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Features | Partnerships

Getaway’s WYLD Experience: On Relationships

In September, Getaway’s marketing team took some time to recharge and learn about relationships in our third workshop with WYLD Leadership. WYLD crafts incredible learning and development experiences – in person or virtually – customized to a team’s needs and goals, meaning no workshop is the same. WYLD’s mission is to draw out the unique greatness in people. They pull from a palette of psychology, nature, creativity, mindfulness, neuroscience, and ancient wisdom to curate a safe and fun experiential learning environment that feels transformative and sustainable. Getaway will be partnering with WYLD for the rest of the year to bring you tips, insights, and practices to help you find your own true nature.

Our most recent WYLD session focused on our relationships, both with each other and with our guests.

To start the session, we took a journey through a series of guided visualizations and calming meditations – a welcome reprieve on a Monday. Once we felt centered, we moved to a group exercise, which for many of us, was our favorite WYLD experience so far. 

We were given the name of someone on our team and asked to focus on that person by sending positive thoughts and intentions. You knew the person you were focusing on, but you didn’t know who had you in mind. We were then given time to write a letter of gratitude to that individual – topics could have been about their personal or professional attributes, or both. 

After penning our letter, we were broken into small groups and asked to read the letter to the person. It was then we realized the teammate you were writing about was also writing about you. We’d also be mindfully paired up so your “penpal” was someone you worked closely with, but not someone you directly reported to, which made it easy to share freely and authentically.  

It was an incredibly emotional experience to hear about the beautiful qualities and strengths we value in each other. Most of us left the small team exercise with tears in our eyes.

During our busy days, we often hustle to communicate, and these exchanges are often transitional and technical – over email, Slack, Zoom. We’re rarely afforded the time and space to communicate ways we enjoy and care about each other. Most of us couldn’t remember the last time we’d penned or received a handwritten letter. 

Moving forward, we plan to share more intentional notes of praise or thanks with our team, even if it has to be over Slack. We also want to use this idea to deepen our relationships with guests. A handwritten note that shows you’re mindful of the details of someone’s life and character can go a long way. 

As Laura, our Brand Design Lead said, “It takes five positives to negate one negative. So let’s all start putting out more positives.”

Interested in trying out the WYLD experience yourself? Email them at [email protected] to schedule your session, and they will match you with a coach who fits with your professional and personal goals. Mention promo code WYLD20 for 20% off (this includes a CliftonStrengths code to take the behavioral assessment). A coaching session with a WYLD guide is tailored to your self-development needs, whatever you lead… a business, a family, a team, or your own self through the day, gift yourself the time and space to reflect and grow.

Need a reflective escape to nature? Book your Getaway today.

Features | Partnerships

A Getaway Reading List with Books Are Magic

Nothing beats curling up with a good book by a big window in the final weeks of winter—except finding new books to enjoy. Our friends at Books Are Magic—a team favorite among our Brooklyn-based staff for all our new reads—crafted the ultimate disconnection reading list for the season, so we can all curl up with the best new books everyone’s talking about.

Longing for Less by Kyle Chayka

In this thoughtful new cultural history, journalist and cultural critic Kyle Chayka takes on the rising lifestyle trend of minimalism, exploring the philosophical and spiritual origins of why we often feel less is more. We are all familiar with popular templates to clear our homes of clutter in order to bring more peace to our lives, but Chayka delves deeper in the movement, including a series of mini-biographies of artists, writers, and visionaries who have grappled with ways to reach deeper emotional understandings, and investigate the implications of presence versus absence. While spending some extra time indoors this winter, this is a great book to get introspective about the spaces we inhabit, both physically and spiritually. 

