STEWART MINERAL SPRINGS: Sequestered in the Mt. Shasta foothills, Stewart Mineral Springs offers a unique environment of sacred mineral waters, affordable accommodations, and a variety of workshops and retreats. Find this lister in OPEN EXCHANGE's Retreats & Getaways category.

MENDOCINO ARTS CENTER offers a full calendar of classes as well as a residency program for working artists. Sculptor Natalie Tyler, who resides much of the year on the East Coast, meets her mother in Mendocino where they both take advantage of the Center's well-equipped studio space. Find Mendocino Arts Center's listing in Arts & Crafts.

HAWAII'S KALANI: On the Aloha State's "Big Island," Kalani celebrates nature, culture, and wellness by providing adventures, wellness treatments, workshops, delicious healthful cuisine, and comfortable accommodations. Find this longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister under Retreats & Getaways.

STANFORD INN: Located on the rugged Mendocino Coast, the Inn is a haven, an exquisite opportunity to reconnect with nature. The rambling lobby, guest rooms and suites are paneled in pine and redwood. Every detail is attended to, from wood-burning fireplaces set and ready to light to the sumptuous chef-prepared organic breakfasts. Inspired by the Stanford's Certified Organic gardens, The Ravens' Restaurant is outstanding and nationally acclaimed for vegetarian cuisine. Find this lister in the Retreats category.

SWEETWATER INN AND SPA in wonderful Mendocino is actually a collection of unique buildings, including this exquisitely remodelled water tower. Family vacation homes and private villas are also available. Find this longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister under Retreats.

WEEKEND EN ESPANOL AND SEMANA EN ESPANOL: Brush up on your Spanish either in San Francisco or while immersing yourself in Mexican culture and enjoying a fabulous vacation!

TIBETAN NYINGMA INSTITUTE: Enjoy serenity in the Berkeley Hills, a half hour from San Francisco yet a world away. Participate in a wide curriculum of short-term classes or extended residency.

JOURNEYS OFF THE TOURIST TRACK

Edgar Mitchell's Moonwalk inspires creation of Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Nestled into the rolling hills of northern Marin County you will find an exceptional retreat center dedi-cated to inspiring imagination, nurturing unfolding consciousness, deepening engagement with the land, and fostering connection and collaboration. We are proud to announce it is now called EarthRise Retreat Center at the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

This history of the name EarthRise is as unique as the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), whose founder, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, was the 6th man to walk on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission. On the trip home Mitchell sat in the window seat of the cramped cabin of the space capsule, and as he saw planet Earth floating freely in the vastness of space he was engulfed by a profound sense of universal connectedness. He stated, "On the return trip home, gazing through 240,000 miles of space toward the stars and the planet from which I had come, I suddenly experienced the universe as intelligent, loving, harmonious. My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity. We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians."

In that instant while he was watching our blue planet rising up before him, a vision was born. When Dr. Mitchell returned to Earth, he set out to manifest that vision by creating the Institute of Noetic Sciences, whose mission is to "Advance the science of consciousness and human experience to serve individual and collective transformation."

Space exploration symbolized for Dr. Mitchell what it did for his nation as a whole—technological triumph of historical proportions, unprecedented mastery of the world in which we live, and extraordinary potentials for new discoveries.

EarthRise Retreat Center is a natural extension of IONS, the experiential exploration of the very topics that IONS studies. Very few of us will travel in space, but we all can attend the EarthRise Retreat Center for worldview-shifting experiences. These two aspects of IONS—the objective research and the subjective inner exploration—complement each other, like yin and yang. The research component (the yang) represents rigorous science and carefully planned experiments. Our Retreat Center programs (the yin) invite exploration into mystery, depths of experience, and the embodiment of wisdom.

In honor of IONS' founder, his historic trip to the Moon, his viewing the rising Earth from the perspective of space, and his epiphany about the interconnectedness of the universe, we dedicate EarthRise as the new name for our retreat center at IONS.

"We are thrilled to be re-launching our retreat center with our new name," says Cathy Coleman, Executive Director of EarthRise. "Our many refurbishments and upgrades provide an enhanced experience for our clients and retreat attendees. We invite you to join us at the many events we sponsor, including art openings, book readings, dinner salons, retreats, and our signature Transformative Learning Workshops with inspirational thought leaders."

Earthrise Retreat Center is listed under Retreats & Getaways.

World renowned Harbin Hot Springs features sauna, hiking, and a full calendar of group activities.