What are THIRDHOME members saying about their luxury home exchange trips to Boone, North Carolina and Island Park, Idaho?
THIRDHOME Exchange members recently returned from Boone, North Carolina and Island Park, Idaho. Keep reading to learn about their THIRDHOME travel experiences!
Waving Bear Vistas | Boone, North Carolina
Located on 6,700 square-feet in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, this spacious retreat is the perfect paradise for you and your family’s alpine escape! With a plethora of space to spread out, this rustic home still retains a cozy feel that welcomes you in with open arms. Five spacious bedrooms offer more than enough room for everyone to have their own private retreat, and the location is absolutely unparalleled. With shopping, hiking, and skiing all close by, there won’t be a dull moment when staying at Waving Bear Vistas!
THIRDHOME member Nora says, “The pictures and description of this house don’t do justice to what it really is. As we walked into the house our kids said, ‘This is a French Chateau in the USA!’ You first drive 25 minutes from the security guard to the house at the Blue Ridge Mountain Club while overlooking the most spectacular views. Once in the house, you have almost 9,000 square-feet of an impeccable, modern mountain house..” Click here to read more of Nora’s review.
Erikson’s Yellowstone Cabin |Island Park, Idaho
Just 20 miles away from the West entrance into Yellowstone National Park, this picturesque, comfortable six-bedroom luxury cabin exudes natural splendor and excellence. Sprawling over 8,000 square-feet, this stunning residence is outfitted with all the modern features and amenities you could need while still boasting a rustic design and warmth that will welcome you with open arms. Erikson’s Yellowstone Cabin is a stunning and exciting escape for the entire family.
THIRDHOME member David says, “Just a few of the perks we found in this incredible cabin: Location – The private/very quiet location within a 25-30 minute drive from the Yellowstone Park West entrance and the comfortable beds made for a fantastic, uninterrupted night’s sleep every night. Situated on a lush plot of ground walking distance from a refreshing lake, the cabin is a perfect choice for family get-togethers both large and small. ” Click here to read more of David’s review.
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What are THIRDHOME members saying about their luxury home exchange trips to Napa Valley and Yellowstone this week?
Mount Veeder Retreat | Napa, California
Mount Veeder Retreat is perched at the highest point of a gorgeous 55-acre private vineyard. This incredible farmhouse-style residence is in the heart of Napa Valley wine country. Boasting 5 peaceful and innately designed bedrooms, guests are sure to have the experience of a lifetime when staying at Mount Veeder Retreat. The town of Napa is only a few minutes down the road, where guests are able to find 5-star cuisine and exquisite shopping. If you’re looking for a flawless California wine country experience, reserve this spectacular Napa Valley retreat today.
THIRDHOME member Brendan says, “Our group of four couples stayed here in April 2019. We came in with high expectations and this home blew them away. The pictures simply do not do this property justice.” Click here to read more of Brendan’s review.
Island Park Lodge in Yellowstone Country | Island Park, Idaho
This luxurious mountain lakehouse has never been rented and is only open to family and THIRDHOME guests! The Island Park Lodge is located just minutes away from the exploding geysers, incredible waterfalls and spectacular views of Yellowstone National Park. Sleep in 1 of 5 bedrooms after a fun day of relaxing on the property’s private beach. Or visit in winter to ski at surrounding mountain resorts. With a spacious 6,000 sq. ft. open floor plan, guests will enjoy breathtaking lake views from virtually every room in the house. It will be difficult to leave Island Park Lodge after a week long stay!
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We’ve narrowed down 1,052 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to 5 must-visit destinations
For some, a trip isn’t complete without a margarita and a beachside sunset. Some just come for the spa. Others like to play anthropologist on their journeys and discover common threads of world heritage and culture in their chosen destinations. This list is for the latter, those adventurers with wonder in their eyes who seek out the greatest accomplishments of both nature and man. Including sites in Argentina, Australia, Ecuador, Italy, and the United States, you’re sure to find a site that will make your jaw drop in awe.
