Hot rocks treatments, mud treatments, Hawaiian Lomi treatments are just a few of the relaxing spa treatments you can choose from on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands. Indulge yourself and visit one of the luxury spas such as Afterglow Spa at Roche Harbor Resort or The Spa at Rosario Resort. Or experience a more intimate spa such as The Spa at Earthbox located in charming Friday Harbor with an array of packages and services. Enjoy pampering yourself with a trip to Doe Bay Resort & Retreat on Orcas Island, or Lavendera Massage on San Juan Island.
The islands are known for the healing arts, with many massage practitioners offering everything from shiatzu to deep tissue massage, to reiki and other body energy work. A session with hot stones is a wonderful way to relax and warm your joints.
The sauna and soaking tub experience at Doe Bay Resort & Retreat is truly magical. Enter through the gate to the bathhouse and follow the path across a little bridge over a waterfall that flows off Mt. Constitution and down into a lovely little bay. This is a safe, European-style, "clothing optional" soaking tub experience, as well as having family-friendly hours. After you pay a fee at the resort main desk, there's no time limit to your visit, so you can take your time in the tubs and the sauna, or bring a book and relax in an Adirondack chair under the cedar trees overlooking Otter Cove between sauna and soak.
Start your day with a yoga class at one of the local studios, such as Orcas Mandala studio on Orcas Island, Down Dog Studio on Lopez, or Island Soul Studios on San Juan Island. In the summer, there are special yoga classes in the parks and on the beach; check with your concierge, and they can help you find a local class, or check out our Events Calendar. In the summer, there are also Stand-up Paddleboard yoga classes put on by some of the kayak tour companies.
Imagine mindfully experiencing the beauty of breathing cool, damp air, listening to leaves rustle and watching sunlight peek through treetops. This is the concept of Japanese Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy. "Forest bathing" has become a popular health trend in the past few years in Japan and the U.S.
In the San Juans, you can venture out into the stunningly beautiful parks and preserves in the Islands and feel the magic unfold. Go swimming in Mountain Lake, a gorgeous serene lake on the side of Mt. Constitution in Moran State Park. You can also walk around a 3-mile loop under huge old-growth western red cedar and Douglas fir trees.
Aromatherapy is a great way to de-stress. The scent of lavender is known to calm the breathing and bring relaxation. Take a stroll through fields of lavender at Pelindaba Lavender Farm, take a self-guided tour of the lavender distillation process, and find lots of lovely smelling lotions and oils at the farm's shops in Friday Harbor and Eastsound Village.
After a rejuvenating spa treatment or hike in the woods, it feels good to eat delicious locally grown food. Many island restaurants focus on hyper-local ingredients sourced from island farmers, fishers and ranchers. On Lopez, Ursa Minor is the place to go, with a creative menu of locally grown produce, fish, meats and more. On Orcas, there are several restaurants that feature healthy, island grown food, such as Doe Bay Cafe, Inn at Ship Bay, The Mansion Restaurant at Rosario Resort, and New Leaf Cafe. On San Juan Island, try Cask & Schooner, Coho, Duck Soup, or The Market Chef.
It's hard not to feel the island vibe in your bones and your soul when you take a long walk on the beach, or sit on a rocky bluff and watch the sunset fade over the Salish Sea. This is why you came to the San Juans - to experience the beauty of nature and let the fresh air, clear water and clean food heal you, body and soul. Make sure to take the time you need to breathe and revitalize yourself, to slow down and connect with nature and fall in love with life all over again.
