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Destination: Unwind, Tahoe Style
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In Lake Tahoe, all that skiing, snowboarding, hiking and biking calls for an equal dose of relaxation. Fortunately, the area’s world-class spas deliver
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BY TINA LASSEN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA FRIEDMAN
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A hot stone massage at the Spa at Squaw Creek; products at the ready for a pedicure at Squaw Creek; a cedar grove by the lakeshore.
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There are spa vacations, and then there are vacations that almost demand a spa. Consider Lake Tahoe, whose stunning scenery is matched by world-class options for outdoor recreation, as well as top-table chefs, casinos and nightclubs.
Tahoe-area spas offer the antidote to all this indulgence. You’ll find treatments to help un-crimp muscles, flush out self-imposed impurities and rejuvenate your skin and your spirit. So go ahead: Play hard. These spas will leave you feeling as pure as the big lake itself.
Stillwater Spa
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort
The clear waters of Lake Tahoe lap right up to the edge of the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. And the resort makes it easy to get out on the water, as it provides kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals, wakeboarding lessons, powerboat charters and cruises aboard the Sierra Cloud, a 55-foot catamaran.
That high-altitude Sierra sunshine takes its toll, so do a little rehab in the resort’s Stillwater Spa. The serene space celebrates the water, with Tahoe-blue glass tile, multi-jet rain showers and 16 treatment rooms named after the lake’s bays and coves.
The Hydra facial ($215) uses a pen-like device that exfoliates and vacuums away dead skin cells while bathing the face in hydrating serums. The Oxygen Infusion treatment ($190) uses pressurized oxygen to infuse the skin with hydrating and firming serums.
While guys may find some spa frills fussy, few would dismiss the Men’s Tune Up ($375). It mans up the treatments with burly names—the Mountain Man massage, the Paul Bunyan pedicure—and caps them off with a scotch and a cigar.
111 Country Club Dr., Incline Village, NV; 775-832-1234; laketahoe.hyatt.com; treatments from $50
The Spa at Squaw Creek
Resort at Squaw Creek
Understated may best describe the Spa at Squaw Creek. Rather than the lavish, over-the-top decor that typifies the current spa style, a multimillion-dollar renovation here created a clean, almost minimalist space using birch wood and river rocks.
River rocks are also key to one of the signature treatments, the Tahoe Hot Stone Massage ($135). The treatment-—now found in many spas—involves placing heated natural stones on the body to provide gentle pressure and penetrating warmth. But the massage therapists here are so skilled, you may just want to skip the gimmicky stone business and go straight for a classic Swedish Relaxation Massage or an Olympic Sports Massage (both $135).
The Olympic reference is a nod to neighboring Squaw Valley USA, a storied ski area that in 1960 hosted the first Winter Games to be held in the United States since 1932 and has produced many of the nation’s champion skiers and snowboarders. In warm weather, this area is a top destination for golfers. More than a dozen notable courses ring the lake, including Squaw Creek’s own 6,931-yard championship course, which snakes through the valley. After you spend a day on the links, the staff at the Spa at Squaw Creek can help knead out the kinks.
400 Squaw Creek Rd., Olympic Valley, CA; 800-327-3353; squawcreek.com; treatments from $80
The Ritz-Carlton Spa
Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
The Ritz brought high-end luxury to Lake Tahoe three years ago when it opened its soaring stone-and-timber lodge by the ski slopes of Northstar Resort, near Truckee. The spa gets full marks for capitalizing on its location—after all, when you’re in the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountains amid old-growth ponderosa pines, who wants to be hidden away in a dim, windowless enclave?
Instead, the 17,000-square-foot spa brings the outdoors in. Sunshine floods through the generous windows of the couples’ massage room, which is paneled in pine, like a mountain cabin. The 90-minute Couples Journey ($480) includes a bamboo body scrub, a soak in a deep copper tub, an olive-and-fig body-butter rub and a full-body massage.
Elsewhere, the scent of piñon infuses the steam room, while the sauna even has a window that lets you peer out at the pines. Floor-to-ceiling glass brightens a relaxation area that has cushioned chaise longues and a bubbling hydrotherapy pool. Doors open to an adults-only outdoor pool where you can swim while gazing up at mountainsides flecked with fall foliage. It’s a fine way to cap off a day of hiking in the mountains—and plot tomorrow’s route.
13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Ct., Truckee, CA; 530-562-3000; ritzcarlton.com; treatments from $40
Reflections
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
A wild weekend in Stateline, Nevada, can come in many guises—late-night casinos and clubbing, for example, or steering a mountain bike down the trails along Tahoe’s eastern shore.
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe is convenient for both. The resort anchors Stateline’s version of the Strip: the stretch of U.S. Highway 50 where the biggest casinos cluster. A 13-mile drive north on the same road brings you to Spooner Lake, where mountain bikers can access the Flume Trail and its high-Tahoe views.
