Words by Candace Echols
Every so often, on the ordinary journey through human life, a low-grade restlessness starts to bubble from deep within. Perhaps it’s brought on by busyness or boredom, or maybe it’s brought on by the minutia of one’s weekly calendar. Whatever the trigger, we all know what it feels like when the sensation hits our consciousness and when all we can think is “I need to go somewhere.”
Nothing answers that soul-level restlessness better than an escape to a cozy little nook in the woods where smoke curls from the chimney, candles flicker in the windows, leaves swirl through the air, and a deliciousness waits on the kitchen counter. Maybe you’re also equally inspired by a good book, a great author, or a story from your younger years that you just can’t leave behind. The first crisp days of autumn simultaneously invite us to go outside and settle in. And so, for those seeking just such a break from the monotony of regular living, here are five cozy cottages—all in the South—that are worthy inspirations for an autumn escape.
Green Frog Farm in Alamo, Tennessee: For the seekers who want to channel their inner Laura Ingalls Wilder and stay in a delightful little house in the big woods (while sheepishly hanging onto a few modern conveniences), there is no better fit than Green Frog Farm. For the past two decades, a retired doctor/missionary and his wife have spent much of their time and energy acquiring structures that history has left behind from all over America. With the help of their daughter’s keen eye, they have created a masterpiece property for guests to enjoy. From a moonshine still and a one-room schoolhouse to a set of cozy cabins and everything in between, they have recreated a town reminiscent of Walnut Grove from Little House on the Prairie, and their guests have full access to every restored town building. We can all travel to different places, but traveling to another time is a hard trip to come by. Green Frog Farm offers just such an escape.
English Cottage in the Ozarks in Harrison, Arkansas: Perhaps you’re someone who fantasizes about rambling through the Lake District of northern England with William Wordsworth or Beatrix Potter, or maybe a spot of tea in Hampshire with Jane Austen is what you fancy. For the Anglophiles who live too far from the English countryside for their own good, this cottage is the answer. Set hillside in rural Arkansas, this cozy house is surrounded by a sprawling green landscape and placed right in the middle of properly manicured English gardens. It’s not a big leap to imagine Mr. McGregor’s garden from The Tale of Peter Rabbit just up the road. Inside, wingbacks re-covered in rose fabric, vintage stacked suitcases, copper kitchen countertops, and restored wood furniture come together to create an atmosphere that transports guests “across the pond” from the moment they arrive, much the same way all great British authors do.
Campfire sparks, flannel shirts, and toasted marshmallows are a salve after a hot and humid summer in the South.
Hansel and Gretel Cottage in Primm Springs, Tennessee: For explorers who hear the word “cottage” and immediately envision hobbits, Dutch doors, curvy roofs, and stone fireplaces, this is the place for you. Just outside the hopping-and-popping scene of Nashville, Tennessee, rests a quiet little corner of the world that was once a resort, complete with five different mineral springs. These days, guests can retreat from daily life and step into the small, enchanting world of storybook living at the Hansel and Gretel Cottage. Everyone who has ever loved J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis will feel right at home as they pass through the arched doorways and read a book next to the asymmetrical fireplace chimney. And those who love Johnny Cash and June Carter will be thrilled to hear this house is a hop, skip, and jump from the Storytellers museum, which Cash and Carter once owned and used for their “Saturday Night in Hickman County” show. Of all the cottages in this list, this one just might be the most traditionally “cottagey,” and folks, that’s saying something.
White Whiskey Chalet in Brevard, North Carolina: Whether the writing of native North Carolinian Nicholas Sparks or Asheville-born Thomas Wolfe calls your name, a morning spent with a book in hand on the decks of White Whiskey Chalet is the ideal way to start the day. Built to make guests feel like they’re living among the treetops, this large cottage offers 30-mile views into North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Rarely do photographs invite a person into a state of nature-inspired restfulness quite like the snapshots of White Whiskey Chalet do. Indoors, the decidedly fresh decor blends a naturalist vibe with something that reaches both forward and backward in time, so cozy and delightful that it will inspire even the most outdoorsy person to hope for a thunderstorm.
The Back Porch in Mountain View, Arkansas: For those who love a cozy place to land but also want to keep the vibes light with some Fannie Flagg- or Lewis Grizzard-style humor sprinkled throughout the atmosphere, this is your jam. Light colors and soaring A-frame ceilings invite guests to take a deep breath and then let it go, along with the extra weight that accompanies the mundane tasks of ordinary living. A wood-burning stove, a hearty collection of puzzles and books, a deep-soaking bathtub, and an open loft bedroom all serve to create the laid-back modus operandi that makes this place what it is. Just off the friendly porch, a firepit and chairs overlooking the Sylamore Creek beckon. If you’re looking to have a lighthearted, good time, even in the shorter days of autumn, this cottage feels like a tree house. It’s just right for those unique grown-ups who’ve managed to hang onto the effervescent joy children tend to master without effort.
Campfire sparks, flannel shirts, and toasted marshmallows are a salve after a hot and humid summer in the South. And nothing issues a more satisfying and restful answer to that age-old restlessness than a cozy cottage escape set in the trees.
