Have you been to Smithville, Texas? No? Me either! I thought of it as one of those “drive-thru” towns. A town that isn’t really a destination but more like a dot on the map. Well I was wrong! I recently had a random long self-care weekend in Smithville, Texas where I found secluded peace and tranquility.
The Airbnb Cottage
$79 a night for an Airbnb with a private pool? Heck yes, sign me up! That is about as much attention as I paid when I came across this cottage as I booked it. I read the reviews and they were all great, so I proceeded. Fast forward 2 weeks later and I am sitting by said pool writing this story.
The cottage is small and cute! However, it doesn’t feel small when it is just me. There are 2 full size beds, a full bathroom, closet, dining table, and a kitchenette setup. It is absolutely perfect on the inside when you think about spending all of your time outside.
The cottage is in the backyard of the main house. The listing states that the pool and the yard are private, and I have to agree. The entire time I was there the individuals in the main house never looked out a window, opened a backdoor, or stepped foot into the backyard. They truly give you the privacy that was promised. Dogs are allowed; however, it wouldn’t have been sufficient for my mini horses. It is perfect for smaller dogs. There is a picnic table with a fire pit and umbrella. Next to the pool is a table with 2 chairs that was ideal for me to work with my laptop.
Serenity and Self-Care!
It is definitely time for quiet and self-care when my muscles are so tense, they keep me up at night and I can’t keep my ten different to-do lists straight. Life gets so intense at times that you have to step away and hit the restart button. Floating in this pool and watching the clouds and the occasional small private plane fly helps to ground me. Stopping to smell the roses is a phrase that everyone will mention but I am literally doing that this weekend. Reconnecting with nature and stillness.
I have truly found a quiet secluded corner of this busy earth. Surrounded by nature and stillness. The flowerbeds are alive with movement with an amazing variety of butterflies, dragonflies, huge bumble bees, and more. The other side of me is dominated by the hummingbirds. I can’t tell you how many I have already seen zipping in and out. The lack of city traffic and noise is deafening to the ears. I have heard a squirrel barking, birds chirping, dogs barking sporadically, and the cicadas are all buzzing. In 8 hours, I have only heard one train whistle in the distance and a siren. Other than that, nature is all I’ve heard. Serenity in Smithville!
The Town of Smithville
Smithville has a lot of history. There are numerous old historic homes on beautiful wide tree covered streets. With all historic towns there is a main street with the old brick buildings. There are plenty of antique stores and cute cafes and bakeries. The feed store is down the highway out of town and there is one grocery store that also serves as the pharmacy. I haven’t seen a single fast food restaurant. There are two state parks less than 10 minutes out of town, and I spent a wonderful day exploring those. This is your typical small country town.
There have been approximately 16 various films/series filmed in Smithville. In fact, Smithville has been named the First Film Friendly Community in Texas by the Texas Film Commission. The most well-known is Hope Floats from 1998 with Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick, Jr. This sweet cottage is 2 doors down from where it was filmed and Harry Connick, Jr. stood on this street. Oh, be still my heart!
This wasn’t an expensive weekend. This wasn’t a glamorous weekend. This was a self-care weekend! Sometimes when life takes over and you are stretched thin with the demands of everyday life, it is beneficial to book a random weekend trip and decompress.
