Low-Cost Retreats

Retreats imply refuge and seclusion, a withdrawal from the everyday. For groups, they can provide new perspectives, foster a sense of community among colleagues and inspire out-of-the-box thinking. Yet, with cost-cutting an imperative these days, it helps to be prepared with reasonably priced options for what companies might perceive as a superfluous expense. Consider these down-to-earth, inexpensive group getaways.

Spiritual retreats
A soul-restoring break from the routine is precisely what groups will experience at a spiritual or wellness retreat.

The stunning red rock formations that surround central Arizona's 160-acre Sedona Mago Retreat (800-875-2256; sedonamagoretreat.org) inspire serenity. Managed by the nonprofit Tao Fellowship, the venue promotes ways to live harmoniously with one's environment through holistic healing and experiences with nature. Guests are encouraged to meander through the grounds' numerous hiking trails, gardens, waterfalls and lakes; spiritual-healing seminars and guided tours are offered for a fee.

Mago's group rates start at $111 per person/double occupancy, including three meals a day and use of on-site meeting space (for up to 500 people). Director of sales and marketing Suzette Bruhn recommends adding group tai chi lessons to the package, at $10 per person. "They are very powerful exercises for the mind, body and spirit, ideal for before and after a meeting," she notes.

Technophiles beware: No televisions or phones are allowed on the property. Alcohol is prohibited as well, though the grounds are just 10 minutes from the lively town of Sedona.

For small nonprofit groups involved in social justice or strategic planning, Lifebridge Sanctuary (845-658-3439; lifebridge.org) in High Falls, N.Y., is run by the Lifebridge Foundation Inc., which supports groups that foster understanding and interconnectedness within their communities. Nature is the retreat's most prominent feature, by way of panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains, the nearby 7,000-acre Mohonk Preserve, and 95 acres of woods, trails and ponds. Not surprisingly, meditation and yoga are popular activities here.

The sanctuary's centerpiece is a vintage 1772 Dutch stone house featuring colorfully decorated rooms (all double occupancy, with sleeping quarters for up to 30), local artwork and hand-built fireplaces. Groups schedule their own activities here, including food preparation. Use of the facility's fully stocked kitchen is encouraged; otherwise, meals can be catered by local establishments. Meeting space and high-speed wireless are on the premises.

"Groups that come here always comment on the atmosphere. It's so calm, quiet and beautiful, and their work is enhanced by that," says Barbara Valocore, president of the Lifebridge Foundation. However, she notes, "We prefer groups who support our mission and who have innovative programs."

The Sanctuary is less than a two-hour drive north from New York City and a half-hour west of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., which has an Amtrak station.

 Working farms
Typically family owned, working farms usually are low on frills and high on atmosphere. Activities such as tending to livestock and crops and enjoying evening hayrides are part of the package or can be booked for a small fee.

Mountain Dale Farm (570-658-3536; mountaindale.net), comprising 175 acres of woods and pasture in rural McClure, Pa., about 155 miles from Philadelphia and 125 miles from Baltimore, is one such property, where groups feed sheep, cattle and ducks, take dairy tours by day and hayrides by night. "Otherwise, activities are pretty much DIY," says owner Sally Hassinger. "People bring their fishing polls and bikes, but we do have a pool and a ping-pong table." Groups also can try berry picking, fossil gathering or hiking through the woods. Nearby attractions include Amish settlements, the Appalachia Spring Ranch and several golf courses.

Accommodations at Mountain Dale begin at $50 per night, excluding meals and use of meeting facilities. The farm offers a discounted conference rate for a two-night stay and beyond. A buyout of the entire farm is possible for up to 80.  

Places to meet include the Picnic Pavilion, which seats 100, and the Great Room, a large open space fit for breakouts. Meals can be prepared on-site or brought in by outside catering services.

To put more of a foodie spin on a rural retreat, choose a place like Rosas Farms (888-353-9912; alrosas.com), an organic farm in Citra, Fla., headed by celebrity chef Al Rosas. For groups of up to eight for an overnight stay and 40 for a day retreat, the award-winning property is committed to culinary education and sustainability. Day retreats cost as little as $75 per person, with an overnight at about $185, including meals.

In addition to watching an organic farm-to-table meal such as wild-caught salmon or grass-fed beef being prepared by an expert, groups can learn about organic farming and witness whip-cracking demonstrations, to name a few options. Chef's table dining happens in the evening, and the retreat concludes with a dispersal of goody bags full of organic treats.

Rosas Farms is 25 miles south of Gainesville, Fla. Jacksonville International Airport is about 85 miles away.

At adventure retreats, groups can relive summer-camp memories with ropes courses, rock climbing and kayaking (all supervised). Accommodations are typically minimalist, with an emphasis more on practicality than comfort. Still, the outdoors proves a great catalyst for team building and bonding with colleagues.

Adventure is the key lure at the Alpine Meadows Retreat and Conference Center (909-794-3800; alpinemeadowsretreats.com) in Angelus Oaks, Calif., surrounded by the San Bernarndino National Forest and Mountains, and about two hours from both San Diego and Los Angeles. The facility offers many options for groups, including archery, kayaking and ropes courses. "The lower ropes are particularly good for team building," notes Adam Lybarger, director of sales and marketing. "About 10 people work together toward a common goal. We also have wall climbing, which requires some people to lift and support others."

Housing, food and meeting space are all included in the price per night, which ranges from $78 to $99, depending on  group size. Up to 400 attendees can be accommodated in the largest meeting lodge, of which there are six in all.

Retreats along rivers and lakes offer a whole other set of adventures. Case in point: the River Dance Lodge (866-769-8747; riverdancelodge.com), open from April to November and set on the banks of the Clearwater River in Syringa, Idaho. Groups can tackle the currents through white-water rafting, fly-fishing or inner tubing. Those who prefer dry land can hike along part of the 4,600-mile Lewis & Clark Trail.

The lodge's Syringa Café, which serves Turkish and Northwest American cuisine, can cater meals, but each cabin offers a barbecue, a refrigerator and a microwave. An area near the café can be used for meetings or coffee breaks. Wireless Internet works in the café, but there are no televisions or cell phone service.

Up to 64 guests can be housed in the cabins, which sleep eight to 10 each and start at $219 in the fall season.

Shuttle service from the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport, two hours away, can be arranged.