What to expect on your first solo retreat stay
A practical account of what the first twenty-four hours actually look like.
Most people who book a solo retreat stay have never done one before. They arrive with a vague sense that they need time away, a bag that is either overpacked or underpacked, and a small amount of anxiety about what they are supposed to do with two to five days of unstructured time. This is a practical account of what the first twenty-four hours tend to look like.
Arrival and the first few hours
Check-in at Cedar Rain Crest is from 3 p.m. You will be met by whoever is managing the property that day, shown to your room, and given a brief orientation: where the practice spaces are, how the trail map works, what is in the kitchen for morning tea service. The orientation takes about fifteen minutes. After that, you are on your own.
Most guests spend the first hour or two unpacking slowly and walking the grounds without any particular intention. This is not wasted time. It is the beginning of the adjustment period, and it is better to let it happen than to try to skip it by immediately sitting in the pavilion and attempting to meditate.
The first evening
Solo stays do not include dinner service. The kitchen has a kettle, a French press, and a small selection of teas. Most guests bring food for their first evening, or stop in Fredericksburg on the way in. The town is about twenty minutes from the property gate.
The pavilion is available until 10 p.m. The trails are walkable after dark with a headlamp; the path to the pond is well-marked. Some guests spend the first evening outside. Others go to bed early, which is also a reasonable response to the first day of a retreat.
What the second day usually brings
The second day is typically when the stay starts to feel like a retreat rather than an unusual night away. The morning tea service arrives at your door between 7 and 7:30 a.m. After that, the day is open.
Guests who have brought work often find the second morning is when they can actually engage with it. The writing studio is available from 8 a.m. Guests who are not working often find the second day is when the trails start to feel like a practice rather than a walk. Neither is more correct than the other.
A note on what to bring
Layers for Hill Country autumn evenings, sturdy shoes for the trails, and whatever you are working on or trying to think through. The property provides linens, towels, and basic toiletries. The writing studio has no Wi-Fi, so if you are planning to work there, download what you need before you arrive. The main house has Wi-Fi if you need it.
If you have questions about what a solo stay involves before you book, the questions we get most often are answered in the FAQ. You can also reach us at stay@cedarraincrest.com.