You might know Williamsburg for its colonial history, but it's much more than that. My husband and I recently went on a leisurely wellness couples trip and found that Williamsburg is not only a great place to learn about America’s history, but it’s also the perfect place for a spa crawl, to connect with nature, nourish your body with delicious food, and energize your body with movement.
In this blog post, we share our itinerary details–including our spa crawl, which featured facials, massages, and detoxifying in a salt cave (plus a float tank!). It also includes some of the places we dined at and the fitness activities we did together. Read on to get some ideas for your next trip to Williamsburg!
Day 1
Drop Your Bags at Your Hotel
Williamsburg and the surrounding area has over 70 accommodations, from hotels to resorts to bed and breakfasts–so you will have plenty of options. We stayed at Wedmore Place, a boutique hotel at the Williamsburg Winery. It features 28 rooms decorated and designed after different provinces in Europe.
Breakfast at Everbowl
With ingredient options like spirulina and MCT that can support brain health and help meet your antioxidant needs, you should consider a stop here on your wellness getaway. On top of that, the bowls are a dance party for your taste buds! We had the Everbowl with açaí, granola, banana, strawberries, blueberries, and the Full Moon Bowl with cacao wow, vanilla, granola, banana, strawberries, peanut butter, and cacao nibs. We loved them both! But if those ingredients don’t tickle your fancy, there are about nine options to choose from!
Williamsburg Salt Spa
There are several experiences at the Williamsburg Salt Spa, but we opted for the salt cave and float tank experiences.
The salt cave comprises over 15 tons of therapeutic salt imported from Poland and the Himalayas–thus allowing you to breathe in air saturated with beneficial minerals like magnesium, bromine, iron, iodine, potassium, and more. The experience was super relaxing, and I fell asleep within five minutes. It lasts 45 minutes while you sit in a reclining chair. The temperature in the room is around 75º F, and the humidity is between 40-50%. If you get chilly like I did, don’t worry; they have plenty of blankets.
The float tank was also a very relaxing experience. You effortlessly float for an hour, but the time goes by so quickly. I grew up hearing my grandmother talk about the benefits of Epsom salt baths, so it was pretty cool to learn that each float tank has 900 pounds of dissolved Epsom salt in 11 inches of water! The experience is known to improve stress, muscle pain, back pain, anxiety, and so much more.
Lunch at Culture Café
Let’s be real. It can be hard to choose healthy options sometimes, and lunch here at Culture Café was no exception. But I’m happy to report that I did go with a healthier option and had no regrets because it was so good! I had a side salad and the Cauliflower Burger. The burger was made from cauliflower, quinoa, and almonds and topped with pepper jack cheese, relish, and culture sauce. My husband got his dose of protein with the Moroccan Meatballs in red sauce and also added a side salad.
Walk Your Way to Wellness with a Dash of History
There is no substitute for getting outside and taking a stroll, but the added bonus of doing it in Williamsburg is discovering unique history lessons. We logged several thousand steps simply by walking around. During our stroll, we visited Tarpley, Thompson & Company in Merchants Square (also home to over 40 shops and restaurants!). To cap it off, we enjoyed a phenomenal walking tour of Colonial Williamsburg with Trish Thomas of Williamsburg Walking Tours.
If you have time, you could also take a romantic walk along the Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, which features a small beach and several shops. It’s perfect for a stroll on a sunny day, and festivals and farmers markets are often held in the green space.
Day 2
Breakfast at Tipsy Beans Café
As the name suggests, you can definitely find a wide selection of spiked morning drinks at Tipsy Beans Café. However, no fear if you want to eat and drink more clean. Most of the drink options can be served without alcohol, and some are low-sugar. You can go with options such as smoothie bowls, avocado toast, and veggie omelets for breakfast food. For lunch, there are options like tuna poke nachos and entree salads.
Facials at The Spa at Kingsmill Resort
While this resort spa offers all the standard spa services and a waiting area overlooking the James River, what stood out most to us was its Hydrafacial offering! If you are considering a Hydrafacial treatment on your next trip, call ahead to ensure it’s available: 757-564-5353.
Grab a Non-Alcoholic Hop Water at Virginia Beer Company
Virginia Beer Company makes it clear that everyone is welcome, from beer connoisseurs to sober and health-conscious people! We tried their hop water: carbonated water infused with hop flavoring. It isn’t fermented, so it contains 0% alcohol and brings a different twist to your typical carbonated water.
Day 3
Spend the Morning at the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg
This beautiful spa offers amenities such as a gym, steam room, jacuzzi, and healthy snacks that you can enjoy before or after your spa services. While the amenities outside the gym are separated by women and men, you can do what we did and get your quality time in with a couples massage. They also offer treatments incorporating techniques from the 19th, 18th, and 17th centuries!
Lunch at Gold Course Clubhouse
They are known for their smoked meats. You can add smoked meat to a salad to keep it healthy while allowing you to try some. This lunch spot is super convenient if you plan to play golf afterward like we did because it is located at the Golf Course!
Golf or Take Lessons at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club
In our quest to burn calories and have fun, it was time for an activity! We opted for a golf lesson at Golden Horseshoe. We knew we were in for a treat because it was voted one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 500 Golf Holes in the World” and “Top 100 Resort Courses in America” by Golfweek Magazine.
Our awesome instructor, Glen, gave us some great tips on how to improve our game, gave us a tour of the course, and shared details on its history. We honestly can’t wait to go back because of the five-star hospitality.
Day 4
Take a Class at Full Circle Yoga + Pilates
We took the Springboard Fusion class here. The class included elements of barre and yoga and incorporated the Springboard and resistance training with weights. It was a fun way to start the morning with some movement! Everyone from the staff to the students was so friendly and happy to help. They also offer several different yoga and pilates classes.
1607 Coffee Company
We really enjoyed this local coffee shop. There was a lot of space to spread out, and the drinks and avocado toast topped with eggs were scrumptious. My husband kept it healthy for drinks with a smoothie, and I had a pistachio matcha that was worth every calorie and gram of sugar. They serve breakfast all day, a few lunch items, and various coffee and teas.
Take a Stroll or E-Bike Tour
We took a morning stroll along the Bassett Trace Nature Trail and even saw several horses close to the trail. For a more guided or active experience, consider the Powhatan E-Bike Tour with Williamsburg on Wheels. Whether you travel by foot or bike, you have options to stay active.
Lunch at Amiraj - Modern Indian Kitchen
This beautiful restaurant serves Indian favorites with a twist, mocktails, over 170 wines from around the globe, and local and Indian brews. I had Salmon Tikka, which was nice because the sauce was served on the side, so you could determine how much you wanted to use. My husband had the Kadhai Chicken.
We had a great time in Williamsburg and returned home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. If you're looking for a weekend away that focuses on wellness, definitely consider Williamsburg!
