EAT Magazine May_June 2013_ISSUU_Layout 1 4/29/13 12:59 PM Page 14
good for you — by Pam Durkin
Great Escapes Unplug from the cellphone and recharge your own batteries at these three beautiful B.C. properties. LET’S FACE IT, modern life is stressful. Even here in British Columbia, where nature, abundant recreation and ready access to healthy food keep us healthier than most, British Columbians are increasingly opting for wellness vacations that promise to recharge their batteries and restore their sense of balance in a hectic world. Sanctuary seekers needn’t look far—the province is home to some of the best wellness getaways on the planet. Here are three of my personal favourites, chosen because there is nothing “cookie-cutter� about their approach. They’re super food savvy, offer remarkable spa and fitness options and deliver the kind of personalized service that makes me feel like a truly honoured guest. Bear Mountain Resort and Spa, Victoria Westin’s Bear Mountain efficiently ticks all the “wellness boxes� in grand style. Firstrate amenities and activities include both women-only and co-ed gyms, energetic classes (spin, aquafit, Zumba, yoga and Pilates) and a specialized CrossFit Studio, where you can get a customized core-strengthening program. For outdoor lovers, 36 holes of Nicklaus-designed golf are out the backdoor, as well as two tennis courts, guided hikes and a heated outdoor pool. Balancing out this roster of fitness pursuits is the resort’s award-winning Sante Spa, where you can indulge in one of their “nature-inspired� treatments designed to soothe body, mind and soul. You can also bask in the warmth of their cedar sauna, soothe aching muscles in the therapeutic mineral pool or get contemplative with a walk through the meditative labyrinth. Foodies will inevitably end up contemplating the nourishing grub that awaits in the resort’s Bella Montagna restaurant. At breakfast, choose from their “superfoods� menu, which includes fruit smoothies and my personal favourite—berry granola muesli with pomegranate essence. Virtuous dinner options such as pan-roasted chicken breast with squash agnolotti and grilled asparagus allow you to fuel an evening hike without worrying about your waistline. With a venue like this in our backyard, who needs Arizona’s vaunted Canyon Ranch?
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Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver Historic Hotel Georgia delivers—with characteristic charm—all the essentials needed for a restorative break from the rat race without leaving downtown. The newly refurbished hotel now has a 2,000-square-foot fitness area, a boutique spa and a bevy of healthy dining venues. The gym’s modern amenities will please fitness buffs and includes deluxe cardio equipment, free weights, a yoga studio and an Olympic-sized, saltwater pool. Soothe aching muscles at the hotel’s serenity-inducing Sense spa, where treatments are customized to suit the needs of each guest and indigenous organic products are emphasized to create a truly “Vancouver� experience. Another irrefutable delight is Hawksworth’s, the main dining venue. Iconic chef David Hawksworth is an alchemist—he uses the healthiest local ingredients to create inspiring meals so hedonistically delicious one assumes they can’t possibly be healthy. Trust me, they are. Sparkling Hill Resort, Vernon Recently named one of 2012’s “top 11 trendsetting hotels in the world� by Fodor’s, Sparkling Hill has been garnering accolades since it first opened its doors in 2010—and for good reason. The luxurious property boasts panoramic views of Lake Okanagan, unique, “crystal-infused� architecture and a 40,000-square-foot spa and wellness area unrivalled in North America. Its European owners have also imbued the resort with an innovative, holistic approach to wellness that is uncommon in Canada. One-of-a-kind amenities in the dazzling KurSpa run the gamut from rose and crystal saunas to a sub-zero Cryotherapy Chamber and Kneipp Water Therapy Room. In addition, naturopathic-directed wellness services range from acupuncture and vitamin injections to supervised weight-loss and cleansing programs. The resort’s gym houses the latest Keiser equipment, Power Plates, a yoga studio and more. The kitchen, which draws its influence from Nouvelle Austrian cuisine, uses only the finest, organic, seasonal offerings from the Okanagan Valley to produce dishes that delight the palate and enhance health. No wonder the international press is gushing!
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EAT MAGAZINE MAY | JUNE 2013