To celebrate Navy’s second birthday and relax as a family of three before Duke comes, I wanted to get away and just relax. So, we did just that! We (literally) just got back from our trip to Getaway House DC and we are already excited to plan our next trip this fall.
What is a Getaway House?
Getaway House offers tiny home rentals (think less than 200 square feet) outside of major cities like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. The cabins are usually under a two hour drive from these major cities. To encourage the spontaneity of your trip, you won’t know the exact address until you book your stay. Cabins in the DC area generally range from $99-199/night depending on cabin size and season you book.
Don’t know what to bring? Check out Getaway’s website for ideas on what to pack. We only packed a change of clothes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, a bottle of wine (or two), and food for Navy. The cabins come fully stocked with pretty much everything else! We did pack a couple protein bars and one meal to cook ourselves. We used the provisions in stock to cook the rest of our meals.
And the best part of Getaway House? All their cabins are DOG FRIENDLY! Our cabin was fully prepared for Navy with food and water dishes, waste bags, and her very own BarkBox. There is an additional cleaning fee of $40 if you choose to bring your dog.
This post is written in collaboration with Getaway House. All opinions expressed in this post are our own. Thank you Getaway House for hosting us for Navy’s second birthday! Use code NAVYCORGI25 for $25 off your next booking.
What is there to do at Getaway House DC?
I came into this mini-vacation with very little expectations besides just relaxing and doing literally nothing. However, there is quite a bit to do in the Shenandoah National Park area! While the point of Getaway House is to be spontaneous, when traveling with a pet, I do recommend you plan a few dog-friendly activities! Our list consists of some of the dog-friendly activity ideas we considered during our stay.
Take a hike
The one thing I wanted to do during this trip was hike. Navy loves hiking, I love hiking, … Zach hates hiking. Maybe puppy Duke will loathe being outdoors as much as Zach. Using Alltrails.com, I planned two dog-friendly hikes for us: Hightop Trail and Hawksbill Mountain. There are a few trail options to reach the top of Hawksbill Mountain. We chose the longer, less trafficked route.
First time hiking with your dog? Read our Outdoor Activity Essentials for Dogs post.
Go for a drive
Don’t like to hike but still want to experience the gorgeous views? Hop in your car and take a drive up Skyline Drive. The closest entrance to the cabin is as Swift Run Gap. Note: the entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for a 7 day pass. To get more bang for your buck, I recommend going at least twice! As you drive north to Thornton Gap, you’ll be tempted to stop at all the overlooks. Don’t make the same mistake we did! I recommend stopping at Spitter Knoll Outlook, Franklin Cliffs, and/or Hazeltop Ridge. You can also stop for lunch at Big Meadows Lodge.
Visit a brewery
There are quite a few breweries located in the Getaway DC area. Should we go back, we will try to book our stay later in the week as most breweries were open Thursday through Sunday. Bald Top Brewing Co. is a short 15 minute drive from the cabin. Starr Hill Brewery is a little less than an hour drive from the cabin, but very dog friendly!
Wine tasting
Getaway House DC recommends visiting the dog-friendly Early Mountain Vineyards just down the street from the cabin. We had every intention to do so, until we realized they were closed on Tuesdays and we found ourselves traveling the extra 10 minutes to Horton Vineyards instead. Well behaved dogs are allowed inside the tasting room as you sample 10 of their wines for $6–yes, you read that correctly. Prince Michel Vineyard and Barboursville Vineyard are also under 30 minutes from the cabin and dog friendly!
Just relax
Perhaps the best part of Getaway House is that you are away from work and away from civilization. Finally, the opportunity to do nothing! Our advice: pack a book, play cards, and put your phone away. Just relax and recharge.
Final Thoughts
The cabins have a minimalist vibe but everything inside the cabin is designed to be functional. During my stay I felt extremely comfortable, relaxed, and rejuvenated. I absolutely loved breathing in the fresh air, staring out into the woods, and just doing nothing.
Yes, you do have cell service at the cabin, and if I am being completely honest, this was the biggest struggle for me. I did find myself checking my phone occasionally. For the first day of the trip all I could think about was what I had to do when I got back to the office later that week. I know Zach struggled a bit with this as well. It was a little hard to completely disconnect from work. My recommendation is to either be strict in using the cell phone lock box, or stay for two nights to allow yourself to fully get into the right mindset.
In short, if you’ve ever thought about booking a stay with Getaway House, do it! Will we come back? YES. Would we recommend it to friends? Definitely!
Did you like this post? Read one of our other travel guides! Looking for pet-friendly travel tips? Read our 7 Questions to Ask Before Bringing Your Dog on Vacation post.
Thanks for reading!
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