Cabin? Sign me up. Cozy? I’m there.
Mix a cocktail of winter travel, a pandemic, and a smattering of adorable cabins and what do you get? Socially-distant stay perfection, of course.
Upstate New York has quaint small towns, beautiful mountains (here’s looking at you, Adirondacks + Catskills) and a plethora of outdoor activities within reach. Turns out, there’s also some pretty fantastic cabin and cottages that are so cute, you’ll want to shove them in your pocket.
From my cabin-hopping experience, I can predict one thing…the cabin trend is here to stay. And that is something I’m very, VERY cool with.
Here are 5 cozy cabins in Upstate New York that I personally put my emphatic stamp of comfy approval on, for a winter (or anytime) getaway.
THE MONROE HOUSE
Meredith, New York
Perched on a 34 acre estate on the edge of a tiny town I had never heard of, I jumped for joy upon arrival at the Monroe House. Let me break it down: Cute cabin, steps from an outdoor hot tub on a platform overlooking the not too distant mountains, and attention to detail that will leave you swooning.
↟ One bedroom, one bathroom, and suitable to sleep 2 peeps. ↟
That attention to detail I mentioned.
Cozy reading nook? Yep. Hot chocolate and cookies? You betcha. A gnome? An unexpected bonus.
WHAT TO DO
The hot tub is an obvious choice. I mean look at it. JUST LOOK AT IT.
In between hot tub dips, I made shrimp tacos, drank wine, relaxed in the reading nook, and fell asleep in the big comfy bed watching Netflix, as one should during a cabin stay.
If you want to head away from the cabin to explore (you won’t) there are various outdoor activities and cute eateries. Plattekill Mountain is practically a neighbor, as are several hiking trails and restaurants.
↬ Ready to book your cozy stay at The Monroe House? Do it here: Airbnb
Follow them on Instagram: @themonroehouse
Owl’s Landing Cottage
Keene, New York
A backroad beauty with views from the breakfast table. Owl’s Landing will have you at the red door, and keep you hooked with the cute and cozy interior, proximity to hiking trails, and the towns of Keene and Lake Placid.
↟ One bedroom, one bathroom, and suitable to sleep 3 peeps. ↟
They’re killin’ the rug game here at Owl’s Landing. Aside from drooling over the decor, I took a bunch of Zoom meetings from that fantastic window-side table pictured below and it served as a much better backdrop than my mound of laundry stacked on my bed at home.
The view I mentioned.
WHAT TO DO
Loads of hiking trails are just a hop and a skip from the cottage; the only issue being how to choose which ones to set foot on. My personal favorite is the jaunt up Big Crow. In the winter, snowshoes are recommended and the last bits of the road are closed, adding a mere half mile to the less than two mile trek. You’ll be rewarded with sprawling views…unless it’s foggy-snowing, of course. (Like the day I went.)
And although there is a full kitchen, you’ll be doing yourself a delicious favor by heading to the nearby Ice Jam Inn & Restaurant for dinner.
↬ Ready to book your cozy stay at Owl’s Landing Cottage? Do it here: Airbnb
Follow them on Instagram: @owlslandingadk
Juniper Hill Cabin
Wilmington, New York
Cute as can be Juniper Hill sits in a quiet cul-de-sac backed by idyllic woods and mountain tips on the edge of charming Wilmington, New York. Skiers will rejoice at the 7 minute drive to the ever-popular Whiteface Mountain, and hikers will be in actual heaven. The towns of Wilmington, Jay, and Lake Placid are easily accessible and classic Adirondack scenery abounds no matter where you hang.
↟ Two bedroom, one bathroom, and suitable to sleep 4 peeps. ↟
For what seems like a tiny little thing, Juniper’s insides offers quite a bit of space. A full kitchen and cozy living room practically beg for dinner + a movie night.
WHAT TO DO
Drive Wilmington Notch for amazing views.
Ski Whiteface.
Wander the backyard woods.
Or, put your feet up and chill with a cup of joe and flip through the Cabin Porn book.
↬ Ready to book your cozy stay at Juniper Hill? Do it here: Airbnb
Follow them on Instagram: @juniperhillcabin
The A-Frame at Evergreen Cabins
REMSEN, NEW YORK
I love me a good A-frame. This one, constructed by Evergreen Cabins, knew exactly what to do in front of my camera lens. The luxury cabin looked good from any angle, and proved to be a stellar spot to stuff my face with pizza and drink beer in a cozier than cozy environment with tall, lengthy windows. Oh, and it was steps from a snowmobile trail in basically the general snowmobiling mecca region of the state…if you’re into that sort of thing. (Take note of the stove hood - crafted from the front of a snowmobile!)
↟ One bedroom, one bathroom, suitable to sleep 4 peeps. ↟
With no shortage of window space, light was plentiful and watching the snow fall from the couch or large dining room table had a welcome trance-like effect. Where’s the bedroom, you ask? Up the spiral stairs and straight ahead; a small loft space with a King bed (yes, KING) that gets the job done, will greet you. Oh, and in the summer, the bed slides out onto a “bed deck” of sorts…for STARGAZING!
WHAT TO DO
Access to nearby Hinkley Lake makes for a nice lil day of kayaking, swimming, or anything else your lake-loving heart desires. In the winter, the aforementioned snowmobiling is a popular thing. Also, staying put in the cabin to build yourself a fire for marshmallow roastin’ will have you attaining the most authentic A-frame experience possible, in my book anyways.
↬ Ready to book your cozy stay at the A-frame at Evergreen Cabins? Do it here: Airbnb
Follow them on Instagram: @evergreencabins
Casa Minnewaska
Kerhonkson, New York
This Catskills gem was as spacious as it is cozy, with a hot tub on an expansive deck, to boot. As one of Upstate Getaways freshly renovated, luxury properties, Casa Minnewaska proved to be the perfect place to unwind during a classic Upstate New York winter dump of snowfall. If you can tear yourself away from the property, outdoor exploits beckon from Minnewaska State Park and the Shawangunk Mountains.
↟ Three bedrooms, three baths, suitable to sleep 8 peeps + a pet, if you’ve got one. ↟
I challenge you not to get cozy in the living space and cook like a chef in the more than equipped kitchen. (Okay, the chef part might be far-fetched, BUT STILL.) Every exit on the first floor will land you on the large deck that made me wish for the summer months of rocking-chair rockin’, barbeque bbq-in’, and hot tub dipping — oh wait, I did do that and it’s even better in the winter.
And no need to wrastle over who gets what bedroom; they’re all great. Except the master with its own deck and hammock swing, that one is worth flipping a coin for.
WHAT TO DO
The pièce de résistance has to be the hot tub. Watch sun tuck itself in from the warmth of the deck tub and pinch yourself — it’s that good.
When you’re not pruning up in the hot tub, enjoy the deck + the views it presents, park your butt in that hammock swing, pretend do be a pizza chef (I made a white pizza with roasted brussel sprouts, garlic, and bacon - DELISH), and explore the state park next door.
A walk to the frozen Awosting Falls proved to be pretty picturesque, I must say. And if you’re craving that quaint small town feel, make sure to drive the fifteen minutes up to Stone Ridge and you’ll see that quaint historic vibe thing I’m talking about.
↬ Ready to book your cozy stay at Casa Minnewaska? Do it here: Airbnb
Check out the other Upstate Getaways properties too!
Follow them on Instagram: @casaminnewaska + @upstategetaways