Sea Tow....

BOATERS SAY SPAAHH!

Boaters who like luxurious waterfront resorts with spas have it better than ever, thanks to a wide range of opulent options. All along the east and west coast--as well as some inland options in between--soothing spas await boaters in the know.

“The entire spa industry is exploding,” says Lynne Walker McNees, president of the International SPA Association. “Spas can now be found in the most beautiful vacation areas in the country, including resorts that are reached directly by boat.”

Spas offer a wide range of amenities, including: a wide variety of massage treatments (hot stone massages continue to captivate spa-goers); facials (often using sea- and salt-based or other local ingredients); manicures; pedicures; special hair and scalp treatments; body scrubs and wraps; and a wide range of other health and fitness offerings. For those who would rather be on the links than lying on a massage table, resorts that offer great spas often feature world-class golf as well.

Of course, many coastal resorts in Florida feature great boating and spa facilities. From Jacksonville down the Atlantic coastline to the Florida Keys and all the way up the Gulf Coast through the Panhandle, the Sunshine State really shines when it comes to convenient spa options for boaters.

Hawk’s Cay Resort (www.hawkscay.com), located on Duck Key in the Florida Keys, is typical of the possibilities available to boaters cruising the Florida Keys--and the entire state! The resort features an 83-slip full-service marina, where guests can arrive by boat (staying onboard or at the resort) and enjoy the resort’s varied amenities (including a location for Steve and Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School--www.colgateschools.com). The spa is inspired by the Florida Keys environment and features many specialty treatments, like a Tropical Breeze Escape Massage, a Margarita Salt Loofah, and Indies Glow Facial.

Other Florida Keys options combining boating with a great spa include: Little Palm Island Resort & Spa (www.littlepalmisland.com); Ocean Reef Club (www.oceanreef.com); Cheeca Lodge & Spa (www.cheeca.rockresorts.com); and Ocean Key Resort (www.oceankey.com).

Boca Raton Resort & Club (www.bocaresort.com) features Intracoastal Waterway access to boaters, where they’ll find luxury accommodations, gourmet dining, and the Spa Palazzo. As a special option for boaters, the Yacht Club is the resort’s new boutique hotel within a hotel, with 112 Venetian-style guest rooms and suites offering sweeping views of the Intracoastal and Atlantic.

Fairmont Turnberry Isle (www.fairmont.com) lures lots of boaters and spa-goers, thanks to one of Fairmont’s signature Willow Stream spas. The three-story spa, created by famed spa designer, Tag Galyean, is a tropical sensory feast. The sports-oriented resort also features two Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed golf courses.

The rest of South Florida features many luxurious properties, including: Eden Roc Renaissance Resort & Spa (www.edenrocresort.com); Alexander All-Suite Oceanfront Resort (www.alexanderhotel.com); and Mandarin Oriental (www.manderinoriental.com), to name just a few.

The Gulf Coast of Florida offers even more options, with Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa (www.sanibel-resort.com) providing a perfect example. Boaters are welcome right at the 12-slip marina, with the nearby spa offering the style of Old Florida. South Seas Resort Yacht Harbour/Bayside Marina (www.south-seas-resort.com) and ‘Tween Waters Inn & Marina (www.tween-waters.com) are two other options in this boater and spa-friendly area.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (www.sandestin.com), located in the Beaches of South Walton region of Florida’s Gulf Coast, is another great Sunshine State option for boaters in search of a great marina, resort amenities, and super spa facilities. The sprawling 2,400-acre destination is this area’s only resort situated on both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Baytowne Marina, with 98 slips, provides a perfect base for resort amenities that include a full range of spa services, varied accommodations options, world-class golf, and more.

Up in the Mid-Atlantic, Virginia’s Tides Inn (www.tidesinn.com) is a classic coastal destination for boaters. Once docked at the resort’s private marina, boaters have full access to all of the renovated resort’s facilities (including great golf). Located right on Carters Creek, the modern Spa celebrates the healing power of water. Up in Maryland, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina (www.chesapeakebay.hyatt.com) features the appropriately named Stillwater Spa.

The Northeast also has many resorts and spas on the water. One of the best bets for boaters just might be the Newport Hyatt Regency (www.newport.hyatt.com). Located on Newport’s private Goat Island (where Goat Island Marina is just steps away from the resort), the Newport Hyatt Regency offers easy access to the boater’s Mecca of Newport and a long list of resort amenities that includes Stillwater Spa--where panoramic views of scenic Newport Harbor come free of charge with every appointment!

Out on the west coast, San Diego is a boating and spa lover’s dream destination. The Loews Coronado Bay Resort (www.loewshotels.com) is just one example of the possibilities. With a private 80-slip marina and the new Sea Spa, this is San Diego at its best for a boating and spa combination.

Heading up the California coastline, Catalina Island offers boaters another plethora of possibilities. Fittingly located in the heart of Avalon, Hotel Metropole (www.hotel-metropole) and its spa, A Touch of Heaven (www.atouchofheavendayspa.com), provide the perfect bases for boaters wishing to explore this fascinating island just 22 miles off the California coast.

Big-city boaters should look for boutique hotelier Joie de Vivre’s new Hotel Vitale (www.joiedevivre.com). Located right across from the restored Ferry Building, the new hotel emphasizes the elements of water, light, and nature--including the decor and treatment options in the rooftop Spa Vitale, where nightly happy hours feature complimentary neck and shoulder massages for guests.

Other West Coast destinations include: Washington’s Spa at Semiahmoo (www.semiahmoo.com) or Chrysalis Inn & Spa (www.thechrysalisinn.com); and British Columbia’s King Pacific Lodge (www.kingpacificlodge.com).

There are also some interesting inland options at resorts and spas on lakes of varying sizes. The Great Lakes offer many options, including the new Blue Harbor Resort (www.blueharborresort.com) and Elements Spa on Lake Michigan. In the Finger Lakes, Mirbeau Inn & Spa (www.mirbeau.com) is one of many interesting waterfront resorts in this boater-friendly region. Mountain Harbor Resort on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas is home to the largest marina in the state and the tantalizing Turtle Cove Spa (www.turtlecovespa.com).

Of course, the Caribbean offers lots of excellent resorts and spas that welcome tropically-oriented boaters right at their docks and marinas. Some resorts and spas of interest might include: Biras Creek Resort on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands (www.biras.com); BodyHoliday at LeSPORT on St. Lucia (www.thebodyholiday.com); and CuisinArt Resort & Spa on St. Lucia (www.cuisinartresort.com).

Bermuda-bound boaters should consider the boater program at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess, where the private dock is one of the best addresses on the island (including full resort amenities--like room service!). The Fairmont Southampton Willow Stream Spa (part of a $61 million renovation) is just a short ferry ride away.