Alternative vacation centers in the States?

August 6, 2017 10:09 AM

I had a great week learning mindfulness meditation, doing yoga, running in the mountains and learning from like-minded people at Spain's Cortijo Romero earlier in the year. I've heard good things about La Roane in France too. What vaguely similar places are there in the US? Not necessarily new age, health-related or outdoorsy, but vacations where I can learn something with thinking people a little bit off the beaten track: anything from Porcupine Freedom Festival to JoCo cruise might fit the bill.
posted by Junebug79 to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

I'm not super familiar with the particulars, but there are a number of mindfulness/meditation places around Northern California. The one that popped up for me was the Eslaen Institute. The New York Times wrote an article on a number of these.
posted by cnc at 11:16 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

If you want to get super-duper clothing-optional vegetarian hippie, Breitenbush, in Oregon, has lovely hotsprings. I haven't been to any of the workshops.
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:34 AM on August 6, 2017

Since you have a passport, you might want to consider Hollyhock on Cortes Island in BC. https://hollyhock.ca/
posted by Mesaverdian at 12:18 PM on August 6, 2017

Despite the name, which I cannot even parse, it's kind of my dream to go to Equinisity Retreats in Canada (I'm sure there are similar places in the states, this is just the one I'm familiar with) and hang out with what looks like the world's most relaxed herd of horses.

Here's a video of them sleep farting, if that helps.
posted by jessicapierce at 12:34 PM on August 6, 2017

In the Northeast US Omega Institute & Kripalu are a couple of very solid choices.
posted by 6thsense at 4:40 PM on August 6, 2017

A recent Ask may have some possibilities.
posted by ShooBoo at 5:23 PM on August 6, 2017

The Chattaqua!
posted by SyraCarol at 6:04 PM on August 6, 2017

I went to a workshop at the above mentioned Eslaen at it was really lovely. They have *tons* of workshops/activities, great food and facilities (we stayed off-site).

They recently closed due to the highway damage from a landslide so check before you go.
posted by Twicketface at 10:46 AM on August 7, 2017

Also popped in here to recommend Kripalu.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 11:03 AM on August 7, 2017

Someone was just telling me about the John C. Campbell Folk School--he said it was one of the best experiences of his life, and he is 87 and has seen some shit.
posted by exceptinsects at 7:47 PM on August 10, 2017