Looking for a wellness getaway to recharge, recover and reset? We’ve done the research for you in the kickoff of our Wellness Guide. To start off, we’ve traveled to: We Care Spa in Palm Springs, which focuses on gut health and inflammation, Post Ranch Inn, the OG eco-luxury resort and finally Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Southern California where French countryside luxury meets cutting-edge wellness experiences.
We Care Spa
18000 Long Canyon Rd, Desert Hot Springs, 800.888.2523
“We Care is a reset, it’s not a resort or a retreat,” explains managing director Jim Root, whose spa retreat resume is probably the best in the business and has been with the property for nearly two years.
Starting with Rancho La Puerto 26 years ago (shout out to Marin-based owners Deborah Szekely, her daughter Sarah Livia), Mi Amo, Miraval and Meadowood — all considered the big guns of the spa retreat category. At nearly 70, looking more like 40, he was brought to We Care as it evolved. “We aren’t looking to expand or change anything,” explains Root, “we just want to enrich the existing program.” The pandemic marked a time for change for the 28-room property — many longtime employees found work elsewhere and they took advantage of the moment to upgrade some of their spaces and add new ‘villas.’ The treatments however are still based on founder Susana’s belief that addressing/removing/tampering/ridding the body of inflammation and gut health is the key to longevity and overall well being. According to Root, “Nine out of the 10 diseases on the list of top causes of death from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are inflammation-related. Some of these conditions are cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders.
The Magic:
The community they have fostered for decades. Forty years ago, Susana opened her home to friends and friends of friends to share a lifestyle and a business grew from there. Today these guests bring along their children and new friends. Guests can expect; no chewing (liquids only), therapeutic massages, daily colonics (with probiotics) and ancient as well as cutting edge modalities. Suzanna has also integrated three crystals into the wall studs of every guest room, treatment room and public space: Amethyst for physical, spiritual and mental balance; Selenite for clearing, purifying and cleansing energy; and clear quartz, a.k.a. “The Master Healer” to clear negativity and boost the immune system.
Deets:
Good news for newbies, the property has opened up stays to less than a week. Expect to pay around $1,200 a day for luxe lodging, all supplements, liquids (dinner is soup) and classes (nutrition, yoga, sound baths) and colonics, and when you leave, you’ll be asked for tips on top of every treatment. While some treatments are offered as a package(s), a la carte treatments are allowed as well.
Post Ranch Inn
47900 CA-1, Big Sur, 831.667.2200
We might think there’s one reason the esteemed Post Ranch Inn is widely recognized as one of the most exclusive sustainable luxury resorts in the country. But in fact, there are many. It’s not how the architecture blend into the surrounding nature or the decks with sweeping views where guests can lose themselves in the endless search for a whale spout during the day, or star gaze, or the award-winning cuisine paired with one of the most coveted wine lists in California, or even the deeply restorative and unique daily wellness experiences. These are all part of the collective experience. However, what is nearly impossible to find anywhere else is the deep connection to nature and this storied coastline. Where else can you literally air kiss a Harris’s hawk named Diego as it lands on your gloved forearm, prior to entering the bliss zone from a deeply restorative cranial sacral spa treatment surrounded by swaying redwoods. Okay, there’s one more reason: The people. Founder Michael Freed has assembled the on-site hospitality dream team to ensure guests are taken care of from the moment they arrive. Many live on property and have for generations. They are deeply passionate about the land, and it shows.
This unique combination of sustainability and luxury did not happen by luck or accident, instead, it originates from the vision of Freed, who’s also a California native and managing partner of Passport Resorts, and has honed the adage of better living through inspired design. Post Ranch Inn, started with a dream. Back in 1980, Freed, with the blessing and partnership of Billy Post (descendant of the original ranch owners) and the creative genius of renowned architect Mickey Muennig, is credited with creating the model for sustainable luxury resorts, well before it was a search term. While some of the Inn’s sustainable efforts are noticeable such as the green roofs, cool benches made from fallen trees, reused old-growth redwood panel walls and tree houses (built on stilts to project root systems of the ancient redwoods and oaks) most guests won’t notice one of largest solar power arrays in California on the property, the first commercial greywater system created in Monterey County and the fact that 90% of the resort is preserved as open space. Unlike so many resorts these days that are successful, then acquired, renamed and rebranded, the resort has remained true to its origins and its soul remains alive and well.
Known For:
Direct connection to nature for romantic escapes. Decades before forest bathing became a thing, guests roamed the quiet redwood groves, observed the rhythms of nature and dined on award-winning organic cuisine, sourced from the property and local purveyors. Nestled on a cliffside 1,200 feet above the churning Pacific Ocean, each room is designed for privacy allowing couples to wake up to fog drifting through ancient redwoods and fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves and a bit of stargazing.