Modern Love, Revised and Updated: True Stories of Love, Loss and Redemption by Daniel Jones, Andrew Rannells, Ayelet Waldman

Drawn from the beloved “Modern Love” column of the New York Times, Modern Love, Revised and Updated is the perfect book for anyone interested in the messiness of dating and the human heart. This anthology collects dozens of the most memorable essays in the column’s fifteen-year run. We learn about a young woman’s journey through the five stages of ghosting grief, a widower struggling to decide whether to introduce his new girlfriend to his children, a woman in her seventies reflecting on the highs and lows of her past relationships. By turns funny, provocative, and heartbreaking but always honest, this colorful collection is the perfect companion for a weekend getaway.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley

An uplifting and heartfelt book about six strangers who connect over their renewed, shared commitment to honesty. It all begins with a little, green notebook, which is left in Monica Café by Julian Jessop, an elderly artist who wishes people would be more honest with each other. From that point the journal—a la Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants—trades hands among strangers, as it becomes a catalyst for the intimacy each person craves. Along the way we get to meet a cast of charming and eccentric characters, each revealing their true selves to each other in their respective entries. The result is an inspiring, thought-provoking query into the power and potential of authenticity. 

Be Here by Dalai Lama

Letting go can be one of the hardest things for us as humans. Sometimes, we need a little time away to forget our everyday stressors to recenter the larger picture. This tiny hand-held guide is highly recommended as a portable resource, filled with accessible wisdom from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to staying present in the moment. Complete with discussions about Buddhist concepts of attachment, emptiness, and compassion, it’s never too late to release our past attachments and future fears and embrace the fullness we embody right now.

The Essential Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Perfect for snuggling with loved ones and getting lost in a nostalgic favorite, this treasury includes the first two Calvin and Hobbes collections, as well as an original full-color 16-page story of the beloved best-friend-duo on their imaginative adventures. While full of silly humor and antics, Watterson’s comics are a classic for their poignant moments of wisdom and tenderness. 

Ready to escape with your new reads? Book your Getaway today.

Features

Meet A Trailblazer: Evelynn Escobar

In honor of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting Black trailblazers; the adventurers, activists, and environmentalists who have been busy charting their own paths into nature, leading the charge to make nature and rest more inclusive and accessible. Today we’re featuring Evelynn Escobar, a social activist and the founder of Hike Clerb, a nonprofit and intersectional womxn’s hike club in LA. Here’s what she had to say about nature, Hike Clerb, and activism.

On Nature

My connection to nature has grown and developed over time. Like most kids, I gravitated to playing outside in the dirt and the woods with my friends. I didn’t grow up visiting national parks or going camping, etc. but I always enjoyed hiking when visiting my aunt who lived in Los Angeles. As a young adult, I sought out natural spaces and made an effort to spend more time outside, but it wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles that I realized how innately outdoorsy I was. Getting in touch with my true nature has brought out a side of me that I didn’t even know fully existed and I am forever grateful for that.

On Creating Solutions

I would definitely consider myself to be a problem-solver so when I realized how homogenous the outdoors really were, it inspired me to spring into action! I definitely attribute my first National Park visit to being one of the biggest catalysts for this. That and my experience hiking solo around LA really drove me to create a literal safe space to facilitate experiences centering BIWOC for collective healing.

I actually went to school for journalism and ended up taking the social media route which wasn’t yet a huge thing back then! I think just starting a non-profit period is probably the most difficult challenge of my career thus far. There are so many resources needed and they aren’t necessarily readily available to you. There’s a lot of learnings you encounter along the way. My favorite project so far has to be my current partnership with Nike ACG! 

On Self-Care

Therapy has truly been an absolute game-changer for me! It’s so necessary and so fundamental. Of course, going into nature has also been a huge help with everything going on in the last year. It has truly provided a reset and release that is even more so needed now.

On Activism

I think it’s so important when starting any community, to be married to your mission. Know exactly why you are investing your time into whatever you’re doing and who you’re speaking to. It should be a natural extension of you! When you’re operating from a place of authenticity, the community builds itself.

