Traveling with kids tends to be more of a “trip” than a vacation. Between all the stuff you have to remember to pack, the schedules that need to be upheld, and not forgetting someone’s favorite blanket or toy – it’s hard to move your daily operations to a new location.
That’s why it was so nice to discover this family-friendly Airbnb in Hendersonville, N.C. It turned our family trip into a vacation! Barton Cottage at Blantyre is conveniently located in Horseshoe, N.C. between Hendersonville and Brevard, just two hours from Charlotte.
If you’re looking for somewhere you can escape the busy tourist areas but still have easy access to all the fun local activities, this is the ideal location. A short drive to Hendersonville in one direction or Brevard, Pisgah National Park, and Dupont National Park in the other direction – we were centrally located to see all the sights.
The cottage is tucked away from mainstream tourists but close enough to have restaurants, grocery stores, and even a fabulous coffee shop just down the road. It’s just the right blend of rural but accessible.
The hosts created a space where families could relax and enjoy being away without having to worry about small details.
The main attraction – and what caught my eye when looking for a place to stay – was the treehouse. It was where our kids spent most of their time while we were there. The two-story treehouse, with stairs going up, has games, three swings, and a hammock for lounging. It is both fun and safe. It’s obvious the owners made sure every part of the treehouse was enclosed for maximum safety. And a big rocking swing is perched at the top for parents to relax and supervise at the same time.
Other features of the cottage? When you first arrive, you’re greeted by a private, flat space at the top of the driveway. A fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs sits at the back of the house ready for late night s’mores.
There is a covered deck in the front, with a view of the farm across the road. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot your neighbors – a friendly herd of brown cows. The deck has rocking chairs, swings, a table, and a perfect view of the treehouse and picnic table area.
The cabin features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, which are more than enough space for our family of six. Plus there’s a family room, dining area, and well-stocked kitchen, which gave us plenty of room to spread out.
We tend to eat in and cook most of our meals whether at home or while traveling so having a well-stocked kitchen was very helpful in keeping our meal routines on schedule. We found everything we needed to prepare delicious meals to eat both indoors and out.
As a mom, the first thing I do when we arrive somewhere new is kid proof everything. I move any small breakable items, little pieces, sharp edges, and find a safe location for toys/playing, but at Barton Cottage I didn’t have to do any of this because it was already set up for our kids.
My kids immediately discovered the game cabinet, bookshelf, and toys conveniently stored at kid height. The furnishings were clean, comfortable, and made us feel right at home.
At bedtime I noticed that our hosts had anticipated a family would need nightlights and had placed them throughout the entire house. We packed our own travel crib, but one is provided if you need it.
Barton Cottage at Blantyre proves that kid friendly AirBnb’s do exist and make all the difference turning a family trip into a vacation.
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