perfect spa weekends

Las Vegas, Nevada

Quest A spa fanatic looking for some healthy fun in sin City stAy Most people choose their Vegas digs by the hotel theme, the casino or the shows. For this trip, I was looking for something mellower, so I opted for a place that didnt have any of that. The Four Seasons Las Vegas covers the 35th to 39th floors of Mandalay Bay Resort. Casino-free, it has its own dedicated lobby with none of that ubiquitous slot machine ping-ping-ping. Rooms feature deep soaking tubs, LOccitane products and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the strip, so you can enjoy the sights without being in them. The pool trades DJs for quiet lounges and excellent poolside service (cold Evian spritz, anyone?). And when you want excitement, a long hallway connects you to everything at Mandalay Bay. Rooms from $199 sweAt Ive recently taken up running, but the thought of jogging down a city sidewalk dodging slow-moving tourists did not appeal. So I swapped my run for the chance to try Jukari Fit to Flex at Bellagio. Created by Reebok, the mega-calorie-zapping class works with specially-designed Jukari bands and uses flowing movements and dancelike routines inspired by Cirque du Soleil. And while I never found myself hanging from the rafters (thankfully), afterward I was definitely sore. The class proved to be a good workout and fun and it was definitely something to talk about. You can join one of the weekly classes, as I did, or sign up for a private session with friends. 50-minute class, $40 per person soAk I like few things more than soaking in a warm tub, so Caesars Palace Las Vegas Qua Baths & Spa hit the right note. The relaxation areas are designed for water lovers, with three aptly named pools the Tepidarium (warm), Caldarium (hot) and Frigidarium (cold). Most Vegas spas keep offerings to the basics massages, facials, etc. so I was really excited to see Aura-Soma Synergy (135 minutes, $400) on the treatment menu. Simply put, Aura-Soma is a life reading based on four colored equilibrium bottles you select from a display of 109. For interpretive reading, the therapist was spot-on, shedding light on my strengths and interpreting the bottles message as a way to approach a creative block Ive been having. Then she let me choose a bottle from my reading and incorporated that into a 75-minute

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Lomi Lomi and cranial sacral massage, enhanced by color therapy. The bonus: a take-home bottle of oil. stAre When it comes to killer views, the stunning Spa at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas wins with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Strip from eight flights up. A coating on the windows lets you see out but keeps people from seeing in even at night, when this feature is at its best. Where else but Sin City can you lie on an underwater lounger in a balmy hot tub and gaze out on Las Vegas Boulevard, not to mention strangers in a few neighboring buildings? It felt decadent, voyeuristic and utterly Vegas. Treatments here are based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. After the welcoming foot ritual a relaxing soak and rub thats part of every treatment I went for the Mahjong Balance Treatment (two hours, $300). It started with a delicious salt scrub exfoliation followed by a massage using jade stones to unblock energy. Cool mahjong tiles are used at the end of the massage now thats my kind of gaming. steAm You cant escape Vegas without some toxins the smoke in the casinos, the dry desert air and, yes, maybe a little too much wine at the piano bar. Just entering the cavelike passageway that leads to the pretreatment area at Sahra Spa & Hammam at Cosmopolitan Las

Vegas felt restorative, thanks to large, dark stone walls brought in from the desert. Its visually gorgeous too, especially the waterfall; backlit as it pours three stories into the rock pond below, it reminded me of liquid gold. The Vitality & Vigor treatment (50 minutes, $170) is unofficially recommended for hangovers. The session began as the therapist moved a pulsating massage tool over me to loosen tight muscles, which felt especially good after my fitness class the day before. Afterward came a full-body massage, and then in a neat twist, she placed two small oxygen tubes under my nose. I deeply inhaled the clean, fresh breaths as she delivered a head massage. Our session ended with a detoxifying drink of vitamin-infused water, and I was on my way, relaxed, recovered and ready for another night on the town. Dine For dinner, I met a friend at Encores Botero restaurant where, in addition to life-size artwork by the eponymous artist, it also offers a twist on Vegas dining. I am not a vegan Ill eat just about anything. But Encores owner, developer Steve Wynn, is a former vegan, and, with his chefs, put a lot of energy toward developing vegetarian menus as tasty as the alternatives. My friend and I ordered the regular and vegan tasting menus for a share-and-compare

