Destination Spas
Cal-a-Vie
Cal-a-Vie is a luxurious 200-acre oasis in San Diego's North County. Here, guests can start the day with a hike up the surrounding hills and a panoramic sunrise. In between Cal-a-Vie's tasty, nutritious, slimming and beautifully prepared meals, they take stretching or Spinning classes, work out with weights, engage in water volleyball, learn boxing, soak in the hydrotherapy tub and submit to blissful seaweed wraps, aromatherapy massages and facials.
Special Offerings: - Guests enjoy the spa program's full effect and comfort by staying seven nights in private guest cottages.
- Cal-a-Vie's internationally trained specialists create personalized nutrition, skin care and exercise regimen for each guest.
- Evening lectures on health and fitness add take-home value to the spa experience.
Shuttle transportation is provided to and from San Diego International Airport. Cal-a-Vie Spa is located at 29402 Spa Havens Way, Vista, CA 92084. For information and reservations, call toll free 866-SPA-HAVENS (772-4284).
The Coronado Island Marriott Resort
The Coronado Island Marriott Resort faces the San Diego skyline with its 16 waterfront acres and elegant facilities. Nestled at the foot of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, the Resort is within walking distance of the Ferry Landing Marketplace and the 18-hole Coronado Golf Course. In its luxurious Spa Coronado, guests have the unlimited use of saunas, a heated lap pool, all exercise classes, a state of the art fitness room and an extensive menu of massage therapies and facial treatments.
Special Offerings:- Maternity Massage is soothing and gentle and designed to energize and harmonize a woman's body during pregnancy.
- California Gold Rush Clay Massage uses clay from the California deserts to improve the skin's natural immunity.
- Chamomile Body Polish Massage renews the skin by sloughing old and dead cells and nourishing the new layers with a special French cream.
- Refresher Facial uses natural organic minerals and trace elements from Hungary's Sarvar Springs, combined with a deep cleansing moor mud masque to remineralize and condition the skin.
Where to eat on- and off-site: One need look no further than the resorts' award winning
L'Escale Restaurant for a special culinary experience, featuring Northern Mediterranean cuisine with a California flair. Off the premises you will find the tropical island décor and fresh fish creations of
Peohe's at the nearby Ferry Landing Marketplace.
Four Seasons Resort Aviara
Four Seasons Resort Aviara brings more guests to Carlsbad with its own 15,000-sq.-ft. European-style spa. The Resort commands spectacular views from its hilltop site of the Batiquitos Lagoon Wildlife Reserve, Pacific Ocean and Arnold Palmer-designed Aviara Golf Course. The Spa features both indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, scrubs, body wraps and such massage therapies as reflexology, aromatherapy, Swedish, seaweed, sports and Shiatsu. Spa sessions may start with a relaxing chamomile tea drink, followed by an invigorating eucalyptus steam, a full-body massage, a finishing magnolia blossom bath and concluding with a plate of chilled fresh fruit.
Special Offerings: - A junior suite with deep soaking tub and Swiss shower.
- The Quiet Pool atop the resorts 30-foot bluff, where only the sounds of sea birds, cascading water and gentle breezes can be heard.
- Watsu is Aviara's unique form of aquatic bodywork applying massage and stretching while you float in a heated pool.
- Avocado body wraps, citrus sugar scrubs, customized facials and a sage body 'gommage' are also among the Spa's specialized services.
Where to eat on- and off-site: Aviara's gourmet restaurant,
Vivace and the informal
California Bistro delight the senses and make healthy eating both guilt-free and flavorful with its variety of dishes. Seafood is always on the menu as are some irresistible chocolate desserts. Bellefleur Restaurant, located at 5610 Paseo Del Norte, #100-B, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760-603-19190), is a local favorite featuring wine country fare with a blend of California and Mediterranean flavors.
