The Best Spa & Wellness destinations
We can all agree that no matter what time of year it may be, there is always a need for a spa day. Or, if you can swing it, a spa weekend. There’s something about spending time in a zen environment and getting a treatment that will improve your quality of life that is just…amazing? So rather than wondering where your next spa day will take you, we’ve rounded up our favorite spa and wellness destinations that are so much more than a 50-minute massage.
The American Club, kohler, wi
The American Club is located just 2 hours outside of Chicago in the stunning landscape of Wisconsin. And, yes, this luxury resort is owned by Kohler. What's so amazing about this destination is that there’s something for everyone, including two golf courses, various outdoor activities like fishing, kayaking, and pickleball, and—of course—a state-of-the-art spa. At the Kohler Water Spa, you’ll experience, “new depths of relaxation and rejuvenation.” Beyond massages and facials, Kohler has hydrotherapy services, including bathing therapies like mineral-rich thalassotherapy that soothes the muscles and body. Also enjoy energy therapies, hair/scalp treatments, acupuncture, and so much more. So while he’s at the golf course, you can enjoy the spa.
The Spa at Glenmere Mansion, Chester, NY
Not only is Glenmere Mansion a great weekend getaway from NYC, but it’s also a visual delight. Situated in New York’s Hudson Valley, guests are greeted with cocktails, homemade cookies, and a handwritten welcome note; the fireplace in your room will also most likely be ablaze. Sumptuous terry robes hang in elegant white-marble bathrooms and claw-footed tubs beckon. And the spa is just amazing—it’s one of only a handful of true Turkish Carrara marble bathhouses and hammams in the United States, so the experience is unparalleled.
The hammam routine involves mixed use of the herbal steam room, dry heat sauna, stimulating Swiss shower, cool mist room, aqua massage vitality pool, and a warm marble belly stone; not to mention a vigorous body scrub followed by a purifying cleanse and 60- or 90-minute massage. Couples treatments here are not to be missed; a lavish duet suite boasts side-by-side soaking tubs and treatment tables. Plus, each ritual in the spa includes pre- or post-treatment tapas and a selection of organic teas, juices, or water infusions in their stunning Relaxation Library, complete with a fireplace.
wildflower farms, Gardiner, NY
Only 90 minutes from NYC, Wildflower Farms is part of the Auberge Resorts Collection so you know it’s an amazing experience. Located in the Hudson Valley, Wildflower’s purpose is to fully immerse yourself with nature on the 140 arcadian acres with a river running through. The power of nature is present in Thistle, the spa that combines age-old remedies and therapeutic bodywork with the essence of slow wellness and the healing powers of nature. Whether you stay the weekend or come for the day, you’ll have access to their indoor saltwater pool and outdoor hot tubs.
mayflower inn, washington, ct
Another Auberge Resort, the Mayflower Inn & Spa is one of the foremost destination spas on the East Coast. Located in the idyllic town of Washington, Mayflower Inn & Spa is an exquisite country retreat, nestled on 58 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland. AO loved her weekend spent at this destination, and you can read all about it here.
The Mayflower Inn is situated on 3,000 acres of nature preserve and boasts a 20,000-square-foot spa—yes, you read that right! THE WELL at Mayflower Inn is an actual sanctuary featuring the Pool House, with a greenhouse-style all-season pool, traditional hammam, and a new Biophilic Thermal Pool. Talk about romance!
san ysidro ranch, Montecito, CA
Tucked away in the foothills of Santa Barbara, San Ysidro Ranch is a must. Besides having a lot of star power (Jackie and John Kennedy had their honeymoon here!), San Ysidro is one of the top resorts in the country, and #1 in California. It truly is a slice of paradise, where every guest has their own vine-covered cottage within a forest of citrus groves, olive trees, and fragrant jasmines and magnolias. The Salon & Spa at San Ysidro features soothing massages with your choice of oils, Yon-Ka facials, and oxygen therapy.
miraval lenox, lenox, Massachusetts
Located in the Berkshires, Miraval Lenox boasts wellness as soon as you drive through the gate. The amount of activities Miraval has is too many to list but includes equestrian activities, sound baths, farming, and more. The Balance Spa draws inspiration from the surrounding woodlands and is a mix of elegant, elevated, comfortable, and cozy. From massages, body renewal rituals, Eastern practices (like their exclusive Naga practice), and Ayurveda (the science of self-healing), Miraval really has everything you would want in a spa. Every guest has access to indoor and outdoor hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas, the Serenity pool, and the plushest bathrobes.
Delamar Spa, Southport, CT
The Delmar Southport is located just off of the Long Island Sound in Connecticut and has so much New England charm. Within is their Southport Spa, which is a "spa suite" so it’s a more intimate and private experience. When you enter the suite, you’re welcomed by a lit fireplace for you to relax and enjoy refreshments before your treatment—making it a great option for couples.