If relaxation is your ultimate goal for a vacation, then you’ve probably headed to the beach more often than not. Next time, consider trying something more intimate: one of the country’s many hot-springs resort towns. We’ve compiled three of the best hot-springs destinations, each a good bet to ease stress and put you in touch with nature’s calming powers.

Chena Hot Springs | Fairbanks, AK

Why it’s great: Alaska can get a little chilly, so there is no better way to thaw out than with a dip in these hot springs, which reach up to 165 degrees before being cooled for use.

What to do: If you’re here in the winter, bundle up and head over to the Rock Lake to spend some time oohing and aahing over the Northern Lights. If it’s summer, try ATV tours or mountain biking.

What’s nearby: While the official address says “Fairbanks, AK,” downtown Fairbanks is actually 55 miles west of this resort town, meaning it’s in remote wilderness. The small community does have the Aurora Ice Museum, a chilly structure with ice sculptures, ice chandeliers, an ice bar, and more.

Calistoga Hot Springs | Calistoga, CA

Why it’s great: Away.com named Calistoga the country’s #1 hot-springs town, and for good reason: not only does it have an array of spas, but its proximity to Napa Valley makes it a wine getaway to boot.

What to do: Breathe in the air around the geothermal mineral pool at Calistoga Spa Hot Springs resort, or meditate alongside the palm tree-laden Indian Springs’ Buddha Pool, which the resort calls “an oasis of calm.”

What’s nearby: There are more than 50 Napa Valley wineries in the Calistoga region—visit the wine caves of the Dutch Henry Winery or explore the grounds of Castello di Amorosa, modeled after a 13th-century Tuscan castle.

Dunton Hot Springs | Dolores, CO 

Why it’s great: With the San Juan Mountains as a backdrop, this reclaimed ghost town is almost a parado—it’s both rustic and luxurious, old-fashioned and stylish. Said to have therapeutic benefits, the resort’s hot springs can be enjoyed in the 19th-century bathhouse or right on the river.

What to do: Budget time to eat at the antique table in the Old Saloon, where the chef uses local ingredients to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an open kitchen. Bon Appetit magazine named the resort one of best hotels for food lovers in America.

What’s nearby: For the scenic day trip, drive through the San Juans to Telluride where you’ll find a world-class ski resort that offers horseback riding, golfing, and fly fishing in the summer—all with a glorious mountain backdrop. In the winter, it’s all about skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding.

Photos: Old Faithful Geyser Calistoga CA 0708(3) by Donna Sutton under CC by-ND 2.0; Chena Hot Springs by PunkToad under CC by 2.0; San Juan Skyway, S.R. 145 Near Stoner, Colorado by Ken Lund under CC by SA-2.0.