Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting a
luxurious spa in wine country. There was one catch: I had to bring
the hubby. Gordon’s probably a pretty typical man in that he had
never before experienced a massage. Though he was open to the
concept in theory, it was never something he actively pursued. So
he was a bit nervous about our planned excursion.
We traveled to Dr.
Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort located in Calistoga, California.
The town’s name has a colorful history. Samuel Brannan, made rich
from selling supplies during the 1840s gold rush, settled in the
area. According to local legend, the region’s abundant natural
spring waters reminded Brannan of Saratoga Springs in New York.
Supposedly he intended to name his new town Saratoga of California.
But after a few too many drinks, Brannan began saying "Calistoga of
Sarafornia," and the name Calistoga stuck.
We had booked Dr.
Wilkinson’s Spring Renewal Package, which includes a one-night stay
at their hotel, and "the works" at the spa. The outside of the
hotel maintains its vintage look from the 1950s, but the rooms have
all been refurbished for modern convenience. The rooms range from
courtyard, to bungalows, to a Victorian house, which has five guest
rooms.
And since we were in wine
country, it was perfectly fitting that our spa package included a
bottle of white wine, which sat chilling waiting for us upon our
arrival. As we were only there for one night, we figured we ought
to break into that bottle right away!
We had upgraded to the Victorian house, which exudes old-world
charm and character. Almost immediately we noticed the high ceiling
painted periwinkle blue. Actually, my husband just thought it was
blue. When he asked for a translation of what “periwinkle blue” is,
I explained it is a pale shade of blue with a bit of lavender mixed
in. Gordon nodded wisely, and refilled my wine glass. The intimate
room was luxuriously appointed with ample pillows, two fluffy robes
to use during our stay, and even a flat-screen TV. According to the
brochure, each of the Victorian rooms is decorated uniquely. Next
time I go, I’d love to try a different room, just to see what it
looks like.
Wearing our fluffy robes, we explored
the three separate mineral pools. These are essentially swimming
pools (or over-sized spa) filled with Calistoga’s famous mineral
water. The two outside pools are maintained at temperatures of
about 80 and 90 degrees, while the indoor pool is kept at a toasty
104 degrees. We opted to use the indoor pool. I imagine the
outdoor pools get more popular as the weather warms. Next we
headed to dinner. Calistoga feels like a tourist town, beckoning
people to shop, eat, then shop some more. We could choose from more
than a handful of restaurants ranging from more casual dining to
upscale, all within easy walking distance of the spa. We ambled
down the street enjoying the jewelry and boutique items displayed
in the store windows. Upon our return to the hotel we enjoyed a
wonderful night sleep in our comfy bed, and looked forward to our
spa appointments the next morning.
The next morning at the spa my
husband and I parted company, him going to the men’s side on the
right, and I was escorted by a lady to the left. This lady was to
be my guide through my various treatments. The spa treatment began
with stripping naked, donning a robe, only to remove it again to
shower briefly before getting into a mud bath.
Certainly, the
mud bath was the most unusual part of the treatment, and something
I’d never experienced. Consisting of volcanic ash, mineral water,
and peat for buoyancy, I was a bit intimidated at the prospect of
entering this goop. Naked as the day I was born, I climbed into
this brown concoction, and my escort began covering me with the
warm mud. I could only imagine how my husband was coping next door!
In the mud’s defense, it was clean (at least as clean as mud can
be). I must confess I found this part of the treatment a little
weird. I found myself thinking about gardening, and wouldn’t this
brew be so good for the flowers?
After immersing in the mud, my lady applied a
facial mask, and cucumbers on my eyes. Later, when the treatment
was finished and my husband and I rejoined, he recalled his
experience of getting some war paint put on his face. Apparently
one person’s facial mask is another person’s war paint. After
about ten minutes in the mud, I got out and returned to the shower.
Next to lying naked in mud, my second weirdest experience was
hosing the mud off. Every time I thought I was clean I discovered
more peat in another crevice. The rest of the treatments were more
typical. I soaked in an individual bubbling tub, then adjourned to
the steam room. (When I explained that all of these steps open our
pores, my husband sincerely questioned why we’d want to open them.
Don’t you just have to close them again? I suppose he has a
point.)
The treatments culminated with a half hour
massage. (Those who can’t bear a massage that brief can upgrade to
an hour.) Certainly, the massage was my favorite part of the day. I
immerged and rejoined Gordon one limp, relaxed noodle. I asked my
husband if he liked it and would do it again. The answer was a
resounding yes. He’s still not convinced about all that pore
opening and closing, but if it ends with another massage, sign him
up! The Spring Renewal Package continues through May 22. Visit
www.drwilkinson.com or call 707-942-4102 to book your own
perfect getaway.
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