20 BEST SPAs
WORDS BY TIFFANY MEYERS
LAZY DAZE
Whether you’re looking to slim down or splurge, these 20 spas across the country offer something for everyone.
THE GRAND SPA LAS VEGAS
If The MGM Grand Hotel is “the City of Entertainment,” as it claims, then its Grand Spa is a veritable world of indulgence. The understated grace of its interior offers a welcome respite from the razzle of Sin City, although its distinct therapies certainly manage to dazzle. At the top of the list is the twohour Dreaming Ritual, which adheres to Australian Aboriginal tradition with notable authenticity. The ritual includes an herb-smudging ceremony, a form of choreographed massage called Kodo and such ingredients as high-quality macadamia nut oils. The spa’s many skincare therapies range from holistic to high-tech, while there are massages to release Chi (Shiatsu), reduce tension (Zen Stone) and promote circulation (Swedish). But the Nirvana massage, a 75-minute blend of several techniques, covers all the above—and then some. www.mgmgrand.com
GREAT JONES SPA NEW YORK CITY
This urban oasis in the heart of Manhattan draws its operating principle from the ancient Roman concept “sanitas per aquinas,” meaning “health through water.” So, do as the Romans did and restore yourself with a water cure at Great Jones Spa. Tucked beneath a three-story waterfall, the spa’s wet lounge solarium includes a thermal hot bath, cold plunge pool and a spacious river-rock sauna. Decorative accents hark to the past—including a mural depicting the baths of ancient Pompeii—but the Chakra-Light steam room taps modern-day technology, featuring fiber-optic lights that shift through the seven correspondent colors of your body’s chakras, or energy centers. The spa also boasts some of the country’s best massage therapists, cherry-picked from five-star hotels, as well as a holistic practitioner and acupuncturist. www.greatjonesspa.com
THE FOUR SEASONS FITNESS CLUB AND SPA WASHINGTON, DC
Golden bubbly flows as freely at the Four Seasons’ recently expanded spa as it does in the lavish hotel itself, with a Champagne body wrap that ends with a sumptuous dollop of body butter. The wrap is one of several new treatments on an updated menu of services, but the signature “Four Seasons in One” ritual still stands out. A metaphorical journey through the seasons, the 80-minute treatment starts with a cooling “winter” scrub and aromatic “spring” floral wrap. During the “summer,” your therapist employs various techniques, including the Hawaiian tradition Lomi Lomi, to knead away tension and strain. By the time you have experienced the “autumn” scalp massage that fills the room with the scent of clove, you’ll be ready to begin the year anew. www.fourseasons.com
SPA BELLAGIO LAS VEGAS
After a night of high rolling, unwind at Spa Bellagio, whose clean, contemporary décor includes a reflecting pool and tranquil water walls. The spa offers a vast menu of therapies drawn from around the world, such as a soothing 20-minute Indian head massage. Among Spa Bellagio’s most distinct offerings is the ancient Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, during which a barefoot therapist grips ceiling bars as she walks on your back. And what would a Vegas spa be without a generous touch of glamour? The Egyptian Gold Body Treatment ends with a sprinkle of real gold dust, leaving you radiant inside and out. www.bellagio.com
DEERFIELD SPA EAST STROUDSBURG, PA
About an hour from Newark, this mountain haven in the Pocono region has the flavor of a country B&B, with most of its guest rooms nestled in a Victorian house. The spa offers two gyms, a heated outdoor pool and a compassionate staff to help you reach your fitness goals. And don’t forget the hiking gear—Deerfield offers eight excursions a week, and after a day of trekking, you’ll be ready to spoil yourself with a soak in the outdoor hot tub, letting your cares drift away as you take in the lush mountain woodlands around you. www.deerfieldspa.com
THE SPA AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL MIAMI
In addition to renowned Ayurvedic energy-balancing rituals, this three-story haven at Miami’s ultra-swank Mandarin Oriental is best-known for its Time Ritual—an indulgent package of treatments ministered in several phases: Welcome, Purify, Nurture, Balance and Bliss. During the Welcome foot-cleansing ceremony, your therapist helps you determine which of the ritual’s varied treatment options your heart most desires. That might include a hot herbal linen wrap, an aromatherapy facial, hot stone massage or all of the above. And as you float in an aromatic bath in a private suite overlooking the clear blue of Biscayne Bay, you’ll marvel at just how appropriately named the Bliss phase is. www.mandarinoriental.com
THE GREENHOUSE ARLINGTON, TX
This women-only spa centers on four themes you could learn to love: Comfort, Pleasure, Strength and Rebirth. You’ll experience each in abundance—whether through pampering treatments, luxury guest rooms or fitness classes that sculpt a new you. The Greenhouse offers an exclusive Fat Flush program, which does just what its name implies by targeting hidden contributors to weight gain, some of which— such as poor liver health and the fear of eating fat—might surprise you. You may choose to augment your “flush” with the Fast Track, a day-long juice fast intended to accelerate weight loss and clear the mind. With special programs like a Book-Lovers Week and Mother & Daughter Week, the spa makes good on its promise to nurture the body, mind and soul. Located just 15 minutes outside of Dallas.
