November 29, 2007

The Spas and Stars of Ojai

Finding the ideal small-town retreat is getting tougher these days, at least for urban escapees whose checklist for perfection includes some potentially contradictory traits.

It has to offer seclusion, but within a two-hour drive of a major city. Natural beauty, but no weather extremes. Relaxation, but plenty to do when the mood strikes. Interesting neighbors, but not so many that traffic backs up or real estate prices get out of hand.

On all but that last count, Ojai, Calif., may be one of the few small towns in America actually to meet those demands.

In a valley less than 90 miles northwest of central Los Angeles and 15 miles inland from the Pacific, Ojai is a low-key hideaway known for attracting an eclectic mix of artists, spiritual gurus, health devotees and entrepreneurs — and, more recently, Hollywood actors and executives.

Real estate agents generally avoid discussing celebrity clients, but local newspapers said that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, were house hunting in Ojai this summer, and the former “Dallas” star Larry Hagman owns a solar-powered spread there.

But by all accounts, high-profile residents tend to keep a low profile around town.

“Ojai is going to cater to a very nonpretentious type of buyer,” said Larry Wilde, co-owner of the Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe. “For those who want massive wining and dining and shopping, they’re going to go to Santa Barbara or Malibu.”

In fact, the valley’s slow pace is precisely why Eric Goode, part owner of New York City hot spots like the Waverly Inn and the Maritime Hotel, bought a home in Ojai nearly 20 years ago.

“I wanted a place that was the opposite of New York,” he said. “It’s just a funny, sleepy town.” Mr. Goode spent a couple of years in Ojai as a child and recently set up a sanctuary for 300 endangered turtles and tortoises from the Bronx Zoo — a project that has increased his visits to Ojai to about once a month.

“I’m torn between the urban world and the natural world, so I go out there for my dose of the natural world,” he said, though that doesn’t exclude merging Ojai and his work life down the road. “I would love to buy a hotel there.”

The town’s name comes from a Chumash Indian word meaning “moon” or “nest,” and a shot of the valley that appeared in the 1937 Frank Capra film “Lost Horizon” bolsters the area’s status as a modern-day Shangri-La.

With just 8,000 residents, Ojai has long had an anti-development stance, preserving its reputation as a haven for healthy living, in contrast to the crowds, pollution and excess of Los Angeles. It is also something of a spiritual mecca, home to the Krotona Institute of Theosophy and a retreat dedicated to the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, once an Ojai resident.

These days, visitors and transplants are more likely to be seeking a massage or a Mediterranean-style ranch. Those in search of more active pursuits will find miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as golf courses, tennis courts and yoga classes. But the growing popularity of spa vacations has put Ojai on the map.

One of the main draws is the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, a 220-acre Spanish colonial-style resort that finished a $90 million renovation last year. With three pools, four restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, a 31,000-square-foot spa and activities ranging from guided hikes to art lessons, it’s a popular escape for Los Angeles residents as well as for travelers who fly in.

It’s also a favorite location for corporate retreats and special events, making headlines Labor Day weekend when the “Private Practice” star Kate Walsh held her wedding there.

With weekend rates starting at $400 a night and a 50-minute massage priced at $140, the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa draws a deep-pocketed crowd for its style of deep-tissue relief. On the more economical end of the spectrum, weekend room rates at the Oaks at Ojai spa start at $190 a person, based on double occupancy, but include meals and classes, while a 50-minute massage costs $75.

Read the complete article from the New York Times

November 7, 2007

St. Regis Monarch Beach & Spa Gaucin, California

Situated high on a bluff overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, stands a landmark resort of legendary proportions. The five-diamond St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa, built in Tuscan-style, is devoted to the pursuit of service and elegance with a seamless blend of comfort and technology. St. Regis Monarch Beach is the first of its kind, an ideal combination of luxurious rooms, a breathtaking location, world-class spa, private beach club, and oceanfront golf course.

