Spending time in nature is a great way to support your well-being, with many studies revealing the numerous benefits to health — physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you want to return from your vacation feeling relaxed and recharged, one of the best ways to do it might be to stay at a nature resort. We’re talking about properties that are surrounded by natural beauty with opportunities for all sorts of outdoor adventure. While most have Wi-Fi these days, it can be the perfect opportunity to power down those devices for a true escape that’s sure to soothe mind, body, and spirit.
Amara Resort - Sedona, Arizona
At Amara Resort, you can do a lot more than visit Sedona’s famous red rock country, you can wake up to views of them from this resort’s magical setting along Oak Creek Canyon. the upscale rooms all have patios or balconies, comfy beds with pillowtop mattresses, and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. By booking a suite, you’ll get a view of the creek and a whirlpool tub. The top spa resort in Sedona is only two blocks from uptown, providing easy access to countless attractions while offering a saltwater infinity pool where you can relax or swim with a view of the red rocks, rent mountain bikes to explore the trails or even embark on a sunrise hot-air balloon excursion. Afterward, enjoy sipping craft margaritas or another agave-based beverage at SaltRock Kitchen, followed by delicious southwestern cuisine.
Lake Placid Lodge - Lake Placid, New York
Deep in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid Lodge offers a rustic yet luxurious stay in rooms and cabins with stone fireplaces and hand-built beds. At this luxury resort in Upstate New York, guests can take advantage of the Check-in to Check Out Package that includes made-to-order breakfast, chef-prepared snacks, and wine, and the fourth night free. You’re encouraged to leave your phone, laptop, and other electronic devices at the front desk upon arrival, exchanging those items for time spent taking part in outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and boating, reading a book from the library stocked with best-sellers, or simply cozying up to a crackling fire. In the winter, skiing and snowshoeing are on offer.
Amangiri - Big Water, Utah
Amangiri is an ultra-luxe hotel inspired by the Earth, harmoniously blending into the rugged Canyon Country landscape of southern Utah. One of the world’s most luxurious desert resorts, it’s an ideal mix of VIP treatment getting dirt under your nails, with mornings started by watching the sun come up over 400-year-old limestone formations followed by a hike and a horseback ride led by expert guides. Look forward to decadent spa treatments and high-end gourmet meals along with incredible stargazing. The chic modern suites include private plunge pools and terraces that upon up to the night’s sky where constellations seem as if they’re within arm’s reach.
Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences - Lihue, Kauai
Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences offers the chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Kauai. The “Garden Isle” was perfectly made for those seeking spectacular tropical landscapes and pristine nature with mountains that are mostly covered by lush emerald rainforest, countless waterfalls, and magnificent stretches of sand. The 5-star Hawaiian property offers 17 miles of trails that wind through the incredible flora and fauna, including five types of endangered birds. There are even Adventure Guides available on-site that will bring you on more challenging hikes or for a guided bike ride. The vast grounds include an infinity pool with ocean views, a lagoon-style pool, a golf course, and two restaurants. Spa treatments are available, and accommodation is offered in two- to four-bedroom apartments with open-plan kitchens, laundry facilities, balconies or terraces, and soaking tubs.
Montage Palmetto Bluff - Bluffton, South Carolina
Montage Palmetto Bluff is nestled in Lowcountry paradise with opportunities for kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, scenic yacht cruises, biking, golfing, and much more. It sits on a 20,000-acre nature preserve and offers a naturalist program with birding excursions and private walking tours. There are multiple boat tours that will bring you to nearby islands and beaches, while Spa Montage offers wellness rituals inspired by nature using local elements. There is a wide range of dining options with a focus on Lowcountry-inspired fair paired with southern hospitality, while accommodation is provided in standalone cottages with plenty of space to unwind and disconnect from it all.
Dunton Hot Springs - Dolores, Colorado
Dunton Hot Springs is a five-star all-inclusive resort located in an old mining town against a backdrop of the dramatic San Juan Mountains. Guests have access to everything from hiking miles and miles of scenic trails to rock climbing and heli-skiing. Afterward, it’s all about relaxing in the hot springs with numerous options for a soak, including the 19th-century bathhouse or outdoors under the stars. There’s a spa, a saloon with the original bar that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid once saddled up to, and a restaurant serving gourmet meals featuring produce from the resort’s own organic farm and wine from its private vineyard. Accommodation is in historic log cabins with modern comforts. Your cell phone won’t work here, but free Wi-Fi is provided.
