What: Yoga & wellness retreats at Good Commons.
When: Year round.
Why: Let’s face it, even vacations that don’t involve putting your foot on the gas pedal can feel like work, something that needs to be done in order to keep a sane balance in life. But then there are those off the beaten path retreats that arouse a sense of release before you’ve even left the station.
In Vermont, Good Commons combines all things you’d equate with being, let’s say, heavenly: gourmet food prepared by a personal chef, waterfalls, sweeping mountain vistas, bonfires, and Swedish massages. From downtown Manhattan, hop on Amtrak or board the vegetable oil-powered Good Bus to the retreat center in Plymouth, VT for a weekend of free-spirited, Sugar Maple tree-surrounded bliss. Whichever event you choose to experience with a significant other, child, or best friend, expect farm-to-table feasts, bonding activities, and plenty of breathing room.
“Good Commons is dedicated to providing an essential resource: space. A space to create, a space to empower the body and soul, a space to relax and a space to be fed,” said Matthew Wexler, resident chef at Good Commons. “Itineraries support the local economy through visits with local farms, artisans, and businesses. And for each retreat we host, a portion of proceeds is donated to a charity relating to the weekend’s theme.”
Read about our visit to Good Commons here.
How to get there: Take Amtrak to Rutland (RUD) and a taxi for 20 minutes to the center. Additionally, some retreats hire the Good Bus, a chartered green bus from Manhattan to Vermont. Visit the site for more details. (Good Commons, 4771 Route 100A, Plymouth, VT, 802.672.1859, goodcommons.com)
Photos: Samuel Granado, courtesy of Good Commons
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
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Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram