Home

Retreat Calendar

About Us

Getting Here

We are blessed here in the Upper Saco River Valley to have not only wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities, but pockets of culture, a few good coffee houses and several excellent restaurants!   Savvy visitors always want to know where the locals go.  As a native Mainer and big fan of this area in particular, I have some brilliant ideas for how to spend your time while nesting in our sweet cabin~and all within 25 minutes of our facilities here in Denmark.  Our sphere of travel includes Denmark village (6 mi), Bridgton (11 mi), Fryeburg (7 mi), Brownfield (7 mi), Conway (19 mi) and North Conway (22 mi).  You can get almost all of your wants and needs met here (with the possible exception of opera and roller derby).

 If we were visiting here for 4 days, this is how we might structure our time.

DAY 1: 

After traveling long distances and wanting to finally settle in, you probably don’t want to take on too much.  Perhaps some light entertainment, good food and kicking back on a nice sandy beach.    You might head to Fryeburg and Conway, NH.  One of the best kept secrets (don't you dare tell)  for good swimming is the Fryeburg town beach on the Saco River.  The Saco River has crystal clear water and is lined with sand throughout this region.  This section of the river has a wonderful sandy beach, where you can find quiet and privacy if walk a mere 2-3 minutes to the left of the locals.  There is a bit of a current here, so you can kick your feet up and enjoy the ride  down river for a few hundred yards.  The Saco is relatively shallow, so no worries in this section.

On the way to the beach you could indulge in a Froagie's Ice Cream cone. Moose tracks is the favorite. Can't explain why.

After a float and a power nap on the beach, head over to Conway for solid Mexican food and a good movie.  Café Noche is a locally owned restaurant where it’s as much fun to look at the décor as it is to eat their food.  We particularly love their fresh salsa and chips.  Their Margaritas aren’t too bad either, not that I've ever had one, mind you.  Just across the road from Cafe Noche is the Majestic Theater, another locally owned establishment that actually has discernment in selecting higher quality films.  Plus you can get a Starbucks coffee along with a great deli and dessert bar!  Check their website for upcoming movies: http://www.hometowntheatre.com

DAY 2:  Consider staying here for some stress reduction activities.  While this page is intended to be a fair and balanced presentation of the wonderful options in the area, we also feel compelled to share or reiterate what is offered right here on the premises. 

Often times when people arrive, they're dealing with challenging issues at home.  Perhaps a stressful job or may be needing clarity on how to manage a family or personal crisis.  Working with individuals who are facing these challenges is our passion.  Jen is available to work with individuals one-on-one doing "The Work of Byron Katie" (www.thework.com).  This simple yet profound tool is has produced astonishing results all over the world.  In fact, its power might be lost on you because it appears so simple.   Feel free to book Jen (a credentialed practitioner of the work) for a one or multiple sessions. To see if you like it, Jen is happy to do a free introductory session for 1/2 hour.

Do yoga.  Right next door to the cabin is the Pleasant Mountain Meeting House where we hold our weekend retreats.  Feel free to use the second floor of the facility (if available) to do yoga/meditation on your own (mats are available) or book Jen for a private/group class. 

Take a contemplative mountain/brook walk.  Walking slowly and mindfully can be an incredibly healing activity.  The cabin is situated at the base of Pleasant Mountain.  So some of the grades are challenging.  But with relatively little work, you can be looking at out Mount Washington, and 2 minutes later, looking at an amazing brook waterslide.

For lunch/dinner, feel free to use to fire ring right outside the cabin to cook hot dogs, hamburgers, garden burgers or tofu pups.  We have a pretty good sandwich shop about 5 minutes away for a pretty decent Italian sandwich.  The owner is from Massachusetts, but we don't hold that against them.

DAY 3:  Maybe you’re ready for something more ambitious today.  In the heart of  summer, we firmly believe in being on, in or near the water whenever possible.  And there is a lot of water around here. Clear, clean, quiet water, if you know where to go. We do.  With 2 Registered Maine Canoe guides on hand,  come experience one of several excellent paddles that are quiet and off the beaten path.  One is the Brownfield bog (about a 5 minute drive) which is known for its excellent birding.  We are amazed at how few people actually paddle the bog, but are quite grateful – and no motor boats allowed! Just forget about being told where the other gems are! ;--) That is private. Let us  take you out for the day, lunch and paddling gear included.   You will be left breathing a little deeper and feeling a lot lighter.

Speaking of Brownfield, we are so fortunate to be within 7 miles of a top notch performing arts center – the Stone Mountain Arts Center (or SMAC… as we like to say).  SMAC was established by Carol Noonan, a nationally-known singer/songwriter in the area.  When we heard she was building a barn for some of the best musical talent in the country to perform, we were excited but we seriously wondered who on earth would come to Brownfield, Maine.  Well, the artists are coming, and so are the people.  Their shows are often sold out, so be sure to plan ahead.  This is truly a wonderful venue at so many levels – excellent food, workmanship on their post and beam barn, and the kind of talent you might think you have to go the Boston or Portland to see.  Pretty cool!
Check out their website: http://www.stonemountainartscenter.com/

DAY THREE:  Perhaps you’d like a day where you don’t have to drive anywhere and its one of those cool, clear days.  A good hike comes to mind.  We are situated right on Pleasant Mountain with two trailheads within a mile of your cabin here, plus a nice network of trails that we’ve created right in our backyard.  We’re fortunate to have lofty views of the White Mountains from our ridge, as well as a beautiful spring-fed mountain brook as our border.  These trails are well marked, and we have maps for your convenience.

If you’re looking for a real climb, we are big fans of the Pasture trail on Pleasant Mountain, which has open ledge trails with views much of the way up.  From the Pasture trailhead, climbing to the peak takes about 2 hours.  On the other hand, if you’re looking for the quickest way up to the panoramic views on the top, the Firewarden trail is your best bet.  You can hit the peak in about 1 to 1.5 hours.  There has been some erosion on this trail in some sections, but this is a relatively easy, gentle way up to the top.  And the views make this hike so sweet!  There are 2 trail heads on the east side of the mountain as well.  If you're feeling ambitious, you can traverse the entire mountain.  We can drop you off and/or pick you up if we’re available.  (For a small fee).

Our cabin and meeting house have cooking facilities, so save a little money and stay in.  We have a nice picnic bench and other eating areas.  Upon request, we have a TV/ DVD player with a small, but quality and thought-provoking selection of movies that we love sharing. 

DAY FOUR:  What getaway is complete without at least a little shopping.  We have some great shopping opportunities here for the high end and bargain shopper alike.  Our top local choice is Bridgton, which is 10 to 15 minutes from here.  Flatlanders (the technical term for those who reside in another state) frequently fall in love with Bridgton -- and for good reason.  You don't find many towns that embody that New England charm and still offer great services -- almost all independently owned businesses!  Bridgton's services include: