Story & Photography | Renée S. Suen, Aire Ancient Baths
Wellness tourism has become one of the most popular ways to travel, driven by a desire for holistic health rather than just a pampering weekend at the spa or a yoga getaway. According to Skyscanner’s 2025 travel trends report, this health‑conscious approach is especially strong among travellers aged 24 to 34 (45%), compared with 37% of those 65 and older.
These so‑called “reset jetters” aren’t simply looking to relax, they’re seeking balance, purpose, and longevity. Across Canada, hotels, spas, and retreats are tapping into this shift. Whether you’re seeking solitude soaking in thermal waters in the city, storm‑watching on the Pacific, or immersing yourself iinto lakeside serenity in Quebec, these destinations offer a restorative break to recharge, reconnect, and retreat from the demands of everyday life.
AIRE Ancient Baths , Toronto
510A Front St. W.
416-637-7138
relax.beaire.com/en/aire-ancient-baths-toronto
For anyone craving calm amid the city’s constant buzz, this candlelit thermal oasis in Toronto’s Fashion District offers an immediate breather. The sense of disconnection begins the moment you step into the dimly lit reception area, then deepens in the hushed change room where every care—and every mobile device—is left behind. As the first Canadian outpost of the award‑winning Spanish wellness brand, it introduces the city to the timeless co‑ed bathing ritual that has long drawn couples and solo seekers to its thermal baths.
Set within a restored 1912 Edwardian industrial building, the cavernous 23,000 square foot space retains traces of its past life as the Copp Clark Publishing House. Besides the original exposed brick and vaulted ceilings, relics are peppered throughout: a former printing press tucked near the entrance, an original wooden door cantilevered above the jet baths, and vintage books from the founders’ private collection lining the reception desk in homage to the building’s history.
Once inside the silent bathing area, guests chart their own 90 minute thermal journey, lingering as long as they wish in waters of varying temperatures. The ritual follows ancient bathing traditions rooted in contrast therapy, a wellness practice that involves moving between hot and cold pools to boost circulation, reduce stress, and restore balance.
Tension melts away as you drift between the circuit’s heated baths (Tepidarium and Caldarium), brave the cold plunges (Frigidarium), feel the invigorating force of the Balneum’s “thousand” jets, and float weightlessly in the saltwater Flotarium where time seems to pause. Between cycles, sip herbal tea or cold water in the relaxation areas. Continue the journey with sessions in the dry sauna (Saunarium), the aromatherapy infused steam room (Vaporium) with its own cold plunge, or a revitalizing scrub at the salt exfoliation station. For a moment of contrast with the dim interiors, swim outdoors into the open air Palestra bath, a unique to Toronto offering where guests may enjoy the feeling of bathing in warm water beneath the sky.
Those seeking an elevated visit can opt for the Ultimate Baths package, which includes a self care set with hydrating eye patches, a signature scrub, and a choice of non-alcoholic sparkling wine or fresh pressed juice. To extend the indulgence, add one of AIRE’s signature rituals, from wine infused massages performed on warm marble beds to full body treatments featuring a Gua Sha face massage, hydrogel masks, and soothing scalp massages.
Manoir Hovey, North Hatley, Quebec
575 Rue Hovey, North Hatley, QC
819-842-2421
manoirhovey.com
Known for its access to nature, Quebec’s Eastern Townships offers a slower, low-stress escape from the buzz of city life. For lakeside calm that blends refinement and tranquillity, few places rival the elegance of Manoir Hovey.
Set in 30-acres of birch and pine forest, a stay at the property is an invitation to fully soak in its breathtaking surroundings. Awarded two Michelin Keys, this charming Relais & Châteaux retreat has 51 rooms and suites, each outfitted with contemporary comforts from deep soaking tubs to fireplaces – all with picture windows that open to sweeping views of Lake
Massawippi.
Find privacy and luxury whether it’s a stay within the 125-year-old heritage manor house with its vintage artifacts and luxurious furnishings, the quaint and elegant cabins with a jacuzzi tub or the sprawling 2,250 squarefoot Dragonwatch Cottage. Added in 2024, the Lakeside Pavilion’s spacious rooms have private balconies that offer breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the still and serene lake, (as a bonus these suites can be combined for larger parties).
Sleep in or rise early to watch the mist lift off the lake at dawn. Seek out a quiet moment in the historic library surrounded by shelves lined with rare books or wander through the English garden where chef Alexandre Vachon harvests herbs and produce for the thoughtful cuisine he serves at Michelinrecommended, Five Diamond Le Hatley Restaurant.
