Best Babymoon Destinations
Plan a romantic getaway before your baby arrives.
Canyon Ranch
Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA
This all-inclusive wellness resort built in the wooded Berkshires of New England is known for its large sampler of daily fitness classes, nutritious food, pampering spa and integrated medicine consultations. Perfect for couples who want to get on a healthy track before taking the leap into parenthood, you can experiment with fun new fitness routines like aqua fit or tai chi; learn de-stressing secrets with mind-body classes such as The Power of Breath or Gigong for Stress and Weight Management; and get pampered with spa treatments specially designed for pregnancy like the organic and customizable You Glow Girl Facial.
Canyon Ranch offers a babymoon special where new parents get 15 percent off a package stay and an extra $135 each to use on spa or integrated wellness services. Moms-to-be might try the Healing Energy treatment. A specially trained therapist uses techniques such as light touch and crystals to balance the flow of energy throughout your body to help calm Mom, which in turn calms baby.
W Retreat and Spa, Vieques Island
W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island, PR
If you’d prefer to chill out on the beach, go for a tropical getaway that’s close to home. You can hop a direct flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from most major US cities (no passport required). Then take a quick, 20-minute flight to the secluded island of Vieques, where you can check in to the trendy W Retreat & Spa with its own private beach. All the blue skies, fresh seafood and azure water will make you feel like you’ve been transported to a far-flung locale – minus the jet lag.
For an uber-romantic adventure that isn’t physically challenging, sign up for a tour of the Bioluminescent Bay. You and your honey will kayak along the mangrove trees once darkness sets, where you can watch the water light up like a burst of shooting stars as your paddles stir up the microorganisms to trigger a chemical reaction that makes them glow. Another romantic idea: You can request to have your very own private dinner set on a secluded bluff overlooking the ocean. The W’s “Sneak Away for a Romantic Rendezvous” package includes dinner at the newly opened Sorcé restaurant, daily breakfast for 2 (or 3 if you count that bun in your oven), a $200 credit at the onsite AWAY Spa and a complimentary 4 pm check out.
Mohonk Mountain House
Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY
Outdoorsy couples can get their nature fix at Mohonk Mountain House’s Victorian castle, built on a mountaintop among 26,000 acres of preserves in the Catskill Mountains. The natural setting and all-inclusive rates make it easy to let go of daily stress since you don’t have to plan much of anything: Linger over the 3 daily meals (a big breakfast, lunch buffet and a romantic dinner in the dining room), chill with afternoon tea and cookies and get some fresh air by snowshoeing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
You and your honey can bond and dream about baby while kicking back in an Adirondack chair on the big porch overlooking Lake Mohonk or take a carriage ride through the lush grounds. And since a trip to the spa is a babymoon must, the resort offers a “Hello Baby!” spa treatment package that includes a 50-minute maternity massage to relieve leg and foot tension for moms, while the Eagle Cliff Deep Tissue Massage can ease even the biggest case of new-dad nerves.
Courtesy of Borgata
The Water Club at Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ
You may think Atlantic City is nothing more than Bingo and boardwalks, but America’s Playground has enough chic hotels, luxurious spas and celebrity chef-run restaurants to cash in as an exciting babymoon spot. The Water Club at Borgata makes maxing out on R&R easy because it has the best AC activities all under one roof.
Lounge together by one of the 4 indoor and outdoor pools, and sample TV-worthy dishes by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Get pampered at the 2-story Immersion Spa by indulging in a couple’s treatment with a prenatal massage for the mom-to-be (focusing on trouble spots such as neck, shoulders and lower back while using lymphatic drainage techniques to nix excess water retention) and a deep-tissue massage for the dad (targeting the deepest layers of the muscles to zap stress) before relaxing together post-massage in the privacy of a deluxe couple’s suite. You’ll also be just steps away from celebrity chef restaurants such as Wolfgang Puck American Grille and Bobby Flay Steak; 2 entertainment venues where you can see concerts and comedians such as Jay Leno; and casinos where you can try your luck at winning your little one’s college savings fund.
Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, Park City, UT
Stein Eriksen is like a home away from home, only better: The suites have full kitchens, dining areas, living rooms and private decks, and you can ask the concierge to have your kitchen pre-stocked with your favorite groceries and sundries. Pregnant women gotta love a place where there’s 24-hour room service to satisfy any craving, including 15 flavors of homemade truffles. Don’t miss the Calvados Caramel with a dark chocolate shell and creamy caramel filling or the PB&J that’s made of peanut butter ganache and strawberry jam.
Though Park City is a top ski destination and hitting the slopes is off limits for moms-to-be, sitting by one of the resort’s 145 fireplaces with a steamy mug of hot chocolate may be a pregnant woman’s idea of heaven. And for couples who want to build memories before baby makes 3, Park City is home to the famous Sundance Film Festival, as well as many other events such as the Kimball Arts Festival and the Deer Valley Music Festival. Or just take the resort’s complimentary guest shuttle to wander aimlessly and window shop on Park City’s historic Main Street.
Travaasa Hana Experiential Resort, Maui, HI
Wish you could just quit technology and all those Facebook messages asking when the baby is going to get here already? Travaasa Hana just may be your ticket to babymoon paradise. Built amid the rolling grass fields and palm trees overlooking Kaihalulu Bay, you won’t find TVs or alarm clocks in the rooms, let alone Wi-Fi. There are no stoplights, and the pace is very laid-back. It’s the little touches, like the cool towel scented with lemon water and traditional glass of Pog (guava, passion fruit and orange juice) given to you upon arrival, that remind you to slow down. But this resort isn’t just about zoning out on the beach: It offers an ideal opportunity to reflect on your new role as parents with guided meditation, outdoor prenatal yoga classes and easy coastal hikes through the tropical wilderness featuring lush rainforests and plunging waterfalls.
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