Hotel at a Glance: Miracle Manor Retreat

You’ll find massage tables, mineral water pools, and organic bedding at Miracle Manor Retreat, but here’s one thing you won’t find: a clock. In fact, all timepieces have been abolished from the property. The owners’ goal is to let retreat-goers get more in tune with their body’s natural rhythm, so eating, sleeping, and relaxing can be done whenever your body needs it. TV, music, children, and pets are not allowed on the property, this way the retreat is truly an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

• Start your day right by hitting up the bed and breakfast’s deluxe breakfast, which is full of organic foods and free-trade fare.
• Naturally occurring relaxation: The pool and hot pool are both filled with mineral water from the property’s own well of naturally occurring hot springs. The sulfate, sodium, bicarbonate, and minerals found in it can be beneficial for relaxing your body.
• Soak under the stars: The hot pool is covered by a crystal-clear enclosure that allows for an unobstructed view of the heavens.
• Let therapists knead away knots at the on-site spa which offers various unique and signature treatments.
• Commune with nature by taking a walk through nearby trails or the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, which is about 16 miles away.

Desert Hot Springs, California: Spa-Centric Oasis Minutes from Palm Springs

In 1913, settler Cabot Yerxa was digging a well in the San Bernardino foothills when he unearthed natural hot springs bubbling beneath the Californian desert. This area later became known as Desert Hot Springs, a town that’s thrived over the years as a spa-centric getaway thanks to Yerxa’s find. The mineral waters, which hover around 148 degrees and are said to have healing powers, now flow directly into several local spas. Desert Hot Springs’ location, just 12 miles north of Palm Springs and two hours east of Los Angeles, also makes it an easy destination to reach for those looking for a relaxing escape from the big city.

You can see more of Yerxa’s legacy at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, which sits within a Hopi-influenced pueblo home he built using materials found throughout the desert. The four-story museum stays open year-round and offers guided tours of the property and historic artifacts detailing Yerxa’s life and travels.

After dark, take advantage of the area’s light-pollution ordinances by driving 40 miles east to Joshua Tree National Park to stargaze and spy the glowing eyes of resident coyotes during a night hike. The roughly 800,000-acre park stretches across parts of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and plays host to some of the country’s most varied wildlife. The five fan-palm oases that are scattered throughout the park are the best spots to see native animals, such as snakes, bighorn sheep, and black-tailed jackrabbits.