Miami may be a place synonymous with art deco architecture, epic pool parties and an international culinary scene, but it’s also gaining a reputation as a wellness escape.
Tranquility comes in various forms in the Magic City, spanning ahh-inducing spa treatments, week-long retreats and some of the buzziest technology around (like electric muscle stimulator suits). It doesn’t matter if you’re building a trip around health-centric activities or are simply looking to book a little “me time,” you can relax because these eight wellness destinations in Miami take excellent care of you.
Acqualina Resort and Residences on the Beach
A Mediterranean villa vibe awaits at this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star escape and its stunning spa, just north of all the general Miami Beach commotion. For the ultimate luxury experience, book a session in the ultra-private Royal Spa Suite, which is decked out in Fendi Casa furniture and a stately crystal chandelier and leads directly out to oceanfront treatment room for a blissful body wrap or hot stone massage.
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
“Wellness” is literally in the name of this Four-Star resort and for good reason. The Carillon has the largest wellness center and spa on the Eastern seaboard, spanning more than 70,000 square feet. You will find a dazzling hydrotherapy area, a Himalayan salt chamber and an immersive alpha quartz experience at the Four-Star spa. For a thoroughly relaxed stay, check out the hotel’s multi-day wellness retreat package, covering healthy meals, spa treatments and activities targeting anti-aging or anxiety. The retreats typically last two to five days.
Count on health with a hefty bit of pizzazz at this Miami Beach mainstay. The Five-Star hotel’s epicenter of self-care is the Four-Star Tierra Santa Healing House, a modern, 22,000-square-foot sanctuary with a massive hammam, shaman-curated treatments and facials utilizing Biologique Recherche products. The property also offers unique retreats and experiences, such as an energy-healing course and full moon sound-healing ceremonies.
Buzzy wellness activities abound at this Four-Star getaway. Here, it’s common to find running clubs, sound healing, full moon gatherings and yoga excursions on 1 Hotel South Beach’s daily schedule. For calorie-counting eats, its onsite PInthouse restaurant has healthy options aplenty, including locally sourced organic and, of course, plant-based options.
Not to be confused with the massive estate in Asheville, North Carolina, this towering Forbes Travel Guide Recommended icon in Coral Gables can be seen from miles away. Its grounds include a 23,000-square-foot swimming pool, an 18-hole Donald Ross golf course, tennis courts and more. It is a build-your-own-itinerary playground with the utmost refinement. When you’ve wrapped all your activity, opt for a muscle release sports massage in the elegant spa.
Sitting on Belle Isle — the small island just off the Venetian Causeway between Miami Beach and the city — this utopia has equally as many energetic happenings as Zen moments. The Standard Spa, Miami Beach is branded as an adults-only spa that just happens to have guest rooms, many of which come with an exterior soaking tub. Additionally, you’ll find an aromatherapy area with a Roman waterfall hot tub and Turkish-style hammam. Reset with tarot card readings (on Fridays) or try out a weekend-long summer camp with group dinners and art activities.
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa
If the kiddos are in tow, they will be thoroughly entertained at this Aventura resort. The Tidal Cove Waterpark is on the JW Marriott’s grounds, and it includes seven water slides, a lazy river and several pools. You’ll also find two golf courses and the three-level âme Spa & Wellness Collective on the property. The four-hands massage might be just what you need after a grueling day of running from slide to slide with the little ones. The spa also houses the Holistic Rejuvenation Center, a facility that offers non-invasive treatments designed to reduce joint pain, tighten skin cells and more.
We202 Wireless EMS Fitness Studio
As for a quick and productive workout, electric muscle stimulator classes are quickly becoming all the rage in South Florida. You throw on a suit with electrodes attached to main muscle groups, do a 20-minute routine and, voila, your body feels as if it’s worked out to the extreme for 90 minutes. At We202, not only can you book a class at the Pembroke Pines studio, but its sister company, SQAI, now sells suits you can purchase.
