Before I look at log cabins, in terms of taking your holidays in one, I first want to look at a bit of the history surrounding the log cabin.
When you think about the log cabin, what do you see?
For me it’s almost automatic to think about the colonial settlers in the New World, hacking a clearing in a forest, chopping down the trees and using these cut logs to fashion homes.
But the history of the log cabin goes back much further than this, it is thought that the roots of log cabin construction are Scandinavian and Eastern Europe, and according to Wikipedia, the first structures to be made from logs were probably built during the Bronze Age … about 3500 BC in Northern Europe.
The historical design as a log cabin is very basic, usually the logs are laid horizontally on top of one another, interlocked with the notches that have been cut out of each end holding the whole structure in place, the rain and wind being kept out by using mud and maybe woodchippings.
Log Cabin Holidays….Why!
I think one of the reasons why people want to vacation in log cabins is their intrinsic charm, there’s a certain romance involved that you are going to be living like your distant ancestors, although modern-day log cabins very rarely resemble their historical counterparts.
So what should you be looking out for?
Well, for me anyways, one of the fundamental requirements of any log cabin holiday is it’s isolated setting.
At the very least it should be in the countryside, not smack dab in the middle of the city.
The log cabin holiday should be set in one of those idyllic locations, beside a river, halfway up a mountain, or at the very least on a farm.
Weird and Wonderful Log Cabins
I know this is a bit off topic but I just couldn’t resist … when we were researching for this article we came across some really weird log cabins including a 13 story structure made of wood in Arkhangelsk, in the far north-west of Russia.
Nikolai Sutyagin, and ex-convict, began building in 1992, first only two stories were built, then deciding that he hadn’t made enough space, he decided to carry on building, and carry on building.
You can see the full story and some photographs in the Telegraph newspaper by Adrian Blomfield.
Or, how about the Smith Mansion in Wyoming… “when one log wasn’t enough” … 75 feet high, built by hand and now a local landmark.
What can I say about log cabins except if you really want to stay in one the Internet is probably going to be the best place to at least start looking, unless you know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody … you get my drift!
Search for “Log Cabins” + your destination…You’ll at least get an idea of what’s available…but not everyone with a log cabin for rent is going to have it listed on its own site (I don’t know why not these days).
There are plenty of different styles of log cabins that you can find if you look, things like location, levels of luxury, amenities, etc. are all going to depend on how much money you have… or don’t have as the case may be, it’s only a temporary shelter to get you away from the rat race after all.
You can get the most luxurious holiday vacation ever in a log cabin or you can have it trimmed down to its barest essentials, no Internet … not a television in sight … no telephone … no PlayStation or Xbox (I can hear some kids already screaming No Way!…arrghh!) … only the fresh air, maybe a mountain stream for the fishing, the odd wild animal, open fires and peace and quiet …brilliant!, my kind of holiday…!
Good luck to you!
Take a look at some of the links below for ideas about log cabin holidays and give a quick click to the Facebook like button…thanks!
