Wild Rice Retreat

My husband and I just stayed at Wild Rice Retreat for a ‘mini-moon’ after we got married in Duluth. The minute we walked into the Retreat Center we could feel how peaceful and relaxing our stay would be. The cabins were beautiful and well-designed, we liked that we were able to choose which classes we wanted to attend each day (since we also wanted to explore Bayfield), we also enjoyed 24/7 access to the sauna and rainfall showers, and lastly, the food was amazing!!! Each meal was delicious with plenty of variety, and it was nice knowing we were putting healthy food into our bodies with each bite. We will definitely be back! :)

Have you ever gone somewhere you could hear the peace and quiet? This is the place if you haven't had the pleasure. The amenities, the staff, the food (WOW~!), the facilities, and don't even get me started on the incredible rooms. Literally everything was perfect, I honestly have ZERO negative things to report about the incredible attention paid to every detail at Wild Rice. It was our second year to visit and we cannot wait for next year. The beautiful backdrop to a space and place that you can simply set life down and just be...I cannot recommend enough!

A Truly Nourishing Getaway: Mind, Body, and Soul My stay at Wild Rice Retreat was exactly what I needed.. a peaceful, restorative experience that allowed me to truly reset and reconnect. The cozy cottages are the perfect blend of modern comfort and natural simplicity. Warm, welcoming, and beautifully designed, they offer a quiet place to rest, read, or simply enjoy the sounds of nature. One of the highlights for me was the range of wellness classes available. I took part in journaling, yoga, and meditation sessions, all of which were thoughtfully led and deeply enriching. Whether you’re new to these practices or more experienced, there’s something for everyone, and each class felt like a gift to my mental and emotional well-being. And then there’s the food.. WOW! Absolutely incredible. The home-cooked meals prepared by the in-house chef were not only delicious but also super health-conscious and nourishing. Every meal felt intentional and balanced, supporting the retreat’s focus on holistic well-being. Wild Rice Retreat is truly a sanctuary for the soul. It’s the perfect trip for anyone looking to relax, regroup, and reconnect with themselves and nature. I left feeling clearer, lighter, and more in tune with what matters. I can’t recommend it enough.

Wild Rice Retreat was the most peaceful, intentional space I have ever been in. There is a feeling of comfort and safety from the moment you arrive. The food was phenomenal and has inspired me to make changes in my daily nourishment at home. The beds in the rice pod were extremely comfortable and I got amazing sleep. The staff were all calm, friendly, and helpful. Thank you for a beautiful experience!

I came to Wild Rice Retreat to recover after a health issue. I stayed in a pod that was simply and beautifully designed. Bed was very comfortable as well as the bedding. My location was private and very quiet even tho it was close to the parking lot. Sauna, massage and walking trail all excellent. Food was delicious and healthy. Staff will go above and beyond. |Take a ferry across to one of the islands. Kayak, hike, shop. |The small town of Bayfield is just a walk away or drive in. | Lots of stores and one of my new favorite bookstores—Honest Dog. |Take some time to sit by Lake Superior at Hoop’s . |Try breakfast or lunch at Manypenny Bistro. |Bar food for the most part but good food and great service. |They also have coffee in the morning if you want anything other than black coffee. Wonderstate Coffee does some amazing coffee but the waits on the wkend and even some during the week is not always worth it.

I have never been on a wellness retreat or to a wellness resort before, but they've gotten so popular I thought I'd give it a try. I chose Wild Rice because of the rave reviews and it happens to be in Bayfield, which is the jumping off point for the Apostle Islands (and was on my bucket list to visit). I chose to stay 3 nights and by the time I had to check out, I wished I had booked for longer. What a peaceful, rejuvenating place - not for everyone but I found it very relaxing and a nice change of pace. To start with, the grounds are beautiful and the property backs up to Lake Superior and the Brownstone Trail. There are different types of cabins/accommodations to choose from but I selected the Ricepod (single room cabin). I thought it was comfortable and had nice finishes - think soft close drawers and french press provided with local coffee. I only wished the cabins were spaced a little further apart. For immersion classes, meals, etc. there was a main lodge. The food and beverage is focused around being locally-sourced, seasonal, and healthy, and I enjoyed it very much. It's a buffet format during certain hours so guests can come at their leisure and there's different seating options both inside (multiple rooms) and the outside deck. I also enjoyed the evening restorative yoga classes before retiring for the night. And lastly, one of the highlights for me was the massage - heavenly! I rarely visit the same place twice for vacation but I'm already thinking about coming back for a winter trip at some point!

