Sometimes I feel the need to escape the chaos and have some time with nature. Postcard Cabins (formerly Getaway House) had been on my radar for quite some time so I decided to give it a try!

Postcard Cabins Big Bear is located just two hours east of Los Angeles. It sits on 59 private acres of forest with stunning views of the San Bernardino Mountains.

This location is made up of 40 private cabins with a one mile walking trail with breathtaking views of the mountains and a river.

**This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Privacy Policy and Disclosures Statement for more information.**

In total, Postcard Cabins has 30 locations throughout the United States (mostly on the East Coast and within the Midwest). All of the locations are within 2 hours of a major city.

Click here for more information about Postcard Cabins Big Bear.

Arrival

The day of our stay, I received a text message with our cabin name and the keycode required to get inside of the cabin.

The entrance to the location is a little bit unsuspecting so make sure to be paying close attention to your GPS!

Check-in time begins at 3pm and I planned to arrive on time to maximize my time there. I made a quick stop at a local store to pick up some snacks and made my way there right on time.

A fun little piece of information, the cabins are named after the grandparents of staff members!

Since we were driving from San Diego, the trip took around 3 hours.

Unlike what you might expect, there is not a check-in area or main office. When you arrive, you drive directly to your location with a map that is provided through text messages. Navigating the roads can be a little tricky as there are quite a few one-ways but the views are nice, even if you take a wrong turn!

Upon locating our cabin, we pulled right up next to it to begin unloading our things. Our cabin had parking right next to it but other cabins require you to park no further than 150 feet away.

It’s worth noting, with an additional fee (anywhere from $25 to $50) you can request an early check-in or late check-out. If available, this can be added to your stay during the booking process. Especially if you are only planning on a one or two night stay, this additional time would be really valuable!

The Cabin

We were assigned the Howie cabin which has bunk beds and can accommodate up to four guests.

The sleeping area within the cabins includes either a queen size bed or bunk beds.

The large window next to the sleeping area really makes you feel as though you are outside and provides the perfect view while reading a book or relaxing before you start your day.

The bathroom has a standing shower and a toilet. The sink is shared with the kitchen. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash are provided.

Hot water for showers doesn’t last long and then will take about 30 minutes to regenerate enough for another shower.

As you can imagine, the space is quite small but provides everything that you would need for your trip.

Each cabin is equipped with air conditioning and heat for the cooler months.

In the kitchen area, you are provided with a two-burner stove, a small fridge, a sink, and minimal cooking supplies. The kitchen also provides olive oil, salt and pepper.

During our stay, there was a burn ban in effect which meant we were unable to have a campfire. The fire pit was removed from our outdoor area.

Because we were unable to use the campfire for cooking, we were provided with a small outside cooking stove that was for use on the picnic table outside.

Right outside of our cabin were 4 Adirondack chairs and a picnic table, a fire pit and grill grate,

Cell phone service wasn’t great, but in case of emergencies (or to reach a member of the Postcard Cabins team), there is a land line in each cabin.

we noticed many other people camping here at the same time as us but it was so peaceful and quiet, you never heard others.

check-out time is at 11am.

What to Bring

toothbrush & toothpaste

pajamas & clothes

good walking shoes

medication

rain jacket

bug spray

hammock

a good book

board game

In-Cabin Provisions

In case you forget some of the essentials, each cabin also has ‘In-Cabin Provisions’, which can be used during your stay. You will be billed afterwards for all items used.

Some of the available items include:

s’mores – $7

water (1L) – $3.50

coffee – $2.50

tea – $2.50

hot chocolate – $1.50

insect wipes – $1.50

log bundle – $9 (this was not available due to the burn ban)

fire starter – $2.50 (this was not available due to the burn ban)

charcoal – $13

propane – $13

When making your reservation, you will have the option to add a Sustenance Box to your booking. The box is $35 and includes 2 containers of oatmeal, 2 soups, 1 pasta, 1 pasta sauce, 2 jerky’s, 2 candies, and 2 cookies.

Campfire Rules

One of my favorite things to do is sit around a campfire so I was really looking forward to doing that this trip. Unfortunately, there was a burn ban during our stay.

A few things to keep in mind should you have a campfire during your stay:

Only use the firewood in the starter kit. You can be fined if you use wood from around your cabin. ($100 fine).

Never leave your campfire unattended.

Do not use the pots and pans provided within your cabin over the open fire. Postcard Cabins provide aluminum foil for you to place over the provided cooking grate.

A ready-to-light campfire can be added to the reservation prior or during your stay ($25 plus tax) which includes one firewood bundle and 2 fire starters.

Extra bundles are available for purchase and are located within a storage box outside of the cabin. Should you add one to your reservation and a burn ban is put in effect, the cost of the fire start will be refunded.

Pets

If you’re traveling with your pup, Postcard Cabins Big Bear has you taken care of.

When making your reservation through the website, simply add your dog to your reservation before checking out. A cleaning fee of $50 is required and will be added to your reservation total. If you forget to add your pup to the reservation, simply log-in to your Postcard Cabins account and add them through your account.

Once you check-in to your room, enjoy the convenience of having the dog bowls, a tie-out cable, dog treats and pet waste bags available in your cabin. No other animals are allowed.

Check out their site for the complete list of rules.