The Golden Door
The Golden Door opened in 1958 and soon became the standard to which all other spas have aspired ever since. Founded by the legendary guru of “wholeness,” Deborah Szekely, the Golden Door combines the natural beauty of its surroundings with the harmonious elegance of its Japanese-style architecture, ornamental floral displays and fine artworks. The moment guests enter its bejeweled gates, the spa envelops them in a beautiful and health-promoting environment-from its state-of-the-art amenities, to the excellent presentation, flavors and nutritional value of its gourmet meals, prepared with ingredients freshly picked from the Golden Door's own organic gardens.
Special Offerings:- The Sunday-to-Sunday program aimed at shedding bad habits and building energy and self-confidence through joyous activities is described by guests as “a life-renewing experience.”
oMeditative exercise sessions such as Yoga, T'ai Chi and Qi Gong.- Classes exploring creativity and answers to philosophical, spiritual and intellectual questions.
- The Golden Door Facial includes deep cleansing, relaxation, wrinkle-reduction and revitalization.
The Golden Door is located in Escondido, about 45 minutes north of downtown San Diego. For information and reservations, call toll free 800-424-0777.
The Hilton San Diego Resort
The Hilton San Diego Resort, occupying 18 prime acres on San Diego's scenic Mission Bay, is the home of the Villa di Lusso Spa, a full service health spa and salon - as well as The Resort Club, a 7,500 sq. ft. sports facility offering five championship hard service tennis courts, a fitness center featuring the latest state-of-the-art equipment, a dry sauna, and Jacuzzi. The spa pampers its guests with a large variety of body treatments, massage therapies and facials, while also providing take-home value with its personal body composition analysis and customized fitness and nutritional programs.
Special Offerings: - Villa di Lusso Massage, the spa's “signature” bodywork, blends several massage modalities, aromatherapy, and the use of steaming towels to ensure maximum relaxation.
- Reflexology is a deep and concentrated foot massage which rebalances and tones the entire body.
- Seaweed Body Wrap features a blend of Mediterranean seaweed that naturally cleanses, rehydrates and tones the skin, and includes exfoliation to assist in detoxification and slimming.
- Pilates Classes specialize in static and moving positions to strengthen, stretch and elongate muscles.
Where to eat on- and off-site: In a relaxed waterfront setting, the Hilton's
Bayside Terrace Grille offers a creative California cuisine, featuring fresh seafood and regional specialties. It also offers an outdoor terrace overlooking Mission Bay with fire pits that are ideal to enjoy an evening cocktail or romantic dinner. Off the premises, about a 10-15 minutes drive north is the award-winning
Fleming's Prime Steak House & Wine Bar which serves superbly prepared American prime beef.
Hotel del Coronado
The National Historic Landmark
Hotel del Coronado, with its spectacular oceanfront location, grandiose Victorian architecture and antiques-filled interiors, pampers its guests as much with the beauty of exterior and interior surroundings, as with one of San Diego's most luxurious spas and fitness centers. Accomplished therapists provide Asian and European massages, including Shiatsu, aromatherapy, Swedish bodywork and reflexology, along with such deep-tissue cleansers as the Revitalizing Mud Therapy (a stimulating wrap that eases muscle fatigue, relieves stress and improves circulation) and complete beauty programs.
Special Offerings:- Indian, immune system-strengthening Ayurveda Bindi Herbal Body Treatment.
- “Serenity” Refresher Body Polish; Salt and Sea Glow; 60-minute Personal Training Session with Peppermint Foot Treatment; and “Tranquility” Eye ZoneTreatment.
- Tennis; golf on the nearby 18-hole Coronado Golf Course; games, sunbathing and surfing on 26 acres of white sand beach.
Where to eat on- and off-site: The consistency of superior food in The Del's eight restaurants, room service, banquets and other catered events is due in large part to its Executive Chef, James Footit, and his staff of more than 100 culinary associates. Specializing in a variety of cuisines, the resort's restaurants range from classic gourmet and coastal seafood fare to casual and an award winning Sunday Brunch. Off the premises, the Mobil 3-star Chez Loma French Bistro (619-435-0661), located one block from the Hotel del Coronado at 1132 Loma Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118, will entice your palate with progressive French cuisine.
