The
Spa at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Escape to Southern Comforts
by
Joshua Lurie
Off
the coast of South
Carolina, The
Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a modern inn designed
to resemble a grand 1850’s seaside home. Meander
to the hotel's "back porch," and you'll find
a quiet corner of pure Southern indulgence: The Spa at
The Sanctuary.
This
pretty, hickory-floored retreat houses a dozen rooms for
massages, facials, wet treatments and couples' rituals.
Among these, massages are the most popular. This is perhaps
because there are so many indulgent choices, like the
Signature Massage, which incorporates velvet wraps filled
with hot rice grains and herbs. Accompanying all treatments
is New Age music and the delicate tinkling of chimes.
For
the skin, Lowcountry Verbena Body Polish is great for
softening and hydrating. Other favorite options are the
enveloping Ocean Fossil Mineral Therapy, toning Seaweed
Body Treatment, and Island Infusion "Body Rescue,"
using local ingredients like sun-infused oils and sea
buckthorn. Bucking brands that wanted to steer the facility
in certain directions, spa director Robin Jones sought
to pair indigenous elements with holistic and natural
skin care potions from Anakiri and Naturopathica.
Because
the resort draws so many men (this is CEO central and
golf heaven), there are specialties such as The Fairway,
a botanical scrub and steam followed by a golf sport massage.
Males also enjoy their own dedicated lounge, which, like
the relaxation area for women, includes a vitality mineral
whirlpool, sauna and steam room.
Although
the spa is open to the public, it reserves the bulk of
its appointments for hotel guests. After Labor Day, when
the summer travel season comes to an end, the spa markets
to locals, particularly residents of Charleston, 35 minutes
away. Treated to an incredible ocean-side location and
warm, professional staff, hotel guests and locals benefit
from The Spa, and Kiawah Island is richer—and more
relaxed—for having it.
The
Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
One Sanctuary Beach Dr.
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
877-683-1234, 843-768-6000
www.kiawahresort.com
(Updated:
06/25/08 KH)
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