If you’re looking for a city chic or a rustic ambiance, this is the place to take some serious TLC.
Amid the pandemic, many people would appreciate some pampering, and that’s a fact. Although DIY meditation and home manicures may be a viable option, many people are looking for full-body, transformational experiences only available at the top spas. These include seaweed mud wraps that reduce the inflammation in quarantine, Nordic hydrotherapy baths to revitalize and cleanse tired muscles, and massages that are relaxing enough to allow your mind to wander but deep enough to ease tension.
Canadians aren’t known for their international reputation for being a stress-inducing bunch, But they are still big fans of relaxation and can relax. Spas across the country have adapted their practices to their customers and, more recently, the natural beauty on the outskirts of many Canadian cities. If you want to enjoy a relaxing time in your town or look for a retreat further away, many spas combine nature-based products and outdoor adventures with tried-and-true therapies. This lists six fantastic wellness retreats in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
British Columbia
Wedgewood Hotel & Spa
The managing director Elpie Marinakis Jackson will accommodate a variety of requests for unique treatments on the floor of the spacious 83-room Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, her boutique hotel run by her family located in downtown Vancouver. The therapists provide holistic treatments like magnesium crystal scrubs or cleansing with citrus that is slimming and is willing to extend their services by playing the playlists of clients during Thai massages or by offering an ice-cold glass of riesling made by local producer Tantalus for guests following having a facial.
“Because we’re smaller, we have the ability to customize for our guests,” Jackson states. “That’s what brings people back – the attentiveness and quality of service.” The serene atmosphere is also evident in guests’ rooms with Frette towels, fluffy slippers and bathrobes, and L’Occitane bathroom products.
The Wedgewood Spa utilizes Epicuren skin care products, created from years of study on enzymes.
Nature: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
It is located within the UNESCO biosphere reserve in the old-growth temperate rain forests on the west coast of Vancouver Island The resort, which is all-inclusive, draws on Mother Nature’s assistance in self-care.
“I watch our guests come in from around the world – excited, or not sure what they signed up for,” says the general director Sarah Cruse, who plans to reopen her hotel entirely in June. “They’re exhausted of the world outside. Then, they replenish using green electricity.”
After arriving via floatplane, guests can spend their time in the water on horseback, kayaking, or even heli-fishing and in the wild (known as “vitamin N”). The day is then spent relaxing at the Healing Grounds spa’s hot springs made of cedar or The Canadian Wilderness Ritual. An exfoliation of the entire body and massage in a spacious treatment room with views of the Bedwell River. The meals consist of wild-caught or foraged foods and tranquil nights in luxury, safari-like Canvas tents round out the transformation.
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The tents in the Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge offer views of the Clayoquot Sound.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort Ontario
Miraj Hammam Spa
The ninth floor is downtown Toronto’s 202-room Shangri-La Hotel, the luxurious Miraj Hammam Spa greets guests with an elegant set of travel-sized amenities, including sandals, a robe, a fluffy towel, and a bottle of water. Instantly, you can feel any tension begin to disappear. The spa’s sultry design, with its arabesque cutout screens, intricate mosaics with dark wood accents, Persian carpets, and lavish pillows, can also aid in the shift of mind from a city explorer to a chilled-out Morocco traveler if you reserve a room and are looking towards the spa’s name-brand treatment that begins with a 15-minute steam treatment, a full body exfoliation on top of a slab of Jerusalem golden marble. The therapists utilize Moroccan soap to cleanse skin after steaming and use a soft mitt to eliminate old skin cellulite. Then, sit back in the lounge and enjoy Moroccan mint tea and Baklava.
The Miraj Hammam Spa relaxation room is located at The Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto.
Nature: Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain
After a year of recovery, many travelers are eager to release the negative energy and stress from the pandemic and start fresh. This is the principle behind the hydrotherapy system located at the Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain in Collingwood, located just two hours north of Toronto. The spa is situated in a lush forest surrounded by steaming hot spas and cold pools that aid in resetting the body and relaxing, with various places to relax on Adirondack chairs or reclining on a sofa in the spacious solarium.
Peace is a state of mind: guests aren’t permitted to talk in groups or on their phones. “It’s an ‘honoring silence’ philosophy,” says owner Melissa Henderson. “To truly relax the stress of life, you must get your body in an euphoric state. It’s all about your mind, too.”
Set on a sprawling 25-acre site with a birch tree and panoramic views over the Niagara Escarpment, Scandinave Blue Mountain is the only Ontario-based Nordic spa. Make sure to reserve the spa’s baths, which are currently operating at a capacity of 40 percent (bath access is available if you book the massage). When restrictions are relaxed, the guests will have the option of enjoying two saunas as well as steam rooms.
Quebec
Moment Spa
It’s not difficult to understand why the iconic six-room Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, rising like a mini celebration in the stone walls in Quebec City, is purportedly one of the top hotels. There are plush carpets, antique furniture crown molding, and chandeliers inside. The attention to detail is also evident in Moment Spa’s customized facials, massages, body wraps, and manicures. We recommend bamboo and hibiscus oils for the relaxation massage that lasts 80 minutes, the most sought-after spa treatment.
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A room with low lighting for treatments in the Moment Spa at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.
Nature: Balnea Spa and Thermal Reserve
The resort is on a 400-acre hillside reserve close to the hamlet of Bromont. Located just an hour to the east of Montreal, Balnea Spa has become the top destination for day spas since it opened in 2005. The tranquil oasis provides the services of more than 25 inside an elegant stone farmhouse. Around 13 miles of marked trails in the forest allow visitors to exercise their legs in a serene environment.
If health issues are lessening, visitors can take advantage of Balnea’s second calling card, the Nordic-inspired thermal experience. Make sure to mix saunas and hot baths with an icy dip in a cold water feature, plunge pool, or even the pond in the forest, and, during warm weather, relax in the pool in the sunshine.
Whatever your destination within Canada, Our advice is straightforward: pamper yourself. From spas and resorts in old-growth forests to elegant accommodations at Shangri-La, These wellness retreats will ease tension and allow you to connect with your inner self. We’re also a massive fan of healthy smoothies and super cozy sheets.
