Sept 8: Spa Central

Next week, I begin my Fort Lauderdale beach staycation. Can't wait. I seriously need a bit of down time. And it occurs to me that I'll be staying in the very heart of some of South Florida's top spas, including many that are part of Lauderdale Spa Chic promo this month. Yes, I'm about to visit Spa Central. I figure just breathing the air around this part of town should feel relaxing, with all the aromatherapy incense and oils in the area. For those not yet familiar with Spa Chic, I'll remind you that it's a month of bargain spa treatments at some very high end places. These include the Bliss Fort Lauderdale at the trendy new W Fort Lauderdale on the beach. Nearby, you'll find spas at the Westin, The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale,  Harbor Beach Marriott, The Atlantic Hotel and Hyatt Pier 66 hotels. (Check out the full list of spas at http://sunny.org/spachic.

Most of those spots mentioned above are within a very short walk of my hotel for this coming week of close-to-home vacationing. I'm hoping I'll find the chance to enjoy my own spa treatment during the getaway. But one way or another, I'm already getting in the spa frame of mind.

Just yesterday, I was listening to a satellite radio station in my car tuned to a station named "Spa," appropriately enough. They play a steady stream of New Age music, space music, mellow acoustic tunes, even some Indian music now and again. It's relaxing stuff and worthy of the name "spa." Sometimes an announcer comes on softly between tracks, murmuring a wispy, "You're listening to Spa, a journey into tranquility." For a moment, I'm carried away when I hear her voice, which perhaps isn't the best thing while driving. But you see where I'm going with all this, right? Because a vacation of any sort is always relaxing to me, of course, including my annual staycations. I love them. But if I throw a spa visit into the mix, that vacation can become doubly useful for working out all those kinks in the system. A spa treatment isn't only physical, after all. It's mental too. After a great massage at some place like the Ritz, I'm aware of much more than relaxed muscles. I'm also aware of a relaxed mind that carries me comfortably through the rest of my day. And beyond. There really is something I might call a spa frame of mind and I'm nudging myself slowly toward it this week. I mean, it won't be long until I unpack a suitcase in my beachside Spa Central. Just four days now ... and counting.