Writers retreat in SoCal/Mexico

October 29, 2008 10:03 AM

Help me find a retreat to write near los angeles.

I'm looking for a weekend getaway where i can get away to write. When I was in New England, I'd rent a cottage. I'm not wure what the equivalent is around LA. Maybe somewhere in Mexico?

I'm looking for a place where I can rent for a weekend that is quiet and isolated, with natural beauty so I can go for walks, but mostly just write!

posted by TigerCrane to travel & transportation (4 comments total)

There should be lots of good places for this in the local mountains. Try searching for cabin rentals near Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, or Crestline.
posted by InfidelZombie at 10:19 AM on October 29, 2008

Every year I drive 7 hours out to the Grand Canyon and rent a cottage at the Bright Angel Lodge (they have hotel rooms and cottages - get the cottage) to write. I usually spend 4 or 5 days and I tend to go in the winter (rooms are heated but not air conditioned. I walk and write, read and write, knit and write and the canyon is practically empty if you go on a non-holiday weekend. Feel free to email me for more info.
posted by Sophie1 at 10:19 AM on October 29, 2008 [2 favorites]

Out in the Mojave, only a short distance from LA, the Harmony Motel in 29 Palms (near joshua tree) is VERY writer friendly. They may still even have my old chair. Tell them you are coming to write and they will give yo the room on the end. You open your door and it is STUNNING NATURAL BEAUTY. I can close my eyes and still see that view. They also have a kitchen you can use if you want to shop and cook for yourself, decorated with photos of U2 when they stayed there, many many years ago.

Other writers I know like going up to Pioneertown or staying closer to JT but those options are more expensive, at least to this starving writer. There are also no-name inexpensive motels in Yucca Valley and Desert Hot Springs, but I never found anything I liked better than the Harmony. And it's VERY INEXPENSIVE. Love that place and miss it and if I could have gotten out there with FF miles I would be there in a few weeks (I'm on the East Coast again).

memail me if you'd like more info.
posted by micawber at 3:21 PM on October 29, 2008 [2 favorites]

The Harmony Motel sounds pretty cool. I'm making a note of it!

Here are a few other options that occurred to me:

More or less in town, there are parks within the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy system and adjoining it that offer some overnight accommodations.

Temescal Gateway Park in the Pacific Palisades has cabins for rent (as well as a couple nicer options.)

West of I5 between Santa Clarita Valley and the SFV, Towsley Canyon offers a lodge for rent, although I don't know if there's a reduced rate for single occupancy--it's meant for group events (weddings, corporate retreats,etc.)


Further afield, Ojai comes to mind.

The Ojai Retreat and Caillote Canyon both come to mind (on the more expensive side of things.)
On the rustic end of the spectrum, The Ojai Foundation might also rent you a yurt/cabin (and that should be fairly inexpensive although you might be expected to help out with meal prep etc., and available dates will be subject to the schedule of their existing youth programs.)

Villa Ojai's bungalow seems ideal (I'd email them and see if you can cut a deal on a 'writer's rate' for reservations during their off-periods or on short notice for otherwise unbooked nights under the something is better than nothing principle. Especially if you think you might be a regular. That probably goes for all of these places.)

List of these and other Ojai retreat options here.

Or, depending on the kind of atmosphere you're looking for (and your budget) you might look into retreat options at monasteries (after all, monasticism is more or less a permanent retreat.)

St. Andrews Abbey at Valyermo isn't too far up Highway 14, has a Retreat House and is in a very pretty spot. (which I found out about from this CityBeat article: The Other Side of Los Angeles, the description in which is worth reading. ) Monasteries' suggested donations are usually very reasonable, but you have to be alright with their codes of conduct and visitor expectations (which often include periods of silence, early bed-times, early rising, etc. and may involve attending services, depending upon the monastery and their understanding of the purpose of your visit.)

If you're willing to drive up north a ways, there's the Tassajara Mountain Retreat in the Big Sur wilderness, run by the San Francisco Zen Center open seasonally to the public, which seems like it could be really, really nice. (I haven't had a chance to go yet.)

There are also places outside the southern entrance to Yosemite, such as the Sierra Sky Ranch in Oakhurst, that might work for you.

Kernville is probably another option, although I don't any of the places up there. Same goes for Big Bear.

But first, I'd suggest asking around your group of friends about any weekend places (like in Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Newport, etc. or Big Bear, Arrowhead or even Mammoth) they might own or have access to (such as through their families) and be willing to make available to you for the occasional midweek writer's retreat. Offering to have the place professionally cleaned when your stay ends (and being sure to reciprocate the favor somehow) can help overcome vague reluctance on that front.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:26 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]