The East Coast of the United States covers a fairly vast area, and naturally contains hundreds, if not thousands of spas of all sizes and styles. Luxury hotels to remote retreats are dotted up and down the coast, such that wherever you may be traveling or spending time, there’s likely to be a good option somewhere nearby. It still pays to know what your very best options are though, which is why we’ve put this list together.
The Lodge at Woodloch – Hawley, Pennsylvania
This is one of the most commonly recommended spas on the East Coast, and a truly special place to those who have visited it. One visitor put it best when she described it as more than your standard spa, but a place focused exclusively on promoting health and wellness. This could be said about a lot of places, granted, but in this case it speaks to the totality of the experience. The Lodge at Woodloch, in rural Pennsylvania, is situated on an expansive piece of land that functions as a full-fledged retreat. In addition to world-class spa facilities and massage and wellness treatments, it also has multiple gardens, a lakeside library, and much more. You’ll have a hard time finding a more peaceful place for a spa getaway in the U.S.
Exhale Spa – Atlantic City, New Jersey
The rising prominence of New Jersey’s online options for gamers shouldn’t take away from the fact that Atlantic City is still the East Coast’s answer to Las Vegas. While there are various casino sites and innumerable games offered online throughout New Jersey, the Atlantic City casinos remain active, and in some cases it’s their amenities beyond the games that are the main attractions. This is definitely the case at the Ocean Resort & Casino, where the Exhale Spa is the real gem. In addition to offering a high-end lineup of traditional spa treatments, the place is known for having a several thousand square foot facility reminiscent of the famed Roman bathhouses, adjusted with a modern touch.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental – New York, New York
It wouldn’t do to exclude New York from this list, and when it comes to spa facilities, the Mandarin Oriental – one of the nicest hotels in the city – is about as good as it gets. Specific treatments, in private rooms and even spa suites, cover everything from jet lag relief to maternity massage, and just about everything in between. There is also an in-house tea room, which is a charming touch. And the fact that all of this exists on a high floor looking over much of New York City makes it all the more alluring.
The Spa at Old Edwards Inn – Highlands, North Carolina
There may not be another spa on this list that’s so unique to its location as this one. The Spa at Old Edwards Inn, in North Carolina, blends in wonderfully with the surrounding atmosphere of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As such, it feels almost like a sort of mountain retreat, rather than a traditional luxury spa. It’s a more casual place as well than some others here, but the treatments have a tremendous reputation, the grounds almost force you to relax, and the inn itself makes for a nice multi-day stay if you don’t want to go just for a few hours at the spa.
Lapis Spa – Miami, Florida
The Fontainebleau at Miami Beach is an incredibly famous hotel, and was recently distinguished as Florida’s top destination. It’s no surprise then that it’s also home to one of the best spas on all of the East Coast. In addition to generally sensational facilities, the Lapis Spa at the Fontainebleau is best known for its “water journey,” which is a progression through different water therapies with marble surroundings that will make you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time to an ancient empire in all its opulence, or else to some fantasy world with comforts unknown on Earth.
