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00:00Over 60 million Americans stay in vacation rentals every year.
00:03Yeah, but why stay in one of these?
00:09When you can stay in one of these.
00:14That's why we're going on the road to find the coolest and most unique homes away from home.
00:19Wow. Hey! That is what I'm talking about.
00:23And guess what? These are all places you can stay to.
00:27Woo! Oh!
00:29Sherry and I have known each other forever and yet somehow we've never gone on a trip together.
00:33Until now.
00:34Whee!
00:36And we're taking you along for the ride.
00:38Ready to hit the road, girlie?
00:40Let's go!
00:41From over the top luxury escapes
00:46to thrilling action-packed stays you never knew existed.
00:49Hi!
00:51I like to get my hands dirty. I like to get a little rowdy.
00:53But I'm baby wiping Wi-Fi, you know?
00:55Yay! I'm all the way up.
00:57I can sleep up here.
00:58I mean, same, but I won't be alive in the morning.
01:00We love you. We love you.
01:01She liked it all.
01:02Okay, okay, okay.
01:02She liked it all.
01:04Can we get wet now?
01:05We're exploring every corner of the map, baby.
01:08We're testing the vibes.
01:09And figuring out where you could get the most bang for your buck.
01:13Oh my goodness, you went for it.
01:15And which ones deliver memories that make you say, hey, remember that time?
01:19Mm.
01:19This is the best day of my life!
01:22Each week, we're going to stay at three different rentals.
01:25And we'll choose our ultimate must-stay.
01:28I love going on vacation with you.
01:29So, America, let's get wild!
01:37Yee-haw!
01:38Texas, baby!
01:39We're spending the week in the Lone Star State, where barbecue is a way of life and everything is bigger.
01:46Speaking of bigger, hold on to your hat, Cher.
01:49Our first rental is a private resort about two and a half hours outside Austin.
01:53And it's a legit Texas ranch sitting on 250 acres.
01:58This place is like an adventure park surrounded by tons of cute cabins.
02:03And it's all on a slice of Texan Hill Country.
02:06We have been driving on a dirt road for 30 minutes?
02:10Yeah, it was a long time.
02:11And we're coming up on something that looks pretty exciting.
02:14We see a big slide.
02:17Yeah.
02:18Wow.
02:19Oh, very cute.
02:20It's like a little oasis.
02:22Here we go.
02:24I'm very, very into it, I have to say.
02:27Yeah.
02:28My name's John, and I'm the designer, builder, and owner of Red Sands Ranch in Mason, Texas.
02:33Red Sands is a working cattle ranch, and it's also a resort rental where we host a lot of corporate
02:39events,
02:40family reunions, big groups. I bought the property in 2003 and just started plugging away at it.
02:46I was the architect, electrician, plumber, designer.
02:49It was a labor of love, and I couldn't be more pleased with it.
02:52Guests rarely leave the property when they come here.
02:55We got a tennis court, pool, water slide, you can golf cart.
02:59All around the property, there's 10 miles of trail, and you've got all these sports and activities.
03:04So when people book Red Sands, they're really booking the destination.
03:08Okay, let's look at this. Oh, what a great little beachy shack.
03:13I know.
03:13We do love.
03:14Kitchen, living room, open air cabana.
03:18You got the kids in the pool, you got mom on the swingy, swingy bench.
03:22You got Grandma Jindy going down the slide.
03:24It's paradise.
03:25Yeah, it's really nice.
03:26Oh, look, a basketball for us to play with.
03:28We're going one on one.
03:30Three seconds left.
03:31Ah.
03:33Right in the...
03:34Did you get it?
03:36It hit me in the head.
03:38You know, we haven't checked out yet.
03:39Mm.
03:40The slide.
03:41There's so much to do here.
03:46Okay, what's this cute little door?
03:49Unsafe mind.
03:50Stay out, stay alive, which means please enter.
03:52Go in.
03:54Oh my...
03:55This is something you'd have to stand in line for for an hour.
