The best spas and spa resorts in the US
Best spas in the US
Even in wine country, where a stunning resort and spa lurks behind every twist in the road, Spa Solage is a standout for many reasons. Chief among them are the seductive farmhouse-style buildings and the geothermal pools, a nod to the local hot springs. A recent overhaul has resulted in additions such as a new indoor-outdoor relaxation lounge and an herb garden, whose crops will be incorporated into treatments.
Signature service: Solage Signature Mudslide, where you get to sidle up to the mud bar to select your own dirt. Can be enjoyed solo or as part of a couple or group (from 75 mins, $200 per person)
In the unlikely event Mii amo’s breathtaking setting—the ruddy buttes of Boynton Canyon, within Sedona’s Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness—doesn’t immediately captivate you, its exhaustive treatment menu should. Part of the Enchantment resort, the 24,000-square-foot spa draws extensively on its surroundings, from its name (which means 'one’s path or journey' in the Yuman language) to its services, many of which feature local, indigenous plants and flowers. Also on offer: wellness-oriented experiences and activities, including Past Life Regression.
Signature service: Prickly Pear Butter Wrap (from 60 mins, $210), including a sea-salt-and-jojoba body polish, prickly pear butter massage, and neck and head massage.
Blackberry Farm has welcomed overnight guests and foodies since the late 1970s, but its spa component, Wellhouse, opened in June 2014. Nonetheless, the rustic stone-and-wood building feels like it’s been there forever, and the spa and wellness menus are hardly afterthoughts. From aquafit to Zumba, a wide range of fitness activities is available, alongside lifestyle lectures and 'forest bathing' (guided hikes and meditation in the woods). Meanwhile, treatments with such tempting names as Lavender and Vanilla Bourbon Body Drench will have your muscles unclenching—and your mouth watering—before you’ve even set foot in the door.
Signature service: Wellhouse Soothe (50 mins, $180), a farm-to-treatment-table body wrap showcasing sorghum, a gluten-free grain rich in vitamins and minerals that Southern farmers have been harvesting for centuries.
It’s hard to narrow down what we love about this mini chain, which currently operates two outlets: Portland and Boulder. From its recycling policies to its own range of gorgeous handmade lotions and potions, Dragontree checks all the eco-friendly boxes. As for the menu, it’s an appealing array of facials, massages and ayurvedic therapies, plus acupuncture, nutritional consultations and the like. Those on a tight budget should book a foot, hand or head treatment in the communal-but-comfy Sangha Room.
Signature service: The Abhyanga massage (60 mins, $138) is done with an Ayurvedic technique to decrease the pressure on your heart and increase circulation and improve energy levels. Unlike a Swedish massage, the Abhyanga focuses less on the muscle tissue and more on the skin, lymphatic, and circulatory systems, marma points and energy fields.
Yes, it’s within a hotel (and a chain at that), but Spa Montage sneaked onto our list for several reasons. The 35,000-square-foot wellness wonderland is billed as an 'alpine oasis'—and we’re not arguing. Highlights include the indoor mosaic lap pool with mountain views, fireside his ’n’ hers copper soaking tubs for couples’ services, and even a dedicated spa menu for junior guests. Meanwhile, the Alpine Body Massage is targeted toward skiers who’ve overdone it on the nearby slopes.
Signature service: There are four variations of the Elements of Wellness Signature Service, but Pure Bliss offers customized body-balancing treatment designed to 'set you on a path of ultimate well-being and renewed vitality' (90mins, $375).
6. The Lodge at Woodloch | Hawley, PA
Think 'destination spa' and Pennsylvania might not immediately spring to mind, but The Lodge at Woodloch has rightly earned its numerous accolades. Frazzled urbanites flock to this Poconos hideaway to soak away their stress under the Aqua Garden’s HydroMassage waterwalls, nap by the fireplace or veg in the aptly named Whisper Lounge. Treatments are top-notch, ranging from massages and wraps to facials; some take their inspiration from the resort’s prime woodland location. And if choosing among them fills you with angst, simply call upon the customization skills of the spa concierge.
Signature service: The Blues Be Gone massage (75 mins, $270) helps ease the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, including headaches, depression, stiff muscles, and aches, by enhancing the immune system and re-energizing the mind. This is a Swedish-style massage incorporating ginger root oil and acupressure techniques.
Just 20 minutes from LAX, the sprawling 50,000-square-foot Spa at Terranea is a destination in itself with its own boutique, pool, gym and café—not to mention facilities such as steam rooms, outdoor cold plunge pools and Jacuzzis. Sign up for a complimentary workout class in the fitness studio—offerings include open-air cycling with vast ocean views—or catch some rays by the private spa pool before your service. Some of the spa’s 25 treatment rooms and three suites come with copper bathtubs and balconies overlooking the water, adding the soothing sound of crashing waves to the experience.
Signature service: Tranquility (60 mins, $240) is made up of a cocoon wrap to nourish, calm and harmonize the body. A neck, scalp, and face massage is incorporated for complete bliss.
A Japanese-style hot springs resort outside Santa Fe might sound a little unlikely, but Ten Thousand Waves’ legions of fans can’t all be wrong. Stay overnight in a hillside cottage or drop by for a day-spa service (facials, massages, wraps and more are all up for grabs). Or simply soak up the fresh forest air from the comfort of a communal hot tub (note: some are clothing-optional). If that sounds a little too social for you, prebook a private tub or spa suite. Don’t miss the nibbles and artisan sakes served in the izakaya-style restaurant, izanami.
Signature service: Shiatsu Deep Tissue Massage, performed fully clothed and designed to open major muscle-energy systems and address pain-related blockages (80 mins, $239).
A good spa is all about relaxation, and the Allyu sets the tone from the moment you walk in the door for your appointment. Instead of sitting in a boring, run-of-the-mill waiting area, you can kick your feet up in a serene, dimly lit, semi-private tented chamber. The treatments take things to the next level too—think facials featuring botanical and vitamin-rich ingredients, hot stone massages, chakra balancing and more. On a budget but still need to relax? Allyu offers a free lunchtime meditation session the second Wednesday of each month.
Signature service: Infrared Detox Body Wrap (around 90 mins in total, $240), which harnesses infrared heat to enhance relaxation, followed by the 60-minute massage.
A World War I barracks might seem an unlikely venue for an Asian-inspired holistic retreat, but somehow it works. Nestled in the Presidio, SenSpa was founded in 2006 by Dave Spencer following a life-altering car crash that launched him on the path to wellness. The voluminous treatment menu encompasses everything from standard spa fare to Rolfing, oncology massage and 'rhythm entrainment' designed to stimulate creativity (well, it is San Francisco). Other draws include a new infrared sauna, SenCafe, which serves organic grub from Bay Area chain The Plant and a large Senboutique retail area.
Signature service: Zen Bundle (60 mins, $325), which begins with a 30-minute infrared sauna session followed by a 20-minute Somadome session.
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