Refuge
27300 Rancho San Carlos Road, Carmel
(831) 620-7360, refuge.com
In space, no one can hear you scream. At Refuge, no one should hear you speak. This co-ed outdoor spa in mid-Carmel Valley maintains a strict no-talking policy so that all guests can engage in maximum relaxation, with no interruptions. The thermal cycle rules at Refuge, meaning that guests can move between “heat up,” time in a vast sauna or eucalyptus steam room; “cool down,” time spent in cold plunge or waterfalls the temperature of an icy river; “relax” with time outdoors in Adirondack chairs by fire pits overlooking the Santa Lucia Preserve or indoors in zero-gravity recliners; and “explore” in warm pools or hot pools complete with thermal waterfalls. If you need more than water to relax, you can also snag a deep tissue massage or a Swedish massage from one of Refuge’s professional massage staff. (Pro tip: Leave the electronics at home and your cell phone in your car, because they’re not allowed either.)