In many ancient cultures around the world, water is considered to have both healing and transformational power. In places such as Switzerland and Ireland, hot springs have been used to treat diseases for centuries, while Chinese medicine practitioners believe water to be a balancing factor for creating harmony in the body. With all of these positive benefits of water, it makes perfect sense to surround oneself with a large body of water when trying to relax and recharge our batteries. So why not maximize the time spent near water by booking a hotel room planted on soothing lakes? Not only can you walk down from the hotel lobby and meditate on the shores of the water, but you can explore the marine environments through a variety of excursions. From paddleboarding around Outer Alster Lake in Germany’s the Fontenay, to joining a boat ride with a local from the Inle Heritage House in Myanmar, AD provides eight hotels where you can draw the healing powers of water on your next vacation.
Mirror Lake Inn (Lake Placid, New York)
Along the peaceful Lake Placid in New York’s dome-shaped Adirondacks Mountains, the Mirror Lake Inn is owned by the family of two-time Olympic skier and medalist Andrew Weibrecht. The accommodation’s furnishings are reminiscent of an elegant country home in the woods, with architecture incorporating handmade mahogany walls, authentic replicas of hand-carved Bavarian chandeliers, and genuine Adirondack artifacts. Take advantage of outdoor activities like fly-fishing and getting laps in at the outdoor pool. mirrorlakeinn.com
Bürgenstock Resort (Bürgenstock, Switzerland)
Set on a forested ridge 2,800 feet above Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, with views of the Rigi and Pilatus Mountains, the car-free Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne is spread over 148 acres. The new wellness alpine resort has an on-site golf resort, and you can also work on your back swing on one of the three championship tennis courts. Choose to burn some calories in one of four swimming pools or book a treatment in the 107,000-square-foot Alpine Spa. The area offers a plethora of excursions, from hiking and biking, to heli-skiing and heli-hiking. buergenstock.ch/en
The Fontenay (Hamburg, Germany)
On the shores of Hamburg’s Outer Alster Lake, you can watch activities like paddleboarding, sailing, and rowing from the windows of the Fontenay. The lake-facing side of the Fontenay plot is made up of an expansive green area with impressive 130-year-old plane trees. The architectural marvel houses 130 rooms and suites, and in the center of the structure, there is an 88-foot-high atrium with a glassed-in garden courtyard. On the Fontenay’s rooftop, you can take in the scenery from the sprawling spa, equipped with an indoor and outdoor pool. thefontenay.de/en
Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe (Stateline, Nevada)
Opened June 2017, the Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe is planted only 300 feet from the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. The project cost over $100 million and implemented an eco-friendly designation (LEED-designed). From the hot tub, which seats up to 40 people, you can witness sweeping views of the lake. Or choose to relax by the outdoor fireplace adjacent to the heated pool. Want to practice your putting? You can do so on the property’s 18-hole golf course. edgewoodtahoe.com
Glidden Lodge Beach Resort (Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin)
Open year-round and overlooking one of Door County’s largest privately owned sand beaches on Lake Michigan, Glidden Lodge Beach Resort features one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites that include a private patio or balcony overlooking the beach and water, fully equipped kitchen, gas fireplace, and double whirlpool tub. Splash around on the property’s indoor pool or relax in a beach lounge chair while taking in sunrises over Lake Michigan. gliddenlodge.com
Inle Heritage (Nyaungshwe, Myanmar)
Picture fishermen slowly rowing in their long tail boats and wading for crustaceans in the shallow parts of Inle Lake in Myanmar. On the western edge of the Shan plateau in eastern Myanmar sits the Inle Lake Heritage House. Built on stilts right on the lake and connected by wooden bridges, the rooms are outfitted in local fabrics, traditional Shan paper, and constructed using teak, hardwood, and bamboo. You can pick your own greens in the organic vegetable gardens during a cooking class, tour the lake with a local, or visit the on-site Burmese cat sanctuary. inleheritage.org
Ashford Castle Estate (County Mayo, Ireland)
Originally built in 1228 and set on 350 acres in Ireland’s County Mayo, Ashford Castle was at one time owned by the Guinness family, and today is owned by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. The stately property is outfitted in lots of amenities: Take the billiards room, cigar terrace, cinema, spa, and wine cellar, as well as the cocktail bar. On the grounds, you can also sign up for country-based sports, like the equestrian center, fly-fishing, the ozone-filtrated swimming pool, the nine-hole golf course, and Ireland's first school of falconry. ashfordcastle.com
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CastaDiva (Blevio, Italy)
Nestled on six acres on Lake Como, CastaDiva features 72 rooms and suites designed by Italian architects and interior designers, Erasmo Figini and Alice Fratti Lucini. The pair previously designed a number of luxury Italian hotels and private villas, such as Grand Hotel Majestic and Hotel Astor on Lake Maggiore, before CastaDiva. For the property, they used the finest Como silk and preserved the Lombard cotto historic wooden floors. For relaxation, visitors can book a treatment at the on-site spa (designed by Italian architect Paola Bodega), which features the Swiss skin care line LaVallée and Aromatherapy Associates. Guests can also visit CastaDiva’s "floating" pool, built right on Lake Como. castadivaresort.com