Certainly we’re no stranger to making a visit to botanical gardens like Lotusland and San Francisco Botanical Gardens a highlight of our travel experiences. But the new FarmLuxe retreats, which take place in both global destinations and locations in the West like the Willamette Valley, San Juan Islands, and British Columbia, take the idea of bloom-based trips to a whole new level.
The trips are geared towards facilitating those connections for women with a shared love of flowers. And while they’re based out of some of our favorite properties in the West—think Allison Inn & Spa in Willamette Valley and Lakedale Resort in Friday Harbor on the San Juan Islands—the bespoke journeys are far more than a run-of-the-mill wellness retreat.
Thomas J. Story
The experiences are based out of bucolic B&Bs situated in areas known for their blooms, and include group activities like floral arranging classes, trips to various flower farms, and field-fresh dinners situated in jaw droppingly beautiful gardens. There are also other non-floral related activities that focus on slow living and wellness like sound baths, yoga, group hikes, and kayaking.
The retreats are the brainchild of Mischa Gillingham and were created with the intention of connecting participants with their natural surroundings. Formerly a luxury travel writer and content creator, Gillingham has experienced her fair share of high-end hotels and experiences across the globe. After stepping away from constant travel to raise her family and build a flower farm on San Juan Island, her path has come full circle, now creating these flower retreats.
“Farmluxe began as a way to share my love of flowers, gardening, and nature. But I’ve come to see that the blooms, gardens, and landscapes are only the doorway,” Misha Gillingham, Founder Farmluxe. “The true magic lies in the self-discovery, deep joy, and the lifelong friendships that blossom along the way.”
Rates begin at $3,69 per person for the four-day retreats based on double occupancy. Bookings for 2026 journeys are open now and can be booked at Farmluxe here.