Social Distancing Getaway: Tiny Cabin in Houston
As a single mom and graduate student, I try to get away every summer while my daughter is on her summer break visiting grandparents. Typically, my friends and I take a trip or I will take a trip and visit people I know in the city I’m visiting. This year was a bit different. COVID-19 stopped a lot of travel and although people have begun to travel again, I am not comfortable flying at this time. So, I had to think outside of the box. Months ago, I had seen posts for Getaway cabins but when I initially checked, Dallas & Austin/San Antonio were the closest locations. A Houston location would be opening soon and accepting reservations at the end of May. I thought this would be perfect for my getaway and first solo staycation at the end of the summer semester, after doubling up on coursework. I needed to schedule time away to disconnect. The Houston Getaway location was only an hour drive away from my apartment and seemed to be perfect for social distancing. However, I wanted to think about my decision a little more. I then starting seeing ads on Instagram. Ya’ll know how powerful those cookies are on our browsers. I started following the Getaway account and looking at customer visits, reviews, and vlogs. I was sold. I booked my reservation for two nights. My stay was a great experience (think glamping) and I will most likely book again before the year is over. Now, let’s get into the details.
Before I get started, I want to let you know that this post is not sponsored. I paid for this experience with my own money but I will be sharing a discount code.
Locations
Getaway cabins are located outside of the following major cities:
Atlanta, GA
Austin/San Antonio, TX
Boston, MA
Charlotte/Raleigh, NC
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Pittsburgh/Cleveland, OH
Portland, OR
Washington, DC
Click here to get $25 off your first booking using this link!
I stayed at the Houston location in the cabin named Sue. The Houston outpost is actually located in Navasota, Texas - one hour outside of Houston and about 30 minutes from Cypress. There is a Buc-ee’s & a HEB in Cypress to get food if you don’t pack it and a Dollar General about seven miles or so from the outpost. That is it as far as stores/food go on the way to the cabins.
About the cabins
The cabins are usually outside of major cities, encouraging you to disconnect from technology. There is no wi-fi and there is a cellphone lockbox to store your phone upon check-in. However, my phone always had service, even though the reception was not the best in the cabin. I did disconnect on Tuesday until I needed to look up the recipe to make the marinade for the chicken kabobs. *sigh* I should have printed it out. Getaway Houston has 34 two-persons cabins (one queen bed) and 12 four-person cabins (two queen beds that are bunked). The cabins are spaced out far enough so that you can enjoy privacy and feel isolated but when you walk, you can see the other cabins. This eliminates the worries of you being in the middle of nowhere without a soul in sight. They are tiny cabins and they have all the essentials/ You can play music and eat outside but quiet hours begin at 10PM.
Safety
I felt safe as a solo black woman traveling alone. The cabins have keyless entry with a keypad to enter the code to get in and there is a door stopper on the inside. You have to use normal precaution as you would anywhere else.
Cost
The cost to book is fairly inexpensive, if you ask me. Prices start as low as $99 per night, depending on the time of year, days of the week you want to book, and the location you choose. When I compared the other Texas locations, the prices were a little more and I am guessing because there was more of a demand since those have been open longer. I also booked kind of last minute. I stayed Monday through Wednesday because the weekends costed more. I did consider Sunday through Tuesday but by the time I decided to book, Sunday availability was all gone. To book, you can just visit their site, pick the city you are in or the one you want to visit, choose the number of people in your party, and how many beds you will need. A calendar will appear with available dates. Select the dates and enter your payment information. Upon booking, you will receive a confirmation with the address of the location. You won’t receive your cabin name and code until the day of your stay. I got the name of the cabin that morning and the code two hours prior to check-in. They also send a map for you to download, just in case you lose your cellphone reception. Unfortunately, early check-in is not available now due to the intensified cleaning protocol due to COVID-19.
In the Cabin
The cabin has everything needed for survival.
A comfortable, queen bed ( I booked a two-person cabin. If you book a four-person cabin, you will have two queen beds)
A desk with one chair
Air conditioning/heat
Electrical outlets (yes - you can charge your phone)
Shower (yes - hot water is available)
Two bath towels (you have to bring face towels - I just brought my own towels period)
Toilet
Tissue
Two-burner stove
Sink
Mini fridge
Dishwashing liquid, sponge, & dish towels
Paper towels
Aluminum foil
Sugar
Coffee creamer
Pot and pan
Tea kettle
Dishes (plates, cups, mugs, bowls, cutlery - forks, spoons, knives)
Cooking utensils (can opener, tongs, wooden spoon, spatula, tongs)
Cutting board
Corkscrew (I brought my electric wine opener because I’m not good with using those)
Scissors
Can opener
Two long lighters
Salt & pepper
Bluetooth radio (I actually turned it on and 90s R&B was playing - win!)
A landline phone - for emergencies
Books (I read Getaway written by the CEO of Getaway, Jon Staff)
Playing cards
Lockbox for phone
S’mores kit (or oatmeal pies if they are out like I received)
First aid kit (which includes tampons)
Lantern
Provisions you can purchase
Outside of the cabin
Picnic table
Two chars
Fire pit (for grilling and making s’mores)
Campfire kit for purchase
What I believe you should bring
Before I get started, pack light. There is not a lot of space in the tiny cabin. Use this list and you will be all set!
