Ah, tiny houses! They’ve become so popular that they boast several of their very own reality TV series (and isn’t that the epitome of fame these days?). Perhaps you’ve wondered if you, too, could pare down your possessions and live in a tiny house. Of course, you would be apprehensive about fitting your family into 400 square feet of living space, but what if you could do a test run first?

You can!

The tiny house movement is not limited to the States. There are many places in Canada where you can rent a tiny house for your vacation. You’ll see if tiny house living is for you, and if not, you’ll still have a memorable vacation and some close….very close…family time.

The Northen Lights above the Yurt at Travelling Light Bed & Breakfast

The Northern lights above The Yurt at Travelling Light Bed & Breakfast
Photo Credit Travelling Light Bed & Breakfast

The Yurt in the Yukon: Forget heading south for warmer climates, have the ultimate Canadian vacation up north! The Yukon boasts open starry skies and an abundance of nature, along with the Traveling Light B&B’s Mongolian Yurt.  Private, comfortable and with excellent lake views, this yurt can sleep up to five people (some will have to share a bed). While there is a woodstove and kettle, you have to head up to main house for bathroom facilities.

The Yurt at Travelling Light Bed & Breakfast

The Yurt at Travelling Light Bed & Breakfast
Photo Credit Travelling Light Bed & Breakfast

The Barrel in BC: Airbnb has some pretty unique rentals, but a barrel? It’s true! Barrel Cabins just outside of Greenwood, BC features barrels just large enough to fit one bed. Composting toilets are located outside in outhouses, and a main house holds shower facilities. No pets or shoes are allowed in the barrel.

The Private Garden House in Calgary: At just 600 square feet, this cabin is the perfect size for two. A tiny kitchen and a stand up shower mean you get all the comforts of home (just a little more compact). The well-thought-out floor plan even includes a queen sized bed. The Garden Suite has impressed guests enough to net it a five star rating on Airbnb.

The Cabin in the Woods: No, not the scary movie version. This cabin, affectionately dubbed Brown Cabin by the hosts, is a cozy 384 feet. It’s ideal for two, but the futon sofa bed expands the room’s capacity to four. Brown Cabin can be rented as part of the suite of accommodations at Old Entrance between Hinton and Jasper. You can also rent the even smaller Rustic Ridge Cabin or a teepee in this picturesque location.

The Old Entrance Brown Cabin Bed and Breakfast

The Old Entrance Brown Cabin Bed and Breakfast
Photo Credit The Old Entrance Bed and Breakfast

The Condo with Water Views: If roughing it in a cabin isn’t your thing, you’ll love the Inner Harbour Waterfront Loft in Victoria’s Mermaid Building. This third floor studio condo boasts floor to ceiling windows and a 10 foot ceiling, ensuring perfect views of the beautiful harbour.  A full kitchen and a stacked washer and dryer combo are neatly tucked into the space. If you need a little fresh air, you can open the doors to the Juliette balcony or take a trek up to the rooftop patio.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to scratch your tiny living itch with some very unique rental options across Canada, and there are plenty more options at all different (tiny) sizes, locations and price points from coast to coast. Even if tiny living doesn’t turn out to be your thing, you can at least say you spent the night in a barrel, and honestly, who isn’t going to love that vacation story?