I remember the first time I set foot in the Willow Stream Spa at the Banff Springs Hotel. It was an experience like no other, and I feared ruined every spa experience from then on. Really the spa could really have been dog poop and still rank high in my books, I mean really how many times do you actually have to walk through a historic castle to get to a spa? But, to walk in, get handed your little key to a room filled with oak lockers, put on your plush robe and slippers, then to find a whole buffet of treatments and facilities like a salt pool, waterfalls, and a steam room. The whole experience gave me just a taste of how the other half lives. How could that not ruin a person?
I’ve been lucky enough to go to this spa three times in my life, all before having kids and so now post childbirth and well into child rearing I have now recalibrated to find experiences that are both kid inclusive and accessible and I have been pleasantly surprised to find what I was looking for right here at home.
Making of the local spa experience
Back in September my friend saw that I was suffering from mom burnout and suggested we book a pedicure in town. For anyone who has seen my nails you know that this is not a treatment I do often. She booked us a spot at Vi’s Nails, and by us I mean me, my daughter, and her and her daughter. When Ruth found out she was going she pulled Mina into her room, “Come on Mina we have to get ready!” Getting ready meant doing up her hair, putting on some makeup (aka lip chap), and putting on a dress.
The pedicure was wonderful and they were very accommodating to the little ones. Ruth couldn’t pick out just one colour and so picked out ten, one for every toe. Mina was a little gun shy so they did her feet while she sat on her mom’s lap. An hour later, after foot massages, hot stone rubs, cuticle cleaning and painted toes, our feet looked sandal worthy and just before the weather turned to shoes only.
The local (Drayton Valley) spa scene though is within reach, very diverse and the higher frequency actually provides therapeutic outcomes.
This prompted me to wonder what other hidden gems we had in Drayton Valley that could be used to make an at home spa day. That led me to a facial at Beyond Beauty. Obviously those who know me know my face hasn’t aged a day since, well… whenever I looked young and beautiful, pick an age. I don’t care. Beyond Beauty as it seems is not just a hair salon they also offer spa treatments. My facial aptly called ‘Radiant Rescue’, was the wake up call my skin needed. I was snuggled in under a heated blanket while different hot towels and facial creams were applied and removed from my face. Starting to finish the whole experience took 45 minutes to an hour and it was blissful. Then back to the rat race of picking up kids from school.
I apologize I am not going in chronological order, just before my facial, I stepped into One Therapy where I was treated to an hour massage. A gift certificate experience, purchased by my friend, was a welcome change to my typical Wednesday afternoon. The massage was both therapeutic, relaxing and deep. Some time during my lay about I wondered, “Why don’t I do this more often?”
This gets me to my point. While Willow Stream Spa was the Disneyland spa experience, it is also not something that can be done with any sort of frequency to provide lasting benefits. It is a mini trip that, let’s face it, parents of young kids cannot always get a way to do. The local spa scene though is within reach, very diverse and the higher frequency actually provides therapeutic outcomes. Your providers will get to know you and your body which means local “spacations” are great for both mental health breaks and your physical health.
The joys of winter camping
Last winter some gals and I embarked on a trial cross country skiing/winter camping adventure on the Pembina River. The experience was amazing and left me wishing that winter was not coming to such an abrupt end.
The back 40
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Ten winter experiences close to home
Become a Free Press e-edition subscriber Brandy Fredrickson, Free Press Here are 10 budget friendly
Spaaah Experience
This prompted me to wonder what other hidden gems we had in Drayton Valley that could be used to make an at home spa day.
Rural Watering Hole Tour
Before there were clubs, and ultra lounges there was the rural bar. The rural bar was a place people would go to have a drink, eat some food, get a bit of news and maybe even get a haircut. The rural bar was usually built alongside or attached to the lone hotel in the community.
Rural rodeos you don’t want to miss
Rodeos have been a big part of the Brazeau and Beyond region since the Buck Lake Stampede first ran in 1929. The rural rodeo experience is not the circus you see in the larger locales. You’re closer to the action and it’s much more intimate.
