In The News
Destination relaxation
By STACEY MORRIS, Special to the Times Union
Jan 7, 2010 - 1:19:09 PM

Get away from it all with a quick trip to one of the many spas in the Northeast

If the beach is out of reach, you can still indulge in a getaway that will leave you every bit as rejuvenated, even if miles of sandy surf aren't involved. Ask anyone who has ever cloistered himself for a weekend (or longer) at a spa, and you're likely to hear an aria of praise. And the reason is simple: If an afternoon of pampering at a day spa is good, an extended stay at a destination spa is even better.
Massages and pedicures are only the beginning. Many overnight spas blend pampering with methods of improving overall health and well-being, and are staffed with nutritionists, exercise physiologists, acupuncturists, yoga masters, life coaches, medical intuitives and master chefs.

The Northeast abounds with spas featuring overnight accommodations, but according to industry standards, there are key differences between destination spas and spas at resorts.

"A destination spa's sole purpose for being is to provide the guest with a health-renewing experience," says Michelle Kleist, executive director of Destination Spa Group, an advocacy and marketing organization of the country's top destination spas. "Because of the proliferation of spas in the past decade, there is sometimes confusion or misperceptions of what spas offer. The DSG educates the public on the definition of a true destination spa experience. And it's a different experience than going to a resort that has a spa on premises."

According to Kleist, to qualify as an official destination spa, certain criteria must be met, including not being a part of a resort or separate business entity on the property, not serving distilled alcoholic beverages to guests, and having an educational programming component that focuses on lifestyle and health improvement.

Fortunately, the surrounding region has no shortage of bonafide destination spas, as well as spas with varying types of overnight accommodations. The following is a roundup of spas within driving distance that cater to a range of preferences, goals and budgets. Those with an asterisk denote an accredited destination spa:

Canyon Ranch*
165 Kemble St., Lenox, Mass. (413) 637-4100 http://www.canyonranchlenox.com
The largest and arguably most well-known destination spa in the Northeast, the luxury complex can accommodate up to 250 guests. There's a full menu of spa services (Thai massage, reflexology, conditioning body scrubs), but what sets Canyon Ranch apart is a legion of medical personnel that allow guests to seek anything from annual exams and bone-density testing to second opinions. Canyon Ranch was founded by businessman Mel Zuckerman, who had such a dramatic health turnaround after a week at a health spa 30 years ago that he bought the spa and has since been broadcasting the message of adopting healthy exercise and eating habits for a lifetime. Rates start at $1,930 for a three-night package that includes meals, exercise programs and spa treatments.

The Copperhood Inn & Spa*
7038 Route 28, Shandaken. (845) 688-2460 http://www.copperhood.com
This Catskill destination spa was started more than 20 years ago by Elizabeth Winograd Iwinski, a native of Poland and a licensed New York state hiking guide, who is often found leading guests on treks in the surrounding mountains, as well as snowshoeing expeditions and biking tours. The staff includes aestheticians, a medical doctor, personal trainers, holistic health counselors, yoga instructors, a medical intuitive, an acupuncturist and a life coach. Copperhood's intimate setting (10 guest rooms, seven suites) gives it a homey feel. Rates begin at $800 for a "two-night respite" that includes meals, exercise programs and spa treatments.

Deerfield Spa*
650 Resica Falls Road, East Stroudsburg, Pa. (800) 852-4494 http://www.deerfieldspa.com
This Victorian mansion in the Poconos offers the full destination spa experience minus "the affectations." So you'll find facials, aromatherapy and Swedish massage, but no chocolate pedicures. Guests can sign up for lifestyle education lectures ("Combating Cravings") as well as an extensive exercise menu that includes swimming, hiking, ballet, tai chi, pilates, weight training and the spa's exclusive yo-wei, which combines yoga with hand-held weights. Rates begin at $125 per night (double occupancy) and include meals, exercise programs and a Swedish massage.

Emerson Resort & Spa
5340 Route 28, Mount Tremper. (877)-688-2828 http://www.emersonresort.com
This Hudson Valley hideaway has 26 suites and five duplex lofts styled in Great Silk Road decor, four restaurants and a Forbes four-star rating. Guests are ushered into the resort's spa through majestic, 17th-century Rajasthani palace doors to receive treatments such as shiatsu, hydrotherapy, ayurvedic facials and herbal wraps. Rooms begin at $432 per night; massages and facials begin at $95.

