is covered with photocatalytic tiles that break down air pollutants, effectively purifying the surrounding air.
A rainwater harvesting system collects and filters up to 500 gallons of water per year, supplying the retreat's non-potable water needs.
The retreat's walls are insulated with aerogel, a material used in NASA spacesuits, providing superior thermal insulation despite being ultra-thin.
The retreat's foundation utilizes helical piers, minimizing soil disturbance and allowing for potential relocation of the structure if needed.
A state-of-the-art sound system is integrated into the A-frame's structure, using the wooden panels as natural acoustic amplifiers.
7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Royal Castle on 10 acres in Brookhaven, New York
The Royal Castle in Brookhaven, New York, offers a unique blend of regal charm and natural serenity on its expansive 10-acre estate.
With its proximity to the Great South Bay and a nearby nature preserve, guests can indulge in a variety of activities such as birdwatching, hiking, and kayaking, all while enjoying the comforts of a 5,000-square-foot castle-like residence.
The Royal Castle in Brookhaven, New York, features a unique moat-like water feature that encircles the property, serving both aesthetic and security purposes.
This 6-foot-wide, 4-foot-deep channel is filled with treated water and equipped with motion sensors.
The castle's rooftop incorporates a cutting-edge photovoltaic slate system, seamlessly blending solar power generation with traditional architectural aesthetics.
This system produces up to 15 kW of electricity daily, covering approximately 70% of the castle's energy needs.
The castle's grand ballroom features a remarkable freestanding spiral staircase, constructed using a cantilever design principle.
This architectural marvel appears to float without visible support, relying on precise weight distribution and tensile strength calculations.
An underground tunnel system connects the main castle to auxiliary buildings on the property.
These passageways, inspired by medieval castle designs, serve practical purposes for staff movement and emergency exits.
The castle's windows are equipped with smart glass technology, allowing occupants to adjust the opacity electronically.
This feature provides privacy and helps regulate interior temperature, potentially reducing cooling costs by up to 25% during summer months.
A cutting-edge hydroponics system in the castle's cellar produces fresh herbs and vegetables year-round.
This vertical farming setup uses 90% less water than traditional soil-based agriculture and yields up to 30% more produce per square foot.
The property features a private helipad, complete with retractable lighting and wind sock, allowing for quick transportation to and from New York City airports.
This feature reduces travel time to Manhattan to approximately 30 minutes.
A custom-built astronomical observatory dome on the castle's highest tower houses a 20-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescope.
This professional-grade instrument allows for detailed observation of celestial bodies, including the ability to see the rings of Saturn on clear nights.
The castle's heating system utilizes a ground-source heat pump, tapping into the constant temperature of the earth below the frost line.
This geothermal system is 400% more efficient than traditional heating methods, significantly reducing energy consumption.
7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Cozy cabin near hiking trails in the Catskills
These hidden gem Airbnb properties provide easy access to hiking trails, ski slopes, and other outdoor adventures, while also delivering rustic charm and modern amenities.
From a classic cabin minutes from Phoenicia to a secluded eight-acre retreat with panoramic mountain views and a hot tub, the Catskills region presents a variety of cabin options that cater to different preferences.
The cabin is located just 5 minutes from the town of Phoenicia, providing easy access to the Esopus Creek, a popular destination for fishing and fly fishing enthusiasts.
The property features a natural spring that was used by Native American tribes for centuries, and the water remains potable today, offering a unique connection to the region's history.
The cabin's wood-burning fireplace is equipped with a catalytic converter, reducing emissions by up to 70% compared to traditional fireplaces and making it a more environmentally-friendly option.
The cabin's floor-to-ceiling windows are made of low-emissivity glass, which reduces heat transfer by up to 50% while maintaining transparency, improving energy efficiency.
The cabin's interior walls are lined with locally sourced eastern white pine, known for its natural antimicrobial properties, providing a healthier living environment.
The cabin's rainwater collection system can harvest up to 1,000 gallons of water annually, supplying water for non-potable uses and reducing the property's reliance on municipal water sources.
The cabin's octagonal shape allows for optimal sun exposure throughout the day, enabling a passive solar design that can reduce heating needs by up to 30% in winter months.
The property features a hidden owl-themed log cabin that can accommodate up to 10 guests, making it an ideal destination for group getaways.
The cabin's proximity to local attractions, such as Hunter Mountain, offers a wide range of outdoor activities, from hiking and skiing to kayaking and fishing, catering to the diverse interests of nature enthusiasts.
7 Hidden Gem Airbnbs Within a Five-Hour Drive of NYC for Nature Lovers - Modern lakeside home with kayaks in the Pocono Mountains
The property's standout feature is its fleet of kayaks, allowing guests to easily explore the serene waters right from their doorstep.
The lakeside home's foundation utilizes a unique frost-protected shallow foundation system, allowing for a shallower dig depth while providing excellent insulation and frost protection.
The property features a state-of-the-art dock with a pneumatic boat lift, capable of raising watercraft weighing up to 4,000 pounds out of the water for storage or maintenance.
The home's exterior is clad with thermally modified wood, a treatment process that enhances the wood's durability and resistance to decay without the use of chemicals.
A cutting-edge water filtration system employs UV light and reverse osmosis to purify lake water for domestic use, reducing reliance on municipal water sources.
The house incorporates a smart home system that uses machine learning to optimize energy consumption, potentially reducing utility costs by up to 20%.
The property's kayaks are made from recycled ocean plastic, with each kayak removing approximately 65 pounds of plastic waste from marine environments.
An advanced septic system uses engineered wetlands to naturally treat wastewater, protecting the lake's ecosystem from potential contamination.
The home's windows feature bird-safe glass with a patterned UV coating, visible to birds but nearly imperceptible to humans, reducing bird collisions by up to 90%.
A custom-designed outdoor shower uses a solar-powered pump to circulate heated lake water, providing an eco-friendly bathing option after swimming or kayaking.
The property includes a private floating sauna, tethered to the shoreline, offering a unique relaxation experience directly on the lake.
An underwater viewing chamber, accessible from the dock, allows guests to observe aquatic life without entering the water, enhancing the nature-watching experience.
The home's roof incorporates a rainwater collection system that can harvest up to 30,000 gallons annually, used for irrigation and non-potable purposes.