The Gather Guesthouse at Silvae Spiritus

Nestled in the Minnesota Northwoods halfway between Minneapolis / St. Paul and the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior, this inviting guesthouse is part of a quiet nature retreat close to charming small towns, as well as Banning State Park, Willard Munger state bicycle trail, and Robinson Park (rock and ice climbing). Whether for deep relaxation, rejuvenation, a romantic getaway, or simply connecting with nature, these 30 acres provide woods, ephemeral ponds, and meadows with trails throughout. The space The Gather Guesthouse at Silvae Spiritus, fully private yet attached to the owner's home, provides easygoing luxury in a spa-like atmosphere. Special features include full kitchen fit for a several-day stay, spacious living room ideal for yoga, dance, or group meditation. Second-floor accessible via indoor spiral staircase or wide, exterior stairs, includes bathroom with extra-large jetted tub, private balcony for enjoying sunsets, private rustic fire pit near the house for cozy nights under the stars , and access to a campsite nestled in the woods. We recommend at least two nights to fully experience all this land and guesthouse have to offer, and have therefore set our weekends to a two-night minimum. At 2,500 square feet, The Gather Guesthouse is the largest of three AirBnBs on-site: our mid-sized offering is The Treetop Tiny House at Silvae Spiritus, which sleeps up to four guests in two queen beds; our smallest offering is The Meadow Micro House, which sleeps up to two guests in one queen bed. **ADDITIONAL ON-SITE WELLNESS SERVICES AVAILABLE BY RESERVATION:** WOOD-FIRED SAUNA + COLD PLUNGE 90-minute Sauna + Cold Plunge: $69/person Sessions available by reservation only. Silvae Spiritus features a stunning wood-fired sauna with large windows and dual cold plunge tubs nestled in the woods. Sauna + Cold Plunge sessions are available year-round. These 90-minute luxury experiences are available to our AirBnB guests and day-trip visitors via reservation only, for the additional fee listed above. EXTENDED WOOD-FIRED SAUNA + COLD PLUNGE + OPTION TO ADD ON WOOD-FIRED HOT TUB FOR AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE 120-minute Sauna + Cold Plunge: $100/person Optional Wood-fired Hot Tub Add-on: $150/group Sessions available by reservation only. All sessions include robes, towels, tea, water, and LMNT sugar-free electrolyte drink mixes, as well as aromatherapy options. For those guests who are well-versed in sauna and cold-plunge practices, we are happy to simply orient you to the space, and then offer you privacy except for the occasional quick tending of the fire(s) - typically once every 30 minutes. FOREST BATHING / SHINRIN-YOKU / NATURE + FOREST THERAPY $69/person Sessions available by reservation only. Your hosts at Silvae Spiritus are Guides fully certified by The Association of Nature & Forest Therapy. This slow-moving, mindful immersion into our 30 acres of trails is a simple and accessible opportunity to connect with your senses and to your relationship with the natural world. This guided, bespoke experience is available to our AirBnB guests as a special add-on, for an additional fee. Please note: sessions only available when the temperature is above 30F. For more information or to book a session during your stay, send us a message for details. MEDITATIVE SOUND IMMERSION $69/person Sessions available by reservation only. Your on-site host, Travis, draws on his history of live electronic music performance to generate a full-spectrum ambient audio immersion utilizing generative, composed, and improvisational techniques while interweaving the acoustic energy of melodic drums, crystal singing bowls, chimes, bells, tuning forks, and percussion to further craft our journey. For more information or to book a session during your stay, send us a message for details. REIKI ENERGY HEALING 90-minute session: $138/person 60-minute session: $89/person Sessions available by reservation only. Your on-site host, Leigha, is a certified Reiki Master Teacher, and draws on a history of deep listening, empathy, intuition, and nature connection to serve as a conduit between how your body, mind, and spirit feel in the present moment and how they feel when you are in a state of harmony and balance. Because whole-person wellness is multi-faceted – an integrated, multi-faceted approach to that wellness is best served by interweaving the energies of touch, music, meditation, plants, trees, and stones into Reiki sessions whenever possible and welcomed. This private, one-on-one, 60- or 90-minute experience is available to our AirBnB guests and day-trip visitors via reservation only, for the additional fee listed above. For more information or to book a session during your stay, send us a message for details. PRIVACY For more information about which exterior areas are shared and which are reserved exclusively for guest use, click on a photo to expand into the photo caption view. None of the guesthouse interior areas are shared at any time - the entire guesthouse is for your exclusive use. Please note: the sauna, hot tub, and trails are available to the public (by reservation only) 1 - 10 pm daily, so you may encounter other visitors while exploring the land during these times. AN IMPORTANT NOTE FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER 12: As much as we adore children, the guesthouse has a formal "No Children Under 12" policy (this can be found under the "Safety & Property" section at the bottom of this listing). This is strictly enforced due to several features of the guesthouse and land, which make it unsuitable for young visitors. Infants are only permitted if they are "babes in arms" (not yet crawling, scooting, or walking - regardless of supported or unsupported) and infant's mobility will not progress before your scheduled stay. A FEW WORDS ABOUT WILDLIFE AND PESTS: The mosquitos, biting flies, and ticks are extra thick in the Minnesota Northwoods this year. If you plan to spend time outdoors in the warmer months, we recommend light-colored, loose long sleeve shirts and pants, head nets, and socks for those times when they get extra "buggy" such as dawn and dusk, cloudy days, and when there is little-to-no wind; Thermacell devices also work incredibly well for outdoor spaces (please note, no outdoor trapping/zapping devices are permitted for the safety of beneficial insects). We happily provide bugspray for your use while here. At night, it's possible to wait them out - they'll often settle down late, and then the magical firefly show begins! Guests have delighted in sightings of deer, foxes, wild turkeys, grouse, sandhill cranes, fishers, bobcats, bald eagles, owls, raccoons, coyotes, frogs, toads, bats, and porcupines; as well as signs of bears and wolves passing through. If guests see any evidence of unwelcome critters in your space, we invite you to let us know so we can promptly address/remove the unregistered guest. This beautiful land was theirs before it was ours - and we strive to maintain a peaceful dynamic while keeping a safe and healthy place for our visitors. UPHOLDING THE INTENTION OF THIS PLACE We are honored to host guests who "leave it like they found it," ensuring the high standard they found upon arrival will be continued on to the next guests. Between visitors, we provide fresh linens and follow Covid-19 cleaning protocol. We have opted not to charge a cleaning fee; your generosity keeps the rental rate affordable for everyone. EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY Every booking = one tree planted! Guest access THE LAND Guests have full access to the 30 acres of trails, woods, and meadows, exclusive use of the rustic fire pit near their lodging, and shared access to other fire pits on the land. There is a charcoal grill available for use on the patio upon request. Additionally, all guests have access to the shared picnic garden with two picnic tables and two hammocks. THE SAUNA + COLD PLUNGE + WOOD-FIRED HOT TUB The luxury wood-fired sauna and dual cold plunge tubs are ONLY available as special, add-on Sessions, for an additional fee, by reservation only. The outdoor wood-fired hot tub is ONLY available as an add-on to a booked sauna session, and ONLY available from April through November. The wood-fired hot tub is not available as a stand-alone booking. Other things to note Silvae Spiritus (ˈsil vaɪ ˈspɪrɪtʊs - Latin, “the breathing of the forest”)