Decent "corporate retreat" spaces in metro DC?

April 30, 2012 2:46 PM

Decent "corporate retreat" spaces in metro DC?

I'm researching places in the DC area to hold a two-day team retreat, and coming up with a lot of noxious conference rooms that look exactly like our own office. I'm looking for recs for somewhere that won't make me antsy at the mere thought of spending sixteen hours there. I was really ready to pitch the Arboretum to my boss, but they are not accepting events right now.

We'll have no more than 25 people, and will want to have lunch, coffee, etc. Must be metro-accessible, but Virginia or Maryland would be fine. People will not need accommodation. Somewhere with nature would be splendid. We'll be wanting two week days at the end of May.

So: have you had a good experience at a metro DC retreat facility? Tell me about it!
Thank you!

posted by quadrilaterals to work & money (6 answers total)

Mount Vernon
posted by parmanparman at 2:54 PM on April 30, 2012

I'm sure you could find some awesome giant facilities in downtown Bethesda or Silver Spring, but if you're not looking for accommodations, and perhaps a cool neighborhood is an attraction, I have worked with this group which has serviceable meeting rooms in Old Town Alexandria (Connect113), which would be a delightful place to hang out for two days.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 3:27 PM on April 30, 2012

It looks like these guys have meeting space. Plus, ropes course!

"Terrapin Adventures Team Building Programs will provide comfortable indoor meeting space, safe and exhilarating outdoor courses, healthy high-energy food and clean modern rest rooms. We have arrangements with local caterers to provide simple to elegant meals during your program. We also can incorporate wellness/spa programs to complement the team building activities to treat your staff to some well deserved pampering for a day they won’t forget. We can handle groups up to 200 people. We use the Manor House, the Savage Mill Great Room and Rams Head Tavern which are on site and wonderful spaces."
posted by charmcityblues at 3:35 PM on April 30, 2012

My organization has used Rockwood Manor may times. It is fine, and if the weather is nice the gardens are very pretty to walk around in,
posted by procrastination at 5:51 PM on April 30, 2012

Oh, sorry. I missed the metro accessible part.
posted by procrastination at 6:00 PM on April 30, 2012

Gallaudet's got a conference space. It *is* pretty hotel-y, and might not be suitable for your thing, but it's on a surprisingly nice wooded college campus, and about 6 blocks from a Metro.
posted by schmod at 9:31 AM on June 18, 2012