Driving through middle-of-nowhere Ohio, you just might miss the tiny sign on the side of the road for Getaway Beaver Creek.
Pump the brakes and turn onto a long gravel road (well, more of a pathway). Pass by cows meandering through the grass, squeeze by tall stalks of corn, stop for a minute to admire the reflection of a barn and silo mirrored onto a still pond.
The cabin isn’t even in view yet and already there’s a new sense of mindfulness, of slowing down — and that’s exactly what Getaway is trying to do.
Getaway is a startup that offers escapes to tiny cabins nestled in nature, and it added the Pittsburgh area to its list of destinations this summer. I got a first look at Getaway and spent a night in one of the new cabins. It’s a tale that involves dozens of dragonflies, surprisingly good vegetarian food, a chance to draw on decades-old Girl Scout knowledge, and newfound serenity. Presented as part review, part insider’s guide, here’s the full story about the place you might just want to book for your next — ahem — getaway.
What is Getaway?
First came the social media ads with their idyllic pictures of soaring trees and Scandinavian-looking tiny houses so beautiful that my thumb stopped mid-scroll. I think I’m the target demographic for Getaway — a millennial with a phone growing out of my hand and a laptop on me at all times. So when Getaway offered to host me at their cabin to try it out, I was already halfway out the door with my travel companion (my husband Shane).
Getaway’s cabins are strategically located near cities. Getaway Beaver Creek in Lisbon, Ohio is aimed at folks in Pittsburgh (about a 45-minute drive) and Cleveland (about an hour-and-a-half drive), and they’ve got outposts outside of Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, and Washington DC, as well. The Beaver Creek cabins — 36 cabins, to be exact — are tucked between Beaver Creek State Park & Forest and Hellbender Bluff County Park.
While the experience seems tailor-made for millennials, the idea of disconnecting is universal, and we saw fellow travelers of all ages, including families, couples, and solo visitors.
The experience is about “the simple nostalgia of childhood — a time where nothing was more perfect than sitting around a campfire, swapping stories (and s’mores) with your loved ones,” Getaway’s Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield told The Incline. “Put simply, though, we think that more time in nature without distractions helps us be better in every aspect of our lives.”
What’s the cabin like?
If you’ve ever watched HGTV, you’ve probably dreamed of living in a tiny house. This is the perfect chance to try it out.
Yes, these minimalist cabins are really tiny — 136-200 square feet — with options that can accommodate up to two people or up to four. But somehow the cabin didn’t feel claustrophobic. I noticed three things upon walking in: The smell of fresh pine, how well everything was designed, and the signature window.
What’s inside?
- A queen-size bed carefully designed on a platform, so there’s space to stow bags or shoes underneath.
- A kitchenette with a sink, stove, mini fridge, pots/pans, cooking utensils, dishes, olive oil, salt and pepper, and reasonably priced snacks.
- A bathroom with real running water, a toilet, a shower, biodegradable shower products, bath towels, and a first aid kit. There’s no mirror and no hair dryer — that’s intentional and refreshing. (I did find a small hand mirror in the cabinet, which was necessary for putting in my contact lenses.)
- A writing desk complete with a cellphone lockbox and a Getaway Guide containing a constellation map, an intro to forest bathing, meditation tips, a scavenger hunt, questions to ask your travel companion, poems, riddles, and more.
- A landline phone just in case. (We did get a spam call because it turns out you can’t escape scammers, even in the forest.) We did get cell service, but there’s no wifi, obviously.
- Books, a radio, and a lantern.
- Air conditioning and heat.
- And then there’s the window — *The Big Window.* Taking up an entire side of the house, this soaring window provides a tranquil forest view.
What’s outside?
- A digital lock — you’ll be sent the code on the day you arrive, which means, yes, you can check in and out without ever talking to a human.
- A parking area at each cabin.
- A picnic table for outdoor dining, along with chairs.
- An area for a campfire, along with campfire supplies for a small charge ($6.50).
- Other cabins. Yes, the cabins are all located on the same site, but there’s a decent distance between them, and the way the campsites are set up, you likely won’t be disturbed by your neighbor.
What’s not included?
As Getaway says, the cabins are “carefully designed by our team to include everything you need and nothing you don’t.” For the most part, I’d have to agree, though there were a few minor things worth noting for your visit.
- The biggest struggle for us was not having tools for the campfire. The fire kit includes logs and a firestarter (there’s a lighter inside the cabin). But there are no tools to move the logs around which makes it very difficult to help a fledgling fire, even with my Girl Scout Gold Award (proud humblebrag) knowledge. By the time we built a fire, it was too dark to search the woods for a stick to do the job. We even went so far as to consider digging the car jack out of our trunk and using the handle as a tool.
- I’d bring my own drinking water next time. The water has a strong sulfur smell. I don’t blame this on Getaway; I do blame this on the state of Ohio. It’s also possible that I’m pickier than most, especially after becoming a Certified Water Taster (this is my second humblebrag of this section, enjoy), because my travel companion wasn’t bothered by the odor.
- Answers to the riddles! The Getaway Guide contains a section of puzzling riddles and I can’t find the answers in the book anywhere … wait, is this another riddle?
What’s around town?
Well, not much. Again, that’s on purpose.
- There’s a mile-long nature trail on site, which winds through the woods along a creek and out to a large pond. Along the way, we spotted forget-me-nots, snapdragons, daisies, ferns, a heron, and dozens of darting dragonflies.
- More hiking trails can be found a short distance from the cabins, with a variety of difficulty levels.
- There’s a 24-hour BP gas station/convenience store within a 10-minute drive.
- The town of Lisbon is about 15 minutes away, and it’s so worth the drive to check out this tiny village, population 2,800. While you’re in Lisbon, eat at The Courthouse Inn & Restaurant for vegetarian comfort food. We had a summer salad with produce from local farms, BBQ cauliflower, and spinach artichoke dip, and wished we’d had room for some homemade pie.
- A grocery store, more restaurants, a vineyard, a golf course, a fruit farm, and an old mill are all within 45 minutes driving distance.
Is it worth it?
In short, yes. I’d definitely go back, and I’d stay for more than one night this time. Rates start at $99/night.
It’s an ideal middle ground somewhere between pitching a tent in the woods and booking a hotel. As Shane said, “It was nice to be right there in nature, right up against the woods, but I didn’t have to deal with the annoyance of humidity, bugs, and allergies.”
For me, Getaway is the perfect retreat. I can’t think of the last time I could stare at the leaves of a tree dancing in the wind or watch dragonflies buzz around or gaze into the darkest black sky I’ve ever seen or sit around a campfire — alone — with my partner and have deep talks. It’s a rare chance to slow down to disconnect from technology and to reconnect with what matters.
Editor’s note: Getaway provided one night of lodging but had no control over editorial content.