Two Vancouver Island spas ranked as top spots for relaxation in North America

Spa date, anyone?

In a recent announcement by Spas of America, two Vancouver Island gems have earned their spots among the top 100 spa experiences in North America.

Notably, the Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort has not only claimed the title of the best spa in Canada but also secured the impressive sixth position in North America according to Spas of America’s “Top 100 Spas of 2023.”

Another Vancouver Island retreat, the Boathouse Spa and Baths at Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria, has also made its mark, securing the 54th position on the prestigious list.

Taking the crown as the best spa in Canada, the Grotto Spa offers an award-winning wellness experience and the resort is celebrated for its forested retreat ambiance, featuring rustic chic log cabins that provide a cozy and intimate setting for guests.

The spa is currently closed for renovations, set to reopen on Friday, February 16th. Anticipation is high as the resort promises exciting changes that will enhance the overall guest experience.

Among the updates is the introduction of “The Grotto,” a multifaceted experience designed to elevate the guest journey within the spa.

The outdoor patio, next to the mineral pool, offers a serene oasis with four cedar barrel saunas and outdoor showers, surrounded by picturesque rock formations and lush greenery, creating a tranquil sauna garden.

Victoria’s Boathouse Spa and Baths at Oak Bay Beach Hotel also made a noteworthy appearance on the list. This achievement adds to the spa’s reputation as a premier relaxation destination on Vancouver Island.

The Boathouse Spa and Baths offer guests a luxurious and rejuvenating experience, contributing to the overall appeal of Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

In addition to the two Vancouver Island spas, 12 other Canadian spa experiences earned spots on the “Top 100 Spas of 2023” list.

These are the top 100 spas of 2023 according to Spas of America:

1. The Spa at Séc-he, Palm Springs, California
2. Red Mountain Resort, Ivins, Utah.
3. Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, Rancho Mirage, California.
4. Skaná, The Spa at Turning Stone Resort, Verona, New York.
5. Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, North Carolina.
6. Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, Parksville, British Columbia.
7. The Spa at Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi.
8. Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain, The Blue Mountains, Ontario.
9. Spa by JW, JW Marriott Charlotte, North Carolina.
10. Elements Spa at Minerals Hotel, Crystal Springs Golf Resort, Vernon Township, New Jersey.
11. Elora Mill Hotel & Spa, Elora, Ontario.
12. Reflections Spa at Grand Cascades Lodge, Hamburg, New Jersey.
13. Feathers Spa at the Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee.
14. Immerse Spa, MGM Grand Detroit, Michigan.
15. Spa by JW, JW Marriott Water Street Tampa, Florida.
16. STRATA Integrated Wellness and Spa, Garden of The Gods Resort & Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
17. Vetta Nordic Spa, Oro-Medonte, Ontario.
18. Bamford Wellness Spa, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Princeville, Hawaii.
19. The Spa at The Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, Virginia.
20. Glen Ivy Hot Springs, Temescal Valley, California.
21. Spa Otomi, The Westin Los Cabos Resort & Spa, Baja California-Sur.
22. G Spa & Salon Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut.
23. Spa Walden, Walden Inn & Spa, Aurora, Ohio.
24. Verandah Fitness Club & V-Spa, The Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas.
25. St. Anne’s Spa, Grafton, Ontario.
26. The Spa at White Oaks Resort, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
27. The Spa at Sun Valley Resort, Idaho.
28. The St. Regis Deer Valley Spa, Utah.
29. Aarna Spa, Pasea Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach, California.
30. Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort, Saint Peters Bay, Prince Edward Island.
31. Bamford Wellness Spa, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, New York.
32. The Spa at Thompson Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.
33. The Spa at Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, New York.
34. Remède Spa, The St. Regis Mexico City, Ciudad de México.
35. The Spa at Wine & Roses, Lodi, California.
36. Crystal Spa, Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Thompsonville, Michigan.
37. The Spa at Sweetgrass, Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
38. Ciel Spa at the SLS Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.
39. Relâche Spa, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, Tennessee.
40. The Society Hotel Bingen, Spa & Bathhouse, Cook, Washington.
41. The Norwich Spa at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut.
42. Lantana Spa, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, Texas.
43. The Spa at The Peaks, Telluride, Colorado.
44. The Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley, Pennsylvania.
45. The Pearle Hotel & Spa, Burlington, Ontario.
46. Thistle, an Auberge Spa, Wildflower Farms, Gardiner, New York.
47. Miraj Hammam Spa, Shangri-La Toronto, Ontario.
48. Thermea Spa Village Whitby, Ontario.
49. Soul Spa, The Westin Jackson, Mississippi.
50. CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa, Carefree, Arizona.
51. Spa at the Shoals, Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, Florence, Alabama.
52. The Spa at The Westin Rancho Mirage, California.
53. The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC.
54. Boathouse Spa and Baths, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia.
55. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, Canton, Ohio.
56. Spa at Ross Bridge, Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, Alabama.
57. The Spa at The Asbury Ocean Club Hotel, Asbury Park, New Jersey.
58. Spa Toccare at the Borgata, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
59. Spa Terra at The Meritage Resort, Napa, California.
60. Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa, Miami, Florida.
61. Breve Spa, Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, Boston, Massachusetts.
62. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Miami Beach, Florida.
63. Hashani Spa, JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa, Arizona.
64. Nemacolin, Farmington, Pennsylvania.
65. The Spa at Ballantyne, Charlotte, North Carolina.
66. Golden Door, San Marcos, California.
67. SpaTerre, Teton Mountain Lodge, Teton Village, Wyoming.
68. Sole’renity Spa at The Artesian Hotel, Sulphur, Oklahoma.
69. The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City, Ciudad de México.
70. Spa Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, California.
71. The Ridge at Horizons – A Wellness Retreat, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
72. Manitou Springs Resort & Mineral Spa, Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan.
73. The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, East Palo Alto, California.
74. The Greenbrier Spa, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
75. Bamford Wellness Spa, 1 Hotel San Francisco, California.
76. Spa Shiki at the Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, Missouri.
77. Serrano Spa, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, Highland, California.
78. BALNEA, spa + réserve thermale, Bromont, Quebec.
79. The Spa at Encore Boston Harbor, Everett, Massachusetts.
80. The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City, Utah.
81. The Spa at Vanderbilt Grace, Newport, Rhode Island.
82. Mokara Spa, Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Texas.
83. The Spa at Harrah’s Resort Southern California.
84. Spa Viata, Hotel Viata Austin, Texas.
85. Conrad Spa Indianapolis, Indiana.
86. Turtle Cove Spa, Mountain Harbor Resort, Mt. Ida, Arkansas.
87. The Spa at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida.
88. Ohtli Spa, Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Jalisco.
89. RAKxa Wellness Spa, The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Colorado.
90. Ciel Spa at SLS Brickell, Miami, Florida.
91. Yarrow, an Auberge Spa at Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colorado.
92. Exhale Spa & Bathhouse, Ocean Resort Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
93. AcquaPietra, Streamsong Resort, Bowling Green, Florida.
94. Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, California.
95. Spa at Grand National, Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National, Opelika, Alabama.
96. Salamander Spa, Washington DC.
97. Spa Montage Big Sky, Montana.
98. Opal Spa, The Sagamore Resort & Spa, Bolton Landing, New York.
99. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bachelor Gulch, Avon, Colorado.
100. Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature, Winnipeg, Manitoba.