Wellness vacations have become one of the fastest-growing trends in travel, and it’s no wonder—the pandemic fundamentally changed how we think about our health. Plus, the solitude of the lockdown caused anxiety and depression to spike worldwide. Hotels and resorts have responded with innovative new programs that address clients’ physical and mental needs, whether it’s a mindfulness treatment to relieve stress or diagnostic tests that help build a plan for lifelong longevity.
Worth has identified the best places to reboot your health, wellness, fitness, and even your palate in 2023. The choices for setting, treatment options, and activities are vast—from a secluded desert oasis to a Japanese-inspired wellness center. These resorts offer packages that promise to transform your health, your well-being, and your approach to life.
Read on to find the perfect spa for your wellness journey in 2023.
Amangiri
Canyon Point, UT
Amangiri means “Peaceful Mountain,” a perfect moniker for this low-key but ultra-luxury retreat that’s become a favorite amongst A-listers. At the border of Utah & Arizona, Amangiri rests among
five national parks, several national monuments, and the Navajo Nation Reservation, which inspires its wellness and culinary offerings. Spa journeys are designed to restore “hozho,” Navajo for “beauty, harmony, balance, and health.” Signature treatments offer comprehensive programs for all that ails—Grounding, for those seeking reconnection, stillness, and perspective; Purifying, for those seeking lightness, breathing space, and a fresh start; and Nourishing, for regeneration, recovery, and healing. Movement Journeys take you into the stunning desert landscape for restorative treatments, including hikes, yoga, and Pilates. Depending on time and desire, these programs can also include guided canyon tours and walks on one of their via ferrata trails, one of which ends on an iron climbing path designed to traverse difficult mountain landscapes and spans over a 400 ft. gorge.
The Wellhouse at Blackberry Farm
Walland, TN
Situated on a working farm surrounded by the Smoky Mountains, The Wellhouse at Blackberry Farm emphasizes the connection between the natural environment and the health of our bodies. Wellness programs are informed by the seasons, and ingredients for all treatments aim to utilize flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and other healing elements from the farm and local area. Sign up for a Lavender and Vanilla Bourbon body drench, for example, or an Appalachian Body Purification scrub and mask created with ground coffee, sarsaparilla, honey, tobacco, and black silt clay. Understanding the ‘why’ behind their approach is essential, so Blackberry offers Learning Lectures to help guests understand more about healthy lifestyle choices. New treatments available include Deep Healing Woods Offering: Flower Essence Foraging Meditation, a forest bathing experience where guests learn about flower essences through trailside foraging on the way to their mountaintop wellness platform; and, Slowing Down and Tending the Spirit with Charlotte Hardwick: in a small group setting, Charlotte will offer meaningful and intentional practices to balance and nourish both mind and body.
Castle Hot Springs
Morristown, AZ
If the idea of soaking in a natural spring creek under the sun surrounded by the beauty of the desert sounds like the perfect way to spend your time, then Castle Hot Springs is the spa for you. The historic resort was once a retreat for Gilded Age A-listers like the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Rockefellers. It remains one of the top spas in the U.S. due to its main attraction—a network of mineral-rich, geothermically heated underwater streams that emerge into a succession of pools. Castle Hot Springs offers off-the-grid, immersive wellness experiences inspired by the unique elements of the surrounding desert. You can choose from one of their immersive wellness packages: Zen, Adventure, or Wellness Through Water—and the resort will build a custom itinerary based on your needs and desires. This May, they’re offering a Sleep Retreat—3 nights centered on reforming your sleep habits, which sounds positively dreamy.
Canyon Ranch Lenox
Lenox, MA
Located in a 19th-century manor nestled in the Berkshires, Canyon Ranch Lenox aims to give you the space, and the comfort, to focus on your well-being. When you book your stay, you are prompted to answer the question: “What Leads You Here?” Guests are encouraged to choose a “Pathway”—curated experiences based on wellness intentions. “Pathways Plus” includes medical-based immersive experiences, like an Executive Physical in which you work with an integrative physician to evaluate your body’s processes and develop a complete health profile and plan. All overnight stays include meals, access to spa and fitness classes, and resort activities like hiking, paddle boarding, tarot card readings, and more.
Fairmont Spa Century Plaza
Los Angeles
Can’t get away to a desert-island retreat? Let me introduce you to the Fairmont Spa, an urban retreat that was part of a $2.5 billion renovation of the storied Century Plaza Hotel in LA. This showpiece features the most modern wellness treatments, like “Biohacking,” a program that combines infrared technology, neuroscience, and compression therapy to improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and support mindfulness. Available as a 30-minute Power Nap or a more extended block of 60 or 90 minutes. The spa also features signature facial treatments by Dr. Rita Rakus, one of the leading medical professionals in the world of anti-aging.
