I’m excited to give you an inside look at one of the most beautiful and totally unique hotels in the country—Caldera House. What makes this place so special (especially to someone who loves design) is how at home each guest feels while staying there. Tack on top the fact that we were there to meditate, hike, do yoga, and eat clean food in a beautiful setting in the mountains, and it was pretty much paradise—with a little bit of light cardio.

The retreat started on a Thursday night. I made the journey to Wyoming before Joe, and when I arrived I took a tour of the property and saw all of the stunning suites. Each suite includes more than one bedroom and features one full bathroom per room, which makes it perfect for a group trip. The large suites are all distinctly inspired by the owner and investors’ personal style, with a distinct Jackson Hole twist. 

After I spent an adequate amount of time fawning over the design details of Caldera House, I took a dip in the infinity pool to have a moment of solitude while watching horses graze from the balcony (I kid you not, friends—it was glorious). Afterward, I took a quick sit in the sauna. The evening then introduced the first of many wellness-forward items on the agenda, all of which amounted to an unforgettable way to take in the beauty of the Tetons. A few of those items included:

• Horseback riding through winding trails.
• Paddleboarding on snow-fed, glassy lake waters.
• Hikes with a million-dollar view.
• Food that taught you to rethink everything you thought you knew about going vegan.
• Chilly mornings and bright afternoons.
• A body so relaxed and nourished you melted into bed at the end of each evening.
• The best tomato soup I ever had, enjoyed in the company of the chef (and MD) who designed the menu.
• The joy of connecting with the other women tapping into their healing energy.
  
  

It’s hard to put my finger on why the weekend was so enchanting and nourishing all at once. If anything, it’s likely that the attention to detail and the truly unique location made for a wellness retreat unlike any other I’ve attended.  

Maybe it was the view. Or maybe it was something about the setting that called for surrender. 

Whatever it was, the primary thing I learned through my wellness retreat with Caldera is this: When you submit yourself to being open about whatever emotions or feelings of discomfort arise, transformation can begin to take root—and, in my case, stick.

The primary thing I learned through my wellness retreat with Caldera is this: When you submit yourself to being open about whatever emotions or feelings of discomfort arise, transformation can begin to take root—and, in my case, stick.

The experience helped me shift my thinking around the importance of discomfort—both as a signal to make a change and as a sign that what you’re doing is working.

The icing on the cake? I got to share my experiences in real time with my spouse!

Honestly, I was a bit worried I wouldn’t be able to focus or find enough opportunities to truly relax when balancing my time between connecting with new people and catching up on life with Joe. But we really did find our groove pretty quickly.

Joe and I are on different health journeys and in many ways, it was the first time we were able to connect on all the mindfulness work I’ve been doing for the past 12 months. Throughout the retreat, he took his path and I made sure to take mine. We crossed and weaved our experiences together in a way that made me even more confident in our ability to be independent people with rich internal lives and hobbies, while also sharing the most important vested interest of all—our kids. 

A couple of weeks after the trip, we’re still talking about how good the food was, how amazing the beds were, and how much sweeter the view looked after sweating all the way to the top of the mountain. I’ve noticed little ways I’ve incorporated what I learned about clean eating into my cooking techniques, and I downloaded a few Yoga Today classes designed to focus on hip opening. We are better able to support each other’s decisions in setting self-care goals, taking on new habits, or just finding time to meditate and move our bodies.

To know Joe has my back when I need to leave for a moment to find my center is a new level of intimacy that was the most surprising gift from the trip. Because now he knows what the past 12 years have been about: Finding the time and permission to do what is best for my well-being—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. 

OK! For all the information on how you can experience a Caldera Wellness Retreat for yourself, head here.

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.