I am inspired by women who live boldly. Women who are using their unique efforts to help change the world. Issa Rae, Leah Thomas, Betty Reid Soskin to name a few. I am thankful for the community that has invested its time and efforts into me, who helped make me who I am. My aunts, my grandma, my mentors and the friends who have left an impact along the way.

Outdoorsy comes in all shapes, forms, colors, sizes, interests etc. We are multi-faceted beings capable of being passionate about many different things and I want people to understand that their version of outdoorsy doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s but their own. There is power in that.

You can follow Evelynn’s journey on her Instagram, and Hike Clerb’s Instagram.

Need an escape to nature? Book your Getaway today.

Artist Fellowship | Features

Artist Fellows of Getaway

With the hustle and bustle of city life, we know it can be hard for artists to find uninterrupted time to create. That’s why we created our Artist Fellowship Program, to give creatives a space in nature to work on their projects. We love seeing what our artists come up with and we’re excited to share some of our recent fellows.

Painter Amanda Nolan Booker has been painting and drawing ever since she was young. However, it wasn’t until 2016 when she decided to go back to school and pursue painting full time.

“My work deals with memory, perception, and experience,” Amanda said. “I’m inspired by the everyday, in the mundane, but I’m equally inspired by mythology and storytelling. I want to account for the things that make up a life which are not easily defined or depicted.”

Amanda prefers to escape anywhere that’s quiet, so our Atlanta Outpost was the perfect spot for her to take some time to create.

“I work best when I’m alone and can listen to music and/or have conversations with myself out loud,” Amanda says. “Even if I’m not actively painting and just need to brainstorm, it’s important that I find a place for uninterrupted reflection.”

Six years ago, Richard Bonasoro turned his backyard into a small farm in the hope of growing his own food and living a healthier lifestyle. During this project, he started thinking about what he was putting on his skin as well.

“I started looking into soap making and finally made my first batch of soap right in the backyard in my garden,” Richard said. “I wanted a bar of soap with ingredients you could recognize without Google: organic olive oil, organic coconut oil, essential oils, and herbs and sometimes even vegetables from my garden.”

As part of his fellowship, Richard picked up his work station and moved it to Getaway Blake Brook. The soap he made there, inspired by his stay, combined pine, fir, needle, cedarwood, and cypress together with a lemony scent.

Richard, who owns and operates the Backyard Soap Company, says his dream creative project is to build a backyard garden utopia that’s inspired by The Secret Garden.

Interested in tapping into your own creativity in nature? Escape today.

Artist Fellowship

Our Artist Fellows

In our busy city lives filled with noise, stress, and technology, it can be hard to find the time and space to create art and get inspired. That’s why we created our Artist Fellowship Program—to provide artists time and space to create and recharge. Each month we host a number of artists at our Outposts and invite them to experience Getaway, and to set aside time for their art.

To meet a few of our January artists, keep reading, and see what they had to say about their art and their Getaways.

Michelle Van Leer, Illustrator

Michelle grew up in South Florida and moved to the Atlanta area when she was in high school. You can find her at a vegan restaurant, on a hike, exploring a new city with her boyfriend, or at the library where she works.

When asked how she got started as an artist, Michelle said, “When I was younger my mom would draw Disney characters in her sketchbooks and I was always so amazed by her work. I followed her lead and drew characters in her sketchbook, using my Disney books for reference. It wasn’t until high school that I started drawing patterns and really enjoyed that type of drawing. I spent many classes in my own world, doodling on my school papers. I eventually got my own sketchbook and a fine tip Sharpie and perfected my current style over the years.”

She says she started taking her art more seriously in the past couple of years, so she started painting, opened an Etsy shop, and participated in art shows.

Michelle’s connection to nature has had a guiding influence in her life. She says, “My connection to nature has shaped the way I do things in my personal life, whether it be what I eat or how I shop for clothes. I’ve become more conscious of the environment as I’ve gotten older, and I love learning about ways that I can lessen my environmental impact. Treating mother nature kindly is important to me.”

Michelle cites nature as a big influence on her artwork—some of her biggest inspirations include the color and organic shapes that can be found in nature.