Second from right: Jorg greuel/getty imageS; oppoSite: Zach Stovall

dinner. First up: a sampling of fresh sushi and vegan cauliflower soup. The latter shocked me with its rich, creamy texture, courtesy of the almond-milk base. Id have ordered this even without dietary restrictions! The next dish was a tossup: a tasty wild mushroom tart paired with delicate foie gras. For the main course, the steak beat out the grilled branzino (but then again, I love a good steak). With dessert, the nonvegan dish won hands down: vegan churros versus the winning dish, smore donuts filled with marshmallow cream, rolled in graham cracker crumbs and paired with a warm chocolate dipping sauce. (Seriously, what could compete with that?) But overall it was great to know you could have an elegant tasting menu whatever your dietary restrictions. Well done, Wynn and company! Do I cant go to Vegas without getting out and touching the land. On past visits Id done a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. But for this trip I wanted something different. A 45-minute drive from town is Eldorado Canyon, home to a restored 1880s gold mine. Im a history buff, so I loved tramping through the tunnels, imaging what life was like for the men who worked here before electric lighting and hydraulic drills. (One word kept coming to mind: harrowing.) Book the trip through Awesome Adventures and itll pair the outing with a horseback ride through the hills. You can also rent ATVs or kayaks and bring them to the Colorado River down the hill, where you can stare out to Arizona on the other bank. Tours from $129 Susan Moynihan
From opposite page: snapping pics of the Colorado river; the pool at Four seasons; an iconic Las Vegas sign; the bar at Botero. Previous page, from top: the mandarin oriental; the hammam at sahra spa.

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perfect spa weekends

San Diego, California

Quest A group spa weekend with nine friends stAy Before a dear friend was set to say I do, a group of us decided to send her off in style with a shower/spa weekend in Carlsbad, California. Our retreat: La Costa Resort and Spa, where we rented a communal three-bedroom villa with three balconies, a living area and a full kitchen. As villa guests, we had access to all of the resort amenities: eight pools, two golf courses (including the newly renamed Champions Course, which recently underwent a $10 million renovation), a spa and the Chopra Center for Well-being, a haven of retreats and programs centered on wellness and healing. If this couldnt please our diverse group, nothing could! Rooms from $269 sPA Our goal was to put play dates, carpools and deadlines behind us and enjoy a relaxing day together at the Spa at La Costa. So when we made our reservations, we signed up for the lunch package that includes a treatment (massage or facial) followed by a private alfresco lunch by the pool. Instructed to arrive early, we walked the reflexology path (created with a variety of stones to hit different pressure points) and had time to relax in the sauna, steam room and lounge area. Then we were ushered off to our treatments one by one; I went for the facial, which included a mini massage so it was a win/win. Afterward, all of us sporting that glassy-eyed look you can only get after a great treatment, we met back at the pool for an a la carte lunch of salads and champagne. Do You cant do California without hitting the beach, so we decided to tagteam our beach time with a workout by signing up for a paddle-boarding session with 2 Stand Up Guys. (The groom-tobe is an ex-pro surfer, so he took great pleasure in the idea of us braving the waves.) Our group has some total novices in it, so we opted for the basic flat-water lesson on Carlsbad Lagoon (they also offer ocean SUP for more experienced paddlers). Apparently, women have a better sense of balance, so there were minimal wipeouts though some of the men around us didnt fare so well. 60 minutes, $50 per person, groups from two to eight people Dine The food on-property was amazing (Wednesday through Saturday the BlueFire Grill has live music near the fire pit), but we wanted to explore, so one night we ventured out to Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen. This local haunt is tucked on

From top left: Beautiful baubles at rebecca norman; prepping for a suP lesson; san Diegos Gaslamp Quarter; pasta with house-made pork sausage at Flying Pig Pub; the spa pool at La Costa.

