How I Choose the Crew for My Retreats
Who’s Who and the Importance of Safety
Taking the time to explore a new place, whether close to home or far away, brings new perspectives and insights. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone a little (or a lot).
I get that.
In fact, that's the entire reason I started Dare to Detour. When I was 20, I Dared myself to move to New York City. It was a big dream, but I did it. And I ended up living and working there for the next 11 years!
As I got older, I started to feel this uncomfortable disconnect. I would find myself in the kitchen of my beautiful home with my kids coming and going from their various activities...feeling stuck. From the outside I had it all, so why did I feel this way?
I wondered what had happened to that young woman who was willing to take risks? The woman who packed everything up and moved across the country without knowing a soul?
That was the disconnect. That was the nagging feeling. I was comfortable, but I was disconnected. And I desperately needed to reconnect to that woman I knew I still had inside.
How many of us have fallen asleep and forgotten how it feels to push ourselves, to take risks, to learn something new?
Detours remind me of what it feels like to be alive. They remind me how it feels to take risks. Even little ones, like taking a different return route on a road trip, can feel invigorating.
I intentionally curate my retreats to be experiences that are transformational, fun, and deeply meaningful. Authentic travel is at the core of every experience. I not only design them but I also lead or co-lead them. I look for places that are truly special, with a strong connection to nature and the local culture, and seek out the best food, artisans, hospitality, and stylish habitats that are in tune with the surrounding communities. Because I believe that nature is the base element of our alchemy, I also strive to ensure my retreats are mindful of our impact and are as ecologically friendly as possible. Most importantly, I want my retreats to offer opportunities for women to find community and take a break from the every day to open themselves up to new perspectives. This really is the magic of it all.
And safety is also a huge part of the equation. Dare to Detour is a place many women come to travel alone, often for the first time. They get to experience what solo travel is like while being supported by a group of other like-minded women. I precautionarily plan for safety as part of every element of our Detour - from the logistics and lodging to working with local experts and knowing where medical facilities are in each location.
Our Dare | Wild backpacking retreat is just one example of such planning and partnership. I'm thrilled to be able to offer this experience with a group of all-women mountaineering experts from Beartooth Mountain Guides. These women are the creme de la creme when it comes to mountaineering. We will spend 4 days backpacking in the Beartooth Mountains plus a couple nights in Red Lodge, MT, to prep on the front end, and celebrate on the back end.
This is an experience I've ALWAYS wanted to do. I went backpacking once, and that was in college. I know there are many women in my shoes who have the interest but maybe don't have the friend group or expertise to do it on their own, or have no idea where to start or how to equip themselves to do it safely.