Life doesn’t stop while you’re on the road. Any seasoned traveler knows that a nourishing self-care practice is as crucial as a toothbrush for getting the most out of a trip, whether in a meeting or out. Throughout Maryland, visitors are invited to travel a variety of paths to wellness, each region offering its own distinct atmosphere and philosophy to the art of well-being.
Susan Seifried, vice president of communications for Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, sums it up best: “When you come, you don’t put your lifestyle on hold, you continue it here.”
Baltimore
Charm City continues to hone its wellness offerings for the destination’s growing segment of Millenials.
“They’re focused on work-life balance,” said Al Hutchinson, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore. “So we’re focused on putting together programs that interest them.”
What’s that mean? Cycling, for starts.
“Our city has spent millions to really improve and upgrade infrastructure for cycling in the community,” Hutchinson said.
Launched this autumn, Baltimore Bike Share provides a fleet of 500 cycles available for rent 24/7. Some 200 of the Share’s rides feature electric pedal assistance, or pedelec, putting Baltimore at the forefront of pedelec bike-share systems in the Western Hemisphere.
“It’s a great way for visitors to explore the city without automobiles,” Hutchinson said.
Throughout the spring and summer, the Waterfront Wellness Partnership of Baltimore runs a popular Wellness Series in the Inner Harbor’s scenic West Shore Park. Designed for participants at every skill level, the program’s offerings include boot camp, yoga and Parkour—a discipline that has its origins in a training program for French Special Forces. Advance registration is required, but classes are free.
Attendees looking to recharge will find an impressive range of spas and wellness centers throughout the city, many of which are partnered with hotels that highlight health conscious amenities, such as hypoallergenic rooms.
The Kimpton Hotel Monaco provides in-room spa services, an on-site 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, bike access and a yoga mat in every room.
The Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore recently unveiled “The Night Spa Experience,” where visitors can luxuriate in a late-night pampering session including two 80-minute massages and a candle-lit rose petal bath.
Aiming to provide male business travelers with a full spa experience, the “Quintessential Gentleman” additionally offers a comprehensive grooming menu, complete with straight-razor shave.
There are also outlets with a variety of classes that offer rental space for groups, such as Movement Lab, which features aerial yoga and boxing among its options.
“The message that we want to offer meeting planners is that we’re very focused on wellness,” Hutchinson said. “That’s a big part of our DNA here in the community, and we want to assist where we can.”
Annapolis
Along with its wealth of cultural and maritime history, Annapolis—the “City of Flowers by the Bay,” with its bright skies and blue waters—brings an abundance of wellness offerings to meet the needs of every attendee. Just walking along the waterfront on the centuries-old brick-lined streets can impart an almost magical sense of connectedness and well-being.
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“Quality of life in Annapolis is wonderful,” Visit Annapolis’ Seifried said. “It’s a very walkable city. There are opportunities to walk everywhere, which is a healthy, healthy thing.”
Fitness options can be as simple and accessible as walking or as complex and outfitted as sailing, with plenty of options for every sensibility.
“If you’re kayaking, if you’re paddleboarding, if you’re helping to sail a boat, you’re exercising,” Seifried said.
“Even if you’re just taking one of the 40-minute narrated cruises on the Harbor Queen, you’re breathing in the fresh air, soaking up the sunshine, and settling your mind and body,” she added. “It’s a tremendously inviting place to be. People who come here feel that. They experience it by just being here.”
Runners will want to experience the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Perimeter trail, a paved and tree-lined track measuring 1.2 miles.
Groups can also charter a cruise on one of Annapolis’ famous schooners, Woodwind and Woodwind II, for an adventure out on the high seas.
If you’re craving a good forest hike, Anne Arundel County provides several parks and waterways, including Quiet Waters Park situated between the South River and Harness Creek.
Of course, Annapolis has no shortage of entries in the spa and wellness center category. The destination recently opened doors on two luxurious new offerings right in the heart of downtown: Wings of Fancy Day Spa on Main Street and Sadona Salon + Spa on West Street, which additionally provides event space for small groups.
Any good wellness regimen makes time for rest and relaxation. The beloved Annapolis Bookstore recently relocated and partnered with the much-loved Yarn Basket, making for distinctly de-stressing downtime retail therapy.
“Really, between reading and knitting, what’s more relaxing?” Seifried asked.
Seifried finds wellness culture integrated into every aspect of Annapolis.
“We are the epitome of health,” Seifried said. “You’re walking over the bridges, you’re breathing in the fresh air, and you’re inspired by everything you see. It’s this wonderful easing into tranquility.”
Eastern Shore
“Nature is the wellness culture in Ocean City,” according to Jessica Waters, communications manager for the Ocean City CVB. “Our visitors crave wellness activities that let them soak up the natural beauty around them.”
Ocean City offers much in the way of natural beauty, whether an attendee is starting the day with a vigorous boardwalk jog or settling in for the evening with sunset yoga on the beach. On the bay, water fitness enthusiasts can kayak, paddleboard or ride the surf. Nearby Assateague Island National Seashore delights hikers with its distinct regional flora and free-roaming wild ponies.
Creative meeting planners will find a wealth of opportunities for integrating wellness activities on this barrier island off Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
With 10,922 square feet of AV-ready event space, meetings booked at the Grand Hotel & Spa combine beautifully with the venue’s on-site Aqua Day Spa.
For another option, therapists trained in Swedish and deep tissue therapeutic massage at OC Massage in the Ocean City Square Shopping Center are driven to provide their clients with an optimal healing experience.
Groups seeking an outdoor adventure experience can check out Ayers Creek Adventures. The paddle sport and kayak outfitter offers a range of eco-tours, including its Forested Wetlands Exploration Tour, Salt Marsh Paddle and the Full Moon Paddle, a unique waterway experience concluding with a bonfire and refreshments.
Downtime adventurers should take note of Northside Park.
“Everyone knows how special our three-mile wooden boardwalk is,” Waters said, “but not many know about our 58-acre park that boasts walking and jogging paths, a fishing lagoon, several playgrounds, an outdoor fitness center and breathtaking views of the bay.”
