Where should I go for a modest, boring personal retreat?
August 1, 2016 8:02 PM Subscribe
I'd like to celebrate my retirement with a month-long personal retreat devoted primarily to moderate exercise and quiet relaxation. I'm a man in my 60's. Given the following criteria, where should I go?
* Budget. I think I can swing up to $7,500.
* Climate. Must be low humidity.
* Location. Preferably scenic desert or mountainous area with mild to medium walking or low-intensity hiking trails. This is a high priority.
* Exercise facilities. Swimming is a high priority. Ideally, a pool, 25 yd minimum length, suitable for lap swimming, but some other body of water might work. Minimal workout area for floor stretching, exercising. Massage availability would be a plus.
* Accommodations. Simple, clean, quiet. Firm bed and a good reading chair is all I need. Would like a private bathroom.
* Amenities. NO wifi, TV, or other audio-visual clutter would be a real plus.
* Food. Simple, healthy fare, reasonably priced; I'm not a foodie.
* Entertainment. Peace and quiet more than anything; not interested in seeing new places, meeting people, shopping, sight-seeing, etc.
So swim a little, walk a little, stretch a bit, read, eat, sleep. Are there resorts / retreats that would meet this simple criteria? Or can you suggest a good location where I could package these criteria a la carte? Or any ideas at all in line with what I have in mind?
* Budget. I think I can swing up to $7,500.
* Climate. Must be low humidity.
* Location. Preferably scenic desert or mountainous area with mild to medium walking or low-intensity hiking trails. This is a high priority.
* Exercise facilities. Swimming is a high priority. Ideally, a pool, 25 yd minimum length, suitable for lap swimming, but some other body of water might work. Minimal workout area for floor stretching, exercising. Massage availability would be a plus.
* Accommodations. Simple, clean, quiet. Firm bed and a good reading chair is all I need. Would like a private bathroom.
* Amenities. NO wifi, TV, or other audio-visual clutter would be a real plus.
* Food. Simple, healthy fare, reasonably priced; I'm not a foodie.
* Entertainment. Peace and quiet more than anything; not interested in seeing new places, meeting people, shopping, sight-seeing, etc.
So swim a little, walk a little, stretch a bit, read, eat, sleep. Are there resorts / retreats that would meet this simple criteria? Or can you suggest a good location where I could package these criteria a la carte? Or any ideas at all in line with what I have in mind?
A few years ago I went with my mother to The Oaks at Ojai. I really enjoyed it and found it to be super refreshing. It is a weight loss spa, but I found it to be more of a wellness retreat than I expected. The food is very low calorie and simple, but I liked it. They offered lots of moderate exercise classes, have a pool and a gym, and really nice facilities. Clientele skewed toward people in their 40s to 70s. It's in the desert and in a really beautiful environment. They have guided walks and jogs as well - although I can't remember any specific hikes.
posted by pazazygeek at 10:36 PM on August 1, 2016
posted by pazazygeek at 10:36 PM on August 1, 2016
I have no specific recommendation but a seaside agroturismo/farmstay in the rural Mediterranean would be perfect in terms of climate, geography, food, budget and pace. Random example: Baglio Pocoroba near Segesta in Sicily.
A pool that big might be hard in a non-resort setting though - a pool of the length you want is very rare outside public facilities and major hotels in Europe. Perhaps choose one with a city/town pool a cycle ride away?
Finally, check out British and Irish newspapers' travel sections - they have a wider range of rural Europe on a budget than north American ones do. This Guardian article on walking through the Alentejo in Portugal has quite a few leads.
posted by mdonley at 7:40 AM on August 2, 2016
A pool that big might be hard in a non-resort setting though - a pool of the length you want is very rare outside public facilities and major hotels in Europe. Perhaps choose one with a city/town pool a cycle ride away?
Finally, check out British and Irish newspapers' travel sections - they have a wider range of rural Europe on a budget than north American ones do. This Guardian article on walking through the Alentejo in Portugal has quite a few leads.
posted by mdonley at 7:40 AM on August 2, 2016
How about a retreat in a monastery? The Benedictine Abbey Monastery of Christ in the Desert is in Abiquiu, New Mexico, which is seen in the spectacular desert landscapes of Georgia O'Keefe. No cell service, no television, and no web service. They offer simple guest accommodations, and you don't have to be religious to go there.
posted by answergrape at 9:23 AM on August 2, 2016
posted by answergrape at 9:23 AM on August 2, 2016
The R&R program at Kripalu ticks all your boxes except the pool, though in the summer, you could swim in the lake.
The food is FANTASTIC and is included in the price. If you're not into yoga, I don't think that would be that big of a deal. I've been a few times, and sometimes I've participated in everything, other times, I've pretty much stuck to myself.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 10:21 AM on August 2, 2016
The food is FANTASTIC and is included in the price. If you're not into yoga, I don't think that would be that big of a deal. I've been a few times, and sometimes I've participated in everything, other times, I've pretty much stuck to myself.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 10:21 AM on August 2, 2016
Look into the Esalen Institute if you can deal with some new age-y woo. Location is unparalleled (cliffside, California coast). Prices here. I won a weekend at Esalen in a raffle a few years back, and I would go back again for the hot springs and views alone.
Calistoga is warmer, but still low-humidity, and more resort-ish. Indian Springs, too.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 10:57 AM on August 2, 2016
Calistoga is warmer, but still low-humidity, and more resort-ish. Indian Springs, too.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 10:57 AM on August 2, 2016
Where are you starting from and what time of year?
Tucson, AZ seems to fit the bill in several ways, but it's going to be damn hot for the rest of this month and a fair bit of September. But it is nice and dry, has a very scenic desert atmosphere with a desert-oriented national park at either end of town (Saguaro East and West - both with a wide variety of hiking conditions), and is quite affordable. Food can range from interesting to boring; in addition to good southwestern/Mexican food, there are most of the staples you might expect in the suburban midwest (you might have to cook for yourself if you're being meticulous about eating healthy, however).
I can't recommend a specific facility in Tucson but if you're willing to do some legwork on VRBO, you can probably find a nice quiet place in your price range with a pool. For instance, here's one picked totally at random given your stated criteria which is currently available for almost all of September (I have no affiliation with that landlord and have no idea if it's actually a nice place).
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 2:12 PM on August 2, 2016
Tucson, AZ seems to fit the bill in several ways, but it's going to be damn hot for the rest of this month and a fair bit of September. But it is nice and dry, has a very scenic desert atmosphere with a desert-oriented national park at either end of town (Saguaro East and West - both with a wide variety of hiking conditions), and is quite affordable. Food can range from interesting to boring; in addition to good southwestern/Mexican food, there are most of the staples you might expect in the suburban midwest (you might have to cook for yourself if you're being meticulous about eating healthy, however).
I can't recommend a specific facility in Tucson but if you're willing to do some legwork on VRBO, you can probably find a nice quiet place in your price range with a pool. For instance, here's one picked totally at random given your stated criteria which is currently available for almost all of September (I have no affiliation with that landlord and have no idea if it's actually a nice place).
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 2:12 PM on August 2, 2016
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posted by matildaben at 8:26 PM on August 1, 2016 [1 favorite]