At the end of last year, my boyfriend and I talked about having a weekend getaway once a month to allow us to disconnect and enjoy eachother’s company. Put our phones away, grab a book and some games, talk and unwind. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
So we booked our first weekend in January in the middle of the woods in New Hampshire. We hopped on airbnb, filtered for some cool homes (treehouse, tipi, cabin, etc.) instead of just a regular house. We immediately spotted a treehouse just an hour and a half north of Boston and booked it.
Never used Airbnb before? Use my link here to get $40 off your first stay!
Also, check out my full Airbnb blog post! I help you make sure you’ll never get a bad experience!
I was pleased to find out that I’m not the only one who thought this was a good idea. I posted the treehouse and our idea on my instagram story and got dozens of messages saying “this is such a great idea! Please share the link!”. It made me realize that the hustle and bustle of the American Dream is really starting to wear on people. Experiences are memories you can have forever, not just more stuff. However, I wasn’t going to post the link until I made sure I would actually recommend it. So, here we are, so I do recommend it!
The weekend came and we packed a small bag with clothes, grabbed books, drawing supplies, games and our blankets and pillows and headed up North.
Want some more getaway inspiration?
We also did a weekend at a cabin in Jackson, New Hampshire and another rustic cabin in the Fall. Then there’s the Silo in the Berkshires – absolutely loved this place!
Another fun idea is to do a Getaway House! Check here for my experience with the brand.
About the treehouse
The treehouse is located at Jack’s home in the middle of the woods in Dunbarton, New Hampshire. Sounds a little creepy right? Maybe, but you can’t live in fear. We pulled up to Jack’s cabin and saw the treehouse walkway leading into the trees. He greeted us, showed us the ins and outs of it and gave us some recommendations of activities to do.
The treehouse is petite, but in the perfect way. There’s a bunkbed, a wood stove to keep warm and cook on, a “bathroom” (more like an outhouse but inside), a neat light up table and a comfy chair. Everything you need to survive a weekend.
Welp, I almost forgot the best part. At night, turn off all the lights, have the stove going and just look straight up. The roof is see through, so you can see all the stars right above you. Please note that I was at the treehouse in the winter when the leaves were off the trees. This may not pertain to when the leaves are back on!
Here is the link if you are interested in taking the trip! And please, if you go, let me know how your experience was!
What to do at the treehouse
This is going to be pretty short and sweet, because my biggest recommendation is to not do much at all.
Relax
Yep, I said it. Relax people. I had to force myself to do it, but man was it incredible. When’s the last time you just sat there in silence without a phone or something else in hand? Just enjoy the moment.
Read/write/draw/play games
I remember growing up, I NEVER watched TV or even had a phone to play with. To put all of that a way and enhance my brain by reading or writing, or pick up a pencil and paper after years and just draw aimlessly, it felt good. Getting in touch with your younger self can enhance happiness overall!
Stay in and make a meal or two
Instead of going out to eat, go to the grocery store and bring your cooking supplies. We went simple and did grilled cheese, mac and cheese and made turkey sandwiches for lunch. It cost us $15, which means our entire weekend getaway costed us around $160 (total, so $80 per person).
Get outside
We knew we were going to be spending the weekend inside relaxing, so we wanted to start by getting in touch with nature and going for a hike. There are some trails behind the treehouse, or you can head to Nottingcook Forest to hike there. It was peaceful with few people on the trails, especially in the winter.
Other questions I received
How do you find these adorable getaways?
I know a lot of people hate the research parts of planning trips, but I LOVE it. The easiest and painless way to find these getaways is to know what you are looking for, and where you want to go. If you want a cabin, then head to airbnb, filter on cabin, then search the area you desire. This is usually the way I go about it. I personally love Airbnb, so I tend to do all my researching there, but would love to start expanding and trying other businesses.
Take a look at how I plan my itineraries here!
Did you look into other tree houses in New England?
I did not! But after going to that one and also looking at Jack’s book of treehouses around the world, I’m definitely going to start looking into more. I’m excited to start focusing on New England and all there is to be offered here in this area!
Was it cold in the winter? How is their heat?
Yes! Please keep this in mind when thinking of booking this place in the winter. It does not have heat, but it does have a wood stove. You will need to know how to use the wood stove, and also continue to keep it going all night. It’s magical in the winter but it’s definitely important to be prepared to keep yourself warm!
Love it!