Gold Lake Resort & SpaRelax, Rejuvenate, Restoreby Valerie Summers
It was close to dinnertime when I arrived and upon checking in, I inquired about the evening activities. The young lady behind the desk answered "I very much enjoy watching the shooting stars." "Uh, oh," I muttered under my breath, "Good thing I brought along an interesting book." My two-bedroom porch fronted cabin, named Birdland, carried forward the rustic theme in a comfortable, cozy, tasteful manner. The decor included an old fashioned hand cranked record player, with an alto saxophone, trumpet and slide trombone hanging on the walls. A voluminous purple down comforter covered the queen log bed. No TV, radio or phones intruded. The bathroom was another story with its heated floor, skylight and oversized marble bathtub…totally modern. Thick, hooded kelley green terry cloth robes hung invitingly on a hook.
I booked a duo massage and aromatherapy facial. At the appointed hour I was met in the lounge, adjacent to the check in desk by two young women who appeared to have stepped out of yesteryear's Haight Ashbury. The spa features four rooms, each decorated in a seasonal theme. In the hallways and permeating throughout, fountains flowed gently and recorded sounds of nature added to the relaxed atmosphere. The talented duet of massage therapists worked in harmony, inviting me to release all thoughts and all tensions. Two sets of hands glided over my oiled body. Rather than sensory overload, which I had anticipated, I experienced a nurturing combination which felt to me like yoga, tantra, reflexology, craniosacral therapy, Swedish and Shiatsu. I reluctantly departed 1½ hours later, renewed.
After another exquisite dinner, I sauntered over to the discreetly situated rock hot pools overlooking Gold Lake. An occasional breeze rustled through the trees and in my imagination I heard them whisper, "Relax." I watched the sky transform as it faded from delicate peach and pink hues to pearl gray and then darken as one by one stars appeared and in the distance the silhouette of the great Rocky mountains merged into the night sky. The end result of my stay in this hidden paradise was a nourished soul, a relaxed body and a rejuvenated mind. I had anticipated a typical spa experience, rushing from one activity to another. What I discovered was an atypical haven, an opportunity to experience inner peace, release stress and worries, to rekindle romance, to bond with loved ones. FOR MORE INFORMATION Gold Lake Mountain Resort & Spa |
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Driving the winding back roads through Colorado's spectacular Rocky Mountains always proves a special treat for my spirit, with the sheer beauty of its soaring peaks, rushing rapids and clear blue skies. I had purposely detoured on my way to the Gold Lake Resort and Spa, a short drive from Boulder, to take in the scenery. Eventually I turned at unobtrusive sign marked Gold Lake Road and continued down a three mile long, badly rutted dirt road, forcing me to slow down. This portended the pace for the remainder of my stay at this tucked away haven of tranquility. I passed a small, glasslike lake reflecting the surrounding trees and mountains. Further along, rustic log cabins appeared among the pines. It looked just like what it was originally built for...a girl's camp. "Don't judge a book by its cover," I thought.
I rushed over to Alice's Restaurant to join Gold Lake's owners Alice and Karel Starek for dinner. What a beautiful country setting with a huge stone fireplace at one end of the room and a glass wall overlooking the Continental Divide at the other. Candles flickered on the tables and classical music played softly in the background. Very romantic. The menu and wine list in this out of the way restaurant astounded me. The Wine Spectator had bestowed its Award of Excellence for the year 2000 as well as for several previous years. When one describes a chef as innovative, it isn't always a compliment. Some chefs create unusual dishes just to be different, but talented Executive Chef Eric Skokan's unusual combinations turn out brilliantly. It all begins at the local organic Farmer's Market where Chef Skokan shops for the freshest seasonal vegetables from which he bases his delicious, healthful, elegant spa-oriented cuisine. His pairing of the freshest of seasonal veggies, a prominent component of the entrees, compliments the fish and meat dishes which are sometimes combined. On this evening, I ordered grilled leg of Colorado lamb with Harissa sauce, house-cured olives, Moroccan spices and merguez. Chef Skokan commented "God's favorite food is Moroccan." I couldn't go wrong with that recommendation. The Beggars' Purses of Thai Vegetables looked gorgeous as did the roasted halibut in prosciutto ham surrounded by roasted baby fingerling potatoes, English peas and braised mushrooms. It proved to be a dining experience rather than a meal. Fellow diners and Denver residents, Karen and Charlie Trench commented, "Dining at Alice's is a wonderful cuisine experience. This is a very special place where we love to bring friends to show off the best of Colorado."
Throughout the dinner, I started to get a better picture of what Gold Lake is all about as Alice and Karel spoke of their vision. I had anticipated activities….yoga, aerobics, hikes, lectures….rushing from one place to the next so as not to miss anything. Instead, I learned the Gold Lake Resort and Spa is more resort in the truest sense of the word with spa services its number one option. The emphasis being more on how you feel than how you look , and specializing in massage and bodywork. The focus is on inner beauty rather than the external. I was beginning to get the picture.
Later, I enjoyed an easy one mile walk around Gold Lake in the crisp mountain air, admiring the best in nature. A red kayak floated silently on the lake. In the distance, remnants of the winter's snowfall clung tenaciously to the rugged mountain peaks of the continental divide with puffs of white cottony clouds floating above. I unpacked the wicker basket the chef had prepared and settled down to enjoy a lakeside picnic. The elegant feast included a hearty turkey sandwich and four small salads: fennel and kumquats in a vinaigrette, tidbits of fresh pineapple with mint, textured potato salad with sweet red onions and celery and Roma tomato salad with pine nuts and thyme. The grand finale, my favorite dessert, a freshly baked chewy chocolate brownie. It was time for a nap.
Refreshed, I prepared for my next service, one of Gold Lake Spa's Signature treatments, an aromatherapy facial massage. Again, a Haight Ashbury vision appeared and escorted me back to the spa. I seated myself on a small chair and placed my feet into a footbath laced with the essences of sage and lemon. Relaxed, I climbed on the massage table. My facial, using exclusive organic Hauschka products, included a lavender facial bath, a spruce facial bath, a rosewater spritz, all wonderful, relaxing fragrances. While I rested, with a soft stream of warm moisture caressing my face, my facialist gently massaged fragrant rose lotion into my hands, shoulders and feet before continuing with gentle facial massage. Heaven!