Airbnb x Southern Road trip

Last year was my first time ever heading South for Autumn. For many years, I would go up North for the leaf-peeping season, but I wanted to give the Smoky Mountains a chance. Along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, the Smoky Mountains rise up in beautiful layers, covered in the most vibrant of golds and oranges.

I was accompanied by my boyfriend Brayden and we were planning to spend most of the trip car-camping along our route. However, if you’ve ever tried to put a mattress in a Volkswagen Tiguan along with luggage and camera bags for two people, you know that car camping can get old really quickly. After a few nights of sleeping in sub-freezing cold temperatures in my car, I folded.

Airbnb to the rescue!

I pulled up the Airbnb app on my phone and searched the platform for a cozy cabin. This Tennessean A-frame was a total gem. Located in Gatlinburg, The Lodge at Ski Mountain was an autumnal paradise of an Airbnb. I quickly welcomed the heated shelter equipped with a huge couch and T.V. to snag some time to watch the latest episodes of The Haunting of Hill House. This simple comfort was all we needed to recharge and continue on with our adventure.

While the respite would have been enough in and of itself, the aesthetic of this stay and the extra luxury of a hot tub really exceeded my expectations. This has been one of my favorite Airbnb stays to date!

After our night of recovery,

we set back out on our road trip.

My second cry for help happened about half-way through the trip. Projected rain and wind dampened our spirits. We could handle one day of bad weather, but three days of having little to do outside and no where to go didn’t sound like fun. We again turned to our ever-so-reliable friends at Airbnb.

We were able to book a cabin the same day. The Riverside in Benton, Tennessee provided us the relief we needed. It was so nice to have a comfortable space to work from and stay dry. After recuperating and riding out most of the worst weather, we were also able to enjoy the highlights of this spot, set on a beautiful farm and next to a river.

On the final night, we decided that since the weather was looking up, we would wake up for a sunrise paddle. The Riverside offered kayaks on the property and there was a launch right next to our cabin! The river was absolutely stunning as we paddled up and down. The explosion of colors paired with the steamy surface was something otherworldly. Not to mention how convenient it was! Instead of having to rent a kayak, transport it and find a location to paddle, we could lazily stumble out of bed and right into the water.

That’s probably one of my favorite things about Airbnbs; there’s so many fun little extras that these unique stays can bring. From hot tubs to kayaks, hikes to fire pits, Airbnb brings me a lot more than just a place to stay. And whether I have a plan or not, I can always rely on Airbnb to bring me the comforts of home and the luxuries of something different right from my fingertips.