Log cabins aren’t just for cuddling up by the fireplace in the winter months. Come summertime, a log cabin can be the perfect rustic retreat from the sweltering city, offering a tranquil refuge amid the wilderness.
If a quiet getaway in the woods is calling your name, check out these five awesome places to rent a log cabin this summer.
Lake Tahoe, California
Northern California’s Lake Tahoe is one of those rare destinations that manages to offer something special all year round. During the winter months, it’s snow-covered slopes and quaint ski villages; in the summer, it’s water sports and nature in full bloom. Skip the hotel in Tahoe and opt for a log cabin to set yourself in the midst of the area’s natural splendor this summer.
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
If there were only one mountain range you could escape to this summer, Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains would no doubt be at the top of the list. Luckily, mountains and log cabins go hand in hand, and the wilderness of Tennessee offers one of the most diverse options of log cabins in the nation. Big or small, cozy or sprawling, you’ll find the perfect log cabin for your summer getaway in the hills of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Townsend.
Asheville, North Carolina
North Carolina’s mountain town of Asheville is a sight for sore eyes, thanks to the beauty of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and the college-kid culture that keeps Asheville young. Stay close to Asheville’s funky boutiques and lively jazz scene with a cabin in the surrounding woods of North Carolina — after all, there are far worse things than having to drive into town on Blue Ridge Parkway (considered one of the most scenic highways in the country).
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen carved out a name for itself long ago as one of the world’s top winter destinations, but this Colorado mountain town experiences a renaissance come summer. Mountain bikers and hikers reclaim the once snow-covered slopes as their own during the warmer months, while summer concerts and festivals keep the mountains buzzing with activity all season long. Experience the beauty of the season for yourself with a log cabin in Aspen’s blooming wilderness.
Ponderosa State Park, Idaho
With unmatched scenery and convenient facilities to boot, state parks make summer escapes easy. In the Pacific Northwest, don’t miss a chance to enjoy Idaho at its finest at Ponderosa State Park, where several cabins sit right on the glistening waters of Payette Lake. Come nightfall, there’s no better way to soak up Idaho’s starry skies than from in front of your very own cabin.
Have you ever booked a cabin stay? Tell us where in the comments!
(Main image: Frank Schulenburg used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
