This Is
Your
Chance
to step off the fast-moving current of life and focus on what matters:
your mother daughter relationship. Strengthen your bond, build tools for wellness, and take home memories that will last lifetimes.
Together, we’ll gather on the banks of the Russian River, where the water becomes our teacher — showing us how to flow, release, and connect. Through guided connection activities, creative workshops, and time in nature, you’ll discover new ways to see and celebrate each other.
The experience is designed to:
In a world that feels uncertain, fast, and ever-changing, there are yet a few things things we can hold on to:
the love we share with the people that matter most and the ways we nurture a better future.
Monte Rio, California
Our retreat takes place in the magical forest town of Monte Rio, just 2 hours north of San Francisco. We'll begin at a charming community center with a grassy patio, playground, and lush park. Step outside to the river’s edge — launch a boat, catch a bite at the snack shack, or simply watch the water dance by. Towering trees, flowing water, and open space create the perfect backdrop for connection, creativity, and wild, joyful play.
The Experience
Join us for three days of inspiring workshops and memorable experiences together. Many activities are designed to celebrate connection in pairs — a chance to experience a deeper connection one-on-one.
*You’ll book your own lodging and meals so you can create the experience that fits your needs.*
6pm-8:30pm
Opening Circle
A heartwarming welcome.
Sip With The Current
A tea ceremony.
Hearts and Horns
A crown making art workshop.
Learn More
Glow and Flow
Get ready to light up the night at Glow & Flow: a glow-in-the-dark dance night out and flow arts workshop! We’ll turn up the music and transform the space into a glowing celebration with twinkling lights, body paint and plenty of room to dance your heart out. This high-energy experience includes a playful flow arts workshop where you’ll learn simple, mesmerizing moves with flow flags, fans, and streamers. Dress up, let loose, and feel the beat with a professional sound system and an invigorating dance journey (did you know Danielle is also DJ Dani B?!). It’s part workshop, part dance party, and all about joy, movement, and radiant self-expression!
Focusing on Creative Arts
Theatre • Music • Crafts • Dance
Creativity is more essential than ever in today’s world. It gives us the ability to adapt, imagine new possibilities, and find solutions where none seem obvious. Beyond problem-solving, creativity nurtures resilience and joy — reminding us that even in challenging times, we can still express beauty, play, and connection. When we engage our creative spirit, we strengthen not only our own sense of well-being but also our capacity to build a more compassionate, innovative, and hopeful world together.
Checkout Past Retreats
Who Is This For?
Mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, friends. Come with your aunt, come with your granddaughter, come with a friend who has been there for you like a mother.
ages 8+ — from kids to adults
Those who want to belong to a supportive, like-minded community of mothers and daughters
Women and girls ready to connect, adventure,
and be creative together
Anyone seeking time in nature, wellness and an experience outside of the ordinary mundane
To recharge, reflect, and plant seeds for the kind of world we hope the next generation will inherit. It will only become this way if we build it, and this is how we build.
Meet Danielle
Hi! I started mother-daughter experiences because I saw a fundamental need that was missing from our education system and our modern day culture. I've been working in the education industry building programs and products for over 15 years focusing on the arts and emotional education. I feel the system is lacking the connection to a larger picture, the inspiration from our ancestors and the power of girls growing up within circles of wise women to learn from.
In addition, I was leading women's dance experiences and had a series of mother daughter pairs show up to dance (adults, college age and children too!) and thought... there is really something special about doing meaningful experiences as a mother daughter duo.
So I combined my experience in the arts, emotional education, wellness, games, events, and ancient women's wisdom to build experiences that connect mothers, daughters and families overall.
My hope is that our time together will bring a new, deeper connection to family, but also to the many women before us so that we may walk into a new world - a kind of "ancient future" where we bridge the wisdom of the old into our modern every day lives. Where the joy of music, dance and storytelling becomes essential for how we live. Where we heal our families generational patterns and start new. And where women gather, through all ages, to transform the world through gentle power.
Oh and have some fun while we're at it!
Meet Mariel (Mars)
Mars is a multidisciplinary artist exploring various mediums including digital photography, collage, mixed media and stained glass. She created Mars Makes Magic offering her art throughout Santa Cruz County. She is also an educator and was thrilled to teach elementary school in Nicaragua, finding connection to her cultural roots and family. She is passionate about hiking in the redwoods alongside rivers and streams, beach days with friends, gardening in her backyard and spending time with her cat. She believes life is meant to be lived and each day is gift!
This is your invitation to pause, breathe, and savor time together — to rest, play, create, and be surrounded by a community of mothers and daughters
all sharing in the joy of connection and nature.