Aurora, a tiny Finger Lakes village with fewer than 800 residents and not even a traffic light, has earned an outsized reputation for serenity, slow travel, and serious self-care. Travel + Leisure spotlighted it as America’s best small spa and wellness town, largely thanks to the transformative Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa and its destination-worthy wellness campus.
Why Aurora is on every wellness traveler’s radar
Set on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake, the Spa at the Inns of Aurora sits on a hill with panoramic water views and a holistic program that blends hydrotherapy pools, saunas and steam rooms, meditation spaces, and Ayurvedic-inspired treatments. It also holds a WELL Certification at the Gold level, underscoring a commitment to air and water quality, materials, light, and overall well-being. Reservations are required to access the facility, so book early if you plan to visit in peak foliage or summer months.
The woman who rebuilt the village: age, family, and net worth
Aurora’s revival has a very real person behind it: Pleasant T. Rowland, the founder of American Girl and a 1962 alumna of nearby Wells College. Now 84 years old (born March 8, 1941), Rowland and her husband, philanthropist W. Jerome Frautschi, invested tens of millions into restoring the town’s historic architecture, opening boutique inns, and ultimately helping create the Spa that put Aurora on the national wellness map. Forbes has previously pegged her net worth at around 300 million dollars, while other publications have cited about 310 million dollars.
Stay: five intimate inns plus a world-class spa
The Inns of Aurora is a cluster of painstakingly restored lakefront and village mansions, including the Aurora Inn (1833), E. B. Morgan House, Rowland House, Zabriskie House, and the most recent addition, Taylor House. Expect fireplaces, curated art, lakeside porches, and nightly s’mores by the fire pits. Fall leaf-peeping season can see rates starting around 375 dollars per night, so lock in dates well ahead of time.
What to do between treatments
- Hydrotherapy circuit and heat experiences at the Spa, followed by quiet time in the relaxation lounges overlooking Cayuga Lake.
- Guided yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda-inspired workshops offered to resort and day guests on select dates.
- Art appreciation inside the Spa, where a museum-quality contemporary collection lines the halls.
- Walk the Wells College campus and Aurora’s historic Main Street to see how Rowland’s preservation push reshaped the village.
- Explore Cayuga Lake Wine Trail wineries within a short drive, then come back for sunset over the water.
Eat and drink
On property, 1833 Kitchen & Bar inside the Aurora Inn serves regionally sourced dishes that feel right after a spa day. Fargo Bar & Grill is the casual local favorite for burgers and a pint. Culinary fans can also book hands-on lessons at Aurora Cooks!, the resort’s demonstration kitchen.
Getting there
Aurora is about 40 minutes from Ithaca Tompkins International Airport and roughly 1 hour from Syracuse Hancock International Airport, which keeps it easy to reach yet blissfully quiet once you arrive. From New York City, plan on a 4.5 to 5 hour drive, depending on traffic. (Always check current travel times before you go.)
When to go
- Fall brings peak foliage, harvest dinners, and crisp lake views. It is the most in-demand season, so spa reservations and room bookings can sell out weeks ahead.
- Winter is calm, cozy, and ideal for long spa days, snow-dusted lake walks, and fireside cocktails.
- Spring and early summer mean fewer crowds, lower shoulder-season rates, and wildflower-lined hikes.
Plan an 800-word-perfect weekend (sample itinerary)
Day 1
Arrive in the afternoon, check into one of the Inns, and wander Main Street to get your bearings. Book a twilight soak in the Spa’s outdoor hot and cold pools, then settle into dinner at 1833 Kitchen & Bar.
Day 2
Start with yoga or meditation, then spend a full morning in the Spa rotating between the saunas, steam rooms, and hydrotherapy pools. After lunch, tour nearby wineries or walk Wells College’s historic lakeside campus. Return for an evening culinary demo at Aurora Cooks! and a nightcap around the fire pit.
Day 3
Take a slow breakfast, browse the Village Market for local goods, and squeeze in one last treatment or lakeside stroll before heading home completely reset.
Practical tips
- Book spa access first. Without a reservation, you cannot use the facilities.
- Travel off-peak to save. Midweek in spring or early winter often brings better availability and rates.
- Respect the quiet. The Spa is adult-focused, intentionally tranquil, and built for lingering silence.
- Read up on the backstory. Understanding Pleasant Rowland’s role adds context to nearly everything you see, from the immaculate inns to the revived downtown.
Bottom line
Aurora proves that a village can be tiny and still shape national wellness conversations. Come for the lake and the landscape. Stay for the hydrotherapy circuits, the art, the food, and the feeling that someone designed an entire town around your need to breathe out and slow down. It is exactly the kind of place that earns a “best small spa and wellness town” title—and then keeps exceeding the headli
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-tiny-house-GLAMPINGNY0723-ef1b7ef5f29f4b4eab901e0528b54eb2.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-tappan-zee-bridge-SLEEPYHOLLOW0923-9e2eb04fe36a4b269532a2db59c7da49.jpg)
