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Postcard Cabins

Local Guides | New York City

Best Places to Take Your Dog Near Getaway Eastern Catskill

By Postcard Cabins -

We know our furry friends love escaping the city just as much as we do. There’s nothing better than trading in sidewalks and small dog parks for trotting along hiking trails and collecting sticks.

Traveling Upstate is a journey for pet owner and pet alike, and that’s why we’ve compiled some essential reading for getting away with your pup. After all, what’s better than setting that “out of office” on, collecting your canine buddy, and venturing out into the quiet, peaceful Outpost?

We partnered with our friends at Chewy to offer you some fantastic tips for traveling with your dog.

Go on Walks in the Woods

Your dog will love it, and you will, too. Did you know that there’s scientifically proven benefits to walking over rustling leaves? Give yourself that sense of calm, and get some great exercise for your dog in the process. Don’t forget to bring snacks for you and dog treats for them.

North South Lake
~ 25 minutes from Outpost

Dogs are allowed on-leash throughout this beautiful lakeside area. Lounge near the water or follow Mary Glen’s Trail to see Artist’s Rock, Sunset Rock, Newman’s Ledge, and North Point. We recommend choosing a dog leash that fits your dog’s personality and your needs. A hands-free dog leash, for example, can help simplify hiking with your four-legged friend.

Overlook Mountain Trail
~ 40 minutes from Outpost

This moderate hike has some challenging points, but the view at the top is more than worth it. On-leash dogs are welcome throughout the whole trail. Don’t forget to bing along dog poop bags to do your part in maintaining the beautiful route.

Local Attractions

Every Getaway Outpost is dog-friendly, and there’s no real need to venture out. The cabins have everything you need and nothing you don’t. If you do find yourself hankering to get some of the local flavor of our Getaway Catskills Outpost, there are several places you can stop and enjoy along with your pup.

Mountain Top Arboretum
~ 30 minutes from Outpost

While you can’t let your pup run free through the whole arboretum, there are designated places for dogs to play. Bring along some dog treats or your pup’s favorite dog toy enjoy some greenery with your leashed pup on Maude Adams Road and the East Meadow. The Spruce Glen trails are open to all pups, leashed or not. Bringing along a dog GPS tracker can also help keep your dog safe and monitor their activity.

Olana State Historic Site
~ 30 minutes from Outpost

While dogs are not allowed inside the home and studio on the property, they are allowed on the grounds on-leash. Take your pup on a walk through this 25 acre hilltop estate and get a beautiful view of the Hudson River Valley below.

Dining

The New York Restaurant
~ 20 minutes from Outpost

This cool local spot specializes in authentic Polish cuisine. Bring along a dog travel bowl and dog water bowl to have your pup enjoy mealtime with you. Their two outdoor tables are pet-friendly, so it’s the perfect spot to sit with your pup and sample some pierogis.

Catskill Mountain Country Store
~ 40 minutes from Outpost

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, then stop by this local restaurant and store with pup-friendly outdoor seating. Serving up both breakfast and lunch, we recommend their pancakes or their old-fashioned ice cream counter.

If your dog isn’t the exploring type, then don’t worry. There’s something magical about disconnecting from technology and finding the time for unstructured play with your dog, taking in those playful moments and adorable snuggles. And of course, there’s plenty of space for sleepy pups to take a nap in our cabins, too.

Read more from our friends at Chewy and their adventure to Getaway Catskills by visiting Pet Central.

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How to Getaway

How to Build a Campfire and Campfire Safety Tips

By Postcard Cabins -

There’s nothing quite like roasting s’mores or cooking dinner over an open fire while spending time in nature. That’s why we try to make the process of starting a fire easy, even for those who have never built one, by providing everything you need to build your campfire.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that millions of wildland acres burn unintentionally each year, and the great majority (90%) of forest fires are caused by humans. To ensure that as many people as possible can experience the wonder of nature far into the future, we are dedicated to wildfire prevention and helping our guests practice safe campfire practices.

Each cabin fire pit has already been appropriately located and built, and we provide the rest of the necessary materials to start a campfire. Our kits, available at each cabin for a small fee, include a log bundle and firestarter.

Before building your fire, it’s important to abide by local fire regulations, as some regions suffer from droughts, during which fire bans are put in place. We notify guests when a burn ban is in place and provide alternatives, including grills or charcoal, to ensure you can safely enjoy your escape to nature.

Please only use the firewood in the starter kit to build your fire. Never use wood or kindling from around your cabin. These are often homes for birds and other wildlife, and doing so can result in a $100 fine.

