Happy Days: Visiting a Spa
Time for a time out
Oh, it wasn't that we were working too hard. After all, we are retired.
We needed a change from the news of war. An escape from reality.
So, we headed for Nemacolin in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Pennsylvania.
On a wooded hilltop, 30 miles north of Morgantown, W.Va., we saw rising regally five stories high above the spruce- a majestic castle, Chateau LaFayette.
My wife, Kate and I had arrived at a spa named after a Native American leader who had first hacked out the trail which was the forerunner to the national highway (Route 40).
Since we had decided to escape reality, what could be farther removed from our day-to-day retirement living than moving into a chateau with gold-plated bathroom fixtures? And surprisingly enough, during the off season, we could afford the place at $200 a night, meals not included. (Well, at this point, I need to confess that the nightly rate was a gift from our children who wanted us to celebrate our wedding anniversary in style.)
They did throw in a free breakfast- and what a breakfast. Have you ever had oatmeal soufflé? That's poached oatmeal, full of raisins and brown sugar doused in cinnamon-flavored milk.
My mission was simple at this Shangri-La: Do as little as possible. What I did do was pamper by sexagenarian body. No heavy lifting for this senior citizen.
And no talk of war, or economics.
Nap Time
The first thing I did was to take a nap like a good retiree should.
I know there are those critics, led by my wife, Kate, who insist that it is the height of folly to drive for three hours and pay 200 bucks to take a nap. Kate went off hiking and swimming. But, as far as I could determine, there are no rules for spa attendees. You do as little or as much as you want. At Nemacolin you can bike, hike, play tennis, ping pong, golf. It's enough to wear out even the most hyperactive kid.
Or you can do nothing
Kate opted for the exercise. I chose an outdoor hot tub after my nap. Then, I headed for an hour Swedish massage, the high point of my visit. A tender young woman, homesick for Utah, led me to a dark room, bathed in languid flute music, and poured warm oils on me which she gently rubbed on my back using large pebbles.
Outside, the sun was magnificent, as it always is in paradise, and the only war they were talking about at Nemacolin was our Revolution. Of course, Marquis de Lafayette had helped our troops vanquish the British. And George Washington had first tromped along Nemacolin's trail with General Braddock on his way to fight the French and Indian War.
It wasn't until we were about to leave that the skies split open, dumping tons of rain on us. Driving back on the national road we ran into a fog bank limiting our visibility to about 100 feet.
Yes, we were returning to reality
It wasn't pretty.
Here are some other spas suggested by Spa Magazine
The Boulders located in the Sonoran foothills of Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Spa at Torrey Pines located on the Pacific Coast at San Diego.
Golden Door Spa at the Peaks offers a spectacular Rocky Mountain setting.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental provides a fine view of Biscayne Bay in Miami.
Mauna Lani Resort is a Hawaiian resort featuring a fire and ice theme.
Online Resources
For information about spas around the nation, visit Spa Magazine
Books
Find these books online at Barnes and Noble.com.
- Zagat's Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts, and Spas 2006. Zagat Survey. October 2005
- 100 Best Spas of the World. Bernard Burt, Pamela Joy Price. Globe Pequot Press. April 2006
- Cheapskate's Guide to Spas: Over 150 Great Escapes, Romantic Retreats, and Family Adventures. Nathaniel Altman. Kensington Publishing Corporation. June 2002
