Escape to the Smokies

Ready to step away from the daily grind for fresh mountain air, belly laughs, and a whole lot of adventure? Our Great Smoky Mountains Adventure Retreat is calling your name!

Join us June 18–22, 2025 for a magical week in the awe-inspiring Great Smokey Mountains.

This week includes lakefront lodging in a home nestled on Douglas Lake, and loads of soul-nourishing activities including hiking, yoga, white water rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, workshops and MORE!

This retreat is all about YOU and helping you cultivate more laughter, adventure, joy and peace with women who uplift and support you!

Adventure level: 💛💛💛🖤🖤

About the Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains are renowned for their misty, ethereal fog that rises from the forests, giving them their "smoky" appearance.

With jaw-dropping views, lush greenery, vibrant wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, it’s no wonder people are enchanted!

But the Smokies aren’t just a pretty face—they’re rich with history and culture too. Wander through preserved cabins, mills, and churches that whisper stories of early Appalachian settlers, or soak up the local traditions, music, and crafts that make this place feel so special.

In the Smokies, it’s not just the views that take your breath away—it’s the sense of peace and renewal they bring to your soul.

The best part? Our amazing co-host Maria lives nearby and is ready to show us all the hidden gems that make this area unforgettable.

The Digs

We'll be bunking up summer camp style in a sprawling 6,000 sq ft cabin nestled on Douglas Lake (27 minutes from Gatlinburg).

Additional amenities include:

  • Private Dock
  • Hot Tub
  • Game Room w/ pool table
  • Lakeside Picnic Pavillion
  • Fireplace
  • Washer/dryer

Tentative Itinerary

Day 1 Wednesday

5:00 pm – Check in (tentative)

5:00 pm – Snacks, meet & greet, and icebreakers   

6:00 pm – Family dinner 

7:30 pm – Firepit hangout and share circle by the lake

Day 2 Thursday - Hike Day!

7am-9 am – Self-serve, continental style breakfast.

8am - Morning stretch session by the lake  

9 am – Depart for day hike (11 miles round trip, level moderate. Elevation gain: 2,800 over five miles)

12:30 - Picnic lunch on top of hike

1:30 pm – Hike back down to trailhead, drive home.

3-5:00 pm - Chill time

5:30pm - Mocktail & Workshop

7 pm –Family dinner

8 pm – Firepit hangout and share circle by the lake

Day 3 Friday - Lake Day

7-9 am – Self-serve, continental style breakfast 

9am - Morning workshop by the lake

11-4am  – Kayaking, paddleboarding, tube floating, beach hang on Douglas Lake by the house

1pm - Lunch at the house.

5pm - Mocktail party

7pm - Family dinner

8pm - Firepit & share circle. 

Day 4 Saturday - Whitewater Rafting Day

7-9 am – Self-serve, continental style breakfast 

8am - Yoga & breathwork by the lake

9-10am - Pack lunch/snacks for the road!

10am – Depart for whitewater adventure on Upper Pigeon River (Level: Easy, Class II and III)

3pm - Return to house

5pm - GAME NIGHT!

7pm - Family dinner and chill

Day 5 Sunday

7-9 am – Self-serve, continental style breakfast 

10am - Checkout

*Please note we may modify our itinerary as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents.

Your Retreat Package Includes

Lakeside accommodations for 5 Days, 4 Nights

Bomb-diggity homecooked meals (4 Breakfast, 4 Dinner, 3 Lunch, & Unlimited Snacks) - including Laura's world famous Thai curry

A fridge PACKED with NA beverages

Transportation to Daily Activities

Guided White Water Rafting Trip

Entrance and commercial permit fees to National Parks and public lands

Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals

Professionally trained guides for all activities

Unlimited access to paddleboards and beach floaties

Workshops

Exclusive Goodie Bags (leatherbound journals, custom adventure caps, and more!)

