Located on acres of land that also houses an 18 hole golf course in rural Maryland but less than an hour’s drive from Baltimore Maryland, you’ll find the Turf Valley Spa & Golf Resort, which has an on-site spa that exceeded my expectations. No two spas are alike as regular spa visitors know — the ambiance, the treatment experience and the service are divided into equal parts for me and if one is out of sync, you leave unhappy, especially at a 4 or 5 star resort.
What I loved most about the spa was the ambiance — warm inviting colors warm your soul as you walk through the doors, from the lobby to the sitting room.
While they had plenty of massage and special body treatments on offer, I opted for a facial instead and am glad I did. My esthetician was fabulous, and with years of experience, was able to customize one for me despite what they had on the menu. Of course, given how much travel I do and sun I take in, I wanted an antioxidizing and anti-aging treatment.
One of their best facials for this is one that infuses your skin cells with life-giving antioxidant therapy and Vitamins A, C, E and F to help firm and strengthen the skin and help reduce the signs of aging. You can ask for extractions and deep cleansing if you want, depending on your needs. While I’ve never had a facial with stones, they had one on offer here, where they use warm stones to help relax facial muscles, improve circulation and release blocked energy.
Of course they have hot rock massages as well, in addition to pre-natal, traditional Swedish and Couples massage and reflexology, which is always so relaxing. Or if you’re in the mood for a detox, they have plenty of body wraps, some sound so delicious that you want to eat the products rather than basque in them — from sweet orange citrus and decadent chocolate scrubs with raw sugar to sea glow and milk and honey wraps, they’ve got you covered. They also do a traditional one with Olive Oil, which I know works — we used to do this naturally in Italy and South Africa in my twenties. There’s also a scrub specifically designed for men.
The big call out for this spa is the service and the ambiance, from entering the locker room and partaking in your pre-treatment sauna to the lounge area afterwards – how is this for inviting? So often, the relaxation rooms are so clinical you don’t feel like hanging out in them for long, fabulous magazine and tea in hand or not. They also have a very calm patio area outside which is surrounded by trees and facing the stunning golf course around the property.
Be sure to read my write-up on the Turf Valley Resort and its on-site restaurant, Alexandra’s.
DETAILS:
Turf Valley Spa at the Turf Valley Spa & Golf Resort
2700 Turf Valley Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 465-1500
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
