These geodesic domes with all the comforts and amenities of a five-star hotel at Nalu Retreat are the perfect place for couples to escape their daily lives, reconnect with each other and relax in the peace and serenity of nature. Photo by Julia Simmons
By Galen Simmons
Roughly 45 minutes from downtown Halifax, there’s a special little place where couples can enjoy the quiet peace of nature and each other with all the amenities of a five-star hotel.
Located at the north end of Porters Lake, beyond the reach of cell service and city traffic, lies Nalu Retreat, where couples can stay in geodesic domes overlooking the lake and surrounding landscapes.
The domes have everything you could want for a romantic escape together. A king-size bed with a gas fireplace nearby for warmth, a living-room area with an enormous window facing the lake and the trees, a full kitchen and bathroom, WiFi, and a yoga loft with a topside window that can be unveiled for stargazing and covered to keep the early morning sun from waking you up if you’re not in to that sort of thing.
Outside is a beautiful deck complete with a hot tub for two, a gas firepit, a barbecue and comfortable deck chairs for lounging around and enjoying the cool evening breeze or basking in the warm afternoon sun. The best part; outdoor lighting is limited to solar lights marking the paths toward each dome and whatever light is emitting from within the domes themselves, ensuring the exterior areas can stay dark enough so couples can appreciate the true wonders of the night sky in such a remote and beautiful setting.
After more than a week on the road and in between busy days spent in Halifax, the knowledge that Julia and I could retreat to this quiet little slice of paradise was wonderful, and the relaxation we enjoyed in the hot tub and around the fire was what we truly needed to keep us going.
The retreat even offers frozen, chef-prepared meals – dinner, dessert and breakfast – to remove the stress of figuring out what to buy or cook while you’re there. While we were at Nalu, we enjoyed a delicious lobster mac and cheese and a slab of carrot cake for dessert one night and the meat lasagna with a blueberry cheesecake brownie big enough for two for dessert the second night.
We also ordered granola and oat milk for breakfast which, alongside a couple cups of complimentary coffee, was a delicious way to keep us full and energized until we were ready for lunch in Halifax.
As we learned while we were there, “nalu” is a Hawaiian word that commonly means “the waves of the ocean.” The idea of this Hawaiian-themed, adults-only, Nordic wellness retreat is “to meditate, ponder and contemplate with a mind free of the waves of thought and mental disturbance,” according to Nalu’s website.
I think Julia and I both found that serene calm we didn’t know we needed while we were there, and neither of us wanted to leave after our two nights were over. So, whether you’re looking for a quick reset or a longer break away from the rest of the world, Nalu Retreat just might be the place for you.
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