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Healthy Getaways

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Sometimes a day at the spa just isn’t enough—especially when every waking moment is spent perfecting the details of the biggest day of your life. When the chaos of wedding planning reaches its peak, a mind and body retreat could be just the relaxing escape you need.

“Brides have to make so many decisions going into their wedding day that we like to take the stress out of decision-making and allow them to relax,” says Brook Larios, public relations manager at Cal-a-Vie, where brides can choose a three-, four- or seven-night retreat. Unlike traditional spas that focus on pampering, health spas like Cal-a-Vie provide personalized programs combining fitness, nutrition and luxurious spa treatments. They even offer gourmet meals and cooking demonstrations—all to help guests adopt a healthier lifestyle.

A retreat like this might seem like a world away, but with two getaway spas in San Diego and another just one hour south of the U.S.-Mexico border, brides (and grooms) can take some time for their health and still be back in time to seal invitations.

Rancho La Puerta

At Rancho La Puerta, the goal is to “make healthy people healthier,” making it the ideal destination for brides who want an escape, as well as a place to begin a better lifestyle. Weeklong retreats at the spa’s 3,000 acres of unspoiled countryside begin on Saturday and feature a balanced mix of exercise (guests can choose from more than 50 fitness classes each day), stretching and relaxation techniques that range from meditation to massage to lying in a hammock. Hiking is also encouraged—the spa boasts 40 miles of trails that traverse topography ranging from rolling meadows to steep mountains—as is a meditative journey on a classic labyrinth. Forty-seven treatment rooms allow guests to indulge in scrubs, facials and other blissful spa treatments. For a really special treat, have your out-of-town mother or maid-of-honor meet you there—and if you’re like many of the spa’s customers, it may even become an annual rejuvenating trek. Located in Tecate, Mexico, a private shuttle service delivers you there from San Diego International Airport. Tecate, Mexico, 858.764.5500, rancholapuerta.com.

Golden Door

The most popular treatments at the Golden Door include the signature citrus-blend sea salt scrub with avocado and the lavender, lemongrass and salt scrub soufflé. But if you ask guests for the most memorable part of their weeklong stay, you’ll likely hear about new friendships that were made. The spa only admits 40 guests each week, so camaraderie is strong. Guests follow a personalized schedule of daily massage, meditation, beauty treatments, stretching and exercise. One-on-one sessions with a personal trainer round out the selection of fitness classes, which includes spinning and swimming. What’s more, twice each year, the spa presents Inner Door Week, a program offering creative exercises to quiet the chatter and worry that clutter the mind. It could be the best thing a bride can give herself before the big day arrives. Located in Escondido, 800.424.0777, goldendoor.com.



Cal-a-Vie

Set amid 200 acres of rolling hills, Cal-a-Vie’s accommodations include 25 private villas. A ratio of five guests to one staff member ensures that guests are well cared for. Daily itineraries are personalized to include a mix of fitness classes, spa treatments and health and nutrition education. So, imagine practicing t’ai chi in the morning, then getting a seaweed wrap at night; or taking a Latin dance class, followed by a hydrotherapy soak.

If you haven’t gotten enough of the spa during your getaway, Cal-a-Vie also hosts weddings. The spa’s newest ceremony location—L’Orangerie, a building reminiscent of 15th-century France—is set to open spring 2008. As with every guest at Cal-a-Vie, busy brides won’t have to stress over any decisions during their stay. Each morning, they’ll be handed a notecard with the day’s itinerary and a list of alternatives on the back. It couldn’t be any easier than this. 29402 Spa Havens Way, Vista, 866.772.4283, calavie.com.

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