Luxury Destination Spas Worth the Drive

Indulging in a rejuvenating spa day often comes with the cliché that you must travel to far off locales like Bali or Thailand to find an award-winning spa. The reality? Tranquility seekers can find unforgettable luxury spa experiences close to home – whether they’re looking for a relaxing solo experience, intimate couples retreat or rounding up friends for a pampering weekend.

Palm Springs to Indian Wells: Well Spa at Miramonte Resort & Spa (pictured)

Nestled in the heart of the Coachella Valley, Miramonte Resort & Spa’s award-winning, 12,000 square foot Well Spa provides a luxurious wellness escape with specialty treatments inspired by the surrounding desert and local flora. The Well Spa is home to nine indoor treatment rooms, eucalyptus-infused steam rooms, outdoor meditation dens and hot and cold soaking pools for pre- and post-treatment relaxation.

• Drive time: 35 minutes
• Must-try treatment: The Spa’s Raindrop Therapy Massage is a 50-minute light Swedish-style massage using a range of oils that run down a guest’s back, for a full-body aromatherapy experience. This immunity-boosting treatment uses warm compresses, promotes deep relaxation, and reduces mental fatigue.

San Francisco to Healdsburg: Spa Montage Healdsburg

Elevated 20 feet above the grapevines, Spa Montage Healdsburg is a secluded sanctuary reflecting the natural serenity of wine country through treatments and experiences inspired by the land. The 11,500-square-foot spa features custom services utilizing botanical blends crafted from plants around the property, anti-aging facial therapies by Valmont, and amenities including 11 soothing treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a zero-edge pool.

• Drive time: 1.5 hours
• Must-try treatment: For ultimate relaxation, try the Pure Bliss experience that features a full body exfoliation with aromatic salts to reveal soft and supple skin, followed by a warm, hydrating body milk wrap and neck and shoulder massage.

Phoenix to Tucson: Lakeside Spa at Loews Ventana Canyon

Lakeside Spa at Loews Ventana Canyon sits among lush Sonoran Desert scenery offering panoramic views of Tucson’s Catalina Mountains. A haven for rejuvenation, Lakeside Spa offers eight treatment rooms for restorative, desert-inspired treatments, a relaxation lounge, an adults-only Serenity pool and hot tub, and wet rooms with private showers.

• Drive time: 1 hour 45 mins
• Must-try treatment: The Aloe Vera & Blue Corn Skin Healer, a warming wrap and exfoliation treatment, uses indigenous ingredients that have played important roles in the lives of Native American peoples of the Southwest for centuries.  Incorporating blue corn to exfoliate and aloe, the treatment is a go-to for almost any skin ailment and can combat environmental damage and stress.

Los Angeles to San Diego: AquaVie Fitness + Wellness Club at Westgate Hotel

AquaVie Fitness + Wellness Club offers an urban oasis of serenity in downtown San Diego. Featuring a 15,000-square-foot panoramic lookout across the San Diego skyline, AquaVie’s 40,000 square feet of custom-designed workout spaces come complete with 200 cardio and weight machines. Spanning four levels, the luxury spa and fitness center feature relaxing steam rooms, dry saunas, a Junior Olympic-sized rooftop pool, an outdoor running track and more.

• Drive time: 2 hours
• Must-try treatment: The Ocean Dew Magnesium Muscle Recovery Body Wrap infuses magnesium into the skin that is vital to muscle function and energy generation, along with oceanic elements such as aloe vera and red marine algae for optimal recovery.