Wander Women Wednesdays are back! This mid-week feature is all about highlighting an upcoming Wander Women Retreat<\/a>, or a new aspect of our retreat business we\u2019re excited about.\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s that? A fresh edition of our most waitlisted domestic retreat ever?<\/p>\n Sure is! A new fall-foliage based Upstate New York Wander Women Retreat is officially live for this October! Don\u2019t miss Wander Women Catskills<\/a>, a long weekend of leaf peeping, boutique accommodation, foliage-inspired yoga, foraged fall cocktails, an iconic New York hike, local libations, sauna and firepit giggles with new friends, and more \u2014 all at a gorgeous location conveniently located between my two New York loves of Brooklyn and Albany.<\/p>\n Since the explosively popular first edition of this retreat, I\u2019ve been itching to get back Upstate for the most magical of rainbow-hued seasons. When joyful personal circumstances took international travel off the table this fall \u2014 I\u2019ll be welcoming a new family member, courtesy of my sister and brother-in-law! \u2014 I knew exactly where the universe was pointing me.\u00a0<\/p>\n After much musing at Wander Women HQ, and reflection on the constant feedback that the battle against PTO is a never-ending one, we decided to try something new and exciting \u2014 our first ever three day, two night retreat (with plenty of opportunities to extend!) This sneaky little getaway is actually\u00a0 perfect for those who are low on time but high on desire for a Wander Women adventure before the year is out. Our shorter domestic retreats like this are a really cool blend of beloved Wander Women alumni and new friends curious to dip their toes in the shallow end before diving all in on Wander Women \u2014 which, I\u2019m proud to say, they largely do shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n I spent a lot of last year observing my rhythms of life bouncing between Brooklyn and Bali<\/a>, and one thing I noticed was a huge craving to spend more of the month of October in nature and particularly back in my original backyard of Upstate New York, taking in\u00a0the change of seasons.<\/p>\n Another deeply personal aspect of this retreat \u2014 our donation recipient. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and as always, Wander Women makes a donation to a local charity to give back to each community we host a retreat in. For this retreat, our donation will be to the The Kathryn Allen Center for Domestic Violence Services, named after my angel mom,<\/a> in my home community of the Capital Region.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve spent a lot of this year so deep in gratitude for how warm and wonderful it is to return to a safe and comfortable home after a trip; the privilege of which is never lost on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n For our third seasonal retreat Upstate, we\u2019ll be returning to the gorgeous Scandi-style Eastwind Hotels, this time exploring their Oliviera Valley property, a hidden gem tucked away in the Catskills State Park. Think quaint towns bursting with local charm, that I can\u2019t wait to explore \u2014 Phoenicia\u2019s artsy vibe, Woodstock\u2019s iconic music history, and Big Indian\u2019s breathtaking natural beauty.<\/p>\n I have a little wishlist of Upstate hotels and retreat centers, and needless to say this is at the top of it. We\u2019re checking into the Scandi-style cabins where we\u2019ll share \u2014 boozy, if you wish! \u2014 spiked apple cider happy hours around the cozy firepit, dine on farm-to-table meals, and run giggling between two onsite saunas. There\u2019s both fall glamping and cozy mid-century modern retreat room options available. This is my dream Upstate weekend, the perfect blend of nature and being nurtured.<\/p>\n Read on for all the magical details \u2014 I\u2019m pretty proud of them.<\/p>\n The retreat will be held from October 18-20th, 2024. The cost, including all of the premium experiences below, starts at $1,500 per person for three days.<\/p>\n What\u2019s Included<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Two nights at the lush Eastwind Oliverea Valley What\u2019s Not Included<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Alcohol and meals not included in the itinerary Subject to change, but you\u2019re going to have a magical time \u2014 here\u2019s the general idea!<\/span><\/p>\n Optional self-guided extension:<\/span> <\/strong>Follow me to my hometown of Albany for a night, join me for sunset from the New York State Plaza, and take a class at Wander Women regular co-host Jessica Lubin\u2019s very own Good Karma Studio! We\u2019ll recommend our favorite local accommodation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n We will stretch, hike and stargaze with your choice of Eastwind\u2019s boutique lodgings \u2014 from postcard perfect Lushna cabins, to cozy mid-century vintage hotel rooms \u2014 this retreat lets you choose your mode of \u2018ahhh\u2019 as you unwind.<\/span><\/p>\n The property has two onsite Scandinavian style saunas \u2014 dry + infrared, a communal fire pit, hammocks aplenty, complementary bicycles, and a bustling weekend bar lounge and dinner service.<\/span><\/p>\n Hotel rooms are located in the main building and cabins dotted across the property in easy walking distance. <\/span>The cabins are Scandinavian inspired Lushna Cabins that allow you to immerse in nature without sacrificing any comforts, all are heated A-Frames with a queen sized bed. Those opting to stay in the property\u2019s main building hotel rooms all have king beds with ensuite bathrooms, large window nooks and private decks to take in the view from inside or out.