I Still Can’t Believe It Happened… My First Art Retreat in the South of France!
I still can’t believe it really happened. Never in a million years did I think that my love of sketchbooking would lead me to hosting an art retreat—let alone one in the South of France! This was my absolute dream. Seriously—I’ve always said that when I retired from teaching, my dream would be to travel and make art. But thanks to TrovaTrip, that pipe dream actually became a reality.
Now, let me be clear: it wasn’t perfect—because I quickly learned there are so many moving pieces (and people) to account for… not to mention the natural elements (more on that later 😅). Between lost luggage, a few missed flights, and an itinerary that was more of a loose guide than a down-to-the-minute schedule, it definitely kept us on our toes. But despite all that, we shared so many magical and unforgettable experiences with people who started as strangers and left as lifelong friends. So with that said, let me tell you all about our South of France Art Retreat!
First up: where did we go?
We explored Nice and Aix-en-Provence for about a week, and I swear—it felt like walking through a postcard.
Day 1: Welcome Dinner + Melting in Nice
I was so excited to finally meet the whole group! I had 20 women flying in from all over the country—different ages, backgrounds, and all of us equally nervous and excited about the week ahead. But once everyone began trickling into the hotel and chatting, the nerves slowly melted away and the excitement took over.
We met our local guide, Sylvie, who instantly put everyone at ease the moment she gathered us for a trip overview. Sylvie was a seasoned pro—with over 30 years of tour experience—and she was kind, organized, flexible, and absolutely hilarious.
That night, Sylvie led us through Nice to a stunning Italian restaurant near the water, where we had a delicious three-course meal. The only downside? It was SO dang hot in the restaurant. France doesn’t do air conditioning like the U.S., and to top it off, we were seated upstairs... above the pizza oven. You can only imagine. 🫠
In true Sylvie fashion, she quickly pivoted—asking the staff to box up our desserts so we could enjoy them outside by the sea. Brilliant move. Not only were we way more comfortable, but it gave us room to mingle and soak in the unreal view of the Mediterranean. It truly felt like we were in a movie. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect ending to our first evening together.
Day 2: Exploring Nice + Our First Workshop
We woke up to the most insane French breakfast spread—fresh pastries, cured meats, cheeses, eggs, more yogurt than I’ve ever seen in one place, and of course, the best coffee of my life. They even had a honeycomb for tea. Mind. Blown.
After breakfast, we set off on a walking tour of Nice with Sylvie. She was bursting with knowledge and little-known facts, and it was such a fun and fascinating way to explore the city. We walked through and learned all about Old Nice and then found a beautiful plaza where we decided to stop for a gelato and sketchbook session. It was just what we needed :) Of course, we each had our Quell products with us to make art on the go easy as ever! Each attendee received an Artist Bag, Sketchbook Case and lay flat, mixed-media Sketchbook to use whenever inspiration stuck!
We spent about 30 minutes drawing the fountain while enjoying the beautiful chiming bells of the church near by. Afterwards we climbed to the top of Colline du Château, and took in the views of the Baie des Anges and the famous Promenade down below. What. A. View. Truly breathtaking.
We wrapped up in the Cours Saleya market where I immediately set off on a flower hunt for our afternoon workshop. After everyone grabbed lunch, we met back at the hotel in a private room for our first group art session. We spread out our materials and just played. It felt so good to be creating together.
That evening, everyone had dinner on their own, and a few of us gathered in the courtyard to work in our sketchbooks and sip some evening tea under the stars. Pure magic.
Day 3: Monaco, Perfume, and the Dreamy Village of Eze
Whew—this was a busy one!
We kicked things off with a trip to the teeny-tiny country of Monaco (seriously—it's just one square mile!). We saw the famous Monte Carlo Casino, the Prince’s Palace, and the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried.
On the way to our next stop, Sylvie suggested a spontaneous detour to the perfumery Fragonard near the village of Eze—and obviously we said YES. It was so cool to see how French perfume is made, and let’s just say...we probably spent wayyy too much money there! But totally worth it...
