How to Plan a Summer Vacation in a Cabin

Renting a cabin for your summer vacation, whether for a few days, weeks or all three months offers you the opportunity to really make your place a “home away from home.” If you want a more rustic, “roughing it” vacation, there are plenty of primitive cabins dotting the national parks, rivers and lakes around the US. Of course, if you are looking for something a bit more lavish, there are some fairly swanky cabins around as well.

No matter how fancy your digs are, you aren't going to find room service or pay-per-view at cabin rentals. If you want those amenities, you might consider a four- or five-star hotel.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A pencil or pen and paper
• A road map or atlas
• A telephone
• A computer with Internet connection
• A credit card

1. Consider your budget to decide how much you can afford to spend for your accommodations, transportation, attractions, activities and meals.

2. Choose the week or two you’ll be vacationing. If your dates are flexible you are much more likely to find the accommodations you prefer.

3. List the state or states you’d like to visit.

4. Visit the National Parks Reservation Web site to look for accommodations in the state you are interested in visiting (see Resources below).

5. Rent a privately owned cabin by searching for availabilities at the Web site listed in the Resources section.

6. Use a search engine to find other accommodations if you've had no luck using the National Parks or private cabin location services. Usually, searching for the term “AREA NAME cabin”, inserting the state or area into the appropriate spot, will yield a number of options for resting your weary head.

7. Call to make reservations and ask questions about activities in the area.

8. Map your road trip to the cabin you choose.

9. Check the weather forecast so that you can pack correctly.

10. Pack your suitcases and remember to bring lots of sunscreen and clothing for a variety of weather conditions.

11. Print out your itinerary to bring along with you.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re traveling with children, make sure the area you visit has age-appropriate attractions and events. Ask about life jackets in children’s sizes as well as small skiff rentals if you are staying at a lake.
• Don’t forget to stop your mail and plan for your pets to stay with friends, family or a kennel if they can’t come with you.