In the spruce Chata Smelt Lasem, children have a voice. Besides, not only the voice, but also the playground, and its own games corner in the living room. The ski slopes, lakes, a stable and a skatepark could also fit into just one question 'far away'. And while one part of the family is messing around somewhere, the other can go to the surrounding mountain trails or use the home sauna in the garden.
Stuff a child's trash in the car, pack a dog and head towards the Beskid. Maybe a little one, but at the same time really nice!
We are a Beskid-Highlander couple and hence the idea for the Podhale style of our cottage.
On the ground floor there is a bathroom, a kitchen and a glass living room overlooking the garden. In warmer months, the large fold-out sofa can serve an additional 2 people. In winter, due to the large windows, we encourage you to come in a smaller group of 6 people. At the top of the house there are two bedrooms: mint and lavender. Each room has 1 double bed and 2 single beds.
In winter you can burn in a fireplace with a water jacket. There is also underfloor heating (especially useful for children who are still crawling).
The cottage is surrounded by a quiet, fenced garden with a playground, sauna and hot tub for our guests.
Since we lived in Chata for 7 years ourselves, we designed and completed the kitchen with the culinary needs of families with growing children in mind. So here is everything and even more that you need during a family vacation.
However, if you run out of fantasy for self-cooking, our mother-in-law will help you - and will prepare homemade dumplings or croquettes on request. It is also possible to conduct culinary workshops for children with our daughter Ola, a semi-finalist of the MasterChef Junior program.
There is a barbecue in the garden.
For hedonists and homeowners
- Paradise begins in a spacious living room with large windows and a fireplace, but then it turns out to be even better. Because how about your own sauna in the garden, which you can use without any obstacles (and additional fees)? Imagine coming back from the forest trails, followed by an intimate sauna session by yourself, with family or friends.
For vagabonds
- The closest trail (yellow) starts just over 1 km from the house. You can walk along it to Jawornica with the ruins of the 1938 bunker, and from there to the Triple. If you're lucky, you'll find rustic buns and chocolate rolls. Right out of the oven!
- On a nice day, it is worth going to the village of Rzyki to climb Leskowiec. From there you have 5 km to the narrow path on Magurka Ponikiewska. It will lead you to Jaskowa Ark, where the hermit Jan Sasor lived for almost 20 years. A man of great faith and kindness, he chose this piece of the world to build a house - a boat, which was to save him during the flood sent by God. According to some wanderers, you can still meet his friendly spirit, showing the way lost in the Beskid fog.
- For the most ambitious, we suggest jumping out to Babia Góra - it's less than 1.5 hours by car from us. And the local sunrises and sunsets can actually stay in your memories for longer.
- You can also get to know many trails from behind a horse's mane - the nearest stable is already 1.5 km from the house (search under the name: Stanica Hucuł).
For swimmers and water lovers
- Lake Mucharskie (30 km) primarily serves as a retention and breeding farm. There are no official bathing areas here, and hence no crowds of people. The reservoir was created on the Skawa River, but its last years as a free river were presented in the magical film 'With the current of life'.
- Choosing Żywieckie or Międzybrodzkie Lake (20 km), you will probably meet more tourists, but also prepared bathing areas and various suggestions for spending time on the water. We especially recommend a group trip on SUPs at the BANANA school run by Dominika and Mateusz. They often invite you to SUPing in the light of the full moon or during sunrise. It's worth it!
- In the immediate vicinity, we recommend a walk to the waterfalls under the Golden Hill (5.9 km one way on foot). According to legend, it is there, in secret caves on the slopes of Złota Górka, that the robbers hid their treasures. Maybe some more are left?
- In the summer season, you can relax by the outdoor swimming pool in Andrychów (4.4 km).
For those in love with architecture and history
- Wadowice (16.5 km), obviously most associated with Karol Wojtyła, hide charming alleys and cafes. The fight for the title of the best cream cakes is still pending, so we will not recommend the only right place to try papal cookies. After dessert, it is worth visiting the intimate Bałysówka art gallery in Tomice, near Podadowice.
- If you like ethnographic parks, you can't miss the one from Kocoń (27.8 km). In spring, when the grass is lush green and everything is blooming, the park makes an amazing impression!
- In the nearby Andrychów (5 km) there is a nice market, as well as the Bobrowski Palace (the latter, unfortunately, neglected for many years). For a historic trip, take a croissant from the 130-year-old 'U Frysia' bakery in one hand.
- The castle park in Żywiec is considered to be one of the most beautiful in this region. It comes from the early eighteenth century and many talented hands have contributed to the fact that despite the passage of time it continues to delight.
In winter, for skiers and snowboarders
- Our surroundings are asking to fasten skis or boards! The nearest station, Czarny Groń (11.8 km), offers 5 routes and an impressive snow park.
On site, kids will find a lot of board games, a corner in the living room with toys, a playground in a fenced garden, and even bikes for rent (3 for adults, 2 for children, and a car seat).
For the more active and demanding, our son Wiktor recommends the skatepark in Andrychów (4.7 km).
If your child enjoys horse riding like our daughter Ola, you can collect them to the nearby Stanica Hucuł (1.5 km).
The Czarny Groń ski station (11.8 km) invites both smaller and larger skiers / snowboarders.
An armchair by the fireplace may not be a typical place to work, but on autumn and winter afternoons it seems to be the best option. In the kitchen there is a table with 4 chairs, and in the living room there is a large comfortable sofa and bench overlooking the garden. A lot of light comes in through the windows, so artificial lighting is not needed. Outside, there is a wooden bench with a table, deckchairs and comfortable garden armchairs.
