National Relaxation Day is your annual reminder to slow down, unwind, and recharge. It’s a perfect opportunity to focus on self-care and combat the stresses of daily life. Relaxation isn’t just about feeling good—it’s essential for your overall mental and physical health.
This year, why not celebrate by exploring some of the best spa and wellness destinations across the USA and Canada? Here are some top picks reflecting the spirit of National Relaxation Day:
1. Ocean Escape
- Soak up the Ocean: Relax in a heated mineral pool and whirlpools with stunning views of the Salish Sea from the Boathouse Spa and Baths, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia.
- Cruise the Boardwalk: Florida’s Carillon Miami Wellness Resort offers beach cruisers, on which you can ride to South Pointe Park Pier and explore Miami Beach.
- Chase the Tide: Watch the tide recede from one of Vancouver Island’s longest and warmest beaches at the Grotto Spa, Tigh-na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, Parksville, British Columbia.
- Hit the Beach: Enjoy the fresh sea breeze and soothing sounds of the Pacific Ocean at Aarna Spa, Pasea Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach, California.
2. Outdoor Adventure
- Find your River: At the Elora Mill Hotel & Spa in Elora, Ontario, hike a scenic 3-mile (5 km) loop trail above the Elora Gorge and enjoy breathtaking views within the Elora Gorge Conservation Area.
- Wake up to Sunrise Yoga: Greet the day with yoga amid the breathtaking red rock cliffs, vibrant blue skies, and petrified sand dunes of Snow Canyon State Park at St. George, Utah’s Sagestone Spa, Red Mountain Resort.
- Stargaze: Embrace the wilderness at Texas’ Spa Viata, Viata Hotel Austin, and the nearby Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, which has 227 acres of trees. Enjoy guided hikes and stargazing.
3. Play Outside
- Play on a Lake: At Missouri’s Spa Shiki at the Lodge of Four Seasons, enjoy Lake Ozark’s largest full-service marina and a variety of thrilling water activities.
- Jump off a Cliff: Experience pools, a cliff jump, and a waterfall-screened cave at Elements Spa, Minerals Hotel – Crystal Springs Resort, Vernon Township, New Jersey.
- Cycle the Lakefront: Ride along Lake Ontario’s scenic Lakefront Trail from The Pearle Hotel & Spa, Burlington, Ontario, where this 18.6-mile (30 km) out-and-back trail offers breathtaking lake views.
- Hike with the Gods: Explore red rock formations, magnificent landscapes, and trails in the historic 1,300-acre Garden of the Gods park at Strata Spa, Garden of the Gods Resort, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
- Play in the Air: Let your inhibitions fly at Pennsylvania’s Woodlands Spa and Salon at Nemacolin in Farmington, where you can experience exhilarating outdoor adventure classes, including thrilling zip-lining and ropes courses.
4. Art and Nature
- Observe Nature: Venture out from the Sole’renity Spa at the Artesian Hotel in Sulphur, Oklahoma, and uncover the magic of local activities, including revitalizing springs and bison sightings at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, nestled within the heart of Chickasaw Nation and the Arbuckle Mountains.
- Relax in the Garden: Be inspired with an outdoor Garden Tour at The Spa at Langdon Hall, Cambridge, Ontario, with a visit to the perennial, cloister, and vegetable gardens, the water garden, the woods, fields, and walking trails are alive with flora and fauna.
- Find yourself in a Bamboo Forest: At California’s Golden Door, you can be transported to another place and time by walking through its magnificent Bamboo Forest.
- Walk with Art: In Northern Michigan, wander through Michigan Legacy Art Park, a 30-acre art park featuring sculptures and poetry stones at the Crystal Spa, Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Thompsonville.
- Forest Bathe: Rejuvenate with fresh forest air and inhale nature’s essential oils, which promote immune system function and overall well-being, at Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain in Ontario.
5. Unique Spa Experiences
- Cleanse Yourself: Allow the authentic Miraj Hammam Toronto, with its traditions of the Middle East, to envelop you with a traditional Hammam and Gommage treatment, where steam and body exfoliation occur within a private, misty steam chamber, cleansing your body while igniting your senses and imagination.
