The House is a rustic cabin down a trail from the Sanctuary headquarters – once the property gates have closed in the evening you will have the entire sanctuary for yourself. The house has only one room (9" x 16') with a cot and one bunk bed (upper and lower bunks) and a wood-burning stove. The house also contains a small table with 2 chairs and 2 kerosene lamps. Restrooms are located in the headquarters nearby, and you will have to bring your own water (check "What to Bring" for the complete list of gear). All this makes for a pioneer-like experience at night: complete obscurity to gaze at the starry sky, the sounds of wildlife around the cabin, and except for that, total silence to drain yourself of urban life's tension.

Overall, this is one of the most original ways to spend a night in the great outdoors around Boston.

To rent the house, you will need to be a member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. The annual fee is $40 and gives you free access to all other 40 sanctuaries of the Society across the state – this universal access is largely worth the fee. To become a member, call 1-800-AUDUBON.

Once registered as a member, call the Sanctuary at 978-887-9264 and ask them to fax you the Innermost House reservation form (no reservation accepted by phone). Return the form with full payment and show up at the Sanctuary on the reserved date before 4 pm. The staff will then give you the key and show you the way for the House.