Many of us embrace the option of arriving a day early just to unwind and settle in so that when the retreat opens on Friday evening you are already settled, relaxed and de - compressed. Alleviate the Friday rush after work or the hustle from the airport. Come in a day early. Check in to your room. Thursday dinner is included along with Friday breakfast. We usually organize a nature trail walk depending on weather on Friday afternoon and then get lunch on our own in town or at the Sewanee cafeteria .