Regarding her Getaway, Michelle notes, “I’ve always wanted to live in a tiny house so staying in the cabin was a cool experience. It was a beautiful area, super quiet, and it felt like we were the only ones there. It was the perfect environment for drawing because I didn’t have wifi or cell service, so I was able to get a drawing done sooner than usual. I have the bad habit of letting my phone distract me!”

You can find more of Michelle’s work on Instagram @michellevart and her website: michellevanleerart.com.

Christian Yi, Photographer

Christian Yi was born and raised in Los Angeles. He was first introduced to photography during college, and he got his first DSLR in 2016. “Today I am one of the lucky ones who gets to do what they love for a job,” Christian reflects.

Christian says nature is his place to escape. “It is a place where I can shut down and be present. I love to go out and smell the crisp, unpolluted air, touch the earth, take a hike, and hear the crackle of twigs and rocks beneath my feet. In nature I am free. There is no boss to please (except for myself and I can be a real stickler), and no schedule or deadlines except for the ones I put on myself.”

Without extra noise, Christian is able to create art that truly represents how he feels at a specific moment in time because there’s nothing that can impede his train of thought.

Christian explains, “I wish my Getaway was longer! I went to Getaway with my girlfriend and we spent our time telling stories, learning how to play dominos, drinking hot cocoa with our steak dinner with potatoes and butter that we prepared over the mini grill, and stargazing from our massive window overlooking the beautiful mountains of Running Springs. My time at Getaway was a reminder that a routine digital detox is essential for a healthy creative mind.”

You can find more of Christian’s work on his Instagram @christianyi_ and his website: www.christianyi.com.

Phoenix Oullette, Photographer

Phoenix lives in Indianapolis with her husband of four years. She started her own photography business right after she graduated from Purdue University, and she loves photographing all things related to love and travel.

On being a photographer, Phoenix says, “Exploring the world and getting to document it, really hits your heart in a different way.”

For Phoenix, her connection to nature provides her with comfort and a sense of faith. She elaborates, “Seeing the moon shining, bright stars, tall mountains, colorful leaves, the vastness of the ocean, or even the sand between my toes reminds me of God and humbles me in a really good way. I’m thankful to get to capture every bit of it, and I try to preserve sweet memories through photos.”

Phoenix describes her Getaway as, “soul-warming, intimate, and just so dang beautiful. I loved getting to document the simplicity of the home and environment and to just enjoy the atmosphere, being tucked in the mountains. The stars were SO bright at night, and we awoke to a fiery sunrise that I snapped some shots of. I’d 110% recommend this experience for anyone in any stage of life. It was refreshing and cozy, and it was just a joy to step away from the business of life to slow down and take in the beautiful mountains. “

You can find more of Phoenix’s work on both of her Instagram accounts: @phoenixouellette and @crimsonseasphoto.

Bu Robbins, Illustrator

Bug Robbins is a native Texan, but they spent a decade in Baltimore where they went to the Maryland Institute College of Art to pursue a degree in Illustration, Printmaking, and Book Arts. They recently moved to Cleveland, Ohio to work as a Staff Illustrator for American Greetings.

When asked to describe their work, Bug said, “I would say that I straddle a lot of different worlds artistically, be it fiber arts, printmaking, and more recently, animating. In my professional career, I also focus a lot on editorial illustration, making politically-charged and conceptual artwork for magazines and online articles.”

Generally, Bug can be found hanging out with their two cats, reading horror-sci-fi novels, and working on new knitting projects.

Bug says they’re always thinking about nature and how they’re connected to it. They check the weather constantly because they’re in love with storms and dramatic weather, which they said was, “possibly a product of growing up in tornado alley.”

Nature was also a big part of Bug’s childhood. They said, “I grew up running around in creek beds and climbing trees. I think a lot of textures and patterns in nature make it into my artwork, both consciously and unconsciously, but it is a fountain of inspiration whenever I feel stuck. My most recent book, Tony is about a praying mantis I rescued from the woods, and on other levels, it’s also about personal growth—so these ideas are often very intertwined with lots of lessons to be found in nature.”

