Sports Conditioning Spas

When it comes to active vacations, a week at a spa or resort is a great option. Whether your sport of choice is golf, tennis, skiing, horseback riding, or simply intensely grueling workouts, you can find it almost anywhere across the continent.

Many spas offer programs to increase endurance, workouts with a trainer, or the chance to try out the latest in exercise equipment. And many sports-focused programs are based in areas well suited to outdoor pursuits, where mountain biking and hiking take you through incredible terrain in milder temperatures. Come winter, you can ski or snowshoe in the Rockies or New England.

The Casa del Mar Golf Resort & Spa, in San José del Cabo, Mexico; Chateau Élan, outside Atlanta, Georgia; and the La Quinta Resort & Club, near Palm Springs, California, are just a few options for serious golfers. Tennis aficionados love the Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Saddlebrook Resort Tampa, in Florida; Topnotch Resort & Spa, in Stowe, Vermont; and Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, in Safety Harbor, Florida. And the Hotel Hana-Maui, in Maui, and the Inn at Manitou and the Hills Health Ranch, both in Canada, are among the destinations offering excellent horseback riding.

Following the lead of professional athletes, these programs often incorporate mental conditioning. Trainers lead guests through guided relaxation, affirmations, and visualizations to improve their competitive edge. Rehabilitation for sports-related injuries is another feature at some resorts. Some specialize in the mind-body relationship, utilizing martial arts, yoga, and tai chi to promote physical and spiritual development. The options are so diverse, you will certainly find a match for your needs.