Slow down, look closer, and read wild this winter. Join fellow Book Society members for an intimate two-night escape to Point Reyes National Seashore — where the pace is unhurried, the coast is dramatic, and the conversation is bookish. Between a coastal elephant seal hike, a meadery tour tasting, and cozy book club talks by the fire, this is a members-only weekend built for curiosity, connection, and the simple pleasure of a good book in good company.

There's a particular kind of magic in reading a book alongside the people who love it too — and an even rarer one in doing it somewhere beautiful. This year our Traveling Book Club reads The History of Bees by Maja Lunde — a sweeping, three-generation novel about our fragile relationship with the natural world — and heads to West Marin, home to some of California's wildest coastline and quietest corners. We'll walk out to see hundreds of northern elephant seals hauled out along Drakes Beach during their winter mating season, sip small-batch mead at Heidrun Meadery, and settle in each evening for the part we love most: Book Society book club, retreat-style, complete with wine, good food, and conversation. There's plenty of unstructured time built in, too, for reading, wandering Point Reyes, or simply breathing without an agenda. Space is limited to keep it intimate, and members are welcome to bring one guest.

Ease into the weekend with a late-afternoon arrival at Olema House. At 5:00pm we'll gather at the Cottage for a welcome reception, then move to the fire pit for our first Book Club conversation of the retreat — wine in hand, coast at our backs, and no rush to be anywhere else.

4:00pm — Late afternoon arrival

5:00pm — Welcome reception & Book Club gathering at the Cottage

Our fullest day. After breakfast on your own, we travel out to the coast for a guided elephant seal hike, arriving in time to see hundreds of northern elephant seals along the shore during their winter season. Late morning brings a tour and tasting at Heidrun Meadery, paired with a Point Reyes cheese box picnic. The afternoon is yours — read, rest, or explore Point Reyes — before a pre-dinner happy hour and games at the Cottage, then a group dinner at Due West — the acclaimed restaurant next door to Olema House — celebrating West Marin's farm-to-fork bounty.

7:00am — Breakfast (on own)

8:00am — Travel to trailhead

9:00am — Elephant seal hike

11:30am — Heidrun Meadery tour + tasting & picnic lunch

2:30pm — Return to Olema House

3:30pm — Free time

5:30pm — Happy hour & games at the Cottage

6:30pm — Dinner at Due West

Ease slowly back to reality. We'll start with an option morning zen yoga session followed by a farewell breakfast gathering at the Cottage, plus a surprise farewell activity to help you carry the weekend home with you. Check-out at 11:00am.

8:00am — Morning zen yoga (optional)

9:00am — Breakfast gathering & surprise activity

11:00am — Check-out