What’s beyond the destination spa

What crosses your mind when you think of a spa? Pampered luxury? Rich feng shui décor? Relaxing music? Plush robes and body-sensual services? And all those luxurious services offered – wraps, scrubs, facials, massages… Bliss!

Does your mind float to uber-luxurious spa resorts that are the immersive, all-in, body experience from check-in to check-out? Or do you envision a day trip with the girls or your lover for a massage or facial to add a relaxing addition to your travels? Maybe it’s time to consider a third kind of “spa” – a non-traditional, on-the-fly chance for a massage or unique treatment where opportunity presents itself.

Let’s not minimize in any way the immersive deep relaxation and oneness a destination spa resort offers in their investment to make you a new revitalized person, but like all things in life, those visits (rare delicacies) can’t be a staple of everyday life. Day spas can be as uber-luxurious as a destination spa, but these experiences are often an add-on to your vacation experience to seek to find a glimpse of pampering within the busy-ness of your holiday.

I’d like you to ponder the opportunistic treats that cross your path and present itself as a surprise moment of relaxation in an out-of-the-ordinary, unexpected place. One of my favorite non-traditional “spa” experiences was while visiting Bare Oaks Naturist Resort in Ontario, Canada. In a screened tent amongst poplars, pines, willows and oaks was the simple and sweet offering of a Swedish massage. The trees gently rustled and, in the middle of the forest, I received a relaxing, rejuvenating Swedish massage with the gentle scent of OFF coils in the tent (took me wonderfully right back to camping as a kid). Change the location to a massage hut on the beach – waves, seagulls, massage. What about an outdoor mineral spring in the snow, or floating in a quiet, almost dark, high-density saltwater pool in a cavern deep in the bedrock? Opportunities for novel spa experiences abound – but only if you’re open to exploring possibilities ...

Check out some of GoGirlfriend’s faves in each category and wherever your travels take you … seek out to surprise yourself with something native to the area you’re in!

Destination Spa’s (Stay Spa’s)

These immersive destination spa resorts are designed to completely immerse you in a relaxation culture with your mind, body and soul pampered from start to finish. Including top-shelf accommodations, each destination has its own signature designs harnessing the native properties of the geography. Walk from your room to the spa in your robe, smell signature spa scents throughout the resort, enjoy foods with holistic offerings, and soak up the ambiance of relaxation throughout your entire stay. Ahhhh, relaxation!

• St. Anne’s Spa (Ontario, Canada)
• Avania Spa (Scottsdale, Arizona)
• Spa Minerale (Lansdowne, Virginia)
• Desire Pearl Spa (Cancun, Mexico)
• La Cantera (San Antonio, Texas)
• Amelia Island Resort and Spa (Amelia Island, Florida)

Day Spa’s

Often as luxurious as the above destination spa’s, many more day spa’s exist to pamper and relax you within the daily activities of your holiday or everyday routines. These treats can be rich spa experiences you experience for a few hours of relaxation, or thematic to entice you to a particular unique treatment or experience. Each offers a welcome respite to re-invigorate and energize you to get back to the grind of your holiday.

• Scandinave Spa’s (throughout Canada)
• Nordik Spa (Gatineau, Quebec)
• Cruise Spa (all cruise lines)
• Living Waters Spa (Palm Springs, California)
• Shangri-la Spa (Vancouver & Toronto)
• Elmhurst Inn Spa (Ontario, Canada)
• Caesars Palace Qua Spa (Las Vegas, Nevada)
• Aji Spa (Phoenix, Arizona)
• Osmosis Spa (Freestone, California)

“On the fly” spa’s

Seizing on a localized opportunity or a simple wish to add a tease of relaxation, these unplanned opportunities that pop up along your travels can add a fun dimension to an afternoon or getaway weekend. Think of walking your resort’s beach and find a thatched hut offering beachside massages, or a hot spring offering a mineral bath experience. When an opportunity pops up where you least expect it, the rewards can be a reviving, delicious surprise.

• Bare Oaks massage in the woods
• Beach massage (almost anywhere)
• Blue Lagoon Spa, (Iceland)
• Body Blitz Spa (Toronto)
• Fish Spa Exfoliation
• Melia Spa’s (Cuba)
• Little Inn of Bayfield (Chocolate treatment)
• Eco spa’s

Tell us about a fun “spa” experience that crossed your path. Whether it was a divine planned resort spa or an afternoon opportunity seized at your vacation beach, where did you find a delicious moment of relaxation and enjoyment? We’d love to hear. Drop a comment below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.