I decided to end the year by taking my pup to the Getaway Piney Woods House in Larue, TX, near Dallas, for a weekend to unplug, reset, and recharge!
Escaping the busy city life to a secluded cabin is a great way to spend a quiet romantic couples getaway weekend, reconnect with your family (including fur family) without technology, or even for some much-needed peaceful solo time to disconnect and unwind.
As someone who has never been camping before, I’ve always been nervous about having to “rough it” out in the woods.
Fortunately, these tiny cabins offer the best solution, a way to wake up in nature but still enjoy the comforts of a flushing toilet, a comfy bed, and a hot shower!
I have compiled all the info you need from my honest experience at The Getaway House near Dallas, some pros and cons, tips on what to bring with you and so much more!
Let’s start at the beginning…what are Getaway Houses?
Getaway houses are actually tiny cabins smack in the middle of nature! The company’s concept is to disconnect from technology and connect with nature, yourself, or loved ones.
How “tiny” are we talking about?
Pretty tiny! According to their website, they are around 140-200 square feet. But as the Getaway site says, they stock them with “everything you need and nothing you don’t.”
Think of it as a simple cozy glamping experience.
Where are they located?
The cabins are 1.5-2 hours away from most major cities.
The Getaway House I stayed in was near Dallas called the Getaway Piney Woods, located in LaRue, Texas.
It was just 1.5 hours from Dallas, TX.
What’s inside the cabin?
BED
The cabins have a queen bed (or two queen bunk beds) with white linen sheets and pillows.
The best part is your bed is by a HUGE window (the main selling point of these tiny cabins), so you can wake up to a gorgeous view of nature!
Don’t worry if you’re a light sleeper because there are blinds you can pull down to help block the sun if you don’t want the sunlight waking you up in the mornings.
KITCHEN
- A two-burner stove (no oven, no microwave or toaster)
- Sink
- Mini fridge (but no freezer or ice maker)
- Silverware and cooking utensils
- Plates and bowls
- Cups, and mugs
- 1 pot
- 1 frying pan
- A cutting board
- A kettle
- A can opener, bottle opener, scissors, and lighters.
- There is free coffee creamer, sugar, salt & pepper, and little packets of olive oil.
- For purchase there is coffee, tea, and hot chocolate (the prices are listed in the cabin).
- You will find a trash can under the sink, paper towels, dish towels, dish soap, and a sponge are also provided.
- Aluminum foil for outdoor grilling is also provided.
BATHROOM
The cabins come with a toilet and a stand-up shower. Yay for hot showers! 😊
They include:
- Bathroom towels
- Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
- A first aid kit (which includes tampons)
- There is no sink inside the bathroom, medicine cabinet, or mirror in the bathroom. (I found that there is a small hand-held mirror in one of the cupboards in the kitchen)
Other things you will find in your cabin:
- Heat and A/C- so it’s perfect to visit at any time of year!
- There’s a small table with one chair and bench seating
- Storage space under the bed
- Coat hooks behind the door
- An outlet
- A lantern
- A radio
- books, cards, and an activity booklet
- There is no Wi-Fi or television, but there is a cell phone lockbox so you can put your phones inside and disconnect!
- A phone with a landline so you can call the onsite staff
What’s outside the cabin?
The cabins have a nice outdoor space with a fire pit, a grill, a dog lead, a picnic table, and chairs.
There are logs and firestarters available for purchase in a bin outside. The way it works is that you use whatever you need, and then you will be charged for whatever you used at the end of your stay.
Can you see your neighbors?
The cabins are about 50-150 feet apart from each other, so I was able to see some of the nearby cabins and cars.
Although this makes it less secluded, it still feels very private. And since I was by myself, I didn’t mind seeing that there were other people around.
What’s the check-in process like?
On the day you check in, they send you a text with the cabin’s name and a lock code to get in and out. All the cabins are uniquely named after a grandparent of a staff member (mine was named Shahbanu).
So, the check-in process is easy and contactless; you drive directly to your cabin, let yourself in, and get settled!
My check-in experience was rocky because my code wouldn’t work. However, I had good cell service and was able to send a text to a staff member, and they immediately provided me with another code to a lockbox that held a key, and I was then able to open the cabin.
