“You feel like you’re really far away from everything, and yet, you’re still in the middle of the Napa and Sonoma valleys,” says Joanne Yates, president of Sonoma County nonprofit 4PAWS, “Everybody is so polite and kind and helpful, I can’t imagine a better place to be.” She’s talking about Enchanted Hills Retreat, where in addition to hosting a summer camp for the blind more than 60 years running, we also rent the property for private events, weddings and professional retreats year-round.
Hiking up Mt. Veeder with all of their dogs in tow or relaxing in the evenings with storytelling around the big fire pit, Yates says that her and nearly thirty others found the 4PAWS retreat at Enchanted Hills not only entirely peaceful, but perfectly stimulating. “There’s so much to do there, so much walking and hanging out — you really don’t have time to do everything! The first time we went for two days and everyone said it wasn’t long enough.”
Enchanted Hills books up quickly, but is still available for many days during the week, and remains an affordable option for single-day retreats, accommodating up to 120 people. For those who want to keep one foot in society, there’s also a brand new wireless antennae delivering broadband to the property — though once the pool opens up, you certainly won’t have much time for email. And don’t forget the food, which Yates calls “spectacular.”
Retreating to Enchanted Hills two years in a row, Yates says it was such a success, her staff was hooked. “People keep asking, when are we going to do the next one?”
For more information and availability, call (415) 694-7310 or visit www.enchantedhillsretreat.com.
![Bill Cody [Brooklyn sweatshirt] of Eureka and George Montag from Elk have had initial mobility training but they both felt they needed extra work in a larger city setting. Bill wanted to gain the skills needed to be eligible for a dog guide while George wanted more experience in downtown settings and street crossings. Here they discuss crossing a busy street with Orientation & Mobility instructors Katt Jones and Terry Wedler.](https://lighthouse-sf.org/wp-content/uploads/OandMNapa-cvcl4132015.jpg)
In the last three years, the LightHouse has connected folks who are blind or low vision with each other through our novel week-long Changing Vision Changing Life Immersion Training at Enchanted Hills Retreat in Napa. Participating students have goals that range from independent living skills and learning Braille, to getting back into the workforce.
Are you an adult who is experiencing changing vision? We invite you to join us for this week-long training in the fresh air and verdant grounds of our Enchanted Hills Retreat. You’ll learn a boatload of best practices for maintaining your independence while enjoying this beautiful setting.
Due to some (vary rare) cancellations, Enchanted Hills Retreat is available the weekend of March 21 to 23rd and May 15, 16, and 17th. Snatch up these prime dates and enjoy the comfortable accommodations, great food and extravagant beauty of Napa in its vernal glory.
You know that Enchanted Hills Retreat is situated on a rugged mountain awash in natural beauty; you know that it is the most affordable place to get a group together in Napa; you know it is less than ten miles to the world famous restaurants and wineries of the Napa Valley and that the rental of the facilities supports the life-changing programs of Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. But who stays at Enchanted Hills Retreat?
