USA TODAY 10Best
Best Health & Wellness Resort: Hilton Head Health
Best Health & Wellness Resort (2017)
Travel doesn't have to compromise your health, especially when you book a stay at one of these health and fitness retreats with a focus on fitness and longevity. For the past four weeks, our readers have been voting for their favorites from our pool of 20 nominees, chosen by a panel of luxury travel experts. The results are in.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Health & Wellness Resort are as follows:
- Canyon Ranch - Tucson
- The American Club - Kohler, Wis.
- Golden Door - San Marcos, Calif.
- Mii Amo - Sedona, Ariz.
- The Ranch Malibu - Malibu, Calif.
- New Life Hiking Spa - Killington, Vt.
- Lake Austin Spa Resort - Austin
- The Lodge at Woodloch - Hawley, Penn.
- Art of Living Retreat Center - Boone, N.C.
- Hilton Head Health - Hilton Head, S.C.
Photo courtesy of Canyon Ranch
No. 10:
This stunning hotel resort is a popular retreat for visitors seeking to luxuriate in the warmth and peace of the desert. Rooms are designed to reflect the earth tones of the surrounding landscape while providing guests with range of in-room amenities for a comfortable and luxurious stay. Programs focus on mindfulness, weight loss and overall health, with wellness activities like yoga, golf, desert cycling, cooking demos and creative arts sessions.
Photo courtesy of American Club
No. 9:
Wisconsin might not leap to mind for wellness, but that's the name of the game at the five-star Kohler Waters Spa at The American Club. Between treatments, health-conscious guests can practice yoga overlooking Wood Lake, take tennis lessons, polish up on cooking skills at the Kitchens of Kohler or bask in the tranquility of the resort's 1,000 acres of gardens.
Photo courtesy of Golden Door Spa Resort
No. 8:
Tucked away in the hills of Escondido, Golden Door Spa Resort welcomes only 40 guests per week who stay in luxurious ryokan-style accommodations. Weekly activities are tailored to guests-in-residence and range from fitness classes of all levels to nutritional and spiritual counseling. Ingredients are sourced locally or from the onsite biodynamic gardens and prepared into delicious, nutritious and filling meals. Morning hiking on the resort's private trails is also extraordinary.
Photo courtesy of Preferred Hotels & Resorts
No. 7:
With a location nestled in Boynton Canyon in Sedona’s fabled Red Rock Vortex land, it’s no surprise there is a special energy at Mii Amo, a resort and destination spa offering individual treatments and 3, 4 and 7-day themed journeys. The Native American offerings are what make this spa special, earning it a host of spa industry awards.
Photo courtesy of The Ranch Malibu
No. 6:
The Ranch Malibu, an intensive one-week luxury boot camp, eliminates "decision fatigue" with a no-option daily fitness routine featuring group hiking, yoga, weight training and ab work, all amid spectacular hills above the Pacific Ocean. Healthy meals prepared with fresh, organic ingredients exclude processed sugars, alcohol and caffeine.
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 5:
New Life Hiking Spa is one of the oldest and best destination spa programs in the country, welcoming some 800 guests each season. Eleven-night weight loss retreats cater to 40 people at a time and include hiking programs for beginner through advanced fitness levels. Yoga, outdoor workouts and a healthy eating program round out the resort's holistic approach to health and wellness.
Photo courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort
No. 4:
Lake Austin Spa Resort is an award-winning destination spa tucked away in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, offering more than 100 treatments alongside luxurious accommodations, gourmet meals, a variety of fitness activities and special programs. Many of the thoughtfully-appointed guest rooms have been completely updated, and dogs are allowed in the cottages. Rates include three gourmet meals daily and a variety of fitness activities and daily events, from yoga and paddle boarding to culinary classes and life skills workshops.
Photo courtesy of Lodge at Woodloch
No. 3:
The Lodge at Woodloch, an all-inclusive, adults-only spa resort in the heart of the Pennsylvania Poconos, invites guests to step away from the whirlwind of life to refocus. Guests enjoy a full-service spa and a wide range of classes and activities – everything from meditation, yoga or spinning to painting, cooking or wine tasting.