03:58Yeah, oh my God.
03:58You know what I mean?
03:59You could go on this thing 15 times in one hour if you wanted to.
04:04Whoa, I want to say that's not enough.
04:06Cool view up here.
04:08I'm going.
04:08I'm coming.
04:09Come on up.
04:09Even though I'm a bit nervous.
04:11Oh, I see a river, Cher.
04:12Oh, whoa.
04:13Lookie.
04:14I want to go see that river.
04:15I love a river.
04:16Okay, come to mommy.
04:17Come to mommy.
04:18Come to mommy.
04:19Okay, okay.
04:20Let's go find out where we're going to stay tonight.
04:25Oh, so this one is called the fish camp.
04:29Yeah.
04:30It's so cute.
04:32Fish camp.
04:35They're so cute, right?
04:37Little fishing bobbers.
04:38Bobbers.
04:38Yeah.
04:39This is so cool.
04:41It is giving like woodsy cabin.
04:42It is.
04:43It totally is.
04:43There's a fireplace.
04:45Cute little fish details.
04:46Okay, so we've got two people in this bed.
04:48One person on that bed.
04:49Climb up and tell us how many people can sleep up there.
04:51Boom, here I go.
04:52Oh.
04:54Two beds.
04:55Okay, two beds.
04:56Very, very cute.
04:56Let's just see this bathroom.
04:59Oh, a big tub.
05:00I didn't expect that.
05:04Very simple.
05:05Right?
05:05I'm going to join you.
05:06Okay.
05:10You're so tiny.
05:11It's not impossible.
05:12No, we could do it.
05:13Hello?
05:15Oh, do you know what I haven't checked out yet?
05:16Mm.
05:16The golf carts.
05:20Yeah.
05:23Okay, okay.
05:23We're figuring it out.
05:24We're figuring it out.
05:25Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:27Wait.
05:28Oh, ha, ha.
05:33Oh, it's so pretty.
05:35You want to check it out?
05:36I kind of want to, yeah, have a river moment.
05:38Yeah, absolutely.
05:40Here we go.
05:43Look at this beautiful river and the bluffs in the background.
05:47Are you kidding me?
05:48It really is a sight to see.
05:50Yeah.
05:50I wish this on everyone.
05:53Should I go for it?
05:54Go for it.
05:54Okay.
05:57Woo.
05:58Really loving this life.
06:00Yeah.
06:00Time to explore further.
06:02Oh, this is really cute, Cher.
06:04The riverside.
06:05I can't wait to see that bad boy.
06:10Stone house.
06:11It's so cute.
06:13Yeah.
06:13Ah!
06:14Oh, my God.
06:16If we stay here, we might have to take that off the wall.
06:18Or, you know what else we might have to do?
06:20Make friends with it.
06:21It's hard to unsee that bore.
06:22That's right.
06:23I'm not the...
06:24Oh, my goodness.
06:25She went for it.
06:26You want to kiss it?
06:29Like, does he like me or like...
06:32No.
06:32Okay, that's fine.
06:34Let's check out these stairs that are almost more like a ladder.
06:37Very narrow.
06:38Uh-huh.
06:39Oh, this is cool, Cher.
06:40Plenty of...
06:41Oh, wow.
06:41They really do want a bunch of people to stay here.
06:44Look under.
06:44A trundle.
06:45There's a...
06:46Wait, is that what it's called?
06:46Yeah.
06:47This is a really cute little spot to sleep.
06:48I kind of want to just be next to you all the time.
06:51In the trundle.
06:52Good job.
06:54Let's check out the view, Cher.
06:58Listen to that rushing riv.
07:01You know what's nice about this is because you're probably coming here with 50 people,
07:05there's a point where you might need a break.
07:06And this house would be a really nice one to have some alone time.
07:11Yeah.
07:11I might sleep right here because I really like it.
07:14You protect me.
07:15I will.
07:15Yeah.
07:26You know, desert life is for me.
07:29I know.
