Northwest Magazines

EDITORS NOTES

Wouldn’t it be nice if when you were feeling a little low you could go to the doctor, stick out your tongue, and say “Spaaahhhh?” And then you’d get a prescription for a soak, massage, and facial?

Someday that may happen, but for now, I guess we have to seek out these experiences on our own. And seek them out we should. While researching this story, I found that one afternoon at a spa could put me in a blissful state for days—which is mighty nice when the days are so short and stormy.

To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of spas that offer treatments to soothe your soul, smooth your body, and leave you feeling like a million bucks. Each one of these carefully chosen destinations offers something unique:

You can be slathered with mud from Alaskan river deltas or Canadian bogs.

You can be pampered with lotions and potions made from ocean seaweed, mountain lake spirulina, or desert sage.

On a visit to wine country, you can get a facial made with the same wonderful stuff you’ve been drinking, plus the leaves and vines.

Oh yeah, at a luxurious ranch in Montana, you can get a Barb Wire Wrap. It’s really much nicer than it sounds. A dry-brush exfoliation is followed by a mineral-rich body wrap.

There’s no end to the delights you’ll find, so treat yourself and your loved ones this winter and indulge in a sensuous experience.

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One of the spas we list is just outside of Anchorage. Be sure to also check out David Thompson’s great story on Anchorage and its environs, where you can enjoy Native culture, Alaskan culture, and the outdoors in a myriad of ways.

In this issue, you’ll also find the first installment of a new column on a subject that is near and dear to my heart. It’s called Travel Green, and it will explore many facets of traveling with a light footprint. We’ve checked out Northwest ski resorts and brought you a report on what they are doing to conserve resources. I was happy to find that many ski areas are taking a proactive stance—cutting down on their own energy use, using and supporting alternative sources of energy, and encouraging their visitors to pitch in as well. Also in this section, you’ll find advertisers who support sustainable travel. Be sure to give them a look.

There’s lots more to choose from, including a story on rafting a wild river in Alaska and one on eating wild mushroom creations at the Willamette Valley’s Joel Palmer House. Enjoy!

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