Choosing a Venue for a Destination Health or Wellness Event

By Beth Buehler

It’s no secret that Colorado is known as a state that places health and wellness as a pinnacle priority. Residents are among the fittest in the nation and make getting outdoors and in shape a choice. Groups can easily tie into this mantra by choosing from a wide range of venues and destinations focused on health and wellness programs to help participants walk away reenergized, happy and committed to healthy lifestyles.

Hot Springs Haven

Five hot springs destinations in the western part of Colorado including Glenwood Springs and Steamboat Springs have formed the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop with 19 unique facilities. Steamboat Springs is home to Old Town Hot Springs that is located downtown and also functions as the local health and recreation center and Strawberry Park Hot Springs a few miles outside of town that features amazing scenery around every corner and various soaking pools and spa treatments.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs. Courtesy Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association.

Glenwood Springs has the state’s newest hot springs facility. Opened in July 2015, Iron Mountain Hot Springs has a café and 16 soaking pools with views of the Colorado River and a large freshwater pool. Other local geothermal wonders are Glenwood Hot Springs established in 1888 and now featuring a spa, lodge, miniature golf and more and Yampah Spa the Hot Springs Vapor Caves is created by thermal spring water that flows through cave floors and creates underground geothermal steam baths.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs. Photo by Vicky Nash.

Combine Fitness & Fun

In Boulder, take part in hands-on volunteer experiences and learn how to grow fresh foods at three local farms. Groups also can bike to a farm dinner or lunch with Awe-Struck Outdoors. For a unique twist on beverage experiences that don’t involve alcohol, Ku Cha House of Tea has a calendar of tea tastings and classes. Also, don’t miss sipping tea and savoring locally-sourced cuisine at the fabulous Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse downtown.

Picking produce at Cure Farm in Boulder.

Picking produce at Cure Farm in Boulder. Courtesy Boulder CVB.

Head over to Colorado’s Western Slope, namely Grand Junction and Palisade, to bike between a plethora of vineyards and orchards. A possible gift could be bike baskets or backpacks that make it easy to carry back the purchases that are sure to happen! Send guests off with a healthy picnic lunch to complete the experience.

Biking between vineyards in Palisade and Grand Junction. Courtesy Grand Junction VCB.

Biking between vineyards in Palisade and Grand Junction. Courtesy Grand Junction VCB.

Mind, Body & Spirit

Home of the Aspen Institute, whose core ideals are to harmonize the mind, body and spirit, Aspen Meadow Resort is located in Aspen’s quieter west side. It is a super serene place to meet, stay and explore activities like yoga, snowshoeing and bicycling on the adjacent Rio Grande Trail or around town. Aspen Skiing Company has four resorts in Aspen and Snowmass to choose from that offer a whole host of outdoor activities nearly all year long and The Little Nell for lodging, meeting and event space, and ultra-unique adventures for groups and guests.

Aspen's WeCycle program makes it easy to bike around Aspen.

Aspen’s WeCycle program makes it easy to bike around Aspen. Courtesy Aspen Meadows Resort.

Wellness Retreats

There is no need to go to all the work of planning a wellness/adventure getaway in Colorado when there are options already in place. For example, Telluride’s WOW Weekend of Wellness in June for classes and experiences that tie into the latest health, fitness, wellness, nutrition and medical trends. Attendees can get started on a new fitness program or advance skills in adventure racing, climbing, cycling, Pilates, yoga, CrossFit and more. In July, Telluride Yoga Festival is an inspirational four-day event with more than 100 offerings including yoga, meditation, music, hiking, dining, stand up paddle board yoga, social gatherings and more. Work in meetings around festival activities with refreshed and energized employees ready to bring their best thoughts forward.

Yoga in Telluride at the top of the free gondola with beautiful mountains as the backdrop.

Yoga in Telluride at the top of the free gondola with beautiful mountains as the backdrop.

When meeting at Colorado Springs resorts like Cheyenne Mountain Resort and The Broadmoor, take advantage of all sorts of on-site activities and spa treatments and go off-site to Cheyenne Mountain State Park where 9 a.m. yoga classes are offered at the visitor center on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 20 miles of hiking and biking trails are available.

Treat incentive groups, employees, clients and their guests to a meeting or getaway with daily health and wellness options and watch productivity, interaction and spirits soar!

Beth Buehler is editor of Colorado Meetings + Events and Mountain Meetings magazines, has planned numerous meetings and events and enjoys exploring Colorado in all seasons. She loves living in a state where residents take health and wellness to heart.