Do you want to go glamping in the Piney Woods? The answer is yes! My name is Taylor from What Taylor Likes. I want to share my two-night staycation experience with you at Getaway House’s tiny cabin in the Piney Woods. If you choose to “glamp” in the Piney Woods, it is my opinion that the destination is not only fun but safe too! I highly recommend that you book a cabin for some much-needed R&R during these times. You can learn more about how to plan a Texas trip responsibly and take precautions.

Many glamping destinations are naturally socially distant. By design, they are quiet places without communal spaces or in-person interaction. This means easy self check-in and check-out processes without a front desk! To spur inspiration, here’s an ultimate itinerary for you. I lay out a detailed schedule, my thoughts on glamping, tips, and information for the best hiking trails in the area.

The whole mission of glamping is to inspire you to unplug from the daily hustle and to focus on yourself, your relationships, and the wonder of nature...all while doing it glamorously! There is so much to do at Getaway House! Keep reading to see how you can plan the perfect glamping trip.

DAY 1: CREATE A CAMPFIRE

3:00 p.m. Check-in: Check into the glamping space and get to know it! In the cabin, I had a bathroom with toiletries, a kitchen, a small dining table, a chair, and a HUGE window by the bed that overlooks the woods. Each tiny cabin for two has a comfortable queen bed with fresh linens and pillows. I spent a few hours reading in bed and soaking up the scenery. 

Outdoor amenities include a fire pit, grilling grate, picnic table, chairs, firewood, and Firestarter. I was so excited to start making a fire in the fire pit as soon as I saw the supplies. I felt like I was in Girl Scouts all over again. 

Pro Tip: Bring additional lighting for outdoors. My tiny cabin was located outside of the Dallas Metroplex in the Piney Woods. Emphasis on the word “WOODS.” With that being said, it was pitch black when I started to make my fire. There is one porch light and a battery-powered lantern available for you to use. 

Since there was a window overlooking the fire pit, I turned on all the lights so that it could illuminate the outside grounds around the window. Doing this helped me see better! 

8:00 p.m. Dinner: Get ready for a BBQ! After I got the fire going, I placed some veggie burgers on the grill. While they cooked, I set up a burger bar station on the picnic table. My bar had all the fixings for a burger, plus sides like green beans and mac ‘n’ cheese. It was so delicious! 

Pro Tip: I don’t know if this was an amenity or not, but there was a roll of foil underneath the kitchen sink. I used the foil to lay over the grilling grate so that I could cook burgers. It worked really well, and the “meat” came out great! The only downside was that we couldn’t reuse the foil to grill in the morning, so be sure to bring extra foil with you!

Day 2: HIKING  

8:00 a.m. Breakfast: Make breakfast on the grill or in the tiny cabin. Your cabin comes with a fully functioning kitchen. There is a sink (with running, drinking water), minifridge, stove, pans, pots, kettle, mugs, plates, etc. 

We used Beyond Meat plant-based sausage to make a breakfast bowl on the stove. It was easy to cook up. 

Pro Tip: Pack some Texas cider (or sparkling cider) and orange juice to make a mimosa bar! You can even bring some fruit to put in your drink. Adding a few berries to the mimosas adds another reason to say cheers! I personally love Austin Eastciders. The Brut Super Dry Cider goes so well with orange juice. 

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Activity 1: Go on a hike at Wolfpen Hike and Bike Trail. The trail is 4.1 miles long and is a 45 min. drive away from the Getaway cabin grounds. This loop trail, which features a lake, is a great choice for all skill levels for hiking, walking, or trail running. 

The trail is not too long, and it weaves through a forest. It is clear and marked very well. The trail itself is not strenuous on the body, so this is great for beginners. I went early in the morning for cooler weather and to avoid most people on the trail. 

Pro Tip: There are restrooms and showers located next to the parking lot.

Location: Wolfpen Hike and Bike Trail, Texas 75124

1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Lunch: Pack a lunch at the cabin and bring it with you to Lake Palestine! This freshwater lake, located just outside of Tyler, is perfect for a picnic and a swim. This destination offers fishing, boating, water skiing, canoeing, and hiking too.

One cool attraction nearby is the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC). It is a center that combines visitation and outdoor education with fish hatchery. I love that part of their mission is to provide an educational visitor experience that promotes stewardship and conservation of aquatic resources in Texas.

Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is partially open. The facility has enhanced safety measures that comply with CDC guidelines and Governor Abbott's executive orders. Please see Texas Parks & Wildlife for more details about visiting TFFC. 

Location: Lake Palestine is located about 15 miles southwest of Tyler, Texas, on Highway 155. 

4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Rest: Head back to your cabin to read a book or take a nap!

7:00 p.m. Dinner: You can BBQ again like the night before or pick up takeout from El Arroyo Modern Mexican Kitchen! Who doesn’t like chips and salsa?! 

If you are vegan like me, order veggie fajitas with no butter, sour cream, or cheese. We did not get the rice and beans, but if you do, double-check to make sure that those items are vegan.

Location: 416 S Palestine St, Athens, TX 75751

9:00 p.m. Activity 2: If you feel up to it, play some board games in your cabin! I highly recommend that you bring different board games to play. I played Monopoly with my family and had so much fun!

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I loved my glamping and activity experience. It made camping in the Piney Woods super easy. I felt better knowing that Getaway House intensified their routine cleaning procedures and spent 2x as long cleaning each cabin to ensure they’re more deeply disinfected. 

Booking your own stay is affordable. We saw prices in the low $100s, which is comparable to a night at a hotel in Texas. The amenities and design are modern and clean, so you are definitely camping in luxury. 

From eating lunch at Lake Palestine to hiking, I loved it all! Highly recommend that you visit those locations as well. If you choose to take my suggestions in the itinerary, please check local guidelines before visiting these places, including grocery stores and gas stations. I also ask that you respectfully wear a mask if and when visiting any local businesses.

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