Tipis

Tipis or teepees, no matter how you spell it, this is an ingeniously simple compilation of only a few raw materials. It begins with wooden poles erected in a triangular shape and tied together at the top form the skeleton of the structure. Then a durable fabric - historically animal skins but now typically a weather-resistant canvas or heavy cotton - is wrapped snugly around the poles, leaving only a hole at the top to release smoke, a small door and sometimes a window or two. A central fire would heat the structure in winters. Today, these conical constructions are a warm, spacious and a historical alternative to a modern tent. For your next vacation, break away from the norm and forget that hotel. Book one of these tipis for a trip you'll never forget.