Whether you’ve been pedaling or playing roulette, a good place to spin out of the action is at Harrah’s spa, Reflections. While the atmosphere could use an upgrade, the service is warm and attentive. It seems only fitting that mountain bikers should check out the mud wraps: Choose the Enzymatic Sea Mud Wrap ($130), and you’ll be painted with a body mask of warm mud and seaweed, then wrapped up like a burrito for 40 minutes (which can feel cozy or claustrophobic, depending on how you view such things). Mud wraps, which have been around since ancient Egypt, are believed to stimulate blood flow, draw out toxins and balance the body’s pH. When you emerge with a warm glow and supersoft skin, who’s to argue?
15 Hwy. 50, Stateline, NV; 775-588-6611; harrahslaketahoe.com; treatments from $70
Note: The resort spas listed here all accept non-guests.
EAT
River Grill
This casual spot has a great deck on Tahoe’s “other” waterfront, the gurgling Truckee River. Its popular happy hour offers deals on burgers, ribs and shrimp tacos. 55 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA; 530-581-2644; dinner for two, $70*
The Soule Domain
Charlie Soule, a Tahoe native, prepares such dishes as pan-roasted Alaskan cod and grilled ono with ginger-jalapeño-mango ponzu. 9983 Cove St., Brockway, CA; 530-546-7529; dinner for two, $75
1862 Restaurant & Saloon
This Western-style steak house serves dishes like elk rack with beurre blanc. 2001 Foothill Rd., Genoa, NV; 888-737-1862; dinner for two, $85
Evan’s American Gourmet Café
Chef Jimi Lasquete prepares dishes that range from duck with Grand Marnier to pork ribs glazed with rum and achiote. 536 Emerald Bay Rd., South Lake Tahoe, CA; 530-542-1990; dinner for two, $100
Plumpjack Café
Plumpjack brings regional foods and a seductive wine list to Squaw Valley. The bar serves up $10 wood-fired pizzas on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 1920 Squaw Valley Rd., Olympic Valley, CA; 530-583-1578; dinner for two, $90
Dragonfly
Malaysian, Japanese and Thai influences make their way onto the menu, which offers entrées like lemongrass marinated diver scallops. 10118 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA; 530-587-0557; dinner for two, $80
*Meal prices do not include drinks, tax or tip.
STAY
RCI affiliated resorts in and around Lake Tahoe include:
Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort 4066
On-site amenities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, a sauna and a restaurant. 901 Ski Run Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
Member Review:
“Good location for any activity and base for day trips.”
Tahoe Beach & Ski Club 0924
There’s a heated outdoor pool as well as hot tubs, a fitness center, a sauna, game room and playground. 3601 Lake Tahoe Blvd. (Hwy. 50), South Lake Tahoe, CA
Member Review:
“Fabulous views of the lake and the Sierra Nevada.”
Olympic Village Inn 0916
A family-friendly resort with views of the Sierra Nevada. 1909 Chamonix Place, Olympic Valley, CA
Member Review:
“Right in Squaw Valley, steps away from the chairlifts and close to activities.”
Americana Village 0485
Featuring a heated outdoor pool, a Jacuzzi, a dry sauna and an exercise room. 3845 Pioneer Trail, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Member Review:
“Very family friendly. The staff is enthusiastic and helpful.”
Tahoe Seasons Resort 2627
Enjoy on-site amenities, such as a pub, swimming pool and tennis court. Casinos and shopping are nearby. 3901 Saddle Rd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
Member Review:
“Clean, comfortable, friendly staff. Fantastic scenery.”
Club Tahoe 0193
Enjoy the resort’s racquetball and tennis courts, indoor and outdoor spas, billiards and arcade. 914 Northwood Blvd., Incline Village, NV
Member Review:
“Unit was comfortable and staff was friendly and helpful.”
For complete member reviews (as member reviews have been condensed) and additional resort listings, visit RCI.com
or call 800-338-7777 (Weeks) or 877-968-7476 (Points). Club Members, please call your specific Club or RCI telephone number.
Non-RCI affiliated resorts:
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort
Newly renovated, with lakefront accommodations and its own beach. 111 Country Club Dr., Incline Village, NV; 775-832-1234; laketahoe.hyatt.com; doubles from $235 per night
Resort at Squaw Creek
A full resort with great dining and an outdoor pool and hot tubs overlooking Squaw Valley. 400 Squaw Creek Rd., Olympic Valley, CA; 530-583-6300; squawcreek.com; doubles from $199 per night
Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
A luxury hotel with superior service and full amenities. 13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Ct., Truckee, CA; 530-562-3000; ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $219 per night
968 Hotel
An eco-conscious hotel with clever decor made of repurposed materials. 968 Park Ave., South Lake Tahoe, CA; 530-544-0968; 968parkhotel.com; doubles from $89 per night
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Published: Fall 2012
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