I’ve always been a fan of the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. Mainly, I love the fact that they’ve brought the outdoors inside with authentic-looking recreations of Key West, the Everglades and St. Augustine. Plus, the Old Hickory Steakhouse makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Most of all, though, I adore the Relâche Spa, a European-inspired getaway in itself.

And what could be better than getting a massage at the spa? Staying the whole day, of course, and enjoying it all with my sister in tow. And by whole day, I mean a full six hours -- something we've never attempted before but certainly welcomed.

First, the scent of eucalyptus welcomed us with a full-body embrace as we walked toward the locker room. We quickly made a beeline for the Eucalyptus Steam Room to kick off our sloth-like day. It was, as I suspected, the perfected way to begin.

Next, it was lunch time; and what a fulfilling lunch it was. Just outside of the front desk area was a table tucked away in an alcove where Leah and I lunched on the fresh catch of the day with roasted potato salad, apps and petite cheesecakes (key lime, chocolate and lemon); it was all quite delectable.

By now, I was in full fledged relaxation mode, indulging in a rare leisurely morning. For my massage, I opted for the Relache Signature treatment, which I customized a bit. For starters, I asked for a deep tissue massage and also added an extra: a hand treatment. After my intense week of boisterous activity, it really hit the spot. Next, I washed off in one of the spa’s duper-super showers. I’m talking seven shower heads shooting from all directions, plus your choice of lighting and music. It was every bit as fanciful as it sounds.

Post massage, I opted for a few upgrades. I had my out-of-control eyebrows plucked and indulged in a facial, too. Next came the pedicure. I chose a deep purple color to replace my worn-down, Home-Depot-orange paint color.

And voila! that's how you do a day at Relâche. What’s even cooler is, after my treatment I took some time to read magazines in the Tea Relaxation Room. And what do you know, as I was noshing on strawberries and a glorious trail mix of almonds, dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds, I noticed Relâche was listed in Condé Nast Traveler as one of the top spas in the U.S. Just reaffirms what I already know. Of all the glorious spas in Central Florida, Relâche should be on your short list.

Relache Spa at Gaylord Palms Resort
6000 West Osceola Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34746
407-586-2000
www.gaylordhotels.com

Thank you to Gaylord Palms for treating us to a grand spa day.