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What To Expect at the Vermont Women’s Adventure Retreat:
Awaken in natural rhythm with the sun, coming into your fresh, new day slowly. Join us for a gentle morning yoga session followed by a gourmet, family-style breakfast served by the Trout Club’s on site chef. After breakfast, we’ll break into small groups for an uplifting mountain bike ride at the Trapps Family Lodge or a hike on the Long Trail. You can choose an easy or challenging course, depending on how you feel that day. Either way, you’ll ride with women of your same ability and comfort level. We’ll refuel with a hearty, energizing lunch prepared at the Trout Club by our amazing chef, or if we’re out biking on location, like the famous bike path in Stowe or the Trapp Valley Lodge trails (aka mountain biking paradise, and yes, we’re talking the same Von Trapps from The Sound of Music), we’ll enjoy lunch in town, with one very special lunch planned at the Bavarian Café on the Von Trapp property – truly a cultural and culinary experience to remember! After lunch, you’ll have free time to swim, canoe, or kayak in our private lake, lounge on the dock with a good book, or fold yourself into a rocking chair on our adorable wrap-around porch. After a decadent dinner (people come from all over to dine at the Trout Club), it’s time to tap into our creative vision with lectures, demonstrations, and creative exercises. The evening ends by 9:00 p.m., ensuring you’re in sync with the man in the moon. Please keep in mind that you do not have to do everything! We support and encourage you to find the level of activity that is right for you.

What are the accommodations?
We’ll stay at the exclusive Trout Club, a historic, private fishing club nestled in the Green Mountains, with world-class cuisine and acclaimed hospitality, not to mention Vermont’s best hiking and biking trails right outside your door, including the famous 256-mile Long Trail. Tucked beside a private lake at the end of a long road, the Trout Club is a true hideaway, a place you won’t be able to find on the internet. The charming rooms are simple, yet comfortable, with hand-hewn beams and rustic fieldstone, uncomplicated by televisions, cell phone service, and other disruptions of nature’s rhythm. If you need to say connected you can go down the road about a mile and use your cell phone or check your messages each day when we go into town. We think the greatest treat our getaway in Vermont has in store for you is the deep sense of rejuvenation that comes from unplugging from your everyday, and reconnecting with the sights and sounds of serenity.

The rooms are basic and not very fancy but we will be spending all of our time out on the amazing deck overlooking the lake. (Some rooms have bathrooms in the rooms and some have bathrooms down the hall) We have limited single rooms available for an additional cost of $850.

Here is the description of the hike right out our door: Description and Highlights of the surrounding area (right out our door!): Explore the notch with its beautiful view of Lake Mansfield and the valley below from the top of this trail. Stroll along this historic trail enjoying the lush vegetation and signs of wildlife as you slowly but steadily climb to the waterfalls. This picturesque setting allows you to marvel at nature’s beauty. Shortly, you will pass by an active beaver pond on your right after crossing a few small streams. The trail leads to Taylor Lodge (Long Trail hikers’ shelter) which is your destination. Enjoy the view from the Lodge back down the Nebraska Valley. The Trout Club is at the beginning of this trail in the Nebraska Valley.

What will the food be like?
The food at the Trout Club is out of this world!! Seriously 5 Star! We will eat family style and there is plenty of fresh, home made gourmet meals prepared for us morning, noon and night. People come from all over to eat at the Trout Club..so you are in for a real treat. We provide entrees with meat (usually meat, chicken or fish) and can accommodate a vegetarian entrée as well. Fresh fruit and Odwalla Bars are always available. Please indicate any dietary restrictions; we try to accommodate your special needs. The food is one of the BEST parts of the retreat—“YUM!” We have renamed this retreat “Food Quest”!

What weather can I expect?
The Trout Club is located in Stowe Vermont. September daytime temperatures are refreshingly pleasant ranging from the 50’s to 65 degrees. We could get rain so bring your waterproof rain jacket just in case

Am I in good enough shape to do this retreat?
Most Likely! We adapt to all levels of fitness. You can choose to walk/hike, walk/run, or run. We teach you practical skills for mountain biking—useful for both beginners and experienced riders. We have a variety of trail options for biking, and for walking/hiking/running. Groups are formed according to each woman’s level of fitness, experience, and desire to challenge themselves. We do suggest that you start a training or workout program before you come so that you can get the most out of the retreat. Your training does not need to be a hard-core program…just get out and PLAY and BE ACTIVE several days a week.

