From a mani-pedi at an upscale spa to an immersive walk through a dense forest, wellness means different things to different people. But there are some common threads among the many different wellness experiences travelers seek; they tend to prioritize spending time outdoors, incorporate natural resources like mineral-rich spring water and, above all, facilitate quiet time away from people’s busy lives.
Here are some experiences throughout the Southeast that promise to refresh and relax group travelers.
Bathhouse Row
Hot Springs, Arkansas
The land for Hot Springs, Arkansas, was set aside by the federal government before there was even a national park system. That’s because of the site’s natural thermal springs, which have long been a selling point. An estimated 700,000 gallons of water per day come up into these thermal springs at 143 degrees.
Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs is a collection of Victorian bathhouses and gardens from the 1890s and early 1900s. Visitors came to Hot Springs to enjoy the benefits of bathing, which was even a treatment prescribed by doctors. While the advent of modern medicine meant a decline for the bathing industry, the bathhouses were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
“The National Park Service has spent a lot of money and a few decades to bring them back up to their grandeur,” said Bill Solleder, director of marketing at Visit Hot Springs. “But the water is why we’ve been coming here for years and years. Some people say there’s healing properties to it.”
Today, one of the most iconic bathhouses on Bathhouse Row is Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum, which groups can tour for a look at the bathhouses in their heyday. Other bathhouses have been converted to a brewery and a boutique hotel. Even though some of the bathhouses have changed, a few of them are still available for present-day wellness experiences. The Buckstaff Bathhouse still operates the same way it has since 1912; an attendant guides guests through a hydrotherapy session in a bath filled with 100-degree, mineral-rich spring water. Quapaw Baths and Spa, formerly Quapaw Bathhouse, offers a more modern experience, with large community pools filled with spring water for visitors to relax in. The property also has private baths, a steam room and a café. Both operational bathhouses also offer some traditional spa services, such as facials, manicures and pedicures.
Forest Bathing
Sylva, North Carolina
To those unfamiliar with the practice, the term “forest bathing” may invoke ideas of lounging in hot springs or swimming in lakes. But the practice itself, increasingly popular in the wellness sphere, doesn’t involve bathing in water. Rather, it’s an immersion of the senses in a natural environment. The practice has roots in Japan and is now gaining popularity in the Western world thanks to its long list of benefits, which include improved creativity and concentration, as well as increased mindfulness and relaxation. The practice has also been shown to lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, and there’s even evidence to suggest it can boost your immunity.
“The main thing people will get out of it is restoration,” said Mark Ellison, founder of Pinnacle Forest Therapy, which takes individuals and groups on guided forest bathing excursions near Sylva and Cashiers, North Carolina. “It’s a way to spend leisurely time in nature being able to tap into scientifically demonstrated health benefits.”
Ellison can take groups of up to 20 people into the forests of Pinnacle Park, though smaller groups are better because they allow maximum relaxation and focus on the natural world. They’ll walk on the only certified forest therapy trail in the state, which is only one of 20 in the world. These excursions usually last about 2 1/2 hours and consist of a series of invitations to notice their surroundings with their senses. The trails are low impact, and the speed of the walks is slow enough that it’s suitable for groups of all skill levels and ages. The experience ends with a tea ceremony by the creek and a snack, which provides another opportunity to reflect and enjoy nature.
The Alluvian Spa
Greenwood, Mississippi
For a wellness experience in the Mississippi Delta, one of the most obvious choices is The Alluvian Hotel and Spa in Greenwood, Mississippi. The Alluvian, a boutique hotel with 45 guest rooms and five suites, opened in 2003 and occupies the space that was once the Hotel Irving, which operated from 1917 to the 1980s. While the exterior was preserved, the hotel’s sleek, contemporary interior design was inspired by the Delta region. It features elegant finishes and decor and incorporates marble floors, geometric patterns, rich hues and artwork by Mississippi artists throughout its interior. But perhaps what the Alluvian is best known for is its long list of amenities.
Groups can enjoy the property’s 7,000-square-foot spa, where they can choose from a long menu of spa services, such as massages, face and body care, therapeutic baths and hand and foot care. In addition to its spa, a variety of wellness-related experiences are offered at The Alluvian, such as yoga, barre and other fitness classes. These can be held for groups of 12 to 20 people.
