Southern California has long been associated with sunshine, beautiful coastlines, and year-round outdoor living. Beneath those iconic landscapes, however, lies something even more defining—a culture built around wellness.
Here, wellness is more than an occasional escape. It is woven into everyday life through restorative spa experiences, holistic retreats, personalized skincare, meditation, movement, and a deep appreciation for slowing down with intention. Across the region, wellness has become part of Southern California’s identity, influencing how people travel, gather, recharge, and care for themselves.
August marks National Wellness Month, a reminder that caring for ourselves is not simply a luxury but an investment in living well. There is perhaps no better place to celebrate that philosophy than Southern California, where wellness continues to shape the way people travel, gather, and recharge.
This edition of Los Angelist, the editorial series by Los Angeles Inquisitor, explores the destinations defining wellness across Southern California—from legendary spa pioneers and award-winning retreats to luxury resorts and restorative escapes that continue to inspire healthier, more intentional living.
The Wellness Icons — Where Self-Care Becomes an Art
Ole Henriksen Face/Body Spa — An Award-Winning Los Angeles Institution
Address: 8622 Sunset Blvd Ste A, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Few names have become as synonymous with skincare and wellness in Los Angeles as Ole Henriksen. Long before wellness became a global movement, his philosophy centered on treating skin as part of overall well-being—combining expert care, positivity, and personalized treatments in an atmosphere designed to restore both confidence and calm.
Recipient of the 2025 Gurus Beauty Award for Best Day Spa, Ole Henriksen Face/Body Spa continues to set the standard for luxury skincare experiences in Southern California.
What defines it: personalized skincare, holistic wellness, timeless expertise.
Best for: Signature facials • Luxury spa days • Skin rejuvenation
Why it matters: A true Los Angeles wellness icon that has helped shape modern spa culture for decades.
Burke Williams — California’s Everyday Luxury
Address: 925 N La Brea Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90038
Since opening the first Burke Williams in 1986, the brand has helped define the modern day spa experience in Southern California. Inspired by the elegance of European wellness traditions, Burke Williams transformed self-care from an occasional indulgence into an accessible ritual for everyday life. Today, its Hollywood flagship continues that legacy through thoughtfully designed spaces, signature massages, advanced facials, hydrotherapy, and resort-style amenities that encourage guests to slow down and recharge.
What defines it: timeless wellness, restorative rituals, European-inspired luxury.
Best for: Day spa experiences • Massage therapy • Everyday self-care.
Why it matters: As the original urban day spa, Burke Williams helped shape Southern California’s modern wellness culture and remains one of its most enduring wellness institutions.
The Medical Aesthetics Movement — Wellness Through Confidence
Newmark Beauty — Personalized Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine
Address: 41590 Indian Trail, Unit A, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Modern wellness extends beyond relaxation to include confidence, prevention, and personalized care. At Newmark Beauty, Hollywood Beauty Guru and founder Robyn Newmark has created a boutique aesthetics destination centered on individualized treatment plans that help clients look and feel their best.
Blending advanced aesthetic treatments with a warm, welcoming approach, Newmark Beauty reflects how today’s wellness culture embraces both inner well-being and outward confidence.
What defines it: medical aesthetics, personalized care, preventative wellness.
Best for: Skin rejuvenation • Injectables • Personalized aesthetic care.
Why it matters: Newmark Beauty reflects the growing connection between aesthetics, confidence, and modern wellness.
The Transformational Retreats — Where Wellness Becomes a Journey
Golden Door — One of America’s Legendary Wellness Retreats
Address: 777 Deer Springs Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069
Hidden among rolling hills north of San Diego, Golden Door has earned an international reputation as one of the country’s most respected wellness retreats. Guests disconnect from daily routines through guided movement, nutritious cuisine, nature, and personalized wellness programs designed to restore both body and mind.
What defines it: immersive wellness, privacy, transformation.
Best for: Multi-day retreats • Personal renewal • Mind-body wellness
Why it matters: Golden Door remains one of America’s most celebrated destinations for transformational wellness.
Cal-a-Vie Health Spa — A Taste of Provence in Southern California
Address: 29402 Spa Havens Way, Vista, CA 92084
Inspired by the French countryside, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa blends fitness, nutrition, spa therapies, and mindfulness into immersive wellness retreats. Every detail encourages guests to slow down, reconnect, and leave feeling renewed.
