In winter, that sunny, summer camp nostalgia starts to pull on our heartstrings. Adults can find a similar escape through wellness retreats, carefully designed to offer the refresh that you’e looking for — physical, mental, spiritual, or all of the above. Whether you’re looking to hone a skill, do a digital detox, or learn to meditate, these eight sublimely relaxing and well-reviewed wellness retreats around the South promise to nourish the body, mind, and soul.
Elohee | Sautee Nacoochee, GA
A getaway to North Georgia and the Blue Ridge Mountains is often just what the doctor ordered. In Sautee Nacoochee near the small town of Helen, Elohee offers a variety of retreats centered on meditation, movement, yoga, art, and sustainability. Each theme comes with a different program, whether memoir writing or learning how to breathe properly. The picturesque campus has lodging, a dining hall, a yoga hall, a tranquil pond, a fire ring atop Bald Mountain, and miles of private trails and waterfalls.
Eupepsia | Bland, VA
Nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the Eupepsia Wellness Resort comprises 256 acres of farm and woodland, state-of-the-art wellness facilities, and rustic chic lodging. This top-ranked wellness retreat boasts coveted amenities like a Himalayan salt chalet, hydro bikes (which you can see in action in the video below!), a sensory deprivation flotation room, and high-frequency skin tightening. Between activities and treatments, guests can check in with staff to tailor the day’s schedule and enjoy chef-made farm-to-table clean eats. From a “taster” weekend to a two-week weight loss immersion, this is the destination for complete destress, detox, or a simple escape into nature.
Hilton Head Health | Hilton Head Island, SC
There are myriad reasons Hilton Head Health (referred to as H3) has been considered one of the country’s top health and weight loss resorts for over 40 years. Located on beautiful Hilton Head Island, the resort integrates the natural coastal surroundings — and activities like kayaking, biking, and beach yoga — with on-site fitness classes, dining, and education. This place will impact your life and habits much longer than your week-long or month-long stay. They also offer spa services, personal training, as well as counseling, health assessments, lectures, and more. Truthfully, we’d visit just to experience True, their healthy fine dining restaurant.
Art of Living Retreat Center | Boone, NC
Let’s head from the coast back to the Blue Ridge Mountains to one of the South’s foremost wellness centers. Set amidst 380 breathtaking acres of pristine woodland near Boone, North Carolina, the Art of Living Retreat Center is all about happiness, health, and healing. The tranquil grounds and well-equipped facilities host transformational events of all genres, sizes, and lengths. Spanning multiple days or weeks and for groups of 75 to 2,000, Art of Living has programs for couples, girlfriends, creatives, solo travelers, and more. And it’s home to Shankara Ayurveda Wellness, one the largest Ayurveda spas in the country. Here’s a fabulous video on the center.
Isha Institute for Inner Sciences | McMinnville, TN
We are continually in awe that this place exists an hour from Nashville. Isha Foundation was founded by Sadhguru, a poet, chef, philanthropist, author, and one of India’s most influential people. One of four main Isha hubs worldwide, people from around the globe flock to this breathtaking Upper Cumberland retreat center. From free weekly yoga classes and guided nature hikes to intensive yoga and meditation weekends, there is much to experience here, even for an afternoon. Perhaps the most breathtaking piece of the property is the Mahima (which means grace) — a 39,000-square-foot free-spanning meditation hall and the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
Mirival Resort & Spa | Austin, TX
Austin has its fair share of luxe spas, but Miraval takes the wellness aspect up a notch. This dreamy experiential resort has two infinity pools, all-day fitness classes, horseback riding, culinary workshops, and spa services to boot. You can truly choose your adventure at this Texas Hill Country retreat overlooking Lake Travis. Their “New Year, Renew You” all-inclusive package (available through April) includes an airport shuttle, all meals, fee-based activities, and workshops, plus $175 nightly resort credit to use toward the spa, private sessions, and extra culinary experiences. They offer distinctive programs like floating (aerial) meditation, “Rhythmic Riding” equine therapy, and ropes course challenges.
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort | Miami, FL
South Florida loves the wellness and fitness worlds, and Carillon leads the charge. The gorgeous beachfront property offers a suite of luxury amenities, 250 fitness classes per week, and a functional medical team at your disposal. Each stay or themed retreat combines healthy, flavorful food with exercise and education to help you reach specific goals or better understand your body. We love that they have an upcoming four-night Sleep Well Retreat that schools you on all things sleep and analyzes your slumber-related habits.
Skyterra | Lake Toxaway, NC
“Jump-start change, build new habits, and improve your health.” That’s what Skyterra helps you do. This five-star-rated all-inclusive wellness center near Asheville has developed retreats that combine the best of a relaxing mountain getaway with a program that yields tangible results. Before and between spa treatments, locally sourced cuisine, and expert-led classes, Skyterra guests meet with an assigned specialist to create a unique program designed to reduce stress, build strength, or work toward other fitness goals. Stays can last from one week up to nine-plus weeks.
Cleansing and resetting has never looked better!
**********
Check out even more top Southern spas and wellness centers that we’ve covered in the past!
