The Best Spas for a Weekend (Or Year) Of Rest and Relaxation

Leaving the beach in Hawaii can be a tough sell, but trust us, a visit to the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui is well worth your time. The award-winning facility boasts indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, steam rooms, Hawaiian rain showers, a heated stone mud bench, and arguably the best massage of your life—complete with locally-sourced products, oils, and herbs inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions.

The one thing you can’t miss: The Welina Journey. First on the spa menu for a reason, the blissful 120-minute treatment is comprised of a sea salt scrub and infrared light therapy (followed by a massage, of course).

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Calling all Nancy Meyers megafans. This relaxing destination is nestled between the San Ynez Mountains and overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands. In fact, it’s so comfortable and private that JFK and Jackie Kennedy actually honeymooned at this exact spot. The spa boasts the same coziness with fireplaces, showers, and bathtubs to make you feel warm and cozy inside and out. The oils offered in the soothing massage are infused with lavender, rosemary, and lemons, all grown from the gardens on the grounds. You’ll undoubtedly enjoy walking the grounds while waiting for your next spa appointment.

The one thing you can’t miss: The Vinotherapy Wine Wrap. It wouldn’t be wine country without a wine-inspired body treatment meant to remove dead skin cells and hydrate your skin with the grape’s antioxidant properties.

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This Japanese-inspired retreat completely fits the bill if you want the ultimate wellness immersive experience. The facility was created based on wabi-sabi principles around the belief in clarity through imperfection alongside an openness for exploration. You’ll see these notions reflected in both the grounds and class offerings. The spa features infrared saunas, steam rooms, shower fountains, and plunge pools to completely entrance you into the world of hydrotherapy (a ritual used to cleanse the mind and body).

Lastly, Shou Sugi Ban House’s founders believe in the power of food. The world-famous culinary program was designed in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Mads Refslund, co-founder of Noma in Copenhagen. The menu is a mix of Nordic and Asian influences with the ultimate belief that consuming plants can harness healing powers. We won’t argue the theory.

The one thing you can’t miss: Intuitive painting, a class offering focused on global hearing art practices.

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Escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to this hidden gem of the city. For the ultimate day of indulgence, you can relax by the pool and enjoy a rubdown, or get a world-class oxygen facial or manicure in the salon. What sets this place apart is the relaxation massages that are crafted and perfected by six of the Four Season’s top massage therapists.

The one thing you can’t miss: The non-invasive facial rejuvenation is the balance of state-of-the-art tech and medicinal ingredients. You’ll be able to plump and hydrate the skin without any downtime.

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The spa is based on four pillars of thought: movement, spa, nourishment, and discovery. Movement includes complimentary fitness classes like morning hikes and yoga; the spa layer is best showcased in the expansive 22 treatment rooms that offer an array of treatments alongside a therapy pool, salons, and more; nourishment is seen in the culinary offering of seasonal plant-based food, and discovery is accomplished through finding yourself either with a glass of wine or maybe a meditation class on the yoga lawn.

The one thing you can’t miss: The Klafs Sanarium—aka the only European-designed Knepp hot/cold wading pool and Tepidarium therapeutic soaking pool in the continental U.S.—is a must-dip during your stay. The therapeutic pool works to balance oneself and promote both circulation and relaxation.