This winter, escape to a cozy cabin winter reading retreat, where hot cocoa, good books, and winter views set the scene for a weekend of pure relaxation and fun.
If you're looking to curl up with a great read, get a little crafty, revel in some old school camp vibes or simply unwind in a space filled with warmth and creativity, this retreat is calling your name!
Our Winter Reading Retreat is designed to give you all the time and space you need to dive into that novel you've been meaning to finish, or start a new one in a perfect cabin setting. We’re mixing in some nature and creative time too, with a beautiful winter hike, crafts, and programmed community time — the perfect balance of “leave me alone I’m reading” you time and bonding with other book lovers. And we’re all about no-pressure vibes, so whether you’re a casual reader or book-obsessed, you’ll fit right in!
ACTIVITIES
The weekend is jam-packed with cozy reading time and other activities to pick and choose from, including:
Scheduled, dedicated reading time
A guided interpretive nature hike
An optional yoga session with Rooted Yoga & Fitness
A bookish craft table, where you can make your own bookmarks and other reading-related artistic creations
An book-themed open mic night, where you can share your book opinions or your favorite passages from your library
An interactive book recommendations board, full of reading suggestions from other Wanderers
A book swap table — bring the titles from your shelf you want to share with others, and pick up a few new ones for yourself!
A classic winter puzzling table, for when you need a break from the wild stories you’re reading
*all activities are optional. You get to pick and choose what you'd like to do during the weekend!
ACCOMMODATIONS
It’s summer camp in the winter, y’all! We’ll be staying at the Des Moines Y Camp in Boone, set right in the heart of the Des Moines River Valley. We’ll be staying in their individual cabins and will be hanging in the big and beautiful Chase Lodge, where we’ll eat meals, do yoga and spread out for reading in front of the historic stone fireplace. The cabins are equipped with heating, bathrooms and sturdy, cozy, bunked twin beds — perfect for stowing away with a good book or taking a mid-day cat nap.
“I thought the nature book club winter get away was such a neat idea and I was not disappointed: the cabin exceeded my expectations, the food was delicious, and I enjoyed being with women that enjoy reading and being in nature. Getting outdoors for the winter hike in the snow was also fun :) Thank-you to everyone that helped put the outing together: it was a “top notch” great experience.”
WHAT’S INCLUDED
This is an all-inclusive weekend! Your registration provides you:
Sleeping accommodations & parking
All meals and snacks (because you know we’ll be snacking!)
A Wanderer swag bag full of goodies
Programmed activities including: guide-led interpretive nature hike, book-themed open mic night and community programs throughout (puzzle table, craft table, interactive book board, etc.)
Two Wander Women guides to help make the weekend as relaxing and fun as possible!
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Participants will be responsible for providing/paying for:
Transportation to/from Boone (we always encourage carpooling and can connect you with other participants to ride with!)
The optional yoga session is available for all participants for an additional fee
INVESTMENT
$375
PAYMENT PLAN
We offer payment plans for all our trips, so you can pay a deposit now and the rest over time! WeTravel (our booking platform) easily lets you make a downpayment (this is also your non-refundable trip deposit!) and set up automatic payments for the remainder. For the payment plan schedule, just check the WeTravel page for details. There is NO fee for choosing the payment plan option!
Deposit for this trip: $190
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Wander Women trips are designed to be restorative and relaxing, full of connection and knowledge building. Days are filled with activities ranging from skill-building workshops (like fire building or plant identification), hammock reading and card playing, to group hikes, impromptu yoga sessions and creek stomping. Nights are spent around the campfire sharing in storytelling, often digging deep into ourselves and our place in nature.
Please know that to us, there’s no right way to wander. We ask that you come as you are — you don’t need to have the gear, the knowledge or anyone else with you to make this trip great. We grant participants and ourselves the right to be imperfect or nervous, and encourage a “challenge by choice” mentality — letting you decide when you’ll step outside your comfort zone, knowing it’s often rewarding when you do. By the end of the weekend, we want you to feel confident in newfound skills, your place in the outdoors and your part in this community. That’s what these trips are all about!
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Each Wander Women trip has an Adventure Rating attached to the trip to give Wanderers a better idea of the activity level and physical requirements of the trip. These ratings are based on general Wanderer ability. If you have specific questions about a trip’s difficulty or specific accessibility questions, please reach out to us at hello@wanderwomenmidwest.com!
Beginner: This trip is designed for the low-key adventurer. Hikes will be taken at a leisurely pace and include small elevation changes on easy to navigate trails (wide, free of roots and other obstacles). Plenty of down-time built into this trip for participants to relax and create time for themselves. No prior outdoor skills required.
Moderate: This trip is designed for the adventurer looking for a jam-packed weekend or in-depth, hands-on skill building. Hikes will be longer (6+ miles) and taken at a moderate pace. There may be other recreation activities (paddling, paddleboarding, fishing, etc.) that are beginner-friendly but require moderate physical strain. There will still be plenty of down-time built in for participants to relax and create time for themselves, but there may be optional additional adventures offered. No prior outdoor skills required, unless otherwise noted.
Challenging: Participants are expected to hike, backpack or paddle long mileage days, often with weight on their backs or in their boats. Terrain will be challenging and have elevation changes or tricky parts to navigate. Previous hiking and paddling experience is strongly recommended.
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We offer payment plans for all our trips, so you can pay a deposit now and the rest over time! WeTravel (our booking platform) easily lets you make a downpayment (this is also your non-refundable trip deposit!) and set up automatic payments for the remainder. For the payment plan schedule, just check the WeTravel page for details. There is NO fee for choosing the payment plan option!
All participants are subject to the Wander Women Trip Cancellation Policy.