As the temps get colder and the days get shorter, why not treat yourself to a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway in New York State? Whether you prefer an indulgent massage at an award-winning spa, a screen-free stay at a mountain lodge, or a stress-reducing sesh with friendly farm goats, there are all kinds of places to unwind in the Empire State from Long Island to the Adirondacks. Read on for everything you need to know to plan your own winter wellness getaway in New York State. Photo credit: @lustfultravels on Instagram
Soothing and Splendid Spas
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You can’t go wrong with a trip to the spa, especially in New York State, where you’ll find award-winning relaxation around every corner. Rated four stars in the Forbes Travel Guide for 2024, the Mirbeau Inn & Spa is the place for a rejuvenating retreat with locations in Skaneateles, Rhinebeck, and Albany, each offering massages, facials, yoga and wellness classes, saunas, and more. Experience the healing power of the Saratoga’s naturally-effervescent water with a soak in the mineral baths at Roosevelt Baths & Spa, best paired with a relaxing massage, facial, or body treatment. Escape the bustle of New York City at Aire Ancient Baths, specializing in thermal baths, inspired by ancient Roman, Greek, and Ottoman traditions, as well as deeply-relaxing massages and other self-care rituals. Chosen by Spas of America as the #1 spa in New York for 2024 and #1 spa in North America for 2021, Turning Stone Resort & Casino’s Skʌ:nʌ́ spa offers treatments ranging from their signature sage and salt stone massage to balancing remedies like the Yohutsya:té: (From the Earth) Mud Wrap.
All-Inclusive Resorts
Indulge in award-winning spas, peaceful nature adventures, delicious dining, and more, all in one place! Nestled on a secluded private island, The Sagamore Resort in Lake George has everything you need for a weekend of wellness with spacious suites, guided winter hikes and ice fishing experiences, a spa with a salt and sound therapy lounge, hydrotherapy area, and 13 treatment rooms for facials and body massages, and indulgent dining options. Voted #1 resort in the Mid-Atlantic by Conde Nast for 2024, Mohonk Mountain House (pictured) offers all-inclusive luxury with 85 miles of trails, farm-to-table dining, live entertainment, wellness classes, award-winning spa, and more. In Cooperstown, settle into a charming guest room or suite at the Otesaga Resort, surrounded by stunning lakeside scenes, and immerse yourself in total tranquility with a trip to the spa, an invigorating weekend yoga class, or dinner at Hawkeye Bar & Grill. On Long Island, year-round beachfront luxury can be found at Gurney’s Montauk Resort. Cozy up in one of 158 rooms, each featuring amazing views to watch snow sprinkle the beach, revel in seaside-inspired wellness treatments at the Seawater Spa & BathHouse, or indulge in elegant eats from a heated igloo by the sea.
Nature-Based Escapes
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Nothing heals the mind, body, and soul quite like quality time in nature. Let adventure run wild among the “forever wild” Adirondacks at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid. Outdoor opportunities are endless with access to winter hiking, private ice skating, snowmobiling, snowshoe tours, private ice fishing trips, and nearby attractions like the Olympic Speed Skating Oval and Whiteface Mountain. Down in Warrensburg, get a taste of Adirondack country living at the all-inclusive Ridin-Hy Ranch (pictured). You may find yourself horseback riding or taking a sleigh ride through the snowy woods, or engaging in other winter adventures such as downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, or ice fishing. For the ultimate nature escape, spend the night at Piaule Catskills’ “landscape hotel,” where you’ll be completely immersed in nature in one of their secluded floating cabins. Round out your getaway with a forest bathing session or guided winter hike with the option to have a professional photographer join.