Check out our World Heritage Site picks below:
Los Glaciares National Park
One of the last relics of the Quaternary glaciation cycles, Los Glaciares National Park is a snapshot of a long-lost ice age. These great ice behemoths once determined the very existence of species around the world. At the end of the Pleistocene Epoch (roughly 11,000 years ago), mass extinctions took place as the glaciers covering the Great Lakes moved south, driving North American camels and cheetahs to extinction. Though past their prime, these Argentinian cousins of the long receded North American glaciers are still a sight to behold, covering half of the 600,000 hectares that are designated to Los Glaciares National Park. One of the most famous of 48 glaciers that compose the Southern Patagonian Ice Field is El Perito Moreno Glacier, which has been slowly pushing into Lake Argentina since the end of the last glaciation period. Cacophonous ruptures of ice are a coveted site by the tourists that make the trek out to El Perito Moreno. Argentina’s trekking capital is a small town called El Chaltén which lies within Los Glaciares National Park. El Chaltén is also home to Aoni Yenu, one of THIRDHOME‘s eco-friendly properties with room for 8 adventure-seekers.
Click here to learn more about Aoni Yenu.
Great Barrier Reef
The largest living structure in the world, The Great Barrier Reef is so vast it can be seen from space. Composed of 2,900 coral fields these tiny organisms make a huge impact. Most existing coral structures are between 5 and 10 thousand years old. Reefs survive via a symbiotic relationship with algae that resides within the coral’s tissue, which provides energy for future skeletal growth of coral by photosynthesis. The coral skeleton, made of calcium carbonate, in return offers protection from larger predators. The limestone framework of The Great Barrier Reef is teeming with rich varieties of ocean life, including 1,500 species of fish. The Great Barrier Reef by itself employs 70,000 Australians who work in tourism, preservation and research related activities. Unfortunately, a slight rise in ocean temperatures has killed off large sections of the reef. North of the city of Cairns, some sections have lost 47% to 83% of their coral. Visit this natural wonder before it’s too late. THIRDHOME has two properties, a penthouse and a beach house, that lie between Carns and Mackay. This region’s coral has been in better health, and hope still remains for preserving sections of this World Heritage Site.
Click here to learn more about The Great Barrier Reef Penthouse.
Click here to learn more about The Great Barrier Beach House.
Galapagos Islands
If you couldn’t tell from our Curated Journey blog on the Galapagos, THIRDHOME is absolutely in love with these 19 islands. The Galapagos Islands sit at the confluence of three ocean currents making for what UNESCO dubs a “melting pot of marine species.” The species that live here have been extremely isolated since the islands’ formation. This has led to evolutionary developments that have created species endemic to the Galapagos. More fascinating than the extreme uniqueness of these critters, including the land iguana and giant tortoise, is their complete lack of fear of humans. Since Darwin’s visit in 1835, there has been a limited human impact on the island. From our Galapagos Villa, you’ll be just 10 minutes by boat away from the famous Loberia Islet, the land of sea lions. A 20-minute walk inland will take you to a deep water natural swimming pool. For nature lovers and animal lovers, this World Heritage Site is a must.
Click here to learn more about Galapagos Villa.
Venice and its Lagoon
Founded as a Roman refuge from invading Huns and Visigoths, Venice stands as a lasting monument to human adaptability and persistence. Venice was founded in the 5th Century and grew among a collection of 118 small islands covering 50,000 square kilometers of lagoon. The city soon became an important strategic position in the northern remains of the Roman Empire and newly founded Byzantine Empire. In 810 A.D. Charlemagne, King of the Franks, sent his son to lay siege on Venice, but after 6 months of disease brought on by the swamp, the siege was deemed a failure. Charlemagne’s son died as a result of the ill-fated attack. Venice’s lagoon had once again saved its population by its own natural properties, mirroring the military impenetrability of Russian winter. By 814 A.D., Charlemagne had recognized Venice as a Byzantine territory and allowed trade along the Adriatic Coast. This seeded Venice’s place as one of Italy’s most successful trading centers, and for the rise of the Venetian Republic. Venice and its Lagoon is a feat of both human engineering and natural happenstance. It’s seething with historical significance making it a must for the knowledge seeking traveler. In the context of history, THIRDHOME‘s Palazzo Burano, is a relatively new property having been built in 1619.
