Page 51 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

Wine Country Wellness
Californians are known to soak up a lot
more than wine in Napa Valley and
Sonoma. Residents have long enjoyed the
area’s natural mineral waters, and today’s
spa menus overflow with treatments using
grape seeds and skins, rich in antioxidants
and polyphenols. At the Kenwood Inn and
Spa, treat yourself to an 80-minute crushed
Cabernet scrub and massage, or a heated
honey wine wrap. Add a 25-minute
vinotherapy bath to your treatment, and
you’ll soak in Pinot Noir bath salts or
sparkling salt and grape elixirs, while sip-
ping a glass of bubbly.
But it’s not all about grapes in wine
country. At Sonoma’s Osmosis Day Spa Sanc-
tuary, an innovative, eco-conscious day spa,
the specialty is a cedar enzyme “bath.” Guests
immerse themselves to the chin in warm,
finely ground cedar, rice bran and plant
enzymes. Heated by natural fermentation,
the treatment is said to aid digestion,
improve circulation and relieve muscle pain.
Or for first-class pampering, lavish
accommodations and a three-star Michelin
dinner, visit the 14,000-square-foot all-
suite Meadowood Spa, and choose a curated
treatment package such as “From the Earth,”
which includes a hot and cold stone mas-
sage and a black walnut scrub enhanced
with custom-blended aromatherapy oils.
Located on a private, two-hundred-fifty-
acre estate, Meadowood also offers golf,
tennis, croquet, hiking and swimming.
Om Sweet Om
When yoga came to America, some of the
first studios appeared in Hollywood and
San Francisco. The practice has since
become a way of life for countless Califor-
nians, and hundreds of top-notch centers,
from ritzy to rustic, cater to beginners and
gurus alike.
One of the world’s most renowned yoga
retreats is tucked into the Santa Ynez
Mountains above Santa Barbara. At the
White Lotus Foundation Center, guests
spend their days doing sun salutations in a
canyon with ocean views, hiking through
old-growth oaks, meditating in an under-
ground Hopi-style kiva temple and
swimming in natural sandstone pools.
Massages are available, gourmet vegetarian
fare is served, and sleeping quarters are pri-
vate accommodations, heated yurts or
creekside camping under the stars.
Health First
When the sublime Golden Door opened in
Escondido in 1958, it was a pioneer among
American spas. It’s since become one of the
world’s finest health resorts, regularly
hosting Hollywood’s biggest stars. Golden
Door specializes in fitness, Eastern philos-
ophy, relaxation and opulence. Guests
pre-arrange completely customized four- to
seven-day packages with fitness options as
diverse as Pilates, fencing, tennis, dance,
cardio sculpting and archery. Best of all, each
stay includes facial treatments, herbal wraps,
mani-pedis and daily in-room massages.
Another great (and more affordable)
option is The Oaks at Ojai, where healthy
weight loss and conscious eating are
emphasized, and the ever-changing list of
activities might include ballet dancing,
hula hooping, Qigong, hiking and aqua
Zumba. Indulge in a seasonal sugar rub
(think Pixie tangerine, lavender or fig),
lemongrass lavender pedicure or hot
Himalayan salt stone massage.
Ultimately, California’s spa culture
promises visitors far more than relaxation;
it ensures that this time you won’t need a
vacation from your vacation. You’ll return
home relaxed and recharged—that is, if you
can bring yourself to return home at all.
» FIND
YOUR SPA
Kabuki Hot Springs
kabukisprings.com
Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa
twobunchpalms.com
Hacienda Hot Springs
haciendahotsprings.com
Esalen
esalen.org
Tassajara Hot Springs
sfzc.org/tassajara
Indian Springs
indianspringscalistoga.com
Meadowood
meadowood.com/spa
Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary
osmosis.com
Kenwood Inn and Spa
kenwoodinn.com
White Lotus
whitelotus.org
Golden Door
goldendoor.com
The Oaks at Ojai
oaksspa.com
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 49