Eco Retreat Activities

Hiking, Cycling & Outdoor Experiences

Hiking in the unrushed style of "bushwalking" provides many opportunities to enjoy local flora and fauna up close with a mind to stepping lightly on the earth…we start of slow and then we go slower.

All fully-guided physical activities take place on site or on trails that originate at the back door.

Fully-guided hiking, cycling, and other outdoor experiences are available with the following packages:

• Eco Playcation
• Spa-in-the-Raw
• Deep Care
• SpaMoon
• Spa Vows Wedding

All of the following trails may be experienced under fully-guided packages.

Many, but not all, may be experienced under self-guided packages.

Cycling on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail upriver from the eco retreat gives a gives a different perspective of the Coquihalla River eco system. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is virtually flat, and mostly paved, as it meanders along the Coquihalla River, thereby making it accessible for guests of most fitness levels. There are ample opportunities to view local wildlife, eat wild berries along the way, and drink in the mountain wilderness.

Yoga-pilates-stretch-relaxation

Yoga-pilates-stretch-relaxation in the lush green forest or on the white, sandy beach provides the perfect ending to each afternoon. It is an opportunity to relieve your body of the day's events and it is a restful segue to the wood fired hot tub, a soothing beverage, tapas, and preparation for the evening meal.

Yoga-pilates-stretch-relaxation on-the-beach is available with the following packages:

• Eco Staycation
• Eco Playcation
• Spa-in-the-raw
• Deep Care
• FullMoon. SpaMoon
• Full Vows, Spa Vows
• Frugal “How-to” Series (all)
• may be added to any other package from the a la carte menu

Add-on activities

Add-on activities away from the retreat:

• Private - Enjoy a fascinating outing with Naturalist and outdoor educator Kelly Pearce, whose detailed knowledge of natural and human history of the North Cascade Mountains is second to none. Any package of three days or longer may include a day with a Naturalist.
   
• Public – Join any one of the awesome outings arranged by Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning, a non-profit organization providing outdoor education, recreation, and ecological awareness in the watersheds of Southwest British Columbia.

There are mountains of other activities to keep you playing at the eco retreat…bocce, croquet, bubbles, rock-hounding, inukshuk-building, sandcastle building…and on and on and on… only your imagination limits the possibilties.

Eco Cuisine Creation

Creating great cuisine commands access to great ingredients.

Get up close and personal with the nourishing ingredients you will eat at every meal…try your hand at 'digging in the dirt' in the on-site organic garden, harvesting fruits, veg, and herbs for daily meals, and enjoying a grounding connection with the earth.

Led by your host and culinary enthusiast, you are invited to join meal preparation… a "gathering place" approach to nourishment is fostered at the retreat.

From tree to table, from our own hands and from quality local suppliers, we prepare mouth-watering culinary delights, wrapped in caring and love.

Vegetarians, vegans, and those with special needs are lovingly accommodated to make their cuisine creation activities wholly fulfilling.

Eco Art

Part of any creative experience is trying new things. Creative expression may take many forms, and we enjoy experimenting with many new ideas.

From giant driftwood mobiles in the forest to copper pipe garden structures, to working with Northwest Native art forms, to building sand castles and inukshuks, your soul will be nourished by working creatively with your hands and with your imagination.

Eco Learning Activities

Learning and enrichment opportunities abound…participating in seasonal projects, hounding river rocks, watching wildlife (especially birds along the river)…there always something interesting to learn and experience during every minute of your eco retreat stay.

A popular request is to chop firewood…there is a certain "something" about chopping, splitting and stacking firewood that brings fulfillment. Whether novice or expert, the feeling is universally described as "wholly satisfying", and it brings full circle the replenishment of that which we use for our retreat experiences. Most all wood we burn is through selective harvest required to maintain the health of our forest.

Environmental Activities

As we walk through nature on local trails, it is an unfortunate reality that not all planetary inhabitants of the human variety are mindful about leaving spoiled traces of their passage. So, we carry a spare recycled bag along to "pick up what others have left behind".

As you move through your daily activities, you may take the opportunity to learn first-hand how to reduce what you use, reuse items with old or new uses, or, recycle that which cannot be reduced or reused.

Using products provided by the retreat (shampoos, soaps) helps to minimize effects of anything entering our environmentally optimized eco systems or from entering the river alongside the retreat.

You will feel good about your contributions and will learn more about how you can continue to make a positive difference even after you leave.

History and Geography

From aboriginal derivatives of our namesake through to the early fur traders, on to historic decades of the Kettle Valley Railway, and through to the present day, our area is rich with culture, history, and stunning geography.

Guests may learn to hug a tree for sharing spiritual energy, and gently be imbued with the richness of our history and geography throughout the fully-guided package experience. Guests on self-guided packages may read about our area through the many books in our library.

Nature Activities

Beauty and diversity abound with ample opportunities to view nature up close. Wildlife viewing includes bear, deer, marmot, mountain sheep, birds of many feathers including heron, eagle, osprey, owl, eider ducks, harlequin ducks, wood ducks, merganser, kingfisher, bobbers, woodpecker, mosquito hawk, swifts, hummingbird, junko, etc. and many, many, song birds.

Plantlife surrounds us wherever we go. From giant fir, cedar, and hemlock forests, including a rare section of old growth forest, to chocolate lilies, ferns and "1000 kinds of moss", fauna changes with every passing month of the year.

Exploring the varied geography is fun and fills the mind, body, and soul. Rock hounding along the river may turn into hours looking for just "one more". Identifying birds, mushrooms, plants and trees becomes natural, even to a neophyte, very quickly.

More Nature and Recreation

Combining your eco retreat experience with other activities and places in the immediate area is a frequent pastime, especially for guests from far away.

The following list represents nature and recreation opportunities no farther than one hour away:

Private Recreation Opportunities
Private Airplane tour with our good friend Reg (non-commercial $65 per hour)
Guided fishing (we recommend Great River Fishing)
River Rafting (we recommend REO White Water Rafting)
Hope Golf and Country Club
Vancouver Soaring Association (glider tours)
Helicopter Tours (we recommend Valley Helicopters)

Public Parks
Manning Provincial Park (especially late June-early July alpine wild flower walking trail)
Mountain Biking Trails
Skagit Valley Recreation Area
Sasquatch Provincial Park
Silver Lake Park

Area Attractions
Harrison Hot Springs
Minter Country Gardens
Hell’s Gate Airtram and Salmon Fish Ladder

We strive to assist our guests in any way possible.