Maine is just so lovely this time of year. The air smells crisp, the breeze is cool, and the foliage is a wonderful rainbow of colors. The blur of summer activity is over and it is time to rest and rejuvenate from the hustle and bustle of the season. So, if you are looking for a fun and relaxing getaway, come experience the luxury of the Camden Harbour Inn and Spa.

The Spa offers a wide diversity of therapies, techniques, and treatments, but their specialty is Zero Balancing. What is Zero Balancing®? Zero Balancing® (ZB) is a hands-on body-mind system of therapy that balances the relationship of energy and structure within the bones and tissues of the body. Zero Balancing® uses energy movement to integrate Western medical science with Eastern energy healing traditions into an original, practical, and coherent bodywork skill. Based on principles of nature, ZB promotes internal balance and harmony through the use of informed, skilled touch. Many people initially seek Zero Balancing® to relieve symptoms but continue receiving sessions as their quality of life improves.

The spa possibilities in Cleveland are endless. There are so many choices that it might be easier to choose where you want to stay first and then determine a spa in the area that suits your requirements.

There are more numerous Cleveland Hotels than there are spas. If you expect the unexpected, then choose Glidden House. It is located at 1901 Ford Drive. It is in University Circle and on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, the Glidden House is within walking distance to Cleveland's finest museums and cultural institutions, and is easily accessible to downtown Cleveland.

Here is a sampling of the spas in the Northeast Cleveland area to choose from.

AJ's Spa Millennium,

3365 Richmond Road, Suite 120, Beachwood. 216-593-0271. [sgl: no web: ] Co- owner Marnita Sandifer, a former chemist, has created a line of skin-care products.

Annabella Style Day Spa & Skin Clinic,

19624 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. 440-331-3808. www.annabellastyle.com. A licensed medical doctor is on staff to assists with advanced skin treatments. A second Annabella will be opening in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood this summer.

Charles Scott Salons & Spa,

two locations, 19025 Old Lake Road, Rocky River, 440-333-7994; 30183 Detroit Road, Westlake, 440-899-1957. www.charlesscott.com. Don't forget lunch at the Rocky River location, where you'll dine on treats from nearby restaurants in the comfort of your fluffy robe.

Charlotte's Day Spa Salon,

20300 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights. 216-283-2400. www.charlottesdayspa.com. East Side spa offers a fitness center and full array of therapies.

Europa International Salon & Spa,

28699 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere, 216-292-6969. www.europasalonandspa.com. Europa recently moved to a new location in Eton, Chagrin Boulevard, and quadrupled its space.

John Robert's Studio & Spa,

three locations, 6727 Eastgate Drive, Mayfield Heights; 33705 Station St., Solon; 89 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls. 216-839-4850. www.johnrobertsspa.com. Mayfield Heights location includes a fully equipped gym, clothing boutique, photo studio and dedicated men's area.

Mario's International Spa,

six locations: flagship, including overnight accommodations, at 35 E. Garfield Road, Aurora, 330-562-9171; also, 4125 Medina Road, (at Akron General Wellness Center), Fairlawn, 330-665-6772; Beachwood Place, 26300 Cedar Road, Suite 1004, Beachwood, 216-514-6772; 15 Bell St., Chagrin Falls, 440-247-6410; 740 N. Court St., Medina, 330-721-2477; 7155 W. Pleasant Valley Road, Parma, 440-845-7373. www.marios-spa.com.[sgl: cq: ] Open since 1977, the Aurora facility has rooms at the Spa Hotel or Aurora Inn for overnight stays. At Fairlawn, there's a workout facility and physical therapy services and a doctors' office.

Martha's La Look Medi-Spa,

8535 Tanglewood Square, Bainbridge Township. 440-543-2797. www.marthaslalook.com. You'll find no hair-styling services here; this place is all spa. A staff cosmetic surgeon does chemical peels, collagen treatments, Botox and more.

Who would ever think that Wisconsin would be home to fantastic water parks? After all, Wisconsin is so far north and it is cold there, right? That notion is completely misconceived. Wisconsin is full of water parks and resorts. A Wisconsin Dells family vacation is in perfect order any time of the year.

Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells is a fabulous family getaway. There is so much to do for every one in the family. First, there are multiple water parks. There is even an indoor water park for winter time fun. The water parks are geared for different sizes and ages of people with section for toddlers.

If going to the water park is not your sense of adventure, then there is still plenty to do. The golf courses are beautiful and very challenging. The price is quite reasonable or book a package and have it included in your price.

The spa facilities are first class. There are four natural outdoor spas for summer use. Experience the warm breezes and the smell of pine in the air while receiving a professional spa treatment. Enjoy the Spa’s signature Spa Del Sol Sun Glow Experience. It will be a treat and like nothing else that you have ever experienced.

This may seem quite surprising to you. I had never thought of this idea until a friend suggested it to me. If you would like an inexpensive massage try the local beauty academy. The students are maseusses in training. They need to practice on live victims to be certified. So, if you are a willing contender. You should check it out. It is not a professional massage, but the results are quite good. I had heard that there is a decent one in Glenwood Springs CO.

Cayman Islands has  large popularity among rich people - a place not just to party but to figure out creative ways to lower your taxes. While, I am not a tax accountant, I like to visit and write about great vacation destination. The Cayman Islands is a great Hollywood celebrity hangout. 

So one place where you can feel like the stars is the Coral Stone Club, an exclusive 36-unit vacation rental property nestled on world-famous Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. This exclusive property offers amenities such as fine linens, plush designer furniture, custom designed kitchens and bathrooms outfitted with spa beauty products.

