The Luxury of a Quick Road Trip

One of my favorite quick trips in driving distance (3-4 hours) or a short flight (45 min) from Dallas is San Antonio. When the opportunity presented itself to attend a Black Tie Gala this March honoring my grandfather - of course I would accept! An excellent reason to get away to the Texas wine country and visit with family.

The Gala was during the St Patrick’s Day holiday weekend, which is a big deal in San Antonio.  During the parade on the river they dye the Riverwalk water green.  The added benefit is to me is that the weather is was turning warm and you could not ask for better time of year to visit. This was no exception, with the weekend calling for sunshine and mid 80’s.

Having been to the area several times I am partial to The Mokara hotel located right on the famous San Antonio Riverwalk, just 2 blocks from the Alamo. It is not a Virtuoso property but should be based the high level of five star service they consistently provide. Though issues are rare, any that might arise are taken care of promptly and beyond a level of satisfaction you could hope for.  Every guest once they have booked is greeted by name even when calling from home or your mobile, which I just found a refreshing level of personalization.

The rooms are spaciously appointed and quiet roomy even by American standards. The bathrooms are equally large in size with a separate shower, deep and long Jacuzzi tub, a separate toilet room and of course the standard two sinks. The rooms I have stayed in have always faced the Riverwalk, which provides entertainment from the balcony.

My favorite part of this hotel after the stellar service has to be the spa. Each time I stay at The Mokara I have had some kind of spa treatment done. It ranks in the top tier of Resort Spas by Conde Nast and I know why. The services are executed seamlessly like a well-run team who love what they do and understand the essence of relaxation. Many people come to the hotel just for the spa services alone. If you are interested in enjoying the spa all day, they have a light spa lunch menu that serves guests up by the rooftop pool area.

Logistically parking at the hotel is valet only, but we were never waiting for more than 3-5 minutes to have the car brought around which in my book works well. Be sure to take note, it is a cost that is not always included in the room rate. Honestly I am not sure you would want to try to self park, as in most larger cities it is a maze of one way streets and parking decks that seem almost always full.

The Mokara hotel offers Ostra a fun seafood restaurant. If you enjoy oysters, they get them in fresh daily. Much of the menu has a slight Tex-Mex flair to it and using in season produce, giving everything on the menu wonderful flavor. If that does not strike your fancy, my all time favorite place to eat is Biga on the Banks. Located on the Riverwalk and an easy few blocks away walking distance, if you are any kind of foodie it is a must try. The menu changes daily, is very creative along with a top-notch bar and extensive wine cellar this is a solid choice for a special dinner or celebration.

In addition to the normal San Antonio sights, if you are up for a day trip, Fredericksberg is high on my list of to do’s (both as a day trip from San Antonio or a weekend get away of its own). Immigrants from Prussia (Germany and Austria) settled the town in 1846.  They brought with them the many customs and artisans as well as vines for the grapes that are now used to support he growing wine industry in Texas.   So many of the shops are family owned and handed down the generations.  You will find bakeries selling all things deliciously German and if seeking a slow afternoon there are shaded patios with a bratwurst and kraut calling your name. But I digress, you can pick up a flier in town that will give you all the locations of the wineries or you can always ask your travel advisor for recommendations. Within the Admiral Nimitz Museum grounds there is a peaceful Japanese Zen Garden and displays from the museum.  I still visit most times when I am in town, as I find it both interesting and relaxing. There is also boutique shopping that is a fun place to pick up house warming or houseguest gifts and some substantial Texas scenic paintings. On the way in or out of town, if you like plants, wildflowers and pottery the WildSeed Farms is a must with activities happening most every weekend.

With all that you can see how a person could make a full weekend or more of the area. Offering a wide variety of things to do.  Travel does not always have to be far away to be a good thing. Time with friends or family spending quality time is what counts.

What interests you most – wine tastings, spa treatments, shopping or museums?

Southwestern Spas to Indulge the Senses: Part I

Turn a vacation into a transformation. Visiting some of the nation’s finest spa resorts can awaken your mind, revitalize your body and renew your spirit. These choice spas will intrigue all your senses from tantalizing tastes, and tender touch, to spectacular sights, calming sounds and serene scents.

Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona

This award-winning spa resort is hands-down one of my favorites. Nestled in the majestic Sonoran Desert, Canyon Ranch offers more than just luxurious spa treatments and accommodations, you will also enjoy fine cuisine, outdoor adventures, golfing and more, at this all-inclusive spa resort.