OSMOSIS FREESTONE, CA
Located 90 minutes from San Francisco and dappled with majestic pagodas, the lovingly maintained grounds of this Sonoma County getaway feature a Kyoto-style meditation garden and three aromatic chamomile lawns on which to drift away. Osmosis is also the only spa outside of Japan to offer the inimitable experience of a Cedar Enzyme Bath. Filled with a blend of ground cedar fibers, rice bran and plant enzymes, the naturally heating bath generates an aromatic steam that relaxes, detoxifies and energizes simultaneously. A healing sanctuary, Osmosis’ mission is to provide services in tune with nature—a noble goal that’s more than met with outdoor massages along the scenic banks of a nearby creek. www.osmosis.com
THE OAKS AT OJAI OJAI, CA
The Oaks at Ojai turns the luxury of spa life into an affordable reality. Spanish-style architecture reflects the heritage of the Ojai Valley location, just 90 minutes from LA. Most visit the spa to lose weight, but the 1,000 calorie-a-day cuisine is sprinkled with treats—like a 55-calorie, spa-style baklava—to keep your sweet tooth happy. Spice up your workout mix with a mountain hike or belly dance lesson complete with beads and bangles, or try a hoola-hooping class. www.oaksspa.com
THE SAFETY HARBOR RESORT AND SPA SAFETY HARBOR, FL
Health-seekers have been flocking to the site of the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa—built 50 years ago—to take the waters since the 16th century, when explorer Hernando De Soto was captivated by the natural mineral springs he found here. The legendary springs run directly beneath the spa, which is situated 20 minutes from Tampa and offers more than 65 pampering treatments, plus delicious calorie-counted cuisine and more indulgent fare based on just-caught fish and local produce. www.safetyharborresort.com
TRELLIS, THE SPA AT THE HOUSTONIAN HOUSTON
Trellis, The Spa at The Houstonian makes it easy to escape the concrete jungle of Houston. In an idyllic, Mediterraneanstyle building, the interior blends the clean aesthetic of a modern spa facility with the classic style of the adjacent 18-acre Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa resort. Arrive well before your treatment, as the spa’s 30-minute water ritual, the Trellis Bath, is the perfect way to prepare yourself for a massage, facial or body mask. The bath includes a soak in the vast indoor float pool, as well as a Jacuzzi, steam room and Rainfall Shower. You’ll do well to leave time after your treatment too, as the gentle gurgles of the water walls in the spa’s Tranquil Room have a way of extending your blissedout state of mind. www.trellisspa.com
CORNELIA NEW YORK CITY
Romanian-born Cornelia Zicu is nearly as well-known as the celebrities who swear by her treatments. Now she’s brought what’s come to be known as the “Cornelia touch” to her newly minted Fifth Avenue day spa. The penthouse facilities offer all the amenities of a resort—and then some. Highlights include New York City’s first Watsu pool, European soaking tubs, a roof deck overlooking the MoMA and an alfresco café. At Cornelia, the service is so personalized you’ll wonder whether Ms Zicu and her staff don’t remember you from your last visit. In fact, they do, with the help of patented technology that records your treatment preferences. The ultimate in custom-care, the spa even tends to your musical moods, lending you an iPod for the day with thousands of pre-programmed songs in the genre of your choice. www.cornelia.com
MIRBEAU INN & SPA SKANEATELES, NY
Surrounded by towering spruce trees, tranquil ponds and gardens inspired by Monet canvases, The Mirbeau Inn & Spa, 90 minutes east of Rochester, has all the charm of a French countryside estate. Its private cottage rooms with claw-foot tubs and fireplaces combine to make this sanctuary one of the most romantic in the country. Take your sweetheart by the hand and enjoy a massage for two in the Monet Room. Other Mirbeau treatments expand on the Francophile theme, for example, the Impressionist’s Retreat that uses French clay to draw toxins from the body. C’est magnifique! www.mirbeau.com
COOPER WELLNESS PROGRAM DALLAS
In the late ’60s, Dr Kenneth Cooper, a young Air Force physician, burst onto the fitness scene with a then-exotic concept known as aerobics, sparking an exercise revolution. Today, Cooper’s Wellness Program in Dallas is an intensive lifestyle modification center dedicated to helping people change their lives for long-term health. Over a four-, six-, or 13-day stay, you’ll work with a staff of health experts to develop a plan of action, while in the demonstration kitchen, you’ll learn how to make more healthful versions of your favorite dishes. www.cooperaerobics.com
