7 Wellness Resorts to Book When You Need a Self-Care Weekend
For when you want to jet-set — but not too far — for a mini getaway
Photographs courtesy of La Valise Tulum
Look, life is stressful. And exhausting. And sometimes you just need a break. The good news is you don’t need to go too far to find a little peace and quiet — or a little yoga and spa time. Here are seven wellness resorts that provide much-needed TLC and are just a short drive or flight from Philadelphia.
Palmaïa, The House of Aïa
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
I’m eating a veggie-loaded poke bowl and fresh guacamole, steps away from undulating ocean waves. I’ve left the mid-January cold of Philadelphia for the inviting warmth — and, soon I’d discover — the tranquil ambiance of Palmaïa, an all-inclusive wellness resort in Playa del Carmen. This is exactly what I need, I thought, not knowing that beachside nutritious eats was just my scratching at the surface of what the self-care sanctuary had in store.
Palmaïa is a place where you’ll feel more in tune with yourself and nature. The resort’s Architects of Life programming offers five to six activities per day — no advanced reservation needed — that range from various types of yoga and cacao ceremonies to sound-bath sessions and a watercolor painting class. During my stay, I joined a group of 15 or so other travelers on a tented deck for hatha yoga. Moving through different postures while focusing on my breath, surrounded by lush vegetation, helped me slow down and ground me in the present moment. And a truly moving gratitude ceremony the next morning reminded me that though my current season of life can feel difficult, overwhelming, and nonstop — at the time, my daughter was seven months old — I have a village that steps in to support me and my family, not just this weekend, but anytime we need them.
One of the Architects of Life sessions takes place on a resort deck. / Photograph courtesy of Palmaïa
For water therapy, there are swimmable cenotes, multiple pools (including regular and cold plunge pools, and a separate one for kids), and, of course, the ocean. Even better: All guests reside in ocean-front suites, some of which have swim-out access.
The resort’s eco-wellness emphasis also shines via food and beverage. It prioritizes a vegan diet across its six eateries, from the Asian-inspired Ume to the Mediterranean elegance of Mar de Olivo to Charly’s Vegan Tacos, a beachside airstream food truck. (For nearly any dish, you can sub in meat, chicken, or fish.) For cocktails, Palmaïa makes zero-proof the standard and the alcoholic version secondary. And for anyone who has a strong sweet tooth like I do, the plant-laden cafe, Plantissa, has plenty of treats — including a dark chocolate and almond cookie with no refined sugars that I couldn’t get enough of — plus smoothies, cold-pressed juices, salads, soups, and healthy breakfast items like coconut yogurt and overnight oats.
Charly’s Vegan Tacos (left) and a gratitude ceremony / Photographs by Laura Brzyski
The spa, located on the jungle side, offers a variety of massages and facials, plus energy-focused treatments like Reiki and biomagnetism, the latter which is meant to balance pH levels, reduce stress, and decrease inflammation. You can also book a Temazcal ceremony, an ancient ceremony that takes place in a sweat lodge with a guide, for physical, mental, and spiritual healing.
Though Palmaïa very much caters to the adult wellness enthusiast, I was surprised to find how child-friendly the resort is. There’s a screen-free kids’ club with Waldorf-inspired activities like dancing, art, and time in nature. Even better: The resort has dedicated, thoughtfully created menus for little ones.
The only thing standing in your way of all this bliss? A 3.5-hour direct flight out of PHL — easy peasy. Stays from $949.
Crystal Springs Resort
Hamburg, New Jersey
Who knew North Jersey was home to a stunner of a wellness resort? That’s right: Crystal Springs, about a three-hour drive from Center City, offers a self-care escape, year-round.
Crystal Springs — which is known to be the largest solar-powered resort in the Northeast — comprises two properties. The first, Grand Cascades Lodge, is a luxe home base. Accommodations range from standard guest rooms to suites (up to two bedrooms; some with a fireplace deck), and the Grand Villa, which features six bedrooms, two living rooms, and a full kitchen. And about three miles away stands the more laidback Minerals Hotel, also with guest rooms and suites.
Grand Cascades Lodge / Photograph courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort
Outside your room, you’ll find so many activities — all included in your stay, with the exception of goat yoga — from hikes on the Appalachian trail, archery, and forest bathing to pickleball, spin classes, art and cake decorating workshops, and way, way more. Oh, and we can’t forget the six championship golf courses.