Here’s our recommendation for setting up your logs:

  1. Place the firestarter (no need to unwrap it) in the center of the fire pit. Lay one log alongside it.
  2. Create a “lean-to” structure by placing 3 more logs across the firestarter, leaning them against the first log.
  3. Use the provided lighter to light the firestarter. NEVER use lighter fluid or other flammable materials.

Cooking tip: also suggest wrapping aluminum foil (stored under your sink) around the cooking grill before your fire gets going.

The fire needs oxygen to start, so blow air at the base of the fire to help the kindling and firewood catch and increase the flame. Continue to stoke the fire by adding more wood, but don’t let the campfire get too big. And never leave a fire unattended.

After you’ve basked in the glow of the fire you built, you still have one last crucial step – to extinguish the fire.

To do this, pour water on the fire, then stir the ashes. Repeat as necessary, until the ashes are cool to the touch. (Don’t use the cabin fire extinguisher.)

Remove any food, cooking gear, or trash from around the campfire – and never attempt to burn plastic, foil or cans.

Fires are a fun and an important part of the camping experience, but it’s even more important to respect the natural setting you’re in when you enjoy one.  

Before checking in for the night or checking out from your cabin, make sure your fire is completely extinguished and that no embers are exposed and still smoldering. Remember: if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.

Campfire Cooking

Avocado Toast, Four Ways

By Postcard Cabins -

For a light summer treat that’s hipster-approved and toasted with campfire flames, you’ve got to go avocado toast.

Here’s how to do it, four ways:

INSTRUCTIONS
Toast each piece of bread on an open fire until bread is just golden brown. For avocados, cut lengthwise in half, remove the pit from avocado; discard. Remove skin from avocado. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Place avocado (mashed or sliced) on top of toast, followed by the various toppings. Serve immediately.

INGREDIENTS
Avocado Toast with Rainbow Tomatoes

  • 1 piece whole wheat bread, toasted
  • 1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted and mashed 
  • Red, orange and yellow cherry tomatoes, each cut into quarters 
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Avocado Toast with Pomegranate Seeds

  • 1 piece whole wheat bread, toasted
  • 1/2 ripe avocado,peeled and pitted and sliced
  • 1 kiwi, peeled and diced
  • Pomegranate seeds 
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Avocado Toast with Tomatoes, Feta and Sriracha

  • 1 piece whole wheat bread, toasted
  • 1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon crumbled feta
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha
  • 2 cherry tomatoes
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Avocado Toast with Feta + Red Onion

  • 1 piece whole wheat bread, toasted
  • 1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted and mashed
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta
  • Snipped fresh chives
  • 1 tablespoon diced red onion 
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

All of our cabins include a mini-kitchen equipped with the basics of all that you’ll need to get chopping (including knives and a cutting board). See what’s inside our cabins or book your own Getaway to get campfire cooking.

Washington, DC

What to do around Getaway DC

By Postcard Cabins -

Your Getaway is about finding time to disconnect in order to reconnect—whether with family, friends, or nature. After a restful break at one of our cabins, there’s plenty to do on your way home to explore. From art museums to state parks, each of our Outposts is surrounded by plenty of relaxing and fun activities, whatever may pique your interest.

Here’s our DC Outpost guide to nearby attractions and things to do along the way:

Exploring Nearby
Spend your day further afield and come back to your cabin to relax after your adventures.

Skyline Drive – Shenandoah National Park
Just 15 minutes away from your tiny cabin is the Swift Run Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park. Skyline Drive is a 105-mile National Scenic Byway through the park, and the entire length of the park takes around three hours, so it’s an excellent day of exploring. Stop at one of the many scenic overlooks for incredible views, and keep an eye out for wildlife, such as deer, black bears, and wild turkeys.

Luray Caverns
The largest caverns in the Eastern United States are less than an hour’s drive away. Feast your eyes on towering stone formations and amazing optical illusions on a guided tour offered about every 20 minutes. Purchase of admission also includes access to the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, Toy Town Junction, and the Luray Valley Museum.

Walks in the Woods

Want to remove the walls between you and nature? Take a trip down one of these nearby hiking trails just a short drive away.

Hightop Mountain
Distance: 5.6 miles, about 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
An easy hike up the highest peak in the South District of Shenandoah National Park, Hightop Mountain offers excellent view to the south and west from the second overlook.

White Oak Canyon Trail
Distance: 9.5 miles, about 4-5 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs allowed on-leash
If you’re in search of waterfalls, head out on White Oak Canyon Trail. It can be a strenuous hike, but you can also adjust your mileage and make it shorter by skipping some of the sections.

