As part of my Spa Certificate Course, I went to Utah and experienced two very different Spas…someone had to do it!
RED MOUNTAIN SPA – FIRST STOP www.redmountainspa.com
I went with a friend; we drove from Las Vegas Airport, about 2 hours, to the Red Mountain Spa, arriving at dinner time. After only having airplane food – no more need be said – we were hungry and wondered what a Spa dinner would be like! The food was wonderful and the Canyon Breeze Restaurant became a favorite place for meeting new friends and hearing about their adventures of the day. The Dinner Menu lists 12 entrees and there were daily specials. The salad bar (lunch and dinner) was very good and two soups – hot or cold. The friendly wait staff even asked if we wanted bread, with butter or oil. They also had a bar, if you wanted wine with dinner.
I will always remember the view from our (basic but nice) room, as we went out in the morning – the wall of red mountain stretching out in front of us, what a way to start the day! The view here is special, wherever you go, there are the beautiful Red Mountains surrounding you. .
They have a Hiking Program, with three different levels. I did Trekker 1, with some paved road walking and some trails. My friend did Trekker 2, with a variety of trails including some rock and uneven terrain. They have a Trekker 3; my guide said it was for people who run 5 miles before breakfast! I liked my Trekker 1.
Some of the other Adventure Programs are Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Geo-caching, Orienteering and Biking. Adventure Racing is one of the fastest growing sports, it combines trekking, land navigation, mountain biking, kayaking, and rappelling. Red Mountain is having their first Adventure Racing Camp in November.
While my friend was Rock Climbing, I was at the Spa, doing research on their services…always thinking of my clients! After a busy day of Trekking, Stretching and Pampering, it was time for an evening swim, under the stars. Life as it should be!
In addition to the Adventure Program and Spa Treatments, they offer many different kinds of classes – Cardiovascular Workouts, Muscle Strengthening, Flexibility Classes, Fitness Workshops, Wellness & Relaxation and they have a gym with all new equipment. They also offer excursion to Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. We had a car and went on our own to Zion National Park; it was an easy drive and beautiful scenery.
Who goes to the Red Mountain Spa? This spa was voted Best Spa for Men, because it’s considered an Adventure Spa. About 1/3 were men, there were families, friends traveling together and a large group of singles. Size of the Spa 174 guests, 210 employees.
The Red Mountain Spa was a wonderful experience…please give me a call with any questions. 1-800-710-8041 or 508-460-1816
GREEN VALLEY RESORT & SPA – SECOND STOP
www.greenvalleyspa.com
We packed the car and took one last look at the incredible view, then off to the Green Valley Resort & Spa. It’s only 4 miles away, but had a totally different look. The Red Mountains were replaced with green landscape and 10,000 Roses. We drove up to a Spanish style building and check-in. We were taken to our beautiful room, called a suite. Our suite included a private patio across from the pool, an enormous bath with oversized tub, a sitting area, Starbucks coffee, CD Player, VCR, fax machine and popcorn w/popper. – which we tried. We had a fireplace between the two four poster beds, and each bed had its own TV and remote. The beds had special mattresses and bedding – and lots of pillows, the kind of bed you have to climb up into…this is so popular you can buy the bedding and have it shipped home. We would return at night to find the beds turned down and a gift and poem/story on our pillows… a nice touch. One night it was a Teddy Bear..
There dinning room has a more formal feel then at Red Mountain, the menu is limited, more conducive to wait loss…and no wine. They have the Color of the Day, if the color is red, then the plates and rims of the glasses in the dinning room are red, as well as the floral arrangements on the tables. In the Spa treatment area, the special baths are colored with the Color of the Day. (Red: for physical strength, Blue: A heart remedy, Green: Energizer and Indigo: A sleeping potion for peaceful dreams and visions). They have wonderful treatment names – Cleopatra’s Rejuvenating Bath, Rapunzel’s Secret Hot Oil Treatment and Seven Heavens Aromatherapy. They have a Relaxation Room, with flowers and ferns; music and books; interesting art and mirrors. Visually there is a lot to see, yet it’s very calming. This is where you wait for your spa treatments.
They offer meditation classes and have a labyrinth, based on a labyrinth found in the 13th century cathedral in Chartres, France.
Most of the people I spoke with, seemed to be there for spa treatments and relaxation, not as much for the out door activities. There was more of a feeling of pampering and quite time. There was a group of young women celebrating a birthday, one of those big birthdays, rather then doing a party, her husband paid for her and her friends to have a Spa weekend!. Spa size: 45 guests, 100 employees
They do have two special programs:
Tennis – The Vic Braden Tennis College is located here, with 14 outdoor courts and 4 climate controlled indoor courts. 13 Automated ball machine lanes, Video Analysis Center and Color Coded Strategy Court. Award Winning Tennis – Top 5 Best Tennis Programs in the U.S., Top 50 Greatest Tennis Resorts in the U.S. and the Top 25 Best Tennis Camps in the U.S. – Tennis Magazine.
Golf – Green Valley Golf Learning Center, America’s newest and largest indoor golf facility complete with hitting stations, indoor chipping, putting green, private video and analysis room
After a memorable week of Spa Research, it was back to Boston…so little time, so many spas! Please call with any questions 1-800-710-8041 or 508-485-5723.