Across the two hotels, find 15 eateries, ranging from a poolside taqueria and gelato bar to cafes and cozy bistros to the seasonal cocoa cabin (near an ice skating rink, naturally). Crystal Springs also has an award-winning wine cellar reminiscent of catacombs — but for 6,000 labels — in which you can privately dine, shop, and tour.
The pièce de résistance? Restaurant Latour, a four-star fine dining restaurant that’s tucked away from the rest of Grand Cascades — almost like a private dining room — and boasts three- and seven-course menus, plus spectacular views of the Kittatinny Mountains. I opted for the seven-course, which, during my stay, featured dishes like rabbit ravioli, pork jowl with locally tapped maple, and caramelized white chocolate ice cream with rhubarb and brown butter. The restaurant focuses on foraged and locally sourced ingredients, and as such, the offerings change frequently. But no matter when you dine, you’ll end your meal with custom-made chocolates, which are utterly delightful.
The lush Biosphere pool complex at Crystal Springs / Photograph courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort
My favorite way to pursue self-care at Crystal Springs was with some spa time. There are two day spas — one at each property — and each offer massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, and manis/pedis.
A close second, though, was swimming at the Biosphere, a 10,000-square-foot complex with indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub, and water slide. It’s decked out in tropical plants and the ceiling allows in nearly 100 percent sunlight, making you feel like you’re in a swimmable greenhouse. Rooms at Minerals Hotel start at $297 per night; rooms at Grand Cascades Lodge start at $459 per night.
Mayflower Inn & Spa
Washington, Connecticut
This cozy countryside resort — a little over 3.5 hours from Philly by car — is perfect for a self-care getaway.
Your room — which will be either in the main house or in one of the three surrounding cottages — serves as a charming home base. My cottage was stately-meets-whimsical, with splashes of green and botanical print on the walls, antique desk furniture, and a beautiful white soaking tub in the bathroom. (This aesthetic can be found elsewhere on property, like the yellow-drenched parlor decked out with photos of florals.)
Spend a few hours (or an entire day) at The Retreat, the property’s holistic health sanctuary. The spa offers an array of healing services and amenities, from massages, facials and body wraps to an indoor heated pool and plant-laden whirlpool, an outdoor barrel sauna, and fitness classes, one of which is free daily.
The spa’s Relaxation Room / Photograph courtesy of Mayflower Inn & Spa
Other seasonal activities include horseback riding, archery and tennis lessons, tea-blending sessions, tarot readings, cocktail-making classes, the Visiting Masters wellness series, and more.
Eat your fill in the Garden Room, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (I recommend the sourdough French toast in the morning and the beet salad in the evening.) Or, in the warmer months, opt for a private dinner in the chef’s garden, which — along with local purveyors and farms — provides the ingredients for your curated meal. When you’re ready to stargaze, pull up a chair around one of the bonfires and create your own s’mores. The inn provides supplies to every guest, every night.
Mayflower is also perfect for those expecting, with a babymoon package in collaboration with cult-favorite maternity brand HATCH. Your room will be stocked with a Bearaby body pillow, products like belly oil from HATCH’s Mama line, and a box of apparel that you and a brand stylist have curated pre-visit. Rooms from $1,100.
La Valise Tulum
Tulum, Mexico
Tulum might be known for its DJ beach parties and jet-setting Instagram influencers, but that scene falls away once you pull up to La Valise.
The adults-only boutique — Mayan-chic with its hand-thatched palapa roofs and eco-conscious thanks to a zero-waste certification — is split into two 11-key properties that are just a stone’s throw from one another. The oceanfront side is situated on a private beach — perfect for lolling on a daybed near turquoise water — and features an open-air all-day restaurant.
The private beach of La Valise Tulum / Photograph courtesy of La Valise Tulum
Across the road are jungle suites, which debuted in January 2022 and are the epitome of idyllic hideaways. We’re talking secluded yet spacious rooms, private decks (some with plunge pools!), outdoor showers stocked with all-natural products, an infinity pool, and a cenote at the center of it all. Want to be totally wowed? Book one of the ultra-luxe lodgings where you can literally sleep under the stars thanks to rolling canopy beds.
