When wellness travel started, it was all about
spa days — not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’ll take a spa day any day, won’t you?
But the concept of wellness travel has evolved
beyond that. It’s now a multi-billion-dollar
industry centered on intentional experiences
that have the potential to transform beyond just your vacation. High-end
travelers are now seeking destinations that offer luxury, health, and personal growth.
Traditional wellness havens like Arizona and
California still reign, but a new wave of cities in the U.S. are emerging as
wellness capitals, drawing interest from their unique offerings.
These cities are often hubs of innovation and
culture, blending urban sophistication with a deep connection to nature to
create a package that offers everything from advanced health screenings to
peaceful, nature-based retreats.
What are these places not? Your average tourist spots. They’re places where wellness
isn’t just an amenity, it’s a lifestyle.
And they make the perfect escape for the purposeful traveler.
Austin, Texas
Austin is no stranger to the vibrant, healthy
lifestyle. And its wellness scene is a perfect reflection of this. The city
prides itself on farm-to-table cuisine as well as outdoor activities and a
laid-back culture, thus magnetising people looking for a luxurious yet
authentic wellness experience.
If you’re on the lookout for luxury, Miraval
Austin Resort & Spa is the spot. This luxury resort’s philosophy
is centered around the question, “What’s your intention?” and guides guests on
a personalized journey.
Activities include everything from a Preserve
Hike to the Quantum Leap challenge to Tex Zen Yoga and a sound ceremony. And
the Life in Balance Spa offers treatments that are the cherry on top of this
holistic, transformative experience.
Another hot Austin wellness destination is Lake Austin Spa
Resort. Its LakeHouse Spa has been named one of the top destination
spas in the world, complete with a thermal mud bar, cold plunges, and high-tech
meditation loungers.
Even better? The resort is all-inclusive and adults-only. And it provides the
perfect escape, just 30 minutes from downtown Austin.
Here you'll enjoy:
- Over 100 spa treatments to choose
from
- Gourmet eats featuring ingredients
from the property’s own gardens
- A range of wellness activities
from yoga to hydrobiking
Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado. (Photo Credit: Jacob/Adobe)
2. Denver, Colorado
Denver’s wellness scene is not to be missed.
There is far more here than the area’s iconic hikes in the Rocky Mountains.
High-end health seekers are drawn to the Mile High City for its mix of outdoor
adventure and urban luxury.
The Garden
of the Gods Resort in Colorado Springs is a perfect representation
of the area’s luxury wellness offerings. This resort combines the stunning
natural beauty with wellness programs that transform beyond your time on the
property.
The resort has partnered with Strata Med to
offer personalized wellness experiences, including:
- Spa treatments
- Workshops
- Fitness classes
- Nutritional consultations
- IV therapy
Personalizing the care is integral to wellness
that lasts, and that's precisely what
you'll find at The Garden of the Gods. That personalization, paired with the
proactive approach to wellness, allows guests to design a journey that fits
their specific wants and needs.
Head to downtown Denver for luxe wellness at
hotels like the Brown
Palace Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton. The luxurious spas here ooze
tranquility and luxury at every turn.
The Spa at the Brown Palace is known for its
signature soaks that use natural artesian well water from 750 feet below the
hotel.
And The Ritz-Carlton Spa puts Colorado's
natural beauty to use with its treatments infused with oxygen, virtual reality,
and CBD oil.
The wellness spirit is alive and well in the
adventurous, nature-centric city of Denver.
Portland, Oregon. (Photo Credit: SeanPavonePhoto / Adobe Stock)
3. Portland, Oregon
Portland has had a reputation as an idyllic
place for people who are looking to live a sustainable, mindful life. And this
ethos extends to its luxury wellness scene. Here, high-end resorts and spas
root themselves in the natural beauty and ecological elements of the iconic
Pacific Northwest.
A short drive from Portland, in the heart of
the Willamette Valley, sits The Allison Inn and Spa, a luxurious resort
dedicated to all things health and wellness.
The spa was inspired by its beautiful
surroundings, and offers treatments that reflect that in their use of local
fruits, herbs, and the area's famous pinot noir grapes. And the resort's
farm-to-table restaurant JORY provides a culinary experience that nourishes the
body with its fresh, local ingredients. The Allison's focus on nature makes it
the ideal retreat for those who appreciate eco-conscious luxury.
For an immersive wellness sanctuary and hotel
that focuses on sustainability and health, check out CASCADA. This
resort offers a variety of experiences centered around its healing thermal
waters and saunas. The cuisine here is “Earth-inspired,” and meant to “revive
your spirit.”
The hotel's philosophy is rooted in finding
yourself and promoting healthy living, and that's precisely what you'll
discover and experience here.
These U.S. wellness capitals are evidence of
the changing landscape of wellness travel. People are moving away from
traditional vacations and looking instead to transformative trips that offer a
break from stress, a healthy dose of mindfulness, and personalized growth to
take home with them.
Cities like Austin, Denver, and Portland are
at the forefront of this trend. They’re successfully combining local traditions
and natural beauty with modern wellness practices to create luxurious wellness
experiences that truly transform.
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