07:29This place is great.
07:30Not only do you get adventure park vibes, but there's tons of charming little cabins that give
07:35you the full ranch experience.
07:37It's worth it if you're into adventure.
07:39There's so much land to explore and so many different activities to enjoy.
07:43Between the sports and the swimming pool and the water slide, let's not forget.
07:48My favorite memory was when we saw those bluffs for the first time.
07:53Top tier experience, you know, golf cart, wind in the hair.
07:57It was great.
07:58What a beaut.
07:59Butte recognized butte.
08:01Okay.
08:02One rental down and I gotta say, Texas is off to a great start.
08:07Definitely.
08:08And next up, we're heading just 20 minutes outside of Austin,
08:11a city whose unofficial motto is keep Austin weird.
08:14And honestly, this next rental looks like it's taking that seriously.
08:17I mean, just look at these photos.
08:20It's like a sculpture of an ice cream dog dragon that you can sleep in?
08:28Oh, what is going on?
08:31What is going on?
08:37I kind of see soft serve.
08:40Can I even see like dog?
08:42Do you see dog?
08:43What are we talking about?
08:44With a house like this, there's no telling what's going to be on the inside.
08:50Oh, oh my gosh, Cher.
08:54Nothing is structured how we are used to.
08:57Right.
08:57We are inside an ice cream cone.
09:00Yeah.
09:01My name is Dave.
09:03My wife Susan and I own the Bloom House in Austin, Texas.
09:06The Bloom House is named after Dalton Bloom.
09:09It's the original owner who commissioned its construction.
09:12It's got lots of curves, flowing elements, the exact opposite of the way most buildings are built.
09:17It's like nothing you've ever seen.
09:19The Bloom House sits on two acres on the edge of the hill country in West Austin.
09:23You're surrounded by nature and wildlife, but you're only about 10 minutes from downtown.
09:29The only people who really don't enjoy being at the Bloom House are people that aren't comfortable
09:34in these curvilinear spaces. We call those people squares.
09:38The way they've like incorporated a little like handrail into the wall.
09:42You know we love a little fireplace nook.
09:44Oh, man.
09:44Look at me.
09:45Wow.
09:46Look at the details.
09:47I don't know exactly how making a house works, but every single piece of every single thing in this
09:53house is handmade.
09:54Let's go look at these instruments.
09:55So here's what I know about this place.
09:57A lot of musicians stay here.
09:59Jam sesh.
10:02Do you play?
10:03I guess I do.
10:04Five, six, seven, eight.
10:07Charzi, Cola, and Charry Gardens.
10:11We're cooking fruit out in the garden.
10:16I just sneeze, I beg your pardon.
10:25Okay, let's check out the kitchen.
10:26Yep.
10:29I am obsessed.
10:31I might just even do one of these.
10:32Yeah, pop up, pop a sit.
10:33You like that?
10:34I love it.
10:35How do you clean a place like this?
10:37Right.
10:37Because there are so many holes that go deep, go shallow.
10:40It feels really clean to me.
10:41So clean.
10:42Totally clean.
10:43I want to keep exploring.
10:44Where's the bed?
10:45I do too.
10:45The bed, I think it's downstairs.
10:48Oh, okay.
10:50There's so much going on.
10:51It's so cute and well done.
10:53I'm kind of blown away by this place.
10:55It's also just so chic and like.
10:57It's really chic.
10:58The bed seems great.
10:59Also love to wake up with this view.
11:02Blink, blink, blink, blink.
11:03You know what I mean?
11:03Good morning, Austin.
11:05Let's see the bathroom.
11:06This is quite romantic.
11:08Oh, from the ceiling to the ground, honey.
11:12Look at this.
11:13Beautiful, right?
11:13This is like a butterfly.
11:15It's a butterfly.
11:16It's a butterfly.
11:17There was not one thing you would find at the store.
11:19I cannot express how much this place is a work of art.
11:23I'll be honest.
11:23I didn't even realize there was more.
