Cripple Creek Cabin

The "green" cabin (built more recently).
Up the road is the "blue" cabin.

Looking for some time away, where you can unplug and decompress for a few days? Check out Cripple Creek Cabins in Middleburgh, N.Y.

My husband and I - along with one of our dogs - spent a long weekend here without Internet access, cell phone service, or television. (OK, we may have brought along a Redbox movie to watch on our laptop ... So sue us.) Instead, we enjoyed some time hiking, cooking fabulous meals, and sipping wine or our morning coffee while hanging out on the wrap-around porch with our books (me), cigars (him), and treats (the dog).

There are two log cabins to choose from, each roomy enough to accommodate up to 8 people. Situated on a 500-acre farm in a rural area, these cozy, modest cabins offer a full kitchen (complete with pots and pans), a wood-burning fireplace, three bedrooms (including a fabulous loft with huge windows), and plenty of privacy. Per night, the cost is $224, including tax. (If you think about bringing friends to split the cost, like we plan to do the next time around, that's a pretty inexpensive getaway.)

View of the mountains from the farm's hayfield.

Here, you can spend your day hiking along the local snowmobiling trails, taking in the amazing view from the farm's scenic 1-mile-long hayfield, exploring the pond across the street, or, about a half-hour's drive away, visiting a number of other state parks in the area.

We didn't leave the premises during our stay, but if you tend to get stir-crazy, there is a diner down the road, local farmer's market stands nearby, the village of Middleburgh a few miles away, and several different activities to enjoy in the area, including Howe Caverns (something we definitely want to check out next time) and mini golf and ice cream at Gobbler's Knob. 

Hiking along the snowmobiling trails.

You'll find the locals very friendly (one couple pulled their car over to ask about our dog and tell us about the 5 feet of snow they had on their roof this past winter). And the owners of the farm - Barb and Fred - are ready to answer any questions or recommend fun things for you to do. (I really should ask them where the name "Cripple Creek" comes from ... not the most romantic of names, I admit.)

Only about three hours away from central Connecticut, you can get to Middleburgh easily via the Mass Pike. Or, if you want to take the scenic route like we did, you can check out some of the cute small towns in Connecticut (try scenic Salisbury) and Massachusetts (try the summer resort town of Great Barrington in the Berkshire Mountains) along the way.

Our greyhound, Reba, eyeing me from the loft of the log cabin.