THE ITINERARY
This weekend is designed with intention, but never over-structured. You’ll always know what’s available to you, but the weekend is really yours to do what you please!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 - ARRIVALS
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Arrivals + Welcome to the Hudson Valley
Guests will arrive into the Rhinecliff Amtrak Station and be transported to our home for the weekend.
Optional Group Train Options (from NYC):
5:47 PM departure from Moynihan → 7:36 PM arrival in Rhinecliff
6:46 PM departure from Moynihan → 8:23 PM arrival in Rhinecliff
From there, we’ll coordinate pickups to bring you to the house.
Prefer to do your own thing? You’re welcome to arrive independently. Check-in opens at 6:00 PM.
Note: Guests are responsible for booking their own trains. Coach tickets typically run ~$24 each way.
7:30 – 9:00 PM
Welcome Dinner
This isn’t a formal sit-down, it’s a relaxed, come-as-you-arrive dinner designed to ease you into the weekend.
Think:
Cozy winter stew
A crisp seasonal salad
Cornbread (because carbs are non-negotiable)
And always leave room for dessert
You’ll be able to grab a plate, pour a drink, and start settling in—no pressure, no rush.
9:00 PM
Opening Gathering
We’ll officially kick things off with a casual welcome moment:
What this weekend is (and isn’t)
How everything flows
A quick “currently reading” round to get to know each other
10:00 PM
Quiet Hours Begin
Head to bed early or keep things low-key—this is your time to unwind. Or stay up a little longer. Board games and cozy crafts will be out if you’re in the mood to keep getting to know everyone.
The real magic starts in the morning.
SATURday, February 13
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast — NYC Bagel Bar
An easy, help-yourself start to the day:
A classic NYC bagel spread (the real thing)
Yogurt, fresh fruit
Coffee + tea always flowing
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Silent Reading Party
We’ll gather together in the common room—books, blankets, coffee in hand.
For two hours:
No talking
No plans
No pressure
Just the quiet magic of reading alongside other people.
11:00 AM (Optional)
Movement Session
For anyone craving a reset:
Gentle yoga
A walk outside
Light strength work
Feel free to bring a yoga mat, bands, or anything you like to move with.
12:30 PM
Lunch — Build-Your-Own Bowl
A fresh, flexible lunch:
Seasonal salad base
Proteins + toppings to mix and match
Light, energizing, and easy
1:30 – 5:00 PM
Afternoon Creative Block
An open stretch of time to follow your mood.
Read, write, or make something—or lean fully into rest:
Hot tub
Sauna
Midday naps (strongly encouraged)
5:00 PM
Golden Hour Social
As the light fades, we’ll ease into the evening together:
Mocktails, wine, and tea
Grazing boards worth lingering over
6:30 PM
Dinner — Cozy Italian Night
A warm, family-style dinner:
Chicken meatballs
Pasta
Caesar salad
Italian bread
Brownies for dessert
8:00 PM
Book Speed Dating
A fast-paced, low-pressure way to discover new reads and swap favorites.
To Follow
Open Wind-Down
No structured programming—just time to hang:
Keep conversations going
Pull out a game
Curl up and read
Or head to bed early
10:00 PM
Quiet Hours Begin
sUNDay, february 14 (VALENTINE’S DAY!)
7:30 AM (Optional)
Morning Movement + Pages
Ease into the day however you need:
A casual run or walk
A quiet “morning pages” writing session
We’ll provide light prompts if you want a bit of structure—or you can free write and see what comes up.
9:00 AM
Breakfast
A lighter start before we head out:
Yogurt + oatmeal bar
Fresh toppings
Coffee + tea
10:30 AM
Depart for Kingston
We’ll head into town together for a day of wandering, browsing, and exploring.
11:00 AM – 1:00 pm
Kingston Exploration
No rigid agenda—just space to explore.
Spend the afternoon:
Browsing independent bookstores
Stopping into bakeries + coffee shops
Wandering local shops
Exploring downtown at your own pace
Lunch is choose your own adventure—grab something on your own or team up with new friends.
1:00PM – 2:00 PM
Rough Draft Meet-Up
We’ll regroup at Rough Draft Bar & Books:
A drink is on us
Time to browse a beautiful independent bookstore
2:15 PM
Return to Retreat House
2:30 – 4:00 PM
Choose Your Cozy Afternoon
Your final unstructured stretch of the weekend.
Follow your mood:
Reading
Journaling
Crafting
Sauna + hot tub
Napping
A quiet winter walk
4:00 – 5:00 PM
Tea + Treats
We’ll gather again for a some social sipping:
Tea and something sweet
Coloring pages + low-key creativity
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Blind Date with a Book Swap
Everyone is invited to bring a favorite book—wrapped, with a short description on the outside. We’ll draw numbers and take turns browsing the “bookish suitors” before choosing one to bring home.
7:00 PM
Farewell Dinner — Mediterranean Night (A la sisterhood of the traveling pants)
A celebratory, shared meal to close out the weekend:
Think:
Mezze-style spreads
Warm, flavor-forward dishes
Plates meant for sharing
8:30 PM
Creative Closing Workshop
A light, conversation-filled final gathering—part reflection, part creativity.
Options may include:
Writing a letter to your future self
Vision boarding
Making custom Kindle charms
Bedazzling a book cover
(Crafts will be finalized as we get closer to the trip)
10:00 PM
Quiet Hours Begin
Head to bed early or keep things low-key—this is your time to unwind.
Board games and cozy crafts will be out if you’re not quite ready to call it.
MONday, february 15 (pRESIDENT’S DAY)
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Final Toast Breakfast
A simple, send-off start to the morning—built around a make-your-own toast bar:
Avocado toast (your way)
Peanut butter + banana
Honey, jam, and a few sweet options
8:00 AM
Closing [the Circle]
We’ll gather one final time to reflect, share, and close out the weekend—taking a moment to acknowledge what we’re bringing with us as we head back home.
8:30 AM
Departure
We’ll head out for the 9:00 AM train back to NYC.
What You Leave With
Hopefully, you leave with something you didn’t have before—new friends, a longer TBR list, a fresh journal page, something you made with your hands…
and maybe a little less of whatever you needed to let go of.