A Season of Renewal: How Easter Inspires Wellness Travel for the Soul

Dutch Windmill Over Tulips Field

Spring is a fresh start when the earth returns to life and encourages us to do the same. Easter, whether celebrated through faith or felt in spirit, carries a deeper message of hope, renewal, and new beginnings. It reminds us that even after long seasons of stillness or struggle, we’re invited to grow, blossom, and step into something new.

In this blog, we’ll explore the deeper meaning behind Easter’s symbols and how they relate to your own wellbeing. We’ll also highlight some beautiful, soul-nourishing destinations—both in the U.S. and abroad—that offer the perfect setting for reflection, healing, and spiritual renewal this time of year.

Easter is rich with symbolism:

• The Egg represents new life, rebirth, and hidden potential.

• The Blooming Flower is a sign of growth, beauty, and unfolding.

• The Empty Tomb signifies letting go of the old and embracing new beginnings.

• Light Overcoming Darkness reminds us to keep reaching for healing, hope, and love.

  
  

Whether you’re navigating a life transition, struggling with uncertainty, experiencing burnout, craving spiritual reconnection, or all the above, this season encourages introspection. Wellness retreats and meaningful travel can become a form of pilgrimage—sacred spaces where healing meets discovery.

Assisi, Italy

Symbolic Focus: Pilgrimage, Sacred Simplicity, Connection to Nature

The birthplace of St. Francis, Assisi radiates peace. The hilltop town’s quiet cobbled streets, fragrant olive groves, and centuries-old churches make it a spiritual haven. A walk through Assisi feels like a step back in time—and inward toward your center.

Wellness Highlight: Stay in a countryside agriturismo (a working farm that offers lodging, meals, and activities), offering yoga, vegetarian meals, and walking meditations. Visit Eremo delle Carceri, a forested hermitage where St. Francis once prayed, for a serene nature hike and spiritual retreat all in one.

Keukenhof Gardens, Holland (The Netherlands)

Symbolic Focus: Blossoming, Joy, Beauty in Full Expression

Few places capture the essence of spring quite like Holland during tulip season. Each April, millions of vibrant tulips burst into bloom across the countryside, creating a sea of color that feels like nature’s celebration of life. The most famous spot is Keukenhof Gardens, often called the "Garden of Europe," located just outside Amsterdam.

Wandering through Keukenhof during Easter week is a deeply sensory experience—rows upon rows of blooming tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths stretch as far as the eye can see. It’s not just a feast for the eyes but a powerful reminder that beauty, joy, and growth often come after long, dark stretches.

Wellness Highlight: Take a slow walk through the flower fields, join a guided bike tour through the tulip region, or simply sit and journal among the blooms. Pair your visit with a stay in a countryside wellness retreat or canal-side Airbnb for a peaceful escape beyond the city.

Lourdes, France

Symbolic Focus: Miracles, Healing Waters, Faith

Lourdes is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the world, known for its healing spring and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Whether you're on a spiritual quest or simply craving a space for deep reflection, this peaceful village in the foothills of the Pyrenees offers a powerful sense of grace and stillness.

Wellness Highlight: Participate in the candlelight procession at dusk, soak in the thermal waters of nearby spa towns like Bagnères-de-Bigorre, or spend quiet time journaling and meditating at the grotto. The energy here supports deep inner healing.

Ojai, California

Symbolic Focus: Inner Peace, Feminine Energy, Spiritual Nourishment

Tucked in a quiet valley in Southern California, Ojai is a sanctuary for those seeking harmony and holistic healing. Known for its “Pink Moment” sunsets and artistic energy, Ojai has long drawn spiritual seekers, creatives, and healers.

Wellness Highlight: Book a weekend retreat at Ojai Valley Inn, Soul Body Ojai, or a boutique wellness center. Join sound baths, nature walks, and energy healing sessions, or spend the day browsing local crystal shops and sipping herbal teas in the sunshine.

Savannah, Georgia

Symbolic Focus: Sacred Architecture, Stillness, Renewal Through History and Beauty

Savannah’s moss-draped oaks, historic charm, and peaceful riverfront offer a beautiful blend of reflection and inspiration. The city’s many churches—like the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist—add a spiritual depth to the landscape, while garden squares and cobblestone streets invite you to slow down and soak in the moment.

Wellness Highlight: Begin your day with sunrise yoga in Forsyth Park or take a meditative stroll through Bonaventure Cemetery, where beauty and history intertwine. Enjoy a spa treatment at Spa Bleu, or stay at the Bellwether House and visit Bellwether’s Spa & Wellness, and then wind down with herbal tea in one of the city’s serene courtyards or cafés. The city’s gentle pace makes it an ideal place to rest, reflect, and reset.

Sedona, Arizona

Symbolic Focus: Earth Energy, Transformation, Grounding

Sedona’s red rock landscapes and spiritual vortexes make it one of the most powerful places for personal transformation. It's a land that encourages you to slow down, listen, and realign with your inner truth.

Wellness Highlight: Schedule a healing session with a local Reiki or shamanic practitioner. Hike to Boynton Canyon or Cathedral Rock for a sunrise meditation, or book a stay at Mii amo or L’Auberge de Sedona for spa treatments, intention-setting rituals, and deeply restorative experiences.

Sintra, Portugal

Symbolic Focus: Mysticism, Introspection, Sacred Landscapes

Nestled in lush, misty hills outside Lisbon, Sintra feels enchanted. Between moss-covered trails, hidden chapels, and palaces that seem pulled from fairy tales, this town invites soulful reflection and wonder.

Wellness Highlight: Hike through Sintra-Cascais Natural Park to reconnect with nature. Visit the quiet and humble Convento dos Capuchos for silent reflection, or stay at a wellness boutique hotel offering spa services, forest bathing, and local organic cuisine.

Intentional Travel for Renewal

Intentional travel offers us the space to slow down, reconnect with what matters, and rediscover parts of ourselves that may have gone quiet. Whether it's the hush of a sacred chapel, the vibrant bloom of tulips in the countryside, or a silent hike at sunrise, these moments invite healing, clarity, and gentle transformation.

Easter reminds us that we are not meant to feel stuck, depleted, or disconnected from what brings us joy. It’s a season that calls us to begin again—with purpose, with grace, and with a renewed sense of wonder. It's our time to rise.