July, 2018 | Petite Retreater

Summer Cabin Fun

There’s something about a rustic cabin that brings you closer to nature, along with evoking memories of carefree summer camp days gone by. Make it a summer you won’t forget, and experience the joys of nature, by planning a stay in a Petite Retreat cabin.

Enjoy an island getaway in Bar Harbor which is located on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Both Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort (in Bar Harbor) and Narrows Too Camping Resort (in nearby Trenton) offer summer cabins perfect for your island stay. Both offer wooded locations with views of the oceans, plenty of amenities and are family and pet-friendly. Both camping resorts are close to all that the Bar Harbor area has to offer, including the harbor towns and Acadia National Park.

Acadia National Park offers 47,000 acres of woodland wonderland to explore from hikes and climbs to rocky beachfronts. This park is also home to Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the East Coast. The park offers guided hikes, cruises, and nature programs including birding and creature “meet and greets.” Visit nps.gov/acad for more information.

The town of Bar Harbor offers shopping and dining as well as events on the “Village Green” which serves as the gathering place in the center of town. Summer weeknight concerts are offered free each Monday and Thursday evening from 8 to 9 p.m. There are also several museums that feature the history of the area including the Great Harbor Maritime Museum and Mount Desert Oceanarium. Ocean cruise options include whale-watching, island tours and a chance to learn about the life of a lobsterman on the Lulu Lobsterboat Ride. Speaking of lobster, don’t miss a lobster meal at Stewman’s Lobster Pound, an authentic oceanfront lobster pound.

On the Pacific Coast, Oregon offers multiple cabin retreats, including Seaside RV Resort, South Jetty RV Resort, and Mt. Hood Village RV Resort.

Mt. Hood’s location provides the perfect opportunity for a mountain getaway and the chance to explore Mt. Hood National Forest. Spend the day hiking the trails that include Tamanawas Falls, a five-mile loop along the Hood River complete with waterfall views or the longer Timothy Lake trail that covers 13 miles and offers plenty of swimming spots along the way to cool off! Spend the day fishing or taking in one of several birding trails to see the migratory birds that make their home in the forest. Nearby Portland offers big city fun including the Portland Art Museum (current exhibits include Art from the 1980s, running through August 18) and the Oregon Zoo, which features a set of summer concerts (oregonzoo.org).

Enjoy a cabin stay at Seaside RV Resort and enjoy the town of Seaside’s picturesque 1.5 mile oceanfront Promenade via bicycle or a long stroll. Or get up close and personal and feed the seals at the Seaside Aquarium, also located along the Promenade. Roll into town the weekend of September 6-9 and enjoy the Seaside Wheels and Waves Car Show, Oregon’s premier auto show that showcases cars dating from pre-1965.

Wherever you choose to stay, Petite Retreats has cabins for you! Find out more at petiteretreats.com.

Honeymoon With Petite Retreats!

Honeymoons can be some of the best days of a marriage. That feeling of being brand new and ready to face any adventure together may not last forever, so where do you go to spend that window of unfettered travel and leisure?

The Adirondacks

With majestic mountains, moonlit lakes, and charming towns, the Adirondack region of New York is definitely a romantic destination. From scenic drives and boutique wineries to water sports and hiking and biking trails, the Adirondack region has it all.

Consider the Mohican Trail Historical Driving Tour, self-guided tour that takes you through military sites, historic markers, and the surrounding counties that include Saratoga County and its architectural and cultural offerings.

Parasail with your partner over the beautiful views of the mountains and lakes from high in the sky. The region has several providers of parasail adventures including Lake George Shoreline Parasail Adventures and Pinky’s Parasailing Adventures. As they say, the couple that parasails together stays together.

The Adirondack region is home to several distilleries, wineries, and craft breweries and offers several ways to see these operations. There’s the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail (adkcoastwine.com) or the Adirondack Coast Beverage Trail which combines 28 wineries, cideries, distilleries, and breweries on one bike trail. The trail offers incredible views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.

Cabin at Lake George Escape, Lake George, NY

Stay in a cozy cabin with your honey at Lake George Escape in the beautiful Adirondacks!

Santa Barbara, California

From the city’s small-town charm combined with its Mediterranean inspired architecture and miles of sandy beaches, it’s no wonder that Santa Barbara is called the “American Riviera.” There are wine trails, spas, shopping, fine dining, museums, gardens and more to explore in this idyllic coastal town, and it’s more romantic the more you explore it.

The beautiful architecture of the city and surrounding area may inspire you with ideas when you begin setting up your home with your honey. Most notable are the Lobero Theater, the Santa Barbara Courthouse, and the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Take a walking tour of the city and learn the rich history of the Spanish-style buildings or drive into nearby Montecito and tour Casa del Herrero, a stunning example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, along with its gardens and grounds (casadelherrero.com). Don’t miss a hike to Knapp’s Castle and explore the ruins of the palatial estate built by industrialist George Knapp in 1920.

Santa Barbara is known for its stunning sunsets and there are several places, both public and somewhat private, to watch the sunset to end a perfect honeymoon day. Enjoy dinner and a sunset at the Shoreline Café or the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach. For a sandy sunset, try Cabrillo Beach or Butterfly Beach. Stearns Wharf, albeit a bit more touristy, is another option and offers not only sunset views but shopping and dining options.

