Turning the Spa Spotlight on Ontario
Whether you thrive on the hustle-bustle of big cities or the peace-and-quiet of rolling landscapes, Ontario has it all, in more ways than one! From countryside charm to urban oases – we’re shining the spa spotlight on ten of Ontario’s spas that will have you saying, “Oh, Canada!”
Grail Springs Wellness Retreat & Spa
Led by its founder Madeleine Marentatte, Grail Springs Wellness Retreat & Spa offers guests a holistic retreat experience where they will focus on detoxification, life-transformation, and weight-loss. The wellness retreat is set on 100 wooded acres in the heart of the Canadian Shield making it the perfect destination for trail lovers! When guests aren’t enjoying trails for hiking and horseback riding they will most certainly be enjoying the 6,000-square-foot spa. The spa features medieval- and Gothic-style architecture throughout its 10 treatment rooms, spa boutique, and separate men’s and women’s locker rooms. Spa-goers can alternate between the indoor and outdoor amenities of infrared and Finnish saunas, a hot mineral saltwater tub, a Japanese saltwater cold plunge, a steam room, and a Vichy shower.
Old Mill Toronto
The Old Mill Toronto has a cherished motto, Vallis Humbria Angliae Pars Anglisa Procul which means, “In the valley of the Humber, a bit of England far from England.” Blending Old World English charm with warm hospitality, Old Mill Toronto comes complete with stone walls, flagstone floors, beamed ceilings, and wood-burning fireplaces. The 3,500-square-foot spa has 11 treatment rooms, two infrared saunas, and separate men’s and women’s locker rooms. Spa guests will also find customized facials, massage services, body treatments, waxing, and makeup applications on the menu. Alternative therapies include reflexology, aromatherapy, and reiki.
Shizen Spa at Cosmopolitan Hotel Toronto
Near the bustling financial district, the Shizen Spa at the Cosmopolitan Hotel offers a respite from the hectic atmosphere of downtown Toronto. The 25-story sanctuary features an East-meets-West aesthetic with a holistic menu of treatments. Spa guests can chill out in the glass-enclosed solarium pre and post treatments, take a peek at the busy streets below through the floor-to-ceiling Japanese Shoji windows, or relax in the 12-person whirlpool. Treatments, utilizing Comfort Zone, Guinot, Intraceuticals and OPI product lines, promote a distinctive fusion of Eastern and Western healing philosophies and are performed in five private spa suites.
Shizen Spa at Pantages Hotel Toronto Centre
The all-suite Pantages Hotel Toronto Centre blends modern architecture with urban, Zen-like appeal into an urban oasis close to Toronto’s arts, entertainment, shopping, and financial scenes. Chic interiors include apartment-style accommodations, a trendy martini bar, and the 3,000-square-foot, 10-treatment-room, Shizen Spa, which offers a full menu of indulgent treatments and packages. Spa guests will be led to the “White Room” relaxation lounge to unwind before treatments, or they can enjoy the infrared sauna, eucalyptus steam room, or Jacuzzi.
Shizen Spa at Horseshoe Resort
Just one hour north of the greater Toronto area, Horseshoe Resort allows guests to immerse themselves in both the beauty of southern Ontario’s natural surroundings and the relaxation that comes from a luxury resort. A golf destination by summer and ski mecca come winter, Horseshoe entertains with ample outdoor excursions balanced by tranquil indoor spaces. Located on the second floor of the resort, the 400-square-foot Shizen Spa offers a secluded and intimate space of serenity with two treatment rooms.
Shizen Spa at Deerhurst Resort
Sprawled over 760 acres, the lakefront Deerhurst Resort in eastern Canada’s Muskoka region, two-and-a-half hours from Toronto. The 2,500-square-foot Shizen Spa offers a blend of global and local rituals in a lovely, earthy setting created with wood and stone elements, and the resort’s abundance of outdoor activities showcases the area’s ever-changing seasons. To heighten guests’ relaxation, all Shizen Spa treatments begin with a SCENTSory Journey, inspired by nature and made from pure Muskoka ingredients. The 400-room resort has two championship golf courses, and an ample number of restaurants provide guests a taste of the local seasonal flavors.
White Oaks Resort & Spa
Set in the heart of Ontario’s wine country in Niagara on the Lake, the CAA/AAA Four-Diamond White Oaks Resort & Spa offers guests a 13-acre resort setting, award-winner dining options, and a private 115,000-square-foot fitness club. At the resort’s core is the modern 15,000-square-foot Spa at White Oaks, with 17 treatment rooms, as well as whirlpools, steam rooms, saunas and cold plunge pools. There are also two relaxation lounges and a dual suite, where romantics can become closer with tandem treatments.
Eganridge Inn Spa & Country Club
In the picturesque village of Fenelon Falls, shaded by majestic, soaring pines, and surrounded by the Sturgeon Lake, is the 105-acre heritage estate, Eganridge Inn Spa & Country Club. This Canadian retreat is highlighted by a 10-boat marina, the nine-hole Eganridge golf course, and the stately Dunsford House. The nature-inspired six-room spa features hydrotherapy baths, Swiss showers, massage and skin care services against the backdrop of the lake.
The Spa at the Windsor Arms
The neo-gothic-style Windsor Arms Hotel & Spa opened in 1927 and has since grown to meld Old World decadence with modern opulence in the center of Toronto’s busy entertainment district. The landmark building features private butler service, exceptional dining options, and luxurious suite accommodations. The 500-square-foot spa is set on the fourth and fifth floors of the hotel. The first level houses a saltwater pool and the second has seven treatment rooms, one reserved for couples. The spa is highlighted by an oversized terrace.
The Briars Resort & Spa
Along the shores of peaceful Lake Simcoe, an hour from Toronto, in Jackson’s Point, Ontario, The Briars Resort & Spa is a 200-acre estate surrounded by soaring pines, verdant lawns, and blossoming gardens. The family-owned property, which originated in 1880 as a working farm, infuses a welcoming charm with an abundance of activities, including a championship Scottish woodlands golf course, tennis courts, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Guests can follow up a round of golf with a relaxing treatment at Briars Spa. The spa has seven treatment rooms and features a menu, made up of à la carte treatments and day or overnight packages, personally designed by the spa’s staff. Spa services incorporate a variety of product lines, including Phytomer, Clayton Shagal, Kneipp, and Eminence. To begin or continue the spa experience, spa-goers are invited to unwind in the sauna.
You might also like:
- Top 10 Global Spa & Wellness Trends 2013 Forecast: Get the Full Report!
- 2013 Trend Report Spotlight: 10 Healthy Hotels
- 2013 Wellness Trend: Mindfulness Massage
- Readers’ Choice Awards: Top 10 Best Spas for Healthy Cuisine
- Connect with Nature: Jeff Corwin on Connecting to Your Wild Side in America’s Own Backyard