Click here to learn more about Palazzo Burano.
Click here to learn more about The Grand Canal property.
Yellowstone National Park
Visit Sorelle Amore’s vlog of Yellowstone National Park here!
No other World Heritage Site can lay claim to the title of world’s first national park, making it THIRDHOME‘s top pick. It was also recently visited by Sorelle Amore, winner of the Best Job on The Planet competition. Yellowstone National Park is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined and is covered in many natural wonders. The park sits atop an active supervolcano, which was hit by 450 earthquakes a few months ago, in June 2017. But no need to worry, the chances of this super volcano going off is 1 in 730,000 for 2018. More likely to go off are the park’s 500 active geysers (more than half of the world’s geyser count). At Yellowstone, you’ll find hundreds of wildlife species, thousands of plant species, and historical ties to 26 Native American Tribes. The wild and natural features of Yellowstone were so surreal that most American’s thought the land to be a myth until the Folsom Party conducted a detailed expedition in 1869. Come visit the mythic land of Yellowstone National Park while staying at Island Park Lodge, a 10 guest lakefront house minutes away from the geysers. This is one World Heritage Site that everyone should visit if given the opportunity.
To learn more about the Island Park Lodge click here.
Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Talk about a country’s hidden treasure.
The minute I started telling people I was going to this location everyone informed me I was in for a treat. That it was their favorite place in the whole country and I should get my camera ready.
Being a girl that usually calls Iceland home, I’m no longer easily impressed by nature’s beauty because some would say Iceland tops the list for beautiful destinations.
So how did Yellowstone National Park and my visit to Montana measure up?
I was impressed. Very impressed.
The sheer size of the park and the incredibly diverse wildlife still leave me astonished. How can one park be home to so many animals?
Here are a few facts about Yellowstone that will probably blow you away:
- 67 different mammals live here, including many small mammals.
- As of 2016, an estimated 690 grizzly bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (I saw 3 of them feeding on a carcass. They never share. This was really rare.)
- Black bears are common.
- Gray wolves were restored in 1995. As of January 2016, 99 live primarily in the park (I saw a pack of adult wolves all playing for 20 minutes. This is also rare. Adults don’t often play like this).
- Wolverine and lynx, which require large expanses of undisturbed habitat, reside here.
- Seven native ungulate species—elk (saw many), mule deer, bison (saw many), moose, bighorn sheep (saw), pronghorn (saw one cutie), and white-tailed deer (saw many) call the park home.
- Also, there are many bird species found in the park.
I spent just one day at Yellowstone National Park and truly, if it was by choice, I would have spent at least another week there searching every nook and cranny of this hidden gem including the vast mountains, rivers, forests and waterfalls.
As for the other areas around the beautiful THIRDHOME property I was staying in called Elk Run, there is the local town, Livingston. And I will immediately admit that I will dream of this little town often.
It’s small but it is full of life and culture. Being an Australian, all I saw around me was a movie set replica. All of a sudden I got a very strong urge to become a Hollywood actress and drive down the Livingston streets in my red convertible.
Local breweries, local seafood restaurants (yum!), libraries, and cafes galore with exceptional cold brew coffee for those hot summer days and natural food stores with fresh, green, healthy juices for breakfast. Everything this girl needs.
A signature activity that is done around this area, is taking a boat out on the Yellowstone River. You can just float down the river or opt for a fly fishing boat if you want an exciting fishing experience. In the evening, swing by Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa to take a dip in hot spring pools and whilst you’re at it, try their exquisite restaurant for a sensational local meal.
