Tree houses, as so many other things, are marching relentlessly into the future. Not long ago a trip to the lumber yard and a bucket of nails could turn the average suburban kid into an arboreal mammal. In the new millennium, however, it takes Daniels Wood Land.

The company does brisk trade making large-format environments for large spenders like major studios, theme parks and casinos. When it comes to kid-scale Daniels makes a prodigious and diverse selection of tree houses that could more accurately be called tree resorts -- there are nine different versions of pirate-themed structures alone, one that comes with its own oasis.

The play houses are made from redwood, cedar, and Douglas fir and usually feature things like "master's" quarters and balconies. The logs that form the bases are from fallen trees, not cut down, that are hollowed out with a chainsaw. The adventurous can enter through the doorway in the base and hoist themselves up through the trap door hatch, or monkey up the rope ladders. The more leisurely can simply ascend the staircase.

If you just need some rehab work done on a tree house, Daniels also does custom plans, facades, shooting galleries, and themed environments. When it comes to decor, one of their specialties is, of all things, chainsaw carvings of bears. And hey, if you get a Daniels play house and the real estate turnaround doesn't happen as quickly as everyone's saying, there's no reason you can't rent your pirate ship out -- Johnny and Keira not included...

I never had a tree house as a kid and although I can't say I ever really felt deprived I wouldn't mind using that fact as an excuse to indulge myself in adulthood! These tree houses by Baumraum out of Germany are absolutely gorgeous, not to mention much larger and more luxurious than what the average 10 year old gets. They build custom tree houses all over the world, although mostly in Europe, and the designs vary from houses built up just a few feet off the ground to designs like this one way up in the tree tops (wonderful to look at but is it really secure balancing up there like that???).

Via Wists

Believe it or not, staying in posh hotel after posh hotel can get old. After awhile they all start to look the same and you may find yourself longing for something different.

Different you say? How different??? Because you can go as "different" as you want, and most of the time you can do it without giving up the designer linens and room service. You can stay underwater off the coast of Florida, in a treehouse in the Carribean with your own private beach, or how about something cooler like the frozen glamour of Sweden's ICEHOTEL? If that's a little too extreme for you there's always the fun themes at the Pitcher Inn and Spa, or the strangely angular rooms in the Kube Hotel.

See the entire list in this slideshow...so where do you want to go first? I'll take me a treehouse in Nairobi.

A lodge in New Zealand has created a new style of lodging for those who are eager to get away from absolutely everyone. The Hapuku Lodge has added five treehouse rooms each up located in a manuka trees. The three houses are 30 feet above the ground and offer views of Kaikoura's mountains and the Pacific coastline. The treehouses are made of native woods and copper shingles and have large windows. There is a luxury one bedroom treehouse for couples, two lower branch tree houses that are more modest and two treehouses for families that include upper and lower bedrooms. The treehouses start at NZ$.490 per night.

[via TVNZ]

 

I never had a tree that was suitable for a tree house where I grew up and I suspect that even if I had had one, I wouldn't have had a tree house anyway. All things considered, I'm sure that it turned out for the best, since I survived childhood without serious injury and without having fallen from a tree. But tree houses are undeniably fun and Daniel's Woodland makes some of the most outstanding tree houses imaginable. They also include a tree. There are tons of extra options that can be added to the houses, like slides, stairs and monkey bars, too. Prices start at $7,550 for the basic Ultimate Tree House and go up from there. Custom-built constructions are available and pricing varies by design.

Click past the jump for even more great tree houses!