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The Spa Experience
Nowadays we use spa to refer to businesses that offer a variety of beauty and health services related to cleansing of the skin and massage. But where did the word originally come from?
Sanitas per aquas is a Latin phrase, which translates as health through water. Spa may be an acronym for that phrase. Scratched in the walls of the Roman baths are found the words Salut Per Aqua, which literally translates as health and relaxation through water.
There is a Belgian town named Spa, which for centuries has been known for its baths. Did it take its name from the acronym or did spa come from the name of the town?
Our modern-day spa has evolved from the ancient practice of bathing in mineral waters and hot springs. Babylonians, Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Minoans, Greeks, and Romans all made the bathing ritual an important component of health.
During the 19th century, the affluent upper class would make a yearly pilgrimage to a spa to "take the waters." Spas were a place to be pampered, reinvigorated, and healed. In Europe, water treatments are still considered central to the spa experience.
Today the modern spa still centers its treatments around a sequence of cleaning, heating, massage, or exercise, followed by rest. This concept lends itself to making a series of spa treatments part of a several-day visit.
Want to combine a short getaway with a spa experience? We've written up a few spas, within one to five hours' driving distance from Annapolis to entice you. For many, September is the month to begin anew after summer, so maybe it's time to visit a spa.
The Bellmoor
6 Christian Street
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
302-227-5800
www.thebellmoor.com
2 hours, 93 miles
The only hotel in Rehoboth with on-site spa services, the Bellmoor offers a variety of packages that combine a massage and other spa treatments with a weekend stay at the beach. Providing elegance and intimacy, the Bellmoor boasts Brazilian cherry floors, game rooms, and hearty country breakfasts.
Massages are available in your room if desired. Seasonal facial offerings include a pumpkin facial in the fall, a peppermint facial in winter, and a chocolate facial for Valentine's Day. "I would recommend you call ahead and talk to the spa director," says Manager Chad Moore, "because we are always offering something new and different.
People often visit in groups of 4 to 6 and combine a weekend of restaurants, shopping and spa."
"For the men there is the alternative of playing golf while their wives enjoy our spa services that could also include a pedicure or a body polish. We are also starting to put together packages for teenagers," he says. Think sweet sixteen party.
Spa offerings include a "Sea Garden" Marine Algae Body Wrap for $105 and a Bellmoor Stone Massage that uses heated stones to trigger the release of tense muscles. A 50-minute stone massage is $105. A lazy lavender massage, which nourishes the skin with essential oils of lavender, ylang ylang and grapefruit is $100. They even have a 50-minute Gentlemens Facial designed to soothe skin irritated by shaving and the sun, which runs $90. A double-occupancy room ranges $95-395, depending on the type of room and the season.
Stillwater Spa at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Resort
100 Heron Blvd. at Route 50
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
410-901-1234
www.chesapeakebay.hyatt.com
Approximately 1 1/4 hour, 59 miles
Only a few short hours away, the spa experience at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort will transport you to another world, where attention is paid to the smallest detail.
"While some other spas may have a hospital-like feel," explains Sales Manager Chris Cauley, "we light candles and play soft music. There is a feeling of intimacy and warmth."
Cauley highly recommends the double signature massage for couples, which begins with a footbath scented with Chesapeake wildflowers and ends atop the scenic rooftop cupola that overlooks both the golf course and the Choptank River.
Services offered include facials, body scrubs, body wraps and massages. Try an Essential Oil Wrap or a Brown Sugar Body Polish. Chocolate Indulgence combines a chocolate body scrub with your choice of oil wrap: chocolate-infused body oil, chocolate mint, chocolate raspberry, or chocolate cake.
If you're traveling with friends, the resort offers a variety of activities and services including kayaking, sailing, and fishing and golf. Nearby, the town of Cambridge has several unique antique shops, distinctive eateries and two local historical museums.
Services range from $30 for a vitamin C ampoule, to $200 for a 90-minute caviar facial. $165 will buy you a 1-hour massage at the water's edge. Rooms range from $209- $349, depending on availability.
Five Gables Inn & Spa
209 North Talbot St.
St. Michael's, MD 21663
410-745-0100
877.466.0100
www.fivegables.com
Approximately 1 hour, 51 miles
This historic bed and breakfast in the Chesapeake Bay village made up of three 19th- century homes offers a luxurious, yet comfortable haven for relaxation.
The herbal bath treatment is a half-hour long session in a warm air-jet bath customized with your choice of Aveda natural aromas for $30. The newest treatment is 1-½ hour hot stone massage that utilizes heated basalt stones as tools to pinpoint areas of discomfort caused by tight tissue and trigger points for $175. The Rosemary Mint Awakening Body Wrap renews your body and mind for a 1-½ hour with the essence of rosemary and peppermint softening your skin and a scalp and foot massage balance the body for $150. The very popular Spa and Sail package for couples includes two 1-hour massages, a 2-hour sail on historic skipjack Rebecca T. Ruark, 1 dozen crabs, and a pitcher of beer at a local crab restaurant. This package ranges from $570-$1040 depending on the time of week and size of room. The Celebration package is good for honeymoons, birthdays or anniversaries. Enjoy two nights accommodation for two people, a Bouquet of Fresh Flowers customized for your occasion, a 1-½ hour Hot Stone Massage each and a gift certificate to a local restaurant valued at $100. The Just the Girls Slumber Party package is the perfect setup for female-bonding time includes two nights accommodation, a 30-minute facial & 45-minute massage each, snack basket and unlimited use of our video library and unlimited use of our video games, library and board games ranging from $585-1055. Rooms of double occupancy range $160-315 per night, depending on room style and day of week. Reservations are suggested well in advance to ensure preferred time and day.