St. Regis Monarch Beach & Spa Gaucin, California

October 30, 2007

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, South Carolina

Sitting upon a wide stretch of pristine sand beach amongst acres of lush landscaping, The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is a premier escape destination where modern luxury is accented by traditional Southern charm. The resort is home to Westin's new spa brand - 'Heavenly Spa'. The experience offers guests a modern, yet simplistic architectural elements designed to enjoy the relaxing sanctuaries and alcoves complimented by soothing sounds and water features throughout the 8,000 square-foot facility.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, South Carolina

October 10, 2007

Cap Estel, Côte d'Azur, France

At the end of the 19th century, a Russian prince built on this historical site between Nice and Monaco. In the 1950’s the Cap Estel was developed into a deluxe hotel, welcoming luxury travelers for all over the world. After a three year renovation program Cap Estel has again found its former splendor with state of the art technology. In the guest rooms at Cap Estel, contemporary furnishings with pure lines opt for noble materials, delicate nuances or glamorous tones. Their balconies or terraces offer unique views of the Mediterranean. Cap Estel also offers suites, each with a different design and style. In order to preserve the privacy of the site and its personalized service, the establishment proposes restaurant service at the Pool House or in the dining-room.
Cap Estel, Côte d'Azur, France

October 1, 2007

An Investment in Wellness ~ Rancho La Puerta, Mexico

“Does it hurt?” Rosario asks me. Her question lingers in the air like a rare white cloud on a beautiful clear Tecate afternoon. I’m lying on my stomach with my eyes closed, somewhere between the lands of relaxation and nirvana. Rosario is at work on my legs, her 17 years of Rancho La Puerta massage therapy experience delicately unbraiding my tender calf muscles after this morning’s three-mile hike. “No,” I say through clenched teeth. “It’s like love ... sometimes it’s supposed to hurt.”

Whereupon Rosario lets out a polite chuckle and quietly returns to my 90-minute Healing Massage treatment. A true professional, Rosario, like many other therapists on the Spa & Wellness team at Rancho La Puerto, has been at “The Ranch” longer than many other destination spas have been in business.

Over the course of 60 years, Rancho La Puerta, just south of the U.S. border in Baja California, has evolved from a rustic ranch to a sophisticated destination spa resort. It’s a palette of wellness awaiting your arrival, with creative organic cuisine, eye-opening nature at every turn, and hundreds of activities and programs to keep you busy -- or not, the choice is up to you.

In addition to set programs, the Ranch offers specialty weeks set out almost a year in advance. During my visit, Phyllis Pilgrim, the Ranch’s fitness director, and Irene Borger, a popular writing coach, held a daily class entitled Inspiration: Yoga and Writers’ Workshop. Activities carry on into the evening with movies, lectures on the changing political landscape of Mexico, and a not-to-be-missed bingo night.

The pre-breakfast morning hikes are an invigorating start to each day. Lasting 45 to 60 minutes, they offer stunning views of mystical Mount Kuchumaa and the rugged Baja California topography. Guests are free to choose from a variety of hikes led by experienced guides. Not to be missed is a hike to the Ranch’s organic farm and home to the new cooking school La Cocina Que Canta -- “The Kitchen That Sings.” La Cocina will soon be the hub of any food lover’s vacation dreams, featuring hands-on cooking classes with just-harvested organic ingredients.

With over 150 activities and classes available, guests may venture to try new activities such as Feldenkrais or Pilates or settle into old favorites. Although the majority of guests are women, more and more men are visiting, and the Ranch also offers custom programs, including circuit training, yoga and stretching classes.

One of my favorite memories is finding myself in the middle of a stretch class with a dozen other guys each bending in and out of shape. All the while, golden sunlight streams in from outside and James Taylor’s “Mexico” plays overhead as if on queue: “Oh, down in Mexico / I never really been so I don’t really know / Oh, Mexico / I guess I’ll have to go.”

(The yoga and stretch classes were so rewarding, they inspired me to continue the practice at home.) The well-appointed Men’s Fitness Center, with sauna, steam room and private outdoor Jacuzzi, was a welcome sanctuary, and conveniently located adjacent to the computer room --– for those of us who couldn’t leave home without it.