L'Auberge Del Mar Resort and Spa
L'Auberge Del Mar Resort and Spa is a boutique property that focuses its full attention on the care and pampering of its guests. Its state-of-the-art spa takes full advantage of the resorts location: a few steps from a beach and oceanside park and near the spectacular hiking trails of the Torrey Pines State Reserve. Use of L'Auberge's fully equipped Sports Pavilion, the availability of a personal trainer, hydrotherapy treatments, body purification programs, seaweed body packs and eight kinds of massages contribute to the spa experience.
Special Offerings:- Balneo therapy revitalizing baths.
- Natural products used in skin and beauty treatments.
- Spa sampler packages.
- Outdoor whirlpool and lap pool.
- Proximity to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Polo Fields, the seasonal San Diego Fairgrounds and fine shopping at the upscale Del Mar Plaza.
Where to eat on- and off-site: Staying at L'Auberge, you need go no
further for a good meal than its
J. Taylor's Restaurant, which offers versatile menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The resort's Durante Pub fills in daily, during the off-hours. For off the premises dining, just cross the street to the posh Del Mar Plaza, where
Pacifica Del Mar will tempt you with fresh seafood; and Il Fornaio, with fine Italian cuisine (858-755-8876).
La Casa Del Zorro Desert Resort
La Casa Del Zorro Desert Resort, a four-diamond property, located in the rustic desert community of Borrego Springs, offers a unique spa experience that truly integrates therapeutic experiences for body, mind and spirit.
Special Offerings:- Tennis and an 18-hole championship golf course.
- Horseback riding, cycling and lawn games.
- Swimming pools.
- Massage and beauty treatments for physical tuning and rejuvenation.
- Nature walks and hikes through the nearby Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
- La Casa Del Zorro's gourmet restaurant astonishes guests with its varied menu and gourmet flavors.
Las Rocas Resort & Spa
Las Rocas Resort & Spa is offering European-style treatments in a sunny, oceanfront setting in Baja California, where nature is part of the rejuvenation process. Massages and skincare treatments are combined with vigorous workouts in the fitness center. This is a self-contained resort, complete with fine restaurants and a lounge.
Special Offerings:- On-site High Adventure Ropes Course for corporate team-building events.
The Lodge at torrey Pines in La Jolla
The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla provides a harmonious convergence of all its elements, set on one of the world's most famous golf courses and within the boundaries of a resort town that rivals the French Riviera. The inspiring craftsmanship and beauty of its architecture, art-filled interiors and landscaped surroundings reinforce the pleasures of its fine restaurants and its world-class spa. The latter offers holistic treatments enhanced by the use of natural marine and botanical products, some locally harvested and others from the European lines of Phytomer and Babor.
Special Offerings:- Purifying and detoxifying Coastal Sage Scrub and Vichy shower.
- Various styles of treatments, with scrubs, wraps and massages based on Ayurvedic, Thalassotherapy and Balinese traditions.
- Facials, hydrotherapy, sauna, aromatherapy inhalation.
- Herbal-infused steam rooms and a private meditation room.
- Hiking through the nearby Torrey Pines State Reserve; playing golf on the world famous Torrey Pines Golf Course; aerobic, cardiovascular and strength training; relaxing or working out on the beach and in the ocean; and swimming laps in the resort's junior-Olympic size pool.
Where to eat on- and off-site: The Lodge at Torrey Pines is attracting praise and awards for its signature restaurant,
A.R. Valentien, which astounds guests with its inspired cuisine featuring seasonal, fresh produce, fish and other ingredients grown and caught in the surrounding region. Off the premises,
Torreyana Grille at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, just next door offers a wonderful California coastal cuisine fair along with award-winning Sunday Brunch and a fantastic seafood buffet every third Friday night of the month. The charming village of La Jolla offers a wide variety of restaurants, varying in price and ambiance. The award-winning
Top O'The Cove and
George's at the Cove, are sure to please guests with their ocean views, Continental and California cuisine and fine wines. Gourmets will also find delicacies at the three-star
Tapenade.
