Back in April I sat down at my kitchen table and planned out a 12 day road trip/vacation with the goal of hiking in Glacier National Park, and the Sawtooth Wilderness. I recently returned from this amazing trip, and my next few posts will highlight my adventures, but this post will highlight something else. About a week before I was scheduled to leave I realized my standard weekend aligned perfectly with this trip, giving me an additional three days off.
Why not add an extra two days onto this already longer than any vacation I’ve had in lightyears?
It took me and my partner in crime all of ten minutes to decide we wanted to break up the drive from Washington to Montana, and we let Airbnb decide where we would go. I pulled up a map of Eastern Washington, and the first space that popped up I immediately fell in love with. Take me to a farm, with endless rolling hills and I am a happy camper. Take me to a farm with alpacas, cats, dogs, cows, sheep, etc and I am an ecstatic camper.
We found an adorable ranch area located in Viola, Idaho – just a hop, skip, and jump away from the Washington border. The goal for this Airbnb weekend was simply to rest before our actual vacation started. It was like a vacation for our vacation. While I am usually very active when traveling, if I am staying somewhere in the country like this I have no problem relaxing for a couple days.
The Grazing Hill Ranch acts as both an Airbnb and a farm providing tours with a store selling local goods. The family running this farm lives on the property, but we didn’t see them much at all. We were free to wander the area as we pleased, and you’d better believe I quickly made friends with the local farm cats. I saw three adult cats, and two kittens. Be still my heart.
Furry friends aside, the space itself was extremely welcoming. I don’t always love the idea of the hosts being so close, as I enjoy more of the isolation of a space, but this room felt separate enough and the interior was gorgeous. The colors and decor were minimalistic, immediately providing a feeling of calm upon entry. The host had a bottle of wine waiting on the table, and filled the fridge with yogurts, juice, cinnamon rolls, and fruit for our breakfasts.
Talk about going the extra mile.
We spent most of our two days here lounging, watching movies, playing board games, going for short walks, and I enjoyed a couple runs on the winding backroads. My copilot would likely say I didn’t relax much, but I assure you this mini getaway was the most relaxing I’ve done in a while. My kind of relaxing still involves going for casual walks, or exploring the area around me.
It’s not often I dedicate an entire post to an Airbnb location, but this one really resonated with me. It was unique, and the thoughtful touches pushed this stay towards the top of my Airbnb experiences. The landscape reminded me of Europe, and perhaps this is why I felt such a connection to the area. I would without hesitation stay here again, and it was only a 5 hour drive from where I live.
If the landscape, relaxation, farm animals, and solitude don’t sell you on this adorable Airbnb, perhaps the five golden retrievers will. If you hurry, you’ll see the puppy before he grows up.
The ambiance of a space can either make or break the overall experience of a stay, and this was a great start to our trip. Not all Airbnb’s are created equal, but this tiny getaway has planted a seed in my mind. A daydream of sorts, to have my own tiny space to rent out similar to this one. I don’t plan on owning an alpaca farm, but at this rate anything can happen. I never anticipated I would be where I am today, and I am open to just about any possibility.
If you live near the Pacific Northwest and are looking for a relaxing getaway, I highly recommend this farm. If you don’t, I hope this post encourages you to find a weekend getaway nearby. Life is too short not to travel.
Q: Do you prefer to rent an entire space in an Airbnb for more $$$, or a single room for less $$$? This varies for me, I have stayed in a few Airbnb’s that were bed and breakfast like that I adored. But for longer stays I prefer the entire space.
Blissfulbritt 