7 Wellness Resorts That’ll Immerse You in Nature

We all vacation with the intention of taking a break from the grind, but more people are now shifting their travel plans to align with their long-term wellness goals, like getting better sleep, eating whole foods, and spending quality time in nature. That last one can be especially therapeutic, as being outdoors can support your immune system, reduce stress, and boost brain health. If you’re looking to do just that, try these resorts that’ll connect you with Mother Nature. Your body and mind will thank you.

You could easily spend your entire visit in those nourishing waters, but the adults-only property is home to so many other pieces of magic that’ll beckon you to dry off and experience what’s happening on land.

For one: The food. The on-site farm grows more than 150 crops, supplying an abundance of fruits, veggies, herbs, spices, and flowers. (Beef, fish, and other ingredients not grown on the farm are sustainably sourced, often from local purveyors.) Learn all about the “plucked to plated” process during a tour with farm director Ian Beger, and enjoy the bounty at Harvest, which serves breakfast, lunch, and a five-course dinner with a different menu every night. You’ll find wood-fired pizzas topped with freshly grown ingredients, pistachio-and-mint-crusted lamb lollipops, and finger limes — aka citrus caviar — that enhance the chef’s dish of choice.

Then there are all the activities: hiking, archery, yoga, meditation, and pickleball, plus DIY candles, suncatchers, and body scrubs, and more. (For a fee, you can brave the via ferrata, a network of cables, ladders, and rungs that allow you to scale a mountain, and explore a crater canyon.) A spa treatment is also well worth the extra cost — my bodywork practitioner found the source of my chronic lower back tension and helped relieve it in just 60 minutes.

As I test my balance during a stand-up paddleboard yoga session, I realize that Castle Hot Springs is a place where the four elements converge. Water: beneath me, keeping me afloat. Earth: around me, unwavering in its strength. Air: through and against me, a respite from the arid climate. Fire: within me, igniting curiosity and openness for the adventures at hand.

The next time you need an ultimate refresh, find your way here. The desert is calling. Stays from $1,875 per night. — L.B.

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Amanyara

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Water reigns at Amanyara. It’s the first thing I noticed when I arrived at Aman’s Turks and Caicos property, which sits on a private beach in an 18,000-acre nature reserve on Providenciales. (Turquoise water is just steps away.) The central facilities — the bar, restaurant, and lobby — are built around a reflecting pond, setting the scene for a tranquil stay. Then, of course, there’s the main swimming site: an iconic 164-foot-long infinity pool made from black volcanic rock that’ll draw you in like a siren song.

The accommodations also showcase water. Many of the pavilions and villas — there are several types of each — feature either over-the-water terraces, direct access to the ocean, or private swimming pools. And when you’re ready to adventure, explore the island by stand-up paddleboard, kayak, or sailboat. You can scuba dive, kite board, and snorkel, plus charter a boat for cruising or fishing, for an extra fee.

There’s much wellness to be had on land, too. Free daily programming includes guided nature walks, e-biking, yoga, mat Pilates, Thai partner stretching, and pickleball. Amanyara’s top activity, though, is tennis. Maybe it’s because balls, rackets, and shoes are all complimentary, or because you can enjoy open play or receive lessons from on-site coaches, or because the resort’s Legends program has brought in stars like Maria Sharapova and Frances Tiafoe to lead clinics. Oh, and Olympic gold medalist Novak Djoko­vic became Aman’s first global ambassador and wellness adviser in 2024. (Djokovic and members from his personal tennis team just hosted a three-day Mobility and Recovery retreat at Amanyara, and the property also offers a year-round detoxification program designed by the tennis pro.)

Refuel with high-quality cuisine. The main restaurant is open for breakfast (lots of nutrient-dense dishes and fresh fruit!) and Asian-inspired dinner options like miso-marinated black cod, fried rice with your choice of protein, various curries, and assorted sushi rolls — the latter of which I learned how to make with a chef. The oceanfront beach club is Mediterranean meets Caribbean — the lobster barbecue is fabulous — while the poolside bar serves light bites and creative cocktails. (Get the edamame martini.)

