9 Spas and Resorts for The Ultimate Wellness Retreat

August is wellness month, the perfect time to plan a retreat for yourself to unwind, unplug, and relax. We’ve found some of the best spas and resorts in the U.S. to help you find total relaxation and peace.

Lake Austin Spa Resort – Austin, TX

From basic spa treatments to unique wellness experiences, Lake Austin Spa Resort has everything you need for the perfect wellness getaway. Treat yourself to a facial, or try their “From Sweden to Tibet and Back” massage, where you get a Swedish massage with therapeutic Tibetan singing bowls that will melt the stress away. There are also loads of activities on the lake, from paddleboarding to a mind-body paddle pilgrimage. 

Carneros Resort and Spa – Napa, CA

For a luxurious resort experience in Napa, try Carneros Resort and Spa. Located in twenty-eight acres of sprawling countryside, with barns, silos, and cottages completing the landscape.  Carneros is home to three restaurants, a market for gifts or picnic supplies, an exclusive boutique, two pools (one adult, one family), and, of course, a spa. Of course, no resort in Napa would be complete without some sort of winery experience. Carneros has partnerships with several local wineries. They offer several packages, including getting your fourth night free, and a two-day rental of a Bentley or other luxury cars. 

The Spa at Hotel Hershey – Hershey PA 

Chocolate and relaxation go hand-in-hand at my house, so a spa at a chocolate company seems pretty ideal. Choose from ten different chocolate-based spa treatments including a chocolate fondue wrap and a cocoa facial. If you’d rather have a more traditional treatment, don’t worry, they have those too. They also have an array of fitness/wellness classes, a sauna, and two pools, all complementary to Spa guests. You can eat at their onsite restaurant, The Oasis, where you can indulge in amazing chocolate desserts. 

Kohler Waters Spa – Kohler, Wisconsin 

From a chocolate-themed spa, we go to a water-themed spa. Kohler, like Hershey, has taken advantage of its niche and created a spa to showcase its products. Choose from a variety of hydrotherapy treatments, like a Cascading Waterfall Massage, where you get massaged while a gentle waterfall from a KOHLER® Custom Vichy shower falls on you, or a Healing Waters Treatment. You can also partake in traditional spa treatments, golf, yoga, other fitness programs, and choose from seven restaurants to dine at. Choose from an array of lodging options, including a resort hotel, carriage house, or even a secluded cabin. 

La Cantera Resort and Spa – San Antonio, TX 

If you like the idea of activities as part of your wellness regime, La Cantera Resort and Spa has a full schedule of things to do, on top of what you typically find at a resort. Choose from line dancing, outdoor movie watching, archery lessons, guided hikes, and more. For your more traditional resort activities, you can relax in a luxury cabana at one of the three pools, book yourself a treatment (or two… or three) at the spa, or take a wellness fitness class like yoga or a shoulder release class. You’ll feel the tension melt away even just by booking your stay. 

Old Edwards Inn – Highlands, NC

If a treatment called Sweet Mountain Metamorphosis is not enough to entice you to try Old Edwards Inn, then you may not want a wellness getaway bad enough. If you treat yourself to the Sweet Mountain Metamorphosis, you will first get your feet soaked, followed by a dead skin removal, Swedish massage, finishing off with a CranioSacral Therapy, leaving you relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated. There are plenty of other treatments as well, including traditional massages, touchless bodywork treatments, facials, body treatments, acupuncture and more. Choose from eight restaurants, including a wine garden, and two poolside restaurants. Choose from a variety of accommodations, from the historic inn to cottages. 

Troutbeck – Amenia, NY

For a full wellness retreat, head to Troutbeck in Amenia, NY. Originally a country homestead that was built in 1919, Troutbeck is now a respite for the weary. With just thirty-six rooms, it has an intimate feel with its cozy interior adding to the atmosphere of rejuvenation. You can do yoga, meditate, try acupuncture or Tai Chi. For a deeper delve into your psyche, try Somatic Experiencing, where you discover what traumas may be preventing you from living your life to its fullest. Acupuncture and massage are also available for pure relaxation. 

Carillon Miami Wellness Resort – Miami Beach, FL

Boasting “transformative signature spa treatments,” Carillon Miami Wellness Resort is abundant with wellness therapies that will leave you restored at the end of your stay. Melt away tension in the Somadome, “the world’s first technology-enabled meditation pod that combines color, sound, and energy therapies to create the physical space to go within and experience the many benefits of deep meditation.” Choose from light therapy, cryotherapy, salt float bath therapy, thermal therapies, not to mention spa treatments—which range from traditional massages to global rituals. 

Golden Door – Escondido, CA 

Lose yourself in nature at the Golden Door in Escondido, CA. Set on over six hundred acres, you can climb a mountain, stroll through a Japanese garden, or hike a trail. Indoors, take a fitness class, book a massage or hydrotherapy bath. This all-inclusive experience includes a private room with your own deck or patio, a daily in-room massage, four sessions with a personal trainer, five skincare sessions, a mani-pedi, access to everything on the grounds, meals, and more. A truly luxurious wellness experience. 

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