The best day spas and spa resorts in America

Located in the ruddy buttes of Boynton Canyon, this award-winning, 24,000-square-foot spa recently re-opened after undergoing a major two-year, $40 million renovation. The result is a breathtaking wellness destination that draws extensively from its natural and cultural surroundings, from its name (which means 'one’s path or journey' in the Yuman language) to its services, which include ancestral stone massages and sound bath healings. The new spa facility features 21 treatment rooms, a refreshed onsite restaurant that focuses on healthy and local ingredients, and a re-designed Crystal Grotto for medication and reflection with an earthen floor, domed ceilings, and an illuminated quartz crystal. 

Signature service: Ancestral Stone Massage (100 minutes, including hot and cold stones to transfer energy and muscle relaxation.

Even in wine country, where a stunning resort and spa lurks behind every twist in the road, Spa Solage is a standout for many reasons. Chief among them are the seductive farmhouse-style buildings, mud baths, a hydrotherapy circuit and geothermal pools, a nod to the healing nature of Calistoga's natural hot springs that attract visitors from around the world. A recent overhaul has resulted in additions such as a new indoor-outdoor relaxation lounge and an herb garden, whose crops will be incorporated into treatments.

Signature service: Solage Signature Mudslide, where you get to sidle up to the mud bar to select your own dirt. It can be enjoyed solo or as part of a couple or group.

Blackberry Farm has welcomed overnight guests and foodies since the late 1970s, and its spa component, Wellhouse, opened in 2014. The rustic stone-and-wood spa offers wellness treatments and activities from aquafit to Zumba, to lifestyle lectures and 'forest bathing' (guided hikes and meditation in the woods). Meanwhile, treatments with such tempting names as Lavender and Vanilla Bourbon Body Drench will have your muscles unclenching—and your mouth watering—before you’ve even set foot in the door.

Signature service: Wellhouse Soothe (50 mins), a farm-to-treatment-table body wrap showcasing sorghum, a gluten-free grain rich in vitamins and minerals that Southern farmers have been harvesting for centuries.

Located within Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resorts Collection property that opened in 2022, the Halehouse Spa is a wellness oasis in the heart of Wine Country. Set on 712 acres of vineyards and ranch land, take in views of the vines from anywhere you sit. At the heart of the spa is the Springhouse Circuit, a series of alternating heat, cold, steam, and salt inhalation therapies. You can even book time in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, which improves circulation and is often used to treat chronic muscle pain or acute injuries. Once you're done with a treatment or the circuit, relax by an outdoor firepit or heated spa pool. 

Signature service: The Halehouse Facial (90 mins) uses cold-pressed organic botanicals, extracts, and oils to leave your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. 

In NYC, it can be hard to find time to escape the hustle and bustle of the city streets, psycho schedules, and non-stop plans. Spencer's is the solution for those of us living the lives of a true New Yorker with only a little bit of time to squeeze in our schedules for self-care. The chic spa has a simple array of offerings, though each is executed to the highest caliber possible in an impressively serene setting. The spa is located on Broadway in SoHo—arguably one of the busiest streets in the city—and once you ride the elevator to the fourth floor, you would have no idea you're still in Manhattan until glancing out the window at the hurried feet moving along the sidewalk. Spencer's has made it onto this list for their expertly tailored facials (which utilize the best of the best of Korean skincare) as well as the 30-minute foot massage that is perfect for those of us who say things like "It's just a 25-minute walk" 5 times a day. 

Signature service: The Spencer’s Signature Facial has been thoughtfully designed by Spencer’s in partnership with well-renowned New York Esthetician, Gillian Milberg. It includes enzymes, Celluma LED light therapy, lymphatic drainage massage, EMS, microcurrent and light extractions, depending on treatment duration. 

It’s nearly impossible to pick just one spa from all the striking spaces in Miami, but The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, gets our vote for its true vacation essence and endless serenity around every turn. Face and body treatments mingle with nail and acupuncture services on the menu, and all spa services come with day passes to the pool (which also has a dock to jump directly into the ocean). The staff here goes above and beyond to deliver stellar customer service, from laying a towel for you in the center of their warm stone sauna or massaging your face until you fall into a deep slumber post-facial. 

Signature service: The Standard Scrub (30 minutes) is a must-add to any service on the list. The head-to-toe scrub features lemongrass and bamboo scrubs that will remove any and all dead skin cells before cleansing with a blood-orange balm. 

Yes, it’s within a hotel (and a chain at that), but Spa Montage sneaked onto our list for several reasons. The 35,000-square-foot wellness wonderland is billed as an 'alpine oasis'—and we’re not arguing. Highlights include the indoor mosaic lap pool with mountain views, fireside his ’n’ hers copper soaking tubs for couples’ services, and even a dedicated spa menu for junior guests. Meanwhile, the Alpine Body Massage is targeted toward skiers who’ve overdone it on the nearby slopes.

Signature service: The Elements of Wellness Signature Service has four variations, but Pure Bliss offers a customized body-balancing treatment designed to 'set you on a path of ultimate well-being and renewed vitality' (120 mins).

Think 'destination spa' and Pennsylvania might not immediately spring to mind, but The Lodge at Woodloch has rightly earned its numerous accolades. Frazzled urbanites flock to this Poconos hideaway to soak away their stress under the Aqua Garden’s HydroMassage waterwalls, nap by the fireplace or veg in the aptly named Whisper Lounge. Treatments are top-notch, ranging from massages and wraps to facials; some take their inspiration from the resort’s prime woodland location. And if choosing among them fills you with angst, simply call upon the customization skills of the spa concierge. 