11:25Yeah.
11:25This is so cute.
11:27I didn't even know what to imagine.
11:29Oh.
11:31Well, this is like my childhood cozy dream.
11:35Yeah.
11:36This whole place kind of looks like a human ear.
11:39You know, with all the cartilage.
11:41Maybe it's based after a human ear.
11:43Let's go outside.
11:44Yeah, outside.
11:47Okay.
11:48This is what I'm talking about.
11:49Nice.
11:50You know what?
11:50No one's stopping us from sitting here and just enjoying the view.
11:54Oh, that's absolutely true.
11:55Oh, I do love that.
11:55You can sit.
11:56You can climb.
11:57Yeah.
11:57It really is like an adult playground.
12:00So, you want a girly steak share?
12:03All right, Darcy.
12:04Okay.
12:04Give me the raw meat.
12:05I got it.
12:07Let's go, grills.
12:08Let's go.
12:08Oh, this is very delicate placement.
12:11The options are endless at this location.
12:14Right.
12:14We got Austin 10 minutes away where he could get some barbecue.
12:17And he would.
12:18Or you can make it here in this beautiful outdoors.
12:21That's a beaut.
12:22That's a beaut.
12:23There's nothing more I love than a steak dinner with my gal.
12:27You got to do the slice and dice, okay?
12:29Yeah.
12:29You're better at that.
12:30I'll slice and dice.
12:31Look at this steak we made on a grill by ourselves.
12:33Not too shabby, right?
12:35Yeah.
12:35Cheers to this curvy abode.
12:37I love it.
12:38All I can think about is me on the drums and you on the strings.
12:42Yeah.
12:43You know?
12:43Yeah.
12:44You want to go jam?
12:44We're jamming, bigs.
12:46Come on.
12:46Jam for dessert, honey bunny.
12:51Five, six, seven, eight.
12:53It's a marshmallow.
12:54It's a marshmallow.
12:58Oh, wow.
12:58Honestly, that was pretty solid.
12:59I know.
13:06You know, I got to say, bones and all.
13:09This was memorable.
13:10Yes.
13:11We love the Bloom House.
13:13It's artsy in a way that felt, you know, effortless.
13:16Yeah.
13:17Gorgeously crafted.
13:18Kind of mesmerizing.
13:19Really.
13:20I mean, there's no corner of this house that you're not going to want to explore.
13:23There's no corner of this house, actually, period.
13:25Is it worth it?
13:26Yeah.
13:27Kitchen had everything you need.
13:28Bathroom had everything you need.
13:29Yeah.
13:29Amenities.
13:30And you just happened to be 10 minutes from Austin?
13:32Yeah.
13:33Can't remember.
13:33Right off the bat, I'm thinking of playing guitar and bongos with my girl.
13:37Freaking album of the year.
13:39Yeah.
13:42I feel more musical.
13:44Uh-huh.
13:45Creatively fulfilled.
13:46You know what I'm saying?
13:47Ding.
13:48Ding.
13:48Ah, Texas.
13:49You've bloomed into one heck of a vacation, let me tell you.
13:53It's not over yet.
13:54Our last stop is in Spicewood, Texas.
13:57And, Darce, this place looks like a blast.
13:59We're talking real-life bison roaming across 100 acres.
14:04Bison?
14:05And not only is there a massive ranch house, but you can also stay in a legit bonkers looking tree
14:10house.
14:11Fine.
14:12Twist my arm.
14:14Oh, I love this place already.
14:15Isn't it cozy to have the rain at this gorgeous stone home?
14:20It really is the definition of, like, a getaway.
14:22You know what I mean?
14:23Right, right.
14:23We're about an hour away from Austin, a beautiful little scenic drive.
14:27100 acres.
14:28Have you ever been on 100 acres before?
14:30Not in this lifetime.
14:31I didn't think so.
14:33Whoa.
14:34Whoa.
14:35Oh, my gosh.
14:41Whoa.
14:42Whoa.
