Too busy to get away for a little rest and relaxation? Take
a trip to the kitchen and try out recipes for relaxation courtesy
of Historic Hotels of America member spas. Jist a few common ingredients
can relax, moisturize or rejuvenate a tired soul. Members of
Historic Hotels of America offer a wide variety of treatments incorporating
regional heritage, culture and products.
Local influences are seen in many spas, like the mountain laurel
and honeysuckle used at The Homestead at Berkely Springs in a number
of spa treatments and products.
The Carolina Mud Pie Wrap at The Spa at Grove Park Inn Resort &
Spa in Asheville, N.C., uses a mélange of shea or goat butter,
plant extracts, mud and warm stone that melts deliciously into the
skin. At The Avanyu Spa at The Equinox in Manchester Village,
Vt., pure maple sugar is used in a scrub to restore skin moisture.
Red clover, Vermont's state flower, is a natural antidote for sore
muscles and is included in the red clover finishing lotion.
The Fitness Center and Spa, La Fonda in Santa Fe, N.M., incorporates
local honey for facials and uses New Mexican basalt river rocks for
its Santa Fe Stone hot stone massage. Massage oils and lotions at
the ShaNah Spa and Wellness Center at Bishop's Lodge Resort in Santa
Fe, N.M., include essential oils derived from piñon, sage and
cottonwoods, all local plants.
The Whipped Cocoa Bath at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey in Hershey,
Pa. is like sitting in a warm cup of hot chocolate. Add to bath:
1/8 cup Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup instant non-fat dry milk
1 cup Whipped Cocoa Bath signature Hershey bath product ( If Whipped
Cocoa Bath isn’t available, try any unscented bubble bath.)
This bath is best in a whirlpool tub, creating a frothy, foamy effect.
Add Hershey's cocoa powder and dry milk powder while tub is filling.
Add the Whipped Cocoa Bath then turn on the whirlpool. Intensify the
experience by lighting cocoa-scented candles.
The Red Wine and Honey Bath is a favorite from The Spa at Grove Park
Inn Resort & Spa, Asheville, N.C. Red wine and the honey
together clarify and moisten.
Simply add 4 cups of the cheapest red wine available and 1 cup of
honey to the bath.
A Buttermilk and Honey Bath from The Spa at Grove Park Inn Resort
& Spa, Asheville, N.C. leaves skin soft, exfoliated and moisturized.
Add 1 quart of buttermilk, 1 cup of honey and 5 drops of any essential
oil.
For a great skin moisturizer, Bodyworks of Skytop Lodge, Pa. suggests
a Milk Bath made by adding gallon of Vitamin D milk into a warm bath.
At the historic Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, their signature scrub
uses oranges and almonds grown in the Ojai Valley, but benefits of
the unique treatment can be enjoyed with an at-home treatment. Oranges
have healthy astringent properties to revive tired skin. Citrus can
be effective in relieving anxiety and inducing calm. Prepare
the skin by microwaving a dry loofah until just warm to the touch.
Use the loofah all over the body to exfoliate.. Crush a handful of
raw almonds in the blender, peel an orange and dice the sections into
small pieces. Blend almonds and orange with enough honey to make a
thick paste. Apply all over the body and allow to soak into the skin
for several minutes. Shower and apply any body lotion.
To make a Salt Glow Shower like that of the Fitness Center and Spa,
La Fonda, Santa Fe, NM, combine sea salts and almond oil. In the shower
or bathtub, gently scrub to exfoliate the skin, especially elbows,
knees and heels. Try different scents like lavender, lemon, rose,
and peppermint.
For a Body Polish, Bodyworks, Skytop Lodge in Pennsylvania, suggests
mixing small amounts of sea salt with oil. Lavender is a good
one but any type will work, including baby oil. Add just enough to
make the salt adhere to skin. Use a cellulite glove, found at a drug
store, and rub thoroughly into skin to exfoliate. Shower off, then
apply moisturizer. Bodyworks suggests chamomile or green tea
bags to eliminate puffiness and awaken the eye area. Brew a cup of
tea, drain the tea bag and place the cooled bag over the eye area
for about 10 minutes.
For more information on spas at historic hotels, contact hha@nthp.org. or
visit www.historichotels.org
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