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All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but all play and no downtime makes Jack exhausted and ornery. Fortunately, National Relaxation Day (August 15) is here to give Jack—and the rest of us—some respite from all the hustle and bustle.
Because planning how to relax isn’t particularly relaxing, we’ve done the legwork for you. Here, seven ways to alleviate stress, lighten up, and let go—whether you’re living on a shoestring budget or have money to burn.
Have a spa day at Four Seasons Vail.
- Where: 1 Vail Road, Vail
- What: Facials, body treatments, salon services, and more
- Cost: Starting at $275 for signature treatments
National Relaxation Day falls in late summer, but the Spa at Four Seasons Vail has your need for less speed covered no matter the time of year. A visit to the recently redesigned oasis begins with access to the modernized dressing rooms, followed perhaps by a soak in one of the rejuvenated hot tubs or some time in the sauna.
Snuggle into your white robe and slippers (they’re provided) well ahead of your appointment and head to the lounge for a cup of Two Leaves and a Bud Tea and a build-your-own trail mix snack. Enjoy both next to the cozy stone fireplace. Next up? Winding down with one of the spa’s signature treatments, whether the nourishing Tranquility Hot Oil Wrap, Grounded Rest Ritual (designed to encourage your body toward self-repair and realignment), skin-soothing and cell-renewing Signature Extreme 360° Beauty Ceremony, or (why not?) all three.
Soak at Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa.
- Where: 6475 County Road 203, Durango
- What: Geothermal mineral pools
- Cost: Starting at $39 for general admission; reservations required
Formerly known as Trimble Hot Springs, the geothermal features on which Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa sit have been attracting patrons—including illustrious film stars like Marilyn Monroe—for nearly 150 years. When the property changed hands in 2019, the new owners took an already elevated experience (the property sits at 6,500 feet) to an even higher level. The water boasts 32 distinct minerals (skin-tone-improving iron and anti-aging silicon, among them), but the resort says the recent addition of a proprietary Oxium Quantum Fusion system has also supercharged the water’s healing power. We’ll spare you the science, but the resort says the system helps enhance the absorption of minerals into the skin. Guests can choose from 40 different pools and tubs (many of them designed for couples or solo soaking), ranging from the 48-degree “cold plunge” all the way up to 110 degrees—and they all offer views of the San Juan Mountains’ Missionary Ridge.
Get lost in a good book by a Coloradan.
- Where: An indie bookstore, then your couch or a poolside lounge chair
- What: The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau
- Cost: $19
Whether you choose to revel in your air-conditioned living room or a chaise lounge at one of the Mile High City’s swimming pools, there are few things more chill than diving into a good book. Revati Kilaparti, manager at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, suggests checking out The Alchemy of Flowers, the debut adult novel from beloved Fort Collins–based children’s and young adult writer Laura Resau. Dubbed a modern take on The Secret Garden, “it has that same special strangeness that will captivate readers,” Kilaparti says. Plus, “the setting is a lush garden on the grounds of a French castle, which sounds like a dream location to relax in.”
Try out trendy wellness treatments at Sacred Society.
- Where: 3410 W. 38th Ave., Denver (Highland)
- What: Innovative wellness therapies
- Cost: Starting at $15
Sure, setting aside a week (or heck, even a weekend) is ideal for optimal relaxation. But if commitments to work deadlines, soccer practice pick ups, and pet projects (or just pets) leave little more than an hour for anything close to zen, head to Sacred Society. This wellness sanctuary in Denver’s Highland neighborhood offers non-invasive photobiomodulation therapy, which uses broad-spectrum wavelengths of light to enhance and speed up cellular energy production, and calming multisensory immersive VR to help promote mental clarity in 20-minute and 15-minute increments, respectively.
“In a world that constantly demands our attention, relaxation isn’t a luxury–it’s a necessity,” says Sacred Society co-founder Barbie Beltran. “Taking time to rest and reset supports our nervous system, helps us show up as our best selves, and reminds us that we’re more than our to-do lists.” Keep an eye on their calendar for the unveiling of new “hyper-relaxation” classes, including breathing-controlled qigong, slow-paced yin yoga, and intentional cacao ceremonies.
Swing in a Colorado Hammock.
- Where: Anywhere with trees
- What: Just hanging
- Cost: Starting at $85
We’ll admit it. “Rock-a-bye overworked, middle-aged Denverite” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as the original version, but no doubt that glorious swaying motion Mother Goose honked about has the same effect now as it did when we were babes. Seize the sway without giving Mom a herniated disk in one of the hand-woven wonders from Colorado Hammock.
“There’s something timeless and instinctively calming about rocking gently in a hammock,” says founder Chris Sawyer, noting that his company’s single and double hammocks and (our fave) hammock chairs are made from premium weather-resistant materials, reinforced stainless-steel ends, and sustainably sourced solid maple spreader bars. Lounging in a hammock, he adds, “gives your body permission to slow down and your mind space to wander.”
Exercise and unwind at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club.
- Where: 3320 Mesa Road, Colorado Springs
- What: Movement and massage
- Cost: Starting at $162 for guided hiking ,$90 for a 30-minute massage
If finding your happy place requires intense physical exertion, then a day with the wellness gurus at the Garden of the Gods Resort and Club might be the right way to spend National Relaxation Day. The seasoned guides offer hikes at Garden of the Gods, mountain bike rides for any skill level on local singletrack, and, for those slightly less excited about Type II fun, nontechnical e-bike tours.
Since all that adventuring will likely leave your muscles aching, work out the kinks with the resort’s latest bodywork and skincare offerings: the tension-reducing Spa Sampler massage or a Deep Sea Detox that includes a seaweed mask and marine eye treatment.
Wander Benson Sculpture Garden.
- Where: 1125 W. 29th St., Loveland
- What: More than 180 outdoor sculptures
- Cost: Free
Those looking for a space to turn inward should consider planning an afternoon at Benson Sculpture Garden, home to pristine lawns, stately brick archways, and 189 sculptures on permanent display—many by world-renowned artists. Mosey through the garden, and you’ll enjoy the movement carved into “Prairie Flowers” and glee found in “Flyin’,” both long-standing favorites. Keep an eye out for two recently added works: Amanda Markel’s trio of charging wolves (called “Ridge Runners”) and a sculpture of St. Patrick by Elijah Nugent and Jack Kreutzer. Stop for lunch at one of several picnic areas, or if you want to become one with the art, take five while sitting on the interactive piece “Resting on a Rough Sawn Bench.”
Read More: Where To Go Forest Bathing in Colorado
