Wanted: cozy mountain hermitage (with glorious fibre internet)

July 16, 2018 11:15 AM

Where in the northeast should we go for a much-needed hermet-esque working holiday/retreat from humidity and distraction? Where would you hole up for two weeks if your wishlist included relative seclusion, gorgeous mountains/coasts/other natural splendor for hiking and adventuring, but also really excellent internet access (since we do, actually, need to be working 95% of the time we're there)? More specific considerations within, but generally just looking for both suggestions of general areas to investigate and/or specific accommodations to check out.

My partner and I are trying to decide what area of the northeast generally (and what town/vicinity/facility specifically) we should go to for a much-needed hermetic working holiday/retreat from humidity and distraction. Our goals are to get some solid work done (me: dissertation finishing, he: tech job that he can remote-desktop into), to gtfo of the infernal heat and humidity down here, to get some good and different hikes done during downtimes, and to have that "vacation feel" while still being in working beast-mode during weekdays. We're looking to stay about two weeks or so.

We're thinking cabin in the woods somewhere, with opportunities for good hiking nearby, and a town not toooooo far away that has a good grocery store (or farmers' market). We can't go full-on rustic/off-the-grid, since we both require really solid and fast internet connections to be able to do the work we need to do, but we don't need much in the way of "luxury" beyond good internet. We don't know this side of the country north of Virginia well at all, so there's a good chance that anywhere you suggest we will not have been before (which is great!)


Must haves:
- internet
- cabin-y feel
- dog friendly
- relatively secluded/rural
- some sort of natural beauty (mountains are best, beaches are good too....)
- not be as damn hot and humid as Durham is (so elevation is a huuuge plus)

Nice-to-haves:
- charming town near(ish)by with yummy restaurants
- landscape/natural beauty that is different from the WNC/Virginia/Blue Ridge corridor (which is where we do a looot of hiking currently)
- natural swimming options (lakes, rivers, etc) nearby (via hike, preferably, but driving is fine too)
- within a day (or so) drive from Durham, NC (so upstate NY, maybe into NH are probably our northern limits...but would consider something farther)
- hot tub would be nice....

Thanks for your suggestions!

posted by Dorinda to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

Good luck. I'd say Gatlinburg, TN but you'd have to be pretty particular as to the internet part. Not to mention that it's not exactly Northwest by any means from your start point, which you've said already, but good luck all the same.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:53 AM on July 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Vermont seems like just the place (I am in MA now for the summer and it's still pretty humid, though nothing like what you've got). Since you'd be flying in to Burlington, you can look at that general vicinity. Stowe in specific is a great little vacation spot with the usual assortment of hiking and nature but also you could get sort of secluded around there (not as much in BVT generally but it's possible and more likely to have good internet). I'd offer you my place, about an hour from BTV, but I've got 7/1 DSL :D

I think if it were me I'd be checking VRBO and/or AirBnB for smaller places that have fiber internet. There are a lot of small towns with regional fiber connections, so it wouldn't be that unusual to find. Dog friendly not likely to be a huge hurdle and there are a lot of lakes, streams and rivers. A place like this maybe but you'd have to ask about internet speed but the AirBnB interface makes that a pretty simple exchange and the fact that you're looking to book a two week stay makes you an attractive potential lodger.
posted by jessamyn at 12:10 PM on July 16, 2018 [2 favorites]

Was going to say brattleboro, but burlington works : )
posted by elgee at 12:47 PM on July 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Wilmington, NY in the middle of the Adirondaks. Super quiet. There are airbnbs with good wifi, and some cabin options. There's a tiny grocery store but towns close by with larger stores and restaurant options. Whiteface Mountain is just next door and is a beautiful drive up ($20 entrance for cars? Or be crazy and hike up it). There are tons of hiking trails along ponds, rivers, creeks, lakes, mountainsides, woods, and swamps. Lake Placid is down the street for sanctioned swimming. But there are lots of little rivers that you can wade in or even swim in. The Adirondaks are so so beautiful. It feels a bit like the Rocky Mountains without the elevation.
posted by BeHereNow at 1:23 PM on July 16, 2018 [2 favorites]

I love the stretch along the border between NH and VT. There are a bunch of little towns with co-ops/nice grocery stores, but a half hour drive in either direction from the border and you’re in the woods. Lots of lakes. More hill-y than mountainous but very beautiful and relaxed. You can sleep at night with the windows open, no AC.

Would be a long drive from NC, but I did the drive once from there to DC, and it was a long day but doable.
posted by lunasol at 2:39 PM on July 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yep, Vermont/New Hampshire. Here are a few especially cool towns to look at:

• Littleton, NH
• Lebanon, NH (nearby = Hanover, NH and White River Junction, VT; this is called the Upper Valley, and is probably what lunasol is talking about.)
• North Conway, NH
• Bennington, VT (a fave of mine...in Vermont's Green Mtns, and very small town w/ lots of isolation possible, but right by the Berkshires, where there's loads of cool stuff to do)

posted by nosila at 12:11 PM on July 17, 2018

p.s. Missed this during the edit window, but your options for fiber are going to be limited in northern New England. Most places will have decent cable internet w/ WiFi.
posted by nosila at 12:31 PM on July 17, 2018

Central VT has a bunch of towns with fiber internet. Check out the member towns here.
posted by emotionalmotionsickness at 12:22 PM on July 25, 2018