Photo courtesy of Art of Living Retreat Center
No. 2:
Tucked high among the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Art of Living Retreat Center offers yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic detox retreat programs for wellness-minded visitors. Fire circles, community singing, hiking and pottery classes are also offered.
Photo courtesy of Hilton Head Health
No. 1:
Hilton Head Health is nationally recognized as the leading health and weight loss resort. Located on beautiful Hilton Head Island South Carolina, H3’s comprehensive program provides a holistic weight loss approach that incorporates healthy eating, fitness, mindfulness and wellness education. Guests enjoy Mediterranean inspired dining at True and unwind between activities at The Indigo Spa. H3 guests leave with the strategies and knowledge to continue their weight loss journey at home.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Anne Dimon (Travel To Wellness), Claire Endean-Cance (Luxury Travel Diary), Eric Grossman, Gerrish Lopez and Christopher Parr (Pursuitist) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of the hotel scene across the nation.
Congratulations to all these winning retreats.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Anne Dimon
A 25 plus year travel writer and... Read More
A 25 plus year travel writer and journalist, Anne Dimon is Co-Founder and President /CEO of the Wellness Tourism Association and owner/ editor of TravelToWellness.com launched in 2004 as the first online resource for the wellness-minded traveler. Prior to her life as a journalist, Anne was president of her own public relations company specializing in hospitality. She has also worked in the hotel industry as a director of public relations. An acknowledged wellness travel expert and industry consultant, Anne is also the co-author of The Travel Institute’s new Wellness Travel Specialist Course, a collaboration with the WTA.
Anne Dimon
A 25 plus year travel writer and journalist, Anne Dimon is Co-Founder and President /CEO of the Wellness Tourism Association and owner/ editor of TravelToWellness.com launched in 2004 as the first online resource for the wellness-minded traveler. Prior to her life as a journalist, Anne was president of her own public relations company specializing in hospitality. She has also worked in the hotel industry as a director of public relations. An acknowledged wellness travel expert and industry consultant, Anne is also the co-author of The Travel Institute’s new Wellness Travel Specialist Course, a collaboration with the WTA.
Christopher Parr
Christopher Parr is the Founder and... Read More
Christopher Parr is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Pursuitist, one of the world’s most influential luxury lifestyle and travel guides. Named a "Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogger” by USA Today 10Best, Parr has also been selected as the official winner in Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ 2023 list of the “Top 50 Best Luxury Influencers and Bloggers in the World.” In addition to Pursuitist, Christopher is a contributor to numerous travel and luxury publications and TV shows, including being the host of Travel Tuesday on CBS. Follow along on Twitter.
Christopher Parr
Christopher Parr is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Pursuitist, one of the world’s most influential luxury lifestyle and travel guides. Named a "Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogger” by USA Today 10Best, Parr has also been selected as the official winner in Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ 2023 list of the “Top 50 Best Luxury Influencers and Bloggers in the World.” In addition to Pursuitist, Christopher is a contributor to numerous travel and luxury publications and TV shows, including being the host of Travel Tuesday on CBS. Follow along on Twitter.
Claire Endean-Cance
Claire Endean-Cance is the co-founder of Luxury... Read More
Claire Endean-Cance is the co-founder of Luxury Travel Diary– a blog about the best luxury accommodation and the most exclusive transport for your travels. Additional features hi-light essential style & fashion items required for luxury travel. The site also hosts their own online auctions, allowing users to bid on a dream holiday or luxury items.
Claire Endean-Cance
Claire Endean-Cance is the co-founder of Luxury Travel Diary– a blog about the best luxury accommodation and the most exclusive transport for your travels. Additional features hi-light essential style & fashion items required for luxury travel. The site also hosts their own online auctions, allowing users to bid on a dream holiday or luxury items.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer... Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel... Read More
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
Gerrish Lopez
Gerrish Lopez is a food and travel writer/photographer whose adventures have taken her from tiny islands (Isle of Man, Lanai) to mega-cities like Mexico City and Hong Kong. A former vegetarian, Gerrish has grown to appreciate carnivorous fare through sampling the best meats in the world, including smoked pork jowl in Thailand and whole hog barbecue in South Carolina. Gerrish is always looking for products and services to make her travels easier and more efficient.
