7 Queer-Friendly Health and Wellness Destinations
The start of the New Year can be stressful with resolutions, goals, and burnout from the holidays as we simultaneously prepare to jump back into the hustle and bustle of family and work commitments. However, putting our best foot forward starts with putting ourselves first which includes prioritizing both self-care and our mental health. In fact, in an article published by Southern New Hampshire University’s counseling program, they shared that “engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and more.” Simply put, our health and wellness should be a priority!
While a vacation right after the holidays may not have been in your plans…it should be. What better way to elevate your self-care than to indulge in an ultimate getaway where relaxation is the name of the game? Here’s a list of seven wellness destinations that offer visitors everything from customized fitness routines and anti-stress techniques to award-winning cuisine and breathtaking views of iconic American landscapes. Get ready to reconnect with yourself and enjoy a combination of adventure, serenity, and self-pampering.
The Jenesis House (Prescott, Arizona)
The Jenesis House is not a physical place yet, but a series of all-inclusive wellness retreats in Sedona, Arizona, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Marrakech, Morocco. You can book a retreat here! However, owners are working toward a physical location in Prescott, Arizona, which will potentially make it the first female, Black-owned, adult-only resort in the immediate area. In fact, 100% of the profits from the retreats will go to building the new resort.
So, what will the future Jenesis House property provide guests? It will offer guests with an intimate setting focused on relaxation, detoxing, and tapping into one’s higher self. A variety of services will be offered including access to 250 classes such as yoga, meditation, Pilates, and boxing. Each guest will be provided with a suggested itinerary to spend their time, including treatments to try and adventures to discover. A three-day experience that includes farm-to-table dining, spa services, and in-room luxury starts at $1500 per person. Interested guests can pre-book their stay now on The Jenesis House’s website.
Hilton Head Health (Hilton Head, South Carolina)
If you’re looking to jumpstart your journey into a new version of yourself with the aid of dietary and lifestyle changes, Hilton Head Health may be the place for you. Guests can participate in chef-led cooking courses, receive customized fitness routines, pamper themselves at the onsite Indigo Spa, or simply catch a sunrise on the neighboring beach. The saunas and meditation areas offer optimal tranquility.
Although a required minimum one-week stay comes with a hefty price tag of approximately $5,000; this resort is considered all-inclusive and pet-friendly with the bonus of transportation services and resort credits for dining and other amenities throughout the property. Villas are also available.
The Lodge at Woodloch (Hawley, Pennsylvania)
The Lodge at Woodloch treats guests to not only traditional health and wellness experiences such as hydromassages and meditation but also allows guests to tap into their creative side with art-inspired classes, wellness workshops, and motivational speakers. Guest can also opt to sink into the ambiance of nature with forest bathing or indulge their senses in chakra energy exploration. The Lodge also offers a “Snow Room”, the first of its kind in the United States which uses dry snow and cold air for a pleasurable bath experience.
Get lost in the splendor of the Poconos Mountains on a hiking trail, fishing, paddle boarding through the waters of Lake Teedyuskung, or even ziplining. Guests can visit the alluring estate starting at $399 per person/per night with the promise of watching the sunrise each morning from a private veranda.
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort (Miami)
If you’re planning a trip to Miami, you may want to consider staying at the award-winning beachfront property, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. With the goal of “aligning your physical, mental and spiritual health,” this resort provides patrons with the opportunity to let the stress melt away during a salt float bath or catch up on rest in a meditation pod. The onsite holistic health center practices traditional Chinese medicine including cupping, acupuncture, and energy healing sessions. Multisensory showers that emulate rain from different regions, such as the Polar mist, Atlantic storm, and Caribbean monsoon – all surefire ways to wind down after a day of adventure, a long workout, or therapeutic services.
Guests can unlock their personal power and leadership potential thanks to the onsite wellness course, BEYONDBOUNDARIES™ with Dr. Shanequa Fleming. The resort is child-friendly, but vacationers should utilize their booking calendar to gauge availability. Rates start at around $600 per night for a luxury apartment suite complete with a living room, full kitchen, and some with an oceanfront balcony. Each apartment suite can easily accommodate four guests. It’s recommended that interested guests consider direct advanced booking – on their website or by phone – to unlock promotional rates and offers.
Sedona Mago (Sedona, Arizona)
Sedona Mago brings the power of health and wellness directly to you with online events or courses chocked full of daily prayers, ceremonies, lectures, and meditations. Indulge in a transformative adventure and plan a trip to visit the 173 acres of sacred grounds for one of their retreats, where guests will be able to realign with themselves. The onsite programs are inclusive of every level of the guests’ wellness journey, such as learning how to heal with acupressure, understanding the benefits of mental detoxification, and how to strengthen interpersonal relationships.
Guest can opt to reserve a “personal retreat” ideal for a solo traveler and or friends. Accommodations are booked by program and length of stay but the average rate is $1700 for a private room for four nights and three days.
Aspira Spa at The Osthoff Resort (Elkhart, Wisconsin)
If you live in the Midwest, you may want to consider a perfect getaway to take advantage of the Aspira Spa at the Osthoff Resort. The year-round clear water of Elkhart Lake allows guests to take in the picturesque lakefront views, but also the option to engage in water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, or aqua cycles. Bring the whole family for a few days of bonding and bonfires.
The Kids Club at the Osthoff Resort is an added-value perk for LGBTQ families. The onsite program for children, ages 4 to 10 years old, offers painting, games, and a cooking school to captivate the attention of the youngest culinary chefs. While the children are at the Kids Club, parents can sneak away for a few rounds of golf or book a couple’s massage and spa services for a moment of tandem tranquility. Packages start at $179 per night with a few deals or promotions that include food and beverage credits.
Canyon Ranch Spa + Fitness at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada)
With four locations to choose from in the U.S., Canyon Ranch is the ultimate “gift of renewed focus and purpose.” At Canyon Ranch Spa + Fitness in Las Vegas, patrons can escape the bright lights of the Strip to experience the ultimate 134,000-square-foot sanctuary of wellness that includes a spa, tailored fitness regiments, and nutritious, sourced food experiences to replenish your path to a better you! Guests have access to a full-service salon and a luxury spa with more than 100 therapeutic spa services, including access to an exclusive collection of aqua-thermal rooms such as the HydroSpa, Experiential Rains, Finnish Sauna, the Igloo, and the Crystal Steam Room.
Canyon Ranch also has three separate properties in Tucson, Arizona; Woodside, California; and Lenox, Massachusetts. Each location offers something unique such as restorative yoga, horseback riding in the mountains, journaling in the gardens, or a beginner’s photography course. Unwind with thermal cabins, and complimentary massages, or soak in the sunshine with a view of the Bellefontaine Mansion. Guests can opt for a full-day pass at any property for $325 or customize an itinerary based on location; however, the Arizona location starts at an average of $1100 per night. Grab your pals because rooms can sleep four!
These health and wellness destinations are perfect for a weekend getaway with friends, a retreat to get closer to your partner, or the ultimate solo trip for much-needed peace and solitude.
All quoted prices are subject to change.
