Cabins in the woods with gourmet meals…what more is there?
We stay here for work retreats and the food is something we talk about the entire year. Always great vegan options with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Awesome staff and accommodation. Casa grande is amazing. Wildlife, cozy fireplace, shop on site with honor system, massages to order.
Also, a colleague had her wedding here and said it was amazing.
When I hit a retreat for 7 days I know I will be at the mercy of the chef.
There are 2 chefs at Westerbeke and they are sweethearts that make the most home cooked, healthy locally sourced food you can’t imagine.
The Westerbeke ranch story is out of Harlequin romance. Legend has it that that proprietor’s Grandpa gave his wife a Tiffany Bracelet as a present when she was in the hospital way back in the day. She was a practical woman, so she said please take it back and let’s buy some land up in Sonoma. Dang what I would give for some land for a bracelet from Tiffany’s…
Well they bought “a ton” of acres up here and the Grandpa built lovely ranch style buildings that are so cute! The land has been passed down through the family.
I love this land. I love this ranch.
Lucky for me I am heading back here in June, September and December.
They are such gracious hosts.
The Westerbekes offer something very special here. Passed down through the generations, this family run center is lovingly cared for by Wendy, Ted and their amazing staff. I’ve spent four weeks over the past year and looking forward to four more in the next 12 months.
If the cabins evoke a kind of summer camp for adults feel, you’ll need to think more of a homestyle, sonoma restaurant to appreciate the the locally sourced food and amazing flavors the chefs consistently dish out.
The facilities are excellent for retreats and conferences. The land and natural setting has a sacredness to it that lends itself to clearing the mind and creativity. Whether hunkered down in a conference room, meditating in one of the many private garden nooks, or hiking through the trails, you’ll find time for quiet thinking, as well as playful collaboration. The hot tub, pool and dining fireplace are also great for bringing everyone together and celebrating.
As good as it gets! This was my first visit to the Westerbeke Ranch as I attended a 5Rhythms workshop with around 20 people from around the world. The history of the ranch is fascinating. I loved hearing the stories. In that vein something there really spoke to me from the actual land itself. The energy there made it feel sacred. I had the rare opportunity to be the first of my group to arrive and the last to leave back to New York City. This allowed me the chance to hear and see natures at its finest providing so much joy to everyone. The massage I had prior to leaving was great!
The meeting room that we danced in was divine. Open on both sides allowing the breeze to whisk through at times. Jumping in the pool after an afternoon of dancing was so refreshing!
The accommodations were clean and comfortable. I felt so welcomed there from Wendy and Ted that it felt like home. The only word I can say about the food prepared by John is OUTSTANDING! Each meal was anticipated after the bell rang and enjoyed outside by tables set up for our group. We ate in 3 different areas. To say I had “Westerbeke Withdrawal” upon returning home to New York puts it mildly. I can’t wait to return.
Over the last 2 years, I have visited Weterbeke on four separate occasions, all to undergo pretty intensive trainings.
From the food, to the grounds, to the staff to the lodging, Westerbeke is a 5-star establishment.
When you are on the land, you can easily feel the love and attention put into this home; for a home it is. If you don’t already know, go read about the history of Patty Westerbeke and this land. You will then feel even more blessed to be able to spend time here.
Westerbeke has a warm and well-deserved place in my heart, and I most definitely plan to be back =)
Our wedding weekend at Westerbeke was just amazing. I’m still in a state of being blown away by it all! The service was incredible. Many of our guests commented on how they felt completely cared for, and how friendly and genuine the Westerbeke management and servers were.
I could write a short story on the food. We had a vegetarian ceremony dinner, and I’m very pleased to report that both our vegetarian and carnivore guests were floored by the food. I’m very much a food geek (I even asked our photographer, Emily Merrill, to take pics of the food!) and this was like having Greens cater your wedding.
Our weekend guests enjoyed their stay. From the hot tub, to the hiking trails, to just hanging out, everyone seemed to have a nice time. Kids and dog too!
The value was excellent. And the low-stress of not having to rent the table, chairs, and hire an outside caterer was well worth it.
I hope to attend a retreat at Westerbeke some day. It is a beautiful, special place. And general manager Margaret was a pleasure to work with.
This place is spiritual, very warm and the owners approach to having a honor system for purchases just made feel like they believe in humanity! The food was the best I’ve had at any conference center and I’ve been to many! The cabins are a delight and the beds are very comfortable. I highly recommend this place for weddings and conferences!
I have been to the Westerbeke 3 times now, and every time has been a resounding success. The location is perfect, close enough to Sonoma downtown but an oasis of shady trails and gorgeous gardens away from it all. The cabins are a little on the rustic side, but they sacrifice nothing in comfort. The meeting facilities are more than adequate, and other amenities include an olympic-size pool and hot tub. Massages can be arranged on-site.
They’ve been making improvements to the rooms and handicapped access. The rooms are on a hill and it’s helpful to let them know if someone has trouble walking up inclines so they can assign rooms accordingly.
Lastly, let me talk about the food. Now, I don’t normally expect much from retreat food, but Chef John Littlewood is a master at taking fresh, local ingredients and making every dish something special. I would match him against any chef in the world, and we joked that he’s the only man we know who could satisfy 23 women, 3 times a day. This is no slight to the other chefs working there, all of whom are amazingly talented. We awaited the dinner bell eagerly and nobody in our group even thought of going into town for dinner at any of the world class restaurants there.
Never a regret with Westerbeke.
This is the most special place I have attended for professional development in my life. The feeling of serenity, love and respect for all humanity is present throughout these beautiful grounds. I look forward to my return.