Read the complete article

September 21, 2007

Wild Spas of Italy

The steamy sulfur springs north of Rome may be out of Dante’s “Inferno,” but locals and pleasure-seekers find them refreshing. Bulicame is one of the natural sulfur springs that dot the province of Viterbo, near Rome. They were discovered by the Romans in the fourth century B.C.

"It's an inferno in here,” yelled a middle-aged woman as she plunged into a foul-smelling hot spring in central Italy. She wasn't the first to compare these scorching sulfur baths to Hell. In Canto XIV of “Inferno,” Dante wanders past a pool oozing with boiling red water and is reminded of these thermal spas about an hour north of Rome “whose waters are shared with prostitutes.”

Read the complete article from the
New York Times

September 17, 2007

Win a Great Grape Spa Escape

You and a lucky friend will spend 3 fabulous nights in romantic Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Straight from the vines to the spa, you’ll experience the healing properties of grape extracts in a signature vinotherapy treatment in one of Canada’s most intimate spas — Secret Garden Spa at Prince of Wales.

Enter the contest

August 25, 2007

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Arizona

Situated on 1,300 acres of pristine, multi-hued desert that invites exploration, The Boulders Resort & Spa is one of America’s premier destination resorts. Accommodations range from casitas (cottages) to villas to haciendas, all radiating a warm, elegant Southwestern atmosphere. Special touches include overstuffed leather chairs, hand-hewn wood beams and wood-burning fireplaces. Besides the best in golf and tennis, guests enjoy four swimming pools, six dining choices and numerous outdoor activities. For local flavor, there’s el Pedregal Festival Marketplace, with its upscale boutiques, sidewalk cafes and open-air concerts.

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa

August 6, 2007

The Carneros Inn, California

Nestled among 27 acres of seemingly endless rows of grape vines, unspoiled farmland, and scenic apple orchards, The Carneros Inn's design is based on cues from the local countryside - including barns, silos and ranchers' cottages - and combined with stylish, modern interiors - to capture Napa, California's distinct charm. Gravel paths that crunch underneath your feet, private gardens where you can enjoy a glass of California's finest wines, open-air fireplaces for chilly nights, exclusive dining, outdoor showers under a blanket of stars, crisp white linens, and decadent spa treatments inspired by local ingredients ensure an experience you'll never forget.
The Carneros Inn, California

July 31, 2007

Cliff House Resort & Spa, Maine

Since 1872, the Cliff House Resort & Spa on the South Coast of Maine has long been the vacation resort for greater Boston, only an hour away. Experience the vastness of seventy acres of oceanfront resort, high above Bald Head Cliff. Every room offers guests their own balcony with an ocean view. Hear the ocean roar, see the sun rise and set against the distant horizon, and... relax. The Cliff House Resort is ideal for spa getaways featuring a full service oceanfront spa as well as fine dining, conferences and corporate meetings.

Cliff House Resort & Spa

July 26, 2007

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida


Discover the healing powers of citrus-inspired beauty treatments amid a lush garden landscape. With 40,000 square feet dedicated to rejuvenation, the Ritz-Carlton Spa, Orlando provides an elegant and relaxing retreat from the outside world -- a place where the sense of touch can relax the spirit and refresh the soul.


The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida

July 18, 2007

The Hills Health Ranch, British Columbia

With a leading reputation for wellness, health and weight loss, the Hills Health Ranch, set on 20,000 acres in British Columbia’s scenic Cariboo region, offers a unique combination of rest, relaxation, education and adventure. Hike rangelands dotted with peaceful lakes or challenge yourself in a class of your choosing to reach new fitness goals.