The hotel restaurant, Giardina’s, is dedicated to providing nourishing and sophisticated meals that blend Southern and Italian cuisine and honor the culinary traditions of the Delta. Whether diners choose a filet mignon, Gulf shrimp and grits or spinach-stuffed manicotti, groups can choose to dine in two private spaces, one of which opens onto the hotel’s courtyard. Buffets, plated dinners and box lunches are offered. There’s also a Viking Cooking School at the hotel for guests who want to take a cooking class.
“The Alluvian is dedicated to rejuvenating both body and soul,” said general manager Beth Williams. “We have worked with groups to provide full wellness experiences that incorporate sessions at Studio A, services at the spa, healthy dinners at Giardina’s and a relaxing night’s sleep at the hotel.”
Spas of Berkeley Springs
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Originally called Bath after the English resort town of the same name, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, has always been thought of as a center of healing and wellness due to its natural warm springs, which stay a consistent 74 degrees year round. In addition to its thermal springs, this oasis tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains is a hot spot for healing, holistic medicine and recreational activities that promote wellness.
“It’s such a special place,” said Stephanie Rebant, spokesperson for Travel Berkeley Springs. “When you come here, it’s like time stops, and you can just enjoy the small-town environment and the owner-operated artisan, craftsman and wellness shops.”
Spas draw visitors to Berkeley Springs in droves. The city’s newest spa, Healing Water Spa at Cacapon Resort State Park, offers traditional spa services, such as massages, facials and full body scrubs, all with gorgeous views of the mountains. There’s also Atasia Spa, which combines elements of Asian and Western spa services and features a eucalyptus steam room, a steam and herbal wrap, a whirlpool bath, mud treatments and even Reiki. Renaissance Spa at The Country Inn offers a great view of town in addition to whirlpool baths, full body massages and other spa services. Groups can also enjoy Roman baths and spa experiences in Berkeley Springs State Park, though groups will have to take turns at the Roman bath facilities because they’re fed from natural springs.
Between pampering sessions, groups can take advantage of the hiking and biking trails surrounding the town.
Elohee Center
Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia
In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia, groups will find a retreat center that aims to nurture their souls along with their bodies. This retreat is called Elohee, which means “earth place” in Cherokee. The land was purchased by Andy and Carolyn Bralley for their daughter, Eve Cook, who was suffering from Hodgkin lymphoma at the time and needed a place to rest and recover.
Cook’s cancer went into remission, and her healing journey inspired her family to create the Elohee Center on the 220-acre piece of undeveloped land where Cook had recovered, with the mission of sharing this spiritual and physical healing with others. The beauty of the land is a big part of what draws people to Elohee. With a 100-foot waterfall, a 400-year-old Hemlock tree, several mountain peaks and plenty of hiking trails, the pristine setting provides a refreshing backdrop for retreats.
Elohee Center can host retreats for groups of 10 to 50 participants. They can meet either in Mandala Hall or Forest Studio while staying in the property’s forest cottages. In addition to hiking and enjoying the natural beauty of the land, groups can use the center’s practice studios for yoga and meditation. There’s also a spa, a communal tea house, a fire pit and a reflection pond for relaxation.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
Lampe, Missouri
The serenity of the natural world goes hand-in-hand with wellness, and this is true at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, a 10,000-acre park in the Ozark Mountains just outside of Branson, Missouri. The varied terrain includes bluffs, waterfalls, winding creeks and a wide variety of flora and fauna for park visitors to see. The landscape is breathtaking no matter the time of year, making it a wonderful all-seasons stop for groups looking to venture into nature.
The park offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities for groups. One of the most popular ways to explore the park is on horseback, which visitors can do with a one-hour ride through the park. Wildlife tours let park visitors see the many animals within it, including bison, elk and bald eagles, from an open-air tram, a shuttle van or, for smaller groups, jeeps. On these two-hour excursions, expert guides take groups on a narrated tour of park scenery to the best places to see wildlife while educating them about the animals’ habitats. Additional activities include hiking, biking and fishing.
When they’re finished exploring and rejuvenating in nature, groups can get a bite to eat at the park’s on-site restaurant, Mill and Canyon Grill. There, guests can enjoy waterfall views with lunch.
