My partner, Matt, and I assess our accommodations for the night. 

I shift my weight from my right leg to my left, left leg to right. The floor gently rocks with me.

“It feels like we’re on a boat,” I say.

Except instead of bobbing in water, we’re suspended in the air by cables attached to trees.

The easiest way to describe Free Spirit Spheres is it’s a tree-house resort for grown-ups on a forested private property in Qualicum Beach, BC.

But that alone isn’t enough to conjure up an image of three unique orb dwellings tethered to sitka spruce and cedar, each accessed by a curving wooden staircase, and arranged around a wide pond.

Safety First

Upon arrival, co-owner Rosey Cowan and the resident canine, Levi, greet us.

I sit on her porch to sign a waiver, basically promising that I understand the potential risks of sleeping in something that isn’t supported by terra firma and that I won’t sue if the sphere does end up on the ground.

Not that I’m concerned—the rope attachments of each ball are tested daily for safety.

Plus Tom Chudleigh, the other co-owner who builds everything associated with the spheres by himself, mostly at his onsite workshop, climbs the trees and conducts a full inspection twice a year.

Meeting Melody

We follow Rosey, turning off the short path along the pond to head up a sturdy gangway that crosses a drop in the forest.

The sphere hangs at the end, with a few steps curving around a tree that lead up to the door.

The sheet music of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 wraps around the fibreglass exterior of the golden globe, and a cross-legged woman painted on the side listens to the tune floating above her head. “Melody” is inscribed in the door handle.

The Bed in a Tree

I’m impressed—the interior sets the bar for tree house luxury. Really high.

There is solid custom-made furniture of dark wood upholstered in cheery blue fabric, individually lit cubby holes in every nook, speakers to hook-up to your iPod or CD player, built-in heating, and electrical outlets. I don’t feel cramped at all.

Rosey demonstrates how to reveal the bed: up go the two fold-out tables, their legs tucked under, out swing the legs of the bed, down lowers the wall—which, once horizontal, becomes a double bed.

The sphere transforms from living room into sleeping space within seconds.

I can’t get over the innovative craftsmanship. Even the hinges on the two largest circular windows are etched with intricate symbols. I inspect the hinges on the two largest circular windows.

The door reminds me of sea vessel hatch, complete with a porthole. (Tom used to be a boat builder, and started on his first sphere with the intent of creating a houseboat before looking to the trees.)

On the side of the door opposite the sink basin, a cabinet hides a kettle, coffee and tea fixings, dishes, plus Scrabble and Uno and two headlamps.

Creature Comforts Still Available

The headlamps are handy for a night trek to the clean-composting toilet near the foot of the spheres, or to the two full private bathrooms housed in a small cottage less than a minute away.

At the cottage you can also sweat in the sauna or store roadtrip snacks in the wee kitchenette. No one will cook you meals, but don’t worry about breakfast.

After a solid night’s sleep—I didn’t notice even the slightest of motion from the wind—Matt and I dip into our complimentary welcome basket of baked goodies, yogurt, fruit, and beverages (including a mini bottle of bubbly) that Rosey fixed for us the day before.

Rates at Free Spirit Spheres start at $125 per night.