My Week In Photos: City Girl Goes Rural For A Weekend

I've recently had a strong desire to get away from city life and embrace a quieter environment. I think it has to do with all the chaos going on in the world right now. I just wanted to clear my mind and get in touch with nature, especially since I don't do much of that during the winter. So I booked an Airbnb for the weekend and headed to Mendham, New Jersey.

Okay so New Jersey isn't far from New York but who has ever heard of Mendham? Not me. I took a look at the map and saw that it was in the middle of a lot of "blank space" so that was a good enough reason to go.

The Airbnb apartment was so cozy and quaint. The decor was charming: there was a bar cart that I became a ~tad~ obsessed with and the host's bookshelf was filled with great reads!

Spread of travel items atop my host's bar cart -- wine and my Instax are a must!

Mendham was also perfect for the kind of vibe I was looking for. There was a lot of nature and a minimal amount of commercialism. The moment after I unpacked, I made my way to a large nature preserve to enjoy a brisk hike. My husband and I were the only ones out there (probably due to the 25-degree forecast)! Nevertheless, I had an amazing experience.

I also discovered a few bookshops in a small neighboring town. One was really worn-out but filled with beautiful books literally from the ceiling down. I felt like I was walking through history and that's an amazing feeling. I snagged a few postcards from the early 1900's that were from my hometown in Queens, New York. What a treasure.

Every bookstore needs a good reading chair!

My hometown in 1908. This is New York?!

I wish this trip had been a little longer than just a weekend. Small towns have a lot more content than you can imagine. If you're looking for a quiet getaway, maybe give Mendham a shot!

Instax photos make everything look so cool.