Spas
What happens in a spa? Why would someone pay to get slimed? Ah, but it's far more than that.
Your Typical Spa Experience
What follows is typical, but each spa has its own physical layout, amenities and treatment order.
If you planned ahead, you already made an appointment before you left home for the Napa Valley. If not, try to do it as soon as you arrive in the valley. If that's not possible, just show up and hope they have an opening.
When you arrive at the front desk, you'll choose your various treatments from an extensive menu of options: baths, wraps, facials, scrubs, massages. Wraps, facials and scrubs can involve many different herbs and scents, all designed to make your skin cleaner and healthier; remove toxins and dead cells from your body; and invigorate your skin, your body and your psyche. Each spa has its own particular formulas.
Mud baths are always optional, and not every spa has them, but if they're available we recommend that you try one.
Once you've picked your choices, you'll be assigned to a room, usually a private one. A few spas are set up so that you and your partner can take mud baths and mineral baths together.
You will disrobe, wrap yourself in a towel, and then be led into another room. There you'll shower and walk over to a mud bath. There are separate rooms for men and women.
Mud Bath
Mud for two. (Photo courtesy of Golden Haven Spa.)
The bath is (usually) a rectangular cement tub filled with dark mud. It's not your average mud, but a mixture of clay or local volcanic ash, imported peat moss and local hot springs water. The purpose of the mud is to remove toxins from your body, relax your muscles and joints, and cleanse and invigorate your skin.
You sit on the edge of the tub, swing your legs into the tub, and then kind of scoot the rest of you over until you're all in. Lie down on your back in the mud, wiggle down as much as possible, then use your hands and arms to pile mud on top of yourself, until as much of you as possible is covered. If you can't get it all, don't worry. The bath attendant will cover the rest of you until only your head is uncovered.
You'll then lie there for 10-12 minutes and soak. Nothing else is expected of you. From time to time an attendant will come by, wipe the sweat off your forehead with a cool washcloth, and give you a glass of cold water to drink (through a straw.)
When the time is up, your attendant will tell you to get out. Do it slowly. Actually, you have no choice. You can't do it quickly anyhow. Hold onto the sides of the tub with your hands, then use the strength of your hands and arms to lift your rear up and swing it over to the side of the tub. Then shove, scrape and wipe as much of the mud off your body as you can back into the tub.
When you're done (don't worry, everyone still has lots of mud on them) go back into the shower and wash off the rest of the stuff. Yes, it does stick into all those cracks and crevices, so do a pretty thorough job.
Once you've showered, it's time for the mineral bath.
Whirlpool Mineral Bath
After the mud comes the bubbly water. (Photo courtesy of Golden Haven Spa.)
This bath often takes place in the same room as the mud bath. If not, you'll be led to the right location. There you'll remove your towel, get into the tub and relax for 10-15 minutes while whirlpool jets blow streams of air and bubbles in the warm water, and you soak peacefully. One spa we like even has a rubber ducky for you to play with. If you have the energy for it, you can always take a sip from the ever-present glass of cold water.
Blanket Wrap
Your attendant will reappear and tell you that it is time for the blanket wrap. You'll get out of the mineral bath, dry off a little, then head to the wrap room. Here you'll lie down on a comfortable bed on your back, be wrapped in blankets, and again have your forehead wiped and another glass of cold water.
Once again, your only job is to lie there, rest, and slowly cool off from the heat acquired in the mud and mineral baths. It's a good place for a short nap.
After another 10 to 15 minutes, you're once again beckoned from your reverie and led off, most likely to yet another room.
Massage
At most spas, you can choose between a half-hour or full-hour massage, or sometimes even one lasting an hour and a half. A shorter massage will cover your back, neck and shoulders. A long massage will very thoroughly cover everything from nose to toes.
Styles of massage vary, and you can request the kind you like. They range from gentle Esalen-type massage—which is pure, gentle pleasure—up to the much more vigorous Swedish massage, which frequently feels a lot better after you've gotten it than it does during.
