Recharge, Refocus & Recommit ~
Tools for Designing a Balanced, Fulfilling Life
Warm Springs, VA ~ September 25-29, 2024
You've had a good run, but now something's missing: that sense of purpose that once propelled you forward. The thrill is gone, and you find yourself drifting, looking for clarity about what's next.
Enough aimless wandering. It's time to take control and begin your most rewarding chapter yet. Our intimate Virginia retreat gathers smart, driven women like you to confront what's holding you back. Through frank dialogue and immersion in nature's restoring beauty, you'll rediscover your interests, recalibrate your personal equilibrium, and emerge with excitement about the possibilities ahead of you.
No trite self-help rhetoric, just candid conversation and actionable strategies from women who've traveled similar paths. Join us and get unstuck for good.
Are You:
Ready to channel all of the skills, wisdom and experiences you have accumulated toward a new direction and with renewed purpose?
Innately curious and craving something different?
Looking for support from like-minded women with a rich variety of backgrounds?
Proud of what you have accomplished and ready to shake things up a bit?
Primed to find new and fulfilling ways to be relevant, impactful, and satisfied in the next phase of your life?
You are not alone!
We invite you to join our intimate group of authentic, motivated and multi-generational women as we guide you toward your exciting future.
Meet Your Hosts
Hi! We are Lisa Waltuch (left) and Jennifer Sullivan (right), co-founders of Encore Retreats.
We are passionate about helping smart, savvy women approach the next stage of life with confidence and excitement, while creating their most fulfilling encores. Ultimately, we provide tools and insights that allow women to uncover their talents, desires and new ideas and then harness the courage and energy it takes to go after them.
Lisa is an Empowerment Coach with Thrive Coaching, specializing in helping people design the life they want using Design Thinking methodology. She worked as a creative director for The Discovery Channel, The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website and Walmart. She is also the busy mom of three. Lisa holds a BA from Stanford University and MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Jen spent 20+ years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and is now the owner of J. Sullivan Advisors, a boutique travel consultancy. She is passionate about purposeful, immersive travel ~ and she considers creating experiences that Encore Retreats’ guests will remember and cherish a privilege. She is also the proud mom of two. Jen holds a BA from the University of Richmond.
Welcome
September is the perfect time of year to visit the rolling hills and stunning colors of Warm Springs, Virginia.
The warmth of summer lingers while the crowds recede and you get to unwind at the lovely boutique Inn at Gristmill Square, hike in the mountain forest, and indulge in the unique offerings from local chefs and cider makers.
Most of all, it is a time to be together with other women and to reflect on who you are, what you want and where you want to go next.
“Thank you, Jen and Lisa! I was skeptical about a four day-retreat and hesitant about the cost. Now, I am sure it was the best thing I did with my time and my money! Insightful days of discovering who I am now with a group of other women on journeys of self-discovery. I am leaving with clarity and an action plan which excites me!”
-J.S.
“We hiked, we did yoga, we ate really good food, we met people with interesting stories of how they came to be shop owners or chefs or farmers. We shared stories that helped us look inside ourselves. We built friendships that will keep us accountable and provide guidance on this life-long journey. Sign me up for Part Two!”
-D.M.
The Venue
We’ll gather among the picturesque, rolling hills and crisp mountain streams of Warm Springs, Virginia, 160 miles west of Richmond. The Allegheny Mountains are the perfect backdrop for you to disconnect from your commitments and to focus on yourself, what you truly want and where you want to go.
Spend four nights at The Inn at Gristmill Square, a boutique inn composed of restored historic buildings and an elegant restaurant and pub housed in a converted mill. Onsite amenities include an outdoor pool, select rooms with wood-burning fireplaces, Adirondak chairs by a babbling stream, and an award-winning restaurant complete with a wine cellar from which guests can select their wine. Located just across the street, guests can enjoy treatments at the neighboring Warm Spirit Spa.
The Cuisine
Bath County’s most iconic gristmill is home to the award-winning Waterwheel Restaurant. Contemporary farm-to-table dining features the freshest local and sustainable ingredients often including vegetables and herbs from the onsite garden. The small group of highly trained individuals provide warm and personable service in a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. Guests are invited to visit the wine cellar deep within the old mill foundation or enjoy a classic cocktail at one of the Commonwealth’s smallest bars – on one of the “best four seats in Virginia”.
The Journey
From the minute you arrive in Warm Springs until you leave five days later, you will go on an adventure to help you define and take control of your future.
Immerse yourself in an incredible natural environment through morning movement and mountain hikes. Free your mind, spark creativity, and allow yourself to go to new places.
Listen to the personal stories of the innkeepers, chefs, farmers and gallerists who have moved away from a conventional life to one with a deeper connection to the earth and self.
“Take the healing waters” at the historic Warm Springs Pools. Bubbling up from deep underground is the warm mineral-rich and crystal-clear water that fills the Warm Springs Pools, America's oldest spa.