The Homestead
P.O. Box 2000
Hot Springs, Virginia 24445
(540) 839-7786
www.TheHomestead.com
Approximately 5 hours, 286 miles
Tucked away in the solitude of the Allegheny Mountains, this historic, Virginia-based resort, the Homestead, has served presidents and princes since 1776. Locals and tourists from the surrounding Maryland, D.C., and Virginia area travel weekends, holidays, and summertime for the extensive packages they offer. Along with the resort's extensive recreational activities, relaxation can be issued upon demand with custom selections of body treatment. Customers can choose from a range of sessions that can pamper from their head to toes.
Marketing Manager Eileen Judah, suggests a popular package among visitors: the Classic Spa Package. It includes a daily breakfast and dinner, a complimentary spa gift, a European facial, a mineral bath and a 50-minute Swedish massage. Judah encourages visitors to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers and take a dip into Jefferson Pools, a natural pool of mineral-spring water that used to be a frequent getaway for Thomas Jefferson himself.
Men can partake of pampering with the 1776 Gentleman's Facial, a pressure-point massage designed for men, or other services like the Sportsman, the Sportsman Pedicure, and 1766 Men's Manicure ($38-159).
For families with children, KidSpa is offered for those ages 16 and younger. Body treatments range from $30-100; package treatments, $155-340; and massage therapies, $65-130. Rooms with double occupancy range from $155-275 a night, depending on the day of the week and month. Stay at least two nights (it's required), and don't forget to catch the holiday specials that start in November and run through the following year.
The Spa at Turf Valley Resort
2700 Turf Valley Rd.
Ellicott City, MD 21402
410-465-1500
888-TEE-TURF
www.TurfValleyResort.com
Approximately 1 hour, 40 miles
Blanketed across more than 1,000 acres, Spa Turf Valley has transformed since its infancy in 1978 from a quaint country club, to a prominent resort powerhouse. Located near Historic Ellicott City, Spa Turf Valley seems to have a little something for everyone. According to Spa Director Denise Rocco, specials for individual visitors are offered throughout the year, but the bulk of their clientele are couples and groups. Women from 35-55 make up the resort's demographic, coming from Annapolis, D.C. and Bethesda. Rocco suggests visitors try one of the spa's most popular packages, Spa Jacuzzi Romance, which treats couples during February and the summer. It includes a personal suite massage: two technicians come to the guests' room and simultaneously provide the couple's body treatments. It includes room spa service, rose petals and candy, and the option of champagne. Other popular packages serve moms, daughters, and friends with a Girlfriends Getaway package; a Men's Sports Day package consists of a 60-minute Swedish massage, 60-minute facial or body treatment, and a light lunch. And don't forget about the teens; they enjoy pampering, too. For an introductory spa experience, the Teen Package includes a 30-minute facial and a classic manicure and pedicure. Day and overnight packages range from $95-389; body treatments like the Moroccan Rassoul Mud Body Wrap and the Green Coffee Body Wrap range from $90-110; and massage therapies are $45-200. The spa also offers a variety of detailed and relaxing facial treatments, skin care therapy, eye and lip treatments, and nail and waxing services. For a single-occupancy room, prices range from $134-671, depending on the package. Reservations one month in advance are preferred.
Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort
16701 Lakeview Rd. NE
Flintstone, MD 21530
800-724-0828
www.rockygapresort.com
2½ hours, 147 miles
Rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation are the calling cards of the Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort, neatly situated in the forested mountains of Western Maryland, next to the pristine 243-acre Lake Habeeb. Couples and families frequent the resort for its 3,000 acres of state park: fly fishing, rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, cave exploring, and the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. But it's the Garden Spa that serves as the romantic retreat from everyday stress. Here, the choice is yours-how rewarding a spa experience do you desire? There are several spa treatment packages available (prices additional to those of accommodations): any three 25-minute treatments for $129, any three 50-minute treatments for $175, or any four 50-minute treatments plus lunch for $279. You may also select individual treatments. The setting is very peaceful, with delicate and relaxing chant music playing in the background, dim lighting and candles, and water fountains offering the gentle sounds of running water. There are three main categories from which to choose your treatments: massage, facials, and manicures and pedicures. The Rocky Gap Garden Massage ($85 for 50 min.) is a popular selection, in which essential oils are gently massaged over your entire body, followed by warm, steaming towels to aid in your relaxation, then a full-body therapeutic massage (you choose the level of intensity, from soothing to vigorous). The Rocky Gap Stone Massage ($95 for 50 min.) incorporates the use of smooth, heated stones in varying sizes, shapes, and weights to radiate warm, deep massage. Facials ($75 to $85) are tailored to your skin's needs and feature organic products to revitalize and rebalance your skin. Gentlemen aren't left behind, as the Gentleman's Custom Facial addresses their specific skin types. Pedicures and manicures ($15 to $60) follow the organic trend. The Organic Spa Manicure uses Hungarian lotions and masks for the ultimate in hand and nail pampering-ditto for pedicures. Rooms with a single or double occupancy range from $69-219 a night, depending on the type of room and season. If your Rocky Gap getaway will include spa treatments, management recommends that reservations be made at least two weeks in advance to guarantee your peace and beauty.