The Hills Health Ranch, British Columbia

July 13, 2007

The Delano, Aqua Spa, Florida

Located in the heart of South Beach and directly on the ocean, Delano is the ultimate world-class urban resort and self-contained destination. The Aqua Spa, is cleverly located on the hotel’s roof, a serenely beautiful and peaceful space that offers state-of-the-art spa treatments aimed at rejuvenating the body, mind and spirit. Housed in a pristine white setting, with miles of sheer billowing curtains, an enormous private terrace and 360-degree views, Agua is the ultimate sanctuary.
The Delano, Aqua Spa, Florida

July 11, 2007

The Homestead, West Virginia

Built in 1892, the Homestead Spa is one of America’s most historic luxury spas. Still fed by the historic hot springs that have attracted travelers since the 1700s, the spa provides the ultimate in rejuvenation and relaxation. Treatments and amenities include massages, mineral baths, aromatherapies, steam and sauna, and skin, scalp and intensive facial therapies.
The Homestead

July 8, 2007

Spa Savanna, Montreal, Quebec

Drawing its inspiration from the natural restorative balance that exists on the African grasslands, Spa Savanna is a special place where the forest and the desert meet, allowing harmonious rejuvenation of the body and spirit. Centrally located in the metropolitan hub of Montreal, the spa offers elegant design, attentive staff and relaxed comfort.
Spa Savanna

June 30, 2007

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa, Hawaii

Awaken your senses with tropical facials, rejuvenating body scrubs, detoxifying wraps and tension-relieving massages, all while enjoying a stunning view of the vivid Pacific Ocean. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story Na Ho’ola Spa offers a wide array of specialty services in 19 treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite, plus a dry sauna, steam showers, relaxation room and fitness center.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa

June 22, 2007

At Ease Spa, New Jersey

Hillsdale, New Jersey's At Ease Spa offers guests an experience where beauty and health, mind and body, spirit and energy are integral components to a whole and inspired you. Each and every one of the spa's staff is a fully licensed and certified expert with years of training and experience to ensure that each time you visit you will be fully pampered and attended to. Sit back, relax, and rest assured at the At Ease Spa you're in the best of hands, and you can literally be at-ease.
At Ease Spa, New Jersey

June 20, 2007

Evensong Spa, Heidel House Resort, Wisconsin

Evensong Spa is wrapped in tranquility and set on wooded acres in Green Lake, Wisconsin. It's a place of nature, with woods and wetlands, paths and trails. The spa offers a unique blend of natural and high technology services and products which are customized for each guest's concerns and needs. The Spa's goals are to help guests achieve outer and inner peace, and to help them attain their desired physical results and well-being.
Evensong Spa, Heidel House Resort

May 19, 2007

Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay

Experience a unique philosophy in the art of well-being in the southern hemisphere. The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Carmelo offers the balanced harmony influenced by yin and yang – the male and female balance in life; the sun and the moon; day and night. With simple, caring touches, the spa pays special attention to the senses: scents to help you feel alert yet peaceful, natural sounds to ease your mind, exotic colours and images ... treatments that will soothe and refresh mind, body and soul.
Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay

May 16, 2007

Bernardus Lodge & Spa, California

The Spa at Bernardus Lodge, set in Carmel Valley, is a haven for rejuvenation and well-being, offering a full range of pampering treatments and services in 5,300 square feet of space. Features include: seven treatment rooms; a 'warming room'; an exercise room; a sauna and steam facilities; and a beauty salon. An open-air 'warming pool' and meditation garden with bubbling fountains let guests soothe their bodies and spirits with a therapeutic soak and quiet reflection. Treatments incorporate indigenous herbs, flowers, essential oils and healing waters.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa, California

May 4, 2007

Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa, British Columbia

Nestled snugly in an old growth forest on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island, the Kingfisher offers the best in West Coast hospitality. Enjoy the comforts of one of their beachfront suites or ocean view rooms. Guests are encouraged to stroll the lovely gardens and beachfront or watch the abundance of wildlife from private balconies or patios. Situated on the ocean’s edge is the Kingfisher Spa offering 22 restful and relaxing treatment rooms, accompanied by courteous, warm and professional staff. The spa specializes in therapies focusing on the rich ingredients of the sea, reflectling their unique West Coast environment.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/kingfisher