Signature service: The Blues Be Gone massage (75 mins) helps ease the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, including headaches, depression, stiff muscles, and aches, by enhancing the immune system and re-energizing the mind. This Swedish-style massage incorporates ginger root oil and acupressure techniques. 

Just 20 minutes from LAX, the sprawling 50,000-square-foot Spa at Terranea is a destination in itself with its own boutique, pool, gym and café—not to mention facilities such as steam rooms, outdoor cold plunge pools and Jacuzzis. Sign up for a complimentary workout class in the fitness studio—offerings include open-air cycling with vast ocean views—or catch some rays by the private spa pool before your service. Some of the spa’s 25 treatment rooms and three suites come with copper bathtubs and balconies overlooking the water, adding the soothing sound of crashing waves to the experience. 

Signature service: Tranquility (60 mins) includes a cocoon wrap to nourish, calm, and harmonize the body. A neck, scalp, and face massage are also incorporated for complete bliss.

A Japanese-style hot springs resort outside Santa Fe might sound a little unlikely, but Ten Thousand Waves’ legions of fans can’t all be wrong. Stay overnight in a hillside cottage or drop by for a day spa service (facials, massages, wraps, and more are all up for grabs). Or simply soak up the fresh forest air from the comfort of a communal hot tub (note: some are clothing-optional). If that sounds a little too social for you, prebook a private tub or spa suite. Don’t miss the nibbles and artisan sakes served in the izakaya-style restaurant, Izanami.

Signature service: Shiatsu Deep Tissue Massage, performed fully clothed and designed to open major muscle-energy systems and address pain-related blockages (80 mins).

A good spa is all about supreme relaxation, and the Allyu sets the tone from the moment you walk in the door for your appointment. Instead of sitting in a boring, run-of-the-mill waiting area, you can kick your feet up in a serene, dimly lit, semi-private tented chamber. The treatments take things to the next level too—think facials featuring botanical and vitamin-rich ingredients, hot stone massages, chakra balancing and more. 

Signature service: Infrared Detox Body Wrap (90 mins), which harnesses infrared heat to enhance relaxation, followed by a 60-minute massage. 

It's worth a trip to Jersey to experience the country's largest and most accommodating Korean Spa. It's unlikely that you'll even cover the whopping eight floors of treatments that this relaxation arena offers, including nine pools, seven sauna rooms, a restaurant, and an adjoining hotel—but we dare you to try. Among the highlights at this full-service facility are the spectacular rooftop infinity pool, which offers an unmatched view of the NYC skyline, a volcanic sand treatment using rare lava sand imported from Japan and a scorching charcoal sauna. In summer months, the outdoor pools easily beat the sardine baths of the city, and the indoor saunas will reinvigorate you no matter how brutal the winter gets. There's really no reason to leave when you're in the K-Spa equivalent of Disneyland.

Signature service: Experience the ultimate in skin rejuvenation with a Korean Body Scrub followed by a 30-minute body treatment and lavish shampoo.

Nestled in the heart of Japantown, Kabuki Springs offers a range of spa services as well as access to their springs. The treatment menu features ayurvedic massages that include access to the communal baths as well as facials. If you're looking for a chill escape from the city but you're short on time, book access to all the pools for two and a half hours and relax without taking the full day off. 

Signature service: Arnica Serum Massage w/ Communal Baths (50 min) This ayurvedic massage features an herbal extract blend of arnica, comfrey, ashwagandha and gotu kola combined with omega-rich oils. After the massage, rinse off and take a dip in the communal baths to reach total relaxation. 

While terms such as 'lifestyle retreat' and 'wellness institution' are bandied about left and right these days, the all-inclusive Canyon Ranch enterprise was a pioneer in the field when it opened in Tucson in 1979. It now boasts offshoots in Las Vegas and even on cruise ships, but the Lenox location is the best—hence its heavy quota of repeat visitors. Pampering spa services are a major draw, but what really lures guests is the opportunity to reboot their lives—whether it’s via better nutrition, stress management or spiritual reawakening—all amid the backdrop of a glorious 1897 Berkshires mansion.

Signature service: The Hungarian Scrub (50 mins) starts with vigorous and effective exfoliation of the whole body. Using sea salt, Hungarian moor mud and capsicum peptide, the skin’s texture is refined and left radiant and soft. The invigorating, firming body oil improves skin elasticity while balancing and soothing the body and senses.

The Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie proves nature and nurture can coexist in equal measure. Set deep within the iconic hotel’s woodsy Bel-Air canyon, the spa evokes a tranquil indoor-outdoor vibe with lily-pad-like sculptures, warm woodwork and dappled light in the relaxation lounge. The nurture quotient here is evident in the spa’s chic nail salon with individual mani-pedi pods and the seven treatment rooms kitted out with waterbed-style tables. 

Signature service: The Signature Valmont Facial: Vitality of the Stars experience (90 mins) is the ultimate in luxury beauty treatments, exclusive to Hotel Bel-Air Spa. Their 'bespoke massage technique will clear and detoxify, while Valmont’s cellular collagen masks for the face, eyes, neck and décolleté will renew and restore your skin. LED and microcurrent technology lifts and defines the contours of the face to add an effective finishing touch to this results-driven facial.