10 Creative Meditation Retreats in the United States
One of the most important types of creative retreats is wellness. Here are 10 meditation retreats in the United States to support creative well-being.
Are stress and anxiety blocking your creativity? Do you need a break to heal the mind, body, and spirit? Consider a revitalizing and inspiring meditation retreat. There are many health and creative benefits to meditation, and when wellness is applied to a creative retreat, you also get the additional benefits of travel.
These are some of the best meditation retreats in the United States that not only offer some of the best resources to learn and improve your meditation skills but also include workshops, activities, and other unique offerings that support creativity.
Esalen Institute is a beautiful meditation retreat center in California’s Big Sur region. This not-for-profit holistic educational center has offered emergent transformation and internal exploration since 1962. Guiding famous creative visitors like Bob Dylan, Hunter S. Thompson, Joseph Campbell, Susan Sontag, Ravi Shankar, and more, this retreat center is perfect for creative well-being.
The Esalen Institute covers over 100 acres along the gorgeous Big Sur coastline and features natural hot springs, an organic farm and garden, serene guest suites, an art barn for creative expression, and more. Besides the campus features, the retreat offers a variety of workshops and classes to personalize your wellness retreat for self-exploration and creativity.
Recommended Programs and Retreats for Creativity
- Art As A Spiritual Path: Discovering Your Creative Mandala (May 23 – 27, 2022)
- The Painting Process Rediscovered: The Magic of Spontaneous Expression (June 6 – 10, 2022)
- Source to Screen: Accessing, Manifesting, and Transmitting Great Ideas (June 20 – 24, 2022)
- Reawaken the Creative Process (June 27 – 1, 2022)
- The Art and Science of Embodied Presence: Mindfulness, Movement, and Music (July 8 – 10, 2022)
Details
- Location: Big Sur, California
- Length: Single-day workshops to weeklong retreats
- Best For: All levels of experience across a broad array of topics from personal growth and mindfulness to creative healing
- Price: $900+ based on accommodations
Tips
- Proof of vaccination is required for all guests and staff.
- Bring a journal.
- Pair with other California travel bucket list destinations for creativity.
- Bring habits home with you like healthy eating from the Esalen Cookbook.
Founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1971, the Drala Mountain Center, formerly known as the Shambhala Mountain Center, is a six-hundred-acre mountain valley meditation retreat surrounded by forest, gentle meadows, and rocky peaks in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.
The retreat center hosts hundreds of group retreats, weekend programs, and private rentals throughout the year, teaching traditional meditation instruction, mindfulness and awareness practices, contemplative arts, mindful living, personal transformation, and more.
Offering a variety of accommodation options, this meditation retreat center can provide living quarters that meet your budget and desired level of fellowship.
Recommended Programs and Retreats for Creativity
- Karuna Training: A Certification in Contemplative Psychology (May 4–7, 2022)
- Heart of the Brush (June 2–5, 2022)
- The Heart of Mindfulness: A Silent Meditation Retreat (June 24–July 1, 2022)
- An Invitation to Thinking and Acting Strategically (June 2–4, 2023)
Details
- Location: Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
- Length: Wide variety of options for beginners to advanced meditation practitioners
- Best For: Beginners
- Price: Sliding scale with financial assistance available
Tips
- Visit the 108 feet (33-m) tall Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, which is said to promote harmony, prosperity, longevity, good health, and peace.
- Also offers family retreats that teach kindness, wholeness, and strength through play, outdoor time, and guided meditation.
- Support creative well-being with many creative travel bucket list experiences that Colorado has to offer, especially nature activities like hiking, kayaking, etc.
When it comes to Meditation retreats on the East coast, The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, is one of the best. Set amidst 380+ breathtaking acres of pristine forest high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this retreat center strives to teach powerful meditation, mindfulness, Ayurveda, yoga, and more to help people live happier, healthier, and more peaceful lives.
Founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with the mission to reawaken the human values of compassion, love, togetherness, joy, and harmony, this meditation retreat can be the starting point for creative transformation or a reset from the distractions of everyday life. The center has signature meditation and Ayurveda Wellness programs to events with teachers, authors, and thought leaders in the fields of self-discovery, yoga, nutrition, creativity, and more—there is something here for everyone.
Recommended Programs and Retreats for Creativity
- Weekend of Creativity Escape
- The Unafraid Storyteller (July 29–31, 2022)
- Creating from the Soul (Oct 7–9, 2022)
- Meditation Retreats
Details
- Location: Boone, North Carolina
- Length: Online, Single, Week-Long, Month-Long, Extended
- Best For: Beginners and creatives looking for programs with specific topics to focus on
- Price: Short programs start around $325 / longer programs start around $695
Tips
- The center has a great pottery studio and culinary programs.
