Sea, Sand & Soul Fitness Getaway

Sept. 6-11, 2024

Join us for a life-changing retreat in beautiful Prince Edward Island. It’s our 3rd annual! Connect with other like-minded women from across Canada and beyond. Stretch, stride, pedal, downdog, laugh, learn and recharge!

*** Join the Sea, Sand & Soul Facebook page! ***


WHAT IS SEA, SAND & SOUL?

  • SS&S is an incredible women-only opportunity to enjoy a variety of outdoor physical activities while taking in breathtaking landscapes, fresh salt-air breezes, and Prince Edward Island’s famous red sand beaches.

  • Immerse yourself in the beauty of PEI’s walking trails, cycling paths, seashore, and culture.

  • Come on your own or with a friend or two. Either way, you’ll go home with a slew of new friends from across the country.

  • Our home base is the wonderful Shaw’s Hotel and Cottages, situated in the middle of Prince Edward Island National Park. We can’t imagine a better location or more hospitable hosts.

  • Bunk beds in a musty cabin? Dormitory sleeping with 10 to a bathroom? Not for us! We think that a peaceful bedroom, a comfy bed, and a private/almost private bathroom are keys to a fabulous holiday.

  • We’re all in lovely modern cottages, a mix of two or three bedrooms, some single rooms, some with two beds, and all with multiple bathrooms.

  • Our home base is surrounded by nature and just a 5-minute walk to the ocean and sand dunes.

  • We love a good mix of activities: early morning walking on the beach (and swimming for the hardiest), daily Nordic walking, outdoor yoga, cycling, and more.

  • Perhaps most important? Unlike many other retreats, which often offer just two organized activity sessions per day, we carefully schedule the entire day to give you the most value for your money.

  • Our goal is to create an experience that blends physical activity, laughs, learning, and relaxation.

  • There’s also time to chill! No activities are mandatory. Think adult summer camp not bootcamp!

MORE DETAILS

  • When we’re not being active outdoors, we’re enjoying delicious healthy meals, relaxing around a campfire, and exploring the nearby area.

  • There’s always some post-dinner fun.

  • Our guest speakers are always local and always entertaining.

  • We stay in Shaw’s chalets (newer than their cottages) and they are perfect: beds are comfortable and bathrooms up-to-date and sparkling clean. Your own kitchen is handy if you like to keep snacks and cold drinks on hand. Single rooms almost always have their own private bathrooms. Your room may even have a balcony and/or a water view. Every cottage has a spacious deck and fireplace.

  • Meals at Shaw’s are exquisite! Vegetarian, meat lover, seafood fan, gluten-intolerant? No problem. We all rave about the food.

 

Here is what a typical day looks like:

Early Mornings

  • Some of us meet for beach activity: a walk, wade, swim and/or some light stretching. Others prefer to sleep in and have a slower start to the day.

Mornings

  • Breakfast is at 9:00ish. Coffee and tea are available earlier in the dining room if you like. Or make your hot drink in your cottage kitchen.

  • Morning activity could be a Nordic walk on a scenic trail to a lighthouse or other landmark. Or an oceonside bike ride/tour on a car-free trail. We all love Nina’s yoga classes outdoors under the swaying trees or in a big bright sunny space in the hotel.

  • On our first or second day together, we offer quick Nordic walking lessons/refreshers, and we practise our cycling skills .

Afternoons

  • Lunch is in the dining room or is a picnic that we take with us and eat in a scenic location. We often have a guest speaker.

  • Our activity might be a yoga class, a gentle fitness class to music, or a fun treasure hunt (you’ll have to attend to find out what this is!)

  • One day we’ll explore a quaint local town, and another day we’ll do a short walking tour of Charlottetown with a local guide.

Evenings

  • Dinner is in the dining room and is always delicious! Some evenings we have a guest speaker.

  • We might wrap up the day by relaxing and chatting over a glass of wine or cup of tea, playing a board game or doing a puzzle. On other days there might be a campfire, singing, line dancing, or a walk to the dunes to catch a beautiful sunset!

THANKS FOR YOUR KIND WORDS

  • “This year was just as fun as last year! Different weather, new activities, and new participants put a fresh take on everything. I’m already looking forward to next year!”
    Maureen, Ottawa

  • “What a wonderful and warm opportunity! Thanks for all the personal attention.”
    Joyce, Ottawa

  • “I made some great friends, the activities were fantastic, and some of us even had early morning swims in the sea!”
    Janet, East York

  • “No words to describe what it has meant to me to meet you and join you all. Thank you so much! “
    Linda, Charlottetown

  • “I had such a fantastic time in 2022 that I couldn’t wait to sign up for next year!
    Corinne, Toronto

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Check out our Facebook page. (You don't have to have your own FB page to visit our page.)

  • And check here and here for images and details of past SS&S!


IMPORTANT NOTE:

Returning participants get first dibs on a spot. On February 15 we begin accepting new participants.

