Crystal Mountain, located in picturesque Northern Michigan, is one of the country’s few remaining family-owned resorts. That’s why a certain homey feel oozes through every part of the travel experience. While best known for golf in the summer and skiing in the winter, the resort’s wellness offerings, including its Crystal Spa, are plentiful and there for the taking year-round. 

The Crystal Spa is small, but mighty.  The locker rooms are fab (full-size lockers!), the robes are extra plush, and the waiting area is as cozy as can be. Therapists are versatile and more than willing to tailor treatments to a client’s whims. Highly recommended is the C + M Therapeutic Massage. The blend of CBD with active botanical ingredients, nutrient rich oils, and therapeutic plant extracts is the ultimate elixir for overtaxed nervous systems. Spa therapists are trained in oncology massage, and also offer massages for mothers-to-be and couples.

The fitness center, located in the same LEED-certified green building as the spa, has an indoor pool and houses free fitness classes, including water aerobics, yoga and cardio workouts.

When the weather cooperates, enjoy some forest bathing or a meditative walk in the Michigan Legacy Art Park, where sculptures line a hiking trail located in a densely wooded preserve. It is especially beautiful in the fall, when the leaves present a brilliant palette of hues.

Another advantage of visiting in autumn--during October and November, the spa offers weekday specials on most treatments.

In addition to the spa and fitness center, the resort village includes 58 downhill ski slopes, 25 km of cross-country trails, a skating rink, two golf courses, and miles of mountain biking and hiking trails. Crystal Mountain has a variety of lodging options, including spacious mountaintop townhomes, cozy cottages tucked away in the woods, or hotel rooms in the middle of it all.