This tiny cabin is one of the most charming and amazing cabins I’ve ever stayed at. It’s located in Hartland, VT, and you can find it on Airbnb here. Even though it’s off grid, it provides a lot of extras you would not expect to find in a cabin that does not have plumbing or electricity. This rustic and rugged cabin is 12′ x 14′ with a large sleeping loft and a wonderful wood stove. There are many windows that offer beautiful views which make you feel extra connected to nature.
The surrounding woods have a private park-like quality with many hiking/biking trails and paths to explore. There are some bicycles around the cabin and one said “free bike rentals – 25 cents.”
You may wonder what I like about off-grid cabins in the woods, and there are many reasons why I love them: helps to reconnect with nature, provides a peaceful and quiet environment, restores mental outlook, promotes healthy exercise, and embraces minimalism. Simply put, it’s rejuvenation for the soul.
This is the perfect time of year as the woods were lush and green
View from inside the cabin
It’s such a magical spot
My traveling companion, Mabel, gives this place an enthusiastic paws up!
Can we stay one more night, pretty please?
I promise to protect you, Mom, in exchange for some cookies
There are many amenities such as an outside cooking area with two propane burners, a tea kettle, patio furniture, and a tarp for protection from the rain.
The canopy came in handy
They even provided wine glasses!
I just love that old wooden front door and chair
There was a hanging light that cast a pretty glow over the table
There was a neat fire pit a short distance from the cabin
The host provided drinking water and a cooler with ice
View from the loft
Mabel and I greatly enjoyed our stay and we want to go back (Mabel seconds that). If you want to unplug and recharge while being surrounded by the beauty and quietude of nature, this is the perfect rental. Even if you do not consider yourself to be an outdoor enthusiast, this place is worth checking out. You may become a woods enthusiast, too!
If you are looking for a unique getaway experience in a remote, off-grid cabin with spooky vibes to stir up your imagination, then look no further. The name of this place is the Magical and Spooky Mirror House in the Forest, in Warren, NH, found on Airbnb, and it’s aptly named. (Magical and Spooky Mirror House)
Mabel and I stayed here for one night and what an otherworldly experience it was. Mabel can vouch for that.
I do believe in spooks, I do I do I do I do!
The cabin itself is very tiny but it packs a big punch with its Victorian/Gothic theme. If you’ve ever been frustrated by a rental that lacked mirrors, this place will be such a treat (ha!). There are floor-to-ceiling mirrors of different styles, sizes and time periods.
Does anyone know what those symbols mean on the chair?
Mirror mirror on the wall…
The disco ball was neat!
This was one of my favorite mirrors
Skulls are a symbol of both death and life, as well as individuality and rebellion
I was told to be on the lookout for bears
Angels are not only above us but apparently in statue form in spooky cabins
A friend told me that mirrors that face each other are portals into the other world.
Skeleton keys?
Surprisingly, I was not afraid at all during my overnight stay. The cabin and woods were so quiet with no bumps in the night. With that said, apparently, there were bumps in the night for some who have stayed here according to the guest book on the table which I didn’t dare read until sunrise.
Some light reading before bedtime
These are the battery-operated lanterns I brought (Lanterns). They are not too big and I was able to fit them in my backpack. However, I found that one lantern was sufficient for both the inside of the cabin and for lighting the way to the outhouse. The bed was extremely comfortable and there was this feather comforter that felt like a warm, weighted blanket. I am not sure if I would have felt scared without Mabel, but she was such a source of comfort and she’s very protective (even though she looks deceptively like an overgrown teddy bear).
There are mirrors outside, too.
My brother said that the place reminded him of Hansel and Gretel, the fairy tale about two children abandoned in an enchanted forest and they stumble upon a tiny cabin in the woods. “Come in my sweet little children and let me give you some yummy gingerbread…” says the witch. This would be a great place for role-playing and storytelling.
I strongly recommend bringing a power bank when staying at a place with no electricity. The one I have is an Anker Power Bank and it’s compatible with my Galaxy S23 Android. It’s very similar to this one (Anker). Also, traveling lightly with a backpack is a must as there is a quarter of a mile hike up this steep hill to get to the cabin. I borrowed my younger son’s old college backpack and it worked perfectly. Another item I purchased to keep drinks and food cold is this PackIt freezable snack box also found on Amazon (PackIt). It keeps drinks and food cold for hours and it fits right in my backpack. The entire snack box goes in the freezer when not in use.
While waiting for check-in time, I did some sightseeing in Warren. It’s a tiny town (perfect for tiny cabins) with a population of around 836 people. It has a small elementary school, a church, a town hall and amazingly enough, its own rocket missile! In case you’re wondering how a rocket ended up being on display in the middle of nowhere, please check out this site (Redstone Rocket).
