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Outdoors: Hot Soaks for Spring Chills

Above: The Spa at Omni Grove Park Inn

Story by Jennifer Fulford

 

Spa Shoji- Outdoors The laurel of asheville

Shoji Spa and Lodge

Fortunately for those of us here in the mountains, a chill in the bones is easy to chase away at several sites that offer hot soaks. From swanky to rugged, options are available to suit any budget and level of modesty.
Two luxury spas located in Asheville lean toward the glamorous life. Think luxurious robes and fine appointments. The Spa at Omni Grove Park Inn embodies the “wow” factor. Before dipping a toe into the spa’s outdoor coed whirlpool, guests are led through a cavernous interior mineral bath facility, far from the madding crowd and away from the historic hotel perched on the hillside.

 

Outdoors The laurel of asheville

Hot Springs Resort and Spa (Photo by Anthony Gustina)

Though the spa itself is subterranean, the view from the oversized whirlpool captures the resort’s immaculate golf course and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Near the outdoor whirlpool, a generous fire pit completes the delightfully indulgent experience. Reservations are necessary whether you’re staying at the hotel or stopping by on a side excursion. Day and night passes are available to the public, and bathing suits are required.
A staple Asheville resort, The Inn at Biltmore Estate also offers a state-of-the-art warm dip. Guests can lounge in a heated outdoor swimming pool or adjacent whirlpool, and the indoor spa facility. Bathers benefit from the forethought of the late George Vanderbilt, whose choice of property for his home includes stunning long-range views of majestic wooded land. The atmosphere also harkens to the day when fine architecture and craftsmanship measured one’s worth. The outdoor pool is seasonal (late spring to late fall) and is open only to guests of the Inn on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate.
For those interested in health and wellness, two locations in the mountains cater to a holistic experience. Shoji Spa and Lodge overlooks the Pisgah National Forest and is situated within hiking distance of the legendary Mountains-to-Sea Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway. In fact, guests of the spa can take a guided hike and return to one of five outdoor hot tubs to melt away the aches. Inspired by Asian culture and the famed Ten Thousand Waves Spa near Santa Fe, New Mexico, Shoji reveres the Japanese tradition of deep meaningful relaxation.
“We’re based on ancient ideas of health and wellness from hydrotherapy,” says owner Roberta Jordan, who opened the Asheville spa in 2006. “We cater to couples.”
The tubs are tastefully cocooned for privacy in wood huts and are open to the forest on only one side, providing extreme intimacy. In a central facility, guests are provided a Japanese robe called a yukata for the walk to one of the steamy havens. Along the short, mulched path, cozy benches encourage contemplation of the forest. Reservations are recommended, and the spa is open year-round, rain or snow.
On wooded land near Marshall, the Wellness Center at Prama Institute focuses on rejuvenation and retreats. As a complementary feature, the center also encourages use of its new outdoor heated endless wave pool and adjacent cedar-barrel sauna. The pool is the perfect size for a small group, which is the Prama Institute’s forte. Yoga, juicing, fasting, and detox are encouraged among retreat guests, who come for a few days or a week-plus to reinvigorate.
But retreat participation is not required to enjoy the water. The 17-foot wave pool can be used to relax or exercise. “It has a current that you can swim with, and it’s warm water, so you can use it all year,” says Rachel Maietta, center administrator. Several bathers can use the pool simultaneously, a bonus for groups. Guests are encouraged to call for availability.
For the more outdoorsy, rugged beauty is a prime feature of the tubs at Hot Springs Resort and Spa, north of Asheville at an intersection of the Appalachian Trail. In the tiny town of Hot Springs, the spa may be the best-kept secret by locals, especially the hiking and camping set. Twelve tubs feature natural mineral water heated deep within the earth and piped in fresh for every group.
Behind wood privacy fencing, each Jacuzzi pool bubbles alongside a convergence of Spring Creek and the French Broad River. Open year-round, the tubs attract Appalachian Trail hikers and campers from the nearby Hot Springs Campground. Prices are based per tub, rather than per person, which is easier on the pocketbook. Suits are optional, and kids are welcome.

Jennifer Fulford is a freelance writer, novelist, and web designer living (and soaking) in Western North Carolina. She blogs at livingonink.com.

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