third from left: Witold SkrypcZak/getty imageS; oppoSite: BarBara kraft

South Tremont Street, a side street off South Coast Highway 101 if youre not looking for it, youll miss it. That would be a shame, as the farm-to-table establishment offers up an ever-changing menu that includes heaps of handmade bacon mac-n-cheese (the serving is enough for three), all-natural chicken and dumplings, and cold goblets of craft beers. For dessert, we braved Daves caramel pork belly sundae with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips and candied pork belly (yep, you read that right), which won over even the shiest of eaters. shoP We spent the latter part of our last afternoon getting lost in San Diegos Cedros Avenue Design District; its residents are well-known architects, builders and designers. But visitors have to check out the artsy strip, lined with 85-some galleries and boutiques. The Rebecca Norman boutique was a standout, filled with handcrafted jewelry, bags and scarves. The necklaces are truly magnificent creations in silver, vermeil and rose gold, some accented with crystals, stones and gems. Its the kind of place you find those hard-to-come-by items, that bracelet or ring you affectionately wear all the time because it brings back great memories of times with friends. Tara Bradley

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perfect spa weekends

New York, New York

Quest A romantic staycation in midtown manhattan stAy As a longtime resident of NYC, I typically plan escapes outside the five boroughs. But every once in a while I like to stay inside of them. This is how I found myself in the middle of Manhattan checking into The Setai Fifth Avenue, a chic, 214-room hotel appointed in the finest architectural details, like black oak flooring and gleaming onyx. In addition to its sweet views I could clearly see the Art Deco Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building from my apartment suite the hotel has great placement in lower midtown between Times Square and Grand Central. In other words, you wont stress yourself out trying to get to key city sights. Guests are assigned a personal assistant for the duration of their stay who can make reservations, score tickets and generally make the city a tad less overwhelming. Rooms from $645 sPA The fourth-floor Auriga Spa was named for a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere, and the menu revolves around a unique premise: the four phases of the moon. Guests choose
from oppoSite left: frank SchWere/getty imageS; roBert reck; david groSSman/alamy

from treatments that correspond to the current lunar stage, such as the Waxing Moon Sowing the Seeds signature treatment, a 120-minute extravagance that includes a petal-and-salt body scrub and a jasmine mask. I tried the Rose Crystal Lymphatic Facial (60 minutes, $165), done with Organic Pharmacy products. After an AHA exfoliation, seaweed mask and collagen-boost treatment, the therapist applied rose crystals to my face and dcolletage for a massage, the ice cubecool gems slowly warming as she worked her way across key lymphatic points. I could barely peel myself from the heated bed to pad over to the coed Aqua Lounge (day pass $50). My favorite feature: a spacious hammam, complete with a starshaped bowl full of mineral mud and a twinkling constellation ceiling. Do Just a few blocks west, you can mingle with stars of another kind and take in a Broadway show. (This spring, Evita opens at the Marquis Theatre, and previews are slated for A Streetcar Named Desire at the Broadhurst, starring Blair Underwood.) Flash bulbs also figure into the art on display at the neighboring International Center of Photography,

which spotlights historical and contemporary works and is currently hosting an acclaimed show by Weegee. Depending on the season, theres fine ice skating in winter and people-watching in warmer weather across the street at Bryant Park, also home to a 14-horse carousel that spins to French cabaret sounds. Dine Last fall, chef Michael Whites Ai Fiori nabbed its first Michelin star. Setai guests neednt travel far to sample the eaterys Italian-meets-French Rivieran fare; the restaurant is located one winding staircase up from the lobby. It had me smitten the minute I saw the artisanal cheese cart roll by, laden with what appeared to be no less than two dozen varieties of fromage. For my husband, it was love by way of a succulent Amish veal chop. And we both fell for the striped bass crudo, which arrived in the form of little oval discs sitting atop a bed of Meyer lemon crumbles and topped with American sturgeon caviar (dinner entrees from $35). We ended with a nightcap a few blocks east inside Grand Central Terminal at the Campbell Apartment, a decadent bar that once served as the private office of 1920s-era tycoon John W. Campbell. If you go, dont forget to look up the terminals main hall ceiling depicts the starry sky. Liz Ozaist
From opposite page: the neon lights of the theater District; the Aqua Lounge at Auriga spa; spring in Bryant Park; setais shiny exterior; deconstructed lobster salad at Ai Fiori.

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