In The News
10 Amazing Midwest Spas
By Nicole Alper and Maria Wakem
Mar 17, 2010 - 8:02:02 AM

Thanks to amazing treatments, astounding geographic diversity, and four well-defined seasons with heaps of outdoor adventure, America's heartland is becoming a strong draw for those seeking to relax and rejuvenate. And with reasonably priced flights and accommodations, it's extra easy to enjoy the Midwest's signature hospitality. Here's a sampling of our favorite spas from the Great Plains to the Great Lakes.

1. Kohler Waters Spa, The American Club Resort-Hotel at Destination Kohler
The Kohler brand is probably best known for its top-of-the-line bathroom fixtures, but its three spas—located in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Scotland—are just as impressive. The Wisconsin spa, set in the eponymous town founded 135 years ago by John Michael Kohler, is a 24,000-square-foot Cheryl Rowley-designed space created to showcase Kohler's signature element: H20. For spa proximity, book a room in The Carriage House at The American Club Resort-Hotel, the Midwest's only AAA Five Diamond Resort Hotel. (Be sure to secure one of the 10 Immersion Suites, which feature Kohler Tea For Two cast-iron whirlpool baths.) At the spa, the Highland Fling is the ticket to an energizing water experience. As part of an exfoliating and moisturizing treatment using coffee granules and chocolate body butter, a therapist dunks a bucket into a gleaming copper tub, then flings water over your body. In the Still Waters Room, a massage table lies beside a water bed where you can slip, post-treatment, under a heated water comforter and float away.
Book it The American Club Resort-Hotel at Destination Kohler, Kohler Waters Spa, Kohler, Wisconsin, (800) 344-2838; doubles from $201, 50-minute massage from $140

2. Crystal Spa, Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa
A cork's toss from Michigan's wine country and 36 holes of championship golf plus miles of hiking trails and rivers, this resort is all about nature-oriented living. But the epicenter of the 1,500-acre property—where families can choose from 260 hotel rooms, including suites, condominiums, town homes, and resort residences—is the new $5.5 million, 18,500-square-foot Crystal Spa, the first and only LEED-certified spa in the Midwest. The inviting sanctuary brings the outside in with natural touches like the relaxation lounge's wide stone wall fireplace. Local art lines the way to the 12 treatment rooms, where you can indulge in the signature Crystal Balance: a massage that incorporates hot stones, guided deep breathing, and your choice of energy stone and vibrational oil to leave you utterly relaxed.
Book it Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Crystal Spa, Thompsonville, Michigan, (800) 968-7686; doubles from $119, 50-minute massage from $95

3. The Spa at Eaglewood, Eaglewood Resort & Spa
Here, the notion of living harmoniously with your surroundings starts with the clean lines of the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired prairie-style buildings and is carried all the way to the organic aesthetic of the 5,500-square-foot spa, which uses animal-friendly Kerstin Florian products. Urbanites wanting to escape from nearby Chicago can find stillness almost anywhere on the 106-acre Illinois property—swimming in the resort's heated indoor pool, dining fireside at Burnham's Restaurant, or relaxing in the steam room. If it's balance you seek, make sure to book an energy-healing Reiki session in one of the spa's eight treatment rooms.
Book it Eaglewood Resort & Spa, The Spa at Eaglewood, Itasca, Illinois, (877) 285-6150; doubles from $89, 60-minute massage from $98

4. The Heartland Spa
Only 90 miles south of Chicago, this former dairy farm surrounded by 32 acres of rolling pastures, woods, and a spring-fed lake is the place to go for an affordable lifestyle revamp. The destination spa offers two-, three-, or five-night packages featuring a low-calorie and protein-packed (mostly vegetarian) menu focused on optimal nutrition. Activities range from BOSU to cardio kickboxing, and workout clothing is provided. The Meditation Gardens, tucked in the woods surrounding the lake, offer a quiet space for reflection. To get in tune with your surroundings try Heartland's signature 60-minute Hydrating Soy Facial, in which soy—a core Illinois crop that grows in the farmland surrounding the spa and is packed with phytoestrogens, bioactive lipids, and vitamin E—reinforces natural skin barriers and repairs damaged cells.
Book it The Heartland Spa, Gilman, Illinois, (800) 545-4853; singles from $805 for two nights all inclusive, 55-minute massage from $95

5. The Kerr House
Intimacy is the cornerstone of this Victorian manor turned health retreat in the historic canal village of Grand Rapids, Ohio. Here, a 30-person staff tends to a maximum of 10 guests, all of whom have signed on for one of the spa's all-inclusive, health-oriented programs. Each day begins with breakfast in bed: all-natural dishes served on a wicker tray along with fresh flowers and the day's schedule. Your list of to-do's is likely to include a morning yoga class; a series of recommended spa treatments such as a Citrus Exfoliation, Hot Stone Massage, and Herbal Wrap; a long walk along the Maumee River; and a candlelit dinner in the formal Oak Dining Room accompanied by the relaxing melodies of a live harpist.
Book it The Kerr House, Grand Rapids, Ohio, (419) 832-1733; singles from $850 for two nights all inclusive, 60-minute massage from $70

