By Kim Atkinson, Published: April 02, 2014 / Forbes Travel Guide…
If your idea of a restorative vacation requires more than just lounging by a pool, consider booking a trip to join the first-ever Curiosity Retreats, a new program dreamed up by Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks and hosted at his western Colorado luxury resort, Gateway Canyons.
This spring, two five-night retreats will take place May 18 to 23 and July 20 to 25, offering 70 guests the chance to attend educational lectures on topics such as technology, science, the human spirit and civilization, all while mingling with global thought leaders such as Deepak Chopra, Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf, star chef Rick Moonen and violinist Charles Yang. It all adds up to a unique twist on sleepaway camp, but this version is reserved for adults, and complete with luxury touches such as spa treatments and gourmet cuisine.
Besides the chance to learn about happiness theory, the future of the Internet or the latest in nanotechnology, there are all of the usual activities offered at Gateway Canyons Resort, which sits at the beautiful, rugged edge of the Colorado and Utah canyon lands just outside Grand Junction, Colo. Take part in sunrise yoga, horseback rides, guided photography and nature hikes and stargazing sessions. The resort features spacious, comfortable rooms (many with their own patio fire pits) as well as several new private luxury casitas. There’s also a collection of restaurants that serve everything from fine-dining (think local grass-fed beef and Colorado wines) to food-truck style eats dished out of a converted Airstream trailer. Being a car buff, Hendricks has created an onsite museum that houses his collection of important American cars, ranging from the first horseless carriages to a Tesla; during the retreat, you will have your own chance to test drive sponsor Tesla Motors’ newest models. Go to article…
