4 Countryside Retreats For Open-Air Wellness
Unplug from city living and reconnect with nature at these nearby wellness getaways.
Sweet Honey Farm / Photograph by Anthony Serrantonio
In a densely populated city like Philadelphia, it’s easy to forget that wide-open spaces actually exist. But rural life isn’t as far away as you might think. If becoming one with nature is on your self-care agenda, slow down in the great outdoors with a visit to one of these farm- and mountain-based wellness retreats.
Honey Hollow Farm, New Hope
Set on 103 acres in Bucks County, this National Historic Landmark features an 18th-century stone house that can be booked as a private weekend retreat for up to 10 guests. Choose from a vast menu of activities — think cider tasting in the barn (the drink is made from organic fruit harvested in the orchard). Co-owner Layla Broumand also holds weekday community classes on topics such as cooking and Ayurveda for perimenopause.
A cooking class at Honey Hollow Farm. / Photograph by Kristina Gibb Photography
Himalayan Institute, Honesdale
At the institute’s headquarters in the Poconos, participate in weekly multiday sessions focused on nutrition cleanses, stress management, and whole-self rejuvenation. (The institute has also been the home base of wellness experiences led by Philly-area studios, including the Yoga Garden in Narberth and Yoga Home in Conshohocken.) Short on time? Its integrative wellness center, PureRejuv, boasts à la carte massages, chiropractic care, yoga, and meditation — perfect for a day trip.
Still Rise Farms, Perkasie
Breast cancer surgeon Monique Gary founded this 40-acre center as a sanctuary for cancer patients and those living with chronic illness, with programs — like cooking and horticulture classes — focused on the idea of food as medicine. For the public? Organic gardening workshops, farm-to-fork dinners, and nature-based fairs for youth.
Sweet Honey Farm, Morganville
This membership-only Central Jersey gem seamlessly blends agriculture and wellness. Spend the day picking fresh produce from the garden, trying contrast therapy in the infrared or traditional cedar sauna and the cold-plunge pool, working out inside the Longevity Barn — offering free weights, treadmills, group classes, and more — and horseback riding. Even better: Your visits support the farm’s CSA program.
Published as “Greener Pastures” in the May 2025 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