May 1, 2007

Ballantyne Resort Hotel and Spa, North Carolina

Experience serenity, renewal and a healing of the mind and body at The Spa at Ballantyne Resort. Make time for yourself, to improve your total quality of life. Select from over 60 head-to-toe services that will relax, revive & rejuvenate your mind and body. The Spa has over 16 treatment rooms, lounge areas, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpool treatment rooms, private and couple massage rooms, full salon and nail services, spa product shops, outdoor terrace and indoor spa dining room.
Ballantyne Resort Hotel and Spa, North Carolina

April 25, 2007

The Golden Door, California

Inner peace beckons at this cherished sanctuary of personal health and fitness in a peaceful northern pocket of San Diego County, where the spa industry took root. The original Golden Door specializes in personalized one-week retreats, offering an extraordinary opportunity for rest and rejuvenation.
The Golden Door, Escondido, California

April 2, 2007

Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, California

Perched atop the cliffs of Dana Point, along the stunning Southern California coastline, experience a true California escape midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Enjoy fabulous spa services plus a myriad of ocean activities, exquisite dining and first-class accommodation.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/laguna_cliffs

March 7, 2007

The Parker Palm Springs, California

The Parker is the classic Palm Springs spa resort, offering luxurious appointments, an eclectic, but warm atmosphere and an attention to detail rarely found. Famous as the former Merv Griffin Givenchy Hotel, and infamous for the patronage of Hollywood's best and brightest, the Parker today has the air of a relaxing and unpretentious country club. Where else can you enjoy sunshine, dry air and warm, if not hot temperatures almost every day of the year. The Parker's spa, The Palm Springs Yacht Club, is beautiful boutique spa and fitness center, offering an assortment of body treatments and therapies in a beautiful luxurious surrounding.
The Parker Palm Springs

March 1, 2007

Spa at the Monastery and Suites, Newfoundland

Spa at the Monastery and Suites honors the trinity of body, mind and spirit. Within this sanctuary, is a new standard for day-spa services in Eastern Canada. The Spa offers deluxe treatments and therapies in a peaceful, tastefully renovated heritage monastery just moments from charming downtown St. John's. The Spa offers a line up of services features aromatic body wraps, refreshing facials, a full array of relaxing massage treatments, therapeutic mineral baths, Ayurvedic and Eastern wellness treatments ... just to wet your appetite.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/spa_monastery

February 26, 2007

St. Julien Hotel & Spa, Colorado

Relax, renew and re-energize at the beautiful St. Julien Hotel & Spa - situated in the heart of Boulder, Colorado. Here, world-class accommodations and service balance perfectly with the sensibility that made Boulder famous. The St. Julien Hotel & Spa is a one-of-a-kind 10,000 square foot spa and fitness center offering signature treatments based on Colorado's indigenous plants and elements that you won't experience anywhere else.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/st_julien

February 22, 2007

Spa Costa del Sur, South Point Hotel, Nevada

An oasis in the desert, Spa Costa del Sur provides an escape from the hectic momentum of day-to-day life. Surrounded by the organic elements of water, fire, glass and stone, guests are invited to indulge in the many services on the spa’s distinctive treatment menu, from a traditional Swedish massage infused with the scent of kukui and coconut to the unique Volcanic Clay Purifying Facial. Trained professionals, devoted to the spa’s philosophy of quality service, will ensure a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/south_point

February 19, 2007

Casa Velas Hotel & Spa, Mexico

Nestled away on the beautiful Marina Vallarta golf course in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Casa Velas welcomes you to enjoy the comforting sounds of nature as you relax in your private plunge-pool or splash around in the pool or Jacuzzi at our beach club. The Spa offers indulgent massages among many other treatments and the fitness center offers state-of-the-art equipment and workout classes. This luxurious adult only all-inclusive boutique hotel, is a peaceful oasis that combines Conde Nast and AAA award-winning service and hospitality with the pleasures of a romantic and intimate atmosphere.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/casa_velas

February 15, 2007

Ponta dos Ganchos, Brazil

Situated on a small point nestling between two charming fishing villages and surrounded on 3 sides by the sea of Brazil's Emerald Coast, Ponta dos Ganchos Exclusive Resort offers the warmth and personalized service of a guest house together with the sophisticated infrastructure of a 5 star hotel. There are only 20 comfortable and spacious "bungalows" with over 3 staff per bungalow to offer a service customized for each guest.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/ponta_dos_ganchos

February 10, 2007

Inn and Spa at Loretto, New Mexico

Located in the heart of Santa Fe, the Inn and Spa at Loretto is a short stroll to the city’s famed galleries, museums and Canyon Road’s “Artist Row” and truly captures the spirit of the area’s artistic community. SpaTerre, the Inn's signature spa offers guests a refuge that exists solely to promote health and wellbeing for mind, body and soul. The spa offers exotic Balinese spa treatments and Thai body rituals incorporating a blend of ancient spa traditions once reserved for royalty. The healing properties of flowers and spices are used liberally to enhance each spa experience.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/loretto

February 6, 2007

The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

Situated in the picturesque South Carolina low-country along the beautiful May River, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is the embodiment of all that is graceful, comforting and romantic about South Carolina. The resort offers a peaceful setting, luxurious resort accommodations, distinctive cuisine and stimulating adventure. The Spa offers an array of treatments including 'Baths on the Bluff' where you can relax to the sounds of nature while bathing on your private outdoor veranda.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/palmetto_bluff

February 3, 2007

W Chicago Lakeshore, Bliss Spa, Illinois

The W Chicago Lakeshore's Bliss Spa is a 9,600 square foot tension-fighting facility featurinig sixteen treatment rooms, four movie-while-you-manicure nail stations, a retail store, and bliss trademark touches like rhythm & blues tunes and legendary brownie buffet. An ideal winter hideaway in the windy city.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/w_chicago_lakeshore

February 1, 2007

Amerispa, Le Westin Resort & Spa, Tremblant, Quebec

Only 90 minutes from Montreal, this intimate four-season resort hotel and spa is located in the charming pedestrian village of Mont Tremblant in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains, a region renowned for its spectacular fall colors, world-famous downhill skiing, premier golf courses and exciting water sports. Amerispa lets the stresses of life melt away as you relax in an enchanting, cozy and luxurious environment attended by warm-hearted health and beauty professionals who can serve you in either English or French.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/westin_tremblant

January 31, 2007

Mohegan Sun, Elemis Spa, Connecticut

Enjoy spa therapies influenced by ten exotic cultures in the 22,300 square-foot luxurious Elemis Spa at Mohegan Sun. Scenic views soothe the mind and body as you indulge in the extensive spa-therapy menu complete with an array of deluxe treatments and services. Offering over 22,000 square feet, the Elemis Spa offers 15 Spa-therapy rooms, 2 exotic Spa suites, a Spa-therapy couples room, separate men's and women's relaxation lounges, complete gymnasium and exercise studio and a full service hair and nail salon. Everything you would want under the Sun.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/mohegan_sun

January 27, 2007

Cliff Spa, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Utah

Billed as one of the best ski resorts in the United States, and only 29 miles from Salt Lake City, Snowbird is home to the Cliff Spa. Since 1987, the Cliff Spa has served as a place where people can get away and find balance, vitality and relaxation. Located in a spectacular setting on the 9th and 10th floors of the Cliff Lodge, the Cliff Spa offers a wide menu of activites and services. Ideal after a day on the slopes.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/snowbird

January 25, 2007

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica

With views of the Pacific Ocean, the spa at Four Seasons Costa Rica provides an oasis of calm tranquillity and a world of peaceful balance. Offering a complete range of treatments, the spa reflects the wonders of the rich Costa Rican natural environment, awakening your senses and soothing your soul. Therapies unique to Costa Rica are offered, using mineral-rich rainforest muds taken from the nearby Osa Peninsula. http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/four_seasons_costa_rica

January 20, 2007

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Arizona

An intimate retreat, Sanctuary Spa offers a menu of Asian-inspired treatments in fourteen indoor & outdoor treatment rooms. Enhanced by modern architecture and the breathtaking setting, the Spa's relaxing meditation garden, reflecting pond and Watsu pool provide a tranquil experience. Spa services and classes in the state-of-the-art fitness center and movement studio include Pilates, meditation, Yoga, fitness & nutrition consultations, and more. And a tribute to the resort's history, Sanctuary also features 5 championship tennis courts.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/sanctuary_camelback

January 17, 2007

The Spa at Ballantyne Resort, North Carolina

Situated in the beautiful Ballantyne community of south Charlotte, North Carolina, The Spa at Ballantyne Resort is a luxurious day spa, open to the public and guests of Ballantyne Resort, a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel. The Spa offers over 60 head-to-toe services that will relax, revive & rejuvenate your mind and body. The Spa has over 16 treatment rooms, lounge areas, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpool treatment rooms, private and couple massage rooms, full salon and nail services, spa product shops, outdoor terrace and indoor spa dining room.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/ballantyne_resort

January 15, 2007

Sante Spa, Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa, British Columbia

Set alongside the lush green fairways of the Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club, co-designed by Jack and Steve Nicklaus, you will find Sante Spa at The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa. Located a few minutes from Victoria, British Columbia’s downtown inner harbor, guests can relax within the resort or explore local restaurants and shops. Bear Mountain is a spectacular location in Canada's most temperate climate.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/westin_bear_mountain

January 11, 2007

Sandy Lane, Barbados

Since first welcoming guests in 1961, Sandy Lane has been considered the premier address in the Caribbean - preferred by royalty, movie stars and many of the business world's most discerning personalities. Today the resort offers The Spa - a splendid Romanesque building fronted by a spectacular waterfall cascading into the large freeform swimming pool. A team highly skilled therapists are waiting to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/sandy_lane

January 8, 2007

The Post Hotel and Spa, Alberta

Originally built in 1942, the Post Hotel and Temple Mountain Spa is situated amidst the natural wonders of Banff National Park. Canada’s largest ski area is just minutes away and the abundance of snow is one reason guests from around the world visit the area each winter. An award winning wine list, and fresh market cuisine are featured in the Post Hotel's renowned dining room.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/post_hotel

January 6, 2007

Spa at Salishan Lodge, Oregon

Opened in June 2005, the Spa at Salishan overlooks the tranquil Siletz Bay, ideally situated to provide the ultimate sensory escape. Discerning guests find comfort in private whirlpools, while in every treatment room, a warm hearth flickers. The spa's architecture integrates natural light and textures to blend effortlessly with the surrounding resort while creating a unique and solitary space. The spa menu includes a full slate of services for men, women and groups in this one-of-a-kind Oregon Coast setting.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/salishan_lodge

January 4, 2007

Miraflores Park Hotel & Zest Spa, Peru

Located on the 11th floor, with views of the Pacific Ocean, the Zest Spa in Lima provides a relaxing array of treatments incorporating indigenous products from Peru and the Amazon. Treat yourself to exquisite pampering with soothing massages and spa treatments that will delight your senses. Guests are transported to a world of peace and tranquility.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/miraflores_park

January 3, 2007

The Spa at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, California

Set amongst the picturesque ocean community of Newport Beach, California, the exclusive Spa at Balboa Bay Club & Resort is reserved for members and resort guests only. The state-of-the-art facility offers the spa traveler a peaceful sanctuary of health and relaxation. Amenities include nine treatment rooms and wet room, whirlpools, Eucalyptus steam room, dry sauna and relaxation lounge.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/balboa_bay

January 1, 2007

The Spa at Sea Island, Georgia


Located between a natural, quiet five-mile long white sand beach and a nature preserve, The Spa at Sea Island is the first new Atlantic Ocean-front spa in over 25 years. At 65,000 square feet, The Spa offers all the attributes of a destination spa, with the added appeal of Sea Island's historic charm and rich amenities.
http://www.spasofamerica.com/spas/sea_island

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