A wellness vacation may conjure images of hot spring resorts in Costa Rica or yoga retreats in Bali, but there's actually an ideal wellness destination closer to home. After spending a week experiencing all the spas, fitness activities, and healthy food on offer in The Palm Beaches, we're here to share why you should plan your next wellness getaway to this Florida destination. And there's no time like the present, as the region hosts Spa and Wellness Month every October, providing discounts, fun events, and even themed hotel rooms for the ultimate retreat.
The Palm Beaches Area Is Located Along Florida’s Coast
First things first: The Palm Beaches area consists of cities such as West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Jupiter, and Boca Raton. Located about a two-hour drive north of Miami, the region is home to lovely, sandy beaches that provide a more peaceful alternative to spots like South Beach. Also on the upside, the Palm Beach International Airport offers direct flights to cities such as New York City, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta. Plus, the fact that many West Palm Beach and Palm Beach hotels are within a 10- to 20-minute drive of the airport means you can get to a pool, beach, or spa soon after landing. The greater Palm Beach area is well-known for its stunning mansions, European-inspired architecture, and miles of coastline dotted with beaches and golf courses.
Spas in Palm Beach Are Numerous
There are dozens of spas throughout The Palm Beaches, from luxury options within hotels to specialized stand-alone spots. Top picks include the spa at Eau Palm Beach Resort, where travelers who book a treatment are offered a glass of Champagne on arrival and access to numerous wellness facilities. The 42,000-square-foot spa houses a rainfall whirlpool, heated lounge chairs, sauna and steam rooms, and an outdoor garden where chairs hang above dipping pools.
Garden at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa; Photo courtesy of Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
Additional favorites for massages, facials, and other wellness therapies include the spa at The Breakers Palm Beach, which is set along the ocean, the spa at the Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach, which has couples’ rooms and uses local ingredients like Key lime oil, and the spa At PGA National Resort, which has outdoor mineral pools and separate men’s and women’s lounges with whirlpools, steam rooms, and saunas. While these spas offer stellar treatments year-round, in October, all of the above (plus many more) offer specials for October’s Spa and Wellness Month. In addition to reduced prices, you’ll find pink-inspired treatments to coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of the proceeds from participating spas will go to a related nonprofit organization.
Palm Beach Fitness Classes Are Fun and Inexpensive
Whether you like Pilates, yoga, Zumba, or CrossFit, there’s a fitness class for you in Palm Beach. For the yogis out there, there’s outdoor yoga, kids’ yoga (at Manatee Lagoon), stand-up paddleboard yoga (via Blueline Surf & Paddle Co.), and full moon yoga, to name a few. While many of these are offered year-round, for Spa and Wellness Month, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is offering Yoga in the Wild and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is hosting yoga surrounded by sculptures and murals for an artsy flow. The Hilton West Palm Beach also offers poolside Pilates and yoga throughout the week, while the nearby Rosemary Square shopping center hosts free Wellness Wednesday classes such as Pound (using weighted drumsticks) on the rooftop parking lot.
District Fit, an annual wellness-themed festival in Palm Beach, hosts primarily free fitness classes every October. This year, the weekend of October 10 to 13 will feature a packed lineup of free or inexpensive fitness classes and wellness events. Highlights include a trampoline class with Ginelle Ruffa, a trainer and Miss Palm Beach 2019, an evening Full Moon yoga class with Shelly Saunier that acts as a moving meditation, and a Barre at the Bar class with Nicole Wesenberg, which ends with pink-colored beer from Florida-based Mathews Brewing Company.
Other Fun Wellness Activities in Palm Beach Abound
In addition to fitness classes, there are plenty of other wellness activities in Palm Beach and the surrounding area. The easy-to-maneuver bike paths and stunning Palm Beach architecture visible from the road make bike tours an attractive, family-friendly option. Travelers can rent a bike from the Palm Beach Bicycle Trail Shop and take their own tour, or book a private bike tour with an operator such as Island Living Tours and its host, local resident Leslie Diver, who provides historical info and fun facts about the town while strolling past sights like the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum and Worth Avenue shopping destination.
Those looking to get on the water can head to the Jupiter Outdoor Center, where kayak rentals and guided kayak tours are available. Kayaks are taken on the Loxahatchee River, which makes its way downstream from Riverbend Park toward the Atlantic Ocean, passing lots of wildlife — alligators, turtles, river otters, bald eagles, owls, and gopher tortoises — along the way. Meanwhile, green thumbs or aspiring artists can head to The Garden Shoppe, a store that offers tons of plant- and gardening-based classes and art workshops with resident artist Sarah LaPierre.
Fresh, Local Food in Palm Beach Is Abundant
There are tons of healthy and locally minded restaurants and cafes around town. Meraki Juice Kitchen is popular for its variety of cold-pressed juices, warm bowls, and healthier sweets. Celis Produce is another health-focused cafe serving smoothies, acai bowls, and avocado toasts, plus market goods such as granola, local coffee, and nutrition bars. Restaurants in Palm Beach are excellent and varied, but favorites include the upscale PB Catch, which is renowned for its seafood offerings and happy hour specials. Avocado Grill is a charming, tropical-themed eatery serving up everything from curried cauliflower to lamb sliders to Korean barbecue steak lettuce wraps. For groups with varying tastes, Grandview Public Market in West Palm Beach is a food market with Cuban, ramen, Greek, and Mexican eateries, plus coffee shops and a boutique for home goods and cute gifts. Housed in a renovated warehouse, the market has indoor seating and a covered outdoor deck with picnic tables and cornhole.
Our Favorite Palm Beach Hotels
Hilton West Palm Beach
Located a 10-minute drive from the airport, and a four-minute walk from the Rosemary Square (formerly CityPlace) dining and shopping center, the upscale Hilton West Palm Beach is a great pick for all types of travelers. Spacious, modern rooms have all the expected amenities, plus guests have access to a happening outdoor pool, fitness classes, and excellent dining options that include Galley, an eatery serving pizza, burgers, and lobster mac n’ cheese alongside live music on Fridays, the poolside La Playa grill, a grab-and-go market for coffee, and Manor, an indoor/outdoor spot for breakfast buffets and a la carte fare.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
Luxurious and palatial, the beachfront Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is an elegant property ideal for a relaxing getaway. The bold Jonathan Adler-designed rooms have swish marble bathrooms, private furnished balconies, and free Wi-Fi. Extensive resort features include an impressive spa, multiple top-notch restaurants, and a quality fitness center with classes. A pretty beach, gorgeous ocean-view pool, and tons of loungers and daybeds overlooking the water provide ample spaces for peaceful sunbathing.
Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach
Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach
A luxurious, family-friendly property, the Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach sits on a fairly tranquil beach lined with loungers. Rooms have a sophisticated, beach-inspired style, terry bathrobes, free Wi-Fi, and furnished balconies. Wellness features include two outdoor ocean-view pools with adjacent cabanas, water sports, a full-service spa with extensive facilities, and free fitness classes and bike rentals.
What to Pack for Your Wellness Getaway: Jade Facial Roller
Add a little self-care to your regimen with a tool helpful for both inner and outer beauty.
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