Plants, Herbs, Minerals & Smoothies, Oh My!
What do all of the above have in common? Two things: they’re indigenous to California’s Monterey Peninsula (smoothies were invented there, right??) and you can find all of them in spades at the Spa at Pebble Beach.
But before we really dive in, let’s talk about S P A. These days, the word spa elicits instant peace of mind and a supreme state of relaxation. It’s also somewhere we all wish we could be more often—and I regularly find myself strategizing and daydreaming about my next visit. “Spa” is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, (yes, there is more to Belgium than tart beer and pommes frites), when in Roman times the location was called Aquae Spadanae.
Perhaps one day we will regale you with tales of our mineral baths in Spa, Belgium (when we get there), but for this blog, we’re sticking to a spa visit in the heavenly Monterey area. We were lucky enough to experience the crème de la crème of spas at the Spa at Pebble Beach — one of only 60 spas in the world to receive the coveted Forbes Five-Star Award.
The spa boasts 15 massage rooms, 5 facial rooms, a full-service salon, a flotation wrap suite, an outdoor pool, a conservatory and a sanctuary with a warming fire pit - it’s at least a half-day-play commitment. We managed to spend 5 hours (including a 15 minute nap), and could have easily stayed longer.
In addition to all of the body treatments and relaxing areas, the spa also offers a fantastic juice bar at Gallery Cafe, which features custom and freshly made beverages to re-hydrate and re-energize. We loved the Blueberry Almond Butter Smoothie – so much so that we ordered two! Plus, it’s totally a recipe that you can duplicate at home: blueberries, bananas, almond butter, Greek yogurt, dates, agave, almond milk, and 24 grams of whey protein (you can play with the amounts based on your tastes. Put all ingredients in a blender and off you go!). If you’re feeling less smoothie and more wine-y, the Cafe also offers a variety of wines, including a Pebble Beach custom blend of Pinot Noir from Monterey County and other hand-selected wines from Napa Valley as well as bubbly and craft beer.
After our smoothie snack, we headed to the massage area for our healing therapeutic massages. As I entered the treatment room, I noticed the floor to ceiling French door windows looked straight out to forested greenery. (Admittedly, most of the massage was spent with my eyes closed, but it was still worth it knowing I could look at greenery if I choose.) I was in a different world, I felt enchanted.
After the massage, I took my time and wound my way to the tranquil pool deck for a relaxing 82-degree dip, and then headed to the courtyard, resplendent with lush tree canopies and serene fountains.
We concluded our pampered day in the Conservatory & Sanctuary room, which has an awesome indoor fire pit, perfect for curling up with one of the many books (I chose My Stylish French Girlfriends) from the bookshelf. Here, they also offer complimentary snacks, teas, juices and water.
Needless to say, if you’re in the area and in the mood for some R&R, the Spa at Pebble Beach will indulge all of your spa fantasies.
