THREE ALABAMA SPAS NAMED TOP 30 IN NORTH AMERICA FOR 2020

While North American travelers haven’t been able to travel as much as they would like in 2020, we hope that the following list of best spas will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be. Three of the top 30 spas for 2020 in North America were in Alabama on the RTJ Spa Trail and are owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama.

The Top 100 Spas of 2020 list includes 74 spas from the United States, 19 spas from Canada, three from Mexico, and one each from Barbados, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. https://travelprnews.com/spas-of-america-unveils-top-100-spas-of-2020-59465413/travel-press-release/2021/01/06/

“The North American spa and wellness industry was devastated by the events of the past year,” says Spas of America president Craig Oliver. “Many spas have been forced to close, reduce staff, and operate at a reduced capacity. On the bright side, we are seeing strong interest from consumers who are searching for relaxation, mental health, wellness, and escape. We have no doubt North American spas will rise to meet this challenge in the year ahead.”

The RTJ Spa Trail has six spas across Alabama. “We are delighted with these honors and believe all of our spas offer world-class experiences at a time when people need them,” said Taylor Fields, Director of Spa for PCH Hotels & Resorts. “Our spas at Ross Bridge, Opelika, and Florence make this prestigious international list.” Other spas on the RTJ Spa Trail are at the Grand Hotel, the Battle House, and Renaissance Montgomery.

Spas of America’s Top 100 Spas of 2020

1. Red Mountain Resort, St. George, Utah

2. Elora Mill Hotel & Spa, Elora, Ontario

3. Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

4. The Spa at Ross Bridge, Birmingham, Alabama

5. Spa Shiki at the Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, Missouri

6. The Spa at The Wentworth, New Castle, New Hampshire

7. Crystal Spa, Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Thompsonville, Michigan

8. Feathers Spa at The Peabody Hotel Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee

9. Skaná, The Spa at Turning Stone Resort, Verona, New York

10. Grotto Spa, Tigh-Na-Mara Spa Resort, Parksville, British Columbia

11. Spa at Grand National, Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National, Opelika, Alabama

12. The Spa at the Joule, Dallas, Texas

13. Remède Spa, St. Regis, Mexico City, Mexico

14. The Spa at White Oaks Resort, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

15. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Miami Beach, Florida

16. eforea Spa, Hilton Sedona Resort Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona

17. The Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley, Pennsylvania

18. The Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente, Rancho Mirage, California

19. The Greenbrier Spa, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

20. Soul Spa, The Westin Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi

21. New Life Hiking Spa, Killington, Vermont

22. The Spa at Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi

23. Pala Spa, Pala Casino Spa & Resort, Pala, California

24. Trillium Spa at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, Pennsylvania

25. The Spa at The Omni Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia

26. Aarna Spa, Pasea Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach, California

27. Miraj Hammam Toronto, Shangri-La Toronto, Ontario

28. Lake George Spa, Sagamore Resort & Spa, Bolton Landing, New York

29. Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain, Blue Mountains, Ontario