Stay at one of the unique accommodations at Rancho Oso RV Resort just outside Santa Barbara, CA!

Visit petiteretreats.com to see how you can take your next romantic getaway with Petite Retreats!

Wisconsin Dells – A Classic Family Getaway

Long before it was considered the “waterpark capital of the world,” families flocked to the Wisconsin Dells to spend their summer vacation amidst the beauty of nature. The history of the Dells as a vacation destination dates back to the mid to late 1800s when visitors were attracted by the sandstone bluffs, countless caves, and of course, the Dells.

Derived from the French word, dalles, the actual Wisconsin Dells exist from a melting glacier some 20,000 years ago. Melting waters cut into the sandstone landscape and as the waters receded towering sandstone cliffs emerged and the gorge was created. With the river below and the high bluffs above, it became a place of natural amazement. H.H. Bennett, a Civil War photographer, came to photograph the scenic area and created stereoscopic images that depicted the magnificent dells as multidimensional. Those photographs were eventually turned into postcards and soon the whole country knew about this fantastic place in the Midwest. In 1856, the Wisconsin Mirror wrote this about the Dells – “We conclude that the wild, romantic scenery of the Dells will always make them a place of resort for seekers of pleasure.”

And that’s the way it remains to this day – except now there are waterparks galore (more than 20 as a matter of fact) as well as a few more tourist attractions.

The Wisconsin Ducks, Army surplus vehicles that can travel on land and water, have been a Dells mainstay since they first arrived in 1946. These vehicles provide a unique way to tour the Dells. Today, the Wisconsin Ducks have more than 92 vehicles making it the largest fleet of Duck tours in the country. Duck tours last about an hour and will take you through Lake Delton and the Lower Dells of the Wisconsin River.

You can also take a step back in time and see where it all began in a tour of the H.H. Bennett Studio and Museum. See how Bennett was able to capture The Dells in their three-dimensional beauty. Start your Dells visit off with a tour of this piece of history and get an idea of how the Dells became so popular.

Another historic attraction is the Wisconsin Deer Park. Set on 40 acres of land, the park breeds and raises deer and has separate feeding areas where visitors can feed the deer. In addition to the deer, visitors can also see lemurs, bison, elk, goats, llamas, and horses.

And of course, The Dells is famous for its many water parks – Noah’s Ark is the largest in the United States and features two lazy rivers, wave pools and new this year, Raja, a water slide experience with 335 feet of twists and turns ending with a thrilling 37-foot plunge into the mouth of the King Cobra!

There’s plenty for the outdoor adventurer as well – from zip line courses to rock climbing adventures; horseback riding and wineries to explore, visiting the Dells is nonstop fun and adventure.

For more Dells attractions and information, visit wisdells.com.

Cozy Cabin at Yukon Trails, Lyndon Station, WI

Stay at a Petite Retreat in Wisconsin! From rustic log cabins to beautiful yurts, the Petite Retreats in Wisconsin are the perfect way to lodge when you are visiting the Wisconsin Dells. Visit petiteretreats.com for more information.

Center Your Universe in a Yurt

The ancient tribes, who are often credited with the creation of the yurt, believed in creating a balance between the world of people and the world of nature. These nomadic people felt strongly that their moveable dwellings should incorporate that balance. The Mongolians considered their traveling shelters, called gers, to be the center of their universe. The orientation of the dwelling had the door opening to the south and the interior space divided into four directions, north, south, east and west. The space to the north was considered sacred; if the family was religious that is where the altar sat, otherwise it was reserved for guests of honor. In keeping with the Yin and Yang theory, the eastern half of the yurt was the female space while the western portion was male. Traditionally, one moved around the inside space in a clockwise direction. Most importantly, it was a space for a family that provided a comfortable shelter from the elements.

Yurt at Lake of the Springs, Oregon House, CA

Gers or yurts (the Russian’s word for them which roughly translates to the word “home”) became a popular living space option in the US thanks to Dr. William Coperthwaite, a Maine-born, Harvard-educated professor who took an interest in yurts in the early 1960s for its simpler living space. While the nomadic tribes constructed their dwellings with felted mats of sheep’s wool, Coperthwaite’s design incorporated wood and canvas. Coperthwaite’s designs become popular and in 1993, Oregon became the first state to offer yurts in their state parks as an option to tent camping.

Yurt at Yosemite Lakes, Oregon House, CA

Yurts took a while to catch on, but are now one of the more popular alternatives to the tent or RV, for many reasons. The domed roofs allow sunlight and starlight in the structure and people have reported a feeling of serenity when occupying a yurt, which experts say has something to do with the circular enclosure. Yurts are well insulated and provide, as they did for the nomads, a comfy spot away from the cold and rain. They are spacious, too – you don’t have to divide your space like the ancients did, but if you choose to, there is plenty to go around.

Yurt Interior at Tranquil Timbers, Sturgeon Bay, WI

So why not find your center of the universe in a yurt and choose one for your next outdoor adventure? Petite Retreats offers yurts at several beautiful locations in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Visit petiteretreats.com to learn about our yurts and other unique accommodations at Petite Retreats.