As you have likely guessed, I really enjoy staying in AirBnbs when it makes sense to do so. The variety of AirBnbs and other home rental offerings is amazing to me. There are smaller home rentals for a solo person or a couple and home rentals that sleep 15 people or more. Some are situated in gorgeous locations and some are smack dab in the middle of a city and allow you to walk to everything. Some home rentals look and feel like a luxury hotel room (but usually with more space). Some are deliberately rustic and that is part of their charm.

With this series, I am highlighting my favorite AirBnbs or home rentals in the Midwest. Staying at these places feels special and unique, sort of like another attraction. You may remember the lodging even more than some things you did. And that’s part of the fun of traveling!

On my recent eclipse road trip I spent 5 days in Oklahoma City. For three nights I stayed at a beautiful AirBnb close to downtown and very close to a unique area of town known as The Plaza District. The Plaza District contained unique restaurants and shops and seemed to be the place to go out on the town. While I only had time to get takeout from one restaurant, I did enjoy driving through the area, seeing what was there, and feeling the”vibe.”

As for the AirBnb itself, it was a recently-remodeled garage behind a historic home in a beautiful and architecturally-eclectic part of town. I later found out it was so nice because the homeowners actually lived there for three months while remodeling their main home.

The AirBnb contained a small, but functional and convenient kitchen, a comfortable and cozy living room filled with local artwork, a large bedroom with king-size bed and huge newer TV, and a bath with lots of storage, a gorgeous shower, and an alcove with a washer and dryer. Three dogs sometimes played in the backyard of the main house. I loved it when they greeted me when I came back from a day out and about. They were sweet and provided a further sense of security.

The AirBnb was very tranquil and peaceful. I don’t usually do this when I travel, but I actually binge-watched part of a Netflix series called Blown Away, about a glass blowing competition. The huge TV made it feel like I was in the production room with them. It was very relaxing to chill out while having a snack or dinner while still getting my laundry caught up.

The best part, though, were the fresh flowers placed in my home rental before I arrived. A vase of gorgeous yellow tulips greeted me upon arrival and I loved them. Tulips had not yet bloomed at home so it was a special treat, especially since they are my favorite flower. I took photos of them every day I was there. I also spied fresh flowers on the bathroom counter on the second day I was there. Such a nice touch and something you would only get if you spent quite a bit more at a high-end hotel. In short, I felt like I was coming back each night to a cozy cocoon and place of escape. And I also thought the price was quite reasonable for the amenities and the location. I could take back streets to almost everything I wanted to see and do within 15 minutes. The “cherry on top” for me was that it was across the street from a church that played chimes from its bell tower every 15 minutes (during daylight hours). I adore church bells and the tune was the same as the tune in my grandparents’ grandfather clock when I was growing up. I knew I was in the right place when I heard the bells chime. One of the hosts later told me that they got married at the church and had their reception at the bride’s sister’s house next door to theirs. Very cool. I loved the simplicity of that.