Another favorite with the jet set is the Britannia Villas. The Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and the waterway to the North Sound are just steps away. Guests enjoy villa and Hyatt Beach Suites amenities including golf, the fine white sand of Seven Mile Beach, water sports, swimming pools, bars, restaurants, shops, fitness center, and beauty spa.

The comfort and pampering don't end with a Cayman Island condo. Active travelers will delight in the 3 swimming pools, swim-up snack and cocktail bar, watersports, and the beach with snorkel reef just offshore. 

Florida is fantastic just about any time of the year. Destin, Florida is right on the coast and offers such a relaxing atmosphere. There are spas aplenty to choose from in this small town. Choose from a small day spa to a large spa resort. The amenities that each type of spa offers varies widely. Each one listed below does offer full services as a spa as well as the specialty product highlighted for them.

Beverly Hills Day Spa ~ Specializes in environmentally friendly products for skin care.

The Spa at Silver Shells ~ Hydrotherapy, Seaweed, and Mud Body Wraps

Edge of Paradise ~ Waxing and body care

The Hilton ~ Full service award winning spa resort

This is just a small sampling of the many great spas in this area. Should you decide not to stay in a full service reosrt, there are many places to stay. If you would like a private condo rental on the Beach in Destin Florida or a vacation home, Destin Days has many styles to choose from. Most all of these vacation rentals are along the scenic drive that stretches 5 miles along the beach.

The Pacific Northwest conjures up images of snowcapped mountains, national parks, wild life, snow skiing, and summer hiking. After all the United States first national park is in this area. Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons National Park show the diversity of this great land. No visit to Wyoming would be complete without a stop of these two areas. You could easily spend a week in each location and yearn for more.

Where does one find a spa in the middle of all this vast wilderness? The answer is of course Jackson Hole. Since Jackson Hole is a well know ski resort, there are multiple spa resorts to choose from. Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, Snake River Lodge and Spa, The Four Seasons, The Mountain House, and the Teton Mountain Lodge are some of the more well known spa resorts in the area. There are plenty of day spas to choose from as well.

If you do not want to stay directly in a spa resort. There a re plenty of condos and vacation rentals in Jackson Hole. Mountain Property Management has a large selection to choose from. Pick a luxury condo in the heart of town or a large vacation house in the southern valley.

The gulf coast of Alabama is a great place to visit. There are so many spas to choose from in this area. Many of these facilities have national reputations for excellence. Here is a list of several in the area.
Studio 3
Spa To You Massage
Spa of Eden & Fig Leaf Boutique
The Spa at the Beach Club
Nou'Veau A La Plage Salon & Day Spa
McCollough Institute for Appearance and Health
East of Eden
Barbara Sparkman-Massage Therapy

Spa to You Massage and Barbara Sparkman are licensed therapists who will come to your location and set up their treatment center in your location. It does not matter if you are in a hotel, condo, or a private home.

Speaking of locations, you can rent some great Gulf Shore vacation homes. There are 1 bedroom condos right on the beach or for a large family reunion, you can rent a 6 bedroom house. It is possible to even view a virtual tour of the property before you choose which location is right for you and your traveling companions.

I went to a belly dancing contest with my belly dance club. It was held in Grand Forks North Dakota. I was surprised that such a contest would be held up north in the winter. After all our costumes are not very warm. So, I chose to stay in the same hotel that the contest was being held in. This way, I figured that I could avoid having to get around in the cold.

The contest was held at Select Inn. Sadly, there is not a spa in this family and pet friendly hotel. However, they did have hot coffee and tea in the lobby at all times. Plus they serve a continental breakfast. So, I did not have to venture out into the cold to find coofee and breakfast during the chilliest hours of the day.

While the contest kept me busy most of the time, I did manage to sneak away. I needed a pedicure before our first performance. After all the judges notice everything and I had some rough spots on my feet. So, I headed to Unique Impressions. Once I explained my situation, they graciously got me right in. I was so pleased. Once I got there, they whisked me into a private room. I couldn't believe it. Usually manicures and pedicures are done in an open area and the private rooms are reserved for facials, massages, and other treatments. The room was so warm and slightly steamy. Lisa explained to me that pedicures are best done in a slightly moist environment so as not to damage the new skin as the old skin iss buffed off. I was in heaven. She did a fabulous job. If ever I am back in Grand Forks, I would love to try some of their other treatments.

I just had the most fun that I have had in a long time. The MV Glory is a luxury yacht charter
that sails in the San Juan Islands. This boat is amazing. It has teakwood and beautiful tables. Of course, I loved the professional kitchen. I am one of those people who really enjoys cooking. So, I loved going shopping and bringing all of my food on board and preparing meals for my friends and me. This ship lives up to its name. It was glorious.

I went scuba diving every day. Each day I saw different things. Of course, we had to wear wetsuits. The water is quite cold off of the Washington Coast. The water was so clear. I did not expect it to be. For some reason, I had this preconceived notion that northern waters would be cloudy and mirky due to the melt off from glaciers and snow pack. I was so wrong. The undersea life is so different from tropical environments.


One of our stops was Orcas Island where we stayed overnight. This place called Doe Bay attracts a funky collection of people: mostly a cross between hippy/spritualist/naturalist and a curious mix of Seattlites looking for a peaceful retreat. They have a very good natural foods cafe. The nude natural hot springs are really great. After a day in the cold water, the hot springs were quite welcome.