Highlights:
Meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all chances to experience Sierra Mar perched on the cliffs of the Pacific and an award-winning restaurant (and Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning wine list) with extensive views of the coastline. Michelin-star chef and culinary director Reylon Agustin/Post Ranch Inn is helping to develop nonprofit, Regenerative California, a new 68-acre farm and garden in nearby Salinas that will supply Sierra Mar and other local restaurants with produce grown in a responsibly organic and regenerative manner.
The Magic:
The design of the architecture — uses natural materials, flowing lines and open space — embracing the principles of biophilic design (shown to reduce stress and enhance well-being). Spa therapists draw on time-tested techniques like aromatherapy, sound healing and energy work, while cutting-edge options such as craniosacral therapy offer deeper physical release. Classes, such as yoga, tai chi and falconry, keep guests connected to nature, which is part of the property’s secret sauce.
Details:
Post Ranch Inn offers a combination of 40 rooms, suites and private houses, each uniquely designed to reflect the natural beauty surrounding them — think floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor soaking tubs, and earth-sheltered dwellings. Nightly rates start at $1,925 and can top $5,000 for the private houses. Rates include a gourmet breakfast, a fully stocked minibar, yoga and wellness classes, and access to the property’s luxury amenities including high-end Lexus vehicles for touring. The inn does not charge resort fees and is intentionally tech-free: no televisions or alarm clocks, just organic linens, wood-burning fireplaces and views that redefine relaxation. With its all-uniqueness and high-touch service, Post Ranch Inn is a splurge — but one many say is worth every cent.
Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
29402 Spa Havens Way, Vista, 866.772.4283
Life bombards us with endless chaos and stressors between global news, natural disasters and daily challenges, making most any spa visit a good remedy. But the difference between getting an afternoon massage versus checking into a wellness program and luxury retreat is acute, opening a door to transformative experiences. Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, a stunning sanctuary in an unexpected spot — the rolling hills of Vista, California — is one such portal, where you can cocoon yourself into the embrace of wellness experts, fitness fanatics and Frette.
Guests are guided by elite health and nutritional pros, who create the ultimate personalized wellness plan for your stay. A typical day might include an early morning stretch and hike, a ballet at the barre or pelvic floor class, followed by a hydrating algae facial or a CBD, Himalayan salt-and-coffee-infused wrap. After a gourmet lunch, there’s Trapeze Yin Yoga or mat Pilates, pickleball with pro coaches and a well-deserved myofascial massage. Evening activities educate guests with cooking classes, fireside chats on Functional Mushrooms, nutrition for longevity or the 5 Love Languages. It’s the ultimate adult “camp” for over-the-top pampering with a purposeful twist.
While 32 charming villas dot the 500-acre expanse, three spanking new “Maisons” offer luxe living in five- and six-bedroom residences, perfect for milestone occasions, girls’ getaways, multigenerational reunions, executive retreats or VIP seclusion. Think private chef dining, personal massage rooms, sunlit balconies, spacious living rooms and marble bedecked bathrooms.
There is a strong possibility you will not want to ever leave, hence the repeat clientele.
Known For:
This paradise stands out for its incredible setting and style where luxury knows no bounds. Guests are surrounded by lavender fields, French Provençal-inspired architecture, vineyards, olive trees, gardens and luxurious lodgings filled with tasteful antiques, marble galore, the finest linens and more.
Highlights:
Guests can truly unplug and recalibrate here. At dawn, you can stroll the labyrinth bathed in golden light, while at night, the 17th-century French chapel, transported stone by stone from Dijon, France and rebuilt on the property, awaits for a candlelit concert or peaceful meditation. And you never know whom you will befriend at this idyllic hideaway. Perhaps a rock-n-roll legend from your favorite band and an opportunity to discuss the merits and mysteries of sound bathing, astral journeys and quantum physics in a state of post-vibrational meditation bliss. (And no, we are not making this up).
The Magic:
Cal-a-Vie honors the unique needs of women from hormone-balancing therapies and anti-inflammatory body wraps to age-defying organic facials and bone-strengthening fitness workouts — thoughtful treatments designed to promote longevity, vitality and graceful aging. Always cutting-edge in therapies and technology, the spa’s new 90-minute Magnesium Massage is designed to promote restful sleep, relaxation, joint and muscle pain reduction, and detoxification. You can also add on a CARA Multi Modal Tool session to any facials as this anti-aging technology taps into skin’s circadian rhythm using Radio Frequency, Electrical Muscle Stimulation and LED light therapy to improve elasticity, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and boost collagen.
Deets:
A variety of wellness packages for three-, four- and seven-night stays, with prices ranging from $5,300+ to $11,500+. Maison stays range from $7820 to $17,380 per person, plus tax. Some treatments are included along with all fitness classes, meals, meal planning and nutritional consulting. Services like bloodwork, acupuncture, IVs, specialty treatments, etc. are not. Round trip transportation from the San Diego Airport is complimentary to all guests.