The spa offers massages, facials, and body scrubs and wraps, as well as some serious bodywork with resident wellness manager Aga Niestoj. (My myofascial release session with her was life-changing.) To stay in sync with nature, opt for the 60-minute water shiatsu — it sees you floating in the volcanic-stone pool while a practitioner guides you through gentle movements to balance your chakras and realign your spine — or the pre- and post-sun treatments that incorporate ingredients like aloe vera and coconut oil.

The only thing standing in your way? A 3.5-hour direct flight from PHL — a breeze. Stays from $3,414 per night. — L.B.

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INNESS

Accord, New York

The first thing I notice when I arrive at INNESS is its verdancy. It’s July, and the land is awash in wildflowers and bright grassy fields. (I imagine trees emblazoned with warm colors in the fall, and snowy banks during colder months.) It’s like a painting, and no wonder: The Catskills resort — just shy of a four-hour drive from Center City — is named after painter George Inness, whose work often depicted the American pastoral.

The property, which opened in 2021, boasts a 12-room farmhouse and 28 cabins, one of which I called home for a few days. The interior is upscale minimalist, chic yet uncomplicated — think white-drenched walls, crisp linens, artisan furniture and lighting, a simple wood-burning stove. Each cabin also features a private deck for enjoying quiet moments amid the woods.

Hungry? You don’t have to go far: INNESS’s full-service restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner using locally sourced ingredients meant to honor the seasons. (When I visited in the summer, I devoured the marinated cucumber and peach salad.) Also on offer are elevated takes on classic comforts, like steak au poivre and a rotating selection of house-made pasta.

For time outdoors, try for par on the nine-hole golf course, designed by esteemed architectural company King Collins Dormer Golf Course Design, which is open to hotel guests, members, and the public. There are also tennis and pickleball courts — you can opt for lessons for either, or play at your leisure — two seasonal saltwater pools, and archery lessons when it’s warm. In the wintertime, opt for cooking classes in the farmhouse or the annual Disco Chalet, which transforms the resort into a weekend-long rave inspired by the après-ski culture of the ’70s. (This year’s takes place in February.)

The pièce de résistance is the spa, a 7,000-square-foot space that began welcoming guests in November of 2024. Inside, find a variety of wellness perks: a hammam-style bathhouse with a pool, a traditional sauna, a steam room, and areas for lounging; a gym; a studio for exercise classes and sound baths; and treatment rooms — complete with simulated skylights — for massages, facials, and the like. It’s a space that beckons you to slow down, for as long as you need.

No matter what time of year you go, though, spend at least one evening lazing in an Adirondack chair — ideally around a fire pit — on the lawn outside of the restaurant, marveling at the sun setting just over the mountains. Rooms from $564 per night. — L.B.

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The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Amelia Island, Florida

After a two-hour direct flight into Jacksonville, you’ll make your way to the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, an eco-luxe getaway that’s equal parts relaxing, educational, and adventurous.

This part of North Florida’s coast is the perfect place to lie out in the sun and build castles in the sand with the kids. But it’s also an ecological wonderland brimming with wildlife and unique maritime vegetation, allowing you to immerse yourself in natural splendor.

Designated boardwalks make access to the beach convenient, but are also part of an initiative to protect the dunes. Take in this delicate coastal habitat and keep an eye out for the protected gopher tortoise, as well as the 200 other species that live here. On your way back from the beach, grab a drink at Dune Bar or the al-fresco dining spot Coquina, where you’ll get a unique taste of the area’s terroir with the Apiary Honey Pilsner made with honey harvested from hives located on site. And for dinner? Salt, the property’s fine-dining restaurant, offers an exquisite seafood menu — the seared octopus terrine topped with Castelvetrano olives and chorizo oil was a favorite — paired with ocean views.

The Ritz-Carlton’s customized ecology field trips, led by an on-site naturalist, give you a closer look at this pristine barrier island: You can search for hermit crabs and sea turtle nests in tidal pools, go birding at Spoonbill Pond, or try to find shark teeth at Fort Clinch. There’s also a research tour that will take you by boat to the Cumberland Sound to help collect data on dolphin communication.

