Spiritual Spots for Religious Retreats

Spirituality takes many forms—while some find higher meaning through traditional religious customs, others do so through practices of transcendental meditation or through a deeper connection with nature. Yet, no matter the preference, the goal is always the same: to be filled with hope and find more to life than what we experience in our daily routines that continue to be filled with more and more stressors.

In today’s day and age, having the chance to “get away and reconnect” is essential, and many non-traditional venues are providing the means with a variety of features for multi-day retreats, including on-site chapels, mindful wellness programs, and beautiful grounds that allow for reflection and renewal. Anne Luther, the Director of Retreats International that represents 350 Catholic retreat centers across the country, assesses that more than 2.5 million Americans go on retreats every year to find more “peace and contentment.”

The eight venues below meet the modern demand for these kinds of group experiences whether through religious affiliation or non-denominational features and programs. The Jesuit liberal arts campus at Loyola University Maryland is located within the Archdiocese of Baltimore and has a 20-acre retreat center in the mountains with picturesque backdrops. The Lake Williamson Christian Center in St. Louis (part of the Christian Retreats Network) offers retreat packages including cabin conference rooms and adventure recreation programs, while the Falls Event Center in St. George (outside Las Vegas) is surrounded by red rocks, palm trees, luscious greenery, and waterfalls that provide a peaceful setting. Here are some of our favorite spots to reflect: