One of the most popular wellness practices in North America has its roots in Northern Europe. Saunas, those sweat-inducing rooms found in hotels and health clubs around the world, were invented in Finland. Some Finns still use the historic method of heating rocks with a wood fire in an enclosed room for several hours before letting out the smoke and entering the room. Many locals also use vasta, a bundle of birch leaves and twigs that are gently slapped against the skin. Even without these traditional extras, the detoxification benefits of saunas are well documented.

 

It's hard to find a lake in Finland without a sauna cottage nearby. There are also plenty of spas in Finland that offer various types of health and beauty treatment regimens that include sauna visits. The advantage of taking a sauna-themed vacation here, however, is that virtually everyone visits saunas, so you can pay a few dollars and head to a public sauna without having to book yourself into a high-priced spa or resort.