Men with muskets and ladies with bonnets donning British colonial garb, fifes and drums, and horse-drawn carriages – once you step into the historical town of Colonial Williamsburg – you realize you’ve stepped into another world.
It’s a world where history comes to life in a fun and interactive way that permeates every part of the place. Visitors can go back in time and spend the day interacting with the town’s locals, peek inside a traditional kitchen, take part in a town hall meeting or judge a witch trail. History even has its place at the spa.
Located at the end of a wisteria-draped arched walkway overlooking a garden fountain, the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg it is the picture of serenity. Once you enter, the refined southern hospitality of the staff will quickly put you at ease.
Inspired by five different centuries of wellness and healing treatments, the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg integrates local history into five truly unique spa experiences:
The Cleansing Hot Stones Spa Experience is inspired by the 17th century wellness practices of the Powhatan Indian tribe native to the Virginia area. The Powhatans would use hot stones to heat sweathouses, a treatment for aches and pains. After, they would cool down by plunging into a cold stream and then apply a mixture of herbs on their skin. The spa’s Cleansing Hot Stones experience begins with a sage and white oak bark rinsing, a body wrap using a blend of cleansing herbs and aromatherapy, and finished with a full-body hot stone massage. $265 for 2-hour treatment.
The 18th century inspired Colonial Herbal Spa Experience employs natural herbs and apothecary ingredients like orange and ginger discovered in this century as a way to soothe the body’s ailments. The Colonial Herbal experience begins with a foot bath, a orange and ginger body scrub, a wrap and a massage all using 18th-century-inspired oils and recipes. $265 for 2-hour treatment.
The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg’s Root and Herbal Spa Experience is inspired by traditional African healing and wellness techniques discovered in the 19th century. Using herbs like plants, roots, trees, minerals, and natural waters were thought to inspire health, wealth, luck, and happiness. The treatment today begins with a body exfoliation using herbal powders and essential oils known to help strength the body and mind, followed by a warm bath in Ritual Tea, and finished with a full-body massage. $285 for 2-hour treatment.
The 20th century inspired Williamsburg Water Cures Spa Experience recognizes the development of new spa methods and technologies to help people achieve health and wellness. An echo of the era when people would bathe in the Virginia springs that were believed to have healing properties, the Water Cures Spa experience begins with a dry-brush exfoliation that is followed by a Vichy shower massage, then finished with an Aqua Latte bath in rich, foaming milk to help nourish skin. $245 for a 1.5-hour treatment.
Finally, the 21st century inspired Skin Rejuvenation Spa Experience demonstrates the latest advances in wellness spa technology, especially in skin rejuvenation, laser technologies, and microdermabrasion. The Skin Rejuvenation experience begins with a foot bath followed by a deep pore cleaning, professional skin analysis, a customized enzyme mask, a gentle ultrasonic exfoliation and then an antioxidant serum and vitamin-rich moisturizer. $165 for a 1.5-hour treatment.
The spa offers 12 treatment rooms including a Rose Garden Suite for couple’s treatments. Be sure to leave time to relax at the spa’s indoor and outdoor pools, signature showers, fitness gym, whirlpools, and steam room.
Other unique treatments at the Spa at Colonial Williamsburg not to miss: the Colonial Sweet Bath; an Aqua Latte Bath; a Maize Body Scrub; a Sarsaparilla Mud and Espresso Coffee Treatment; or a self-applied Virginia Springs Ritual.
For more information, go to: www.colonialwilliamsburgresort.com/spa.
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