Lake Superior Wellness Retreat at Wild Rice Retreat, Bayfield

The retreat runs on a simple rhythm. Mornings are for movement — yoga and other classes led by visiting instructors and thought leaders — then breakfast from a kitchen that focuses on clean, light, handcrafted cooking. Afternoons open up: walking trails run through the trees around the main building, and the shore of Lake Superior is a short walk away. Evenings often centre on the fire pit or the Retreat Center.

The Sanctuary is the spa side of the property. It includes a social-sized cedar Sauna Haus and a Rain Room, and it's set up as a slower-paced space away from the rest of the resort. Spa services are available alongside it.

Accommodation is in 31 Scandinavian-inspired units, spread across the grounds. The design is deliberately simple — the point is rest, not decoration. Guests describe the architecture, art and grounds as the thing that ties the stay together.

What separates this from a standard wellness hotel is the guided retreat programme. Rather than a fixed in-house timetable, Wild Rice brings in outside instructors and hosts for specific retreats through the year, so the content changes with each one. The resort also runs workshops, events and offsite experiences alongside the retreat calendar.

Food is a bigger part of the stay than at most resorts of this size. The kitchen cooks clean, light dishes with a creative, handcrafted approach, and guests consistently single out the local food and the service in reviews. Meals are served as a social experience rather than in isolation.

Bayfield itself is a small town on Lake Superior, known as a gateway to the Apostle Islands. The resort is set in wooded land just off the shore, so you get trees and trails on the property and the lake within easy reach.

What's included

- Lodging in one of 31 Scandinavian-inspired units - Access to the Retreat Center and Peace Pod - Access to The Sanctuary, including the cedar Sauna Haus and Rain Room - Daily yoga and movement classes (resort stays) - Instructor-led programme (guided retreats) - Meals from the resort kitchen - Walking trails through the wooded grounds - Access to the Lake Superior shoreline

What's not included

- Spa services - Offsite experiences - Gift certificates - Alcoholic drinks, unless stated in the specific retreat - Travel to Bayfield, Wisconsin - Travel insurance