In our fast-paced lives, stress has become the norm, taking its toll on even the strongest of us. Here are six rejuvenating retreats for a much-needed reset.
Love Letter to Provence
Surrounded by vineyards and lavender fields, the Provence-inspired Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, California is filled with historical pieces, including a genuine chapel and orangery transported from France. Lavish European spa treatments that beautify and de-stress are balanced by an active regimen of fitness, health, and nutrition. A 5:1 staff-to-guest ratio serves the 32 private villas and suites, with an antiques-filled gift shop that allows you to bring the ambiance home. Cal-a-Vie.com
Bootcamp Goes Luxe
Not for the fainthearted, a typical day at The Ranch at Malibu starts with a mountain hike, followed by a low-impact workout, strength training, yoga, and a massage for your aching muscles, all complemented by a structured organic, plant-based diet. The celebrity hot spot touts an average weight loss of 3 to 6 percent of body weight, while gaining muscle. Private programs are available. TheRanchMalibu.com
Historic Desert Oasis
Arizona’s first wellness retreat, Castle Hot Springs, was built in 1896. It’s set in the Hieroglyphic Mountains around mineral-rich thermal waters long-used medicinally by indigenous people, and it has hosted luminaries such as Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. The property went into decline after a 1976 fire, but a recent renovation restored its former glory, which is highlighted by fine dining and diversions ranging from golf to mountain climbing. CastleHotSprings.com
Red Rocks Splendor
Nestled amongst Sedona, Arizona’s soaring red rocks, with just 16 secluded indoor/outdoor casitas, Mii Amo Spa offers treatments ranging from traditional skin care, massage, body work, and meditation, to sessions designed to deal with deeper problems, some utilizing hypnosis. The new Hummingbird restaurant and its innovative, wellness-oriented culinary program completes the experience. MiiAmo.com
Timeless Methods
Meaning “peaceful mountain,” Amangiri is known for its Navajo-inspired Hozho healing massages, beauty treatments, and restorative therapies. Sandstone suites and canvas-tented pools offer views of southern Utah’s breathtaking desert landscape of canyons, mesas, and ridges. The meals are a tour through Navajo culinary heritage and the American Southwest. Aman.com/resorts/amangiri
Nurtured by Nature
The Lodge at Woodloch, set in Pennsylvania’s lush Pocono woodlands, blend tranquility and activity, with nature trails and a private lake for kayaking and fishing. The resort offers more than 35 classes daily, including guided forest bathing sessions, foraging with a certified herbalist, and gardening lessons at an on-site working organic farm—which also supplies fresh food and healing herbs and flowers for spa treatments. TheLodgeAtWoodloch.com
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