If you would like to be involved in the local nightlife, you have two options – check out Bozeman city about a 40-minute drive from Elk Run. It’s heavily a college town and the vibe of Bozeman is young and fun. Otherwise, for a more local experience, minutes down the road from Elk Run is Pine Creek Lodge. They had live country music blearing in their outdoor courtyard on Friday nights filled with everyone dancing the night away, great food and local beer.
Thanks for having me Montana and Yellowstone National Park. And I hope to see you again soon.
-Sorelle Amore
Sorelle Amore won THIRDHOME‘s “Best Job On The Planet,” which garnered more than 17,000 applications from around the world. In her position as a Luxury Travel Connoisseur for THIRDHOME, she is traveling the world, staying in 12 luxury homes.
THIRDHOME is the exclusive luxury property and travel club that enables second home owners to exchange time in their home for stays in spectacular destinations around the world. Click here for more information on how to become a member.
Welcome to a cozy luxury home found on the brink of Yellowstone National Park in Montana.
You have arrived at Elk Run. A large open floor house with 3 bedrooms, two living rooms, a hot tub, a large porch surrounding the triple story home, breathtaking views of nature in every direction and a heck of an amazing host to make your stay the best it possibly can be.
Elk Run looks exactly what you would expect a home to look like that is in Montana and near the precious Yellowstone National Park.
It’s all wood, and inside you will find wooden tables, wooden kitchen cabinets, wooden bunk beds, wooden floors, wooden lamps. There is wood everywhere. The décor is mainly tones of brown, with added antler lamps and skin throws on the floor to give it a country feel.
The backyard keeps this vibe in tact with the pool being a natural rock pool with a small cobble stone beach and wooden reclining chairs. During the very hot summer days, this pool will be your saviour.
At night time, the weather drops which is the perfect time to make use of the hot tub and enjoy the sunset views over the mountains with a glass of wine. Follow that up with a BBQ on the porch (or whip up a feast inside the large kitchen), and dine under the stars, or sit within the warmth of the sunroom with the semi circle couch formation – perfect for long chats with friends until the early hours of the morning.
A great advantage of Elk Run is its location. Pine Creek Lodge down the road is always ready to entertain you and feed you at night.
You’re also right on the Yellowstone River, so make sure to grab a boat and float down just like the locals do, or do a fly fishing tour if you are a keen fishermen.
For the horse lovers, book a horse riding session at Chico’s and follow up the ride with a swim in their hot springs.
During the day, you’re a stones throw away from the town of Livingston where you can enjoy a local brew at the Katabatic brewery, have a great cold brew coffee at Café Crossings or have a green healthy juice from Wheatgrass Salon to revitalize your body.
And of course there are also plenty of restaurants for you to enjoy! The Farmers Market is a must on Wednesday nights to stock up on some delicious healthy fruits and vegetables to cook up at home.
It cannot go without mention that Yellowstone National Park is just a 50-minute drive away from Elk Run. This park will leave you breathless. The beauty of nature here is second to none, with explosive geysers, tremendous tumbling waterfalls and of course the enchanting wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, mountain lions, bison, elk, deer and so much more.
Enjoy your stay at the Elk Run in Montana. It’s a place you’ll want to return.
-Sorelle Amore
Sorelle Amore won THIRDHOME‘s “Best Job On The Planet,” which garnered more than 17,000 applications from around the world. In her position as a Luxury Travel Connoisseur for THIRDHOME, she is traveling the world, staying in 12 luxury homes.
THIRDHOME is the exclusive luxury property and travel club that enables second home owners to exchange time in their home for stays in spectacular destinations around the world. Click here for more information on how to become a member.
Sorelle Amore, THIRDHOME‘s Best Job On The Planet winner, spends a day in Yellowstone National Park and spots bears and bison. She was staying at THIRDHOME property Elk Run in Montana.
Click here to learn more about our luxury travel club.
Sorelle Amore, THIRDHOME‘s Best Job On The Planet winner, explores Livingston, Montana and shows off some of the best activities and attractions to put on your list for a trip to the area. She stayed at Elk Run.
Members, want to visit Montana? Click here to browse THIRDHOME properties in Montana.