Green Mountain at Fox Run*
Fox Lane, Ludlow, Vt. (800) 448-8106 http://www.fitwoman.com
Since 1973, this women-only spa has devoted itself to helping guests find and maintain healthy weights. Programs center around educational classes such as "Food as Medicine," nutrition counseling and physical activities such as hiking and weight training. Its signature "Non-Diet and Fitness Program" mimics a college curriculum, with each week's workshops building on previous discussions.

"Women learn to listen and trust their bodies again to guide them in eating well, staying active and engaging in other behaviors that are necessary for good health and, by consequence, healthy weights," says owner and director Marsha Hudnall. They begin to develop an intuitive motivation toward the behaviors that foster their health and healthy weight." Rates begin at $2,400 per week and include all meals, workshops and activities.

The Inn at Stoweflake
1746 Mountain Road, Stowe, Vt. (800) 253-2232 http://www.stoweflake.com .
Tucked into a quiet valley just north of Stowe, Vermont's busy shopping district, the inn's main building and campus of townhouses are interwoven into a landscape of indigenous flowers and sheltering maple trees. The Spa at Stoweflake offers year-round comfort with its sunny aqua solarium, where guests wash away stress under 12-foot-high hydrotherapy waterfalls or in the Hungarian mineral soaking pool -- and top it off with a Vermont maple sugar body polish. During summer months there's a par-3 golf course, tennis, badminton and quiet walks through a labyrinth whose spiraling borders are made of fragrant herbs instead of rocks. For those interested in upping the fitness ante, there are services ranging from private pilates to assisted stretching classes. Wellness retreats and winter vacation packages are available. Rates start at $289 per night. Massages begin at $125.

Mirror Lake Inn
77 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid. 523-2544 http://www.mirrorlakeinn.com
Renowned for its Adirondack serenity, the resort's 5,000-square-foot spa is accented in tumbled local marble and mahogany. Amenities include fireplaces, Jacuzzis, steamrooms and a lake-view fitness center. Services include the Adirondack Maple Body Scrub, Algae Exfoliation, the signature Dry Float Massage, Four-Layer Facial, Craniosacral Therapy and Heated River Stone Therapy. The inn's Spa Getaway package begins at $355 per couple per night and includes a 50-minute spa service and breakfast.

New Life Hiking Spa*
2617 Killington Road, Killington, Vt. (866) 298-5433 http://www.newlifehikingspa.com
Founded by owner Jimmy LeSage in 1978, the spa has won Spafinder's Reader's Choice in "Best for Hiking," "Best for Weight Loss" and "Best for Affordability" four years in a row. Open mid-May through the end of September, daily activities include silent walking meditation, pilates, chi kung, yoga and (of course) hiking. Spa services include Thai yoga massage, Chinese herbal body exfoliation, reflexology and deep tissue massage. Evening activities include cooking classes and tips on nutritious menu planning. Rates begin at $209 per night with meals, spa treatments and activities.

The Spa at The Hotel Hershey
100 Hotel Road, Hershey, Pa. (800) 437-7439 http://www.chocolatespa.com
This chocolate-lover's delight will dazzle anyone with even a part-time sweet tooth, thanks to aromatic services such as chocolate hydrotherapy, whipped cocoa bath, chocolate bean polish and chocolate fondue wrap. The fitness center offers consultations to assess cardiovascular endurance; yoga, tai chi and meditation classes; an indoor pool, sauna and weight room. The 30,000-square-foot, European-style spa overlooks the hotel's gardens and reflecting pool and is in the heart of Hershey Park. Spa package rates start at $232 (two-night minimum) and include spa services, a fitness class, breakfast and a welcome basket.

Spa Eastman*
895 Chemin des Diligences, Eastman, Quebec. (800) 665-5272
This wooded Quebec getaway overlooks a lake and is accented by rolling hills and streams. Accommodations include luxury suites in the main pavilion and cozy B&B style rooms at smaller pavilions on the property. The spa has an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna and steam room. Services include neo-reichian massage for chronic muscle tension, aqua massage, pressotherapy to stimulate blood circulation and thermal mud wraps. Kinesiologists and fitness specialists offer naturopathic fitness testing to determine dietary, exercise and detoxification needs. Lifestyle coaches design custom fitness and nutrition programs that guests can take home with them. Spa cuisine is largely local and organic and can be found in the cookbook "Le Spa Eastman a Votre Table." Spa package rates begin at $255 per night (Canadian dollars) and include meals, two spa treatments and all activities.

Source: Times Union
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=883794&TextPage=1

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