I walked my dog down a gravel road carved into the woods near the Tennessee-Kentucky border in the humid air of late summer, hearing only crickets and the crunch of rocks beneath our feat.
As we approached a leaf-covered walking trail set off the main path at Postcard Cabins Dale Hollow Lake just before sunset, a deer crossed our path in a grassy clearing, turning to survey us from afar before darting off into the trees.
Then I noticed a pet waste station with a trash can – a reminder that while we were immersed in nature, we hadn’t left creature comforts too far behind. American Express Travel's 2026 Global Travel Trends Report found that 58% of millennial and Gen Z travelers surveyed wanted to try nature and wildlife experiences on their next
trip. Postcard Cabins, part of the Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy, offer woodland getaways that aren’t entirely off-grid. Here’s what they’re like.
What are Postcard Cabins like?
My cabin, one of 40 on the property, was located about a five-minute drive from a main road in Celina, Tennessee.
The jet-black structure, more cozy tiny house than mountain lodge, sat at the end of a short driveway – each cabin has a designated parking spot – surrounded by trees. A picnic table and two chairs sat out front, along with a campfire kit (I didn’t use it during my mid-September stay, when temperatures stayed in the 80s until late in the night, but they’d come in particularly handy in cooler weather).
I received a text message that afternoon with check-in instructions and a code for the lock. Inside the air-conditioned space, I found a kitchen, a table and chair, all framed by a picture window over the bed at the far end of the room.
After our walk, I prepared my corgi’s dinner in one of two provided bowls – dogs are welcome with a $50 cleaning fee – and then got started on mine. The Postcard Cabins website recommended bringing food since there is no on-site restaurant, and I cooked sweet and spicy noodles on the stovetop while listening to Soccer Mommy’s "Rings Of Saturn" through a Bluetooth speaker on a shelf that I connected to my phone.
The cabin included basic utensils like knives, tongs and scissors. I used the latter to open a treat I brought for my dog later that evening (though there was also a small pack of banana and toasted coconut treats waiting for him when we arrived).
I noticed two other nearby cabins occupied during my stay, but even knowing there were other guests around, the space felt private.
The property felt more like a vacation rental than a typical hotel or resort, without the on property amenities travelers would find at the latter, but its seclusion was part of the charm (and staff was reachable by phone). For those wary of camping, however, the cabins offer a way to enjoy nature without surrendering to the elements quite so much.
Where are Postcard Cabins located?
The location I visited was about a two-hour drive from Nashville, where I live, but there are Postcard Cabins located across the U.S. The 29 properties include Postcard Cabins Eastern Catskills in New York, California’s Postcard Cabins Big Bear, and Postcard Cabins Mount Adams in Washington.
How much do Postcard Cabins cost?
Prices vary by date and location, but available rates at Postcard Cabins Dale Hollow Lake currently start at $266 for a two-night stay for two guests in October, according to its website, including a destination fee of $40 per night. Cabins feature queen or bunk beds for between two and four people.
The destination fee covers a range of items, from s’mores kits to fire starters and bottled water. I also received a password for the property’s free Wi-Fi network by text before I arrived (most locations have Wi-Fi and the remaining properties are set to have it installed by the end of the year as weather allows).
I woke up before sunrise on the day of my departure and watched the foliage outside gradually come into focus in the morning light. On a pre-breakfast walk, my dog and I were greeted by the sound of a woodpecker and other wildlife sightings (two more deer, a rabbit) before heading home – and made it back with most of the day to spare.
The reporter on this story received access to this event from Postcard Cabins, part of the Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How these tiny cabins off a woodland getaway without going off-grid