My First Spa Experience
By Christine Alhambra
The Spa at Harbour Inn
St. Michaels Harbour Inn and Spa
101 N. Harbor Rd.
St. Michaels, Md. 21663
800-955-9001 or 410-745-0646
www.spaatharbourinn.com
1 ¼ hour, 51 miles
I've always wanted to get a massage and facial. The closest thing I've ever had to a spa treatment was an eyebrow waxing. The opportunity to be treated to a day of pampering at St. Michaels Harbour Inn and Spa, owned by Bob Pascal, was an experience I looked forward to.
As I drove along Route 50, on my way to the Eastern Shore from Annapolis, I thought I heard a pop. Pulling to the side of the road, to my dismay I discovered a huge gash in my tire. "Perfect timing! I'm not going to make my appointment," I thought. Not only was I not going to be able to get my scheduled facial and massage I was going to have to stand in the 95-degree weather waiting for a tow truck. As the beads of sweat ran down my face I worried that the closest I would get to a spa treatment that day was a natural sauna.
But my luck started to change when two good Samaritans offered to change my tire and I was back on the highway. When I pulled into the inn's parking lot, I took a deep breath. I was ready to start my spa experience.
I entered the spa on the third floor of the inn and started to relax, looking around and noticing the warm colors and recycled oak wood floor. Spa Director Lynsey Roper describes the atmosphere of the spa as, "earthy, clean, and contemporary." The lulling sound of water cascading down a 5-foot-tall slate wall fountain began to soothe me, and I could feel the stress of my car problem slowly disappearing.
The cheery receptionist showed me to the changing room, where I was given a locker, robe, and complimentary slippers. Throughout the spa, I noticed aromatherapy steam rooms, multi-jet showers, stone tile, and marble counters. Down the hall was a cozy relaxation lounge where I later enjoyed teas and light snacks.
My massage therapist, Isabel, took me back to one of the four treatment rooms and talked to me about what she would focus on while giving me a personal Swedish massage. The massage was amazing. I felt completely relaxed. If you want something different you can mix it up and get a Wild Lime Scalp and Body Massage ($110) or Hot Stone Therapy ($175).
Next I was ready for my facial. My esthetician, Denise, was sweet and easygoing- I immediately felt comfortable with her. My favorite part was when she looked at my skin closely and told me where my dry/oily spots were and what she recommended for my skin type. I even walked away with a SkinCeuticals sample to try. The spa offers a variety of custom facials that run from about $95 for the Men's Rescue Facial to about $125 for the SkinCeuticals Firming Facial. In addition to the massage, therapy and facials, the spa offers body treatments such as a Body Polish ($75) or self-tanning application ($110), hand and foot treatments ($30-65), and body waxing ($15-70.)
Along with the regular spa menu, St. Michaels Harbour Inn and Spa offers packages such as their signature "Plan Your Perfect PJ Party" package. This package puts you and your friends in control to enjoy overnight accommodations in a waterfront suite, customizing your own girls' night in. Ladies choose the theme of their party from a wide selection of music, movies, games, snacks, and drinks. Included are comfy pajamas for everyone in your party to take home. Rates for the PJ Party package range from $525 to 950 and include spa services, accommodations, tax, and gratuities. While the ladies are having fun, the men can enjoy the spa's "Gentlemen Prefer Spas" package, which includes a facial, massage and manicure ($210).
After you're done pampering yourself at the spa, the resort's complimentary shuttle service can take you to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum or to stops in downtown St. Michaels. Roper recommends trying Harris Creek Kayak Tours or sailing on the Selina II- a 1926 historic gaff-rigged catboat, for a romantic champagne sunset sail, private charters, or overnight outings.
Once you arrive, there's no reason to move your car. The Harbour Inn offers a wide array of amenities including 46 spectacular waterfront suites and guest rooms ($159-525), a fifty transient-slip marina (with wireless Internet), conference facilities, a harbor-side pool and Jacuzzi, and the Shore Restaurant and Lounge with both indoor, outdoor, and poolside dining throughout the day.
Bruce Wise, general manager of the Harbour Inn, says his main focus is the customer experience and four-star service. "We do what it takes to make people happy," he says. "And we apply that across the board." If every customer's experience is similar to mine, then Wise is true to his word. My spa experience is certainly worth repeating!