3-Day Private Lakeside Meditation Retreat in Woodinville, Washington

The retreat runs for three days and two nights, though the exact dates are arranged around your schedule since it's a private booking. Day one is arrival and settling in: you check in at 3pm, meet John, and map out the meditation schedule for the following day. Day two is the full practice day — three separate one-hour meditations, each with a different technique (breath-focused, guided, and silent sitting are typical), plus breakfast and any optional sessions you've added like yoga, counselling or massage. Day three is breakfast and check-out, with time for a final sit if you want one.

What makes this different from a group meditation retreat is the privacy. The suite is never shared with another party, so you're not negotiating a schedule with strangers or sitting in a room of twenty people. You set the pace with John on day one, and the treehouse gives you a place to practice alone if that's what you're after. It's also year-round, which means you can come in October when the lake is quiet and the fire pit is worth using, or in July when the dock and kayaks are the main draw.

The location does a lot of the work. Cottage Lake is a 60-acre lake surrounded by forest, and the B&B sits on the western shore facing the morning sun. There's a gazebo, fire pits, kayaks and a swimming dock on the property, and Woodinville's wineries and restaurants are about three miles west. Hiking trails and a waterfall are within easy reach. Seattle-Tacoma airport is the nearest major airport, roughly 40 minutes south; you'll want a rental car or Uber to get here.

John Shephard leads the retreat. He's a retired psychotherapist, author, musician, composer and astrologer, and he runs the B&B with his wife Beth, a retired teacher and musician. The facilitation team is confirmed before your stay, so if you want to know exactly who'll be guiding your sessions, ask when you book. The retreat is open to all levels — beginner through advanced — and the minimum age is 21.

Pricing starts at USD 995 per person, which covers the suite, daily breakfast, and the three daily meditation sessions. Optional add-ons like yoga, counselling, massage and astrological consultations cost extra. Payment is USD 995 deposit to reserve, and the full amount is due at booking. Cancellation is fully refundable up to 30 days before arrival minus a $50 fee; after that, you get the same terms only if the suite is re-rented for your dates.

What's included

- 3-day, 2-night stay in the private Lakeside Bedroom Suite (bedroom, living room, snack room, office, full bathroom) - Daily continental breakfast (croissants, jams, fruits, granola, milk, yogurts, hard-boiled eggs, juice, tea, coffee, hot chocolate) - Three one-hour meditation sessions per day with different techniques - Access to the treehouse meditation space - Private hot tub - Use of kayaks, dock, gazebo and fire pits - Wi-Fi in the office - Snacks, water and mini fridge in the snack room

What's not included

- Flights to Seattle-Tacoma airport - Airport transfers (rental car or Uber recommended) - Lunch and dinner - Optional add-ons: yoga, counselling, massage, astrological consultations - Travel insurance - Personal expenses