Staycations are so under-rated, and that doesn’t mean locking yourself in your house. Planning holiday vacations in the tropics is great, don’t get me wrong. I’ve done a few of those in the past year as well. But there’s something about exploring your own backyard that’s both relaxing and exciting as you discover places you never bothered to visit before.

Last weekend, the days were spent deep in the Blue Ridge mountaintops at Hot Tub Heaven Vacation Cabin #6.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, this spot is just a few hours away from my own home. It’s been a cool March, but after the morning fog cleared, we enjoyed 70’s and sunny the whole weekend. Here’s the lowdown on what you can expect during a staycation, and tips for planning cabin vacations.

Before you settle on any old cabin in the woods, consider the location. There are plenty of unique spots all over in the great outdoors. Instead of focusing just on the backyard, research the activities you might want to do in the area. Hot Tub Heaven has a local, private dock on Deer Lake. The water is still and beautiful, and since the location is restricted to local residence (or in our case renters) there wasn’t a soul to be seen aside from ourselves. Perk, the cabin and many of our activities were pet friendly, so Naizak was also able to make the journey.

Pack your own food. Cabins aren’t stocked with a fridge, and if you’re truly getting out in the woods, you may not be near a market either. We came stocked with breakfast, lunch and dinner, but forgot one critical ingredient: COFFEE! Though the cabin had a coffee pot, there were no grounds.

Desperate for a cup of coffee… we ended up hacking up a box of Keurig cups that were left in the trunk.

Some recommendations:

• Coffee
• Coffee filters (better safe than sorry)
• Breakfast foods
• Salt and pepper (just in case)
• Charcoal for the grill
• Grill-able foods (no mess to clean in the kitchen!)
• Paper towel
• Tequila
• Margarita mix
• Ice
• Packable snacks (like sandwiches and bake nachos)
• Bottled water

When cabin vacationing, it’s best to expect nothing on location, unless mentioned in the advertising. That includes even basic necessities like toiletries, cooking oil and basic spices. While you may be lucky enough to enjoy a cabin fully stocked, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Hot Tub Heaven is also located in the heart of wine country. We did a fair amount of trekking, one of which led us right into the backyard of one of many of Virginia’s fine wineries. Next on the tour, tasting rooms to sample some of said wines. Aspen Dale Winery was our favorite stop, with a delicious tasting that included pairings. Since the main tasting area is in a renovated barn, pets were also allowed through the entire establishment.

In fact, they have their own lot of pets wandering the premises. Looks like Naizak made a friend!

Other packing recommendations for cabin getaways:

• Trekking shoes
• Swimwear
• Paper towel
• Hand sanitizer (if you care)
• Toiletries
• Layers (it gets cool in the shade)
• Bath Robes (if you intend to hot tub lounge)

And most importantly, pack a clear mind, ready to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing vacation. What are you favorite tips for cabin vacations? Next on the travel calendar: Egypt and Dubai ETA 2 days! Can’t wait to share some travel shots with you guys. Keep up on the latest on Instagram stories!