This week, Oprah Daily, a trusted source for inspiration, personal growth, and the transformative power of travel, announced the 2025 winners of its annual Hotel O-Wards, including luxury desert oasis Castle Hot Springs, which has been named among the Best Destination Spas in the United States and Canada in this year’s edition of the Oprah Daily Hotel O-Wards.
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For Oprah Daily’s second annual 2025 Hotel O-Wards, editors set out to spotlight the world’s most soul-soothing destination spas, curating a list of 53 transformative stays that nourish both body and spirit. From IV therapy and herbal scrubs to craniosacral massage and infrared saunas, these properties are designed to care for the caretakers, offering best-in-class programs, practitioners, and spaces for healing. The annual list honors properties that empower guests to reset, reconnect, and reimagine who they’re becoming, both on and beyond the journey.
This recognition is a powerful testament to the restorative experience Castle Hot Springs provides, as the Oprah Daily Hotel O-Wards spotlight the wellness resorts and destination spas that support meaningful transformation, self-care, and personal growth. Additional information about methodology, including criteria, can be found here. You can explore the full list of 2025 Hotel O-Wards winners in Oprah Daily’s Summer Special Travel Edition, on newsstands June 3 or digitally on Apple News.
Tucked against the Bradshaw Mountains just 50 miles outside of Phoenix, the sprawling 1,100-acre property is comprised of 31 cabins & bungalows and was once the wellness retreat of choice for America’s titans of industry (The Cabots, Vanderbilts, Wrigleys, Roosevelts, Astors, etc.). Adjacent to Lake Pleasant Regional Park, the expansive nature-driven resort melds its natural surroundings with an array of adventure activities paired with restorative wellness programs designed to cater to the traveler looking to experience the perfect mix of ‘soft adventure’ and ‘slow travel.’ Guest accommodations have been built with the intention to immerse guests in the environment at every moment – commune with nature, enjoy the sights and sounds of Mother Nature, and take time to reflect, relax, and reconnect. At the heart of the desert oasis lies historic, world-class hot springs. Castle Hot Springs boasts a ‘digital detox’ philosophy alongside a formidable culinary and ‘Flavor Farming’ agricultural program.
All visitors are invited to dive into natural tranquility through the three mineral-rich natural hot springs (85–106°F) and participate in the Castle Hot Springs Soaking Circuit, now enhanced with a new cold-plunge pool (43–46°F). Contrast hydrotherapy and the minerals found within the waters are known to remedy anxious minds and soothe aches and pains, whilst also improving mobility and boosting skin health. Those in search of an extra layer of water relaxation and learning can opt for the NEW Connecting with Water Guided Tour, where an activity guide will take guests on a walking tour of the hot springs and share/educate guests about the hot springs’ geology, natural components of the water, therapeutic benefits, water infrastructure, and lead a guided soak in which guests will be invited to experience the waters using all five senses.
Visitors can also participate in the Wellness Through Water Retreat, Paddleboard Yoga , or book a Watsu Water Therapy session, where a spa therapist will gently move you through a womb-like rhythmic dance within the thermal waters. In turn, you’ll leave feeling reborn with natural pain relief, decreased muscle tension, increased flexibility, improved circulation, and overall enhanced well-being. Guests can also enjoy signature spa treatments and intentional wellness activities, from tailored massages and energy therapies to custom yoga, sound baths, and guided meditations, all designed to restore balance and promote overall well-being.
Additionally, a culinary evolution is well underway at Castle Hot Springs with the debut of the Sonoran Epicurean Escape, a four-night retreat blending immersive farm experiences with hands-on culinary workshops and elevated dining. At Harvest restaurant, guests can enjoy a true farm-to-table experience, serving hyper-seasonal & nutrient-dense dishes with the freshest produce picked at their prime. Executive Chef Knouse frequents the on-property farm (a stone’s throw from the restaurant) multiple times each day, both for inspiration and to ensure sustainability and flavor are at the forefront of the culinary direction, where they incorporate the farm’s produce into the ever-evolving menu of seasonal creations.
The full list of 2025 Hotel O-Wards winners can be found in the June 2025 ‘Summer Special Travel Edition’ of Oprah Daily, and select highlights of the list can be found at oprahdaily.com/hotelowards2025.