We had a beautiful time. A little disappointed about the lack of offerings each day for the money. We were told to check back nearer our arrival, but nothing changed. Self guided tours and yoga were about it. Food was fantastic! It was a very peaceful setting and we had great “alone time” to talk and connect. Made the 1.7 miles walk to Bayfield on the trail for the “iron bridge”, Ice cream and a swim. The beds were way too soft for our liking. We notified staff after the first night. The desk person told us they would tell the house keeping staff, but they never even came to our room. We turned the mattress over and it was a bit more firm and too our liking. When we left and were asked about our stay, we shared our concerns and all we got back was, “safe travels.” This would have been a five star review, but overly soft beds left us with a lousy night of sleep, lack of follow up, and lack of offerings knocked it down. Trudy a lovely atmosphere with fantastic food and great quiet spaces to connect with people you arrive with.

I think this place works best for retreats. The grounds are lovely. And this area is very special. However, if you are expecting a romantic, special weekend away, say for an important anniversary, think again. I'm speaking for my husband and myself--there was no effort made towards the people who are here solo as in not on a sanctioned retreat. The food was truly no better than good college food. After years teaching at St. Olaf, we'd put that college food a notch above. Everything presented on a steam table, buffet style... after a point the same mushrooms presented each meal seem old. For a Saturday night dinner--overcooked, tough chicken thighs.. This place is not advertised the way it really is. There is nothing spa about it, unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars extra for a massage. No soaking tubs... The group sauna is nice, but the "cold plunge" is a bucket you douse yourself with. Pods are utilitarian with strange lapses in details--we had a loose outlet, broken clock, broken mug, and no half and half in the room. (flavored coffee mate.) You brush your teeth in the kitchen sink, no mirror for shaving, etc. All fine if you're not spending nearly $600 a night. In the morning, soup spoons for your yogurt, no half and half, and miserly bowl of blueberries to share. I know it's a continental breakfast, but no juice? No bread?

My first time staying at a retreat which offers activities for the mind, body and soul. The staff at Wild Rice were warm, kind and always helpful! The space is tucked into the woods and offers different styles of modern, Euro-esque, cabins. We stayed in the mid-size Nest which has a pull-out couch with memory foam and a king size bed. The bathrooms are gorgeous with rain and a regular shower. There's also a nice kitchenette with a minifridge, microwave, plates, utensils, knives, cutting board and glassware. AC and heated floors complete the nest. Bathroom products were from Public Goods, all smelling natural and lux. We had robes waiting for us and we used them quite a bit to get to the Saunahaus where you can enjoy the hot sauna, rainshowers and cold plunge whirlpool. We did all three each night. Loved that the place doesn't get too busy so it felt very private. Every day they have different activities to partake in. Yoga with Heidi, also the owner of Wild Rice, was wonderful, esp if you're not a regular, effective yet gentle. I really enjoyed her style and left feeling good. Coffee, tea and lemon water was available all day and night. Coffee is from Wonderstate, beans from the local town in Bayfield. This was the ultimate "glamping" experience and I think it would be so cool to come out here for the winter too! Just note, for the summer time, watch out for the buggos! It wasn't too bad when we were there in mid-Aug, but at night they can fly in to the cabins, especially with the lights. I'm excited to see what they do for phase 2 when they add different types of soaking hot pools.

I stayed at Wild Rice Retreat for 5 days recently and I can say that it is the best retreat center I have ever been to in the 5 state area. I frequent retreat opportunities. They go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. The staff is exemplary from the front office to the practitioners and especially the chefs! What warm, wonderful, talented people. All the best at their craft. The food was stellar and crafted with your health in mind. I am GF and could not have been more pleased. The accommodations are five star, really, for a retreat center. The sauna/plunge pool and yoga and other activities round out a fantastic experience. The grounds are very well kept and the views of Lake Superior are spectacular. Can't wait to go back!!