During your massage only the area of your body that is being worked on will be exposed. The rest will be discreetly covered with a sheet. If you want to specify a male or female massage therapist, make sure you do it when you book the appointment.
At the end of your massage, you'll be allowed to lie there (many people fall asleep after or even during the massage) until you're ready to get up. You'll probably have carried your belongings along with you, so eventually you can get dressed and go back out into the world, a very different person than when you entered the spa.
Want to know all about spas and where to find them? Buy Spa and 100 Best Spas of the World
Spas With Lodging
Calistoga Oasis Spa
1300 Washington St.
Calistoga, CA 94515
707.942.2122 800.404.4772
www.oasisspa.com
Located on the grounds of the Roman Spa Resort Hotel
60 rooms - $82-$230
Mineral pools
Calistoga Spa Hot Springs
1006 Washington Street
Calistoga, CA 94515
707.942.6269
www.calistogaspa.com
Mineral pools, swimming pool
Calistoga Village Inn & Spa
1880 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga, Ca 94515
707.942.0991
www.greatspa.com
$69 - $159
Rooms, some with whirlpool tubs, and a full spa located on Calistoga's main street. Three mineral-water pools for spa and overnight guests.
Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs
1507 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga CA 94515
707.942.4102
www.drwilkinson.com
Rooms and cottages - $109-$199
Located at the corner of Lincoln and Fairway in the heart of Calistoga.
Mud baths, massage, mineral baths, facelifts, salt glow scrubs, Terra-Thalasso body treatment and cerofango treatments (a unique application of mud, clay, botanicals and paraffin to the hands and feet). Indoor and outdoor pools, comfortable lodging.
For nearly 50 years, Dr. Wilkinson has offered visitors the soothing, invigorating magic of his mud treatments. Some people say just mentioning Doc's name can relieve stress and relax the soul. Lodging available.
Golden Haven Spa Hot Springs Resort
1713 Lake Street
Calistoga CA 94515
707.942.6793
www.goldenhaven.com
29 rooms - $65-$175
Off the beaten path, this inexpensive motel is located three blocks from Calistoga's main street. Open to the public 9 a.m. to 9 p.m A favorite for mud baths, whirlpools, blanket wraps, mineral baths, massage, foot reflexology, swimming pool and hot mineral pool. It's not as fancy as the others, but the prices are reasonable, and it's one of the few places in Calistoga where a couple can enjoy a mud bath together. We like it a lot. Free wifi Internet access.
Indian Springs Resort
1712 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga CA 94515
707.942.4913
www.indianspringscalistoga.com
16 bungalows and 2 houses - $215-$500
The oldest continuously operating thermal pool and spa facility in California. Known for more than 80 years as Pacheteau's, Indian Springs now includes the former Nance's Hot Springs. Situated on three thermal geysers and 16 acres of ancient volcanic ash. The 1913 bath house has been restored to pristine condition. Ceiling fans circulate the air, thermal geysers warm the volcanic ash in the mud baths and sterilize the mud after each use, gentle music is piped throughout the treatment rooms, and mineral water fragrant with fresh citrus and cucumber is provided by the well trained and solicitous staff throughout the treatment.
Mud baths, mineral baths, massages, Remy Laure facial and body polish treatments. Large mineral pool. Lodging available in bungalows.
Mount View Spa
1457 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga CA 94515
707.942.5789
www.mountviewspa.com
20 rooms, 9 suites, 3 cottages - $145-$225
Swimming pool
Roman Spa Hot Springs
1300 Washington St.
Calistoga CA 94515
800.404.4772
www.romanspahotsprings.com
60 rooms - $82-$230
Mineral pools.
Silver Rose Inn
351 Rosedale Rd.
Calistoga CA 94515
707.942.9581 800.995.9381
www.silverrose.com
20 rooms - $165-$300
Swimming pools
Spas Without Lodging
Lavender Hill Spa
1015 Foothill Boulevard
Calistoga, CA. 94515
707.942.4495 800.528.4772
www.lavenderhillspa.com
Lincoln Avenue Spa
1339 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga CA 94515
707.942.5296
www.lincolnavenuespa.com
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