Well-Designed Cabins
While most people think of cabin getaways during the summer months, we find them to be just as restorative, if not more so, in the fall and winter. Whether you love tracking fall colors, have a long list of winter sports on your bucket list, or are looking for some cozy time away from the tasks and chores that make unwinding at home difficult, an off-season cabin escape can be the perfect space for a nervous system reset.
When we look for cabins, we not only consider location and proximity to activities, but also what aesthetic experience the space can provide. A well-designed cabin not only considers the functional needs of a vacation, but can provide an aesthetic retreat that is both stimulating and soothing to the nervous system, allowing for new neural pathways and perspectives to develop with the cognitive expansiveness it invites.
The Germans even have a word for it: tapetenwechsel, which literally means “wallpaper change.” In English, we would say “change of scenery,” but the idea is the same: sometimes changing places is all you need for a fresh perspective.
Below are our top picks for beautifully designed cabins to explore when we need a change of scenery or a moment to reset.
Hot Tip: Avoid Airbnb hidden fees by booking directly through the rental (they usually have their own booking page outside of Airbnb). We’ve found doing a Google image search of the property along with other key details like location is a quick way to discover if we can book directly.
Northwoods A-Frame & Tiny Cabins
Bagley, MN
Amery, WI
Frederic, WI
Amery, WI
Lutsen, MN
Whitetail Woods Regional Park, MN
Lake Superior, MN
Richland Center, WI
Crosby, MN
Tofte, MN
Ely, MN
Two Harbors, MN
