A destination mainstay in the Northeast celebrates 35 years of helping guests get in step with wellness.
New LIfe Hiking SpaNew LIfe Hiking Spa
For some, the words “hike” and “spa” would never even occupy the same sentence. But they are natural companions in the mind of Jimmy LeSage, owner of New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vermont, who founded the facility (which was based in Stratton, Vermont, until its move to Killington in 1990) 35 years ago. At the time, LeSage, a yoga teacher, chef and hiking enthusiast, saw his brainchild as a way to combine his three favorite occupations into a way of life—and then share it with the world. Since then, the affordable destination spa has enjoyed widespread acclaim, including a designation of “New England’s top spa” by Spas of America, three years running.
“My initial goal with New Life was to develop a vacation in which stressed-out people could find a haven, and learn how to live a healthier life—and go home with tips on how to do it realistically,” LeSage reflects. “I could never have imagined what it would become, but it has been an amazing 35 years. We have had incredible staff—some of whom have been with us for decades—and incredible guests, many of whom have visited more than 10 times. One guest is coming for her 35th stay with us this year!”
The typical guest at New Life enjoys an all-inclusive package comprised of: accommodations; three healthful, daily meals plus snacks; fitness and yoga classes; one guided hike (available in three fitness levels: nature walk, intermediate hike and advanced hike) per day; and one massage for every three-night stay. Come evening, visitors are encouraged to attend New Life’s lectures and cooking demos.
“People seem to appreciate that we really are what we say we are,” LeSage notes. “We are real. We are unpretentious, but very rejuvenating. We work hard to keep New Life affordable.”
The spa’s service features a wide range of massage treatments—including hot stone, Thai yoga and the Ohashi Method—as well as facials and body scrubs. However, it’s clear that the emphasis is on fitness: New Life presents opportunities to participate in stretching, weight training, water aerobics, core conditioning, yoga, Pilates, FitBall, dance kinetics, Zumba, chi kung (aka qigong) and, of course, hiking.