Other noteworthy parts of the island include American Beach, home to Florida’s tallest sand dune, NaNa Sand Dune, and historic Fernandina Beach. Here, shop at one of the many boutiques, including Fernandina Fossils & Co., where you can go on guided fossil hunts and make shark-tooth necklaces.

Once you encounter the awe-inspiring nature of Amelia Island, a beach trip becomes something much more than the act of sprawling out on a blanket with a new book and catching some rays. Rooms from $699 per night. — K.L.P.

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Paws Up Montana

Greenough, Montana

With 37,000 acres to its name, Paws Up, a luxe wilderness resort about 40 minutes from the Missoula airport, offers countless opportunities to embrace an elevated version of the Wild West. In addition to the property’s (and Montana’s) vast beauty, the draw here is that your self-care can manifest however you want it to.

To start, the accommodations are situated in various locales. The 28 private homes are essentially modern-day log cabins with cozy perks (fireplaces, outdoor hot tubs, and kitchens/kitchenettes), and are nestled either in the woods or by a creek or river. Or you can go glamping in one of the cliffside tents — they’re offered seasonally and boast en suite bathrooms and a dedicated chef, so you don’t have to rough it too hard.

For ultimate seclusion, opt for Paws Up’s adults-only section, Green O. The 12 “hauses” — sleek cabins-meet-penthouses and tony tree houses perched 23 feet above the ground — feature floor-to-ceiling windows with forest views and outdoor decks for lounging, and are separated enough from one another and from the resort at large that your stay will feel like a sylvan hideaway. (Bonus: Green O guests have exclusive access to Social Haus, a restaurant serving three meals a day, including eight-course dinners.)

Outdoor activities abound, allowing you to choose your own adventure. In the winter, partake in cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, or dogsledding. In the warmer months, archery, mountain biking, an aerial adventure course, sporting clays, and more than 100 miles of trails await.

During my visit, I hopped on an ATV — okay, as a passenger princess, but you can operate your own if you wish — and toured the backcountry, eventually ending up at Montana’s best-preserved ghost town, Garnet, to explore the grounds. I learned how to lasso — and learned that I’m not half bad at it — and went fly-fishing on the Blackfoot River, casting, mending, and eventually reeling in a mountain whitefish with the help of talented angler Lacy Westerland. (If you aren’t into fishing, there’s also canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. The views alone are worth getting on the water.) And finally, I faced my fear of horses by saddling up on a black beauty named Skeeter. If you’re more brave than I am, book the cattle drive, where you’ll mount a horse and help lead 800-pound cows to pasture — a ranch experience like no other.

You’ll chow down on an incredible bounty (included in your stay), from huckleberry pancakes and eggs in a basket for breakfast to hearty lunch items like a lightly beer-battered halibut sandwich, beef and bison chili, and smoked chicken thighs. A multicourse dinner at Pomp is not to be missed. Menus are driven by seasonal ingredients, so they rotate often. (I loved the diver scallops served over soft white grits and garnished with toasted hazelnuts, as well as the corn ice cream.) And for a rustic Old West affair, the riverside chuck wagon dinners dish out a buffet of campfire cooking — tomahawk steaks, ribs, cedar-plank salmon, and a host of sides — plus live music, hatchet throwing, and games.

Top off your stay with a massage or facial at Spa Town, a series of open-air tents in a meadow. Your treatment — and the zen that ensues — will make you wonder how you’re ever going to catch that return flight home. Stays from $2,180 per night. — L.B.

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Omni Bedford Springs

Bedford, Pennsylvania

It’s hard to imagine a season of The White Lotus set in central Pennsylvania, but hear me out: This mountain oasis — with flowing natural springs and serene surroundings — just might have what it takes to get HBO’s attention. With an impressive historical pedigree and a stunning location, you’ll feel like the main character in your own getaway story (minus the fatal scandals, of course).

People have come to “take the waters” at Bedford Springs for hundreds of years. Native Americans believed the mineral springs had healing powers, and now you can access them thanks to the historic hotel, taken over by Omni in 2007, that sits on adjacent land.