- Cool off in the Snow: Experience the refreshing chill of the snow room at Pennsylvania’s The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley, where compact dry snow and the crisp cold air allow for rapid and efficient cooling that is extraordinarily gentle, mild, and pleasurable.
- Breath in Salt: Experience the detoxifying effects of salt therapy or Halotherapy, which supports your immune, nervous, and lymphatic systems at the Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente Casino Resort, Rancho Mirage, California.
- Sweat it out: The L Spa and Wellness Centre in Grande Prairie, Alberta, offers an infrared sauna treatment clinically proven to aid in weight loss, detoxification, skin purification, and stress reduction.
- Experience Deep Relaxation: At USVA Spa in Moncton, Nova Scotia, try Neurospa for a multisensory experience mimicking deep sleep hours.
6. Discover Culinary & Wine Delights
- Dine in The Barn: Enjoy the comforts of a gourmet dining room set in an elegantly restored 185-year-old barn at Spa Walden, Walden Inn & Spa, Aurora, Ohio, with a 2000-bottle Master Wine Cellar.
- Taste Canadian Wine: Explore the flavors of Niagara’s award-winning wine region at The Spa at White Oaks Resort, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
- Discover the Cellar: Visit one of the largest wine collections. At Reflections Spa at Grand Cascade Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort in New Jersey, the Wine Cellar offers an astounding collection of 6,000 bottles.
- Taste American Wine: In the heart of California, in the Lodi wine region, you can discover award-winning wines at The Spa at Wine & Roses, Lodi, California.
- Enjoy Dining Out: Discover old favorites or something new when you treat yourself to the AAA-rated “High Steaks” Steakhouse at The Spa at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Lincoln, California.
7. Unique Wellness and Fitness
- Labyrinth Meditation: Discover a guided walking meditation in the tranquility gardens of Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton, Ontario where you’ll use the lavender labyrinth to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life, enhance creativity, and encourage meditation, insight, self-reflection, and stress reduction.
- Aerial Yoga: Deft gravity and feel the exhilaration of weightlessness with this full-body yoga practice at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona.
- Find your Crystal: At Turtle Cove Spa, Mountain Harbor Resort in Mount Ida, Arkansas, discover why it’s known as the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World, where sparkling quartz crystals abound in the hillside and surrounding countryside.
8. Enjoy a Soak
- Get yourself in Hot Water: The Spa at Séc-he in Palm Springs, California, sources water from the Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring – an over 12,000-year-old treasure with a mineral composition found nowhere else.
- Find your Hot Springs: The Serenity Garden at The Spa at The Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, melds the warm, local hot springs with European-inspired surroundings.
- Discover the Cove: Dive into relaxation at Spa Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California, where the Cove invites you to its expanse of pools, whirlpools, waterslides, and more.
- Soak under the Stars: Only available to overnight guests at Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort, Desert Hot Springs, California; relax in mineral water pools under the desert sky.
9. Luxury Escapes
- Stroll a Vineyard: Explore a serene 55-acre estate with a lake, swans, and vineyards at Canton, Ohio’s Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, where you can taste wines.
- Enjoy Oenophilia: Discover ‘The Love of Wine’ as a guest of Spa Terra at The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, California, and enjoy wine tasting, strolling the vineyard, or vinotherapy treatments at the spa.
10. Cultural and Historical Experiences
- Head for the Hills: The Serrano Spa, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel, San Bernardino, is a 15-minute drive from the Highland Natural Park Trail, a 3-mile/90-minute journey that leaves city life behind.
- Watch the Ponies: At Astral Spa Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas, combine your relaxation with its renowned Thoroughbred racing, highlighted by events like The Rebel Stakes and The Arkansas Derby.
- Walk through History: The Spa at Q at 124 on Queen is located in the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, one of Canada’s oldest and most beautiful communities, perfect for exploring.
- Listen to Live Music: For music enthusiasts, New York’s Skaná, The Spa at the Turning Stone Resort, hosts four music venues; from country line dancing at the Tin Rooster to classic rock at The Gig, there’s something for every taste.
Discover Your Perfect Relaxation Spot
With over 900 top spa and wellness destinations across North America, there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer a beachside retreat, a mountain getaway, or a cultural escape, you can find your perfect relaxation spot this National Relaxation Day.
For more information and to discover more destinations, visit www.spasofamerica.com.
