<b>Lake Austin Spa Resort</b>

Location: 19 acres on the lake in Austin, Texas.

Best for: Spa-goers

Details: Choose from more than 100 spa services, which take place in a 25,000-square-foot, 40-room spa on the lake shore. Finish the day by stargazing and learning some Tibetan stretches. Need a break from all that relaxation? There are plenty of water activities, which include hydro-biking and aqua Zumba.

Cool perk: The Gifts of Our Garden spa treatment ($315 for 100 minutes) is based on the benefit of each herb (lavender relaxes you), according to spokeswoman Darlene Fiske. You choose the herb you want used during your treatment. The spa technician takes the fresh organic herb from the garden, grinds it with sea salt, wraps your body with it, scrubs you and gives you a massage.

Dates offered: Ongoing

Price: Rooms start at $1,720 per person for three nights, which includes meals, fitness classes and activities. Spa services are a la carte.

Information: 800-847-5637, lakeaustin.com (Terry Vine Photography, HANDOUT / February 22, 2012)

By Danielle Braffe, Special to Tribune Newspapers

9:08 p.m. EST, February 28, 2012
Mohonk Mountain House

Location: A castle 90 miles north of New York City, overlooking Lake Mohonk

Best for: Anyone who loves the outdoors

Details: Mohonk's health amenities all revolve around the picturesque outdoors in Hudson Valley. Choose to explore the 85 miles of hiking trails, to swim the lake in warm weather or to skate in the 10,000-square-foot outdoor ice rink during cooler months, said Fiske, who also represents Mohonk. When the sun sets, remain under the stars for a cozy nostalgic campfire, complete with s'mores.

Cool perk: It's one of the rare health retreats that invites you to bring the kids. They can take part in nature walks and canoe tours led by a staff naturalist.

Dates offered: Ongoing

Price: Rooms start at $270 per person per night and include all meals and most activities.

Information: 845-255-1000, mohonk.com

Hilton Head Health

Location: Coast of South Carolina

Best for: Serious weight loss

Details: Most people tend to stay at this retreat for two to four weeks and on average lose seven to 14 pounds, said Michelle Musulin, Hilton Head Health program consultant. They achieve this through a combination of fitness classes, behavioral-modification seminars and a customized diet. Cooking demonstrations and nutrition classes also are offered, so you can continue your progress long after you leave the retreat.

Cool perk: As soon as you arrive, you are assigned a private coach, who designs a schedule for you for your entire time.

Dates offered: Ongoing

Price: A week starts at $3,300 and includes all meals and classes.

Information: 800-292-2440, hhhealth.com

Big Sky Yoga Retreats

Location: Near Yellowstone Park in Montana

Best for: Yogis

Details: The goal here is to use yoga's techniques and philosophies and apply them to everything else in your life, said Margaret Burns Vap, founder of Big Sky Yoga. Big Sky has a variety of retreats; all are women-only, but the most popular is Cowgirl Yoga, in which you spend half the day doing yoga and the other half connecting with horses and going horseback riding. "There's a fear of falling off, since horses can be unpredictable," Vap said. "We're trying to smooth that over and show what's possible when you link breathing and yoga and horses."