Do I have to participate in everything on the schedule?
You do not need to participate in everything; you can pace yourself so that it is the perfect amount of activity for you. We fully support you in doing as much or as little as is right for you in the moment. The schedule gives you a sense of the flow of each day. It is subject to change, depending upon the needs of the group, weather, etc. We will go over the schedule each day at breakfast.

Do we have free time for a massage?
Absolutely! This retreat is for YOU. We offer plenty of activities, but there is no pressure to do everything. There is a mid-day break each day for reading, napping or enjoying new friends. WQ will email you a schedule so you can choose your times according to that. Most days we will be riding or  hiking from 9:00-12:00 (stopping for breaks and looking around) and lunch from 12:30-1:30, anytime after 1:30 is a good time for a massage! We have great massage therapists that join us from Stowe,  for $110.00 plus tip per hour.

Tell me about the Yoga
We begin each adventure-filled Women’s Quest day with a unique “Awakening the Senses Yoga.” This gentle but powerful practice draws inspiration from Gyrokinesis, Qigong, and Tai Chi, and is a perfect way to prepare the mind, body and senses for the activities of the day.

What is the mountain bike riding like?
We will be mountain biking for 2 days:
Day 2: We will be riding on the famous paved Stowe Bike path, which was named the most beautiful bike path in America. This bike path meanders along the Stowe River and goes for about 6 miles in one direction. For the more advanced riders, after we teach the drills and skills, we will ride on the Mt Mansfield Trail System of single-track trails.

Day 3: We go to Trapps Family lodge, which has over 20 miles of flowing private trails suited for novice to veteran bikers. The progression of trails is perfect for first-timers or anyone looking to develop skills and confidence gradually.

What kind of mountain bikes will be available to rent?
We will be renting full or front suspension Mt bikes are around $65 to $105 a day which includes the trail pass

What if I want to bring my own mountain bike?
That’s fine. If you are driving, just bring it along but make sure it has been serviced and that the tires are good and that you can ride it on trails.

What is the average age on this retreat?
We have a wide range of women who attend our retreats, from 15-70 years young. Each retreat will vary. Please contact us if you have questions about the ages on a specific retreat.

What if I am coming alone?
The majority of the women who attend our retreats come by themselves. Although you may come alone, you will leave the retreat with new, lifelong friends!

Payment Policy

To secure your spot on a retreat, a non-refundable deposit is required:

  • $500 for domestic retreats
  • $1,000 for international retreats

Single room reservations may require an additional $200 deposit. Reservations cannot be held without a deposit.

Full payment is due 90 days prior to the retreat. If payment is not received by this deadline, you may lose your reservation. For bookings made within 90 days of the retreat, payment in full is required at the time of registration.

Payment Options:

  • Avoid fees by paying via check or Zelle.  
  • Payments via PayPal or Stripe incur a 4% processing fee.  

Cancellation Policy

  • 91+ days before the retreat: Refund of payments (minus your deposit).

  • 90 or fewer days before the retreat: Payments are non-refundable.

Women’s Quest reserves the right to cancel retreats with insufficient participant interest. In such cases, all payments will be refunded; however, Women’s Quest is not responsible for personal expenses, such as airline tickets, due to schedule changes or cancellations.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in case unforeseen circumstances prevent you from attending or completing the retreat.

Travel insurance is particularly important in the event you:

  • Need to cancel due to illness or injury (including testing positive for COVID-19).
  • Require medical care during the retreat.
  • Face trip interruptions, delays, or unexpected quarantine requirements.

We suggest a policy that covers:

  • Trip cancellation and interruption
  • Medical expenses
  • Quarantine costs

For maximum flexibility, consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policy, which provides additional peace of mind. While this type of coverage is more expensive, it offers the most protection for unforeseen changes.

To compare and purchase travel insurance, we recommend using Squaremouth, a trusted platform to find the best policy for your needs.https://www.squaremouth.com/22393

Before purchasing any policy, consult a travel insurance agent to ensure it meets your coverage expectations.