Wellness Weekend
A wellness weekend is much more than a simple getaway. Sure, you're getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But you're also escaping the mental blocks, subtle agitations, and melancholic thought patterns of adulthood. You're pressing the "reset" button on your mental vitality and emotional fortitude.
There are many ways to restore, relax, and rejuvenate here in Waterville Valley. With stunning, lush natural beauty, a certified yoga and meditation studio, and an endless array of outdoor activities - you'll be returning home with a full heart, restored body, and inspired soul.
Steps from Serenity
No matter where you stay in Waterville Valley, you'll be steps away from awe-inspiring nature. Finding serenity is easy - just take a stroll outside! Waterville Valley is interconnected by footpaths, connecting and interweaving with 125 miles of hiking trails. There are a plethora of scenic locales clustered around the town - mere footsteps from lodging. When you're out and about in Waterville Valley, you're guaranteed to encounter crystalline rivers, lush meadows, enchanting woodlands, and panoramic views of 4000-foot mountain peaks.
Nature Heals
"Nature Heals" is an idiom that is so widely accepted it's practically considered ancient wisdom. But researchers have shown that spending time in nature actually soothes and restores the human body.
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Evergreen trees secrete a chemical called phytoncides, which allow trees to ward off unwanted pests, bacteria, and fungi. These phytoncides also affect humans - they boost and improve the human immune system; they also increase the body’s production of anti-cancer proteins, as well as reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones. [1] Given that the White Mountain National Forest is fir-dominant, and Waterville Valley is encircled by 41,000 acres of protected National Forest, there's no shortage of healing phytoncides here in the Valley!
Freedom to Choose
There are few times in adult life when we truly have the freedom to do exactly what we want to do. Commitments to work and family almost always take priority over our own fun and enjoyment. Waterville Valley gives you the freedom to simply have fun and play. When you book a stay at an inn or lodge in Waterville Valley, you will be given a Freedom Pass. The Freedom Pass is your admission ticket to all the best activities the Valley has to offer - from biking, tennis, and boating to unlimited access to the White Mountain Athletic Club - a world-class spa and fitness center, featuring saunas, steam rooms, indoor & outdoor pools, and weight and cardio rooms. Plus, they offer personalized massages and training sessions, making it the perfect place to invigorate and decompress. What you have to do, what you should do, and what you are supposed to do are not taken into account. All that matters is your own enjoyment. You have the freedom to play, relax, explore, or rest - you have the freedom to choose.
Beyond Your Comfort Zone
Challenging oneself is an integral part of a wellness retreat. Humans need to overcome obstacles for growth. As the old adage goes - "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you". In Waterville Valley, there's an incredible array of ways to discover new horizons and push beyond your comfort zone.
Waterfall jumping and downhill mountain biking are both terrific outlets for high-adrenaline challenges.
If you want to push your endurance, embark on a hike up one of Waterville Valley's 4,000-foot mountains. Or perhaps trek up the Skyline Loop - a 34-mile hiking loop that explores 9 different mountain peaks. With some introspection, your hike can be a physical and mental climb. Check out HikeWatervilleValley.com for more information on local hiking routes.
Embark on a journey of inner growth and try out meditation. Through a series of breathing techniques and mental strategies, meditation allows you to develop conscious control and intentionality in your thinking. But quietening the storm that is one's mind is no simple feat. Meditation challenges you to be mindful of how you direct your awareness. Plus, it's incredibly beneficial to human mental and cognitive health. Asana Inspirations offers guided mediation classes, in addition to a plethora of yoga, Pilates, and mind-body-wellness classes.
Whether you're looking to hike deep in the wilderness of the White Mountains, undergo guided meditation with Asana Inspirations, or simply reconnect with the Great Outdoors - Waterville Valley is the perfect spot for a Wellness Weekend.
Wellness Weekend Sample Itinerary
Friday Evening – Sunset Stroll
Arrive in Waterville Valley. Check in to your hotel and receive your Freedom Pass. Get a lay of the land by taking a quick evening stroll along Village Trail. During the months of June to August, the sun sets from 7:30pm - 8:30pm, providing the Valley with plenty of light well into the late evening. Stop by Town Square for a quick bite to eat. The Valley Pub whips up healthy salads and sandwiches, and La Hacienda is the Valley’s local Mexican restaurant.
Saturday Morning – Sunrise Hike
Pack your backpack, headlamp, and some snacks, and embark on a sunrise hike up Mount Tecumseh. Tecumseh faces eastward, offering magnificent views of the rising sun. As you ascend the mountain, try to think about 10 things you’re grateful for and why. Watch the sun rise above the Valley and begin your day centered and grounded.
Saturday Late Morning - Meditation Class at Asana Inspirations.
Sign up for a meditation class at Asana Inspirations. With over 25 years of practice, Helen Rita is a certified yoga instructor and the director of Asana Inspirations. Helen leads mediation sessions, specializing in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. She also teaches Pilates classes, plus a plethora of yoga styles - Restorative, Asanas, Vinyas, Hatha, Yin, Table Thai, and Gentle Flow.
Saturday Afternoon – Spa Time at the White Mountain Athletic Club
Relax your sore muscles at the White Mountain Athletic Club. Pamper yourself with a massage - release deep-rooted tensions and address muscle tightness. Or simply unwind in the warmth of the sauna, steam room, or hot tub. Looking to cool off and refresh? Hop in their 25-meter lap pool (they’ve got an indoor pool AND an outdoor pool, so you can cool off year-round!)
Sunday – Freedom to Choose
Sunday is reserved for you. Choose 1 or more Freedom Pass activities below.
Boating – Rent a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board, and embark on a voyage around Corcoran Pond. Corcoran Pond sits adjacent to Town Square, providing panoramic views of the surrounding mountain peaks. Paddle around and take in the awe-inspiring views. The Freedom Pass entitles you to 1-hour of boating every day.
Biking – Whether you’re looking to race down gnarly mountain trails, or cruise along winding roads – biking in the Valley is an extraordinary experience. With over 50 miles of mountain biking trails, you have an incredible opportunity for exploration. Plus, you can take Snow’s Mountain Chairlift and access downhill mountain biking trails.
Snow’s Mountain Chairlift – Before you hop on Snow’s Mountain Chairlift, you must make some decisions. Do you want to play a round of disc golf on their 18-hole course? Perhaps you’re seeking the thrill of downhill mountain biking. Maybe, you want to explore the depths of the White Mountain National Forest, discovering waterfalls, cascades and swimming holes. Or possibly, you simply want to take in the Great Outdoors with a round-trip scenic ride. You can’t go wrong with any option. The choice is all yours.
Rec Department – Stop by the recreation department's indoor gym for Open Basketball. Enjoy a pick-up style game with local residents and fellow visitors.
The Rey Cultural Center Community Gardens – Spend some time reading or meditating in the Rey Community Gardens. Or perhaps walk through the garden and Nature Trail.
White Mountain Athletic Club – Return to the athletic center to enjoy any one of their incredible amenities and facilities.
Sunday Night – Return home feeling restored, relaxed, and rejuvenated!
References
[1] United States Department of Agriculture. August 22, 2019. Walk in the woods for wellness: Health benefits of forests. United States Forest Service. Accessed December 20, 2021. https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/out-and-about/walk-woods-wellness-health-benefits-forests