The easiest way to access the resort’s eponymous springs — there are eight of them — is by foot. Stroll over the Sweet Root Road footbridge to Magnesia Spring. Or, for a full forest immersion, lace up your hiking shoes and trek across the mountain to Black Springs. This is a moderately challenging route, about two miles one way — just one of many trails to explore in the Allegheny Mountains.

Prefer to explore on two wheels instead? Omni offers a fleet of rentals, including mountain bikes, fat-tire trail bikes, and even e-bikes. For experienced mountain bikers, there’s a series of nearby trails of varying difficulty, or you’re an easy 10-mile drive from access to the Mid-State Trail in Everett. If you’re in more of a cruising mode, pedal the Heritage Trail into downtown Bedford for lunch and antiquing. Grab a coffee and a panini at the charming NEXT Door on Pitt Street, then spend an hour (if you can limit yourself to that) browsing the curios and crafts from more than a hundred vendors at the Founders Crossing co-op antique market.

If you’re looking for a muddier thrill, Bedford Springs is the only Omni resort to offer off-road vehicle tours. A guide in a lead UTV will navigate your party through eight miles of trails during a 90-minute expedition. You can even venture to a hard-to-reach vista with a breathtaking view of three counties.

Bedford County is also an excellent place to embrace your inner angler. There are some locations on property to drop a hook, but the real lure is the off-site fly-fishing excursions. From March to October, experienced guides will lead you deep into mountain creeks in search of rainbow, yellow, or brown trout — or, if you’re lucky, the elusive native brook trout.

Additional outdoor options abound: Tee off on the championship golf course, or use oversize clubs in a fun-for-the-family bucket golf game on the front lawn. Take a shot at archery, or try Bow & Stroll, a new program where archers traverse a scenic creekside course interspersed with targets.

Your trip to the Omni is not complete until you experience the Bedford Bath Ritual, a service offered at the property’s Springs Eternal Spa. This seven-step process involves a meditative series of soothing hot and cold mineral plunges highlighting the transformative powers of the springs — and reminding you why you ventured here in the first place. Rooms from $229 per night. — J.L.

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Bolt Farm Treehouse

Whitwell, Tennessee

Perched on a secluded mountaintop overlooking Tennessee’s Sequatchie Valley — about 50 minutes from Chattanooga — Bolt Farm is, at its heart, a nature retreat. Intended as a romantic getaway, the overall experience lends itself to couples who want to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with each other. But, from my time there, it’s perfect for solo travelers, allowing for self-reflection on what feels like the top of the world.

Spread across the property’s 55 acres are a variety of charming accommodations boasting fully stocked kitchenettes, fire pits, outdoor pizza ovens, and king-size beds with the plushest linens you’ll ever wrap yourself in.

Each private villa also comes with its own luxe amenities. The lofty tree houses and spacious domes are equipped with outdoor showers, hot tubs, and private terraces, while the mirror cabins blend in with the trees thanks to their reflective floor-to-ceiling windows. And then there is where I stayed: the floating mirror cabin suspended over a cliff with stunning views of the valley. Another perk is 24/7 access to the Wellness Haven, where you can watch the sunset or gaze at the stars while soaking in a man-made hot spring built into the mountainside.

The Wellness Haven is also where you can melt away your muscle tension in the dry sauna and stone steam room, and take an invigorating dip in the cliff-top cold plunge. Nearby, the Treehouse Spa is home to personalized massages and rejuvenating facial treatments.

However, it’s the small touches that make the experience really special. In a fast-paced world where modern conveniences are available at the touch of a button, the vintage record players and hand-cranked coffee grinders in each lodging remind you to approach the simple pleasures in life with more intention. And statues of little woodland creatures hidden along hiking paths — paths, replete with wild mushrooms, that lead to cliffside vistas, a babbling creek, and even a small waterfall — create a scavenger hunt that injects a bit of playful whimsy into your stay. These all serve as invitations to find deeper connection with your natural surroundings and be present in the moment. Rooms from $699 per night. — K.L.P.

Published as “The Wellderness” in the 2026 issue of Be Well Philly.