- Family-friendly options are available.
- Enjoy nature walks, a labyrinth, Kirtan, fire circles, and other wellness activities.
- Boone offers miles of scenic trails, lakes, historic sites, adventure activities, local Appalachian music, and more.
The Omega Institute, New York
The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, is a nonprofit, donor-supported educational organization that has been at the forefront of holistic studies offering a wide variety of workshops, retreats, conferences, and professional training, in-person and online, since 1977.
Founded by Eastern scholar Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, holistic medical doctor Stephan Rechtschaffen, and educator Elizabeth Lesser, Omega was conceived as a university for lifelong learning on a profound ideal—to help awaken the best in the human spirit.
For the creative mind, not only are the meditation retreats and workshops healing for well-being but their values and framework are built around creative skills to spark inspiration and self-expression.
Recommended Programs and Retreats for Creativity
- Creative Expression Workshops (Singing, Journaling, Art Therapy)
- The Art of New Creation With Elizabeth Gilbert and Rob Bell (Jun 23–25, 2023)
- Theme Weeks – Wellness Week (Sep 11–16) / Arts Week (Jun 12–17) / Retreat Week (Jul 3–8) / Family Week
Details
- Location: Rhinebeck, NY & Online
- Length: Online, Week-Long, Month-Long, Extended
- Best For: All levels of experience across a broad array of topics from personal growth to creative expression
- Price: Online workshops are $100+, in-person workshops start around $300, scholarship opportunities, member discounts
Tips
- Learn more about the retreat center and its offerings in their Dropping in Podcast
- All-Inclusive Stay programs include additional features to support well-being and creativity.
- For extended retreats, experience the local hiking trails, Ram Dass Library, Omega Art Bag, meditation gardens, Long Pond Lake activities, and more.
Spirit Rock in Woodacre, California, is a Buddhist meditation retreat center that mainly focuses on the teachings of the Buddha (Dharma), Insight Meditation (Vipassana), and loving-kindness meditation (metta).
Founded in 1974 by Insight Meditation Practitioners, including Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstein, Anna Douglas, Howard Cohn, James Baraz, and the Dharma Foundation, this retreat center sits on spacious grounds consisting of 411 acres of oak woodlands in the hills of West Marin County.
With programs and retreats for all levels, you can find the time, space, and teachers to help you discover your true creative nature and cultivate a mindset to help you achieve a happier, more creative, and more peaceful life.
Recommended Programs and Retreats for Creativity
- Meditation to Develop Concentration and Serenity in a Chaotic World (January 21, 2023)
- Cultivating Embodiment, Creativity, and Wholeheartedness (March 4 – 5, 2023)
- Deep and Clear: The Art of Samatha-Vipassanā (April 8 – 14, 2023)
Details
- Location: Woodacre, California
- Length: Online, Single, Week-Long, and Month-Long
- Best For: All levels of experience looking for meditation, Buddhist philosophy, and self-discovery
- Price: $200-$5,000+
Tips
- View Spirit Rock volunteer opportunities
- This is a tech-free retreat center – Please leave all technology at home and keep your phone locked up in your car
- Spirit Rock is Covid free, be sure to follow their guidelines for a safe and productive retreat
- There are limited scholarships available for most non-residential programs
The Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt Tremper, New York, is a Western Zen Buddhist monastery established by the late John Daido Loori Roshi. They offer traditional and innovative ways to engage in Buddhist teachings through programs and retreats at two locations—Zen Mountain Monastery and Zen Center of New York City.
As a member of the White Plum Asanga, this monastery, surrounded by 220 acres of protected woodlands, has been teaching zazen meditation techniques since the 1980s and has grown into a large retreat center for short and extended stays.
Recommended Programs and Retreats for Creativity
- The Art of Breathing Into Expression (Jan 20 – 22)
- Dharma Gates: Living a Zen Path (Mar 15 – 19)
- Residential training
Details
- Location: Mount Temper, New York
- Length: Online, Single, Week-Long, Residency
- Best For: All levels of experience looking for traditional Zazen meditation, Buddhist philosophy, and self-discovery
- Price: $250+ (financial assistance available / Some events are donation based)
Tips
- See if Zen Mountain Monastery is for you by starting with lessons from their podcast.
- Join a Zen Sangha Practice Group for support and community.
- Explore the inspiring grounds that include a tea house, gardens, meadows, zen gardens, Basho Pond, and Catskill ZESI site for creative activities in nature.
- ZMM also offers Zen Kids/Teens Programs.
Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest and most-respected meditation retreat centers in the US. They have been hosting retreats on their 400 secluded wooded acres in the quiet countryside of central Massachusetts at its two adjacent retreat facilities, the Retreat Center and the Forest Refuge, since 1976, and now also have a thriving online program.