Baker River
My next adventure–sleep in your own teepee
I couldn’t resist taking this photo before heading out of town.
Now on to my next tiny cabin adventure in Hartland, VT, and details to follow on that excursion! In the meantime, happy spring everyone!
The Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa (Mountain View Grand) in Whitefield, NH, has piqued my curiosity for some time and I finally was able to cross it off my bucket list. It is considered one of the four grand hotels of the White Mountains (Grand Hotels) and I can see why. It is simply breathtaking to take in all of its grandness–the expanse of the hotel, its old-world charm, and the stunning panoramic views all lend itself to a magical experience. The hotel has 142 guestrooms and sits on 1,700 acres. As soon as you drive up, you know you’re in for a special treat.
Its humble beginning goes back to 1865 involving two weary, stranded travelers who found their way to what was then a farmhouse. They were welcomed by the owners who treated them with gracious hospitality, a warm bed and a hearty breakfast. The visitors enjoyed their stay so much that the owners believed that other travelers would enjoy their hospitality as well. So in the summer of 1866, they officially opened the Mountain View House, which included a newly built two-story addition and a full veranda. A full-detailed history can be found on the Mountain View Grand website (see link above).
My stay was on a Sunday night, 9/15/24 to 9/16/24, and I went through Booking.com for a rate of $148.00 for a basic queen room with no view, before tax. I called the hotel to see if they could match that rate but they did not see the same rate I was seeing as I have an additional discount with Booking.com due to being a repeat customer. They saw $164.00 so they were not able to provide the same rate of $148.00. I thanked them anyway and it didn’t hurt to ask.
I arrived shortly after 12 noon and had lunch at the Harvest Tavern. Saying it was not busy is an understatement as I was the only one in the restaurant at that time and had my choice of tables. I picked a table that had an exquisite view of the mountains. Here is a picture of my view while having lunch.
Lunch consisted of a turkey club sandwich with a Maine Lunch IPA. Dining alone was a first-time experience for me and it felt both sad and empowering in this strange new journey without a life partner.
When booking the room, I had requested early check in of 2:30 to 3 pm and I was able to check in around 2:45 pm (at no additional cost). The woman at the front desk was very courteous and friendly.
While the room was small, it was cozy and comfortable. My room did not have a view (as previously noted) as I opted for a budget friendly getaway. The amenities were plentiful and included a coffee maker, mini refrigerator (which was stocked with wine, beer and soda), a large flat screen TV, bathrobe, mini bar that included dry gin, tequila, Grey Goose vodka, and Kentucky bourbon along with a price list if I chose to imbibe. However, I brought my own wine–Butternut Chardonnay. I tend to gravitate towards wine that has the word butter in it!
The queen bed was extremely comfortable and those lumps were only in the comforter, not the mattress.
The hotel offers dining-in room service from their Harvest Tavern and my dinner consisted of the Mountain View Grand cheeseburger with grilled red onions, Vermont white cheddar, lettuce and tomato, served on a brioche bun; and fries on the side. It was hearty and delicious and there was no room for dessert (which is just as well). The hotel does offer onsite fine dining at the 1865 Wine Cellar. Reservations are required and jeans, shorts, sneakers, and baseball caps are not permitted. That would give me a chance to wear heels and a skirt which sounds fine to me!
After dinner, I decided to explore the hotel and check out its grandness. Speaking of which, there was a baby grand piano in the hallway not far from my room which made me want to play but it was locked.
Here are some pictures as I wandered through the hallways.
The Harvest Tavern Bar looked inviting so I sat down and ordered a glass of their house Chardonnay. The bar was quiet as it was a Sunday night and that suited me perfectly fine.
The bartender said it was okay if I wanted to sit outside with my glass of wine (generous glass BTW). What a beautiful night it was and I kept thinking how Doug would have enjoyed this hotel immensely.
When I got back to my room, I took some notes about the hotel and the leather notebook was greatly appreciated (which can be purchased in their gift shop). It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep after crawling under the comfy covers and the room was extremely quiet all night.
In the morning, I made some coffee in my room. While I would not call it gourmet coffee by any means, it served its purpose. I did not purchase the bed and breakfast package (for budget reasons); however, it is available to select when making your reservation.
Before checking out at 11 am, I took a few more pictures of the property and grounds.
The hotel’s electricity is generated by wind turbines.
This was taken a few miles away on Route 3 and I had to zoom in. The hotel looks so majestic in the background.
In closing, would I go back again? Yes! I will be back. I highly recommend this hotel and I enthusiastically give it five big stars!
Designing Mimi 