Loews Coronado Bay Resort
Loews Coronado Bay Resort recently compleated a 10,000-sq. ft. spa and fitness center to its existing health and recreation facilities. The $4.1 million expansion includes a fitness studio and an outdoor Watsu massage pool, as well as a wide variety of planned new body and beauty treatments. In the meantime, guests are served by a full-service marina, children's programs, tennis courts and deluxe accommodations.
Where to eat on- and off-site: Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers five outstanding restaurants including the elegant
Azzura Point, which is justly famous for its gourmet California-French fusion cuisine. Off the premises and a short drive to the picturesque Ferry Landing Marketplace is the
Bay Beach Café Coronado, with its spectacular view of San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline and an extensive California menu featuring fresh seafood, pastas and salads.
Orchard Hill Country Inn's Wellness Center
After feasting on too much of Julian's famous apple pies, guests can return to the
Orchard Hill Country Inn's Wellness Center and choose from a long list of body treatments. The surrounding countryside offers excellent hiking opportunities. Generous breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres made with garden-fresh ingredients are served in the Inn's charming dining room. Off-the-premises guests may choose from several of Julian's fine restaurants, within walking distance of the Inn.
Special Offerings:- Clay wrap.
- Combo salt glow & massage.
- Lovers Special: massage, aromatherapy plus champagne or cider for two.
Paradise Point Resort & Spa
Paradise Point Resort & Spa on Mission Bay takes advantage of its lush, tropical garden setting to create a healing ambiance for its guests. Single-level bungalows with private patios and landscaped lawns overlooking the bay contribute to the serenity of this Southern California retreat. The Spa's decor and treatment techniques transport guests to the culture and traditional rituals of Indonesia.
Special Offerings:- Javanese Lulur royal treatment begins with body massage of Jasmine and Frangipani scented flower oil and continues with a lulur exfoliation to lightly color and scent the skin.
- A yogurt massage with a scented shower and a soak in an Ofuro tube infused with fragrant rose petals.
- Hot Stone Massage features a contemporary approach using alternating temperatures and performed with volcanic river stones placed along certain body points.
Where to eat on- and off site: One of Paradise Point's main attractions is its
Baleen Restaurant. Surrounded by a tropical garden and set on
the edge of Mission Bay, Baleen delights guests with its fresh seafood, wood-roasted meats and irresistible desserts, which have earned it a mention in The New York Times as “one of the best kept secrets in San Diego…” Off-the-premises,
Old Town, a 5-10 minute drive away, has a number of restaurants offering traditional Mexican food, seafood specialties and lively mariachi entertainment.
Rancho Bernardo Inn
Rancho Bernardo Inn provides a relaxing atmosphere and top-notch therapies in its Buena Vista Spa, which specializes in Shiatsu, herbal aromatherapy and reflexology. The Fitness Center is a well-equipped, state-of-the-art facility, which also provides guests with personal trainers, upon request.
Special Offerings:- “Day at the Spa Pampering Package” includes a one-hour Swedish massage, a complete facial and a three-course lunch.
- Alpha Lifting Facial.
- Setting Sun Aloe Wrap.
- Rejuvenating Hands and Feet Paraffin Treatment.
- Nutritional Therapy and Computerized Diet Analysis.
- Championship 18-hole golf course.
Where to eat on- and off-site: Rancho Bernardo Inn's award-winning
El
Bizcocho restaurant serves French and other Continental cuisines.