14:44Oh, my gosh.
14:45Welcome to the ranch house.
14:48Wow.
14:49Oh, I love this.
14:51All this natural wood straight out of the yard.
14:54Space is my favorite thing.
14:56I know.
14:56Okay, we're not talking solar system.
14:58We're talking square footage.
14:59There could be, like, 55 people here.
15:02Easily.
15:02Look at this.
15:03What are we even seeing up here?
15:05Right.
15:05It almost looks like a hot air balloon.
15:07Yeah.
15:08I also want to check out the rooms.
15:09Let's go.
15:09Down we go.
15:11I love a basement, you know?
15:12Mm-hmm.
15:13Cool.
15:14A lot of glass, a lot of wood.
15:16Cool.
15:17It's nice.
15:18There's a lot of bedrooms.
15:20You really could sleep with a lot of people here.
15:22Wow.
15:22Yeah, this is where all the cousins assemble.
15:24I feel like the ranch house is such a great place for a big old group.
15:27Bring your family.
15:28Bring your friends and your cousins.
15:31Should we go all the way up?
15:32Get the words right out of my mouth.
15:34Okay.
15:34I'm talking levels.
15:36We're talking spiral.
15:38Wait a minute.
15:41I love it.
15:42It's cool.
15:45Bedroom there.
15:46Bedroom there.
15:47And then we're so close to the top, I got to see what's up there.
15:51Oh!
15:52How do you feel about heights?
15:53Oh, I'm into it.
15:54I'm into it.
15:54I'm into it.
15:55I can do it.
15:55I'm gonna jump.
15:58I'll meet you at the bottom.
16:01And here is the twist.
16:03What?
16:03A hundred acres.
16:04I know.
16:05There's so much more.
16:05This is just the little crust of the pie.
16:07We haven't gotten to the center.
16:09We haven't gotten to the cherry on top.
16:10And I'm ready!
16:13Going on a walk with my friend, Sherry.
16:16Going on a walk with my friend, Darcy.
16:19Oh my gosh.
16:22Sherry, look at that guy.
16:24We seem to be near some bison.
16:26They're so beautiful.
16:28There's so many.
16:29We're outnumbered.
16:30See if we can get a better angle.
16:35Oh, yo, yo.
16:37I got stabbed.
16:38Darcy fell into a cactus.
16:39I did, I did, I did, I did.
16:41No!
16:42When you lifted your leg and I see the...
16:46I thought you were a goner.
16:48And then I lifted up my pants and there was one dot of blood.
16:53I had to put a little ointment on.
16:57Okay, what?
16:59This is cool.
17:00This is cool.
17:00A twee house.
17:05Sherry, look at this thing.
17:08Suspension bridge.
17:08I got to say, it's a little wobbly.
17:11It's not not wobbly.
17:12You're pitter pattering.
17:13Whoa.
17:14Not too bouncy.
17:15Oh, even though it's very tempting.
17:17Oh!
17:20Well, we made it past.
17:22We made it through.
17:22I can't wait to explore this big old tree house.
17:24It's like a tree boat.
17:25This is a cute little hot air balloon teacup.
17:28Oh, yeah.
17:29Nook.
17:29Oh my god, imagine just coffee here tomorrow morning.
17:33Yes.
17:33Are you kidding me?
17:34We are fully in a tree.
17:37Yeah.
17:39It's cool up here.
17:41Do you want to keep looking?
17:42Yeah.
17:43You really got to stay vigilant.
17:44One slip and you're done-zo.
17:45Whoa, whoa, be careful.
17:47I'm very curious what this has to offer.
17:49Me too.
17:50Okay.
17:50Oh, okay.
17:51Oh, cute.
17:52Okay.
17:53Oh, I love this.
17:54I mean, immediately.
17:55This is essentially their living room.
17:57I feel like it's also the inside of a tree, of course, is what tree houses are.
18:02That's what makes these kind of places really special.
18:05The big boy.
18:06And a one, and a two, and a three.