I think this was a rare situation but rest assured that if you come across this issue and the code won’t work, they will help you ASAP!
Did it feel safe?
In my experience, it felt very safe. The cabin felt very secure. I was able to lock the cabin while I was out exploring and kept my items safe inside.
As I mentioned earlier, it never felt creepy or scary since I saw the other nearby cabins.
What’s the cell service like?
I had expected zero signal since the cabins are designed for unplugging, but I had all my bars at the Getaway Piney Wood House in Larue, TX (near Dallas) location.
So I think it depends on your location.
Are the cabins dog friendly?
For an extra fee, you can bring your pup! They will include dog bowls for you to use during your stay and a dog lead so your pup can spend time with you outside!
Are there things to do Nearby?
Before you arrive, you’ll receive a welcome email from The Getaway House with a link to an article and a map with information on nearby attractions.
I stayed in a Getaway House located in LaRue, Texas, just southeast of Dallas. Inside the cabin, they also provided a guide that included a map of the nature walks on the property as well as a nearby grocery store (20 mins away), wineries and breweries (25 min drive), various parks for hiking and swimming activities (40 min – 1 hr drive).
I decided to stay onsite at the Getaway House for the real cabin in the woods feel, so If you’re not in the mood to drive out of the Getaway property, at every Outpost, you’ll find a few nature trails.
What to bring
Even though Getaway House supplies you with a lot of items, there were some items I was happy that I brought with me, including some comfort items.
- Comfy lounging clothes
- Food (Although they have some non-perishable food items for purchase, it’s cheaper to just bring some of your own stuff)
- Toiletries
- Outdoor shoes
- Indoor shoes (your socks will thank you)
- Blankets to cozy up by the fire
- Books
- Water
- Beverages like juice, milk, wine, etc
- Cooler with ice
- Your own coffee maker & coffee grinds (if you don’t like that instant stuff)
Wondering what I packed for my weekend trip? Check out my Ultimate Getaway Packing List!
Pros and Cons of staying at the Getaway House
PROS
- It felt very private but not in a “creepy cabin in the woods” horror movie sort of way
- The bed was comfortable
- The kitchenette and bathroom had everything I needed so I didn’t have to pack much
- Staff members were fast to respond to my questions via text
CONS
- The biggest con for me is that there’s not a way to select a specific cabin when you book online, and it’s hard to tell from the maps they provide on their website which of the cabins are the best.
- Most locations are not walkable to any eateries or parks, so you will need to drive far to get to places.
Expectations vs. Reality of the Piney Woods Getaway House Location
After reading their website, I expected zero to little phone signal at the Piney Woods Getaway House near Dallas, so I was looking forward to disconnecting from work, technology, and social media and just spending quality time with my dog, Zoey. Giving her my full attention away from my TV and phone.
As it turns out, I had good phone service during my entire stay, but I still chose to stay off social media and mindless internet browsing.
Since I was going by myself (besides my pup), I was worried that it was going to feel secluded and scary, but there are about 40 cabins on the property (which are all within easy walking distance) and 24/7 staff on the property as well, which made me feel very safe.
I’ve never been camping, so this easier glamping setup was a great way of spending time in nature without having to worry about sleeping on rocks or pitching a tent. I think the tiny cabin glamping style is the best solution to being in nature but still having the daily comforts of a comfortable bed and a hot shower.
And let’s not forget THAT WINDOW. I expected it to be stunning, and it did not disappoint! I loved waking up in nature with a gorgeous view and in a super cozy bed!
Is it for you?
If you want a livelier setting for a group trip of 5 or more people (cabins have 2-4 person limit) or want a party vibe, I wouldn’t recommend it. They ask guests to avoid playing music outside, and to extinguish fires and to return to the cabins by 10 PM.
This is a great place to escape the busy city life and enjoy nature walks, breathing fresh air, roasting marshmallows, eating outdoors, and listening to the birds and leaves rustling in the breeze.
This is a place to relax and unwind.
How much does it Cost?
The prices seem to range from $99-$299, depending on the location, day of the week or the time of year.
Make your first booking with my referral link and receive $25 OFF your first stay (minimum of two nights required.
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