San Diego
1. ALCHEMĒ
Carmel Valley

Look out for: A no-appointment shot bar to jump-start your energy levels
This medical spa offers beauty services to boost your health inside and out, using both state-of-the-art treatments and age-old traditions. “Inner Alchemē” treatments include functional medicine, IV therapy, vitamin injections, NAD+ therapy, regenerative injection therapy, GLP–1 peptide weight loss, and bioidentical hormone therapy using pellets for internal health. To rejuvenate you on the outside, “Outer Alchemē” provides medical services like plasma therapy, RF microneedling, exosomes, and treatments for acne-prone skin, hyperpigmentation, anti-aging, and body treatments. Hit the no-appointment shot bar for a vitamin injection and get an extra boost of energy, fight off a cold, or even help stop your sugar cravings.

2. UTC Ice Sports Center
University City

Look out for: Smooth sailing on two thin blades
Lace up your skates and glide around like an Olympic gold medalist at UTC Ice Sports Center, located next to the food court inside
Westfield UTC. Daily public skating sessions are available in two-hour sessions and include four hours of free parking with validation, so you can glide to your heart’s content and then grab lunch or dinner at one of UTC’s cafes, coffee shops, or fine-dining restaurants. Rental skates are included, and helmets and lockers are available for a few bucks more.

3. Divine Octave
La Jolla

Look out for: Ayurvedic bodywork with organic oils and floral essences
Owner Heidi Abreu specializes in luxurious Ayurvedic experiences at her organic spa in La Jolla. Using traditional Ayurvedic techniques, her goal is to promote holistic wellness, reduce stress, and relieve anxiety in her clients. A great place to start is with her signature treatment. This two-pronged approach begins with the abhyanga, a head-to-toe massage using copious amounts of warm oil, rubbed in circular motions to pinpoint your pressure points, followed by the Shirodhara, a traditional Indian head massage with a slow, steady stream of oil that drips onto the center of your forehead, known a the “third eye.” Lastly, the oil is massaged into your hair to soothe your scalp and add moisture.

4. Trilogy Sanctuary & Cafe
La Jolla

Look out for: High flying yoga to set your spirits soaring
Yoga is an excellent antidote to a nerve-wracking day—deep breathing, stretching, and the all-important
savasana can help you shake a bad mood in no time. Whether it’s your first class or you’re a lifelong yogi, you’ll soar to new heights with Trilogy Sanctuary’s rooftop aerial yoga class. You’ll hang, swing, dangle, and rock your way through a series of asanas using long, hammock-like loops of fabric and guided by a certified aerial yoga instructor. Aerial yoga is accessible to nearly all ages, body types, and experience levels, and classes range from gentle stretching and floating to strength-building and dynamic dance-like sessions. If it’s your first try, sign up for Aerial Yoga L1 or Aerial Healing L1. You are required to learn the basics, while more advanced aerial practitioners can challenge themselves further with Aerial Fitness, Aerial Lyra, Aerial Strength, and Aerial Flips and Tricks. The studio also has a cafe that serves amazing organic, vegan, gluten-free smoothies, bowls, salads, entrees, and desserts so that you can relax and refuel after your session, but it’s worth a stop all on its own, too.

5. R3FRESH Juice Bar + Superfood
Linda Vista

Look out for: Juices and smoothies in every color of the rainbow
There’s nothing like a tall glass of fresh pressed juice any time of day. R3FRESH Juice Bar + Superfood has a quartet of blends like Sunshine (carrot, turmeric, apple, orange) and Earth (beet, cucumber, kale, carrot, apple), plus nutrient-packed smoothies such as Tropical Dragon with pitaya, mango, pineapple, coconut and milk or Power Berry with acai, banana, strawberry, blueberry, almond and milk. Build a healthy bowl chock full of superfoods like pitaya guava chia pudding smothered in crunchy granola and fresh fruit, topped with your choice of nearly twenty seeds, chips, butters, or dried fruits. Coffee and tea drinks feature local roasters like Cafe Moto and premium-grade matcha from Nishio, Japan.

6. Yu Spa
Kearny Mesa

Look out for: Chill out in an ice room
If you’ve never experienced a Korean day spa, you’re in for a treat. Spend the day at Yu Spa for a go-at-your-own-pace adventure—sauna admission is just $40 for two hours and includes hot and cold tubs plus dry and steam saunas. Spring for jjimjilbang for an additional $10, and you’ll get another hour to take in the red clay sauna, the Himalayan salt sauna, the ice room, and a common relaxation area. Body scrubs and massages are available and include sauna and jjimjilbang admission as well, and any massage/body wrap combos include a shampoo and facial mask. Note: Many areas of traditional Korean spas are nude spaces. If you’re not comfortable shedding it all in front of others, it might not be your cup of tea.

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