Relax and Unwind at Michigan's Premier Day Spas

Unwinding on the Shores of Lake Michigan: Day Spas and Relaxation in Saugatuck

With the sloping dunes along Lake Michigan and idyllic views of the Kalamazoo River providing a backdrop of natural beauty, Saugatuck is the perfect place to escape the daily grind, where you can relax, rejuvenate, and recharge. Some of the best day spas in Michigan are in downtown Saugatuck and neighboring Douglas, each with differing focuses ranging from facials and yoga to various types of massage and bodywork, run by longtime locals who bring decades of experience to their craft.

From the doorstep of your room or cottage at our Saugatuck bed and breakfast, you’ll be less than a mile from these spas, massage therapists, and yoga practitioners, making it easy to incorporate wellness into your visit and go home feeling refreshed and renewed.

Energizing Facials, A Day Spa That Has It All, and Yoga Flow in Downtown Saugatuck

Start your day with a leisurely ½ mile stroll or bike ride along the banks of Kalamazoo Lake to Butler St, the main downtown byway in Saugatuck, where you’ll find SPAlia by Premier. As one of the only day spas in Michigan to feature Dead Sea minerals in their treatments, they offer various facials that take advantage of these salts and minerals, some as short as 30 minutes and on the cheaper end, while others last over an hour. The Infinite Express Facial is a great starting point, while the Miracle Hydration Facial adds a mud mask for just $10 extra. Several signature facials incorporate LED or blue light, an FDA-approved process that shines light brightly through a red algae gel and reduces bacterial buildup in your pores. They also offer unique uses of this LED tool, like relieving foot pain for diabetic neuropathy – their range of options goes beyond the typical menu of spa selections.

The next block over, located near the Rose Garden – an excellent place to relax on one of the benches and admire the sculptures, part of Saugatuck’s rich artistic heritage – enter a world of luxury at the Bella Vita Spa, where their guiding inspiration is embodied in their name, living a “beautiful life.” In addition to the facials and manicures/pedicures you’d expect at a spa, they also offer women’s, men’s, and child’s haircuts and several different types of massage (including specialties like prenatal, perfect if you’re visiting Saugatuck on your babymoon, or couples massage sessions). It’s hard to imagine a more soothing experience than their full-body wrap, which includes exfoliation, acupressure, and a seaweed mask over the entire body, followed by stress-fix body lotion. Get a facial, haircut, and massage all at once and leave genuinely feeling like a brand new version of yourself.

If yoga is more your speed, grab a latte at Uncommon Roasters downtown before heading for a vinyasa or flow class in the beautiful studio space at Satya Yoga on central Butler St. Their experienced yoga teachers, many of them certified in 500-hour training, hold 2-3 classes every morning starting anywhere between 7:30-10:30 am and usually 1-2 evening classes starting between 4:30-6:00 pm. Drop in for a gentle morning Hatha Vinyasa session or catch an evening Yin class after spending the day exploring the nearby trails along Lake Michigan. If you visit Saugatuck over the holidays, plan to attend Satya’s special Winter Solstice celebration, ringing in the shortest day of the year with candlelit breathwork, crystal bowl sound healing, and meditation, celebrating the longer days ahead.

Specialty Spas and Massage Magic in Douglas

Some of the other best-reviewed and specialty day spas in Michigan are right on the other side of the Kalamazoo in Douglas, Saugatuck’s equally charming sister town. Lisa Bowdish leads Redefine Med Spa, bringing decades of experience as a critical care nurse to their practice, which includes more medically intense treatments like Botox and Vitamin B-12 injections alongside a wide variety of facials. Their hydra-facial starts with exfoliation then moves on to pore extraction, and ends with serum, while other facials use hot steam, dermal rolling, and Vitamin C infusion.

If you’re looking for a massage, you’ll have all your bases covered between Natural Harmony Massage (located just two blocks away from Redfine Med Spa on S. Washington St) and Thrive Massage and Wellness, which is right in the heart of downtown Douglas off Center St. At Natural Harmony Massage, owner Nancy Plantinga brings over 25 years of massage background to her practice, where she aims to do “soulwork” in addition to just bodywork. When you visit her oasis of a studio, which includes a meditation pond, garden, relaxing music, and the companionship of her two dogs, Angel and Gracie, you’ll enter a space of serenity. She offers 30 to 90-minute Swedish massages and other more esoteric options like reiki, chakra energy alignment, and hot/cold stone therapy (which stimulates blood flow and flushes out toxins). After your session with Nancy, stroll a few blocks over to Center St, where you can browse unique Douglas/Saugatuck boutiques like Endora and rows of renowned art galleries like Water Street. 

Nearby at Thrive Massage and Wellness, owner Liz has developed a loyal following for her deep tissue massages, which dig into the fascia and connective tissue and relieve tension below the surface. It’s also the only place where you’ll find the option for a 120-minute massage, so if you want to go for an epic session, two hours of non-stop massage will surely leave you feeling invigorated.

Stay with us and treat yourself to an indulgent day at some of the best day spas in Michigan, all just a few blocks away!