The tree houses we remember as kids were rickety shacks built by dads with marginal carpentry skills while they sucked down sixers of cheap beer. In other words, they were awesome … but not exactly “luxurious.” Or “safe.” But these treehouses arebuilt by actual architects, and they contain stuff like queen-sized beds, heated floors, or what amounts to walls that render them nearly invisible. (Seriously.) But you still may need a secret password to get in.

Mirrorcube | Sweden (but you can buy your own)
If you’re willing to shell out $377,000 and wait for four months, you’ll have a nearly invisible treehouse that’ll provide comfort, privacy, and enough room for a queen-size bed, bathroom, study, and rooftop balcony. The exterior consists of reflective “spyglass” material that essentially makes you and your pad invisible to neighbors, hikers, and nosy bears. Plus, the interior is insulated with electronically heated floorboards, so if you live on Hoth you can still purchase one.

Redwoods Treehouse | Warkworth, New Zealand
This oddity sits 130 feet off of the ground in New Zealand’s capital city. The only way in or out is via the bridge made from trees that have been milled on site. When the sun goes down, the treehouse lights up like a pod-shaped UFO hovering above the dense forest. Which makes it the perfect place to throw a galactic rager for up to 30 people … or 60 tiny aliens.

TAGS: homes, hotels, tree houses