![Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Missouri. Editorial credit: Ted Alexander Somerville / Shutterstock.com](/upload/65/73/f0/shutterstock-1570338235.jpg)
9 Best Wellness Retreats In Missouri
Mental and physical well-being must be taken seriously, especially with stress levels skyrocketing around the Â鶹AV. Missouri is a resounding answer for those already asking questions and ready to take action. With amazing resorts and spas and numerous water bodies, including over 110,000 miles of running water, this state is a slice of Mid-Western paradise, offering a tranquil escape from it all. While the state offers endless paths to wholesomeness, these wellness retreats are amazing and should be at the top of your bucket list. Think about these pleasurable experiences and destinations the next time you lay on the sofa trying to figure out how to overcome stress.
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
![Tower Grove House in Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.](/r/w768/upload/36/da/e3/shutterstock-2488361273.jpg)
The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful places in America, perfect for a relaxing experience. Covering a 79-acre area in St. Louis, this garden is one of the country's oldest continuously operating botanical gardens, founded in 1859, and the second largest of its kind on the continent. Today, the garden is a paradise of horticultural display. It includes outdoor and indoor displays such as a Japanese garden, a Climatron tropical rain forest, a Biblical garden, a children’s garden, and many more. Visitors can enjoy relaxing, wellness-inducing strolls through the Japanese garden, also known as Seiwa-en, to see its large lake, traditional Japanese buildings, islands, streams, waterfalls, and bridges. At fourteen acres, this garden is the largest of its kind in the U.S., and species to see include peonies, azaleas, cherry trees, and a Japanese maple tree planted as a gift by the Japanese Emperor on a visit to the city.
The Missouri Garden also has a lovely butterfly garden, a Biblical garden that contains date palm, fig, olive trees, and other plants from the Bible, and the Tower Grove House, a stunning Italianate structure built in 1849. This structure was the restored residence of the Garden founder, Henry Shaw, and invites visitors today to learn about the minds behind the enchanting garden. Nearby, the Royal Sonesta Chare Park Plaza is a great place to lodge as it features magnificent art deco, a historic theater, an outdoor pool, and guest rooms and suites complete with coffee makers, TVs, and premium bedding.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Camdenton
![Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins in Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/fc/c4/1d/shutterstock-2453723905.jpg)
Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to promote wellness, and Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a stunning escape into Missouri’s natural beauty. This park is a geological wonderland featuring sinkholes, caves, sheer bluffs, a natural bridge, and a large spring. Its crown jewel is the ruins of an early 20th-century stone castle perched high above the Lake of the Ozarks, offering breathtaking views. Over 15 trails wind through the park, leading visitors past these remarkable natural formations. The 0.6-mile Colosseum Trail takes hikers to a massive sinkhole surrounded by vibrant spring blooms, while the 1.4-mile Spring Trail runs along the lake and Ha Ha Tonka Spring, offering glimpses of wildlife.
For a comfortable stay, the Sleep Inn & Suites Lake provides a cozy retreat with family-friendly amenities, including a pool, free breakfast, a fitness center, and well-appointed rooms featuring air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, and coffee makers.
Elms Hotel And Spa, Excelsior Springs
![The Elms Hotel and Spa in Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/0f/d1/0b/the-elms-hotel-2018-excelsior-springs-mo.jpg)
A historic retreat built in 1912, The Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs is the perfect place to indulge in relaxation. The spa boasts a lap pool, steam room, hot tubs, Roman bath, dry and steam saunas, and a cold plunge shower for total rejuvenation. Guests can enjoy various specialized massages, including a waterfall, hot stone, and therapeutic massages designed to ease tension.
Beyond the spa, the hotel's suites are designed for ultimate comfort, featuring plush sofa beds, mini refrigerators, dining areas, and luxury microfiber bed linens. Set on a scenic 16-acre property, the hotel offers lush gardens for strolling and seasonal outdoor movie nights under the stars.
Bennett Springs State Park, Bennett Springs
![View of foliage in Bennet Springs State Park in Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/0e/0f/4f/shutterstock-1844366947.jpg)
Located along the Niangua River, Bennett Spring State Park is a haven for relaxation and outdoor adventure. The river is the park’s main attraction, perfect for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking. Fly fishing is particularly popular here, offering both a sense of accomplishment and a therapeutic experience. The one-mile Bridge Trail is an excellent choice for hikers, featuring a picturesque wooden bridge and a shaded forest path beneath towering oak and hickory trees. The park’s nature center also offers fascinating exhibits on Missouri’s natural hot springs and local wildlife.
Visitors can stay in one of the park’s cozy cabins or motel rooms, which include modern amenities such as heating, air conditioning, TVs, small refrigerators, and queen-sized beds with soft linens.
Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale
![Table Rock Lake near Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/7e/ce/b3/shutterstock-2326431959.jpg)
Big Cedar Lodge is a natural paradise set in the Ozark Mountains, where it overlooks the arresting beauty of Table Rock Lake. This premier resort is one of the best in the Midwest, tucked away in the wilderness, offering warm hospitality and many ways to relax. This lodge is home to the 18,000-square-foot Cedar Creek Spa, which offers various massage therapies and body and facial treatments to help guests unwind. The spa also has open-air showers, steam rooms, hot spas, and saunas, all aimed at offering guests well-deserved rest. Meanwhile, Table Rock Lake is nearby for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and boating activities, while views of the Chapel of the Ozarks can be seen from the lodge.
Guests here will also be spoiled with accommodation options ranging from lakeside cottages and cabins to lodges. The lakeside cottages are highly recommended as they offer lake views, queen bedrooms, living rooms, a kitchenette, and shower-only bathrooms, among other luxury amenities.
Grotto Resorts, Branson
![Aerial view of Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/7e/ce/b3/shutterstock-2326431959.jpg)
An escape to the Grotto Resorts in Branson is probably one of the most unforgettable experiences one can have anywhere in the Â鶹AV. Retreat seekers will find a peaceful respite from chaos in cavern suites, deck houses, and tree houses. The cavern suites are particularly inviting, creating the unique feeling of living in a cave with natural stone walls and an exclusive deck. Even more exciting, some of these accommodations come with outdoor soaking tubs where guests can relax and enjoy views of Table Rock Lake with a glass of wine in hand.
Amenities and features across the suites and houses include heating and air conditioning, Wi-Fi, lake-view balconies and private decks, TVs, kitchenettes, coffee makers, bathtubs, refrigerators, and outdoor furniture.
Spa Shiki, The Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozarks
![Aerial view of Lake Ozark in Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/97/aa/59/shutterstock-2222379135.jpg)
For those who prefer an indulgent spa retreat over an outdoor adventure, Spa Shiki at The Lodge of Four Seasons is a perfect choice. This premier Japanese-inspired spa offers an extensive menu of treatments rooted in Eastern wellness traditions. Guests can indulge in various massages, body treatments with natural ingredients, facials, manicures, and pedicures. The spa also features eucalyptus-infused steam rooms, salt-purified whirlpools, and infrared Himalayan saltstone saunas for ultimate relaxation.
The Lodge of Four Seasons provides elegant accommodations with lake views, private bathrooms, king-sized beds, and modern amenities. Guests also have direct access to the Lake of the Ozarks, perfect for fishing, tubing, and hiking.
Johnson's Shut-ins State Park, Middle Brook
![Rocks in Johnson's Shut-ins State Park in Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/74/20/86/shutterstock-1173404395.jpg)
Discover new paths to happiness while escaping the bustle and hustle of everyday life at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. This park is famous for its shut-in, a natural phenomenon where rivers are locked in and prevented from flowing out by rugged rocks, creating a natural water park. Just splashing away in the water area created by the Black River is the perfect way to disconnect from the cares of life and discover your inner child. This experience can be the start of all-round wellness, and visitors can even enjoy picnics after intense splashing sessions. Additionally, adventurers can hike around the park to see more of its boulders or, more specifically, take the quarter-mile walkway to enjoy the views from an overlook.
In the meantime, the park has campsites for extended stays, but retreat seekers who prefer more luxurious options can lodge at the nearby Black River Motel in Lesterville. The motel offers accommodations in standard and signature rooms, all featuring heating and air conditioning, private bathrooms with hydro massage shower heads, and king beds. The motel also has a swimming pool, a miniature golf, a beach, and other facilities to keep guests entertained.
Lake Jacomo, Fleming Park
![Sunset view in Lake Jacomo in Missouri.](/r/w768/upload/6c/92/88/shutterstock-578934100.jpg)
Lake Jacomo, a stunning 970-acre freshwater lake in Fleming Park, is a serene retreat for nature lovers. Surrounded by rolling green hills and dense woodlands, this lake is a haven for wildlife and a perfect spot for peaceful reflection. Visitors can relax on the shore, take in the scenic beauty, or enjoy activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and picnicking in designated areas around the lake.
For those who enjoy being on the water, the lake offers excellent fishing opportunities, with abundant crappie, bass, and bluegill. The marina also provides sailboat rentals for those seeking a leisurely cruise on the calm waters, making sailing a delightful way to complement a visit to this natural retreat. Nearby, the Days Inn by Wyndham in Blue Springs provides comfortable accommodations with modern amenities, including an indoor swimming pool, ensuring a restful retreat.
Conclusion
Once in a while, an escape from daily life is ideal. This break helps to curb stress, boost happiness, and reduce the risk of certain health challenges. Thankfully, these retreats in Missouri offer an escape from all of life's cares and worries. Carefully curated, these destinations and experiences are tailored to help you disconnect and experience wholesomeness. From the Missouri Botanical Garden with its enchanting plant colors and designs to the Current River and its calm waters, these retreats offer so much peace. They are just an experience that can be the start of all-around wellness.