Graves Mill Trail
Distance: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
For a hike along the Rapidan River, this is the perfect trail. This is a popular fishing spot as well, so you’re likely to spot a fisherman or two on your hike. This is a great trail for families as several trails connect, so if you get going and decide you’d like to go on a longer hike, you can do so—or you can return after the initial 2.2 miles if you’re ready to head back to your cabin.

South River Falls Trail
Distance: 4.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed on-leash
This trail features the South River Falls, which you’ll see for the first time only a mile into your hike. This gorgeous waterfall will really get you into the Getaway spirit, as its sound and beauty will welcome you into the nature offered by the Shenandoah Valley. This trail is best visited between April and October.

Old Rag Mountain
Distance: 9 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs not allowed
The Old Rag Mountain trail is Shenandoah’s most popular—but also most dangerous—hike. Round trip this hike is almost nine miles long, with narrow passages, and even some rock scrambling. However, once you make it to the top, the views are worth the time and effort they take to see.

Blue Hole
Distance: 2.5 miles, about 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
For even more water, hike Moorman’s Trail to Blue Hole and spend some time soaking in the swimming hole before heading back to your cabin.

Pro tip: download these maps ahead of time so you can go completely off grid.

Road Trip Curiosities
Start to disconnect from your daily life and explore something new before you even reach your tiny home by visiting these destinations along the way.

Yoder’s Country Market
2105 S. Seminole Tr., Madison, VA 22727
Whether you’d like to grab some soup or a sandwich from their café, explore their market and stock up for your Getaway, or spend some time meeting the animals housed in their petting zoo, Yoder’s Country Market has it all. Kids will love to pet the goats, sheep, and cows housed on Yoder’s farm, and you’re sure to get a laugh out of these fun moments.

Moo Thru
11402 James Madison Hwy, Remington, VA 22734
Stop by this barn in the middle of nowhere that serves excellent ice cream. Enjoy a cone of your favorite flavor to help fuel the rest of the drive to your cabin.

Bald Top Brewing Company
1830 Thrift Road Madison, VA 22727
You can stop at this great craft brewery for a pint or two just a couple of miles from your Getaway cabin. Bald Top Brewing Company is housed on Woodbourne Estate, a manor built between 1805-1814, for a Scottish immigrant named John Henry Prince. The owners of Bald Top Brewing Company even created a beer named Ghost Girl Pale Ale inspired by the his niece who is said to haunt the upper west bedroom of the manor. To appreciate the historic architecture and learn a bit more about the area, while enjoying some of their great brews this is a must-see location.

Greene Great Value and Feeding Greene
8271 Spotswood Trail, Stanardsville, VA 22973
To stock up on any food you haven’t already brought with you for your Getaway, you can make a pitstop at Greene Great Value to grab those last few items. Then, before you head home from your Getaway, you can also stop at the Feeding Greene food pantry, where you can donate any of the extra food you didn’t eat while on your Getaway to those in need.

Ready for a DC adventure? Find cabins near Washington DC.

FAQ

In Response to COVID-19

By Postcard Cabins -

We care deeply about the wellbeing of our dedicated guests, our team, and the local communities that have welcomed us over the years. That’s why we’ve been working day and night to ensure we can still deliver the value of Getaway, while providing a safe experience.

If you can make it to an Outpost, we want to be a resource to you—not just as a physical, naturally distant space, but also as a reprieve that brings fresh air and benefits for your spiritual and emotional wellbeing. What we’ve heard is that being home isn’t simple, or possible, for everyone, and there’s a strong need and desire for Getaway. A private, solitary experience in nature is the very DNA of Getaway, and that will never change.

We’ve recently updated our safety procedures and processes, as guidelines from local health officials and the CDC have evolved. We’ll continue to monitor and adapt as the situation continues to change. 

Here’s what we’re doing in response to COVID-19 to ensure all of our Outposts are safe for our guests and for our team:

  • We’ve intensified our routine cleaning procedures; our team now spends 2x as long cleaning each cabin to ensure they’re more deeply disinfected.
  • Our Outposts are naturally socially distant. By design, they are quiet places without communal spaces or in-person interaction. This means easy self check-in and check-out processes without a front desk and at least 50’-150’ between cabins.
  • All of our team members have been trained on detailed COVID19 cleaning practices based on the guidance of industry experts.
  • We’ve provided our team with personal protective equipment (PPE)—meaning gloves and masks to wear when appropriate according to state and local guidelines.
  • Our team is practicing strict social distancing, keeping at least 6 feet between each other or guests. When preparing cabins only one team member is ever inside at a given time.
  • Though supporting local businesses is incredibly important to us, we ask that you check local guidelines before visiting these places, including grocery stores and gas stations. We also ask that you respectfully wear a mask if and when visiting any local businesses.

