Whether discussing a misread text or the intrusion of AI, my eldest sister often quotes the title of a William Wordsworth sonnet, “The World Is Too Much With Us.” If the English Romantic poet was already complaining about technology during the early 1800s, what chance do we analog enthusiasts stand today? But we can try. We can shop at brick-and-mortar stores, read physical books, and write letters.
As a lifelong collector of "gifts for readers" – pens, stickers, notecards – when I learned about the Write Place, Write Time letter-writing retreat hosted by Yankee travel editor Kim Knox Beckius at the Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club on Cape Cod, my heart raced. I imagined sipping coffee surrounded by like-minded souls, looking out onto the beach as I pondered my next hand-written line. And I was spot-on.
The drive along scenic Route 6A to Ocean Edge is part of the detox. Far from urban sprawl, upon entering the town of Brewster, you’re on Main Street, a charming road lined with galleries, eateries, and small independent shops until a stretch where the trees thin to reveal a series of red rooftops framed by flora. It’s the Mansion at Ocean Edge, the historic crown jewel of the resort and golf club spanning 429 acres, with dining options, a spa, pools, pickleball and tennis courts, bike rentals, and a private boardwalk leading to the Brewster Flats, a natural phenomenon where, twice daily, the tide recedes for miles.
My weekend begins on Friday afternoon with a treatment at The Beach House Spa. I opted for the Ocean Breeze Classic Massage, which was so relaxing that after savoring herbal tea and lemon sandwich cookies in the relaxation room, I forgot how to open my locker. Soon after, I checked into my room in the East Wing, an inviting space in a sage-green colorway with accents that connect to the coastal location and history. The large room has two queen beds, a desk and balcony, and (my favorite) a dressing and vanity area by the bathroom. Once settled, it was time to return to the mansion for the welcome reception.
“Meet You at The Mansion”
In a private room on the second level of the mansion, a table awaited our group. Each place setting included paper, a pen, the current issue of Yankee, and gifts from New England-based women-owned businesses. Following a dinner of healthful chef-driven dishes and desserts and cranberry-rosemary spritz cocktails developed by Yankee senior food editor Amy Traverso, Knox Beckius asked us to jot down whatever was bothering us so we could fold it up and tuck it away. Our mental loads lighter, we scattered to our rooms to change for the next stop: a floating sound bath session (knees-down would get wet).
We regroup at the pool, all slightly giddy in anticipation. In a single file, we slowly enter the heated water where we are helped onto a floating mattress. Soon the lights dim and the room becomes the deep blue of twilight. I close my eyes and cover them with the damp face cloth provided; it smells of fresh lavender, and I feel the vibrations from the practitioner swirling the crystal bowls. It’s a unique and restful hour that goes by all too quickly.
The first full day begins with optional morning yoga (I sleep in), a buffet breakfast inside the Carriage House, and tour of the mansion with lore detailing its founding by the Nickerson family, a devastating fire, and housing a seminary, before transforming into the resort it is today. Our tour concludes at the LaSalette Library for the day’s writing session; Gilded Age trappings of coffered ceilings, carved wood, and lantern-style chandeliers set the stage for putting pen to paper. Comfortable furnishings encourage lingering and discussion before free time to explore.
In the late afternoon, we gather on the front lawn for a game of croquet and drinks – a fun way for us writerly types to connect. Dinner was another scrumptious buffet in an upstairs room with French doors that led to a balcony. The ever-changing sky compelled us to take a post-dessert walk on the Bay Pines Beach Path to the shoreline, in time for a glorious sunset. Back at the mansion, its Ocean Terrace was aglow with strands of Edison lights.
The final morning of our retreat, we regrouped to stroll the boardwalk to The Beach Bar, not yet open for service, the open-air space was the site of our writing session. Carafes of coffee awaited, as did pads of paper, notecards, pens, and prompts. There are ample available high top tables and the bar itself, and we scribes spread out to quietly write, draw, and be in the moment. We hand over our cards and letters to be mailed for us by the resort. I love these kinds of group activities that feel like the best parts of the summer camp that exists in my mind. Over the group farewell brunch of baked goods, bagels, salads, and green smoothies, it was obvious by our serene demeanors that the retreat had more than made good on its promise of offering a rare opportunity to step away from everyday noise and give thoughts room to unfold.
Ocean Edge prides itself on being the only resort on Cape Cod offering dedicated retreats all year long, led by celebrated wellness practitioners. Learn more at Ocean Edge
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