Alyeska Resort - Alyeska, Alaska
Alyeska Resort is a luxurious chateau-style hotel with a jaw-dropping setting in the Chugach Mountains just below a ski mountain along the south-central coast of Alaska. It’s only an hour’s drive from Anchorage but you’ll be immersed in wilderness while enjoying opportunities for everything from epic hikes to river rafting, sea kayaking, fishing and ATV tours. In the winter, it’s all about snow sports, including heli-skiing. There’s a saltwater pool for swimming with mountain views and, after a day of activities, a Nordic spa with saunas, steam rooms, and a wide range of treatments, including hot stone massage.
Twin Farms - Barnard, Vermont
Often named among the best adults-only resorts in the country, Twin Farms also offers one of the best nature immersions in all of New England. It sits on 300 private acres in the Green Mountains, offering a wide range of activities. During the warmer months, enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, fly fishing, and swimming, while winter brings opportunities for downhill skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing. Guests enjoy locally sourced meals, with boxed lunches available to bring on your outing, a special picnic-by-the-pond offering, and elegant dinners by the fireside in the dining room. There’s a Japanese soaking tub, a fitness center, and spa on-site, while accommodation is in beautifully decorated freestanding cottages with king-size feather beds, wood-burning fireplaces, and screened porches.
The Green O - Greenough, Montana
Tucked away on the 37,000-acre grounds of Paws Up, The Green O offers serious TLC among spectacular nature, with opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, paddling excursions, and more. An all-inclusive luxury resort, it’s a sanctuary among towering trees that provides the ideal antidote to city living without having to sacrifice high-end amenities. You’ll stay in a guesthouse like the two-floor Tree Haus that’s perched 23 feet off the ground with fireplaces on both floors. All are similar in size and boast floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the outdoors in. Enjoy blissful relaxation after a day of adventure in the Spa Village, a collection of tents offering everything from purifying mud wraps to hot stone massage. Dining is just as impressive from breakfast to dinner, with elaborate multicourse meals served every night.
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge - Copper Harbor, Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, an isolated wilderness with mountains, sparkling lakes, and lots of undeveloped shoreline, is all about unspoiled nature and serenity. One of the northernmost resorts in the state, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, sits just outside the small town of Copper Harbor, with the possibility of adventure woven into every stay. Part of the National Register of Historic Places, there are hiking and mountain biking trails right on-site, along with a 9-hole golf course. In partnership with the Keweenaw Adventure Company, guests can enjoy even more, like a sea kayaking tour on Lake Superior. Winter activities include snowshoeing, skiing, and snow biking. Accommodation is in log cabins or rooms in the main lodge, which includes a restaurant.
Glacier Bay Lodge - Gustavus, Alaska
Glacier Bay Lodge is located in Glacier Bay National Park, surrounded by unspoiled nature, including soaring mountain peaks, fjords, rugged coastlines, and rainforests. It’s a wildlife lovers’ haven, with opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and cruises like the daily Glacier Bay boat tour that departs from the lodge in Bartlett Cove. It will bring you to see everything from whales, sea lions, and sea otters to bald eagles, coastal brown bears, and mountain goats while traveling to glaciers like the 250-foot-high and nearly 21-mile-long Margerie glacier. There’s an excellent restaurant on-site focused on the bounty of the region, including lots of fresh local seafood, while the comfortable rooms are tucked among the trees.
Lake Quinault Lodge - Olympic National Park, Washington
Lake Quinault Lodge is a historic property that sits right along its namesake lake in Olympic National Park. A wide variety of activities can be enjoyed just steps away, from hiking to water sports, with canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks available for rent. Guided day boat tours on the lake bring the opportunity to enjoy the sights on the water while watching for wildlife or you might take the unique Quinault Rainforest Tour that leads deep into the rainforest with opportunities to see bald eagles, black bears, and other creatures while learning about Quinault Indian Nation history. There’s a restaurant on-site for dining with lake views, an indoor pool, sauna, and game room too. Rooms are in a contemporary lakeside building, converted boathouse, or in the main lodge. Some offer lake views, fireplaces, antique clawfoot tubs, and patios.
