800 Bethany Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
1440.org
Beginner
$$-$$$
In the same vein of Esalen, there is a newish retreat center a little further north in Scotts Valley, close to the bohemian coastal town of Santa Cruz. The campus of 1440 is gorgeous; manicured lawns, fire pits, infinity jacuzzi all surrounded by redwood forest. 1440 used to be a university so once it was sold, additional accommodations were constructed and a catalog of classes was developed. 1440 feels like if a hotel and retreat center had a baby. There is a front desk, which always has someone available, fitness center, hiking maps and a gift shop. There are a range of accommodations. I opted for a Japanese style shared space titled ‘pods’ but there are also shared rooms and individual suites available. My accommodation required me to climb up a few stairs which lead to my bed and a small closet area for my belongings. I shared a bathroom that had multiple showers and toilets which reminded me of a nice gym. This I felt like was perfect for a solo traveler that did not spend much time in my room, why would there were so many other options to choose from.
The cafeteria food is locally sourced, mostly organic and gourmet. The cafeteria is huge and there are different stations for each meal where you have unlimited access to the delicious dishes and if happen to not eat enough during meal times (not a very common problem since most fellow retreants are complaining about the opposite – how over full they are the entire stay) there is a small café onsite that offers espresso, juices, beer, wine and a few food options. This is the spot where you go for a bottle of wine on Saturday or cold tall craft beer before heading to the infinity jacuzzi underneath the redwood forest stars.
The workshops offered at 1440 seem a little less intense than Esalen. I signed up for a yoga weekend and ended up switching to a series with a shaman and Ironman champion which involved rituals of offerings and deer dancing and tips for a healthy body and mind. The integration was so unusual and perfect all at the same time. This workshop, and the people I met there, were a huge inspiration for me to begin my endurance training.
I would recommend 1440. It is a great beginning center to dip your toe into retreats yet suitable for the well-seasoned retreatant. You aren’t going to get much guided silent time or meditation but there is a lot of opportunity since the campus is very spread out making it easy to find a spot immersed in nature you can be quiet in. The downside is that there is not a lot of extracurricular activities offered outside the workshop schedule. There is a map of very short hikes around the property and a fitness center but other than that you are on your own. The lack of activities isn’t horrible since you are just a short drive from Santa Cruz and full cell phone service so you can easily slip away to a local beach or yoga class in between workshop schedule.
