Each January, there’s a collective gentle (or not so gentle) nudge toward reinvention. But maybe you simply need to catch your breath first, clearing space for the changes that really call to you or simply remembering to make time for the things that already work well for you. Luckily for Charlotteans, you don’t have to travel far or spend much to find something that begins to clear the mental clutter, reconnects you with your body, or simply makes wintertime feel more tolerable. Check out these NC wellness destinations to set the right tone for the new year.
Escape for a long weekend to these NC wellness destinations
Sometimes the best way to jumpstart a new mindset is to physically step out of your routine. Within a few hours of the Queen City, you’ll find anything from mountain hideaways to coastal retreats and culture-filled towns.
Highlands, NC
If your version of self-care leans luxurious, Highlands delivers. The Old Edwards Inn & Spa offers fireplaces, mineral pools, and slow-living charm. It’s the perfect base for waterfall hikes, art galleries, and memorable meals at Madison’s or The Log Cabin.
Blowing Rock, NC
Like a winter postcard come to life: Blowing Rock offers you a chance to curl up at the lakeside Chetola Resort or the rustic Bob Timberlake Inn, wander Main Street’s boutiques, and take a snowy stroll around the trails at Moses Cone Memorial Park.
Asheville, NC
For a mix of mountain beauty and culinary adventure, Asheville is a perennial favorite. Pair a stay at Grove Park Inn or a downtown, walkable hotel with brewery hopping, farm-to-table meals (Curaté and Rhubarb never disappoint), and a visit to the Biltmore.
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston is a culture-rich city so close to Charlotte that you can easily make it a day trip. Although, we suggest you stay for maximum exploration. Explore Old Salem, tour SECCA’s galleries, settle in for dinner at Mozelle’s, and call the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel homebase. I’ve stayed at a dozen Kimptons and this is an easy favorite. It’s a truly unique bit of architectural history wrapped in perfect boutique hospitality.
Kiawah Island, SC
Nature lovers and golf enthusiasts alike appreciate Kiawah’s quiet marshes, wildlife, and protected dunes. Its “world of its own” atmosphere makes it ideal for anyone craving true calm.
Restore your body (and mind)
Whether you need deep relaxation or a tweak to your wellness routine, check out Charlotte’s spa scene. There are classic day spas, but also some newer NC wellness destinations offering more wellness-focused services, like infrared saunas, cold plunges and more.
Woodhouse Spa
Located in SouthPark’s Piedmont Town Center, Woodhouse blends luxury treatments with a serene design aesthetic. Their couples massages and body treatments are standout offerings.
Urban Mvmt Sauna Club
Urban Mvmt offers an infrared-focused space offering single and group sauna sessions, contrast therapy, and guided breathwork. It’s a great retreat for athletic recovery or stress relief.
Mood House
With two locations, one in Dilworth and one in Oakhurst, this modern massage and sauna studio offers a breezy Palm-Springs-inspired design and some of Charlotte’s best massage practitioners.
Get outside
Particularly in the winter, with shorter days and unpredictable weather, it can feel easy to retreat indoors. But nature is one of the greatest free wellness tools, even in January. Even a quick greenway walk can shift your mood, but if you’re craving a full-day reset, try these outdoor escapes that make for perfect NC wellness destinations.
Lake James
Take the 3.6 mile Mills Creek Trail, which traverses the easternmost peninsula of the Paddy’s Creek Area in Lake James State Park, for a moderate hike with views of the lake. If you have time, stop at Fonta Flora’s Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo to wet your whistle afterward.
Morrow Mountain
Morrow Mountain is one of Charlotte’s best-kept secrets. Start at the Mountain Loop Trailhead for jaw-dropping, expansive views of the Piedmont. From there, take the Morrow Mountain Trail to the Short Loop for a five-ish mile moderate hike that feels like it belongs in western NC.
Stone Mountain
The Stone Mountain Loop Trail has everything a Carolina day hiker could ask for: a 2,305 foot overlook, cascading falls, and one of the most intensive natural quad/glute workouts found on the East Coast. Travel clockwise for an intense uphill on trails and intense downhill on wooden stairs, or move counterclockwise for an intense downhill on trails and uphill on wooden stairs.
Great Smokies
If you’ve never been to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, make this your year. In 2021, the Smokies were the second most visited national park in the country (behind the Blue Ridge Parkway). The park is a bit of a hike (excuse the pun) from Charlotte, so you’ll want to make this an overnight trip, via a backpacking site, car camping site, or rented room in neighboring Gatlinburg.
Try a new hobby
Sometimes the best reset comes from shaking up your routine entirely. Charlotte has a growing roster of activities that blend creativity, wellness, and novelty — the perfect antidote to winter monotony. Try something new at these NC wellness destinations.
Charlotte Indoor Pickleball Club
Pickleball is officially the city’s fastest-growing rec sport. Whether you’re competitive or simply curious, the new indoor club offers lessons, open play, and league nights for all levels.
Charlotte Run Clubs
Get moving and meet some new friends. Groups like NoDa Run Club, South End Run Club and Run CLT host weekly meetups that welcome all paces and experience levels.
The Pocket-Size Book Club
If you enjoy reading, this is a chance to discuss novels with fewer than 300 pages. Pocket-Size Book Club meets at the Matthews branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library on the third Wednesday of each month, and Charlotte Mecklenburg’s library system hosts book clubs of various genres at branches across the region.
AR Workshop Charlotte
Tap into your creative side with a crafting workshop — from painting to knitting — and leave with a handmade piece that doubles as a souvenir of your self-care season.
Move your body
Exercise not only does wonders for physical health, but also elevating a heart rate can elevate a mood and sharpen a mind. Stay active by enrolling in regular fitness classes, picking up a new active hobby, or just working regular gym visits into your weekly routine.
Rumble Boxing
Rumble Boxing offers full body, boxing-inspired group fitness classes that will get your heart pumping and muscles toned.
Charlotte Trail Guide
From the CRVA, the CLT Trail Guide is an interactive trail platform that highlights area walking, running and biking trails with local businesses, art installations and more. Get into the city on foot for a little extra winter sunlight therapy.
Inner Peaks
Inner Peaks is Charlotte’s only indoor rock climbing gym. An array of auto-belays and bouldering walls cater to solo or inexperienced climbers, while 40-foot top rope and lead walls beckon to the experienced climber.
Hustle House
Hustle House infuses their workout classes with a combination of personal training and group fitness to give hustlers the individual attention they need to excel and the drive they need to push harder. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is the bedrock of Hustle House workouts, whether it’s strength day or conditioning day.
Invest in community
Sometimes, during these chilly months and shorter days, what you really need is connection. Boost your brain power and make a new friend or two by joining a local group or volunteering.
The Spoke Easy Biking Club
The Spoke Easy is a relaxed, welcoming bike shop/bar/gathering space in the Elizabeth neighborhood. It hosts weekly BMX rides, as well as weekly easy urban rides that start and end at the shop. Rides are open to anyone with access to a bicycle.
Join a book club
Take a peek at your local public library’s event calendar, and you’re sure to find at least one active book club. Meet your neighbors, read something new, and exercise your brain over monthly book discussions while supporting your local public library.
Volunteer locally
Charlotte has no shortage of opportunities to give back: Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Classroom Central, Project Outpour and Charlotte Rescue Mission are just a few local organizations that welcome volunteers on a one-time or recurring basis. Platforms like Share Charlotte and VolunteerMatch also maintain updated calendars of volunteer needs, making it easy to find something that fits your schedule and interests.
