Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas is just around the corner. You’d love to get away for the holidays but the logistics seem so daunting. Can you afford plane tickets for your family of four to see relatives in Des Moines? Do you really want to drive 10 hours to see friends in New York—and risk wintry weather conditions on the road? So much to think about: gas prices, time off from work, pet options, and hearing the kids ask a thousand times, “Are we there yet?”

More and more people are choosing “staycations”—taking a bit of time off work but staying home to recharge their batteries. The problem is we often end up doing chores and projects and never really get to that battery recharging.

Perhaps a compromise lies right here in the New River Valley. Perhaps you can get away from home without taking the time or expense to travel too far—and if necessary you can even bring the family dog.

New River Retreat offers an assortment of cabins mostly in Pulaski County but with some in Wythe and Carroll as well. One misconception is that New River Retreat is a single place—a cluster of cabins all in one place. In reality, the cabins are spread over several miles, with most on or near the New River. Another misconception is the term “cabin” itself. Much different than a rustic hunting cabin or even one that you’d find at a state park, the accommodations at New River Retreat are much more luxurious.

Depending on which of the 13 cabins you choose to rent, you may have satellite TV, a whirlpool tub, steam shower, hot tub, private dock, pool table, or various other amenities. Owner Debbie Gardner and her staff have carefully crafted a personality for each of the cabins. Blue Moon, for instance, is known as a honeymoon venue. It offers a single bedroom with a queen bed and a master bath offering a whirlpool tub for two with a skylight overhead. A bottle of wine will greet you as you check in.

Candlewood Cottage, on the other hand, is known as a place for creativity. The books and nooks of this A-frame lend themselves to an escape using not only geography but your own imagination. It’s located right on the New River and is near Foster Falls, the New River Trail, and Shot Tower Historical State Park.

Camp Ketahe easily suits a couple of families with its three to four bedrooms and two floors, each with a full bathroom. A big yard leads to the New River and plenty of deck space, and outside seating gives the adults the chance to relax while the kids play.

Red Hawk Rising, with its lodge-like feel, is great for entertaining. Gardner says it has even been a wedding location. It’s large, has three to four bedrooms, lots of deck space, a wide-screen TV, and a whirlpool tub in the master bedroom. It has a private dock situated on a Claytor Lake cove.

New River Retreat offers something to suit your needs whether it be a cozy weekend for two or a family reunion. And pets are welcome, for a fee, at 10 of the 13 cabins.

Or maybe you already have plans for the holidays but you know someone who desperately needs a break. New River Retreat also offers gift certificates that would be a welcome present for an employee, family member, or anyone you know who needs a respite from a hectic life.

Do you know of other getaways within the New River Valley? If so, let us know. Leave your comments below.

Tim W. Jackson has always wanted to live in a cabin. Maybe one day …