THE PENINSULA SPA CHICAGO
There is no more appropriate address for the Peninsula Spa than Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue known for its high-end shopping and wild wealth. The spa is one of the most exclusive in Chicago, offering breathtaking views from the Peninsula Hotel’s 19th and 20th floors. You won’t find joint-jarring aerobics classes here, as the Peninsula Hotels, headquartered in Hong Kong, bring a more spiritual orientation to fitness. The state-of-theart facilities offer Pilates, yoga, a Thai toning class and a distinct form of water exercise called Peyow Pilates. Many treatments reflect the hotel’s Asian heritage, including the Mandi Susu Bath, which Japanese princesses are said to have enjoyed for centuries. This milky blend of essential oils and lily-white clay leaves you feeling like royalty indeed. www.chicago.peninsula.com
NEW AGE HEALTH SPA NEVERSINK, NY
Given the damage many spas can do to your wallet, wellness can sometimes seem like an upper-class privilege. But the New Age Health Spa on the foothills of the Catskill Mountains makes health as financially accessible as it should be. Its diverse programs range from extreme (a three-day juice fast) to serene (sunrise meditation), so you can find the approach that works best for you. After a two-hour drive from New York or Newark, an eco-adventure program featuring hiking and bald eagle watching awaits you, as well as the formidable Alpine Tower—a 50-foot climbing structure that challenges your physical and mental fortitude. If you’re not quite up for a test of strength, then laze away on a hammock surrounded by 280 acres of rolling green hills. www.newagehealthspa.com
THE WILLOW SPA AVENTURA, FL
Designed by renowned resort architect Tag Galyean and located just outside of Miami, the three-story Willow Spa at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort maintains a connection to its tropical surroundings throughout. A grand skylight floods the space with natural light, while many of the 26 treatment rooms open to balconies overlooking the resort’s 300 acres of flora and fauna. Florida-inspired treatments include a Rain Massage with wildflower essences, a Tropical Garden Facial and an Ocean Wave Vichy Shower. Meanwhile, golf enthusiasts who gather at the resort for its impeccable championship courses need look no further than the spa for a dose of post-game TLC, including a Golf Performance Massage to prevent injury on the green. www.fairmont.com/turnberryisle
HILTON HEAD HEALTH INSTITUTE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC
You’re probably aware of that golden rule of weight-loss: eat less, exercise more. The Hilton Head Health Institute, just a short drive from Savannah, is dedicated to helping you apply the concept to your life. The supportive staff works closely with you, but don’t expect to be coddled. By its own account, the no-nonsense institute is a “serious alternative to pampering spas.” So, if you’d rather burn fat than incense, book your one- to six-week stay now. www.hhhealth.com
PRITIKIN LONGEVITY CENTER & SPA AVENTURA, FL
Engineer Nathan Pritikin tackled his diagnosis of heart disease in the ’50s by developing a groundbreaking exercise and diet plan. Since then, thousands have reaped the health benefits at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa, 20 minutes from Miami. You’ll experience surprisingly little deprivation, and through engaging seminars and exercise plans tailored to your metabolic needs, you’ll arrive home slimmer and healthier, and with the information you need to stay that way. www.pritikin.com
KOHLER WATERS SPA KOHLER, WI
It stands to reason that a spa owned by kitchen and bath manufacturer Kohler would offer one-of-a-kind bathing experiences. The Kohler Waters Spa, part of the Destination Kohler resort, one hour from Milwaukee, offers a soak for every sensibility. The exhilarating Hydro Rush stimulates, while the soothing River Bath mimics the natural flow of river currents. A recent expansion saw the addition of 10 ultra-plush Immersion Suites—guest rooms that put the bathroom in the center of the space, creating the perfect excuse to enjoy a bed-to-bath treatment. These candlelit, in-room bathing rituals include a nightcap of Champagne, wine or tea. Sweeter dreams you might never have. www.destinationkohler.com
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