A Roundup of Wellness Retreats You Don’t Want to Miss
Canyon Ranch: This sublime spa resort is a sanctuary of rejuvenation and bliss. Offering the creme de la creme of spa services, a gym equipped with every imaginable machine, personal fitness coaches, and daily activities that run the gamut from early morning hikes to Pilates, biking and tennis, Canyon Ranch raises the bar when it comes to the spa experience. Reaching for the inner self, one can enroll in spiritual awareness classes that focus on breathing, relaxation and yoga. Want more? Enroll in the Canyon Ranch Life Enhancement Program and dedicate an entire week to finding balance and rejuvenation. Offering luxurious accommodations with fine dining, guests can indulge in ice cream with chocolate sauce, banana bread, and lamb chops – and still watch the pounds drift away. Start your New Year’s resolution with an inspirational trip to Canyon Ranch. Choose from Tucson, Arizona; Lenox, Massachusetts; or the newly opened retreat in sunny Miami.
The Home Ranch: A Relais and Chateaux beauty, The Home Ranch is an oasis of gorgeous scenery bursting with cross country ski runs, luxurious cabins, three heavenly gourmet squares a day, a wealth of hiking trails and the opportunity to horseback ride and fish, all about an hour outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. If downhill is your preference, no worries, the Ranch will gladly arrange round trip transportation to the slopes in downtown Steamboat. Each cabin is equipped with its own hot tub, which certainly beckons after a workout on your skis. A ladies wellness and yoga retreat led by cowgirl Tammy Pate is another reason this ranch is a travelgirl top choice. Winter or summer, this is one enriching destination that will convince you to return again and again – after all, this is The Home Ranch. Log onto www.homeranch.com or call 970.879.1780.
Miraval: Miraval is an awe-inspiring spa retreat located on 400 acres in the picturesque Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona. Complete with invigorating spa services, horseback riding, swimming, and unrivaled fitness facilities, one can kick back, energize and revitalize at this sanctuary of calm and vigor. From mud wraps to Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal massage that helps release emotional and physical blockages) this is one wellness retreat you don’t want to miss.
Triple Creek Ranch: Paradise is located 90 minutes from Missoula in Darby, Montana. This destination of luxury offers elite accommodations, a golf cart to meander the grounds, saddle time, guided fly fishing, swimming and absolutely exquisite cuisine and wines. Want to be a cowgirl for the week? No problem! Or perhaps you prefer to ski, go on a cattle drive, take a float trip or tour on an ATV. Whatever your outdoor pleasure, Triple Creek offers it all in true five-star style. This is a Relais and Chateaux property, and it’s travelgirl perfection. We’re certain you’ll agree it’s divine in every season. Check out www.triplecreekranch.com or call 406.821.4600; this is camping travelgirl style.
The Ranches of Cody, Wyoming: It’s impossible to choose just one favorite from the dozen incredible Western riding meccas found in the Absaroka Mountains. Crossed Sabres Ranch defines Wyoming hospitality with cozy modern log cabins that even have wireless internet for those who must stay connected. Dudettes who choose the all-inclusive UXU Ranch can spend equal time in the saddle or getting spa treatments, plus enjoy gourmet dining between pack trips and pedicures. Round up your cowgirl hat and make plans to visit Bill Cody Ranch and you’ll be rewarded with unparalleled trail riding as expert wranglers lead intimate journeys through the Shoshone National Forest. For more on these heavenly horse havens, go to www.crossedsabresranch.com, www.uxuranch.com and www.billcodyranch.com. When it comes to discovering the good life in the saddle, this is just a smattering of the excellent choices found within a 50-mile radius of Cody, on the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. (Bonus: You can visit Yellowstone National Park too!)
Red Horse Mountain Ranch: It’s a fine life for the equine-inclined at The Red Horse Mountain Ranch in Harrison, Idaho. Aside from saddle time, guests can partake in archery, yoga, kayaking, fly fishing and countless other activities that take advantage of the gorgeous natural setting. Choose a lodge with luxurious suites or a plush private cabin to settle into after a walk under the brilliant starry night. Tailored programs cater to kids, corporate retreats and girlfriend getaways, making this the right destination for one and all. Check the website for unique offerings such as Wine Tasting Week. Travelgirls head for the comfort of Red Horse Mountain Ranch to turn into cowgirls for a week – or a long weekend – and the benefits last for months. For more, go to www.redhorsemountain.com
