Would you book a getaway not understanding anything about the destination it’ll be within a 2 hours’ drive?
I like surprises and nature but that I hate camping, therefore when Getaway and Buick reached out to me offering to put me up to the night in a secret tiny home (and loan this city-dweller a Buick Encore to get there), I could not refuse.
Getaway: A Tiny House for Rent at a Secret Location
Getaway is intended to be the antidote to modern, urban lifestyle. The cottages are set in locations away from civilization, and are located around the idea of unplugging and getting back to nature. You certainly won’t find Wi-Fi, and you probably won’t have cell service. Each cabin comes equipped with a “cell phone lock box” which motivates you to put away your phone during your stay.
Just how can this experience work? You only reserve a very small house through Getaway (you will find two-person and four-person cottages available), select one that is near New York or Boston, and then you wait. About a week before your adventure begins, Getaway will send you the address of your residence that is tiny. I am sworn to secrecy regarding the location, but the Getaway site does disclose that the Boston-area houses are in the woods of New Hampshire, and I can affirm that it’s in a peaceful location that is fantastic for hiking.
I was excited when the address appeared in my inbox–it turned out that I had never heard of before, even though it was far from where I reside. I was glad to have the Buick Encore for me, as the car has built-in Wi-Fi along with OnStar, which means I wasn’t totally off the grid and did not get lost trying to locate the cabin, because of the convenient in-car navigation. T-Mobile users can sympathize: Each time I leave a significant metropolitan area, I’m usually pushed off the grid, therefore having the ability to make forecasts, text, and look up instructions gave me great peace of mind.
The Getaway House
After an easy drive from Boston, I discovered a streamlined home that was ideal for the weekend and turned down a dirt road. The very small cabin’s website had everything needed for a night’s stay in the forests–a picnic table, a fire ring, timber, fire starters, snacks (like s’mores!) Trees for rigging a hammock, and trees perfectly spaced. Stepping inside the cabin, I was pleased with the setup–not an inch of space has been wasted in this design that was clever. Large picture windows allow character in, while the screen door kept the undesirable pieces of character (bugs) outside.
As someone who leans more towards “glamping” than camping, I was excited to find a comfy double bed, running a stovetop, electricity, heat, and a bathroom with a toilet and a shower.
It was a night to spend in the wilderness, with just a hint of fall crispness in the air that made us appreciate our fire. We relaxed in the hammock and gazed up at the stars, unobstructed by town lighting, before cooking our own dinner over the fire, which made it taste immeasurably better than any restaurant dinner–especially the s amores. We woke up as the light streamed through the birds began singing and the chimney, instead of by a phone alarm. Instead of instantly checking our phones we put on our hiking boots and set off to the trails, bringing Getaway’s helpful “guide to returning to the real world,” a notecard providing tips for maintaining that vacation zen feel after leaving, with us for if we were prepared for re-entry.
Don’t Miss: Top Tours in Manchester
Total Day White Mountain Tour with Cannon Mountain Aerial Tram
From $149
Full Day Newport Harbor Sail from New Hampshire
From $139
Boston Day Trip with Duck Tour
Out Of $129
See more things to do in Manchester >