Family-friendly spas
By Rowena Carr-Allinson
Family-Friendly Resorts
Spa at Stowe Mountain Lodge (Courtesy Stowe Mountain Lodge)
Can a family break be synonymous with utter relaxation? Yes it can! The best family breaks are when pampering is possible for the all.
Here’s our rundown of the best and luxurious spas in the USA where family-friendly rhymes with luxury. From Arizona to Vermont, these hideaways offering spa treatments for moms, dads, teens and big kids are dotted all over the country, just waiting for your family.
(MORE: Travel Like the Stars: 5 Family-Friendly Resorts That Celebrities Love)
Spa at Stowe Mountain Lodge
Right in the serene setting of Vermont in the plush Stowe Mountain Lodge, this luxury, family-friendly New England spa is all about nature. All set to relax and rejuvenate both mind and body, it has a full service fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi® hot tubs, a relaxing spa sanctuary lounge, a hot/cold treatment facility in the Healing Lodge and 18 private treatment rooms. In addition to all this, the spa has its own KidSpa program for kids over six, offering mini spa treatments or the signature Chillax Sessions. With Aromatherapy washcloths, cool cucumbers, hand and foot treatments, and deep breathing exercises, kids will enjoy the Chillax Lounge from $25 for a 25 minutes session. Other treatments include the Mini Me Massage, Mini Me Facial, Tasty Toes Pedicure and the Princess Manicure.
The Spa at Canyon Ranch Tucson
Canyon Ranch Tucson (Courtesy Canyon Ranch)
Canyon Ranch have a reputation as one of the best spa brands and resorts available, and this outpost in Tucson is a flagship destination spa. With the most comprehensive programs available, whatever treatments you are looking for, this Spa complex won’t fail to impress. It’s considered one of the world’s finest pampering hideaways, offering everything from neuromuscular therapy to body rituals, tanning treatments to pedicures, and a dizzying array of therapies and techniques from Ayurvedic body treatments to classic massages. What’s more, you’ll also find a wide spectrum of treatments for men as well as its very own teen services including body work, skin care treatments, makeup, hair styling and nail services for guests ages 14 to 17, making it the ideal for a family vacation. Massages start from $90 for 25 minutes including a hydrating body wrap with the desert’s natural moisturizers – soothing aloe and nourishing saguaro blossoms.
Laniwai – A Disney Spa at Aulani
Laniwai, A Disney Spa at Aulani (Courtesy Disney)
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Ko Olina on Oahu was voted No. 1 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2014 for Top Family Hotel in the U.S.A. Celebrating Hawaiian culture, history and traditions, its family-friendly spa is just the place to relax with the entire clan. You can book treatments for all, from mothers-to-be to kids age 5 and up! Teens will love their own space, the Painted Sky spa, where guests age 13 to 17 can make the most of the Acai Bowl Bar, enjoy evening programs, sample the teen-specific massages or even try out the mixology bar for body polishes and face masks. Rates start from $10 for Teen treatments or from $100 for massages. One can also book makeup sessions, hair care and a wide range of organic skin care treatments.
Spa Montage at Deer Valley
Spa Montage at Deer Valley (Courtesy Montage Hotel)
This alpine oasis at Deer Valley in Park City is a serene sanctuary where the finest spa amenities such as redwood saunas, steam rooms, jetted whirlpools, deluge showers and an exquisite wellness center make for an ideal family-friendly spa break. Set against the majestic mountain landscapes and covering 35,000 square-foot, this top of the range spa comes with sleek treatment rooms, an indoor mosaic lap pool, relaxation rooms and beautiful views. Choose from the elaborate menu of massages and body treatments, hydro-therapies, and facials for you or for the kids. You’ll love the plush robes, down feather blankets, organic seasonal fruit and tea; not to mention the craftsman-style décor. Rates vary from $105 for Watsu or Reflexology to $425 for a Mommy and Me facial to $50 for a kid’s manicure.
(MORE: 5 Glorious Spas for the Trendy Teen)
Grand Wailea Resort Spa, Maui
Grand Wailea (Courtesy Grand Wailea)
Part of the beautifully revamped Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria Resort, this spa has just had its very own facelift! In addition to brand new guest rooms, pools and dining areas, the resort is also updating its spa with fantastic new facilities, to be completed by December 2015. Book in for a family stay and indulge in family-friendly pampering that starts with a welcome tropical scented foot ritual. Lovely extras include tea and fresh Hawaiian fruit, a full service hair salon, fitness center with state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment, and the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool with pools, slides, caves and rivers. Along with a wide range of exotic and tropical treatments for adults, you’ll love the Keiki & Teen Spa for guests 6 to 17 where delights such as Chocolate Coconut Massage and Tropical Fruit Glow are on offer, as well as day spa packages. Prices range from $28 for a teen manicure to $435 for a Six Hands Lava Stone massage!
Rowena Carr-Allinson contributed this to MiniTime. Since the arrival of her son in 2011, she has taken him everywhere from Bangkok to NYC, writing family friendly articles en route.
