“Simply put, humans are not wired to be constantly wired.”
― Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
Getaway House Atlanta takes this mantra to heart, with a mission to offer people, couples, friends and families the ability to disconnect and recharge – and live life a little more deeply.
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Originally building escape pods in the Northeast, Getaway has ventured into our neck of the woods, with an Atlanta outpost in Chattahoochee Hills. Even the most avid North Georgia adventurist might need help with that location…it’s in Union County, but much closer to Dahlonega than Blairsville. Expertly, in the middle of no where.
We recently sought some peace and quiet (without kids) to one of these tiny cabins because any chance to disconnect is a welcome one…here are a few tips I learned from the experience that I hope will make your adventure here exceptionally awesome.
PLAN FOR A DIGITAL DETOX
If you’ve never experienced a digital detox, you might be in for a shocker. But no worries; our friends at Getaway House Atlanta offer some assistance.
The first thing you’ll note is a Cellphone Lockbox, with the inscription, “For a true escape, forget your phone inside.”
Listen friends…it will be hard, but DO IT. You experience will be so much richer if you do. If you are not working like we were, then there is no reason to take a dozen shots and post them on Instagram. Do this for yourself…experience something for the sake of experiencing it.
Leave work at home…put the kids in the hands of someone you trust (or bring them along) and turn off that phone! There is a landline in the cabin if you have a true emergency – and yes, there is cell service, albeit spotty. (We were on Sprint at the time.)
In addition to the lockbox, you’ll find additional help in this time of disconnection…one of my favorites was a little book titled What Now? with conversation topics, games, riddles and more.
You’ll also find a small shelf with cards and a book of card games, a copy of Walden, a copy of How To Get Away written by the founders of Getaway (you get to keep this gem!), and more.
But my favorite thing? It was sitting by the campfire as the rain was fading…lounging beside my best friend looking out the huge window as the sun set…and drinking coffee with zero Facebook the next morning.
PREPARE FOR A HIKING EXCURSION
Check-in is 3pm. You can start your detox then….but we kicked it off early with a nearby hike at Dockery Lake Trail. This gorgeous Chattahoochee National Forest hike is only about 15 minutes from the cabin, but it is a difficult one. If you try it, plan for about 4 hours without kids (that gives you a good 30-45 minutes at the half-way mark to set up a hammock and relax. I do recommend that!)
Another option among the myriad nearby hiking trails is Jarrard Trail…you can hike it for just a tad over 1 mile to the Appalachian Trail (and then another mile back). Just be mindful that this is also a difficult trail, with about 1,000 ft elevation gain in just 1 mile.
Regardless, be sure to plan your route before you leave home – cell phone reception is horrid here. Atlanta Trails is my defacto choice for hiking routes, and I like to either print their trail routes or take screen shots of the route so I can access them without wifi or cell coverage.
MAKE A MEAL PLAN
With a genuine, “I’m sorry” to all my vegetarian friends…I was SO READY for a juicy steak after that 7-mile hike! And cooked on an open flame on the fire pit? Delicious!
Getaway House Atlanta comes well stocked with provisions for eating and preparing food…
There are items for purchase (they will charge your card) like oatmeal, pasta and sauce, coffee, snacks, and the like. Everything is under $10…so if you get hangry in the middle of the night, you will be fine.
If you want something more, I recommend bringing your own food. We are Keto Krazies, so we brought steaks and veggies for dinner.
The rain showers graced us periodically during the evening, but we were able to spend time outside and make dinner work on the grill. Thankful for the nice grate on the fire, our steak-cooking was a success.
You will need to either bring your own firewood, kindling and starter or purchase what they have available at the cabin, to do the same. You will find salt, pepper, foil, and more available as part of your stay. Your booking email will tell you want to bring, and what is provided.
And one note…if it looks like rain, have a contingency plan. There are pots and pans to cook with inside the cabin, but we could never have cooked the steak in there. The burners are ideal for heating water and making coffee or pasta – but not a gourmet meal. Plus, it would have been too smokey for a small space. We lucked out – learn from our near mess-up though.
Another note….if you don’t want to cook at all, you are close to Dahlonega and Bratzeit, one of our favorite restaurants in the state. The owners are German and create delicious fare that cannot be beat (yes, even by those Helen restaurants.)
Eat the Getaway food, bring your own, make it on site, or eat it at a nearby restaurant…it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you take the time to eat well…you’re detoxing your soul. Be sure to take care of your body.
SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS CORRECTLY
The Outpost is much like a campground, with cabins tucked in each nook. You’ll likely see others walking around or preparing dinner or setting up their fires at night. The roads are gravel, newly laid…the saplings along the hills are still growing tall…and the wood on the staircase is still fresh. Remember, this is a new Outpost.
No, the view out your large picture window doesn’t overlook Yonah Mountain or Rabun Bald… but don’t let that deter you.
Once you are nestled in your cabin, you’ll remember your reason for coming…disconnecting to reconnect. And for that, Getaway House Atlanta is ideal.
BRING YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND
We travel too much to make pup life work for our family, but if you have a Fido then bring him! Your pup is just as welcome as you at Getaway!
Your cabin comes with a water bowl and clean-up bags, and a leash attached to the picnic table outside. There is a small cleaning fee, and you don’t want to leave them outside without you…but they will LOVE seeing your face looking at them and not your screen.
BONUS: USE OUR DISCOUNT CODE TO SAVE
Ready to book your stay at Getaway House? Use code our link + 365AT to save $25 off your stay. BOOK HERE
The getaway Chattahoochee location is just one of several outposts in the South. Other major cities include Getaway Nashville, and Getaway Charlotte-Raleigh.
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO NORTH GEORGIA
- MORE GLAMPING: Glamping: Georgia’s 21+ Most Unique Places to Escape
- BLAIRSVILLE: A STUNNING MOUNTAIN TOWN FILLED WITH FAMILY ADVENTURE
- NORTH GEORGIA: 120+ Amazing Ways to Have Fun in the North Georgia Mountains
- SWIMMING HOLES: 18 Dreamy Swimming Holes in North Georgia [Waterfalls!]
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She relishes the discovery of obscure, offbeat and unwonted places, and she will chat up any willing stranger to uncover a new secret locale. If she’s not exploring in the RV, she’s either hiking the trails or checking out the whiskey scene at their current location.
Lesli lives and travels with her two kiddos -Cooper and Elliot- and her soul mate, husband and business partner, Dan. They call Colorado home, at least for the moment.
