Retreat leaders and retreat attendees: you’ve come to the right place to get all of your questions answered about your upcoming retreat weekend at Bliss Farm and Retreat! We invite you to use this information to help you pack, prepare, and plan.
Each guest is treated as family and our greatest achievement is in making your retreat experiences warm, vibrant, community-centric, and comfortable.
The Perfect Retreat Starts with a Warm Welcome
First thing’s first: let’s talk about the check-in process.
Look forward to a warm welcome upon arriving. We’ll offer you a refreshment, provide a valet service for your vehicle, and take your bags to your room. You’re welcome to join us at the main retreat house to socialize and unwind or unpack and enjoy your new accommodations and perhaps wander the grounds.
We’ll give you a specified time to meet with the entire retreat group for the first time. We’ll take you through the Bliss Farm and Retreat orientation and tour!
Nourishing Your Retreat
Our food philosophy is important to us. If we’re not growing what we’re serving, we’re sourcing it very intentionally and often, from very close by. We nourish our retreat guests with the highest quality, organic, local meals made from scratch, and we’re happy to accommodate all sorts of diets with gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. If you have a specific diet, please let us know in advance so that we can prepare special meals for you.
We believe that how you eat is just as important as what you eat. Because we consider you family, community building is just as important as the act of eating at Bliss Farm and Retreat. Our goal is to nourish your mind, body, and soul, and our food is almost always served sit-down style with your entire group. Dinners are slow and meant to be savored; they’re three or four courses, plated and served outdoors so long as weather permits.
Retreat Meal Schedule
Retreat meals are served at set times, but retreat leaders can customize meal times within a half an hour window. Timeliness at meals is extremely important. Typically, breakfast is served at 8am, lunch at 12pm, and dinner at 7pm.
Should your retreat schedule involve one or more days away from the retreat center grounds, we can send you with delicious, wholesome packed lunches in individual bags or stored in large coolers. Just let us know if we should work this into your retreat weekend plans!
Every once in a while, and typically on the last breakfast during your retreat weekend, we’ll serve a “family style” meal with smoked salmon, cream cheese, bagels, and baked goods from BimBeriBon.
Beer and Wine
We have a beer and wine license and would love to serve you an alcoholic beverage during your meal and after dinner as you cozy up under the lights on the deck or fireside. Just bring your card to dinner and then we’ll close your tab at the end of the evening. You’ll have the chance to at gratuity, and speaking of gratuity…
Gratuity
You have the opportunity to tip the hard-working retreat staff who lovingly prepare your meals and keep the grounds and accomodations fresh and beautiful.
Accommodations at the Retreat Center
Here are some notes about all of our accommodations, including each room or cabin’s level of “luxury.”
Retreat House Accommodations
The Buddha Suite: Offers privacy and traditional accommodations akin to a luxury B&B suite with plush, luxurious bedding and a private bathroom.
Mrs Kay's Suite: A private bedroom with access to a shared bathroom. Offers a traditional B&B experience with a large room, and plush, luxurious bedding.
The World Traveler: A private bedroom with a single bed and access to a shared bathroom.
Cabin Accommodations
The Osa Cabin Downstairs: Surrounded by woods and immersed by nature, this cabin offers modern amenities, shared living and sleeping space and shared bathroom. Guests should choose the downstairs if sleeping on a bed with a frame is important.
The Osa Cabin Loft: The loft is not recommended for anyone with issues climbing ladders or who has knee problems. Cabin loft accommodations are close to the cabin ceiling, so guests won’t be able to stand up fully. The Osa Cabin’s loft sleeps more than one guest and has memory foam mattresses directly on the loft floor. Guests in the loft will share the cabin’s modern amenities.
The Bali Bliss Cabin Downstairs: Surrounded by woods and immersed by nature, this cabin offers modern amenities, shared living and sleeping space and shared bathroom. Guests should choose the downstairs if sleeping on a bed with a frame is important.
The Bali Bliss Cabin Loft: Like the Osa Cabin loft, the Bali Bliss Cabin loft is not recommended for anyone with issues climbing ladders or who has knee problems. This loft has less space and height than the Osa Cabin loft and guests can’t sit up fully while in bed. Cabin loft accommodations are close to the cabin ceiling, so guests won’t be able to stand up fully. The Bali Bliss Cabin loft sleeps more than one guest and has memory foam mattresses directly on the loft floor. Guests in the loft will share the cabin’s modern amenities.
Bell Tent Accommodations
While our bell tents offer a luxurious version of camping (often called “glamping), it’s still camping. This accommodation is best suited for someone who loves nature to the point where they are comfortable living in sync with nature throughout the weekend, and who doesn’t have a fear of bugs. There is not power or climate controls in the tent. Bell tents have memory foam mattresses. The toilet is nearby the bell tents, however are classified as outdoors toilet and have portable dry flushing functions. Don’t worry! There is no smell or visible waste. Shower accommodations are campground style, with hot water and outdoor shower stalls. It is important for participants to remember that this is a budget-friendly accommodation. That said, the bell tents provide a fun, clean, and comfortable “glamping” experience, and are a wonderful option for retreat attendees on a budget.
What to Bring to Bliss Farm and Retreat
Each cabin and retreat house room stay includes toiletries and towels. Remember to pack a water bottle, headlamp or flashlight, jacket, closed toe shoes, DEET-free bug spray*, snacks, and additional toiletries.
Bell tent occupants should remember to bring their own toiletries and towels.
*We are an organic household and property, if you choose to use DEET bug spray, please ONLY spray outside, being mindful of others.
Please refrain from the use of synthetic fragrances while staying at the retreat center.
More Information on Retreat Stays
Please check out this page dedicated to additional information for retreat leaders and attendees. As always, feel free to reach out if our published materials don’t answer the questions you have about your upcoming retreat weekend at Bliss Farm and Retreat. We look forward to welcoming you!
