Top Reasons to Skip the Beach and Embrace a Mountain Wellness Retreat This Winter

Winter vacation used to mean fleeing the cold for warmer weather in locales where you could soak up the sun and not stress about moving much further than from your lounge chair to the water and back. But, today, people aren’t looking to laze around—they want experiences. And that desire is fueling the growth of the adventure travel sector. In 2018 alone, for example, 67% more travelers chose to book outdoor activities than in 2017, according to data from TripAdvisor. 

Scientists have long known that practicing meditation can help ease psychological stresses like anxiety, depression and pain, and there’s no better place to relax and reflect than in nature. The beach sounds like a nice place to do that, but when everyone has the same idea, it can be hard to find your own slice of paradise. Shoshoni Yoga Retreat in Rollinsville, 8,500 feet in the mountains above Boulder, is a far cry from the warm weather escapes flooded with tourists. Head into the woods to partake in all-inclusive yoga and meditation retreats that last one night, a full weekend or longer.

You don’t need to fly to the Caribbean to find warm waters this winter—the unique geological profile in the Rocky Mountains has produced mineral hot springs throughout Colorado. These waters contain minerals like calcium, sodium bicarbonate, silica, and sulfur, which can at the very least soothe sore muscles but may also help increase circulation and oxygen flow in your body and ease skin issues like psoriasis. And hot springs are trendier than ever—searches for hot springs have jumped by 32%, according to Pinterest's 2019 trend report. 

These mountains aren’t exactly known for spectacular cell service, and that’s a good thing. Despite the 24/7 on-call mentality fostered by today’s work environments, research shows that we need nights and weekends to disconnect and recover from those daily stresses. At Dunton Hot Springs, a ghost town from the 1800s that’s been restored as a remote luxury mountain escape in southwestern Colorado, you’ll lose cell service before you even arrive. Offline, you’ll be better able to appreciate the hand-built log cabins, the bathhouse that still uses water from the original hot springs discovered by the Ute Indians and miles of streams and trails where you can spot elk, deer, bald eagles, and other wildlife.

Sure, there’s something nice about getting a rubdown next to the ocean, but mountain spas are sublime. Take the shower massages at The Broadmoor Spa in Colorado Springs, for example—the hydrotherapy treatment is designed to reproduce the sensation of a Colorado rain shower. Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek boasts a Roman-style water circuit, which includes multiple pools, a steam room, a hurricane shower and an essential oil-infused relaxation room. And at Garden of the Gods Club and Resort in Colorado Springs, you can try the Haslauer Pure Sense Soft Pack Bed—a weightless environment that claims to provide the same benefits as a full night of sleep.

While beach vacations offer stunning scenery, there isn’t much priority placed on action. But 53% of Americans believe it’s important to exercise while traveling, according to data from Expedia—and in the mountains, there’s a whole world of adventure to be discovered. Sure, you’ll find skiing in this great state, but you can also try snowmobiling the 120-mile trail from Sunlight Mountain Resort to Powderhorn Ski Resort, cross-country skiing Frisco’s 45 kilometers of groomed trails in the White River National Forest, and snowshoeing the 355 miles of hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park.