It’s not an official or scientific test. Yet, generally, I can tell how good a spa is by the quality of their granola. When I go back for a second helping, I relax and trust that I’m in good hands. My granola litmus test at the Wine & Roses Spa was an accurate massage prediction. Both were amazing.
I arrived an hour early to soak in one of the spa’s two outdoor plunge pools. After a late deadline and an early flight, I needed it. Under gentle pines and elegant landscaping, I watched the leaves fall beside me as a jet gave my back a pre-massage. Then I headed to the outdoor sauna with a looking glass door. Usually, I’m not a fan of saunas or steam rooms. I always feel so boxed in. But being able to see the lush garden through the glass, I felt expansive and relaxed. Pampered. At least for a hot minute before the glass door steamed up and my gorgeous view disappeared into a white fragrant fog.
After my steam, I waited in the octagon relaxation room for my massage. Indeed, I indulged in a few more spoonfuls of delicious granola. I appreciated that the lounge chairs faced away from each with either a fire or garden view. It relaxed me and felt so private not having to look across the room at someone else.
My masseuse arrived. She was tiny but mighty. I was invited to a lay down on a massage table with soft linens where she began to work her magic. There was an amazing flow to her massage. A series of hot towels kept me warm and relaxed my muscles as she dug in deep and relieved my stress-related kinks. Afterwards, I felt like I was walking on rose petals. At first, I thought it was just me. Was this really one of the best massages I have had? But when one of my travel companions unprompted said the same, we both knew it was really, that good.
Still basking in my after-massage bliss, I slathered on a caramel body lotion that smelled so sweet it satisfied my sweet tooth. Then in ladies changing room, I traded in my cushy bathrobe for heels, skinny jeans, and a satin top and headed to dinner smelling like “spa”. Underneath my relaxed smile, I silently wished that every day be like this.
*I was a guest of Charles Communications and The Lodi Wine and Visitors Center
*Photos courtesy of Wine & Roses Hotel
Author, journalist and publishing consultant, Donna Sozio has been featured in 200+ media outlets including the Tyra Banks Show, Early Show, Fox News, Good Day LA, Seventeen Magazine, Yahoo! Personals, Match.com, Lavalife.com, WeBlogtheWorld.com, EcoSalon.com, OrganicAuthority.com and many more.
Her books The Man Whisperer (Adams Media) and Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers (Kensington) were Amazon.com bestsellers, had TV/Film options and were translated into German, Portuguese and Czech.
