Adulting without a quiet spot to step off the merry-go-round of life is ill-advised because it leads to burnout. So much so, Woody Allen once said, "I have the intense desire to return to the womb. Anyone's."
If you occasionally find yourself wanting to crawl under a rock, we have better options.
Whether you’re a working mom, a college student, an entrepreneur with the next great idea or a single dad raising kids with more activities than a cruise line, consider the following locations to decompress.
Located in the basement of St. James Anglican Cathedral, Holy Grounds Coffee is the trifecta R&R. You can sit in silence with your journal, a book and coffee flight and sip the day away. With a focus on community, faith, and well-being, the coffee and pastry shop is the perfect place to silence your phone, your thoughts, and your worries in minutes, not hours.
If you're seeking the light, so to speak, Holy Grounds also has a quaint, brick patio where you can absorb some Vitamin D and recite some positive affirmations. Put 342 N. Water St., Liberty, MO into your GPS to find peace and harmony today.
Practicing yoga by moonlight is a way to slow down, reflect, and release pent-up emotions. In yoga terms, it means letting go of things that no longer serve you. Don’t we all have a few of those?
There are five free classes between June 11 and Sept 7 to join and sync your soul with the moon. All classes are led by Patti Stark, owner of Serenity on the Square. The park is a sanctuary with 112 acres of trails, a lake, and an off-leash dog park.
Do your mind, body, and spirit a favor by attending one or two sessions. Participants swear by these sessions for clearing their monkey minds (a distracted, agitated, wondering mind). The classes are open to the public, if you elect to give a donation, all money collected benefits the upkeep of Stocksdale Dog Park, which is located at 901 La Frenz Road, Liberty, MO 64068.
Hideaway Spot #3: Happy Hour on the Patio of Belvoir Winery
If you like the idea of jumping on a plane to visit a magical castle surrounded by fountains and vineyards, Belvoir Winery and Inn is accessible without the need for frequent flyer miles. The winery and Inn are in a breathtaking three-story Jacobethan Revival building that was a Grand Lodge, hospital, and children's orphanage in 1835.
Today, the Inn is a hot spot for weddings and paranormal sightings. For your mental well-being and entertainment pleasure, Belvoir Winery is open seven days a week for wine tastings from 3 to 8 p.m. Join the regulars by bringing your own picnic basics of crackers, cheese and grapes to snack on while enjoying eight varietals of wine.
Outside food is welcomed, given that the Inn doesn't have a restaurant on site. Imagine sipping a glass of Norton dry red wine or Naked Pink semi-sweet rose wine while pretending you’re a wealthy aristocrat vacationing at one of your many estates. If your stress level is in the red zone, consider booking a room for the night. The innkeeper will happily provide turndown service and give you a tour of the property.
When life if feeling a bit off, head to 1325 Odd Fellows Rd, Liberty, MO 64068 for vineyard solitude.
You'll find cheese and comfort in the basement of a flour mill built in 1889 located at 131 S Water St Ste 100 + 101, Liberty, MO 64068.
At Blush Farm Cork + Board, adults are heavily encouraged to untether and play board games such as Mahjong to nurture their inner child. You can even take classes to learn how to play while appreciating a glass of fine wine or bourbon.
Blush Farm was featured on the cover of the May issue of Northland Lifestyle magazine. Read the Hostesses with the Mostest for more reasons to visit the tasting room ASAP.
Hideaway Spot #5: Forest Bathing at Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
Suppose you are looking for a new place to immerse yourself in Mother Nature. Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is a four-minute drive from the William Jewell College campus.
The Sanctuary’s 53 acres joins with 46 more in the Rush Creek Conservation Area governed by the Missouri Department of Conservation making a vast landscape with 13 trails totaling four miles, including two asphalt and one ADA-accessible trail. It's a great place to remind yourself that you are just a speck in a mammoth ecosystem. Watching the butterflies, turtles, and birds will remind you that this too shall pass. It is the circle of life.
Head to 407 N. La Frenz Road, Liberty, MO 64068 to reintroduce yourself to Mother Nature.
Which hideaway will you visit first?