Bug considered going on their Getaway alone for a meditative retreat, but they decided instead to invite their mom to join them. “Our Getaway was maybe more like a sleepover or camp-out than the quiet reflection some seek, but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. We had some quiet, beautiful hikes, taking in the snowy forests and rivers, and after all that, we could relax in our cozy cabin, catching up and watching movies.”

Bug found the architecture of the cabins themselves to be a source of inspiration because of the way they interact with the landscape. “While there I felt very inspired just to sketch and reconnect with pen on paper, which led to my final animation once I left. I really look forward to my next Getaway—I’m hoping for a longer stay where I can really immerse myself in drawing.”

You can find more of Bug’s work on their Instagram @bugwithapen, and their website: www.BugDraws.com.

Feeling inspired to make time for your art in nature? Book your Getaway today.

Local Guides

Apple Picking Adventures

Make it a perfect fall escape and go apple picking on your way to Getaway.

It’s the ideal pitstop for your escape to nature – at an apple farm where you can pick your favorite delicious treats, grab some cider donuts to go, and maybe even a cup of hot apple cider as the temperatures drop.

We compiled a list of our favorite spots to stop near or on the way to our Outposts. Happy apple picking.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Beaver Creek

Dillon Fruit Farm is open Monday through Saturday for a pick your own fruit adventure. At just 20 minutes from our Outpost, enjoy apples and their specialty – fresh berries.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Big Bear

Snow-Line Orchard will take you about 45 minutes to get to from the Outpost, but it’s well worth the detour. This gorgeous apple farm also has raspberry picking and a winery/cidery for tasty beverages to take back with you.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Kettle River

Just 15 minutes from Getaway Kettle River, you can make a pitstop at Maple Run Orchard to get some crisp apples on the perfect Fall day. The orchard is on the banks of Pine Creek and they’re also known for their maple syrup and honey.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Skagit Valley

About half an hour North of Getaway Skagit Valley, Jones Creek Farms specializes in a variety of U-pick produce. Make sure to check their website to see what will be ready to harvest at the time of your Fall escape.

apple picking

Apple Picking Near Getaway Blake Brook

Mack’s Apples is about an hour and 25 minutes from Boston and 50 minutes from our Outpost. It’s a family-owned farm complete with orchards full of apples and pumpkins, baked goods, jams, and cider.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Machimoodus

Drazen Orchards is just under an hour from Getaway Machimoodus in Cheshire, CT. Once you visit, you’ll find a Farm Store with lots of local goods and a variety of apples, and you can pick your own on their orchard as well. They’re open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Eastern Catskills and Getaway Western Catskills

Head to Fix Bros Fruit Farm, about 15 minutes from our Getaway Western Catskills and Getaway Eastern Catskills, complete with hayrides, fresh honey, a full pumpkin patch, and of course, apples galore.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Chattahoochee

Mercier Orchards is about a 40 minute scenic drive from our Outpost in Georgia, with pick your own fruit across its 300 acres. Bonus – you can pick up some of their delicious peach pancake mix to make for breakfast, and of course some apple cider donuts.

Apple Picking Near Getaway The Thumb

On your way towards Getaway The Thumb from Detroit, make a stop at Big Red Orchard. It is one of the oldest cider mills and U-pick orchards in Michigan.

apple picking

Apple Picking Near Getaway Mount Adams

Hood River U-Pick Organic is a short detour on the drive from Portland, about halfway between the city and our Outpost. Pick your own cherries and apples, and even partake in their adorable petting zoo.

