Escape with Getaway House
Hello and welcome to my semi-quick guide to planning your own stay with Getaway House. What is Getaway House you say? Well, before we begin, I think it's best you head over to their site here.
https://getaway.house/
Done? You browsed around? Pretty cool huh?
They have three outposts in the Northeast. One in Boston, another in New York and the latest one is near Washington DC. I will be sharing my experience with their New York site as I've visited it 3 times.
One thing I will note is that each cabin is different in terms of layout and features so it's best to be prepared or message the staff at Getaway once you've picked your dates. For example, some of the older cabins do not have AC so if you're visiting in the summer and this is important for you, message the staff and ask if any of the newer cabins that are equipped with air conditioning are available on your preferred dates.
They refrain from telling you where the exact location of the cabins are so I will do the same here. The point of this is so you don't over plan your trip. The cabins are meant for you to escape the rush of the city where time is money everything is on a schedule.
What can you do while there? Read a book, take naps, build a fire, take a hike, or just be still. In all three of our stays, we opted to just stay and rest and enjoy the silence, which is a rarity while living in NYC. We would then take a short hike after we check out or explore a nearby town on our way back home.
One thing I've been asked a lot is what to pack. Honestly you can pack as much or as little as you want. It all depends on what you plan to do during your stay and how you are getting there. Getaway was designed to be accessible via public transport. The New York outpost can be reached via Amtrak and a quick 20 minute cab ride from the station. If you are taking public transport, you can pack food for your stay but note that each cabin is equipped with just a small mini fridge so it's best to bring very little perishable items as possible. Think along the lines of instant oatmeal, dried pasta and jarred sauce. There is a well equipped kitchenette with dinnerware and cookware for use. I will note that the knives in the cabin were a bit dull so we did bring our own for meal prep. They have snacks and provisions available for purchase in the cabin just like your standard hotel mini bar without the obscene prices so feel free to snack on those.
If you are driving, there is a pretty great supermarket in the next town over about a 10 minute drive from the site and depending on the time of your visit, there is a great farm stand about a 5 minute drive south where you can pick up fresh seasonal produce and eggs. Since the fridge was small and we had a car, we bought steaks and ribs just before dinner so we didn't have to bother trying to store them in the fridge.
So what's the cabin like? It's PERFECT. It has everything you need and nothing you don't. The bed is absolutely comfortable and the views are refreshing to wake up to. One thing you do need to adjust to is their "space age" composting toilet. If you've never used one before, I will say that it's an experience. They encourage you to flush after every other use since you are limited to 15 flushes per cartridge. If you ever need a cartridge change, it's easy to reach out to them and someone will pop over to give you a fresh one. The showers get hot quick which is fantastic but the water pressure in the older cabins can be a bit weak but isn't a deal breaker. They provide towels so no need to pack your own. They also encourage you to use their provided biodegradable toiletries for showering but do bring your own toothpaste. Bug spray is a must during the warmer months. Headlamps and flashlights would be great too if you plan on staying out at night while sitting by the campfire.
One thing I will say is that it is a cabin in the WOODS. So expect the same as when you're camping. Keep all food items inside to not attract bears or small animals. I'm not trying to scare you, it's just common sense. We were there in the early and late fall and again in late spring and in our last visit, we encountered quite a few bugs which is unavoidable. All these are part of enjoying the outdoors.
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone"
Embrace the bugs, feel the sun on your skin, listen to the wind blowing through the trees and enjoy a s'more or two.
Got it? Good. Now go reserve your dates and take that much needed break. Weekends can be booked full way in advance so it's best to pick dates in the middle of the week. The staff of Getaway are extremely helpful and are quick to respond to any and all of your concerns so do not hesitate to reach out to them.
This is one of my absolute favorite out of town hideouts and one we will revisit over and over again.
Getaway House