18:08Whoa.
18:09Oh.
18:10It's comfy.
18:11To like sleep in a tree house, you know we're always looking for unique, right?
18:14We're not looking to stay in the same old house in the same old hotel.
18:17I feel like we want to sleep here tonight.
18:18I like it a lot.
18:19It's very cozy.
18:20Wait.
18:22Where's the bathroom?
18:23We need one of those.
18:26Let's find it.
18:28Can't believe this, Sherry.
18:29I didn't even realize it was missing.
18:31I'll be honest.
18:31Okay, this is.
18:32Imagine middle of the night, you wake up at 3 a.m. to pee.
18:36And you have to cross this.
18:38And you have to cross this in your freaking bare feet robe.
18:41This is my little muumuu and my retainers.
18:43Yeah.
18:47Oh.
18:49So it's a fully functioning bathroom.
18:50It has the gorgeous raw wood that we love so much.
18:53It's tying all of the places together.
18:55I'm going to tell you something, Sherry.
18:56I'm going to pee in the middle of the nighter.
18:58Will you wake up with me?
18:59Tap, tap, tap.
18:59Come with me.
19:00Hop on my back.
19:01I'm here for you.
19:02Thanks, pretty.
19:03Come on.
19:03I'll never let you pee in the dark.
19:05Thanks, Cher.
19:06Yeah.
19:06This place definitely feels like home for the night.
19:08Yeah.
19:13Psst.
19:13Guys, Sherry, wake up.
19:15I got to pee pee.
19:16Oh.
19:17Okay, let me get my shoes on.
19:24Wow.
19:25Wow, wow, wow.
19:26That was an adventure.
19:26I loved it.
19:27I feel like this is something different.
19:29Okay, we're talking tree houses on the suspension bridge,
19:32you know, climbing up and down.
19:34It's adventure.
19:34It's survival.
19:35Is it worth it?
19:36It is.
19:37I mean, it's a ton of space.
19:38If you have a big group, big family, or you just want to explore a ranch,
19:43this is a great place to come.
19:44One of my favorite moments was I loved meeting the bison.
19:47They were so nice to us.
19:49It's so big.
19:50I know.
19:50They're friendly.
19:51Those faces, man, you have no idea.
19:53You think your face is big?
19:58Texas showed up and showed out.
20:01From start to finish, a full-on delight.
20:03I loved these three properties.
20:05I really did.
20:06Truly.
20:06I would be so happy to come back to any of them.
20:09And now we have to pick which one we're coming back to next vacation.
20:14It's a tough one.
20:15That poolside cabana is calling me.
20:17But what about another jam session?
20:20No rest till we go platinum, right?
20:22Or another night hopping from ranch mansion to tree house retreat,
20:25surrounded by our little bison buddies?
20:28To be honest, for me, I feel like it might be different for us this time.
20:31It might be different for the first time ever.
20:33I go bloom house.
20:34Why would you think I wouldn't pick?
20:37Shut up.
20:37I thought you loved the ranch house.
20:40I love the ranch house, but I love bloom the most of anything we've ever seen.
20:43Bloom is the winner.
20:45Are you crazy?
20:46Yes.
20:47Not a 90 degree angle in sight.
20:49We slept in a literal work of art.
20:52Come on.
20:53Let's leave our review.
20:54Okay.
20:54Work of art.
20:55Work of art.
20:56The bloom house is a masterpiece.
20:58Beautifully designed with great amenities and inspiration around every curve.
21:04Don't be a square.
21:05And maybe put a PSO if you want to jam out with your friends.
21:09Jamming with your loved ones.
21:11Recommended.
21:13Period.
21:14And send.
21:15Nice.
21:15Okay.
21:16Happy trails.
21:17Mwah!
21:18Here I go!
21:20Whoa!
21:22I want to sleep down here.
21:24Chocolatey.
21:25It sleeps up to 52.
21:28Say less, drop a pin, I'm on the way!
21:31Come on!
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