Here, inspiration is drawn from Québec’s terroir and elegant, seasonaldriven dishes showcase pristine, ethically sourced local flavours.Elevate the tasting journey even further with a cellar stocked with fine wines, or with a lineup of scrumptious handcrafted cocktails. For casual bistro fare, head to Le Tap Room which showcases fresh lake fish, grilled meats, seasonal vegetables and farmhouse cheeses in heartier dishes like Gaspé crab rémoulade or poutine topped with duck confit, cheese curds and birch syrup harvested from the property.
Countless amenities allow you to connect with nature and enjoy the fresh Appalachian air. Check out a complimentary bicycle, rally on one of Canada’s oldest clay tennis courts, hike through lush forests or book a tee time at a neighbouring course in the warmer months. 
You can also try lakeside yoga, visit the resort’s private Beaver Beach or head straight to the water to paddleboard and canoe. Leaf peep in autumn when the region explodes in a kaleidoscope of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows and when winter strikes, there’s skating, snowshoeing or cross-country ski on a network of trails and ice fishing for a range of catch including brown and rainbow trout, yellow perch, pike and more.
Popular any season, Le Spa Manoir Hovey is a stunning new 7,000 square-foot refuge with six treatment rooms and tailored experiences, including the exclusive Abeille Royale line by Guerlain and includes the signature Honey Bliss facial. The blend of raw wood, stone, wool and rattan creates a warm and comforting atmosphere to gently reset, but it’s the indoor-outdoor thermal circuit that will restore the soul and invigorate the body. Feel the healing benefits of hot and cold sessions as you cycle through the stations that include a heated outdoor infinity pool, a pair of hot tubs, cold basin, cedar dry sauna, plus an aromatic steam room. Unwind in one of two serene relaxation lounges, where panoramic views of pine forest, shimmering water and crackling fireplace help ease the senses and restore the body and spirit.
The Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, British Columbia
500 Osprey Lane, Tofino,
BC, 250-725-3100,
wickinn.com
While not officially designated, the community of Tofino embodies many of the lifestyle and environmental factors seen in global Blue Zones. Besides being highly walkable with plenty of access to nature and clean air, it has a strong culture of movement and a playground for outdoor activities (surfing, hiking, kayaking and cycling). From here you can explore the town’s surrounding Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks, Vancouver Island’s largest remaining ancient old-growth rainforests, which are a part of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and neighbouring Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Charter a boat to spot black bears and other wildlife; travel to Hot Springs Cove for a peaceful soak in the geothermal mineral pools, then return to the town to feast on the farm-to-table cuisine and fresh locally caught seafood like Pacific salmon, lingcod and Dungeness crab.
However, few places capture the drama of the rugged West Coast – it’s wide-open shorelines, towering coastal forests, and rich marine wildlife – quite like two Michelin Keys-recognized Wickaninnish Inn. Perched on Chesterman Beach, the 75-room Relais & Châteaux property offers a front‑row seat to the Pacific Ocean’s shifting moods. Join a whale-watching tour or watch from the shore as migrating whales create bubble-nets to catch herring on their annual migration to Alaska. From November until March, The Wick becomes a sanctuary for storm watchers, who settle in to watch the raw power of the Pacific’s massive waves crashing against the beach and rocky shoreline. Designated a Canadian Signature Experience by the Canadian Tourism Commission in 2011, storm watching here is both dramatic, tranquil and deeply soothing. It’s also best enjoyed from the comforts of the property’s well-appointed guest rooms and suites, with their floor‑to‑ceiling windows, or from the panoramic dining room windows at The Pointe Restaurant.
Featuring Canadian cuisine built on seasonally harvested and sustainably sourced ingredients from the sea, forest and coast, Clayton Fontaine now heads the culinary program at The Pointe that might feature everything from a whole steamed Dungeness crab with Cowichan vegetable to seared lingcod, plus spiced kabocha squash cheesecake to finish. For oenophiles, head down to Howard’s Wine Cellar where your party can dine surrounded by over 10,000 bottles of the best vintages from B.C. and around the world that are housed in three floor-to-ceiling glass-walled temperature-controlled rooms.
Stroll the property’s local cedar-, fir and stone lined hallways and wander the beachfront pathways, taking in the tactile craftsmanship that defines the inn – its space, from locally hand‑carved cedar doors to sculptural driftwood chairs positioned perfectly for lingering over the view. Seek deeper restoration at the Ancient Cedars Spa, where treatments draw inspiration from the surrounding landscape. Signature therapies incorporate local botanicals, including an organic seaweed body scrub made with Vancouver Island seaweeds. It’s just one more detail where the coast and wild landscape shape restorative travel.
