Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Spa Pool
DAY 6 — I’m sitting under a warm waterfall.
No, not in Hawaii or Costa Rica. In fact, there’s snow outside—lots of it at Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado. I’m at the Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek—right at the base of the mountain–in the first of the Aqua Sanitas, or healing waters, that I learn are modeled on ancient Roman baths and the origin of spa.
So here I am before my treatment in a thermal pool (approximately 102 degrees), The water is supposed to raise my core temperature and relieve sore muscles. It feels great!
Now I move to the women’s area and the Caldarium Mineral Pools (about 104 degrees) the pool is infused with mineral salts designed to help me relax–heaven after a week of skiing and snow shoeing.
Now it’s time for the Cascata Rainshower. AAH… hot or cold?
I head to the steam room (spruce scented) that does wonders for the lingering effects of my sinus infection. After that and another rain shower, I go to the Tepidarium—the room for relaxation where I lay back on a heated lounger in lavender infused space.
And this is just the beginning. I’m getting a sweet lavender scrub and massage which means I get a hot stone massage (especially lovely after a week of snow sports) with lavender oil. Afterward, I’m wrapped like a mummy while my therapist massages my shoulders and head. Did I mention the treatment started with a lavender salt scrub? I feel great!
Family ski trips can be a lot of work, especially for moms-all the schlepping, all the shopping for groceries and cooking. Certainly moms deserve some “me” time on ski trips and there’s no better place than a spa like this to enjoy that. (FYI there are treatments for kids as young as eight—maybe a prima donna package with bejeweled nail art or an uptown girl for young teens with a cranberry orange scrub, customized facial, etc.)
But I like having a couple of hours just for me!
Beaver Creek, one of the Vail Resorts, is known for its service and luxury (this is where they hand out fresh baked cookies at the end of every ski day) and the Park Hyatt is a place where you can indulge yourself indoors while challenging yourself outdoors. (Think a huge comfy lounge and s’mores with handmade marshmallows at night by the fire outside, hot tubs overlooking the mountains…)
We’re staying a few steps away at the St James Club with enormous condos with every amenity including hot tubs and pool. When we arrived this afternoon, my husband immediately started to make pasta sauce in the well equipped kitchen (they even had a garlic press!)
My daughter Mel and a gaggle of her friends from Colorado College are joining us for the weekend and a belated 21st birthday celebration for Mel. This is the kind of place where it is easy for a family –whatever the kids ages—to spread out and enjoy the mountain. We’re in the heart of Beaver Creek village with ice skating, restaurants (loved the Tapas for lunch at the new Metropolitan where you can buy a card to taste different wines from a contraption that gives you a pour whether you want 1.5 ounces , three or six. Fun!
We’re heading to the Hyatt for a surprise birthday dinner with her friends at the 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill . We sit by the fire and my newly-legal daughter orders a micro brew. First rate filet! Love the squash soup! My only question is whether my daughter will deign to ski a few runs with me tomorrow.
Maybe after she tastes the chocolate birthday cake I’ve ordered…..