30. The Spa at The Shoals, Florence, Alabama

31. Roosevelt Baths & Spa at Gideon Putnam Resort, Saratoga Springs, New York

32. Springs Eternal Spa, Omni Bedford Springs, Bedford, Pennsylvania

33. The Spa at Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, New York

34. Remède Spa, St. Regis, Atlanta, Georgia

35. Two Bunch Palms Resort, Desert Hot Springs, California

36. Remède Spa, St. Regis, Aspen, Colorado

37. Immerse Spa, MGM Grand Detroit, Detroit, Michigan

38. The Spa at The Peaks Resort, Telluride, Colorado

39. The Spa at Sun Valley Resort, Sun Valley, Idaho

40. Boathouse Spa and Baths, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia

41. The Millcroft Inn & Spa, Alton, Ontario

42. Amina Spa, Sahara Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

43. Willow Stream Spa, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver, British Columbia

44. The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City, Utah

45. The Spa at French Lick, French Lick, Indiana

46. SpaTerre, The Josie Hotel, Rossland, British Columbia

47. Deerfield Health Retreat & Spa, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

48. Spa Walden, Walden Inn & Spa, Walden, Ohio

49. Spa Eastman, Eastman, Quebec

50. Turtle Cove Spa, Mountain Harbor Resort, Mount Ida, Arkansas

51. The Spa at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta

52. Stillwater Spa, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Incline Village, Nevada

53. Dunton Hot Springs, Dolores, Colorado

54. Pacific Mist Spa, Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa, Courtenay, British Columbia

55. The Sanctuary Spa, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley, Arizona

56. Relache Spa Gaylord Texan, Grapevine, Texas

57. Solace Spa & Salon, Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana

58. Drift Spa, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, Ucluelet, British Columbia

59. The Spa at Old Edwards Inn, Highland, North Carolina

60. 100 Fountain Spa at Pillar and Post, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

61. Glacial Waters Spa at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minnesota

62. Exhale Spa Ocean Resort Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey

63. SpaTerre Teton Mountain Lodge, Teton Village, Wyoming

64. Ojo Santa Fe Resort, Santa Fe, New Mexico

65. ESPA at Baha Mar, Nassau, The Bahamas

66. Jasha Spa, JW Marriott Las Cabos Beach Resort & Spa, San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico

67. Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, Hot Springs, Arkansas

68. The Spa at Ritz Carlton, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

69. Ste. Anne’s Spa, Grafton, Ontario

70. Bamford Haybarn Spa, 1 Hotel, Brooklyn, New York

71. The Spa at Wine & Roses, Lodi, California

72. The Spa at Camelback Inn, JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona

73. The Spa at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Alberta

74. Spa La Vie at Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville, Louisiana

75. The Spa at Sea Island, Sea Island, Georgia

76. Health Club & Spa at Fairmont Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

77. eforea Spa Hilton Barbados Resort, Bridgetown, Barbados

78. The Spa at Spruce Peak, Stowe, Vermont

79. Manitou Springs Resort & Mineral Spa, Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan

80. Healing Waters Spa, Saratoga Resort and Spa, Saratoga, Wyoming

81. Sole’renity Spa at the Artesian Hotel, Sulphur, Oklahoma

82. Mtn. Laurel Spa at Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia

83. The Spa at Cliff House, Cape Neddick, Maine

84. Espiritu Spa, Costa Baja Resort, La Paz, Mexico

85. Spa Khakara, Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii

86. The Spa at Saddlebrook, Chapel, Florida

87. Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, San Luis Obispo, California

88. Miraj Hammam Spa, Vancouver, British Columbia

89. Jewel Grande Resort & Spa, Montego Bay, Jamaica

90. Guerlain Spa at Hotel X Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

91. Woodlands Spa Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, Pennsylvania

92. Vanderbilt Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, Newport, Rhode Island

93. Tree Spa at Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport, Maine

94. Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa, Hot Springs, South Dakota

95. The Bridge House Spa at Twin Farms, Barnard, Vermont

96. The Ritz Carlton Spa, Bachelor Gulch Spa, Avon, Colorado

97. Kohala Spa at Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa, Hawaii

98. Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, New York

99. Ciel Spa at SLS Lux Brickell, Miami, Florida

100. The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North in Scottsdale, Arizona

Source: Google Analytics, January 1–December 31, 2020. The Top 100 Spas is measured by unique page views of spa and wellness consumers across North America. They are ranked in order. This showcases unique spas across the country. The Top 100 Spas of 2020 comprises the top 10% of all spa listings on https://www.spasofamerica.com.

Birthday Staycation – Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort

I celebrated my birthday at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort. This beautiful hillside hotel is located (here) in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Inside of Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort is intricate artwork along with Mediterranean inspired decor. 

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The Spa at Ross Bridge

I booked an appointment at the spa and received a manicure and pedicure.  When I have free time, I prefer spa nail services because they use all natural products. In addition, it’s an intimate environment and provide delicious refreshments.

Sitting in a bathrobe and inhaling essentials oils was very relaxing.  The Spa at Ross Bridge has several additional services including a quiet and steam room, boutique, and chlorine-free pools.

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Additional Resort Photos:

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My visit to Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort was the perfect staycation.  I can’t wait to stop by again for an afternoon of golf or deep tissue massage!