Earlybird pricing is below. Price increases by about 10% on June 1.

EARLYBIRD PRICE:

  • SHARED room (two beds in a single room in a cottage) - $2,549 + HST

  • SINGLE room (one bed in a single room in a cottage)- $2,849 + HST

  • NO ACCOMMODATION option (for PEI locals) - $1,550 + HST

  • If you like, we will connect you with another participant for room sharing.

  • Attending with one or more friends? We will gladly arrange to have you in the same cottage.

  • (See How do you calculate the registration price? further down this page.)

PRICE INCLUDES:

  • all fitness activities & outings, including daily Nordic walking & yoga, cycling, guided tours, guest speakers, etc.; all transportation (except airport transfers); professional instruction for Nordic walking, yoga, and cycling; welcome meet-and-greet party; evening activities, and more.

  • loan of Nordic walking poles, yoga mat & bicycle (including water bottle, water bottle cage, & helmet)

  • 6 days/5 nights accommodation at Shaw’s Hotel with shared double occupancy (two beds) or single occupancy.

  • 14 healthy and delcious meals at the hotel: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners (including a lobster supper)

  • all hotel/dining room gratuities

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

  • transportation to and from PEI

  • transportation between Shaw’s Hotel and the airport (20-minute trip)

  • medical and travel/trip cancellation insurance (strongly recommended)

  • one restaurant lunch

  • any alcoholic drinks at the hotel or elsewhere

  • 15% PEI HST

FLIGHTS:

  • Once you’ve made your downpayment, please book your flight! Share your details on the group travel document (forwarded once you register). Most of us end up on the same flights and get an early start on the meet-and-greet!

FAQs:

  1. How does SS&S differ from other fitness retreats?

    We’re not sure there are other similar events!

    Most retreats that we know of… focus solely on yoga; focus on relaxing; offer a large amount of free time; offer just two or perhaps three physical activity sessions/yoga classes per day.

    Several yoga retreat schedules we've seen are very low-key and have "quiet time for refection" and "journaling" on their agendas as two of their four daily sessions!

    Some retreats require participants to contact the hotel to organize their own accommodation and meals.

    At Sea, Sand & Soul ….our goal is more about energizing than relaxing. We offer a full day of activities! Sessions of course aren’t mandatory, but we find people rarely skip a session (well maybe the extra-early morning swim in the Atlantic!…though many come to walk and enjoy the beach instead).

    We don’t jampack the schedule or rush from activity to activity. But we want you to be outdoors as much as possible, to learn new skills and information, to meet local people, make new friends, and get a good feel for the province of PEI.

    We also organize and include all your accommodation and meals (except one lunch).

  2. How do you calculate the registration price?
    Our goal has always been to offer as much as possible for as reasonable a price as possible. Despite this year’s high rate of inflation (8.1%), (food prices in particular have skyrocketed), we have increased our pricing by just 6% (about $150) to make our event as accessible as possible. Also note that, with one lunch exception, our event is now completely all-inclusive. If you research other fitness retreats we are confident that you will find our pricing very competitive.

  3. What if I have food allergies or sensitivities?
    No problem. The chef can easily accommodate for vegetarian and gluten-free diets, allergies, etc.

  4. How do I get from the airport to the hotel?
    We share everyone’s flight information to help organize this. Our wonderful driver George, who has a van and small bus, has assisted us with this in the past. Individuals pay the driver a nominal sum directly.

  5. Should I bring my yoga mat, bike helmet, Nordic walking poles, etc.? No, we supply all fitness equipment for all activities.

  6. Will there be time for reading and relaxing?
    Yes! For example, the hour before dinner is quiet time. No activity is mandatory. We aim for an active but relaxed pace.

  7. Do most people come on their own or with a friend?
    About 50/50. Each year’s group has been super friendly, and we have all gone home with new friends.

  8. What’s the age range of participants?
    55ish to 70ish. We typically have a small handful of participants over 70, and they tend to be fitter than than the average 70+ woman. Check here to be sure this retreat is a good fit for you.

  9. What should I pack? We’ll send packing suggestions closer to the event. (Mostly a variety of casual clothes for all types of early fall weather.)

Questions? Contact us at SeaSandSoulGetaway@gmail.com
or call Barb at 416-543-2606 or Nina at 613-290-4285.

“These days have been rejuvenating and inspiring in so many ways. THANK YOU! “ Heather

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“There's nothing more enjoyable and relaxing than a trip like this. You take care of everything and let us just go with the flow. Wonderful! Your resourcefulness is legendary!” Corinne

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“There are no words to express what it has meant to meet you both and experience this amazing retreat. So grateful, thank you!” Linda

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“I so enjoyed our time with you and the others. The entire group that you two assembled was awesome!” Jackie

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“What a fabulous crew! Merci!” Isabelle

We’d love you to join us!

Barb & Nina

co-founders
Sea, Sand & Soul Fitness Getaway
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