They focus on vipassana (insight) and metta (lovingkindness) Buddhist meditation programs to help teach people how to develop awareness and compassion, with the ultimate goal of creating greater peace and happiness in the world.
Recommended Programs and Retreats for Creativity
- Essential Mindfulness (Online)
- Recognizing Natural Awareness (April 21 – 28)
- Your Life Is Your Practice (June 1-4)
Details
- Location: Online or Barre, Massachusetts
- Length: Online, Single, Week-Long, Residency
- Best For: All levels of experience looking for meditation, Buddhist philosophy, and self-discovery
- Price: Sliding scale payment $250+
Tips
- Support your learning and practice with the IMS Book Club.
- Get a feeling for the IMS teachers and approach with these IMS Talks and Meditations.
- Go hiking at Swift River Reservation, a landscape that once supported Colonial-era farming that has since returned to a natural environment of forest, swamp, fields, and uplands, with plenty of calming trails to explore.
Lumeria Maui Educational Retreat, Maui, Hawaii
Lumeria Maui Educational Retreat in Maui, Hawaii, is an educational retreat center that offers classes and programs in yoga, meditation, healing arts & metaphysical studies, horticulture & culture, and dance & movement therapies.
Since 1910, this education & wellness retreat has been a staple for creative travel experiences on the island and supporting visitor journeys of self-discovery and wellness. Covering eight acres of relaxing grounds that include a pool, hammock garden, a farm-to-table restaurant, a massage center, and more, there’s plenty to do and see for relaxation and growth.
Recommended Programs and Retreats
- Live Aloha on Maui: Find Your Mana (March 12-17)
- Educational Class Schedule (Yoga, Meditation, etc.)
Details
- Location: Maui’s North Shore, Hawaii
- Length: 5-7 nights
- Best For: Creative Women, Yoga enthusiasts, and All levels of meditation experience
- Price: $3k+
Tips
- Find unique activities and creative experiences on Maui and the other Hawaiian islands on this Hawaii creative travel bucket list.
- Pair wellness activities with the beauty of Hawaii and Hawaiian culture.
- Embrace the healing and inspiring power of the ocean.
- Embrace island time with slow and mindful habits that keep you in the present moment.
Located just two hours outside of New York City in the Catskill Mountains of New York sits the Kadampa Meditation Center on 82 acres of natural woodlands and nature trails.
This Tibetan Buddhist temple and retreat center is a US National Temple part of a worldwide network with centers in more than 40 countries. Founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, this meditation retreat center and community are focused on the idea that all problems in the world originate in the mind, and so do the solutions. By training the mind and developing inner peace through meditation, we can solve our problems and help others to do the same, and in this way, create world peace.
Recommended Programs and Retreats
- Imagination in Practice (March 31 – April 2)
- Finding Stillness Within (July 15 – 19)
- Developing Concentration (September 15-17)
Details
- Location: Glen Spey, New York (Catskills)
- Length: Single day, Weekend, Week, Month
- Best For: Beginners
- Price: Budget-friendly, starting at $20 workshops, extended retreats $480+
Tips
- Enjoy the World Peace Cafe for some creative work.
- Walk and explore the 82 acres of natural woodlands.
- Visit during the fall to enjoy the fall color changes.
- Join the Kadampa Study Programs for general teachings, foundation, and even teacher training programs.
The Green Gulch Farm Zen Center is part of the San Francisco Zen Center and focuses on the Japanese Soto Zen tradition. Established in 1962 by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, best known for his creative teachings on the beginner’s mind, these zen centers are focused on helping people realize their true nature and establish a daily meditation practice for inner peace.
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, also known as Green Dragon Temple (Soryu-ji), is located in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, in a valley that opens onto the Pacific Ocean. The center includes a thriving organic farm and garden, a traditional Japanese guest house and tea house, and a conference and retreat center. They offer one-day sittings, kitchen and guest program work practice apprenticeships, farm & land steward apprenticeship programs, guest student stays, zen practice events, Sunday dharma talks, and workshops.
Recommended Programs and Retreats
Details
- Location: Marin County (north of San Francisco)
- Length: Single day – extended
- Best For: All levels of experience looking for traditional Zazen meditation, Buddhist philosophy, and self-discovery
- Price: Avg. $150 (+Sliding scale offers)
Tips
- Find unique activities and creative experiences on this California creative travel bucket list.
- Hike the Middle Green Gulch and Upper Green Gulch trails, accessible from the Coyote Ridge Trail and Muir Beach.
- In-person programs are open in a limited capacity due to ongoing COVID policies.
- Check out the Sunday Dharma talks and other events from the SFZC Online Zendo.
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
