“In every walk with nature  
one receives far more  
than he seeks.” 
John Muir

It’s a hidden gem tucked-away in the hillside above the town of Los Altos, California. The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos, formerly known as El Retiro San Inigo, is a perfect venue for weekend retreats, conferences, individual reflection, and spiritual direction. Over the past fifty years, I’ve attended a number of retreats at the JRC, some alone, some with Kathy, some with friends, and a few with my Dad. 

The most memorable retreat I attended there was in November 2006. I signed up for a weekend retreat titled A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude. Much to my surprise, it turned out be be a life-changing experience. Since that time, I have been blogging about gratitude, I’ve written and published three books on the topic of gratitude, and I’ve had the opportunity to speak on the topic of gratitude in churches, schools, libraries, retirement centers, and for community groups such as the YMCA Youth Leadership Development Conference. I’ve also directed retreats on the topic of gratitude for the nursing staff of the Immediate Care Nursery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford and for the faculty of Saint Leo the Great School in San José.

Other retreats I attended at the Jesuit Retreat Center touched on the topics of marriage, conscious aging, discerning God’s will in our retirement, grief, the saints of summer, Ignatian discernment, and, most recently, forgiveness.

A weekend away from the commitments of home, family, work, and other distractions in our life is time well-spent. The $320 fee for a Friday through Sunday retreat includes two nights lodging in a private room with a private bathroom, six excellent meals, the retreat sessions, access to the 36-acre property, access to the bookstore, and the availability of snacks and beverages throughout the weekend. While the fee may seem prohibitive at first glance, considering all you get for the fee, it’s quite affordable.

Click here to see the list of upcoming retreats in 2026: Schedule of Retreats