Book Society Traveling Book Club's Bookish Backyard Chronicles Retreat

An Exclusive Book Society Members-Only Experience Inspired by Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles

Backyard Birds Website Squares (550 x 550 px)
Yoga in glass house
Ladies laughing in autumn
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Birding binoculars and book
Backyard Birds Website Squares (550 x 550 px) 5
Point Reyes Northern California Coastline
Olema Dinner 3
Backyard Birds Website Squares (550 x 550 px) 1
Backyard Birds Website Squares (550 x 550 px) 2
Backyard Birds Sketch Yellow bird
Oysters neon
Stylish woman with monocular
Olema House 11 porch
Laugh Winter Women Blurry
Backyard Birds Website Squares (550 x 550 px) 10
Olema House Exterior with Wisteria
Point Reyes Lighthouse Blue Water
Point Reyes Bluff Sunrise Man
Backyard Birds Website Squares (550 x 550 px) 3

Dates
Feb. 21-22, 2025

Duration
2 days, 1 night

Group Size
Intimate

Starting at
$557

Trip Highlights

Escape. Discover. Unwind.

  • Retreat to Point Reyes National Seashore with its wild coastal beauty

  • Stay at Olema House, a storied boutique hotel perfect for curious travelers

  • Witness nature's grand gathering during expert-led birdwatching

  • Learn to draw birds! Discover your inner artist in an calming sketch workshop

  • Connect with other Book Society members over locally sourced meals, wine, and shared moments

  • Rejuvenate with time to cozy up with a book, explore at your own pace, or simply breathe without an agenda

  • Share this experience with a non-member guest (see details below)

What's Included?

With a boutique travel guide, you gain insider access to thoughtfully curated, one-of-a-kind experiences.

  • Luxurious 1-night stay at Olema House, a serene boutique hotel near Point Reyes National Seashore
  • Leisurely coastal walk along the coast to Abbotts Lagoon with an expert-guided birding experience inspired by Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles
  • Picturesque catered picnic lunch surrounded by Point Reyes’ wild beauty
  • Instructor-led sketch journaling workshop
  • Book Society quiet hour—time set aside for reading and restoration
  • An intimate dining experience at Due West, showcasing fresh, farm-to-fork West Marin fare from Tomales Bay, Bolinas and Point Reyes
  • After-hours book club gathering, Book Society-style, complete with after-dinner treats, wine tasting, and great conversation
Exclusive Benefits:
  • Members may bring a non-member guest
  • Pre-trip planning & coordination
  • Travel app for information and easy communication
  • Exclusive cost savings extended for our community (this trip is a $1,300+ per person value)

Packages and Pricing

Act fast! Space is limited to 12 Book Society members. 

Double Occupancy

$536 per person

$557/person if paying via credit card

Package Includes:
  • Accomodation for two guests, in a beautifully appointed king room*
  • Option to invite one non-member guest
  • $200 deposit secures your reservation
  • Enjoy 2.9% or 3.9% savings when paying by bank transfer instead of credit card
  • Option to pay in three interest-free installments of $112**
Buy My Ticket

Single Occupancy

$672 per person

$699/person if paying via credit card

Package Includes:
  • Accomodation for one guest, in a beautifully appointed king room*
  • Option to invite one non-member guest
  • $200 deposit secures your reservation
  • Enjoy 2.9% or 3.9% savings when paying by bank transfer instead of credit card
  • Option to pay in three interest-free installments of $157**
Buy My Ticket

* Each room is individually designed and thoughtfully appointed with a king bed, private bathroom, Jacuzzi tub or walk-in shower, radiant heated floors, plush down bedding, and either a garden view or private patio with easy access to outdoor gardens.

** Interest-free installments are due Nov. 30, Dec. 30, and Jan. 30.

Trip Reading List

Inspiration takes flight with this curated reading list for our Traveling Book Club adventure. 
View the full reading list on Bookshop.org or visit Book Society for a copy.

Backyard Bird Chronicles Book Cover

The Backyard Bird Chronicles

by Amy Tan

Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, This book maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world.

Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America Book Cover

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America

by Matt Kracht

A national bestselling book, perfect book for the birder and anti-birder alike. Take a humorous look at 50 common North American dumb birds. This snarky, illustrated handbook is equal parts profane, funny, and—let's face it—true.

1

The Backyard Bird Journal

by Amy Tan

What are the stories in your backyard? This thoughtfully designed journal helps you channel intentional curiosity with room to write and sketch what you observe outdoors.

Additional Information

Field Notes: Birds & Weather

  • West Marin's eelgrass beds, tidal mudflats, and coastal lagoons provide abundant food for migrating birds. The region's mild winter climate and protected bays make it an ideal refuge when northern breeding grounds are frozen.

  • February's Migrating Birds:

    • Arrivals:  Allen’s Hummingbird, Violet-green Swallow

    • Departures: Heermann’s Gull

  • Winter Weather:

    • Daytime temperatures: mid-50s to low 60s°F

    • Mornings and evenings: dipping into the 40s

    • Point Reyes is a triangular peninsula with ~80 miles of shoreline — expect crisp, dynamic February weather

Transportation

You have the option to:

  • Option 1: Meet directly at Point Reyes National Seashore (meeting location address to be provided)
  • Option 2: Carpool/meet at Book Society with a coffee in hand
Booking Terms
  • Must be an active Book Society Member as of Feb 1, 2026
  • Members may bring one guest
  • Deposits: Non-refundable, but transferable once to another trip within 12 months with a $100 rebooking fee
  • Additional payments refundable if canceled more than 60 days before the retreat
  • Deposits can also be applied to Fair Travel Co.’s private trip planning concierge service
  • Trip price does not include gratuities
Deposits secure your space, boutique hotels, expert guides, and support our local partners who make this trip extraordinary.
Travel Insurance

Proof of travel insurance is required to protect you and your investment. We’re happy to advise — just ask!


Prefer to opt out? Sign our travel insurance waiver.

Have a question about the retreat?

Send us a note and we'll reach out to answer all of your questions.

 

An Exclusive Book Society Members-Only Experience

Reserve your spot today