Gorgeous scenery. A vibrant mountain town with a unique, artsy culture. Four days living and working with a group of awesome remote workers in the digital nomad hub of the South: Join us for our summer retreat in Asheville, North Carolina!

What exactly is this retreat thing?

It's simple: take your remote job on the road, surround yourself with awesome like-minded professionals, and experience Asheville without burning vacation days.

Work when you need to. Play when you don't.

This isn't a forced corporate retreat with awkward team-building exercises. This is real life, enhanced.

During weekdays, we'll set up FREE at Focus Coworking. Evenings and the weekend? That's when the magic happens.

The Asheville vibe

Asheville isn't just another pretty mountain town.

It's a creative hub with a personality all its own.

Breweries that redefine craft beer. Artists who push boundaries. Hiking trails that make your Instagram followers jealous. Food that makes you question why you live anywhere else.

And somehow, it's become the digital nomad capital of the South.

Your home base

For those traveling to Asheville, The Lazy Tiger Hostel will be our headquarters, just 8 minutes from downtown. They're offering our group a 10% discount, with options ranging from affordable dorm rooms ($45/night) to private rooms with ensuite bathrooms ($116.10/night). For Asheville in the summer, this is a steal!

Not a hostel person? That's what I thought too until I tried it. The connections you make when sharing spaces are what make these retreats special. And you’re likely to feel some FOMO if you’re not staying with us at the home base.

But yes, you can arrange your own accommodations if you prefer.

What’s the cost of the retreat?

Other than the hostel or your own lodging, there is a $25 activity fee (non-refundable). This will go toward group activities as well as discouraging late notice cancelations.

Beyond that, you’ll be responsible for whatever food, drink and activities you choose to partake in. We won’t finalize group activities until we get closer to the date, but we don’t intend to do anything egregiously expensive. And again, you’re not obligated to participate in any particular activity anyways.

Who's coming to this thing?

People like you.

Professionals who understand that remote work isn't just about avoiding a commute—it's about designing a better life.

This retreat is for people outside and within Asheville to connect and have some fun!

Our past retreats have included developers, designers, writers, educators, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs from their 20s to 60s.

The common thread? Everyone wants to maximize their location independence while connecting with others who "get it."

Triangle Remote Workers & Digital Nomads, the Raleigh chapter of Thrive Remotely, has hosted several of these retreats in the past, but this will be the first open to all Thrive Remotely chapters and other remote workers who may not be in one of our chapter cities.

What will we actually do?

This will be a fabulous opportunity to socialize and work with other remote workers from across the southeast.

Daytime during the week we’ll be setting up for free at Focus Coworking in Asheville. Focus is directly across the street from New Belgium Brewing!.

We'll finalize specific activities closer to the date, but expect:

• An energetic cross chapter social at one of Asheville’s famous breweries

• Optional skill shares (past examples: yoga, tea tasting, meditation)

• Outdoor adventures (river tubing was a hit last year. The hiking is great too)

• Spontaneous explorations of Asheville's arts and food scenes

• 101 Unique Things to Do in Asheville

You're never required to participate in any activity. This is your retreat.

Current Itinerary

Wednesday

• Low-key: grab drinks and dinner as people trickle into town that afternoon/evening.

Thursday

• Daytime: Co-work at Focus Coworking

• If anyone has time during the day, we could do a hike somewhere or downtown walk like the Asheville Urban Trail. 

• 5:30pm - AVL Digital Nomads event at Funkatorium brewery

Friday

• Daytime: Co-work at Focus Coworking

• 6:35pm: Asheville Tourists minor league baseball game. Will have $1 hot dogs and fireworks after the game

• After the game, there are several breweries nearby we can walk to for anyone who wants to stick around

Saturday

• Keep this day open until after we arrive and everyone's gotten a feel for the city and had a chance to talk to locals at the Thursday event. There are things like cycling, hikes, and tubing (which is what we did last year, which was awesome--I'd gladly do it again)...lots of options we can discuss. And not everyone necessarily has to all do the same thing. Could well be two groups that break off. But just to make sure you're prepared for whatever...please bring swim gear and hiking/athletic-wear.

• Evening - There are nightlife parts of downtown we probably wouldn't have seen yet that we could hit.

Sunday

• Flexible now to determine as the group reviews our options. Could be brunch, could be a short hike, etc.

Wild card: The other thing I like to do on these retreats is 'skill shares' -- or any kind of sharing really. Ie, some sort of skill, presentation or treat you can share with the group. I always like to share some of my massive loose leaf tea collection with others...either in the morning or at co-working. In the past, others have shared things like leading yoga, meditation, a short talk on how to do good public speaking, etc. Totally optional, but could be anything really...and depending on what it is, we can put it on the schedule somewhere, maybe during a morning at Lazy Tiger or during the day at Hatch.

Your Trip Host

Eric Fish, Founder of Triangle Remote Workers & Digital Nomads

Why this matters

Remote work can be isolating. We all know that feeling.

But what if we could compress months of relationship-building into a few incredible days?

That's what happens when you live, work, and explore together.

Ready to join us? 

Please complete the application! Then we’ll be in touch shortly after with next steps.
Space is limited, and rooms at The Lazy Tiger are first-come, first-served.

Questions? Email [email protected]

See you in the mountains!