Page 72 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

SPAS & WELLNESS
BY LAVINIA SPALDING
Indulge Yourself
California’s diverse wellness centers offer a full menu of rest and replenishment
NAPA VALLEY
This celebrated region and
neighboring Sonoma Valley are
known primarily for their wine,
but their appeal runs deeper than
that. You can pamper yourself at
luxury spas—such as Indian
Springs Resort & Spa in Calistoga,
Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary in
Freestone or Meadowood in
Saint Helena—dine at some of
California’s (and the USA’s) best
restaurants, shop at trendy
boutiques or live a little rougher
and explore wild state parks.
San Francisco’s vibrant Japantown
district—the oldest and largest in the
U.S.—is a hot spot for shopping and
dining. Buses and bikes whiz by on the
streets, teens congregate on corners, and
tourists snap selfies in front of the Peace
Pagoda. But inside Kabuki Springs & Spa,
the city vanishes. All you’ll hear in the
dimly lit, Japanese-style communal baths
is the gentle splashing of water paired
with soft, soothing music. Recline in the
dry sauna with chilled cucumber slices for
your eyes, then continue to the steam
room and exfoliate with a lemon-sea salt
scrub. Follow with a long, lazy soak in the
hot tub and—if you’re brave—a cold
plunge. When you’re finished, start all
over again. In fact, linger all day: the com-
munal baths costs only $30, or $15 with a
treatment (or free with any two treat-
ments, such as the 80-minute Javanese
Lulur: a jasmine-scented massage fol-
lowed by a turmeric and rice skin
exfoliation, a yogurt application and an
exotic flower bath).
For people around the globe, the name
“California” evokes escape and conjures
images of sunny beaches. But in today’s
demanding, perpetually wired world, a true
vacation requires more than just a break
from the office; it takes unplugging, puri-
fying and restoring. Luckily, this is
practically the state motto.
California has been a resort destination
since the early 20th century, beckoning trav-
elers with its year-round temperate
CALISTOGA CVB. OPPOSITE: PETER COOPER/ISHOOT
70 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA