Getaway Guide: Yosemite National Park
Nestled within the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park is famous for its giant sequoias, granite monoliths, and cascading waterfalls.
Need a break from technology and need time to reconnect with your inner god(dess)? Discover places to go for a digital detox in California.
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An overflowing inbox? Check. Constant notifications? Check. Separation anxiety from your phone? Checkmate. All stressors are also reminders that you’re in dire need of an overdue digital detox. A replenishing approach to reset, reboot, and recharge sans technology is to do so with new self-care routines, wellness exercises, and harnessing long-lasting effects of an awesome getaway. Treat yourself to a weekend of pure relaxation at one of the top retreats in California for well-being.
With an array of spellbinding resorts and spas, you have the perfect opportunity to pick one that suits you best and enjoy the sunshine. Connect with a version of you that you forgot existed and come back to daily life with double the motivation and energy. These wellness retreats in California are the answer to all your wellness wishes.
Location: San Marcos
Are you craving a Southern California staycation that will heal your body and soul? Experience life-changing and rejuvenating classes for your mind and body, 30 miles of private hiking trails, personal training, farm-to-table meals, and a massage each day when you stay at the Golden Door resort in San Marcos. The 600-acre property includes a labyrinth, Japanese gardens, a calming bamboo forest, a spa and pool, and beautiful architecture designed mindfully to put you in the right headspace for a digital detox. In addition to programs with a balanced blend of activity, relaxation, and mindfulness, the Golden Door also offers dedicated weeks for women, men, and co-ed guests year-round.
Previous guests include Nicole Kidman, Marie Kondo, Susan Sarandon, and more inspiring figures who have opted for the Golden Door as their wellness retreat of choice in California.
Location: Laguna Beach
The Pearl Laguna is a serene wellness retreat nestled among the trees in Laguna Canyon, Southern California. This luxurious ashram features twelve bedrooms and fourteen bathrooms and offers both single-week and extended programs. Designed to leverage the healing powers of yoga and nature, the retreat includes daily activities such as a scenic hike through coastal Laguna Canyon, two yoga sessions (an energizing morning class and a calming evening class), therapeutic massages, and carefully crafted meal plans aimed at detoxifying and revitalizing the body.
Additionally, The Pearl Laguna organizes special destination retreats in various global locations, including Peru and Mallorca. For those looking to deepen their wellness journey, these retreats provide an excellent opportunity to experience a digital detox in a new, inspiring environment.
Location: La Quinta
Leaving your phone behind is easy when it’s done somewhere as beautiful as La Quinta Resort and Club. Check into a serene casita and take advantage of all the health and fitness amenities the resort offers by planning a stay that’ll make you forget you brought your phone in the first place. Follow a vegetarian-oriented menu, try juice cleansing and detox, sign up for revitalizing treatments at the spa, and develop new daily habits as you commit to an internet detox. We recommend leaving La Quinta Resort and Club at least once to explore the surrounding desert as well. A hike at the Indian Canyons and a soak in the mineral hot springs can do so much for the soul.
Location: Desert Hot Springs
We Care Spa has been empowering people to achieve a healthier, more vibrant lifestyle since 1986. Practice juice fasting and a colonic regimen at this minimalist desert locale frequented by celebs and engage in a variety of activities and classes focused on healing your mind and body. To get a grasp of what your spa retreat will look like, check out the simple six-day itinerary on the spa’s website. Don’t want to take our word for how great this wellness retreat in Southern California is? You don’t have to. Testimonials by returning We Care guests such as Matt Bomer, Alicia Silverstone, and Liv Tyler should do the trick.
Location: Malibu
Our favorite detox spa in Los Angeles, the Ranch Malibu, believes that health is the ultimate luxury and is dedicated to creating a safe and sacred place that allows for personal awareness and life transformation physically, mentally, and spiritually. Through a guided fitness regime, wellness, and nutrition support, the immersive programs at The Ranch allow you to detoxify your body healthily and sustainably. Sounds like the perfect phone detox journey? The four, seven, and nine-day luxury fitness retreats have limited capacity and are highly sought after — hurry up and register.
Location: Calistoga
Head over to Solage Resort to “detox, retox, and repeat” on a 20,000-square-foot spa dripping in pure luxury. Unwind in mineral water therapy pools, take magical mud baths, get a massage, and enjoy a fine menu of gourmet foods, all prepared with the mission of cultivating health and fitness at the core. Hey, if this is what a digital detox is all about, we’ll gladly give away everything we own that requires a plug. And did we mention the Splash Pad for those bringing the little ones along?
Location: Arroyo Grande
We could all use some time away from technology — and Unplugged Retreat is specialized in providing just that. Surrounded by nature, this tech-free retreat in southern California offers a variety of activities that help you unwind and heal. You can try your hand at archery, take part in taco making, or simply enjoy the great outdoors, just to name a few items you can expect to be on your itinerary. After working up an appetite, mouthwatering meals including sausage skewers and sweet kale salad await, and let’s not forget s’mores.
Location: Big Sur
Stretching across 27 acres of the sweeping Central California coastline, Esalen Institute offers more than 500 workshops and programs throughout the year devoted to cultivating deep change in self and society. This holistic learning and digital detox retreat in California is perfect for rejuvenating and attending to your body and soul. It provides world-class instructors, unforgettable grounds, which are perfect for landscape photography, and all the support you need to tackle the challenging transformation. Soak in the hot springs, enjoy farm-to-table cuisine, and engage in creativity-inducing activities as you declutter your mind on a memorable wellness retreat.
Location: Mendocino
This picturesque, eco-friendly coastal resort offers four-night vegan retreats each summer, focused on teaching guests how to adopt a plant-based lifestyle. The California detox retreat features cooking classes, mushroom foraging, four servings each of breakfast and dinner, nutrition and healthy living classes, and engaging discussions with Sid Garza-Hillman, director of the property’s Mendocino Center for Living Well. Participants also receive complimentary copies of four health-focused books to continue their wellness journey at home. Mark your calendars for the upcoming retreat scheduled for September 9 at the Stanford Inn—perfect timing!
For those interested in a creative rather than health-focused detox experience, the resort's two-day Artist’s Workshop might be the ideal choice. Held in a nurturing environment, this workshop encourages playful, intuitive exploration designed to ignite your creative spirit.
Thanks to all the digital detox retreats in California, unplugging all of your electronics will feel like a delight. So, give yourself a break and treat yourself at one of the top self-care facilities in the state.
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