GetAway for a Day

By Nathan Spinelli

Often hotels, no matter how many stars behind their names, are boring. One to two beds, a bathroom, and long hallways, offering at best a breakfast that hopefully doesn’t ruin your stomach, and at worst a sleepless night from guests above whose footsteps boom while their baby screams at two in the morning. We stay because sometimes we have to, not because we want the experience. During a trip to Seattle this spring, stepping away from the tedium of such a ritual was paramount. Enter Airbnb.

Searching for a getaway during our getaway was important. While varied as they are plentiful, listings from Airbnb’s website opened up options for something better than normal, an experience rather than a stay. A tiny house hugged by the forest in North Bend presented just such an offering for the three of us.

Babbling in every sense of the word, a small brook runs near the house, lulling you to sleep, then gently waking you to the imposing view of Mt. Si in the distance. Trees encompass the area and incited childhood memories of magic and mystique that surround the Cascadian forest.

While certainly not large like neighboring Seattle, North Bend has some unsung gems, more than the outlet malls so many visit the town for. A local restaurant, The Iron Duck Public House, had good offerings, both in drink and food. My wife and I were both surprised at the quality, enjoying our evening out as our daughter basked in her tiny fortress of solitude by the brook, a break from the constant struggle of living with multiple siblings. Bringing her back pizza from the Iron Duck, we played with the lights behind the small building, illuminating the forest behind, wondering if Bigfoot might sneak a peek back at us.

Finding this magical spot was a delight, away from the hustle of Seattle, and well appointed for a quiet, relaxing evening. This tiny house with a mountain view is the type of overnight lodging that serves as the experience that we relish, not the sleepless night in a hotel that we’ll begrudge and soon forget. Our trip was enhanced to a fond memory rather than a quick there and back again. Our hosts, Jahden and Joshua were kind and responsive, making the stay that much smoother. We did encounter just one glaring problem; what excuses can we come up with to travel over 3 hours so we can stay there again. It’s a problem we were trying to find solutions to as we enjoyed our morning and lamented having to leave. Our conclusion: We will be back!