What defines it: holistic wellness, European inspiration, luxury retreat.
Best for: Wellness vacations • Fitness retreats • Personal transformation
Why it matters: Cal-a-Vie continues redefining luxury wellness through immersive, personalized experiences.
The Ranch Malibu — A Luxury Wellness Reset in the Santa Monica Mountains
Address: 12220 Cotharin Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
Set across 200 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains, The Ranch Malibu has become one of the world’s most recognized luxury wellness retreats. Rather than focusing on indulgence, the experience is built around transformation, combining guided mountain hikes, strength training, restorative yoga, therapeutic massage, and plant-based nutrition into a structured program designed to reset both body and mind.
Guests stay in private cottages intentionally free from everyday distractions, allowing them to fully disconnect while embracing a slower, more intentional rhythm of living. Every element of the retreat—from movement and recovery to nutrition and rest—is thoughtfully curated to encourage lasting wellness beyond the stay itself.
What defines it: immersive wellness, structured transformation, mindful living.
Best for: Wellness retreats • Lifestyle resets • Fitness and recovery.
Why it matters: The Ranch Malibu represents Southern California’s evolution from traditional spa culture to immersive wellness experiences, where sustainable lifestyle change becomes the ultimate luxury.
The Healing Waters — Nature’s Restorative Power
The Spa at Séc-he — Ancient Waters, Modern Wellness
Address: 200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Built above the sacred hot mineral springs of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, The Spa at Séc-he offers one of Southern California’s most distinctive wellness experiences. At the heart of the experience is the traditional “Taking of the Waters” ritual, where guests soak in naturally heated, mineral-rich spring water drawn from the ancient aquifer beneath the desert floor.
Spanning more than 73,000 square feet, the destination combines ancient healing traditions with contemporary luxury through private mineral baths, halotherapy salt caves, eucalyptus steam rooms, thermal experiences, and expansive indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces. The result is a wellness experience that honors the land’s cultural heritage while embracing modern approaches to restoration and self-care.
What defines it: sacred hot springs, mineral wellness, luxury desert retreat.
Best for: Mineral soaks • Full-day spa experiences • Desert wellness escapes.
Why it matters: The Spa at Séc-he celebrates one of Southern California’s oldest natural wellness traditions, offering a rare experience where Indigenous heritage, natural healing, and modern luxury come together in one destination.
Glen Ivy Hot Springs — California’s Historic Wellness Escape
Address: 25000 Glen Ivy Rd, Corona, CA 92883
For more than a century, Glen Ivy Hot Springs has welcomed visitors seeking relaxation through naturally mineral-rich waters and outdoor spa experiences. Gardens, pools, mud treatments, and peaceful surroundings continue to make it one of Southern California’s most enduring wellness destinations.
What defines it: natural healing, mineral waters, outdoor relaxation.
Best for: Day trips • Hydrotherapy • Stress relief
Why it matters: Glen Ivy has remained a Southern California wellness tradition for generations.
Two Bunch Palms — Desert Restoration
Address: 67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
Set within the peaceful landscape of Desert Hot Springs, Two Bunch Palms is known for its naturally heated mineral waters and tranquil atmosphere. Wellness unfolds slowly through soaking pools, spa treatments, meditation, and the restorative quiet of the surrounding desert.
What defines it: geothermal waters, desert serenity, natural healing.
Best for: Digital detox • Weekend escapes • Relaxation
Why it matters: It remains one of California’s most celebrated natural hot spring destinations.
The Mindful Spaces — Finding Stillness
Unplug Meditation — Bringing Mindfulness to Everyday Life
Address: 12401 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Wellness is as much about the mind as it is about the body. Unplug Meditation has helped introduce accessible meditation practices to thousands of Angelenos through guided classes, breathwork, and mindfulness experiences designed for modern life.
What defines it: meditation, mindfulness, mental wellness.
Best for: Beginners • Stress reduction • Mental clarity
Why it matters: Unplug reflects the growing importance of emotional well-being within Southern California’s wellness culture.
Tomoko Spa — Japanese Wellness in Beverly Hills
Address: 141 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Inspired by traditional Japanese hospitality, Tomoko Spa offers an intimate approach to wellness through personalized massage therapies, tranquil surroundings, and meticulous attention to detail. Every experience emphasizes presence, restoration, and exceptional care.
