Florida's 500 Years of Spas
By Bijan C. Bayne
The Fountain of Youth has always been in St. Augustine,
Florida, where Don Juan Ponce de Leon found the natural spring he thought the
Taino natives of Puerto Rico referred to in their lore. It was the height and
healthy apperarance of the Timocuan tribe that convinced the explorer he was in
the right place. A century ago, industrialist Henry Flagler began developing The
Sunshine State, from St. Augustine to Palm Beach. St. Augustine's Lightner
Museum occupies the site of one of his earliest spa resorts, which housed the
world's largest swimming pool, steam rooms, and saunas. Tourists of all stripes
still visit northeastern Florida to turn back their biological clocks, only now
their options are more diverse. From the white paradise of Debbie's Day Spa &
Salon on Anastasia Boulevard in St. Augustine, where the vintage furniture in
the 11 treatment rooms evokes a bed and breakfast- to the spa at the Ponte Vedra
Inn and Club, where a new 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art spa opened in fall
of 2006, this is the pampering place.
The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club dates to 1928, but guests
would never suspect it. This meticulously landscaped getaway offers golf,
tennis, fitness and a spa within walking distance of one's room. The steady
rhythms of the tide greet you- the beach is right outside your door and visible
from your deck. European-style reservation frees guests from a standing front
desk check-in. Gov. and Mrs. Jeb Bush, and Bruce Springsteen have stayed here.
You'll dine on the delicacies of Chef Herman Mueller, who has catered for the
White House.
The new spa features 22 treatment rooms and two couples
rooms, five water treatments, grottos, a central relaxation courtyard, and an
element where one feels as if seated atop a glass of Alka-Seltzer. The spa staff
has traveled to study treatments and menus from Baden Baden to the South
Pacific. The new facility's motif is bamboo, stones and waterfalls, the exterior
roofed in the orange clay tile consistent with the resort at large. The Inn and
Club also has 15 clay tennis courts, whose underground watering system assures
no interruption of play for maintenance. The 8,000 square-foot gym has 75
stations with an ocean view, and 60 classes, including Pilates and spinning.
The Inn and Club experience is that of a walking village,
one need not drive to access any amenities. Be sure to day trip to St.
Augustine, where sites such as the original Fountain of Youth, America's Oldest
House, and resplendent Flagler College are worthy of tours. Between your
relaxing stay at this resort, and your exploration of the healing sites of
DeLeon's and Flagler's times, your visit to the St. Augustine region will be
rejuvenating.
Located in a region that has drawn visitors for
rejuvenation since Ponce DeLeon, the Sawgrass Marriott is a popular convention
site. Undergoing lobby renovation, the property boasts atrium-style recessed
balconies. The sun-splashed lobby looks out ceiling height glass walls to a
man-made pond with waterfall and palms. The lobby features lofty palms and has a
Starbucks shop. This is the host hotel for the PGA's Players Championship ("The
Fifth Major"). Should you visit the spa at the Sawgrass Marriott, ask for Muriel
Hattori, the Bud Powell of massage therapists. PGA star Fred Couples swears by
her, and you will understand why. When she applies hot stones, the stones are as
part of her swift-moving hands. Hattori is unique in that she sometimes applies
a different motion with one hand than the other--think of a pianist
simultaneously playing melody and chords. Her 20 years of experience, and study
of Asian technique, are evident, as her pressure is perfect and her combination
of movements assure ultimate muscle stimulation.
This is where the PGA comes to relax. Vijay Singh and Jim
Furyk are among the golfers who reside here, as do some NFL Jacksonville
Jaguars. At World Golf Village, home to the Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Tour
Academy, and Caddyshack restaurant, devotees may pay homage to the greats or
improve their own games. There are two courses, The King and Bear, designed by
Messrs. Palmer and Nicklaus, and the Slammer and Squire (based on the nicknames
of designers Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen).
The youngsters will enjoy the highly interactive Hall of
Fame, from the video monitor where visitors can click on various aspects of
members' careers to the locker room, where there are actual lockers for each
inductee. Top it off with a sandwich at Murray Brothers' Caddyshack, owned by
Bill Murray and his brothers, who host charity tournaments here. ESPN's "Cold
Pizza" filmed live at Caddyshack prior to the Jacksonville Super Bowl. The
salads at Caddyshack are hefty but healthy starters en route to the decadence of
desserts, such as the Sloppy Sundae, Baby Ruth Cheesecake, or the Hot Brownie.
Laterra Resort & Spa features condominiums perfect for
couple or family stays or golf vacations. Windows look onto the swimming pool,
and the one-bedrooms have full kitchens, comfy living rooms, a balcony, and
cable TV in both the bed and living space. There are washers and dryers. The
resort opened in December 2004, just in time for the Super Bowl. Only 15 minutes
from historic St. Augustine and 20 minutes from Jacksonville, February and March
are the busiest months. Guests also have access to the Serenata Beach Club.
No other American region opens its doors to 500 years of
anti-aging remedies, from natural springs to Flagler's palaces, and the
high-tech treatments of today. Golf's rich heritage also beckons- a vacation to
St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra is full of facts, food and fun.
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