No moment radiates more joy than standing on the Monterey County coastline, mountainous cliffs stretching for miles upon miles beside you, and the grandeur of the open Pacific Ocean ahead. "Holistic health" recognizes that wellness goes beyond a single aspect of the human experience and is a balance of our physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual selves. Find your way to a newly relaxed and refreshed you on your next holistic wellness retreat to California's central coast.
Spas
Relaxation and respite are in abundance in Monterey County, especially at well-recognized spas. Rejuvenate at numerous exceptional facilities:
- Refuge: Find inner peace at the suitably named Refuge in Carmel. This tucked-away wellness paradise is also America’s first co-ed outdoor relaxation spa, offering ultimate relaxation through a three-step thermal cycle featuring a sauna, steam room, cold plunges, warming pools and various lounging areas. Repeated use of the Refuge thermal cycle soothes aches and pains, and enhances muscle recuperation - Just what you need for a rejuvenated you!
- Reset Lab: Reset Lab at Monterey Beach Hotel also offers hot-and-cold therapy, ocean views, and local experiences like yoga or wine.
- The Spa at Bernardus Lodge: The Spa at Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley offers a unique spa experience tailored to the solstices and equinoxes.
- Indulgent spa experiences can also be found at Pebble Beach Resorts, DESUAR Spa at Casa Munras and Vista Blue Spa at Monterey Plaza.
Spa at Post Ranch Inn
Spa Adeline at The Quail
Spa Adeline at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa
The Spa at Intercontinental
Spa Adeline at Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Spa Aiyana at Carmel Valley Ranch
Spa at Bernardus Lodge
DESUAR Spa at Casa Munras Garden Hotel
Spa Alila
The Spa at Pebble Beach™
Vista Blue Spa at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
Fitness Classes
Movement and exercise are essential parts of a well-rounded wellness lifestyle.
- Barn to Balance Pilates Class: Chapparral Ranch Marina partners with Well T Fitness to offer a Barn to Balance Pilates Class every Thursday at 6 p.m. for 45 minutes. Classes are $15 and can be booked in advance on the Well T Fitness website. Walk-ins are also welcome, but please pay with cash. Bring your own mat!
- Aqueous Yoga: Big Sur Salts offers a unique yoga experience that harmonizes the serenity of the ocean with the mindfulness of yoga. Aqueous Yoga promotes well-being and skin rejuvenation through custom yoga pools filled with purified Big Sur saltwater.
Outdoor Wellness Experiences
A deepened experience of self is amplified when you are out in nature. Get your body moving while you immerse yourself in the great Monterey County outdoors on some of the best nature walks and hikes imaginable. These hikes are perfect for many levels and abilities, from the casual stroller to the seasoned mountain climber:
- Moss Landing State Beach: Enjoy a leisurely waterfront walk at Moss Landing State Beach near the mouth of the Elkhorn Slough. Take a moment to pause and reflect, and you will likely catch a glimpse of sea otters, sea lions and birds, as this is a dense area for all three!
- High Peaks Loop Trail at Pinnacles National Park: Kick it up a notch on the High Peaks Loop Trail at Monterey Countyʻs one-and-only national park, Pinnacles National Park in Soledad. This hike is considered strenuous by most, but you will be rewarded at the top with spectacular views from the top! *Please note that some parts of this trail can be very steep and narrow. Plan ahead and bring lots of water!
- Julia Pfeiffer Bruns State Park: Pay a visit to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for a lighter trail with epic scenery. Take a mindful moment to recognize that this is a sacred place for the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. The tribe has installed an interpretive sign at the Esselen district of Ecgeajan, where Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park now lives. Learn about this sacred ground by reading the informative sign and move about this space with respect by staying on designated trails.
- Dog-Friendly Garland Ranch Regional Park: And because dogs are an essential part of happiness and health, a favorite dog-friendly hiking spot in Carmel Valley is Garland Ranch Regional Park, with some of the steepest trails in the area, glorious vistas and great wildlife.
- Guided Hikes with Big Sur Hikes: For ease, convenience and safety, book a guided hike with Big Sur Guides, which has been featured on the Travel Channel. The staff and guides are incredibly accommodating and will customize tours for you to suit the weather, the day, your personal preferences, and your fitness level.
For something a little less conventional, check out the Equine Experience at the Carmel Valley Ranch. The experience allows you to connect with horses as you explore together, both therapeutically and joyfully. While there are four different equine experiences you can choose from, the Discover Joy experience is a favorite, where your inner child gets to come out and play.
FUEL YOUR BODY & SOUL
With an abundance of locally sourced produce from the Salinas Valley, often referred to as the "Salad Bowl of the World,” and responsibly procured seafood from Monterey Bay, the food and wine are as fresh and local as it gets in Monterey County.
This means that pretty much anywhere you go, you are bound to find good food to feed your body and soul. Dine on sustainable seafood straight from Monterey's harbors. Tour a farm, then savor its organic produce at local restaurants. Buy wine straight from the winemaker, then picnic amidst the grapevines. Wellness truly starts with taking care of yourself, so feed yourself well at restaurants like Café Fina on Old Fishermanʻs Wharf and Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette in Marina.
Good food for the soul also includes pastries from artisan bakery Sweet Elena's Bakery & Cafe in Sand City, where everything is made from scratch, a whole lot of love, and a glass of organic, sustainably grown small-batch wine from family-owned Odonata Wines in Salinas.
Wellness & Spa Hotels to Rest and Restore
Deep rest is essential for restoring the mind, body and soul, and, of course, your overall happiness.
- The Sanctuary Beach Resort: Add in a striking natural environment and the peaceful sound of the ocean, and you find yourself at The Sanctuary Beach Resort in Marina. From sunrise to sunset, this haven of serenity offers ultimate rest and relaxation and is an ideal place to stay for a wellness weekend in Monterey County.
- Pebble Beach Resorts: For a luxurious wellness retreat, a stay at Pebble Beach properties, including The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay and Casa Palmero blend coastal beauty, world-class golf and lavish treatments that go beyond ordinary at The Spa at Pebble Beach. Casa Palmero also offers in-room wellness menus.
HEALTH & WELLNESS FROM THE CENTRAL COAST
Monterey County is truly a getaway to find your best self, whether that be through your physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual or spiritual self or all of the above. Your next holistic wellness retreat couldnʻt find a better home than the all-inspiring Central Coast.
