The Best Spa Retreats in North Carolina, USA
The Ballantyne typifies North Carolina's sense of traditional southern hospitality | Courtesy of The Ballantyne / Expedia
These spas in North Carolina make wellness escapes easy with palatial pools, bubbling jacuzzis and natural treatments – all bookable with Culture Trip.
With its diverse natural landscape, the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains and the clear waters of the Outer Banks, North Carolina is the perfect destination for finding some inner peace. With so much to discover here, you’ll want to kick back and relax in luxury after a long day out exploring. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of some of the best spa and wellness retreats in North Carolina.
Courtesy of Chetola Resort / Expedia
Dating back to 1846, the Chetola Resort is a staple of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a firm favorite of visitors to the region. After being passed down through numerous owners and many different iterations, this North Carolina wellness retreat was finally opened to the public as a boarding house in 1982. The in-house spa, furnished with work by local artists, has a full range of treatments, with specialists offering massages, manicures, facials and a fully functioning hair salon.
Courtesy of the Umstead Hotel and Spa / Expedia
A short walk from central Raleigh, Umstead Hotel & Spa in North Carolina offers the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the nearby state capital. Every room is carefully crafted, with curated works of art adjourning the walls, pleasant views of the neighboring lake or gardens and a deep-soaking bath, perfect for sinking into after a busy day. Considered one of the best spas in the
Raleigh region, Umstead promises its customers a selection of transformative therapies, including full-body massages, facials and body treatments, all taking place in a calming woodland setting.
The Inn on Biltmore Estate
Courtesy of the Inn on Biltmore Estate / Expedia
Built on the estate of the monied Vanderbilts, the Inn on Biltmore has always reflected the luxury and opulence that the Gilded Age family are known for. With amazing views over the Blue Ridge Mountains, every room features a collection of creature comforts for guests to enjoy, such as a 24-hour concierge, a heated outdoor pool and excellent dining service to boot. This spa hotel in North Carolina offers a full range of massages including deep tissue, Swedish, neuromuscular and more. Add on the Detoxifying Dry Brush Exfoliation for an even more restorative experience.
Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte / Expedia
Located in the heart of
Charlotte, the Ritz-Carlton has a well-earned reputation for exemplary service, contemporary design and an eco-friendly approach to its many fantastic facilities. This hotel gives each of its guests a truly memorable stay in rooms styled by American fashion designer Alexander Julian. Then there’s a dining experience that uses the best of local ingredients and one of the best spas in Charlotte that uses natural ingredients in treatments such as the Eco-Green body balm and the signature honey-and-chocolate detox, with honey grown in the hotel’s rooftop beehives.
Omni Grove Park Asheville
Courtesy of The Omni Grove Park Inn / Expedia
Set amid the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the five-star Omni Grove Park has been welcoming guests for over a hundred years. The mountaintop spa hotel in North Carolina is surrounded by pristine woodland and is a welcome sanctuary for guests looking for some dedicated me time. Indeed, the whole place has a lot going for it, with contemporary designed rooms, fantastic restaurants and an in-house spa that’s been voted one of the best in the country. This subterranean shelter is an electronics-free zone, with a full range of treatments and a genuine focus on peace and tranquility.
Courtesy of the Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel / Expedia
This refurbished hotel, located in Charlotte’s Ballantyne community, is the very model of Southern hospitality. One of the top luxury spas in North Carolina, the Ballantyne is known for its opulence, with Frette linens, marble bathrooms and Molton Brown toiletries included as standard in rooms. Ballantyne’s spa puts the onus on natural and age-old remedies for 21st-century problems, with a selection of intriguing treatments, such as the Carolina Collection, which uses herbs from the lavender fields of the Carolinas.
At Cumberland Falls
Boutique Hotel, Inn, Spa Hotel
Courtesy of At Cumberland Falls Bed and Breakfast Inn / Expedia
Just a short trip out of downtown Asheville, At Cumberland Falls is a charming bed and breakfast offering guests an ideal space for some thorough rest and relaxation. A relative newcomer to the North Carolina spa scene, At Cumberland Falls is run by owners David and Angela and has become one of the top guesthouses in the state. Spa-wise, it’s a modest offering with a focus on massage treatments and relaxing foot baths.
Courtesy of Sanderling / Expedia
With sweeping views over the ocean and access to pristine beaches, Sanderling is a great option for guests looking to relax. The resort has a choice of contemporary hotel rooms or private beach houses to rent and has several excellent dining options (in the life-saving station or on a sandbar). Drawing inspiration from the nearby coast, Sanderling’s spa uses seasonal, naturally sourced ingredients in treatments, dedicated to your body’s rejuvenation.
Pinehurst Resort
Resort, Golf Hotel
© Stock Connection Blue / Alamy Stock Photo
Known for its association with the US Open pro golf tournament held every year on its nine full-size courses, Pinehurst has much more to offer than its spectacular sporting heritage. With three separate hotels to choose from, including the Manor, Carolina Hotel and Holly Inn, you’ll be sure to find one to suit your stay. The in-house spa has a huge choice of treatments, including ultra-modern cryotherapy, designed to relieve everyday aches and pains in minutes.
Old Edwards Inn & Spa
Inn
Courtesy of Old Edwards Inn & Spa | Courtesy of Old Edwards Inn & Spa
Amid the spectacular natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Old Edwards Inn weaves together traditional European elegance with a rustic American feel. It’s the perfect retreat from the busy nature of everyday life with classic rooms and cabins to rent. Dedicated spa suites feature a private jacuzzi, heated marble bathroom floors and an elevator taking you straight to the spa for a day of pampering.
These recommendations were updated on August 5, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.
