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De-stress and Detox in California

Jan. 24, 2018

From weightlifters pumping iron on Venice beach to farm-to-fork California cuisine, the Golden State has always led the nation in embracing trends in health and fitness. For wellness travelers, California has everything from expansive open lands, innovative spa treatments, detox retreats and healthy restaurants to create the perfect escape.

San Francisco
From the penthouse floor of the iconic Westin St. Francis Hotel, Rejuvé Wellness Center & Spa revolutionizes health and beauty through custom packages. The spa, an unexpected oasis in San Francisco’s Union Square, provides comprehensive services including specialized massages and  facials, yoga classes, nutrition plans, and innovative serum-infused HydraFacials. Rejuvé’s Sea La Vie Signature Spa Experience includes an aromavedic massage, marine mud facial and California’s only SolTec Lounge – a neurologist-designed tool for profound relaxation.

Santa Rosa
In need of a little Zen? Osmosis Day Spa, an oasis just 20 minutes outside of Santa Rosa, is a Japanese-style spa with one of the most unique treatments in the country, the Cedar Enzyme Bath. After you enjoy a cup of tea, your personal bath attendant will help you get settled in a tub filled with a hot, aromatic blend of finely ground cedar and rice bran. The mixture helps improve circulation and skin tone, while reducing muscle and joint aches. After a soak, enjoy the gorgeous Japanese gardens or another complimentary spa service.

Tuolumne
Sometimes all you need to de-stress is to unplug and get into nature. Hiking the Dragoon Gulch Trail, saddling up for a backcountry horseback ride or camping under the stars in Stanislaus National Forest is like pressing your reset button. Yogis can practice Standing Tree Pose in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with Mountain Om Yoga. In historic downtown Sonora, the Amala Detox and Tea Lounge’s ionic foot soak is a perfect après exercise indulgence.

Monterey
After a day exploring all Cannery Row has to offer, indulge at its Vista Blue Spa on the penthouse level of the Monterey Plaza Hotel. The spa has been named one of Travel + Leisure’s TOP 25 Spas and one of Conde Nast’s TOP 75 Hotel Spas in North America. Be sure to try the Stress Dissolving Mineral Salt Soak, which enables guests to lounge in a bath perfumed with a blend of lemon, violet, mint and sandalwood, letting the aromatherapy and view take you away.

San Luis Obispo
Is there a better town to chill in than one that is known as ‘SLO’? Located downtown, SLOCO is an eco-friendly day spa, with a nighttime sleepover package designed to promote deep sleep. The overnight experience begins by sipping an herbal elixir in the relaxation lounge before heading to your private SPApartment and crawling into a bed fitted with a special pad that relaxes body and mind using infrared waves and negative ion therapy.

Rancho Palos Verdes
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides, guests of Terranea can let the soothing waves carry them to sleep, or let the professionals at the 50,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor spa send them to dreamland with the Sound Sleep service. The experience includes a light massage done in concert with the soothing music playing in the background. Essential oils and surrounding scents further encourage deep relaxation designed to promote sleep and jet lag recovery. All of the services at the spa are organized according to time of day to work with the body’s natural Circadian Rhythms.  

Desert Hot Springs
For a total immersive wellness experience, Two Bunch Palms offers body, mind and spirit programming. A centerpiece of the first carbon neutral resort in America is the 600-year-old mineral spring that flows into its pools. The composition of the waters is said to have therapeutic and mood enhancing properties. The spa offers services ranging from chakra balancing massages and Watsu water treatments to unique mud baths. Daily programming includes fitness classes and educational workshops like mindful eating and the power of forgiveness. The Essence restaurant features a menu built from local, organic and seasonal food that is made from hormone-, GMO- and pesticide-free ingredients.

West Hollywood
Did you know West Hollywood ranked 11th nationally for fitness centers per capita and 26th for hair, skin and nail salons? Here, you can crawl into a hot sleeping bag for a 55-minute sweat session while watching Netflix. Or enjoy an IV facial – an ordinary facial with a not-so-ordinary saline hookup – because beating a hangover and getting a glow shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. Shape House, an urban sweat lodge utilizing FAR infrared technology, and Rehab Wellness, a one-stop-shop for all things recovery, are just a tip of the self-care iceberg in West Hollywood.

La Jolla
Sometimes the best path to health is simply to have a stress-free day rejuvenating in a fantastic resort like Estancia La Jolla. Nestled on 10 lush acres, the hacienda-style hotel boasts a heated saltwater pool. Book a cabana or daybed and enjoy on-tap Ginger Kambucha, chilled towels, a fruit basket and pool service while you soak up the California sun. After getting your fill of Vitamin D, head to the ESPA spa featuring services like the Tension Tamer, a deep tissue massage designed to release built up knots and tension, or the Optimal Skin Profacial, designed to relieve dry skin and plump and lift facial contours.

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