5 Digital Detox Retreats Designed for Distancing

We live in a noisy world with so much content vying for our attention. If you’re looking to distance yourself with a digital detox retreat we have five worthy – and diversly different – picks in Opal destinations.

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In today’s fast-paced and technologically driven world, we are, pretty much at all times, just one click away from news, entertainment, work, and the never-ending rabbit hole of social media. Our screens have become an extension of us, and are often the first thing we reach for when we wake up in the morning and the last thing we check at the end of the night. If you want to get away from it, you need to learn how to unplug – that is, turn tech off with a digital detox.

WHAT IS A DIGITAL DETOX?

While it’s certainly not a new buzzword, a “digital detox” refers to the act of intentionally abstaining from or reducing your use of tech devices – i.e. smartphones, computers, tablets, game consoles, even TV – for a set period of time. It’s no secret that excessive screen time can have negative effects on both mental and physical health – scores of studies link constant connectivity to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and downright brain fog, as well as problems related sleep. By “detoxing,” the goal is to reverse some of the above by resetting and renewing while plugging into real-life, meaningful connections with others.

THE RISE OF THE DIGITAL DETOX RETREAT

All of this has paved the way for the wellness-meets-travel trend of the digital detox retreat (fun fact: global search interest for “digital detox retreat” has increased by 50% in 2023). Ranging from short weekend getaways to longer bucket-list-type holidays, these escapes make the draw of devices easier to resist by putting travelers in quieter, more remote destinations, where they can truly focus on mindfulness without contemporary life’s distractions. So where to go? Prepare to put your phone in airplane mode…

WHERE TO GO FOR A DIGITAL DETOX RETREAT

Detach in Mount Desert Island, Maine

Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina and West Street Hotel | Bar Harbor, ME

Located on Mount Desert Island off of Maine’s coast, Bar Harbor started out as a place for the wealthy elite to escape the noise of the city in the late 1800s. This still holds true all these years later with West Street Hotel or Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina serving as ultimate places to take in “Downeast” Maine’s most picturesque coastal village sans cellphone. And it won’t be hard to do so between the myriad of outdoor activities – whale watches, kayaking the Porcupine Islands, and, of course, exploring the 50,000 acres of Acadia National Park – to the scenic quaint downtown lined with charming streets and shops.

• Related Reading: A Gem of a Way to See Acadia National Park

A Private Island Escape

Sunset Key Cottages | Key West, FL

Accessible only after a 500-yard shuttle boat ride from Mallory Square in Key West, this 27-acre private island escape feels far-flung without having to deal with all the logistics that come with long-haul travel. So what better way to shut out all the outside noise than with a retreat to an island? Immerse yourself in jet-skiing, fishing right from the dock, languidly lounge by the pool or under the tiki-hut umbrellas of the beach, and dine on flavorful marine-inspired masterpiece at the on-site restaurant of Latitudes. Not to mention, the accommodations come in the form of 40 stand-alone cottages for the ultimate alone time. Here, coffee always tastes a bit sweeter when you sip it from your own private porch overlooking the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

• Related Reading: Why Sunset Key is the Island Escape You’ve Been Craving

Barren Beaches on Hutchinson Island

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa and The Lucie | Jensen Beach, FL

Home to champagne surf and miles of pristine, population-lacking beaches, Jensen Beach’s barrier Hutchinson Island may just be Florida’s best-kept secret – and the ideal place for a device-addicted individual to truly digitally-distance themself. In fact, the best part of a stay here might just be the empty beaches – where both Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa and The Lucie are based with their own private access.  Start your day with a stroll or yoga on the sand, or do some horseback riding down the coastline (this is the only place in Florida that allows horseback riding on the beach). Enjoy ocean views from the perch of a lounge chair at the jewel of pools and indulge in the delicious seafood and Italian dishes that can be found at Hutchinson Shores Resort’s Drift Kitchen & Bar.

• Related Reading: 5 Nature Preserves & Parks in Jensen Beach to Suit Your Style

The Only Resort on Lake Placid

Lake Placid Lodge | Lake Placid, NY

Situated in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks in Northeastern New York, this rustic and luxurious lodge is just a five-hour drive from New York City, yet feels worlds away thanks to its tranquil environment set among mountains, forests, and, of course, serene Lake Placid itself. With only one TV on-site (in Maggie’s Pub), the number of digitally-distancing activities on-property are dizzying: kayaking, cruising aboard the resort’s 36-foot mahogany Hacker-Craft, fishing, and hiking the property’s various trails. Or, if you just feel like relaxing in the comfort of your room, book one of the 17 standalone cabins that pepper the shoreline (the lodge is the only resort on Lake Placid) and curl up by your fireplace with a good book while enjoying views of the lake through expansive windows.

• Related Reading: Why Lake Placid Lodge is Your Social-Distancing Dream Resort

Nature’s Playground in Key Largo

Reefhouse Resort & Marina | Key Largo, FL

Set across 17 acres of tropical island landscape in Key Largo (a nice quiet counterpart to bustling Key West), Reefhouse Resort & Marina is a destination unto itself that revolves around nature and the outdoors. Enjoy scenic views, water activities like snorkeling and kayaking, and the peaceful ambiance of the resort’s private beach. Or spend the day floating in the outdoor heated pool flanked by swaying palms. Whatever you do, just be sure to make time to take in the epic sunset with a stroll along the twinkle-light-lit marina – leave your phone behind, this is one moment you’ll want to make sure you’re fully present for.

• Related Reading: 3 Easy Ways to Get Up Close with Coral in Key Largo