Please know that our entire team is working hard to be as thoughtful, thorough, and responsible as possible in the midst of an ever-shifting landscape. We’re here for you 24/7 at [email protected].

Guest Stories

Why Are We Setting Intentions Anyway? Connecting Your Goals to Your Truth

By Postcard Cabins -

Wellness expert and coach Amina Altai helps her clients build healthy professional and personal lives. Among other things, Amina is a former Getaway guest and featured on our upcoming season of The Getaway Podcast. She shared with us her thoughts on intention setting and being your best professional self in this new year.

I’m a healthy business advisor and I help people feel really great in their work, whether it’s in the context of an organization or in their own business.  After being on the front lines of entrepreneurships for the better part of a decade, what I learned was that healthy people and healthy businesses are intrinsically tied.  In my coaching practice, I look at experiences holistically through a mind, body and business approach to growth. We evaluate clients’ relationship to themselves, food, work, movement, relationships—all of it.  Because it all impacts how we show up for our work and our purpose.

So when the new year rolls around and all my clients pile into sessions fretting about their new year’s resolutions and with a litany of work goals, diets and workouts to labor away at, I ask one question.  Why? What’s the point here?

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying that goals and intentions are a bad thing at all.  I commend the drive to grow and clearly, I value human transformation. After all, I’m a coach whose life’s work is to inspire people to be their best in work and in life. I fully believe that when we relinquish what weighs us down and fill our lives up in the right ways, we are freed to do what we’re meant to do in this world. Self-help equals world help in my opinion.

If self-help is defined as “the use of one’s own efforts and resources to achieve things without relying on others” or as a “self-guided improvement”—I’ve noticed there is a propensity to totally abandon the “self” in this equation. As New Year’s rolls around I see self-help bingeing—pre-ordering every book before it even hits the market, signing up for every boutique fitness workout ClassPass will allow, and binning everything that isn’t Whole30 approved.  Resolutions and goal setting can become a drug that eats away at the real you.

The only person that can thrust you into greatness is you. Your path can be inspired by, but not found on, the pages of just any book. And if you really wanted to #liveyourbestlife, we need to journey to the truth of who we are and why we do what we do. And no one is better equipped to guide you there than, well, you.  New year’s goals and intention setting can be incredible and valuable—there’s no doubt about it. However, like a quick-fix diet plan, goal setting and new year’s resolutions can be chaos if they’re not connected to the truth of who you are and your deep why. Resolutions and intentions by themselves are not enough. If you want to thrive, you need to have self-awareness around your goals and intentions too.

Why do you want what you want?  Is it what you need for your own personal growth or is it a societal, cultural, familial ideal you think you should want for yourself? I invite you to think deeply on that.

My time as a coach, as well as through my own deep soul searching, I’ve done some serious diving into why we want what we want. I’ve learned that ideals around work, weight and lifestyle are indeed learned but the precursor to those ideals are beliefs.  Our belief systems are learned from our families, caretakers, cultures and subcultures and they are often unconscious and unexamined. Beliefs about our self-worth, our value in the world, the work we do, and how we should look are all acquired. Growing up in a household where the story line is “we’re not enough” will likely cement the belief that you are not innately valuable.  So, you eat to comfort yourself. You overwork to remain lovable. You do what you think you should do to hide.  And then when you feel slightly out of control, you set goals and intentions to course correct the behavior instead of the belief. So as you scribble away on your new year’s intentions, I invite you to find your why and answer the below questions to set yourself up for a powerful and authentic 2020.

2020 Intention Setting Exercise

I recommend starting with a little celebration.   Taking a moment to feel joy for what we achieved often points to our why as well.  Take a moment to witness where you won big this year, what the circumstances were that supported these big wins and how it made you feel.  And then I want you to think about where you might have missed the mark and what you want to release as a result.  

Celebrate: What were your big wins in 2019? Why did they feel so great? What conditions were present for you to achieve this level of awesomeness?

Release: What do you want to let go of from 2019? Honor and release any shame from your lows.  Shame, just like beliefs, are often programmed into us as well.

  1. My Mission Is…
  2. My Big Juicy Vision Is…
  3. Who do you want to BE this year and why? Is this something that is deeply connected to your broader mission or is it programming from an old belied system? (Notice here I asked who you want to be, not just what you want to achieve or do) What do you need to heal or transform to BE this version of you in 2020?
  4. What do you want to create this year and for whom?
  5. How do you want it to take shape?
  6. What next steps do you need to take to become this version of you and serve how you want to serve?  What do you need to do over the next 30 days, 60 days, 90 days?
  7. What resources do you need to bring this to life? How can you creatively access or manifest these resources?
  8. My 2020 mantra is…

Now, I want you to think big picture for 2020.  I invite you to think of your broader mission and vision and how you’re doing to bring it to life.  You can do this for one specific area of your life, or all areas.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to set your New Year’s intentions, you know where to go. Make your escape today.

