Last updated December 5, 2023
Where might you be when you find yourself… 1) Waking in a glass-clad treehouse and spending the day immersed in rituals flowing with natural rhythms. 2) Exploring lush desert grounds surrounded by the calm, healing energy of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Or 3) Dining on locally sourced cuisine and paddling beneath a sunset nourished by the beauty of the Berkshires.
If you guessed Canyon Ranch in 1) Woodside, California, 2) Tucson, Arizona, and 3) Lenox, Massachusetts, you’d be right. If you’re not familiar with this pioneer in the wellness resort space, a little history.
How It All Began
On New Year’s Day in 1978, Mel Zuckerman—overweight, sedentary and stressed-out, with high blood pressure and many health problems—resolved to lose 40 pounds. By March, he had gained four and felt desperate.
Then, he had a life-changing experience at “fat farm” in California, where he met an inspiring fitness expert who had him running a mile and a half within ten days.
Inspired by how incredible he felt after a few days of physical activity and healthy eating, and with a vision of living that way forever, Mel and his wife Enid brought Canyon Ranch to life, opening in 1979 in Tucson.
After a bit of a rocky start, Canyon Ranch became extraordinarily successful. A so-called catalyst for the American health and fitness revolution. With business partner Jerry Cohen, the Zuckermans opened Canyon Ranch Resort in Lenox, Massachusetts, in 1989, followed by the first Canyon Ranch spa + fitness day spa at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas in 1999.
Canyon Ranch At Sea launched in 2004 onboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. And most recently, in 2019, they introduced Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreats with an opening in Woodside, California.
An Industry Leader
All along, Canyon Ranch has been at the forefront of luxury wellness resorts with an integrative approach that features board-certified physicians, registered dieticians, exercise physiologists, licensed therapists and caring staff who together provide a holistic approach to wellness.
Countless awards and accolades have been bestowed over the years for this innovative approach to health and fitness and the serene, relaxing and inspiring natural environments.
Each Canyon Ranch location has its own vibe, along with dining, treatments, accommodations and activities on offer. Still, across the board, a Canyon Ranch experience is an immersive exploration of mind-body wellness in a relaxed setting. One could call it casual elegance meets outstanding personal service.
Aside from the geographic location itself, which may suit you based on personal preference or travel distance, you might select one Canyon Ranch outpost over another for its unique wellness offerings.
Canyon Ranch Tucson
Where it all began—the original outpost. At this always-evolving acclaimed resort, in the lush Sonoran Desert surrounded by the healing energy of the Santa Catalina Mountains, transformation is tradition.
The pièce de résistance is the 12,000-square-foot Aquatic Center with indoor Watsu and therapy pools and an underwater treadmill. Accommodations are private havens clustered around the lush desertscape, each with a private patio and comfortable lounge chairs perfect for relaxing, reading and absorbing the surroundings.
Unique experiences:
- Intuitive Archery
- Night Vision Goggles Experience
- Rock Climbing Naturally
- Photography Hike
Whatever road may lead you here, Tucson is truly a wellness lover’s paradise. Beautiful things bloom in the desert.
Canyon Ranch Woodside
This is a forest playground where programs and rituals are purely grounded in nature. Geared to those seeking to escape the grind, jumpstart new rituals, find solitude or connection, fight burnout or rekindle well-being. Truly a retreat for mind-body balance.
Wake in a glass-clad treehouse and spend the day immersed in curated experiences set to natural rhythms. Or, just be, nourished by the calm of the forest—a perfect weekend retreat.
Unique experiences:
- Rite of Passage
- Hiker’s Retreat – Massage for the Feet
- Private Personal Training Yoga
- Spiritual Guidance Wellness Coaching
Woodside’s redwood-covered hills are just the place to kick off your inspiring journey towards change, a chance to be yourself and rediscover who really matters.
Canyon Ranch Lenox
Write your own story of renewal in the idyllic Berkshires, with well-appointed New England-style accommodations and a sumptuous spa featuring invigorating botanical treatments. Here, you will find an inviting and supportive space to energize and renew.
Visualize yourself surrounded by the healing mountains, where all is well, and stress can’t find you. The dining experience here is as warm and thoughtfully designed as the food itself, with a wealth of healthy choices.
Unique experiences:
- Private Shin Rin Yoku: Forest Bathing
- Cultivating a Life of Purpose
- Private Archery
- Private Birding
In the rolling hills of rural western Massachusetts, your personal vision of a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life can become a reality.
About Vacayou
At Vacayou [pronounced VACAY – YOU], we believe that travel has the power to change lives. The power to revive, rejuvenate and redirect your inner wellness warrior. And that’s why we’re here. Vacayou brings the world of wellness travel to you!
No matter how far or how adventurous, our team scours the globe to curate the best in wellness travel. But the booking process can often be time-consuming and complicated. We’ve made it much easier for you to search, discover, and book wellness and active vacations. With Vacayou’s Instant Book, your dream wellness getaway is now just one click away.
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