Berry Picking Near Getaway Piney Woods

You’ll have to grab some apples close to home, as berries are the name of the game in East Texas. Still, if you’re up for a pick-your-own kind of day, be prepared for some of the best blueberries and blackberries you’ll ever taste at Blueberry Basket Farm – just ten minutes from our Outpost.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Shenandoah

Less than an hour out from the Outpost, you’ll find Carter Mountain Orchards with apples for the picking, or pre-picked pumpkins to take home with you.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Shenandoah North

Just 20 minutes from Getaway Shenandoah North, Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse is the perfect spot to make some family memories picking some fresh apples for your escape.

bag full of apples

Apple Picking Near Getaway Hill Country

Apple Valley Orchard, about an hour and twenty minutes from the Outpost, is the best place in the Hill Country to find all of your favorite apple-themed treats to enjoy during or after your Getaway.

Berry Picking Near Getaway Brazos Valley

If you’re heading to our Houston Outpost, it’s best to grab your apples and cider in Houston to bring with you, but if you’re looking for a fruit-picking adventure, there is some excellent berry picking about 20 minutes from the Outpost at Neal’s Berry Farm.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Asheboro

Near our Charlotte and Raleigh Outpost, Millstone Creek Orchards has their own Apple Pickin’ Adventure for you to reserve, which includes picking your own apples, a hayride, an apple tasting and mini apple cider slushies. Make sure to check out their website and call ahead to reserve your spot.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Hocking Hills

On your way to Getaway Hocking Hills, Laurelville Fruit Co. is the perfect stop to pick your own apples to enjoy during your escape to nature. This is a third-generation-run orchard that was established in 1912. They grow apples, peaches, cherries and plums.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Barber Creek

In nearby South Haven, MI, check out the scenic Overhiser Orchards to pick apples, cherries, peaches, plums and pears.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Lake Hartwell

If you’re heading out to Getaway Lake Hartwell, carve out some time to stop at Gnat Hill Orchard Farms just 16 minutes from the Outpost to grab some apples and local treats.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Dale Hollow

Once you leave Nashville, make a stop at Breeden’s Orchard before you roadtrip out to the Outpost in Celina, TN to ensure you have the perfect fresh ingredients for all your favorite campfire apple treats.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Chattahoochee

On your way to Getaway Chattahoochee, Penland’s Apple House, is a five-generation-run orchard with lots of local treats and the best variety of apples in the area.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Starved Rock

If you’re headed to Getaway Starved Rock in early Fall, head on over to Applejack Acres just 10 minutes from the Outpost, to catch their U-pick season.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Talladega Valley

Just around the corner from Talladega Valley, Old Baker Farm is the perfect stop for every season—in the Fall, head on over to pick some apples or find your Halloween pumpkin, in the Winter, cut down your own Christmas tree, and grab some sweet treats and flowers in the Summer.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Brown County

Just under an hour from Getaway Brown County, you’ll find The Apple Works. This is a local, family owned, apple orchard where you can peruse their variety of apples and local treats on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays.

Apple Picking Near Getaway St. Francois

Head over to Pierce Century Farm near Getaway St. Francois to pick your own apples and pumpkins, visit their local market, and make some family memories. This farm was started in 1826 and has been family run ever since.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Ozark Highlands

Gordon’s Orchard is just around the corner from Getaway Ozark Highlands, and it’s the perfect U-pick spot for apples and peaches.

Apple Picking Near Getaway Wild Rose

Just half an hour North of Getaway Wild Rose, Christensen’s Orchard is the best U-pick spot to spend a Fall afternoon enjoying some time out in nature.

Want to head to the perfect post-picking destination? Book a Getaway today.

Featured image from Vegan Liftz.

Campfire Cooking

Campfire Cocktails: Celebrating Citrus

If you’ve bitten into a juicy grapefruit or grabbed a cara cara orange from the produce section, you know we’re in the throes of citrus season.

There’s nothing better than grabbing your favorite fruit, heading up to a tiny cabin, and making a delicious concoction of your own to pair with some disconnected time away.

