If you love animals, you’ve probably always dreamed of getting up close and personal with these incredible creatures. While there are many ways to do this – like a visit to the aquarium or a safari trip – we bet you’ve never seen anything quite like this before. After all, this Swedish nature reserve lets you sleep in a glass-bottomed villa that has unobstructed views of the animals below.

Life In Sweden

When you think of nature reserves, you probably don’t think of Sweden. However, this country has paved the way in terms of its natural beauty, and the Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve has always been about bringing their guests closer to the magic. Although their accommodation options have blown guests away in the past, their newest addition to their family is something that’s even more special.

Propped Up On Stilts

Yes, this hotel has recently created a space for their guests that will give them the chance to really see what it’s like for the animals in the nature reserve. That’s because their new SynVillan (Illusion Villa) is propped up on stilts above the reserve itself. The whole villa has been designed with the environment in mind, powered by solar panels, and offering an outdoor jacuzzi for guests to enjoy. As if that wasn’t enough, the outside has been made with a metallic exterior, so it blends into the background. This means that guests can check out the animals below without interfering in their everyday existence. Plus, the high altitude offers unobstructed views of the 925-hectare reserve.

There are so many accommodation options in Sweden, but if you’re looking for something truly unique and special, then this may be the trip for you. This reserve lets you sleep above the animals and really understand how they go about their daily lives – and there’s no doubt about the fact that that’s pretty awesome.

It’s time to celebrate Hydration Day. Doesn’t sound familiar? Well, National Hydration Day is all about the importance of fluid intake in your body. Healthy hydration supports nearly every internal body function like temperature regulation, natural detoxification, and immunity. Here are the best 3 prescribed thirst-quenching tips for your regular hydration check.

Scratch the Eight-by-Eight Myth

The widely known concept of drinking eight glasses of water a day has become the gospel somehow. But it is doubtful that different people coming from different backgrounds, need to drink the exact same amount of water daily. Co-author of Quench and M.D., integrative medicine physician Dana Cohen tells that, there is no rule of thumb of daily water intake. It varies depending on one’s body type, environment, diet, and daily activity level. Generally, she recommends drinking half of the body weight in ounces in a day.

Include a Go-to Green Smoothie

Going green is always beneficial. According to Cohen, a fiber-rich green smoothie is more hydrating than drinking multiple glasses of water. For the ultimate thirst-quenching blend, simply throw ½ an apple, ½ a cucumber, 2 tbsp of chia seeds, juice of ½ lemon into a high-speed blender. Add 1 cup of greens of choice like spinach or kale. Then pour 2 to 3 cups of water. Now whir until all blends in smooth green goodness.

Chill with Chia Detox Water

Chia seeds may not be popular as hydrating foods, but these fiber-rich seeds are high on detoxification. When added Chia seeds, the H2O molecules react and layer upon one another, turning the water into a slimy gel consistency. You can add a dash of lime or lemon to it for taste. The fibers in it acts like a sponge and can absorb up to 10-12 times their weight, maintaining the hydration much better. According to Cohen, this ‘structured’ form is originally the form of liquid found in nature and also in our body cells.