Rancho La Puerta
Rancho La Puerta is where, in 1940, Deborah Szekely and her scientist husband, Edmond Szekely, originally developed their revolutionary ideas on how to create well-balanced lifestyles by combining holistic health, nutrition, exercise and spiritual awareness. But even though it would take half a century before their programs were accepted by mainstream practitioners, Rancho La Puerta - on its spectacular 3,000 acres of rugged countryside in Tecate, Mexico, just three miles south of the U.S. border - not only flourished, but enabled the creation of the Golden Door in San Diego. Emulating its sister spa's week-long program structure, Rancho La Puerta specializes in various massage therapies including Sports Massage; reflexology; hydrotherapy; herbal and aromatherapy wraps; alignment, balance and coordination exercises; dance and Pilates-based workouts; self-defense and weights training; yoga, meditation and T'ai Chi; and hiking experiences that range from leisurely garden walks and meditation hikes, to 7-mile mountain climbs and three-day hiking programs. Rancho La Puerta's Learning to Live Younger and Longer includes educational sessions with the expert staff on the vegetarian approach to health, as well as on how to eat for cancer-prevention, a healthy heart, overcoming stress or staying healthy while traveling.
Special Offerings:- Hot Riverstone Massage features glassy stones heated in water with essential oils and is used for deep massage and heat treatment.
- Spring Rain Shower and Seaweed Wrap is a detoxifying seaweed thermal wrap for re-hydrating and re-mineralizing; then followed by a shower that improves blood circulation.
- Loofah Salt Glow is for soft skin and an energy boost.
- Scalp Treatment enhances circulation to hair follicles and provides roots with oxygen and nutrients for better hair texture, shine and suppleness. The treatment also includes a neck and shoulder massage, as well as a mini-facial.
Rancho Valencia Resort
Rancho Valencia is world famous for its tennis facilities, stylish ambiance and scenic location in Rancho Santa Fe, one of the nation's most affluent communities. Excellent spa services are provided in the privacy of guest suites housed in hacienda-style casitas. Body care includes Swedish and sports massage, European stress release, Shiatsu or Jin Shin, aromatherapy and reflexology. Facials, makeup, manicure and pedicure are among the beauty treatments offered.
Special Offerings:- While biking, hiking and water exercises are among Rancho Valencia's fitness possibilities, tennis on its 18 Deco-Turf courts is most often the exercise of choice among guests. Eight topnotch tennis pros staff the tennis complex, providing private lessons, group clinics and round-robin play.
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- Resort guests have golf privileges at four nearby country club courses including those of the tony Del Mar Country Club and Rancho Santa Fe Farms.
- Also available are pursuits that range from gentle to adventurous, such as croquet, hot air ballooning and polo on the nearby fields where such polo enthusiasts as Prince Charles have played.
Where to eat on- and off-site: The Rancho Valencia Restaurant specializes in California cuisine with a Pacific-Rim flair; and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, as well as Sunday brunch. Off the premises is the award-winning
Mille Fleurs restaurant, in the charming, historic village of Rancho Santa Fe. Here, superb food and lovely ambiance compete for guests' gasps of delight.
The Spa at Warner Springs Ranch
The Spa at Warner Springs Ranch is one of several resorts built around the many natural hot springs found in San Diego County. Established in 1844 as a trading post by John Warner and transformed into a private resort in 1984, The Ranch has hosted such celebrities as Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, John Wayne and Bing Crosby, who came for its rejuvenating waters and relaxing atmosphere.
Special Offerings:- Massages with Ayurvedic herbs and oils, body-polish, wraps and exfoliations.
- Three oversized swimming pools filled with fresh and hot mineral water.
- Fitness center.
- Miles of hiking and jogging trails.
- Sauna.
- Equestrian center, golf, tennis and other sports, including Sky Sailing at the nearby airport with FAA-certified pilots
Where to eat on-site: The Anza Dining Room and Cantina in the main lodge offers nightly dinners and breakfast and lunch on weekends, while the Country Club Golf Grill and Poolside Grill, overlooking the golf course and pool, serve breakfast and lunch.