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Lushna Cabin + Deck: This classic cabin features a private deck with loungers, and private but separate bathroom just steps away. Due to the maximum coziness of this option, we recommend this room as a single, or for friends traveling together<\/span> For all room types you have the option of booking Single or Shared, however please see our F.A.Q\u2019s below for shared booking conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n For included meals, we\u2019ll be dining on incredible farm-to-table meals created by our hotel hosts and local vendors \u2014 as always, any dietary restrictions or allergies will be accommodated. For non-included meals, we\u2019ll suggest and stop at local favorites, from small-town cafes to hip diner options.<\/span><\/p>\n Oliverea Valley is a ninety minute drive from Albany and under a three hour drive from New York City.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re coming from further afield, we\u2019d recommend flying into either Albany (ALB Airport) or one of the NYC area airports (JFK, LGA, or EWR), and either renting a car, taking a convenient Trailways<\/a> bus direct to Shandaken, or taking Metro North or Amtrak for a beautiful train ride along the Hudson River. The closest train station is Poughkeepsie, where you can hop in a taxi or ride share for a just over an hour drive to Oliverea Valley, or make a rental car reservation through Enterprise and they\u2019ll meet you at the station.<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.alexinwanderland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/YellowLines-2.png\"\/)
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<\/span><\/h3>\nThe Details<\/h3>\n
\u2022 Two breakfasts, one lunch, and one dinner
\u2022 A foraged fall cocktail class + guided foraging walk
\u2022 Daily yoga + meditation + a sound bath experience
\u2022 Hiking Giant Ledge trail
\u2022 A custom welcome bag
\u2022 Professional photos of the trip
\u2022 A heartfelt local charity donation<\/p>\n
\u2022 Other activities or meals not outlined in the itinerary
\u2022 Local transportation (we will help coordinate groups of women who have cars, or are renting, or want to share Ubers or Lyfts)
\u2022 Mandatory travel insurance<\/p>\n<\/span><\/h3>\nThe Itinerary<\/h3>\n
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Day 1: <\/strong><\/span>Say hello to the Catskills! Today you can make your way into Oliverea Valley at your leisure, and we\u2019ll share some recommended lunch stops and sightseeing on the way in. I recommend arriving around 1:30pm as we kick things off with an intention setting yoga class on the lawn before settling into our accommodation, a highly sought after boutique hotel that beautifully blends nature and design. After, we\u2019ll enjoy a foraged fall cocktail walk and workshop with a female local mixologist (pine-infused spirits, anyone?), gathering ingredients from a local trail and turning them into hand-crafted tipples, before a farm-to-table feast onsite at Dandelion Restaurant. We\u2019ll close the night out with fireside chats and gourmet s\u2019mores!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDay 2: <\/strong><\/span>We\u2019ll start the day with breakfast baskets made from local produce to fuel up for our hike ahead. Today we\u2019re stretching our legs and lungs on a four mile walk through the wilderness to Giant Ledge, one of the best effort-to-payoff ratio viewpoint hikes in the area! Multiple overlooks offer swoon-worthy views over the kaleidoscope of fall colors in the valley below. <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>Afterwards, we\u2019ll head into the nearby town of Phoenicia to a famed female owned local diner for lunch, and then enjoy a stroll through this adorable upstate town. Next we\u2019re off to a local brewery to test out some fresh brews while we stretch out our post-hike muscles with a fun flow. We\u2019ll cap the night off with a dinner at Woodstock Brewing Co. before heading back for another night of campfire stargazing.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDay 3: <\/strong><\/span>Enjoy your final day basking in Wander Women glow! Rise early to grab a complimentary bicycle for a morning spin, make one last saunter to the sauna, or take it slow from your balcony in the crisp mountain air. Either way we\u2019ll gather for breakfast before checking out and heading to a local yoga studio with a sweeping view of the valley. I will lead you in a soothing yin massage class followed by a sound bath meditation to seal in your weekend of nature and new friendships! Before we hug goodbye, we\u2019ll enjoy a family feast on the deck. For those looking for an afternoon activity, we\u2019ll send you off with recommendations for fun and quirky local sites and museums no matter what direction you\u2019re driving in.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/span><\/h3>\nWhere We\u2019ll Stay and Where We\u2019ll Eat<\/span><\/h3>\n
\u2022 Lushna Suite: A loft-style cabin with an internal ensuite bathroom, private deck, writers nook and a lounge space with sofa<\/span>
\u2022 King Room: Cosy comfort located in the main building with an ensuite bathroom, large window nook and private deck<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGetting There and Away<\/span><\/h3>\n
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