Relax and Indulge at the Perfect Holiday Destination
By Erin Courtenay

Before arriving at the elegant Osthoff Resort we had already been charmed by the beautiful rolling green hills surrounding the resort’s home village of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  My husband and I were making the journey to visit Aspira, the Osthoff’s new spa addition.  From the images we’d seen of the spa we knew we would be impressed, but had not anticipated such a romantic setting.

Suites at the Aspira Spa offer all the amenities for a relaxing getaway.

Once checked in we made our way to Aspira where we were introduced to a new peak experience in luxury relaxation – the Spa SuiteTM.  Our exquisitely decorated suite came complete with a whirlpool, fireplace, lounging sofa, large shower and bathroom facilities. From the moment we entered, the stress of a month filled with travel, deadlines and countless obligations gave way to a sense of peace and comfort. Although we’d had couple’s massages in the past, we had never experienced the contentment of enjoying simultaneous treatments in a room that we could call our own after treatments.   

Once settled in to the suite we welcomed in our therapists to begin our treatments. As the massage began I looked over and saw my sweetheart beaming, a contented smile on his face; one could practically see the tension leaving his body as his therapist was finishing up the Swedish Tonic Massage (though I only caught a glimpse as I was far too carried away with my soothing Aromatic Relaxation Massage). As my therapist moved on to a beautifully executed Reflexology treatment, my happy hubby slipped into the suite’s whirlpool tub to begin a long soak in a soothing Element Bath. What a pleasure - to remain in the same tranquil space while moving into different phases of our shared spa experience.

After enjoying our bath we explored Aspira’s thoughtfully designed common areas.  The heart of the spa is the meditation sanctuary, a candlelit circular room that brings visitors to an elevated state of consciousness as they gaze into the small reflecting pool in the room’s center. Aspira has integrated the principals of feng shui into all aspects of the spa’s design, a heightened sense of well-being is present throughout the facility.

Relax in a Soothing Element Bath at Aspira Spa at the Osthoff Resort.

The Osthoff is a grand resort in the European/early-American tradition.  Originally opened in 1886, the resort has a colorful history that includes time as a luxurious holiday destination, a Prohibition-era hideaway for gangsters and a long period as a drama and arts camp.  Happily, the Osthoff recaptured its original grandeur when it re-opened as a resort in 1995, earning the prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating for the past nine years.

Throughout its storied history, the resort’s star feature remained constant – the pure blue waters of Elkhart Lake.  Once we were ready to make the transition from the spa to the resort’s beautiful surroundings, my husband and I dressed and walked to the resort’s sandy beach located just a few paces from Aspira.  While swimming in the clear sparkling water, my spa experience came full circle – for where nature and spa are joined, the connection between our inner life and the beauty that surrounds us is made complete.

A connection to nature can also be found in the Osthoff’s new organic garden.  The herb and vegetable garden was planted to complement both the spa menu and the resort’s recently opened Ecole de Cuisine cooking school.  Gardeners plan to provide the kitchens with heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, beets, beans, and various herbs and edible flowers – all grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

The meditation sanctuary brings guests to an elevated state of consciousness.

We sampled the garden fare that evening when we dined at Lola’s on the Lake, the Osthoff’s fine dining restaurant located adjacent to Aspira spa.  Lola’s provided us with one of those treasured dining experiences – enjoying a meal when the service, the ambiance and the menu in perfect harmony.  As our knowledgeable wait staff poured the wine and dusk settled over the lake, we savored a beautifully prepared meal of tender scallops and fresh salad greens, murmuring about how well we would sleep that night.

A perennial sense of well being quite literally permeates the walls, the earth and the water at the Osthoff and Aspira Spa; offering guests a sense of comfort that is at once both timeless and apace with the best of contemporary hospitality.  

Things to know before you go:

• The Osthoff Resort is 90 minutes south of Green Bay and 70 minutes north of Milwaukee in eastern Wisconsin. From the city of Sheboygan, travel 9 miles east on Highway 23, then 6 miles north on Highway 67 to Elkhart Lake.
• The Osthoff Resort, among the top luxurious properties in the Midwest, offers 245 spacious suites and guest rooms with restful woodland or panoramic lake views. Spa services at Aspira include specialized body treatments, chemotherapy and Vichy shower treatments, specialty facials, pedicures, manicures and salon services. The peaceful 20,000-square-foot space features a sauna, a yoga room, a meditation sanctuary, and both indoor and outdoor whirlpools.

For More Information on Aspira Spa at The Osthoff Resort, Wisconsin visit:  Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort

For the best spa and wellness information in America visit: (www.spasofamerica.com)