The new breed of guy-friendly wellness retreats will make you rethink the term spa
The term destination spa used to conjure up the image of women sitting around getting clay facials and munching on spa cuisine (read: rabbit food). Now that men have caught on to the health benefits of rubdowns, the spa industry has coined a new term: spa lodge. It’s a place where the vibe is backcountry, the workout is on the trail, and the wind-down is on the massage table or in the lounge. The differences between the sexes emerge on site, says Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder. Women want to be pampered; men want to relieve back pain and lower their golf scores. With that in mind, here are America’s best destination spas for men.
Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
A refurbished 19th-century mining town 30 miles southwest of Telluride, Dunton is a ghost town turned spa resort made up of 12 hand-hewn log cabins and tepees surrounding gurgling mineral ponds. The hot springs were once used by the Ute Indians, and the waters here are rife with iron and manganese deposits, thanks to a fault line below. This water is pumped into the central bathhouse and two of the cabins’ private soaking tubs. There’s some quirky bodywork on the menu (including Trager Therapy, a stress-relieving massage that involves rhythmic rocking movements), but adventure sports are the real draw. Dunton partners with Helitrax—a Telluride outfit with access to 300 square miles of deep-powder backcountry skiing in the San Juans—for heli-skiing. In the warmer months, you can descend into the Canyons of the Ancients (by foot or on horseback) to explore more than 6,000 archaeological sites, and fly-fish for rainbow and brown trout in the Dolores River’s West Fork. From $325 a night, duntonhotsprings.com
Red Mountain, Utah
This adventure spa has built its reputation on stellar hikes, and it’s easy to see why. Located in Utah’s Mojave Desert, near Zion National Park, it occupies 55 acres of high-desert landscape, punctuated by red-rock canyons, lava caves, and towering sandstone cliffs. Toughest among the hikes is a rim-to-rim 26-mile course across the Grand Canyon. Spa treatments here gravitate toward bodywork that targets the muscles you use for climbing (calves, quads, and hamstrings). The Southwest-inspired menu features hearty game such as elk and buffalo. $295 a night, including all meals and activities, redmountainspa.com
The Lodge at Woodloch, Pennsylvania
Located on an oak and hemlock preserve on Little Lake Teedyuskung in the Poconos, Woodloch is part country retreat, part plush spa. Upon arrival, be prepared to get into a boat and start paddling. “Fitness kayaking”—an hour of drills—takes place at Lake Teedyuskung, while more experienced kayakers can tackle the Delaware River, where biweekly dam releases provide a whitewater experience. There’s bass fishing in the lodge’s main lake, and trout fly-fishing in the nearby Lackawaxen River. Golfers also come here for the 18-hole championship course, whose signature 14th hole requires a 220-yard carry over a 200-foot-deep gorge. At the end of the day, relax in the infinity-edge whirlpool on a heated deck overlooking the lake. From $350 a night, thelodgeatwoodloch.com
Kohler Waters Spa, Wisconsin
As you’d expect from a company that has been in the water business for the past 130 years, the focus here is on water treatments. The heart of the spa lies underground, where a relaxation pool features a powerful eight-foot waterfall. All the spa water is infused with freeze-dried seawater to help your body replenish the minerals it regularly loses. Water aside, the Pete Dye–designed golf course (home to the 2004 PGA Championship) is a serious draw, with its undulating greens and deep bunkers, drop-offs, and dunes. Rubdowns—golfer’s massages—are designed to increase the range of motion in your hips, helping you rotate and swing better. Most spa-goers stay in the Carriage House annex in the American Club resort. From $260 a night, destinationkohler.com
