The GROVE Review
Womens Retreat
By MaryAnn Williams
Have you ever gone on a trip anticipating and hoping for all the awesome possibilities that a getaway can be? I just returned from "The Grove, a "Women's Country Retreat By The Sea," near Santa Cruz, California. I had one of those moving experiences that made an impact in just the right way.
My partner, Nina, and I arrived on Wednesday evening, and were escorted to our space, "The Chalet," by Jaki, the owner. Sounds of classical music on the stereo and other special touches greeted us--fresh flowers, apple dumplings, a chocolte treat. The modern, angular architecture, with views out all of the windows, was complimented by fabulous original art and sculpture, and a cozy wood stove with glass front, elevated on a handsome marble and tile corner pedestal so you can see the fire from the ever-so-comfy bed. There was also a loft containing another bed, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a very nice bath with artful tile shower. With soft sounds of the Pacific Ocean in the background, we had a fantastic night's slumber, waking up to the chirps of wild birds who flock to the feeders hanging from the tall Monterey Pines that shade the two accommodations available to women travelers (the other one is called "The Cottage").
We eased into the soothing hot waters of the always available outdoor spa, letting the strong jets start working on our tense muscles, before surrendering to the strong, capable hands of Cappy Israel, The Grove's masseusse. She brought her table right to our space, turned on soft healing music, and the next thing we knew we were in la-la land. Cappy, who has a busy practice in Santa Cruz, loves to work at The Grove. In the diaries provided in each cottage for guests to write comments, she gets rave reviews. Believe me, you won't want to miss this wonderful opportunity to shed any stress, tension, or whatever, when you go there. I went first, since I won the arm wrestle, and that was the second of many awesome possibilites that had begun on this trip.
The fact that Nina and I actually went away for a few days was the first. With jobs, raising kids, and all the rest of life, heaven knows we were long overdue. While Nina melted under Cappy's nimble fingers, I walked the grounds with Jaki, the owner. We sat on cushy chairs in the gorgeous medicinal herb and flower garden at the top of the land, taking in a panoramic view of The Monterey Bay, basking in the sunshine, talking about our lives and the history of The Grove. I found myself in a bonding process with this remarkable woman and the land she has tended for over 35 years. A sacred healing place, a little world away from The World, zoned off for a chance to rest, rejuvenate, restore, relax, recreate, and re-evaluate; the natural setting at The Grove is condusive to letting go and Jaki makes it as delightful as it is easy. There is a large family of fowl, including Spencer, a very handsome peacock, along with assorted chickens (oh, yes, we got eggs, too!), a duck (named "Art Ducko!"), a goose, and a rooster, who roam the grounds. Friendly felines and four sweet poodles also share this little piece of heaven.
The lush and loose gardens on the property were colorful and fragrant; Jaki likes to call her landscaping "semi-controlled wildness." The ocean was so close we could see, hear and breathe it in. In addition to one deck with a spa, there is another sundeck with an Endless Pool, where you can exercise vigorously by swimming against a generated current, or do water aerobics, in the 85 degree water, after which you might jump into the new Swedish sauna a few feet away. Am I painting a picture you could walk right into? Speaking of painting, Jaki, a visual artist for 25 years, invites you to visit her studio on the property, where she has art for purchase and conducts workshops for guests from time to time. Her work, and that of friends, is displayed in each cottage, as well as all over the property.
It's not even noon of our first day and I'm feeling high, indeed, on all the right stuff. Nina is a new person, too, after her massage, so the two of us head off to the Montery Bay Aquarium with guest passes compliments of our host (saving the $40 entrance fee for two). We thoroughly enjoyed the extraordinary exhibits, and still had enough time to stop and shop at our favorite establishments...thrift stores, which are plentiful in the Central Coast area. Coming back we passed through Moss Landing, a neat little fishing village which contains many antique stores and has a huge antique show during the summer. There are also some charming little cafes there, but we could hardly wait to get back to our little "chalet," where dinner would be waiting for us. Another service available to guests (Monday through Friday) is "Maggie's Meals," delicious, nutritious, meals, ready to heat up, delivered by 4 P.M. to your door (you don't have to be there). Ours was homemade manicotti with a lucious salad and I was even able to order it vegetarian style. To really impress our socks off, Maggie included a special treat for the next morning. We could really get used to this! Well, I could continue in detail with Friday and Saturday's activites, however, this would soon become a short novel . Suffice to say that we walked the long, uncrowded, spectacular sandy beach nearby, lunched at the Bleu Spoon, one of the many charming local cafes a short drive from The Grove, then strolled around downtown Santa Cruz, one of the most progressive and charming little towns on the planet.
We spent our last evening snuggling up, a roaring fire in the woodstove, quiet time, breathing deeply and slowly, utterly and completely relaxed, vowing to return as soon as possible. As fate would have it I had the opportunity to meet with Debi, a returning guest of nine years, staying in "The Cottage." She told me she often brought her kayak with her for excursions on the calm waters of Elkhorn Slough, a protected marine sanctuary about 20 minutes from The Grove, where sea otters swim around you. She also said she loved the cottages and the beach, and the fact that she can bring her dogs when she wants to, but when I asked her what possessed her to return to "The Grove" for so many years, she closed her eyes and thoughtfully took a few seconds before she looked at me again and said, "It has to be Jaki." I couldn't agree more! For pictures of the cottages inside and out, the grounds, the beach, and details about rates, visit The Grove's website:
www.grovewomensretreat.com To receive detailed email information about what is offered at The Grove, write to Jaki at grove @got.net. or phone her at (831)724-3459. A visit to this very private lush little paradise will, I assure you, open up endless and awesome possibilites.
