San Francisco Chronicle features Camp Five Marys

North of the Bay Area, where mountains ring the horizon and nature reigns supreme, there’s regular vacation and then there’s vacation-plus.

Guests gather around the outdoor table at one of Five Marys Farm's retreats.

Photo: Circle Bar Photography

Visits that fall into the first category stay within a certain comfort zone and look a lot like travels anywhere else — basic hotel room or campsite, a few decent restaurants, maybe a little outdoor exploration here and there. The plus experience, however, is a trip that sticks with you, that forces you outside of your typical routine and teaches you a new skill or fresh appreciation for something you’ve always wanted to learn. Getaways in this category amount to summer camp for grown-ups, immersive and interactive vacations focused on activities like kayaking or horseback riding or themes like farming and food.

At Five Marys Farm camp retreats, visitors sleep in canvas tents and spend their days learning about and participating in ranch life.

Photo: Courtesy Adriana Klas Photography

Five Marys Farm hosts Camp Five Marys, a women's retreat where guests participate in ranch life, meet the resident animals and sit down for communal meals around a beautifully appointed table.