Getting out of town to hit the beach may seem like the perfect way to kick off the warmer months. But after a week or two of lounging with cocktails and vacation food, you might come home without the healthy glow you expected.
Wellness tourism is trending, and for good reason. The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness tourism as “travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal well-being.”
This year, there is expected to be expansion in the market, bringing more vacationers to spas and wellness centers that can help people get healthier, recover from stress, and detox. According to GWI, “Holistic health and prevention are increasingly at the center of consumer decision-making, and people now expect to continue their healthy lifestyles and wellness routines when they are away from home.”
While typical vacation destinations center around leisure time, wellness destinations incorporate activities such as yoga, hiking, horseback riding, detoxing and dieting, and bootcamps. Mineral springs are a growing sector of the wellness economy, with thermal resorts and mineral spas popping up around the country and the world.
Aside from activities that promote holistic health, wellness travel can offer specialized experiences. These include cultural immersions, nature therapy, executive checkups, spiritual guidance, and arts and crafts. This type of travel emphasizes learning, and the destinations are devoted to educational experiences.
Since so much of wellness travel centers on well-being, it’s important to note the differences between the terms “wellness” and “well-being.” According to Gallup, wellness is part of well-being and centers around healthy lifestyle choices like working out and healthy eating. Well-being, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a feeling of contentment with your life as a result of your lifestyle choices.
According to Travel Market Report, more people are going on trips to purposefully improve their mental, physical, and emotional health. More people are also going away to reconnect with each other or to form new connections with others. Wellness travel is perfect for the solo traveler, too. Itineraries are typically pre-planned, and stays at a retreat or wellness center include accommodations, food and drink, and leisure activities.
In Virginia, there are plenty of places where you can get away to detox, recover from stress, or immerse yourself in nature.
Omni Homestead Resort
The Omni Homestead Resort is the nation’s oldest spa, where Thomas Jefferson would immerse himself in the mineral pools. In 2022, the pools were reopened after having been rehabbed and restored to their former glory. The pools are known for their body-temperature waters that contain magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which are purported to have health benefits, including aiding in the treatment of skin conditions, arthritis, and menopause symptoms.
The resort also runs the Virginia Wine Experience, which highlights the state’s vintages while emphasizing the history of winegrowing in Virginia from 1607 through today. Select a flight to sample a few, have a glass in the Tasting Parlor, or buy a bottle to go in-depth. Monthly, the resort focuses on a specific Virginia winery, introducing the vintner, who prepares a symposium followed by a private dinner that includes a selection of the vineyard’s best offerings.
The Omni Homestead Resort also houses about 30 horses in its stables, and you can make arrangements to take a ride along a wooded trail through the Allegheny Mountains. If you’re not prepared to hop into the saddle, but you’d still like to hit the trails, you can make arrangements to take a historic carriage ride.
7696 Sam Snead Hwy., Hot Springs
Primland Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection
Primland is a Blue Ridge Mountain retreat with lodges, cottages, and tree houses in a variety of sizes. The resort focuses on wellness and outdoor experiences, offering activities and services year-round. The rooms are newly renovated and bring in plenty of natural light.
When it gets dark, the resort is the perfect place to reconnect with Earth, and you can watch the stars from the mountain-side observatory. Since the resort is at a higher altitude, the skies are clearer, making stargazing an activity you won’t want to miss. There are top-notch telescopes to take in the celestial happenings.
Paddle across the nearby Talbott Reservoir on a guided kayaking trip. If you’re a beginner, try an inflatable “Funyak.” With an elevation of 2,600 feet, the reservoir is part of the Dan River Gorge, which has been nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Virginia.” You can also get a workout by paddleboarding as you watch the natural world around you.
2000 Busted Rock Rd., Meadows of Dan
Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm
Open April through October, Fort Lewis Lodge is the perfect place for a serene outdoor adventure. With a lodge that includes a charming converted silo, cabins, two full houses, and cottages, there’s a rustic, outdoorsy type of accommodation for every group size. With larger separate residences, Fort Lewis Lodge is also an ideal spot for family reunions or other special occasions. And, there are a number of themed retreats throughout the open season.
From April 21 to 23, you can take part in the Fort Lewis Yoga and Meditation Retreat. Instructors will guide you through a weekend of zen and bliss while you listen to the world come alive for spring. The retreat is open to all levels and includes four all-level yoga sessions, five guided meditations, and a gift bag.
The Cowpasture River Preservation Association Artist Retreat, from May 7 to 10, will let you get in touch with your creative side as you network with other artists. You’ll be provided with lunch, discounted accommodations (if you are a registered artist), property access, and evening social hours.
811 Millstone Ln., Millboro
Eupepsia Wellness Resort
The definition of eupepsia is “good digestion” — and that is what’s quite likely in store for guests of this wellness lifestyle center. The resort focuses on an integrated wellness experience that creates a personalized program for each guest after they undergo detailed screenings. It balances onsite improvement with take-home tools to help you continue your wellness journey long after you leave the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The resort’s bespoke wellness retreats focus on the science and philosophy of Ayurveda. The retreats combine advanced health screenings with traditional or progressive therapies and nutrition programs customized to each guest’s body type. Healthy detox retreats for people with low energy or brain fog focus on eliminating toxins and replenishing the body with the ideal balance of nutrients. Guests will leave feeling lighter, re-energized, and focused, according to the resort’s website.
The rejuvenating cleanse retreat is a seasonal wellness program that focuses on getting rid of toxins and the restoration of healthy metabolism. It’s purported to boost immunity and balance the body to initiate self-healing. The programs are one, two, three, or four weeks in duration, and they are customized to each guest’s needs. The goal is to eliminate bodily toxins and restart your natural healing process as a way to kick-start weight loss. With a customized diet to meet your goals combined with therapy, the programs aim to set you on a road to holistic nutrition and healthy weight management.
12940 W. Blue Grass Trail, Bland
Feature photo courtesy Fort Lewis Lodge & Farm
This story originally ran in our April issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