We tapped Getaway friend and mixologist Maggie Mae Dale to use citrus as her inspiration – blood oranges, specifically – to craft some campfire cocktails for us. Enjoy these by the campfire, in your tiny cabin, or even when you return back home.

Negroni

A simple riff to spice up your negroni. Add fresh blood orange juice. Blood orange juice will add a gorgeous ruby color, and lovely sweet acidity to your negroni.

1 oz London Dry gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
.5 oz fresh blood orange juice

Stir gin, Campari sweet vermouth, and orange juice in mixing glass with ice for 15-20 seconds. Strain over fresh ice or large rock (optional). Garnish with fresh blood orange, or orange twist.

Resting Spritz Face

My ideal spritz, bitter, full of citrus and refreshing! I love to describe Contratto Aperitif as a sexy sophisticated cousin to our girl (Aperol). Blood orange and lemon add a beautiful acidity, and passionfruit liqueur adds a touch of sweetness to round out the bitter aperitifs.

1.5 oz Contratto Aperitif
.5 oz campari
.25 oz Giffard passionfruit liqueur 1 oz blood orange juice
.5 oz lemon juice
2 oz dry Prosecco
1 oz soda

Stir Contratto aperitif, Campari, fresh juice, and Giffard passionfruit liqueur over ice in wine glass. Add Prosecco and splash of soda. Garnish with fresh slice of blood orange or orange slice.

Ready to cheers by the campfire? Book a Getaway today.


Artist Fellowship | Features

Meet an Artist Fellow: Illustrator, Domonique Brown

This year we hosted illustrator, Domonique Brown, at Getaway Big Bear outside of LA as part of our Artist Fellowship program. We were able to chat with Domonique about her creative practice and to hear more about her escape to nature.

Fill us in on your background—personally and in your creative practice. 

I am a designer and illusrator, based in Los Angeles, who runs DomoINK. The lifestyle brand offers art, home decor, apparel, and gift options in celebration of diversity. Since 2020, DomoINK has partnered with Target, Walmart, Homegoods, and Urban Outfitters, to name a few offering limited edition collections from hair accessories to stationery to bring more reflective products to store shelves. 

As an illustrator, I have collaborated with industry giants like Disney, Dr. Martens, Samung, Procter & Gamble, the Los Angeles Rams, and more. And, I am currently a CNBC contributor, sharing insights with fellow creatives on how to monetize their passions.

Through my artwork, my mission is to speak to the importance of Black Art and push for it to be more visible in campaigns and retail.

How does your connection to nature influence you personally, and how does it influence your art?

I have always considered myself a “city girl.” Growing up, I never experienced camping, or nature walks. However, as I grew up, I made a conscious decision to step out of the city and explore more of the world. Traveling to various places, such as Costa Rica to immerse myself in the jungles and Vancouver for nature hikes, has significantly influenced my artistry.

Recently, I started illustrating landscapes and portraits of people with an outdoor backdrop. My artwork I created at Getaway Big Bear during both stays reflects it with portraits of women enjoying the snow.

How was your Getaway? Did your free time in your cabin influence your process or inspire any new ideas?

My “getaway” was amazing! During the week, I enjoyed disconnecting from the daily stress of everyday life. I stowed my phone in the cabin’s lockbox and savored uninterrupted moments to relax and immerse myself in the beauty of Big Bear. My fiancé and I enjoyed sightseeing at Big Bear Lake and the Big Bear Alpine Zoo. And, we got to slide down the snowy slopes while snowboarding and snow tubing. On the last day, I got to capture a piece of our adventures with a new drawing.

Anything else you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear your feedback! 

Getaway Big Bear never fails to provide a fun  adventure whenever my fiancé and I visit. We love looking through the large window of our cabin, taking in the stunning mountain views. Moreover, with Big Bear just a short drive from Running Springs, there is so many activities to enjoy. Our days were filled with excitement, from tubing in the morning to cozy campfires at night.

You can keep up with Domonique on her Instagram (@domothecreative) and by checking out her shop (www.domoink.com).