Unforgettable and unique. Indulgent and eye-opening. Relaxing and radical. That’s what these crazy unusual spa services at spas around the country promise: a one-of-a-kind experience that goes beyond a standard massage or facial.
Traveling soon, or looking for an excuse to take a memorable trip? Check out these distinctive spa services around the country that offer a bit of local specialties, an element of the exotic, and everything in between.
Everything Chocolate – The Spa at Hotel Hershey, Pennsylvania
If you have a sweet tooth, this is the spa for you. Nestled in Pennsylvania Amish country, Hershey is known for its namesake chocolate factory and its many sweet creations, from the brand’s namesake kisses to peanut butter cups. At the Spa at Hotel Hershey, however, the chocolate transforms from edible dessert to pampering spa product. Options include a cocoa massage, a chocolate fondue body wrap, and a “whipped cocoa” chocolate milk bath, among other services. Don’t arrive with an empty stomach – the chocolaty aromas of the treatments themselves may make you hungry!
The Geisha Facial – Shizuka New York Day Spa
Described politely, the Shizuka New York spa uses “sterilized nightingale droppings” in its famous Geisha Facial. Colloquially, it’s known as the bird poop facial, and the purported benefits include rejuvenated and brightened skin. Famous fans include Victoria Beckham, Lauren Conrad, and Anne Hathaway. Will nightingale excrement make your face as smooth as a geisha’s, or as poreless as a celebrity’s? The jury’s out on that one— you’l have to try it out for yourself and see.
Heaven in a Hammock – Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Florida
Floating through air, without a care in the world … the Heaven in a Hammock Zero Gravity massage at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island spa in Florida has clients recline in a hammock during the spa service, creating a sense of weightlessness. Attention is paid to spine stretching, flexibility, and overall range of motion, and throughout the massage, the hammock maintains a gentle rocking sway. If you find a hammock extremely relaxing on its own, coupling it with a massage promises to be a real treat. (And if you’re prone to falling asleep in a hammock, this may speed up the process.)
Watsu Massage – Harbin Hot Springs, California
A relaxing soak or a rejuvenating massage? Now you don’t have to choose between the two. Watsu, an in-water massage, was developed at the Harbin Hot Springs retreat and workshop center, two hours north of San Francisco. Using principles of Zen Shiatsu stretching and massage techniques, Watsu practitioners have the massage recipient get submerged in a warm-water pool, and then they focus on “greater flexibility and freedom” through targeted stretches, twists, and pulls. In addition to the treatments themselves, the center offers training courses on how to administer Watsu – so if you try it and like it, take advantage of the opportunity to learn more with hands-on training (pun fully intended).
Naga Thai Massage – Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa
A little bit of gymnastics, a little bit of chiropractic, and all relaxation: The Naga Thai-style acrobatic massage at the Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Tucson gives your masseuse a workout him/herself. Using suspended silks, the masseuse floats above your body, massaging you with his feet, and also uses the silks to entwine and move you during the massage. It’s lauded for deep muscle work and incredible tension relief.
Have you heard of—or experienced—a crazy, unusual spa service? Leave a comment below and tell us about it!
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15 Weird and Unexpected Uses for Chocolate
Main photo credit My Best Treat via Flickr Creative Commons. All others courtesy linked spas.