For Your Free Time

12 Days of Disconnection: Day 12

By Postcard Cabins -

On the final day of our 12 Days of Disconnection, we’re reflecting on this previous year, and considering what changes we’d like to make so that we can start 2020 on the right foot.

Intentions are powerful guiding principles that help you bring more of a certain element into your life and your actions. Rather than a goal with some sort of finish line to reach, an intention is something like confidence, gratitude, or joy. You can’t really measure how much you grow in confidence, gratitude, or joy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring more of these attributes and practices into your life. This is where intentions come in. Intentions are less specific, but they’re things that you can try to align your actions and words within your everyday life. They give you a sense of direction, but they don’t define where the journey starts or ends. Here are some tips to help you set intentions for 2020.

To create your own intentions for the new year, it’s good to start by asking yourself a few questions:

  • What is the most important to you at this moment in time?
  • What brings you the most joy?
  • What practices would you like to nurture and build in your life?
  • What fears and doubts do you want to let go of this year?

When you’re setting your intentions, it’s important to keep the intention positive—approach yourself with as much compassion as you possibly can, and avoid creating intentions like, “stop watching so much TV,” or “stop eating unhealthy foods.” Try to avoid judging yourself during the intention setting process, and simply focus on things that bring you joy, or words that encapsulate the feelings that you want to have in 2020.

For example, some great intentions include:

  • I intend to pause first before reacting.
  • I intend to live with more confidence, and to focus on my strengths rather than my weaknesses.
  • I intend to lead by example.
  • I intend to forgive others, and myself.

Think about the areas where you feel you have more work to do, and think about who you would be if these weren’t areas of weakness. Then try to write an intention from the perspective of your future self, who already has these attributes or practices down. By reminding yourself of these attributes and practices

In 2020, commit to setting better routines. Do all the little things that you wish you were doing more often—reading, listening to podcasts, finding time for joy and rest amidst the hustle. And revisit your intentions often. As we get older and learn more, it’s very likely that the things that are most important to us will shift and change as we do—so our intentions should as well. With a bit of planning, some commitment, and great intentions leading the way, 2020 is sure to be a year full of exciting new things.

Happy Holidays from our team at Getaway. We’re wishing you a happy and healthy 2020.

Looking for the perfect spot in nature to set your intentions for the New Year? Book your Getaway today.

For Your Free Time

12 Days of Disconnection: Day 11

By Postcard Cabins -

If there was ever a time that music helped you through some bumps in the road, or made you feel exhilarated and joyful during the best days, then you know how powerful music can be. This might bring back memories of chunky headphones blasting music over your ears, while you laid in bed after the rest of your family had gone to sleep. For many of us, as we grew older, it became harder and harder for us to make time for music—unless we were putting it on the background while we did other things, even though music had been such an important part of our lives before. For an idea to help you prioritize enjoying music again, here’s Day 11 of our 12 Days of Disconnection.

When was the last time you listened to an album or a podcast all the way through, without doing anything else—not on your commute, not in the background while you worked or cooked—but just sat down and listened? For many of us it has probably been quite a while. With all kinds of pressure to be productive each day, it can be hard to imagine sitting and listening to an album in full when your to-do list is nearly a foot long. But if you tuck the to-do list away, sit down and turn the music on, you might find a sense of peace that you haven’t felt in a long time.

Disconnect from everything else but the music. Pick your album, close your eyes, and just experience the way that different sounds and words feel in your body.

While a musical artist spends hours and weeks putting an album together, arranging and rearranging the order of the songs in their album, we might only listen to a few of those songs, or we might not listen to any of them in a specific order. If you set aside time to listen to an album all the way through, you’re able to get a full picture of the work that the artist created, so you might be able to gain more insights into their music and lyrics. And this is the way that an album is meant to be experienced—in its entirety, as one cohesive collection of songs.

Setting aside time to listen to the music—and only the music—could turn into something that feels like meditation. You’ll spend an hour or two in the world and mind of the artist, and then step back into the rest of your day with a new perspective, and hopefully some inspiration to make more time to be off in your daily or weekly routine.



Looking for some new playlists to listen to? Check out our playlists on Spotify created by our Artist Fellows and some members of the Getaway team.