After Fragonard, we made it to Eze—and oh my gosh. This medieval town was straight out of a fairytale. Narrow, winding paths, stone towers covered in blooming vines, and sweeping views of the coastline. I squeezed in a quick demo (I didn’t realize just how packed the day would be), and then everyone had time to explore or sketch at their own pace.
We were all exhausted on the ride back—when even the chatty group goes quiet on the bus, you know we had a full day!
Day 4: Wine Tasting, Painting, and Arrival in Aix-en-Provence
We said au revoir to Nice and hit the road for Aix-en-Provence, but first—we stopped at Château Saint-Roux, a 15th-century organic vineyard and farm. I mean… come on. It was every French countryside dream come true.
We did a rosé wine tasting paired with fresh produce and local cheeses, then gathered for a collaborative painting activity on the grounds. Afterwards, we moved to another part of the estate for a delicious lunch before heading to Aix.
We checked into our fabulous hotel and spa (yes, please), and some of us rested while others hit the pool or worked in their sketchbooks. That night, we did a short walking tour of Aix with Sylvie, but unfortunately, we also got some disappointing news…
The lavender fields we had planned to visit the next day had already been harvested due to an earlier-than-usual heat wave. Womp womp. We were so bummed—but Sylvie came through again, suggesting we visit a tiny nearby village called Lourmarin instead.
We were super nervous about the switch, but ultimately decided to trust Sylvie, as she has yet to steer us wrong...
Day 5: Lourmarin—the Village Straight from a Storybook
Yep, Sylvie deserves a billion gold stars. We pulled into Lourmarin and immediately fell in love. It was stunning, full of charm, and—get this—completely uncrowded. It honestly felt like we had the village to ourselves for the morning.
We started our visit with a painting demo in the most picturesque little café, and time just... slipped away. I remember thinking, “This is it. This is the feeling I came for.” I felt like Belle in Beauty and the Beast. I think we all did. A peek memory for me in Lourmarin was one a sweet local French woman approached our group and asked to see some of the art we had been drawing. She mentioned that she has always loved art, and doesn't make the time for it like she used to, but is inspired to see us working. I felt so much pride and joy in that moment, and wished I could freeze time!
That afternoon, we returned to Aix for some downtime, and later I hosted our final group workshop in a beautiful secret garden by the hotel pool. We worked outdoors, unrushed, surrounded by the sounds and textures of Provence.
(Fun fact: the wall near the pool at Hotel Aquabella is part of the ancient city wall of Aix. How cool is that?)
We wrapped up the session with a casual group share and reflected on how each of us had interpreted the same landscape in totally different, personal ways. It was such a meaningful way to end the week.
Final Night: Big Feels and Farewells
That evening, we got dressed up for our farewell dinner (cue the tears). We had a private outdoor space where I gave my final toast—followed by more toasts, lots of hugs, and yes... more tears.
The bonds we formed were real. Everyone shared memories, laughed, cried, and just soaked up the last few moments together. I don’t think I can put into words how grateful I am for every woman who came on this trip. To take a chance-not just on me, but on traveling to a foreign country, many of them solo—to prioritize creativity, connection, a little adventure and most importantly, themselves. Now that’s bravery.
Like I told them that night: with big risks come big rewards.
I’ll be flying high on this trip—and the memories we made—for a long time. Thank you to each and every one of you amazing ladies (and my incredible husband Chris!) for believing in me and helping me make this dream come true.
I love you all! 💛 xo- Kaitlyn
Oh one last note! I must give a huge shout out to my friend and extraordinary maker, Jo Gick for allowing me to commission her to create custom France themed friendship bracelets for each traveler on the trip. Jo took my vision and turned them into the most adorable and thoughtful reality. Each one of us wore our bracelet stack the entire trip and I know when I wear these bracelets in my everyday life, I will look down and fondly remember the memories we shared as a group. If you haven't checked out Jo's etsy shop yet, here is the link!! (Also, did you know Jo was on the first season of the NBC show "Making It"? SO COOL, RIGHT?)
