Miami: A City of Wellness Options

miami, wellness travel, standard spa, miami beach
Photo courtesy of The Standard Spa Miami Beach

by Erin Davis

For a sun-filled wellness escape, Miami is always a reliable option. For starters, the wellness-seekers eyeing a Miami vacation may want to mark the months of April, July and August in their calendars. The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts Miami Temptations, a series of monthly promotions by theme: April is Miami Sport and Wellness Month, and July/August is a dedicated Miami Spa Month. Offering countless options for calorie burning, Miami caters to an active lifestyle, from its award-winning tennis and golf, to yoga and a wide range of fitness activities surrounded by nature in the raw.

While my previous trips to Miami have included wellness elements like spa days, clean eating, inline skating, and other fitness activities, I had never (sad, but true) taken advantage of the two massive nearby provincial parks. To the south and west, Everglades National Park – the third largest in the U.S. National Park System – is a unique 1.5 million-acre eco-system of sawgrass prairies, mangrove swamps, subtropical jungle, and the warm waters of Florida Bay. Here, you can hike, canoe, kayak, and bike throughout the photo-worthy scenery. Nearby, the primarily underwater Biscayne National Park is teeming with sea life and plants, and features living coral reefs as well as the longest stretch of mangrove forest left on Florida’s east coast within its 173,000 acres. This park is best explored via canoe or kayak – both excellent fitness activities.

For the cycling enthusiasts, Oleta River State Park, Florida’s largest urban park, is known for its miles of off-road bicycling trails, which range from novice trails to challenging ones for the experienced mountain biking set. The park also offers prime opportunities for canoeists and kayakers to explore the stunning natural area by way of the paddle.

One of the world’s most celebrated wellness resorts is also located in Miami. The award-winning Pritikin Longevity Centre is known both for its luxe accommodations and its client results and has been named one of the world’s best detox retreats. Pritikin has offered medically supervised, all-inclusive, structured and scientifically proven health and wellness programs – including those focused on weight loss – since 1975 (and here at Travel to Wellness, it happens to be one of our favourites under the category of Top Weight Lost Spa and Fitness Retreats). Travel to Wellness has also visited (and enjoyed) The Standard Spa Miami Beach.

Another notable resort that caters to the wellness traveler is the Acqualina Resort and Spa. Here, wellness-related talking points include a 20,000 square-foot ESPA-branded Spa, which is set against the ocean and includes perks like an ice fountain and a salt wall. For those in the market to splurge, the Royal Spa Suite – launched last year – is designed by Fendi and complete with its own pool. The resort will begin launching wellness retreat program this coming May.

If a boutique art deco hotel is more your thing, The Marlin Hotel – located right on Collins Avenue, offers one-on-one yoga, as well as yoga on the beach session. Its prime location means that things like hot yoga studios, fitness facilities, and The South Florida Boxing Gym (which features an assortment of high-impact fitness classes), are near by.

When it comes to clean, healthy eating, Miami is full of options thanks to the access to fresh produce, abundance of farmers markets, and a diverse dining scene. According to a WalletHub study, Miami is the ninth best U.S. city for vegans and vegetarians. Recently, a new spot, The Strand Bar and Grill, opened up shop in the Carillon Miami Wellness Center, offering wellness perks like vegetable-forward and farm-fresh ingredients, and an in-house dietician.

So, if you’re looking for a sun and sand wellness escape – whether for a few days or a few weeks – you might consider putting Miami on your short list of options. Read more from Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau   

For few other articles on Florida that you might enjoy:

Hutchinson Shores Beach Resort breathes new life into Jensen’s Beach.

One Team Fitness in St. Pete’s Beach.

New Wellness Programs from Mondrian South Beach.

The Biggest Loser Resort is one of the most well-known weight loss resort brands.

Erin Davis is a regular contributor to Travel to Wellness. Connect with her via Instagram