THE SHORT VERSION:
Escape the hustle and bustle, clear your mind, and enjoy nature. This simple yet comfortable log cabin is set in the woods of rural, northeast Vermont. Enjoy hiking, biking, boating, refreshing swims, or a nap in a hammock during the summer; scenic backroad drives during fall foliage; skiing, skating, snowshoeing, or cozying up next to the wood stove in the winter; or some freshly boiled maple syrup in the spring. Great for a couple’s getaway, friends’ weekend, or quality time with the family.
THE LONGER VERSION:
Before anything else, the answer that most people are seeking when they are reading this lengthier description: yes, we allow pets! We do charge a pet fee of $20 for the entirety of the stay for the first pet, and $5 extra for each additional pet after the first. We've hosted hundreds of dogs, some cats, and even once a bunny and we (and our own pups) are more than happy to have them!
As for all the rest of it: First, we like to try to give potential guests an idea of the region of Vermont in which we are located. It's important to emphasize how rural this region is - it's different from other parts of Vermont. We are located in the northeastern part of the state. We are on the opposite side of the state from Burlington and Lake Champlain (about 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive), and we are east of all the Central Vermont Ski areas (between 1 hour and 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive). This area does not have a lot of tourism (relative to the other parts of the state) and in turn has a much smaller, more humble economy than the "busier" parts of the state. We have a lot of old farmland and meandering dirt roads. The town of Groton, where we are located, has a general store (about a 3-minute drive), a small public library, a playground, a thrift shop, a dispensary, and is home to Groton State Forest (about a 15-minute drive from the cabin). But besides that, most everything else (restaurants, bars, shops, ski resorts) are all, at the very least, a 30–45-minute drive. We don't have a lot of the amenities or well-established outdoor adventure venues that the larger towns like Stowe, Woodstock, or Burlington can offer. Our little slice of Vermont is truly a place to get away from the more modern world and slow down. We think some of the best things to do in our immediate area and/or at the cabin are: star-gazing, napping in the hammock, sitting by the fire pit and roasting marshmallows, snow-shoeing through the backwoods around the cabin, taking a bike ride on our local back roads, or taking a kayak out on one of the very peaceful lakes in Groton State Forest.
With that said, if you are willing to take a drive, there are lots of things to do (and remember, this is easy driving - very few stop lights and NEVER any traffic). We are located in between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire; about an hour White Mountain National Forest and 1 hour and 15 minutes from Vermont's Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield. We are 1 hour and 30 minutes from Burlington and Lake Champlain; and an hour and ten minutes from Stowe, Woodstock, and the Mt. Washington Hotel. If you are looking for downhill skiing, you will be a 50 minutes’ drive from small ski mountains like Burke Mountain and Bolton Valley, and 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes from bigger ski resorts in all directions (Stowe, Sugarbush, Jay Peak, Loon Mountain, Bretton Woods, Sunapee, and more!). If you are looking for scenic landscapes, a right turn out of the driveway can lead you to miles of back roads that can display our picturesque fall foliage, rolling hills covered in snow, and every season in between :). On a typical back road drive you will see old farmhouses, vistas of the mountains off in the distance, and country general stores with local cheese, apples, syrup, and more. There are some great breweries in all directions, some more obvious and some hidden in the nooks of our Vermont hills.
As for the log cabin itself: it is located on a dirt road in the woods on the outskirts of Groton. Your hosts live in a house on the same property, about a one- or two-minute walk up the hill from the log cabin. The two houses are separated by woods, so besides the shared driveway that passes in front of the cabin, the cabin is quite private.
This is a modern cabin in almost every way. It has electricity, insulation, central heat (in addition to an effective wood stove), microwave, full gas stove and oven, refrigerator, a full bathroom, a washer and dryer, a land-line telephone, and Wi-fi. But we want to stress that this is a place to disconnect. Literally. You might get one bar of cell phone service. The cabin does not have TV or computers.
There are no properly maintained trails on the property where the cabin sits but the woods are great for roaming through by foot or snowshoe. There are snowmobile trails in the area, but none on the property, and no direct access to the VAST trail system nearby.
Remember, if all you need is a place to rest and relax - this most likely will be a good fit. You won't hear a thing at night and only a logging truck or two during the day. It’s a great place to write, play an instrument, do yoga, nap, cuddle, sit around for hours and talk with your loved ones, or just be :).
GUEST ACCESS:
The entire cabin and its contents are yours to use. There is a small shed across the fishpond from the cabin that has sleds, snowshoes, and outdoor furniture for the guests to use as well. Guests are welcome to use the wood stove in the cabin and the fire pit in the backyard. We provide firewood, fire-starter blocks, matches, and kindling. (We do ask that if you need a little lesson on how to use the wood stove, please don't hesitate to ask - a few tips can go a long way.)
HOST INTERACTION:
The log cabin is located on the same property as the hosts' house. We are about a one-minute walk up the hill. We are available to stop by and introduce ourselves if guests would like that or need assistance, but we want to offer people a very private, quiet experience. We do share a driveway with the cabin, so you might see our cars drive by occasionally during the day. While we try to give our guests space, we are available 24/7 through phone and/or messenger to help you with any questions or concerns, or to offer any suggestions for local attractions/activities.
IMPORTANT OTHER NOTES:
1) There is very limited cell phone service at and around the log cabin. If you have AT&T or Verizon, you might have one or two bars. Otherwise, you will most likely not have service. There are no TVs or computers, in the log cabin.
2) You will need a car to get to this location and get around the area. While there is a small general store nearby, the nearest full grocery store is 20 minutes away.
3) Your hosts will be available to offer guidance, suggestions, directions, and assistance. However, we ask that you be reasonable with your requests and recognize that you are in a rural area in a woodsy cabin.
