A spiritual retreat in Bourbon country? Yes, actually. Founded in 1848 by French monks, America's oldest Trappist monastery was the home of author and monk Thomas Merton, whose spiritual journey inspired millions. Today, the abbey is a center for renewal and peace, attracting soul searchers both Catholic and non-Catholic. The monks remind us that meditation is not just an Eastern tradition, but important to many religions. Guests come for at least two days and donate whatever they can, walking the tranquil forest trails and observing silence that refreshes the spirit. The monks are famously hospitable. Plus, they make darn good fruitcake. There's a two-night minimum.

For more information: Monks

Get your asana out of town for more than 700 experiential workshops offered at this blissful Berkshires retreat. Classes on mindfulness meditation, walking meditation and yogic breathing are taught by world-class instructors like Larry Rosenberg and Stephen Cope. Other meditation-oriented programs include music, self-discovery and conscious eating (pass the peace, please). Kripalu is America's largest center for holistic living and yoga. Hatha, the center's signature yoga style, is best known as meditation-in-motion. Bonus: Kripalu boasts one of the world's best yoga spas. Two-night minimum for Retreat and Renewal Workshops, prices range from $160 to $437.

For more information: Kripalu Center

 Dr. Robert Thurman, America's leading Buddhist scholar, oversees meditation programs for stressed-out New Yorkers at this stirring spiritual oasis in the Catskills. Experts like meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg and Buddhist psychotherapist Mark Epstein offer enlightening programs throughout the year. Take advantage of hiking trails, swimming, gourmet vegetarian cuisine, massages and sweat lodges in a lush mountain setting. A state-of-the-art spa is set to open by 2009. Special bulletin: While visiting recently, the Dalai Lama sensed the presence of a resident water dragon. Don't worry: He's friendly. Programs generally run for two nights and three days with accommodations prices ranging from $195 to $400 (also includes three meals a day).

For more information: Menla Mountain Retreat

Fancy a little fire dancing? Perhaps a poetry reading in a cedar yurt? Let the spirit move you on 154 acres of wildlife sanctuary in the Willamette National Forest of the Oregon Cascades. Breitenbush offers 150 workshops, conferences, and celebrations annually, including meditation, guided hikes, yoga, concerts, dances and singing. Hike an ancient forest, explore river and mountain trails, walk the labyrinth, relax in natural hot spring pools and nourish your body with healthy vegetarian cuisine. Score one of the comfy cabins complete with geothermal heat. Rates $51-$110 per person per night.

For more information: Breitenbush Hot Springs

Since 1970, the stressed and the strained have been recharging in a pristine mountain valley retreat set on 600 acres in northern Colorado. Dive into Buddhist meditation, practice yoga and explore your inner universe through contemplative writing. Upcoming programs include "Turning the Mind into an Ally" and "Meditation & Tai Chi." The center boasts extensive gardens and a 108-foot stupa, or memorial, built to honor founder Chögyam Trungpa. The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya Which Liberates Upon Seeing is open to all visitors. Rates $70 to $210.

For more information: Shambhala Mountain Center

Mount Madonna Center is tucked among 355 acres of redwood forest and grassland in the mountains overlooking  Monterey Bay. The Center's spiritual inspiration is Baba Hari Dass, a silent monk who hasn't uttered a peep since 1952 and communicates by writing on a small chalkboard. Participate in group events like "Meditation for World Peace" and "Unraveling the Knots of Karma," then stick around for some solo recharging with swimming, hiking, yoga, meditation sessions and bodywork at the Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center. Rent hotel-style rooms, cozy cabins or just pitch a tent. Program rates start at $275; accommodations $36 to $124.

For more information: Mount Madonna

For three decades, this center for healthy living spread across 195 glorious acres in the Hudson Valley has attracted souls in search of inspiration and rejuvenation. Whether you just need a break or want to take a quantum leap into a life-changing experience, you'll find something among the 325 workshops, conferences and professional training sessions. This year Omega is offering 15 meditation courses designed for all skill levels. Omegans think the world is big enough for all of us, so programs draw from Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Sufism, Christianity and Native American traditions. Two-night minimum; rates range from $140 to $1,449.

For more information: Omega Institute

Ala Kukui, which means "Pathway of Illumination," is a center for deep dialogue, creative expression, spiritual restoration and intercultural exchange. The location is pure magic—a legendary area of Hana known as "the land where the heavens meet the earth." Visitors enjoy 12 secluded acres tucked between the Pacific Ocean and Haleakala, Maui's magnificent mountain. The center encourages personal growth through global awareness and appreciation of Native Hawaiian cultural values. Programs include Vipassana meditation, Tibetan sand mandala painting and a weekly writer's workshop with local Hana writers of all ages. There's a three-night minimum.

For more information: Ala Kukui

Since 1975, this Sufi retreat nestled in the Taconic-Berkshire Mountains has welcomed visitors to 430 acres of sacred land. The Abode, the former site of a Shaker community, boasts historic Shaker buildings, an organic farm and gardens, abundant wildlife, hermitage huts, campgrounds, hiking trails and a swimming pond. Get your spirit in the groove with a menu of programs highlighting the world's great religious traditions, including sacred dancing, spiritual music, and walking meditation. In November, a workshop called "Awakening to the Movement of Love" teaches students how to jump start personal growth by focusing on breath, sound and fluid movement. Rates $40-$70.

For more information: The Abode of the Message

The Beatniks bongoed here. Hippies hung out. The wisdom of metaphysical megastars from Joseph Campbell to Deepak Chopra wafts over this legendary New Age mecca. Set on 27 acres of spectacular Big Sur coast, Esalen offers more than 500 public workshops on a dizzying range subjects, including mindfulness, massage and martial arts. The focus is on personal transformation and salon-style conversation with other seekers. Plus, you can soak in the cliffside natural hot springs for an Out-of-Bathing-Suit Experience. There's a two-night minimum; rates $320-$1715.

For more information: Esalen