Why We Created The Literary Escape
As with Any Journey, Who You Travel with Can Be More Important than the Destination.
Our story started with friendship, though not the kind that takes time to build. We met as adults, but it instantly felt like we’d known each other forever. Jenn had been attending my ZUMBA® classes for years before eventually hiring me at her “real” job. From the moment we started working together, we realized we’d found our person—the one who shared our love of books, adventure, laughter, and simply soaking up life.
Not long after, we started taking girls’ trips together. First New York City, then a winding road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway, a Southern swing through Savannah, Asheville, and Charleston, and later, trips across the ocean to Italy, Spain, and England (with several trips to Disney World sprinkled in along the way). We’ve also kept it closer to home, from kayaking Missouri rivers and streams to weekend getaways in St. Louis and Hermann, Missouri. Big or small, we’ve always had a knack for turning any opportunity into an adventure and finding ways to make the journey as memorable as the destination.
And when I say memorable, that includes accidentally missing toll booths, a couple of parking tickets, a little (sort-of) hitchhiking, losing and recovering a cell phone in NYC, and seeking out the best cocktails and oysters in every city we visit. Jenn and I can even turn mundane errands into laughter-filled adventures.
But through it all along the way, books remained our constant thread. They inspired conversations, sparked ideas, and often served as the backdrop for the places we wanted to explore. Eventually, we started searching for a reading retreat to join, hoping to combine our love of books and travel. But here’s what surprised us: while there were options based overseas, we couldn’t find anything here in the U.S. that delivered the kind of immersive, thoughtfully designed experience we were craving. And we had a feeling we weren’t the only women looking for something like that.
So we decided to build it ourselves.
With Jenn’s gift for turning dreams into detailed, magical itineraries and my knack for building community that feels like family, we created The Literary Escape. Not just a retreat, but an immersive experience. A space where women can slow down, explore beautiful destinations, dive into incredible stories, and walk away with connections that last far beyond the trip itself.
For us, it’s never been about picture-perfect itineraries. It’s about belonging. Every time we watch women arrive as strangers and leave as friends, we’re reminded why we started this in the first place.
It’s not an escape from real life. It’s a step into a richer, more connected chapter of it.
We’re so grateful you’re here with us, and we’d love for you to join us on one of our adventures. Whether it’s with your favorite “escape” person who makes anywhere feel like home, or solo to make new travel friends, we have a spot waiting for you.
- Natalie