Embrace regional culture through the local food, and experiences
Practice radical collaboration with a group of like-minded, multi-generational, dynamic women.
Nourish your body with carefully curated, hyper-local cuisine.
With your mind and body prepared, dig deep into your own personal path using innovative approaches such as Stanford Life Design program and William Bridges' transitions work.
Our Approach
Design Thinking uses curiosity and creativity to help us uncover, reframe, test out and apply techniques to address issues in a creative, innovative and action-oriented way. This approach was initially meant to solve problems in design and engineering but has been extremely effective in fixing the challenges in our lives. We use the Stanford Life Design program as our main structure and use strategies around transition and life balance to help you create a life that makes sense in terms of who you are and what you believe.
We apply these ideas of design thinking, transition, and life balance into every single experience during our time together. By the end of this retreat, after some deep, delightful introspection and simple mindset adjustments with like-minded women, you’ll have the tools you need to find your balance, discover your hidden direction, leave old barriers behind, and rekindle the energy you need to design the next exciting chapter of your most fulfilling life.
“I cannot say enough about the healing power of being open and vulnerable in the presence of extraordinary women who support and care for your growth.”
— S.V.
On this retreat, you’ll enjoy:
Collaboration
Five incredible days together in a quietly inspiring environment that’s sure to nurture your mind, body and soul
Workshops and group exercises to identify where you are now, where you want to go next and set intentional steps forward
Small Group Setting
This retreat is limited in size in order to foster trust, connections and meaningful conversations
Post-trip community support through a private Facebook group
Movement, Wellness and Relaxation
Morning movement options along streams flowing from the Alleghany Mountains
Local hikes in the George Washington National Forest
Access to the Inn's outdoor pool
Downtime each day to nap, journal and let the ah-has sink in
A soak in the historic Warm Springs Pools
Gourmet meals and tastings
Four in-room breakfasts, to enjoy at your leisure
4 lunches on the go
4 sunset cocktail hours
Private tour to the Troddenvale Cidery including tasting dinner and cider pairings
Two multi-course dinners at the award-winning Waterwheel Restaurant
One dinner at the charming local restaurant
The retreat does not include:
Roundtrip airfare. We recommend flying into Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (75 miles) or Richmond International Airport (175 miles)
Ground transportation to and from The Inn at Gristmill Square in Warm Springs. We can connect participants who want to arrange carpools, if requested
Relaxing massage or facial available for an additional $120 per treatment
Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance
Additional food or alcohol
What you will take home:
Clarity and action steps towards your next chapter
Connections and an ongoing community of like-minded women
A physical rest and mental reset
Resources to support you on your new path
A group of new friends, connections and collaborators connected through our private Facebook group
Your Investment
Early Bird Special through May 28 - take $300 off the prices below!
Deluxe Room - $3,299: These stylishly appointed, expansive rooms each have a king or queen-sized bed, an indoor or outdoor sitting area and a private bath.
Standard Room - $2,999: These cozy rooms feature beautiful period antiques, a king or queen-sized bed, dramatic windows and a private bath.
Are you Ready to Take The Next Step? Click here to join the waitlist now!
At Encore Retreats, past retreat guests always get first access to our new retreats and the early bird special rates. We are in this pre-launch phase right now and will open up to everyone else in early-mid May. Add your name to the waitlist here!
To ensure that this retreat is a good fit for you, all potential attendees are asked to schedule a 15-minute chat with Lisa and Jen. During this call, we’ll get to know each other a bit and you’ll have the chance to ask any questions not covered on this page.
If you, Jen and Lisa decide to proceed, you will choose your room type and pay the initial, non-refundable $700 deposit. Only when this deposit has been received is your spot confirmed.
50% of the remaining balance is due by June 10, 2024.
The remaining balance is due by August 10, 2024.
Two weeks prior to departure, you will receive detailed information about what to look forward to, weather updates, packing tips and more.
If you prefer a custom payment plan, we can certainly work with you. Balances must be paid in full before departure.
Cancellation Policy
Any cancellation will result in a total loss of the $700 deposit. Cancellations made between June 10, 2024 and August 10, 2024 will result in a loss of 50% off the trip price. Cancellations made between August 11. 2024 and the trip departure will result in a total loss of funds.
Encore Retreats reserves the right to cancel the trip if it is not meeting the trip minimum. If we do so, your deposit is refunded in full. This decision will be made by August 25, 2024.
Trip Cancellation insurance is always recommended. We suggest Travel Guard Insurance, which has several policy options.
“I walked away from the retreat with a different perspective on a weight that I have been carrying for a few years. I have a renewed sense of energy to take on an exciting challenge…a purposeful adventure.”
— S.B.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
— Mary Oliver
Can’t make this trip, but want to join our community? Sign up here