Water (although the water is said to be safe, I brought the gallon water jugs; you can only fit one in the fridge at a time)
Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap (they do provide body wash if you like it), skincare products, you get it…
Shower shoes and slippers (or slides) - they recommend you take your outside shoes off when entering the cabin
Tennis shoes for walking
Loungewear, PJs, and activewear
Lysol (although they do a pretty good job of cleaning, I still disinfected the main areas upon my arrival to feel better)
Candle for insects if you plan to eat outside (or you won’t be able to eat your food in peace)
Towels (although they provide bath towels, I just felt more comfortable bringing my own)
Insect repellant (I used the deep woods bug spray and I didn’t have one mosquito bite and trust me, they were out)
Sunscreen (yes black people need sunscreen)
Food (there are no restaurants nearby plus you are meant to stay on site the entire time - so bring whatever you are going to cook and snacks)
Olive oil or cooking spray
Seasonings
Measuring cups, if you use them
Your book of choice
Adult coloring or crossword puzzle book (I brought mine but ran out of time so I didn’t use it but it’s good to have just in case or if you stay longer)
Journal
Camera (if you are into photography - I just used my phone)
Candle (it sets the mood for me)
Wine/wine glass (if you drink it)
Alcohol if you prefer that instead (just bring some plastic or paper cups)
Paper plates (the cabin has plates, but I am not a fan of washing dishes)
Charcoal or logs (whichever you prefer, unless you want to purchase them from Getaway - I got a bag of the easy light charcoal that did not require lighter fluid)
Tea or coffee (if you drink it - there is no coffee maker though only a tea kettle so you’d have to bring instant coffee)
Big flashlight or headlamp (if you plan on being outside after dark - it gets extremely dark and the lantern they provide only gives enough light to grill if you are doing that)
Stuff to make s’mores (just in case they are out - graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows, and the long skewers - I brought the short ones and wished I had gotten the other ones)
Disposable pan to take grilled food home (unless you plan to eat it all)
Bluetooth speaker (if you want to play music outside - I just used the one inside the cabin)
Hammock (I didn’t bring this but I saw someone bring one and I thought it was cool)
Do not bring a huge suitcase. You won’t have anywhere to put it. I brought my little weekender bag. Pack light and only bring the things you know you will use.
Things you can do
You can take walks on the nature trails and actually listen to the sounds - close your eyes for a few moments and be present, unplug from technology, grill your favorite foods, make s’mores, take naps, listen to music and read in peace, color in your adult coloring book, do crossword puzzles, play games (if you decide to bring someone along), and stargaze at night.
Here is what I did:
Day 1
When I got there, it was around 8PM due to me stopping for food and going to the grocery store. I highly recommend that you get there on time for check-in at 3PM so you can maximize your time there. You should make a list of food you want to cook and make sure it is mainly easy things that don’t require a lot of prep. You should then plan to go the day before your getaway and you pick the groceries up so you don’t spend the day of your getaway doing that or bringing extra things you won’t use. I unloaded my groceries and realized that they were out of s’mores kits, one of the things I wanted to do. I then went to the local Dollar General and picked up supplies. I wish I would’ve brought the things to make the s’mores just in case, so I didn’t have to leave once I got there. I got back to the cabin, showered, started reading, and went to sleep.
Day 2
On the next morning, I got up and went for a walk on the nature trail (without any headphones to listen to the sounds of nature), made and ate some French toast, read, and drank some wine. I took a long nap (naps are rare for me). That evening, I got up and made my meat and cheese plate, ate some of it, read some more, prepped my chicken and veggies for my chicken kabobs (again - it will save time if you do this before the trip), put them in the fridge to marinate, and went for another nature walk. I came back and got the campfire pit fire started up, made s’mores, put my burgers on the grill then my chicken kabobs, ate and listened to music, stargazed for a bit, read some more, showered, then went to sleep.
Day 3
I got up, packed my things, tidied up, and looked for the address of the sunflower field I wanted to visit. I took some photos. Then, I headed out to the sunflower field. The sunflowers were dead so I won’t recommend it. Just know I was highly disappointed.
After you check out
Check-out is at 11AM and you will receive a reminder two hours in advance. If you want to continue your experience, there are a few things to do nearby. I know this from doing research but unfortunately, I had to get back to work…
Martha’s Bloomers - World’s Largest Teapot (20 minutes away)
Washington on the Brazos Area Trail (30 minutes away)
Barrington Living History Farm (30 minutes away)
Bernhardt Winery (30 minutes or so away)
Blue Bell Creamery (40 minutes away)
Lake Conroe (40 minutes away)
Did I actually enjoy my experience?
Of course! This was the Getaway experience I did not know I needed. I honestly wished I could’ve spent another night there because I missed out on a lot of time during the first day. If you want to unplug, relax, and have alone time without any distractions, this is the perfect getaway! It is the most relaxing trip I have ever taken and my first ever solo staycation. I recommend every mom to try it, at least one night if you are afraid of leaving your kids with someone more than one night! You will thank me. There are so many psychological benefits for moms taking a break from daily tasks, kids, and their environments. You literally get to gift yourself time to reconnect with yourself in nature, recharge, get some mental and physical rest, and fill your cup so that you are on full when you return home.
Will you take time to relax, do nothing, and recharge??
Click here to book your first Getaway stay using this link
P.S. For those of you who are creatives and you want to spend time away to work on projects alone, it is perfect for that too! No one is there to bother you or interrupt whatever it is that you want to get done.