Access to the private YSP Adventures Facebook community where you can connect with other sober, adventurous pals

NOT Included

Airfare to Knoxville airport (1 hour from house)

Transportation to the house

Travel insurance

Meet your Hosts

Maria Borisevich

Home: Asheville, NC
Sober time:
6 years

Bio: Maria is a nature enthusiast who spends her free time embracing the great outdoors—hiking, kayaking, running, skiing, or backpacking, you name it! A health coach, nutritional therapy practitioner, and personal trainer, she’s passionate about making wellness approachable and empowering others to live their fullest lives.

Maria is also the co-founder of the Sober & Sober Curious Meet Up in Asheville, where she fosters connection and support. Having embraced a life without alcohol for over six years, she’s committed to authenticity, joy, and living fully.

An adventurer at heart, Maria thrives on travel and personal growth through exploring new places and cultures. At home, she’s a proud fur mom to Jolene the beagle and her three cat “gremlins,” Walter, Larry, and Ren, who run the household with love and plenty of antics—just the way she likes it!

Certifications: CPR/AED/First Aid & Wilderness First Aid Certified | ACE Health Coach & Personal Trainer | Nutritional Therapy Practitioner | NBHWC Credentialed

Laura Van Antwerp

Home: Reno, NV
Sober time:
7 years

Bio: Laura is an adventure junkie whose whose outdoor pursuits span hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, snowboarding, canyoneering, van life, and beyond! She is a backpacking and hiking guide with the Tahoe Rim Association, a regular guest speaker at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the recipient of the 2022 Windfeldt Inspire Award. Laura is passionate about empowering women to find connection, laughter and joy in sobriety!

A few of her favorite adventures include climbing Snake Dike on the front side of Half Dome in Yosemite, embarking on a nine-day backpacking trek through the Andes mountains in Peru, and whitewater rafting the Kern with her Sober Pals!

When she isn't on a trail, you can find Laura tending to her 132 houseplants, fostering dogs with her husband (much to the chagrin of their cat), or making silly reels for @yoursoberpal!

Certifications: Wilderness First Responder | CPR | Leave No Trace Level 2 | TRTA Hiking & Backpacking Guide

Pricing

Shared Rooms

Queen Bed: $2,900
Double Bed: $2,700
Twin Bed: $2,500

*Please note all rooms and bathrooms are shared summer camp style

So grateful for this clearly carefully curated experience!

The retreat was honestly life-changing. Before the gathering I was feeling pretty solo in my journey and isolating myself. Finding community that weekend helped me build curiosity and courage to connect with folks. The retreat was incredibly meaningful - and also super FUN! A great mix of healing and deep conversations with light-hearted belly laughs. I felt really cared for by Laura and her team, and the food was INCREDIBLE. Loved Tahoe and the adventures - and the people I got to experience the weekend with. I'm so grateful tor this very clearly carefully curated experience - and 100% would do it again. So. Much. Gratitude. Laura and her team knocked it out of the park.

- Caitlin

100% nourishment for my soul!

I remember finalizing my booking thinking “Am I really doing this? Planning a trip to meet a handful of sober strangers in a place I’ve never been?” I was so nervous. But from the moment I arrived until the last few moments we spent together, it was magic and 100% nourishment for my soul. Laura has an incredible gift of making people feel welcome and totally at home in her presence. Before I knew it, we were laughing and sipping mocktails and sharing our personal journeys and creating inside jokes and catch phrases. We ate delicious food and saw breathtaking scenery and recharged ourselves amongst likeminded people who really spoke and understood our experiences in sobriety. What I thought would be a quick and pleasant adventure turned into a memory I will cherish for a lifetime. RUN DON’T WALK at the chance to join a SoberPal Retreat with Laura. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

- Tanaya

Life-changing!

The sober pal retreat was LIFE CHANGING! I never thought I’d bond so strongly with women in such a short amount of time. The outing was so fun but the time we spent indoors making mocktails, playing games, and just talking was just as amazing. I really really want this to be an annual thing for me. I’ve made friendships for life that I truly cherish.

Diana

A Wonderful Experience

I attended the 2023 Lake Tahoe retreat and it was a wonderful experience. I didn’t know how much I needed to be around sober people who have a some of the same experiences I have had with alcohol. It was so nice getting to know everyone and laughing a lot! I’ll definitely be attending another retreat in the future! Laura did a great job putting this whole thing together!

- Melissa

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the physical requirements?

All activities on the Smoky Mountains Retreat is considered active due to our hike on day 2. The hike is 11 miles round trip with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain, which is considered moderate to an experienced hiker and strenuous to a novice hiker. The whitewater rafting trip is accessible to all levels. Please consider your ability to meet the physical demands of this adventure!

Do I have to participate in every activity?

Definitely not! If there's a day you prefer to stay back and relax, that's totally cool! Our cabin is nestled on a lake with access to hiking trails, water activities and more!

What do I need to bring?

If your application is accepted, we'll be sure to send you a detailed packing list! You'll also be invited to a private IG chat for this retreat and the YSP Adventures Facebook group where you can connect with other past, present and future retreat attendees to pick their brains!

I can't really afford this right now. Do you offer payment plans or scholarships?

We totally understand. Please know your financial health and healing journey are important to us. While we do not offer scholarships (yet), we do provide a payment plan for those who cannot afford to pay in full.

We also ask that you do not apply if you are struggling with living paycheck-to-paycheck and/or credit card debt. Please prioritize your financial health and keep an eye out for our FREE day hikes or upcoming scholarship opportunities!

If you are struggling with credit card debt, visit this link below to set up a free session with a nonprofit credit counseling service.

Payment Plan & Cancellation Policy

Payment Plan

After a 25% deposit, your remaining balance will be split into FOUR installments that are due by the following schedule: 

Payment 1: 4 months before the retreat

Payment 2: 3 months before the retreat

Payment 3: 2 months before the retreat

Payment 4: One month before the retreat date

Due dates for payment plans will have a seven day grace period.  Any payments 14 days overdue will be assessed a $25/week late fee. We will make every effort to contact you before the 14 day fees are applied.  Payments exceeding 30 days overdue will be subject to trip cancellation with no refund. 

Cancellation Policy

This cancellation policy has been designed to be as flexible and compassionate as possible because we know LIFE HAPPENS, but please understand that it also serves to protect the Sober Pal team and the blood, sweat and tears we put into these retreats. 

  1. Cancellations must be made within 60 days of your deposit to get a full refund.
  2. After 60 days from your paid deposit, you will get a 50% refund.
  3. Within 30 days of your retreat no refunds given, no exceptions.
  4. Retreat bookings are transferable, meaning someone can take your spot as long as their application is approved. This must be done at least two weeks before your retreat dates!

No one books a retreat with the intention of canceling, but unexpected events do occur, so please consider purchasing travel insurance. We put months of work into each retreat and cancellations cost us time, labor, and money (I learned this the hard way and it was not fun). Exceptions cannot be made for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies. No refunds or credits for failure to attend or failure to complete the retreat, or for arriving late or leaving early. 

I recommend that you purchase travel insurance if you want additional protection with things like flights, transportation, lost luggage, etc. Trip cancellation insurance is also a good idea because fees will be covered should you have a medical problem prior to your trip or while on the trip. Trip insurance can also cover medical expenses in the event you have an accident while on the retreat. TRUST ME it’s worth the investment!

Here is a link to a travel insurance policy that past sober pal attendees have used and loved! 

Button to this link: https://www.travelexinsurance.com/travel-insurance/benefits/trip-cancellation-interruption

In the unlikely event that we cancel a retreat, your payment will be credited to a future retreat or a full refund will be provided.

Apply now!

Applications open late January 2025

×