6. Spa Shiki, The Lodge of Four Seasons
Set on the massive man-made Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, this family-owned resort is the ultimate zen escape. Its Spa Shiki honors founder Harold Koplar's affinity for Asian culture, and you can stroll through Japanese gardens past maples and a koi pond, or even spend the night in the Murai suite, an on-property teahouse residence overlooking the lake. At Spa Shiki learning is key. All therapists receive complimentary post-graduate education in advanced deep and connective tissue massage and aroma-reflex therapy (featured in the spa's Aromatherapy Massage and signature Japanese Cleansing Ritual). Showers in the treatment rooms add a touch of luxury. Those wanting to focus on fitness will enjoy yoga classes, private exercise lessons, a fully equipped gym, and an indoor/outdoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. A good starting point? The Bioimpedance Analysis, which provides information on body fat percentage, lean weight, fat weight, and basal metabolic rate.
Book it The Lodge of Four Seasons, Spa Shiki, Four Seasons, Missouri, (800) 843-5253; doubles from $89, 50-minute massage from $80

7. Solace Spa, Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa
Outdoor fitness junkies will enjoy exploring the more than 5,000 acres of ski trails, mountain bike paths, and scenic kayaking areas at this northern Michigan resort. Warm-weather months will keep you especially busy, whether you're jogging along the beach at Deer Lake or embracing your inner child at the resort's 88,000-square-foot water park. Tired from all the activity? Retreat to the 19,500-square-foot spa, where you can sample treatments that pay tribute to the region's natural splendor. The 80-minute Petoskey Hot Stone Massage, for example, features Petoskey stones, which are found mainly in northern Michigan. Seasonal services—like the Lime Ginger Body Treatment to celebrate spring—are also available, but no matter when you go, make sure to try the European Spa Bathing Ritual. It's a self-guided circuit that starts with a soak in the spa's whirlpool and is followed by a cold shower, an aromatherapy spritzer, a stop in the cedar sauna, and another cold shower.
Book it Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, Solace Spa, Boyne Falls, Michigan, (800) 462-6963; doubles from $114, 50-minute massage from $105

8. Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort
The words "spa" and "family vacation" don't often go hand in hand, but here guests of all ages will find something to keep them occupied. Surrounded by Wisconsin's lush forests and pristine glacial waters, this 245-room natural wonderland offers a wide range of seasonal activities such as swimming, sailing, and canoeing during warmer months and ice fishing and skating when the weather turns cold. While your kids are out exploring, seek refuge any time of year in the 20,000-square-foot full-service spa, where indigenous ingredients like fresh cedar pay homage to the location's rich Native American heritage. The Sacred Waters Massage, one of the spa's signature services, is a must; the treatment is a nod to the adjacent Elkhart Lake, considered sacred by the tribes who once lived on its shores. Guests with an eco-friendly mindset will appreciate the spa's towels, robes, and slippers, which are made with an organic blend of cotton and bamboo.
Book it The Osthoff Resort and Aspira Spa, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, (800) 876-3399; doubles from $180, 50-minute massage from $120

9. Sundara Spa, Sundara Inn & Spa
Nestled in a fragrant pine forest, its rustic façade wrapped in Wisconsin sandstone, Sundara is an oasis of calm. With 12 state-of-the-art Lifestyle Villas (eight of which measure 1,700 square feet, sleep up to eight, and start at a very affordable $476 per night), Sundara is tailor-made for girlfriend getaways. At the heart of the spa is an infinity pool with outdoor fire pit, so you can soak and stargaze simultaneously. Take advantage of the free self-guided Purifying Bath Ritual with Sundara Body Polish, then select from three spa series options: Sundara, Chakra, or Organic. Sundara focuses on indigenous ingredients such as sandstone; Chakra has a mind-body emphasis and uses ancient Ayurvedic principles; and Organic takes an antioxidant-and-vitamin-packed approach incorporating organically grown herbs, fruit, and vegetables.
Book it Sundara Inn & Spa, Sundara Spa, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, (888) 735-8181; doubles from $149, 50-minute massage from $135

10. The Spa at West Baden, West Baden Springs Hotel
At French Lick Resort Water is a main feature at this national historic landmark in southern Indiana, where therapeutic mineral springs have attracted visitors to the area for more than 150 years. Today, spa-goers can soak in the healing water to relieve stress and nourish the skin as part of the West Baden Signature Sprudel Bath. The hotel also pays homage to its water-centric heritage with a two-level, world-class natatorium that houses its spa, hot tub, and indoor lap pool, among other highlights. It's a perfect place to lounge post-treatment.
Book it West Baden Springs Hotel at French Lick Resort, The Spa at West Baden, French Lick, Indiana, (888) 936-9360; doubles from $169, 50-?minute massage from $120

Source: SpaMagazine.com
http://www.spamagazine.com/article/Lifestyle-Travel/10-Amazing-Midwest-Spas

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