The rollable canopy bed on the jungle side of La Valise Tulum. / Photograph by Affyrm Studio for La Valise Tulum
A hefty dose of wellness comes in the form of beach yoga and meditation, and there are five-day spirit and culture workshops replete with sound healing, snorkeling, ceramics classes, and a visit to Chichen Itza. Further unwind at the spa, where the team provides massages, facials and body treatments rooted in ancient Mayan tradition. (The mud ritual will give you the softest skin of your life.)
Breakfast is included and generous, with assorted breads, jam, yogurt and granola, fruits galore, and entrée options like fresh avocado toast and eggs your way served with black beans, bacon and veggies — and for lunch, don’t sleep on the Yucatán ceviche paired with a refreshing fruit-of-your-choice mezcalita. At nightfall, find your seat at NÜ, the hotel’s sexy next-door restaurant, which partners with an organic, regenerative farm to provide locally sourced dishes. Talk about never wanting to leave. Rooms from $305.
The Lodge at Woodloch
Hawley, Pennsylvania
Photograph courtesy of the Lodge at Woodloch
This Poconos resort is adults-only and all-inclusive, with lodging, three healthy meals per day, outdoor excursions, spa access, and a full schedule of rotating workouts, art classes, speakers and cooking demos covered during your stay. (Pro tip: Upgrade to get a daily $180 spa credit.) Try your hand at beginner pickleball, line-dancing classes or paddleboarding on the 15-acre private lake. And you definitely don’t want to miss the spa’s majestic indoor pool, “cool” Snow Room, and hydromassage water walls, or the intimate chef-led dinners on nearby Blackmore Farm and Orchard. Rooms from $564.
Southall Farm & Inn
Franklin, Tennessee
Photograph courtesy of Southall
About twenty-five miles from Nashville stands Southall, a farm-centric getaway where solo travelers and multi-gen families alike can eschew devices and tune into their natural environs — if only for a long weekend.
The 325 bucolic acres boast a working farm, greenhouses, a public farm stand, an orchard with over 40 apple varieties, and six million (!) bees across seven apiaries. Most of Southall’s activities are outdoors — from fly-fishing and falconry to an aerial adventure course and a heated mineral pool by the lake — but there are also indoor perks, like the spa and salon, and dining spaces highlighting seasonal farm-to-table fare.
Photograph courtesy of Southall
To wind down, find respite in your upscale-rustic guest room — some feature soaking tubs and fireplaces — or on the patio of your cabin-style cottage.
Bonus: Getting there is a breeze thanks to a two-ish-hour nonstop flight from PHL to BNA. Rooms from $559.
Nemacolin
Farmington, Pennsylvania
Photograph courtesy of Nemacolin
We could go on and on about Nemacolin’s five different accommodation types, including the newly transformed Grand Lodge and Chateau, or the 18 eateries, bars and lounges offering everything from seafood towers and tomahawk steaks to afternoon tea and specialty cigars. But it’s the wellness activities that really shine (and somersault!) across the 2,200-plus-acre play-cation wonderland in southwestern PA’s Laurel Highlands.
At the year-round Peak, have a splash in the two outdoor pools (heated during the winter months) before going bowling or ax-throwing, or get adventurous on the ropes course, ski slopes or off-roading trail. Sport enthusiasts will love playing 18 holes on either of the two PGA-worthy courses or getting one-on-one instruction at the on-site golf academy, trying their hand at sporting clays or archery, and seeing the Franco Harris Immaculate Reception football IRL at the art gallery.
For folks who want a little more quiet, hit Woodlands Spa and Salon for an invigorating massage, skin-care services utilizing cult favorite Biologique Recherche, a mani/pedi, a makeup lesson, or a spray tan. Your treatment includes access to the heated four-lane lap pool, whirlpool, steam room, sauna, and a fireside lounge. More cutting-edge experiences can be found at the Holistic Healing Center — there are personalized sessions with acupuncturist and Chinese-medicine doctor Jerry Lin, a fully stocked apothecary, yoga and meditation classes, a saltwater float, and infrared light and cryo therapies.
Whether or not you’re traveling with kiddos, pay a visit to the Wildlife Habitats, where animals including billy goats, buffalo, tigers and lions roam. (A safari tour and a dogsledding session are musts!) After, learn how to make pasta from scratch with chefs — don’t worry, you get to eat your finished creation — then top the night off with scoops from PJ’s, a 1950s-style ice-cream parlor. Rooms from $759.