Kohler Waters Spa
Kohler, WI
As the title (and brand) would indicate, the approach at Kohler Waters Spa is “health through water.” Located in the historic American Club in Kohler, WI, the spa offers a menu of hydrotherapy treatments like Glacier Springs, a full-body treatment that incorporates elements of warm and cold (including an ice massage!); Tranquil Tides, which begins with espresso body mud and ends with a magnesium-enriched bath; and a Stillness Bath, an “immersive journey of the senses.” The latter includes exfoliation, Vichy shower rinse, and moisturizer to promote better sleep and overall well-being. This April 21-23, they’re offering a Longevity and Wellness Retreat, a multi-day experience with a special culinary program, wellness plan, and fitness classes.
Shou Sugi Ban House
Water Mill, NY
The first boutique wellness destination in the Hamptons, Shou Sugi Ban House, is a 13-room retreat that has been on ‘best of’ lists since its opening. Inspired by the principles of wabi-sabi and global wellness philosophies, the spa guides guests on a path to wholeness through reconnection to the natural world. You’ll find specialized treatments like Hydrotherapy Circuits—contrast water therapy alternating between hot, warm, and cold water, to boost circulation, immunity, circulatory and digestive systems; and Sound Therapy, a healthy vibration that results in beneficial cellular-level response and has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia. You can also take to the air with Floating Meditation. This is similar to aerial yoga in that you experience weightlessness through the support of aerial silks and hammocks, all while being guided through a meditation session. You’ll also find bodywork, beauty, and fitness programs, along with culinary offerings focusing on brain health, skin health, and nourishing your gut. Set in minimalist, Japanese-inspired buildings, Shou Sugi Ban House offers a place to reconnect with oneself immersed in the healing properties of nature
Spa Solage
Calistoga, CA
It would be remiss for us to skip a wine country spa, which has so many incredible places to choose from. Our current favorite is Spa Solage, which rests on 22 acres in the heart of Calistoga, an area blessed with geothermal pools, low-key energy, and access to great wine. A retreat that can be experienced as a quiet solo getaway or as a shared experience with someone you love. Solage offers seasonal spa treatments, including the signature Mudslide treatment, which is a 3-part detoxifying treatment. Solange also offers mineral water therapies, a state-of-the-art fitness center with classes, and a yoga studio. Plus, guests can reserve Pelotons for their rooms, so you don’t fall behind on your training. Specialized treatments that might inspire you to bring a friend include the Starlight Nights Bathhouse Experience, an ultra-private retreat that consists of a Mudslide for two, a rose petal bath, candlelight, a bottle of sparkling wine, and chef’s bites.
The Ranch
Malibu, CA
Healthy and balanced living through outdoor activities and appreciation of nature are the guiding principles for opening The Ranch, an elite wellness retreat in Malibu, CA. Known for multi-day immersive health, weight loss, and fitness programs, Ranch activities include daily hikes, guided exercise, and locally sourced plant-based meals. And it’s intense—”no option” programs are a seven or 9-day commitment for a limited number of guests and include a 5:30 am wake-up call and 3-hour hikes, among other activities. The Ranch also runs a program in Italy and is expanding its footprint to the east coast with a new location just outside of New York City. The NY location will feature health programs that maintain the core elements of The Ranch—hiking, fitness, yoga, deep tissue, and a plant-based diet, but those can be experienced over three or four days and in varying intensities. The goal is to offer more options for people who may have been apprehensive to try the program; and, to accommodate the busy schedules of New Yorkers.
YO1 Yovan Longevity and Health Resort
Monticello, NY
A residential wellness center located in the Southeastern Catskills of New York, YO1 boasts 66 therapy rooms, a range of recreational activities, and myriad options for a customized health program. Treatment plans for Anxiety Management, Pain Management, Cholesterol & Hypertension, Insomnia, and more are available, as well as a menu of Ayurvedic therapies that you won’t find anywhere else. YO1 was founded by Dr. Subhash Chandra as a place to practice self-healing, boost one’s immune system, and—let’s get real—drop bad habits. First-timers might want to book a stay that includes unlimited Yoga and Meditation sessions, with the breakfast package, to ease into YO1.
YO1 Is offering 25 percent off their Winter Wellness
Package through March 31, 2023.
