Note: You may have noticed this post changed from Getaway Houses to Postcard Cabins. There was a name change. Since then, Postcard Cabins has been taken over by Marriott Bonvoy as an outdoor collection, so some of the processes may have changed since my stay.
I discovered Postcard Cabins while looking for somewhere unique to stay for our 2nd wedding anniversary that was close to home. Usually, we find small towns nearby to visit for the weekend within a few hours of us. It’s a great way to unwind and explore places in our home state that we might overlook otherwise.
Surprisingly, Postcard had two “Outposts” in our home state. We visited the closest location in St. Francois, Missouri, where we spent two nights.
What Are Postcard Cabins?
Postcard Cabins are a tiny home vacation rental company in the United States with Outposts nationwide. The vision behind these cabins is to provide adults with more free time and an escape from their busy everyday lives. They strive to encourage more connection, unplugging, rest, and creativity by forcing you to slow down and appreciate natural beauty. As one of those so-called busy adults myself, the idea certainly sounded appealing.
Once an independent company, these have now been absorbed by Marriott Bonvoy. They boast the same vision as the initial cabins, but with the perks of being part of the Marriott Bonvoy family as an added touch.
The St. Francois Outpost
The Outpost we visited is in a small town called Bloomsdale, Missouri. It is located around 30 minutes in either direction from the larger towns of St. Genevieve and Bonne Terre.
En route to the outpost is a rural locale with beautiful sprawling farmland. We took the back roads the whole way and enjoyed the scenery. The Outpost itself is in a secluded wooded area. The turn is hard to miss with a noticeable sign off the entry, which takes you up a hill before any Postcard Cabins come into view.
Each cabin has a unique identifying name and “neighborhood” within the outpost. They are spread out, allowing privacy from other visitors. The cabins are far enough apart that I don’t think anyone had to worry about their neighbors much, though some spots were closer to the road and more visible to fellow guests driving past. I was surprised to see a good deal of cabins occupied!
Luckily, our cabin was in a private corner at the back of the outpost, perfect for the secluded getaway we were looking for!
This outpost did not have the general store that some of the newer Postcard locations have, but it did have a nature trail.
Our Postcard Cabin
All of the Postcard cabins are identical tiny homes with two options available for booking. There is a single-bed option for two people or a loft option to accommodate families or groups of four. We stayed in a two-person cabin dubbed the Siprina.
An hour before check-in, you are sent the name of your cabin and a code for entry. This keeps the process contactless. However, someone is always readily available to respond to any needs via text and checked in with us during our stay.
Inside Your Postcard Cabin
Each cabin comes equipped with a bed, table, bathroom, shower, stove, cooking utensils, plates, mugs, cups, kettle, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lantern, and a mini fridge. The cabins are minimalist in design, leaning into the natural wood to create a cozy yet simplistic feel.
My favorite feature? (And I’m sure most Postcard visitors’, based on the pictures)
The giant picture window beside the bed. It gives the feeling of being immersed in the surrounding woods and fills the little cabin with natural light. It was a wonderful way to wake up with the birds singing and a view of the wildlife out the window. I loved enjoying my book and a cup of coffee while lying in bed each morning.
Bonus items that are available in the cabin are the phone-free box to put your phone in if you need extra help unplugging during your stay. There were also essentials in the cabin available for purchase. This included a s’mores kit, coffee, tea, and water. If you do need to use them during your stay, you are billed for the items after you check out.
We even received a personalized note upon arrival, adding a touch of hospitality during our stay, despite the contactless check-in process. Now that the names changed, the note on a postcard seems even more like a nice touch to the stay.
Also, don’t view the books as simply a decor piece! They had a perfectly curated collection that included poetry, tiny cabins across the world, and books about living more simply. I spent one morning reading a poetry book from the cabin.
Outside Your Postcard Cabin
On the outside, Postcard keeps it equally simple. A picnic table, fire pit (with a grate for cooking over the fire), a lead in case you bring your 4-legged friends, and two Adirondack chairs.
There is also a box with firewood and fire starter for purchase in case you didn’t pack your own. We used the fire starter, and Postcard charged it to our card on file after our stay.
Chris and I enjoyed sitting outside by the fire with some mixed drinks (We’re currently on a French 75 kick together). It was nice to unwind and enjoy each other’s company away from the stresses of home. In our little corner, we were quite a distance from our neighbors and didn’t notice them at all, except for the coming and going of vehicles.
We also walked the nature trail on the outpost one evening. The nature trail is a short loop trail with a slight incline in some areas. Bring bug spray and some tall socks if you plan on doing this; however, as we had some seed ticks by the time we were through.
Nearby Activities
Although Postcard Cabins are the perfect place to relax and stay in, there are some places nearby if you’d like to explore some of the area.
We’d been to Ste. Genevieve for aweekend staycation AND my bachelorette party with friends and family. Chris and I decided to head in the opposite direction and check out Bonne Terre during this trip, as neither of us had been there before.
Bonne Terre Mine Tour
As the name indicates, Bonne Terre (Good Earth) is a former mining town. We did the walking and boat tour of Bonne Terre Mine, which also contains one of the largest subterranean lakes.
The mine is about 25 minutes away from the Postcard cabin. I enjoyed hearing the history and seeing the underground lake, although the boat portion of the tour was shorter than I expected. It was crazy being in a space that was entirely man-made, but reclaimed by nature with the lake itself and the cave-like features. It’s a quick but interesting hour-long tour. I’d recommend it for something unique to do in the area!
If you’re into diving, they also do dive tours in the lake. Much of the mining items are left behind because everything was abandoned when the mine ceased operations
The Terrace Winery
The Ste. Genevieve area has several good winery options if that’s an activity you enjoy. If you don’t want to travel that far, we found a beautiful winery right off the road on the way to our Getaway cabin called The Terrace.
The Terrace is a modern white building with black accents, but the property is the shining star. It has spread-out seating areas overlooking the surrounding farmland with beautiful landscaping featuring a water feature and vineyards.
We tried a flight of some of their house wines, and they were all delicious—although the dessert wine packed an unexpected punch. We ended up purchasing a bottle to take home with us, as we popped by the winery on our way home since it isn’t open Monday-Thursday.
Food Options
If stovetop and campfire cooking isn’t for you, there are plenty of options within 20 minutes of the outpost. We ate at The Dew Drop Inn in Bloomsdale and El Jarochito in Bonne Terre.
We also cooked breakfasts and other simple food items at the cabin. I wished the cabin had a microwave, as it would have been nice to warm up our leftovers after dining out one evening.
Overall Poscard Experience
I loved staying in our Getaway house. I feel that they accomplished their vision of creating a space for people to escape the hustle and bustle, both physically and mentally. It was the perfect destination for a mini anniversary trip because it allowed us to slow down and enjoy our time together away from the stress of our usual routine.
At home, I find it hard to relax because I’m always thinking of other things I need to be doing. At the Postcard cabin, the simplicity of it all made it easy to unplug and relax together without expectation. I enjoyed it so much that I wish we’d decided to stay for three nights instead of two.
Would I Return?
I could 100% see myself returning to a Postcard cabin. They even offer a rewards program where you get a free night at one of their cabins after staying five nights. I could see myself returning with Chris, our pup, or even solo for some relaxing, creative time! We have another location within a few hours that I’d love to try out sometime.
I’d recommend Postcard to anyone seeking a no-frills, relaxing getaway or simply a mental break from the busyness of life, whether it’s only for a couple of nights or a longer stay.
Have you ever been to a Postcard cabin? What did you think?
