Spa Destinations Are Great Vacations Spots for Wellness

by Roy Caxton

Ah, the pleasure of sinking into a steamy tub of bubbling, scented water and feeling all the tensions of the world melt away. Oh, the joy of aching muscles after a mountain hike through harsh terrain! Mmmm.. the wonderful flavor of fresh, healthy foods served in just the right proportions so you don't have to think about the planning. Aha! That precious moment of self-realization after hours of quiet contemplation.

There was a time that a vacation at a 'spa' meant one thing - luxury treatment in lush surroundings. The nominal purpose may have been to improve your health, but you could expect to be pampered, fussed over and treated like a queen. The traditional spas were those that took advantage of a naturally occurring phenomenon to entice visits from the wealthy in search of relaxation and health benefits. The many luxury spas at Baden Baden in Germany piped the heated, naturally mineral rich waters of the native hot springs through their plumbing to fill tubs and pools, and offered their patrons gourmet meals, masseuses and beauty treatments to enhance their experience.

There were exceptions. The Battle Creek, Michigan, for example, is well-known these days as the home of Kelloggs cereals, but in the 1800s, it was the site of the Battle Creek Sanitorium, where a pair of brothers developed a diet that focused on grains and abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and meat. It was a popular health destination for the wealthy of the U.S. who sought out the Kellogg brothers, who managed the spa. It was there that Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and William Keith Kellogg created cold breakfast cereal as we know it today.

A regimen at the Kellogg brothers' health spa included a strict diet, health treatments that included daily high colonics, and strenuous physical exercise. Health spas are still one of the more popular types of destination spas. They may be aimed at improving general health through diet, stress reduction techniques and exercise, or they may be focused on treatment for one particular illness or of one particular type.

Closely allied to health spas are the 'wellness' spas, like Canyon Ranch Spa in Arizona. Founded by Mel Zuckerman in 1978, the Canyon Ranch Spa encourages visitors to take control of their health with a variety of techniques taught by professionals in all fields of 'wellness', including nutrition, sleep disorders, skin care, and exercise physiologists. There are over 50 fitness activities daily for guests to choose from, healthy gourmet meals that are prepared with healthy ingredients and methods, and classes geared to teaching guests how to continue living healthy once they go home. Health doesn't come cheap at the Canyon Ranch though - expect to pay over $500 a night for a Canyon Spa vacation.

If you're looking for something a little less pricey, you might find what you're looking for at the Birdwing Spa in Minnesota. There, you can choose from a menu of activities that range from kickboxing to hatha yoga. You'll enjoy biking and hiking on mountain trails, classes in fitness and diet, and a variety of treatments that include facials, massage and exercise enhancement. The food is healthy and plentiful, and delicious, and a visit to Birdwing Spa can include classes on how to prepare the same foods at home on your own. Prices are around $150-$200 per person per night, and group rates are available.

The location of the spa can have a great deal of influence on what activities are offered, and certainly on the atmosphere. You can find any kind of spa in the mountains, the desert, on the ocean or in the city. A health spa in the mountains might offer mountain hikes or bike treks for exercise instead of or in addition to workouts on the spa equipment.

Go back to the original spas, and 'take the waters' at the Kohler Waters Spa in Wisconsin. It's only appropriate that Kohler, the most famous name in plumbing fixtures, would be the owner of one of the most famous spas focusing on hydro- therapy. There's far more than just jacuzzis at the Kohler, though. The spa is located at a luxury resort that includes 10 different restaurants, five world class golf courses and an entire planned community.

How much can you afford? Full service luxury spa vacations range in price from about $200 a day to $6000 and more per week. The price generally includes all meals, your lodging, and spa activities. There may be extra charges for special treatments like facials and skin treatments or excursions. Shop around - you can often find a good discount deal on the kind of spa vacation you want if you're flexible and able to book early.

Whatever your choice, one of your best sources for spa information is www.spafinder.com, where you'll find listings for hundreds of spas, both in the U.S. and abroad. The comprehensive listings include descriptions, prices, discounts and packages that you can't find anywhere else.

Tags: spas wellness