Spa pleasures from around the world including Asian therapies, Yamuna treatments, restorative therapy, replenishing facials, tanning, nail and hair treatments. During your stay you can also take advantage of the 80,00 square foot Spa Complex that includes relaxation rooms, yoga and dance studios, a salon, whirlpools, wellness education rooms, and state-of-the-art cardio and weight-lifting equipment.

Delight in the sights of the rich landscape of the Santa Catalina Mountains and red canyons nearby. The Ranch was once a working cattle ranch, but now offers a serene and clear desert setting, perfect for mind-clearing and focus. As part of your vacation experience, take advantage of the gorgeous surroundings by going hiking, biking, or even nature and bird observing.

Whether your goal is to discover new activities, explore the outdoors, lose weight, improve your golf game or fine-tune your fitness, the encouraging fitness physiologists will custom-tailor a plan for you during your stay. Take advantage of all the offerings of fitness classes, guided hikes and walks, wellness presentations and workshops, private consultations and assessments. With more than 40 fitness classes and outdoor activities each day, there is something for everyone.

Your comfort is a top priority of Canyon Ranch, and to ensure that you are most comfortable and relaxed, guest suites are equipped with feather cloud beds, luxury Italian linens, robes and all the essentials to help you relax. The resort is tastefully tied together with modern southwest-inspired decor and art throughout, enhancing the experience in the Tucson desert.

In addition to the amazing spa treatments and pampering, the award-winning cuisine at the Ranch will spoil your taste buds. Not only are the meals indulgently delicious, each has been carefully designed for maximum nutritional value. The healthy gourmet cuisine is always prepared with fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Canyon Ranch is all about your health and pleasure. It’s a luxurious way to revitalize your mind, body and spirit.

Ten Thousand Waves, Sante Fe, New Mexico

Centered around Japanese values of relaxation and serenity, the Ten Thousand Waves Spa in Sante Fe, New Mexico is a truly unique and luxurious spa destination. Based on the traditional Japanese spa, or onsen, Waves believes that a spa is a place to relax and have fun, not just a place to get something done. In Japanese tradition, spas and bathing are mostly about meeting friends, relaxing, spending time with family and unwinding from the day. Waves uses hot water bathing as an integral part of its spa treatments.

This unique Japanese spa oasis, set in the mountains just outside Sante Fe, offers everything from hot water bathing and therapeutic massages to hot oil treatments, herbal wraps and sea salt exfoliation. Lounge around in your Yukata robe, snack on handmade sushi, and enjoy the lush nature surroundings.

Even though Ten Thousand Waves is mainly a day spa, they offer some of the most unique and serene lodging accommodations, all based on traditional Japanese lifestyle. Just a short walk through the towering pinions and fragrant juniper trees, the 12 hotel suites are privately nestled along the hillside. Each suite is completely unique, offering anything from the quaint “capsule” trailer or high-tech modernist “Sailor Moon” room, to the traditional simplistic Japanese elegance or blended Southwestern Japanese rooms. All rooms encompass a peaceful blend of tranquility, luxury and romance.

This spa getaway is all about letting go, transporting your mind and calming your soul.

The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, Edwards, Colorado

Whether you are looking to unwind or rejuvenate, or both, The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera will help you accomplish that in supreme luxury. High atop the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains, Cordillera has world-class views of the Vail Valley and Sawatch Mountain Range.

Refresh your body and soul with amazing spa treatments, for men, women or couples. Continually voted as one of the top spas in North America, you are guaranteed not to be disappointed. The amazing massages and body treatments uniquely blend traditional touches with unique ingredients and scents such as coffee, sandalwood, volcanic ash, Dead Sea Salts, local river rocks and fresh mountain water.

In the warm months you can become part of the mountain scenery with a relaxing gazebo or poolside massage in the open, fresh mountain air. In the winter, Cordillera is a one of the world’s most renowned ski destinations. After a day of winter sports, ease sore muscles with a Backcountry Pedicure or one of the signature massage treatments. The resort also specializes in high-altitude skin treatments to revitalize your body from the dry mountain air.

The entire resort was inspired by a Belgian chateau and is decorated with a unique mountain rustic elegance. Suites are equipped with balconies with uninterrupted mountain views, cozy fireplaces, and plush feather beds.

