Who cares if it’s cold outside when you’re basking in warm steam or a Roman bath? Or perhaps you prefer a good pummeling? Relax and revitalize at one of these spas in New York State—indulgent spa getaways include everything from an eco-friendly sanctuary in the Hudson Valley to a romantic Finger Lakes retreat.
The posh Mirbeau Inn & Spa(851 West Genesee St, Skaneateles, NY; 877-647-2328, mirbeau.com; 4 hours from NYC by car) is perfect for romantics. The 14,000-square-foot wellness retreat is set in gardens reminiscent of Monet’s water-lily-strewn sanctuary at Giverny. So it isn’t surprising that among its many massages, wraps and facial treatments, one of the spa’s most popular options is Monet’s Favorite Fragrance, an aromatherapy treatment that aims to better one’s physical/emotional balance by incorporating the healing properties of essential oils with the relaxation benefits of a Swedish massage ($125–$135 for 50 minutes, $230–$250 for 100 minutes).
Situated at the top of the Shawangunk Ridge, Mohonk Mountain House (1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, NY; 877-877-2664, mohonk.com; 90 minutes from NYC by bus) has a 30,000-square-foot spa known for its signature massage treatments. One highlight, the Mohonk Red ($185 for 80 minutes), named for the red witch hazel that is grown on the property, mixes Swedish massage, Hawaiian lomilomi massage and traditional Thai stretches, then concludes with a “Guided Power Nap.” But the resort’s new menu of “Spa Solutions for Modern Living,” which provides pampering antidotes to everyday ailments like allergies (Breathe Well and Be Well, $120 for 50 minutes) and high-heel pain (High Heeler, $120 for 50 minutes), is quickly gaining attention.
Hydrotherapy is central to the experience at the Roosevelt Baths and Spa (39 Roosevelt Dr, Saratoga Springs, NY; 800-452-7275, gideonputnam.com; 3 hours from NYC by car) at the Gideon Putnam Resort. Founded in 1935, the spa boasts a whopping 43 treatment rooms, a steam room and a soothing “transition” room, complete with soft lighting and a fireplace. Taking a cue from the mineral springs of its hometown, the spa offers its own menu of effervescent mineral baths—mixed to the perfect temperature and available with or without aromatherapy ($28–$33 for 20 minutes, $30–$35 for 40 minutes).
Get the royal treatment at Belhurst Castle(4069 Rte 14 South, Geneva, NY; 315-781-5040, belhurst.com; 5 hours from NYC by car), as old-world design meets modern amenities at the inn’s Isabella Spa. Resting on the shores of Seneca Lake, this romantic Finger Lakes resort keeps couples close with a variety of pampering experiences for two, including the Isabella Romantic Retreat ($325 for 100 minutes), a combination of treatments that puts all five senses on high alert with a stimulating peppermint foot soak, invigorating coffee exfoliation, relaxing Indian sarsaparilla body wrap, warm wild-lime neck massage and full-body white pine, juniper and bergamot massage.
Rumor has it that Nick Monte, the original innkeeper at Gurney’s Inn Resort Spa & Conference Center(290 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY; 631-668-1892, gurneysinn.com; 3½ hours from NYC by train), had so much faith in the restorative properties of the sea that he drank a shot of seawater every day of his adult life. Which probably explains why he founded the only seawater spa in continental America. You’ll find said salty stuff filling the Olympic-sized, indoor heated pool and the Roman baths, and in Gurney’s signature Thalassotherapies, like the algae slimming bath ($65 for 25 minutes), in which, according to the spa, a micronized seaweed mixture speeds up metabolism, detoxifies the body and tones the skin.
At the Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa(220 North Rd, Milton, NY; 845-795-4050, buttermilkspa.com; 2 hours from NYC by car), you’ll be swathed in serenity: The sleek, eco-friendly sanctuary, owned by Great Jones Spa founder Robert Pollock, is in a bucolic Hudson Valley setting. Guests of the inn have free run of the solar-powered spa’s sauna, steam room and 40-foot indoor pool, where they can enjoy the surrounding scenery through floor-to-ceiling glass panels while they swim. A day pass is $35 (couple $50), if you don’t want to stay the night. Choose from an array of services, including seven types of massage ($60–$175), exotic body wraps ($155–$185) and organic facials ($110–$155).
On the grounds of the Oneida Indian Nation’s 1,200-acre Turning Stone Resort & Casino(5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, NY; 800-771-7711, turningstone.com/spa; 4½ hours from NYC by car), Skana spa has extensive facilities, including 12 treatment rooms, a coed mineral pool, soaking tubs, a steam room and sauna. The AAA Four Diamond award-winning resort’s spa utilizes traditional Native American healing rituals in an array of unique treatments, many of which incorporate fresh herbs. Try the White Pine Foot & Body treatment ($160 for 80 minutes), which treats your feet with mint, oat milk and vanilla, and eases sore muscles with a sage and white pine oil massage.
In the Catskills, the Copperhood Retreat & Spa(7039 State Route 28, Shandaken, NY; 845-688-2460, copperhood.com; 2½ hours from NYC by car) offers the perfect antidote to the winter doldrums. With an emphasis on wellness, this 15-room sanctuary embraces a variety of alternative healing methods, including shiatsu massage, ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy and hydrotherapy. The spa’s wet-room suite is where you’ll find its water-based options, including the hydrotherapy tub and Vichy shower—a rainlike, six-jet setup that can be enjoyed on its own or in combination with massage ($115 for 50 minutes).
