As the weather heats up, so does pickleball fever. Sunshine, a good pair of court shoes, a summary carefree attitude—it makes you want to pack your paddle and head to a beautiful destination to vacation and volley. As the fastest growing sport in America, pickleball is now showing up at top resorts, where travelers are looking to stay active and have fun. It’s easy to see why: the game is social, you can play outdoors in nature, it’s a workout, the outfits are awesome, and it’s surprisingly addictive. Below, six luxury resorts where the courts are placed in spectacular settings with views, vibes, personality, and festive post-match amenities.
Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona
Set in Sedona’s Boynton Canyon, the courts here are surrounded by soaring red rock cliffs and groves of pinyon pines. The southwestern landscape feels a little like playing on the moon—it is truly otherworldly. The resort’s pickleball offerings include casual rallies, and also private lessons, family-friendly clinics, and seasonal Pickleball Festival Weekends that bring players together for low-key tournaments and prizes, like a two-night stay.
Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel, California
Pickleball at Carmel Valley Ranch happens under an enormous sky, among golden hills, and with the easygoing pace of ranch life. Set on 500 acres in the Santa Lucia Mountains, the resort has four courts and over 300 days of sunshine to play in. You can rally in the morning, hike through oak groves in the afternoon, make friends with the goats and alpacas and other four-legged residents, and wind down with local wine at sunset. The Ranch offers private clinics led by PBI pros for beginners and casual players.
Blackberry Mountain, Walland, Tennessee
The Great Smoky Mountains, where Blackberry Mountain lives on 5,200 acres, provide a dreamy setting for any activity, and certainly an ideal dinking locale. The resort offers a version of summer that’s super fancy andplayful, with pickleball courts located in The Valley, a 15-acre outdoor zone designed to show off the natural surroundings—forests, sweeping mountain views, wild flora and fauna. Here, court time can become an all-day affair: after a match, you can cool off in the freshwater pond with its 30-foot slide, chill in a lakeside hammock, or paddle around on a kayak.
Carneros Resort and Spa, Napa Valley, California
Pickleball in wine country! The courts are surrounded by vineyards and open skies, and the setup emphasizes the social side of the sport—it’s less about competition, more about having a good time. After your match, you can head straight into an après-play hangout that includes Veuve Clicquot and food pairing curated by the resort’s culinary team. For day visitors, champagne court packages are available. And if you forgot your gear, the resort’s boutique sells it all.
Bürgenstock Resort, Switzerland
Sitting 500 meters above Lake Lucerne, Bürgenstock Resort brings the sport to new heights with its sleek new Diamond Domes, some of the first dedicated resort courts in Switzerland. These glassy, panoramic structures are outfitted for serious play, with expert-led instruction from the globally recognized LUX Tennis team and a full suite of gear and programming. You can take private lessons, do a Discovery Session, or just casually hit around while staring out at the snow-capped peaks. This is pickleball with a side of jaw-dropping Alpine scenery.
Le Logis, Cognac, France
Pickleball isn’t what you’d expect to find at a 16th-century estate in the French countryside. Le Logis, a fully staffed château in the Cognac region, offers guests access to a court hidden among 25 acres of vineyard-lined grounds. It’s an insanely-beautiful, old-world setting with this very modern perk. After your games, you’ll sit down to a country-style lunch or aperitifs featuring the estate’s own cognac, served in garden courtyards or under the trees. With space for just 14 guests, it’s intimate, quiet, and completely yours for the stay.
The post Pickleball Escapes: Where to Stay and Play appeared first on Organic Spa Magazine.