Sleep-Centered Stays
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A good night’s sleep is just what the doctor ordered, so why not plan a trip completely dedicated to getting those precious Zzz’s? At the Saratoga Arms Hotel, you’ll definitely catch some shut-eye with the Deep Sleep Package which includes a sleep menu featuring your choice of pillow, weighted blanket, white noise, lavender essential oil, and a personalized sleep-curated kit. Even the city that never sleeps needs a good night’s rest! The Equinox Hotel, in partnership with world-leading sleep scientist, Dr. Mathew Walker, offers a dreamy sleep experience that includes a stay in a dark, quiet, and cool room with a temperature-regulating mattress, sleep-inducing food and beverages, CBD massages, detoxifying treatments, and sleep coaching. The Park Hyatt New York has Restorative Sleep Suites, where you can get your beauty sleep on an AI-powered “smart bed” by Bryte alongside other sleep-focused amenities such as Vitruvi essential oil diffusers, signature sleeping masks, guided meditation, soundscapes, and music.
Digital Detoxes
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Looking to spend some quality time away from your screen? Plan a getaway to Urban Cowboy Lodge, nestled on 68 acres in the heart of the Catskills. When you check in at this 26-room mountain lodge, you can opt to trade your smartphone for the duration of your stay for a Polaroid camera and an exclusive checklist of activities throughout the property. You may find yourself exploring on-site mountain trails, jamming to live music, or soaking in one of the iconic clawfoot tubs. Down in the Hudson Valley, you’ll find a digital escape that combines luxury and nature at The Ranch, set on a historic, private lakefront estate. With a three or four night structured health retreat that includes snowshoeing, hiking, restorative yoga, hot and cold plunges, and more, you won’t have time to spend in front of a screen.
Yoga, Meditation, and Spiritual Retreats
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Melt away the stress of everyday life and find inner peace with a getaway centered around yoga, meditation, or spiritual healing. Found on 320 tranquil acres in the Catskills Mountains, the Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa offers a variety of two-day to week-long retreats on Buddhism, yoga, holistic health and wellness, the sacred feminine and more, where you’ll partake in activities like yoga, breathwork, meditation, and manifestation. YO1 Wellness Center offers personalized wellness programs for insomnia, anxiety, and stress management that include yoga sessions, naturopathy treatments, Ayurvedic therapies, personalized vegetarian and vegan nutrition plans, and more. Wildflower Farms, located on 140 acres in the shadow of the Shawangunk Ridge, offers daily wellness classes in meditation, breathwork, vinyasa, and pilates guided by local experts.
Foodie-Focused Experiences
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If your selfcare routine means treating yourself to a delicious and well-balanced meal or superb craft beverage, you’re in the right place! At INNESS in the Hudson Valley, enjoy a country-inspired retreat throughout 220 acres and round out your getaway with locally-sourced restaurant dishes like handmade rigatoni pomodoro, Snowdance Farm chicken, or rainbow trout. In the Finger Lakes, the Inns of Aurora combine history with modern luxury through six historic homes. Make time for one of the signature Aurora Cooks! Sessions ranging from renowned chef-led demonstrations to tasting experiences to show-shopping dinners. If a sip and stay getaway is more your thing, try the Belhurst Castle Resort & Winery in Geneva for stunning lakeside views and award-winning wine or the Becker Farms’ Press Vineyard Retreat in Gasport, where you can spend the night in a cozy cabin among the scenic vineyards and orchard.
Animal Retreats
It’s no secret that animal friends can help reduce stress. Hemlock Neversink, tucked into a 230-acre property in the Catskills, offers a variety of ways to de-stress including goat therapy, where you can spend time with the friendly farm goats on a stroll through the Goat Field or a morning goat hike. See what the buzz is about at Bowterra Farm in Central New York and experience the healing benefits of hive therapy. As one of the first farms to offer this holistic form of therapy, you’ll get to visit Bowterra’s hive house and lay on top of a bee hive for a micro-massage from the wings of thousands of bees vibrating. Combined with the sound of the buzzing and scent of honey, you’ll enter a state of deep relaxation, helping promote respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune healing. At Clover Brooke Farm in the Hudson Valley, surround yourself with furry farm animal experiences like llama alpaca hikes, goat and donkey walks, tea time with alpacas, and Llamaste farm yoga. For the ultimate farm experience, spend the night at Clover Brooke, where you can truly reconnect with nature among the charming countryside.
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