During your stay at Cordillera, enjoy award-winning cuisine from two on-site restaurants. For an unforgettable fine-dining experience set with breath-taking mountain views, eat at Mirador; where the innovative menu and extensive wine list are sure to pleasure your palate. For a relaxed yet upscale authentic Irish pub, visit Grouse on the Green.

The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera is the best place to experience a spa vacation full of solitude, contemporary comfort and mountain luxury.

What is your favorite part of a spa?

Southwestern Spas to Indulge the Senses: Part II

If you missed Part I of this post, you can view it here.

Turn a vacation into a transformation. Visiting some of the nation’s finest spa resorts can awaken your mind, revitalize your body and renew your spirit. These choice spas will intrigue all your senses from tantalizing tastes, and tender touch, to spectacular sights, calming sounds and serene scents.

Red Mountain Resort & Spa, St. George, Utah

This chic spa resort is located among the earthy red rocks of St. George, Utah. A tranquil resort that blends outdoor adventure with pampering and relaxation. Focused on healthy living, the Red Mountain Resort and Spa offers world-inspired spa services, wellness and fitness education and classes, an outdoor haven of activities, and elegant healthy dining.

Sooth your soul and renew your spirit with the myriad of services offered at the Sagestone Spa. Relaxing scents such as lavender, ylang ylang, chamomile vanilla and citrus are used in combination with world-recognized massage and relaxation techniques. Delight with signature massage offerings such as a Thai Yoga Table Massage; a unique blend of yoga stretches with rhythmic massage and compressions to balance and stimulate energy flow. Or enjoy body wraps and exfoliating scrubs using exotic natural ingredients such as Utah mud and whipped honey. With these unique and signature offerings, it’s no wonder why Sagestone has been classified as one of the nation’s top spa resorts.

Consider going beyond pampering to revitalize your body, mind and soul with the resort’s Aromasoul experiences. Aromasoul journeys utilize rare herbal blends and exceptional rituals from Asian, Indian, Native American, and Mediterranean cultures, to deeply restore your body and soul. These rare and truly unforgettable treatments are an energizing, balancing and soul-cleansing experience.

Luxurious accommodations range from deluxe rooms to private villa suites. All are tastefully decorated and offer lush beds and linens, soaking tubs and additional comforts and views to make your stay relaxing. The Villa accommodations are surrounded by a negative edge pool and can comfortably house up to 6 people.

The healthy dining of Red Mountain is centered around the concept of “Eat Well. Feel Well.” Guests are educated on the role nutrition plays in overall health and wellness and are treated to world-class cuisine made with all-natural and fresh ingredients in the Canyon Breeze Restaurant.

Guests are encouraged to enjoy the natural beauty and adventure that surrounds St. George; whether it’s hiking Red Mountain, Bryce Canyon or in Zion National Park, biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, swimming or golfing, take advantage of all the great activities the area has to offer. After a full day of activity, be sure to indulge in the spa’s athletic activity massages and treatments.

Whether you choose the Red Mountain Resort & Spa as a soul-cleansing experience, a soothing spa vacation, or an outdoor adventure destination, you will be treated with a one-of-a-kind experience.

SháNah Spa at The Bishop’s Lodge, Sante Fe, New Mexico

Utilizing ancient Pueblo healing traditions, the SháNah Spa is a premier facility, nestled among the gorgeous Sangre de Cristo Mountains just outside Sante Fe. The desert sanctuary provides you with a relaxing vacation full of healing and rejuvenating spa treatments, healthy cuisine and authentic Native American surroundings.

SháNah means “vitality and energy” in Navajo, and that’s exactly what the spa offerings provide. Using time-honored traditions, remedies, herbs and teas, rich in healing and luxury, it’s a sanctuary where you can indulge your mind, body and spirit. Massages, cleansing, and body treatments are conducted using ancient and exhilarating rituals that have been practiced and perfected by some of the world’s best healers. You can even enjoy the treatments in a private outdoor garden.

When you are not being pampered with massage and skin treatments, indulge in on-site yoga, pilates, aerobics, whirlpools, and meditation. Consider spending reflection time at the authentic Native American Teepee and Watsu pool.

Staying at the Bishop’s Lodge, delight in ranch style adobe accommodations, within a historic building. There is a tranquil charm and relaxed elegance that surrounds the accommodations, from authentic Navajo rugs and artwork, to luxurious beds and earthy decoration. The on-site La Fuentes Restaurant offers healthy and seasonal fine dining in a traditional southwestern atmosphere. It’s a pleasurable place to indulge your body, mind and spirit.

What is your favorite spa treatment?