Cold Weather Cabining

For those of you who don't mind the cold and snow and are itching for a change of scenery, you may want to consider renting a rustic cabin in the wilderness. Not only will you get to spend some special family times with the kids, you can show them how to appreciate the simpler side of life, exchanging video games, TV and internet for good old-fashioned board games, sledding, campfires and cook-outs. As long as you avoid pricey ski resorts, off-season bargains can be plentiful.
I found that the Pidgeon Forge area of Tennessee has an abundance of inexpensive but very nice rentals. I just did a quick search for the vacation week in February and found a beautiful chalet with a large stone fireplace for just over $100/night. In past searches, I've found similar bargains in New York's Adirondack region, Pennsylvania's Pocono region and Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountain area just to name a few.
My birthday always falls over winter recess in February which makes it very easy for me to talk my husband into a getaway! One year, I found a cute little cabin in the mountains of Vermont for $175/night. My boys had a wonderful time playing in the snow, building a snow fort and having snowball fights and they even had a small sledding hill right behind the cabin. Afterwards, they enjoyed taking turns warming up in the large whirlpool tub while I made grilled cheese sandwiches, cream of tomato soup and of course, hot chocolate!
They also sampled our favorite Grafton smoked cheddar that we picked up at a small country store on our way up to the cabin. Grafton smoked cheddar, cream of tomato soup and crusty rolls are now one of my favorite meals!
We spent hours that weekend playing the board games of my youth and just enjoying each other's company. On the morning of my birthday, my husband and the boys were acting very sneaky, speaking in excited, hushed tones. A short time later, with big grins, the boys proudly presented me with a piece of wood they had found in the woods with "Happy Birthday Mom" carved into the soft center with all their names carved in around it. I still have that piece of wood and the happy memories that came with it.
If you're ready to make special memories of your own, an easy way to find accommodations quickly is to use a vaction rental listing site such as Homeaway.com. Here you can put all your rental criteria such as area, price, bedrooms,  fireplace, waterfront, availability etc. into the search engine to find what you're looking for without spending hours browsing online. Good luck with your search and enjoy!