Park Canada’s Oasis pods
Various locations
How about a night under the stars in one of Canada’s national parks? These six-square-metre teardrop-shaped Ôasis pods sleep a family of four, with a sofa bed on the main level and a hammock loft above. Launched in 2018, the compartments sit on wooden platforms or stilts, with amenities that include a battery-powered light, a food locker, a shelter with a picnic table, a barbecue, a fire pit and deck chairs at most locations. Guests bring their own sleeping bags and camping stuff. Pretty “out there” for the Canadian government, but definitely the cool fort you’ve always wanted.
Locations: At Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site in Ontario, Forillon National Park in Quebec, Kouchibouguac National Park and Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia, and Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland.
Cost: From $128.
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/hebergement-accommodation/oasis
1-877-RESERVE
SASKATCHEWAN
Flora Bora Forest Lodging
Emma Lake
In this paradise in Saskatchewan’s boreal forest, well-appointed, three-season yurts welcome up to four guests. Surrounded by 30 acres of trees and next to a small lake, each yurt features a full bathroom, kitchenette and private deck, with nature trails just steps away. Go hiking, kayaking, birding and boating. The resort is not far from the beaches of Emma Lake and Christopher Lake, a beautiful 18-hole golf course and Prince Albert National Park. Enchanted, indeed.
Location: Two hours north of Saskatoon.
Cost: From $225.
florabora.ca
ONTARIO
The June Motel
Picton and Sauble Beach
Two ordinary roadside motels are anything but ordinary now, thanks to a retro-style makeover with vintage appeal. The two June Motels sport full-on 1970s beach-house style, peppered with mid-century modern and bohemian pizzazz. Settle in for new and old locally sourced furniture, sunny colours, record players, hammocks and a dose of macramé, with modern amenities like mini-fridges and Bluetooth speakers. The Picton location has 16 rooms and a lobby bar that serves morning essentials and cocktail-hour treats; the Sauble Beach site has 24 rooms, a restaurant and a pool, complete with jazzy floaties. It’s like seeing the world through groovy, rose-coloured glasses.
Location: Five minutes north of Picton in Prince Edward County and in Sauble Beach.
Cost: From $235.
thejunemotel.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Free Spirit Spheres
Qualicum Beach
Guests take a literal global summit at this natural eco-resort on the east side of Vancouver Island, sleeping in one of three wooden globes hanging from old-growth trees. These wee capsules lend a 1970s sci-fi film vibe to your adult-only retreat in the trees and are kitted out with hydro and heat, stereos and skylights, sinks and fridges, with private baths and saunas not far away. This is forest bathing at its quirkiest.
Location: 45 minutes south of Nanaimo.
Cost: From $335.
freespiritspheres.com
NOVA SCOTIA
Cabot Shores
Indian Brook
This family-owned tent retreat on Cape Breton Island is a natural sanctuary, a glamping eco-adventure right on the Atlantic Ocean. Guests sleep in one of nine authentic, hand-painted Mongolian yurts or two cedar yurts, or in a variety of treehouse-style geodesic domes set in an apple orchard overlooking the sea, one offered year-round. A family-friendly studio loft and a series of wooden chalets fill in the blanks. Get back to nature, kayaking, canoeing and spotting wildlife on 55 acres of grounds. Restore your balance with qigong and morning meditation, acupuncture and an outdoor barrel sauna.
Location: One hour from Sydney.
Cost: From $150.
cabotshores.com
QUEBEC
Entre Cîmes et Racines
Bolton-Est
“Between root and crown,” these 14 unique eco-lodges in Quebec’s Eastern Townships promote sustainability with rustic ecotourism at its most fun. Featuring plenty of sleeping capacity, lodges vary in size — and shape: one is completely underground and another looks straight out of Lord of the Rings. Rejuvenate or hibernate year-round surrounded by 175 acres of forest, filled with trails and streams, plus deer, fox, rabbits and otters — a whole cast of characters for your forest fairy tale. Some cabins have hydro, and all feature either inside or outside dry toilets, with showers accessible nearby.
Location: 90 minutes southeast of Montreal.
Cost: From $125.
https://entrecimesetracines.com/
