Overview: Getaway House DC is a quick getaway from the city to the mountains and you don’t need to pack anything but your toothbrush. It’s like camping but with all the conveniences of a hotel suite.
Getaway House
https://getaway.house
You don’t need to bring anything at all with you to the cabin. You really can just decide to leave the city, book the place online, and GO.
The cabin is a modern tiny house with minimalist raw wood interior and an enormous picture window at one end by the bed. There is heat, ac, a bathroom with shower, and a small kitchen.
The kitchen is a sink, small fridge, and a two-burner stove. It is stocked with all the pots, pans, and sharp knives you would need to make a pasta dinner, including salt, pepper, and olive oil. But my favorite thing is that it comes stocked with just the right food options (available for purchase) so that you can show up empty-handed and not go hungry for at least a day and maybe all weekend.
Let’s say you arrive Friday night from DC or Richmond. You’ve stopped for fast food dinner on the way, or maybe you’ve opted for the fried chicken at Payton’s Grocery a couple of miles from your Getaway House (where you can also pick up beer or wine)(though if you are picky about your beer or wine, this is not the place for you). But you don’t even have to do that! There’s pasta and sauce available in the cabin. There are enamelware plates and real utensils in the cabin, so you can sit at the dining table and eat a civilized dinner.
There’s a fire pit with a grill outside of each cabin, surrounded by Adirondack chairs. And of course, if you didn’t think to bring firewood with you, they’ve got you covered. A bin next to the fire pit contains wood and kindling logs for purchase ($6.50 for a log bundle and $2.00 for the starter kindling). You can have it up and running within minutes of your arrival.
If you’re feeling peckish before bed, you can select from the available snacks – salty (trail mix), sweet (cookies or Swedish Fish or Cracker Jacks on my visit), or protein packed jerky. I might have liked more salty options. The prices are reasonable, with everything under $4.00 except for the pasta and sauce ($5.00 and $7.50, respectively).
For breakfast, there are neat coffee + filter packets for $1.50 apiece, plus Bob’s Red Mill oatmeal cups (just add hot water!) or PopTarts. And then if it’s rainy or cold or you just don’t feel like going out to get lunch, there are cans of Amy’s vegetable soup you can heat up on the two-burner stove. There’s no oven or toaster, but there’s a small fridge.
What is missing from a Getaway House (though honestly, I didn’t miss them):
– WiFi
– Mirrors
– Toaster
Here’s what I would bring next time:
– wine or beer
– french press or moka
– dark roast coffee (the available coffee was good, but I like it darker and stronger)
– something to cook on the grill
– a cast-iron pan to use with the grill
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Rooms:
Cabins are essentially one large room with one or two beds and a kitchenette, and a private bathroom with shower.
Tech:
An outlet by the bed offers two standard outlets and two usb outlets.
No wifi. You are encouraged to unplug entirely and lock up your cell phones in the provided “cell phone lockbox,” but there is cell service in the area.
Family-friendly amenities:
There are cabins with two double beds available. No more than four people can really stay in one of these cabins.
There’s a nice easy walking path that goes through the woods by a small stream.
Firewood and starter are available for purchase in a bin right next to the firepit for s’mores-making.
A deck of cards and a book about card games are available on the bookshelf, along with the fascinating “How to Stay Alive in the Woods,” which might entertain some kids.
Food options:
The kitchen is stocked with some essentials you can purchase (at a reasonable price) for quick meals that can be prepared on the two-burner stove (pasta with tomato sauce, soup) or rehydrated with hot water (oatmeal). Coffee and tea are available too (though on my visit there was no herbal tea available, only caffeinated green tea).
About a 5-minute drive away is Payton Grocery, which serves some excellent fried chicken from a counter in the back, and beer, cheap wine, and other essentials in the front. No seating.
Charlottesville and all of its culinary goodness is about a 40-minute drive away, if you really need it.
Payton Grocery
9658 Spotswood Trail
Stanardsville, VA 22973
Deals and Activities Nearby:
The biggest and best activity nearby is Shenandoah National Park, with miles of gorgeous trails ranging from mild to challenging. $25 entrance fee gives you a week of access to the park.
Parking:
Each cabin has a driveway for at least two cars.
Paige Conner Totaro
Editor, All Over the Map
Paige Conner Totaro is a freelance travel writer focusing on food, culture, and fashion. Her website, All Over the Map, began as a travel blog when she took an 11-month trip around the world with her husband and twin daughters, visiting 28 countries along the way. She now helps others plan great vacations as a travel planner and tour operator at Unquote Travel. Paige is a fan of Scandinavian design, Ethiopian food, Canadian hospitality, Japanese vintage stores, Brazilian music and Thai beaches, but also American craft spirits, garage rock and roller derby. There’s a reason her media company is called All Over the Map.