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2 0 1 7 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 49 Wine Country Wellness Californians are known to soak up a lot more than wine in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Residents have long enjoyed the area's natural mineral waters, and today's spa menus overflow with treatments using grape seeds and skins, rich in antioxidants and polyphenols. At the Kenwood Inn and Spa, treat yourself to an 80-minute crushed Cabernet scrub and massage, or a heated honey wine wrap. Add a 25-minute vinotherapy bath to your treatment, and you'll soak in Pinot Noir bath salts or sparkling salt and grape elixirs, while sip- ping a glass of bubbly. But it's not all about grapes in wine country. At Sonoma's Osmosis Day Spa Sanc- tuary, an innovative, eco-conscious day spa, the specialty is a cedar enzyme "bath." Guests immerse themselves to the chin in warm, finely ground cedar, rice bran and plant enzymes. Heated by natural fermentation, the treatment is said to aid digestion, improve circulation and relieve muscle pain. Or for first-class pampering, lavish accommodations and a three-star Michelin dinner, visit the 14,000-square-foot all- suite Meadowood Spa, and choose a curated treatment package such as "From the Earth," which includes a hot and cold stone mas- sage and a black walnut scrub enhanced with custom-blended aromatherapy oils. Located on a private, two-hundred-fifty- acre estate, Meadowood also offers golf, tennis, croquet, hiking and swimming. Om Sweet Om When yoga came to America, some of the first studios appeared in Hollywood and San Francisco. The practice has since become a way of life for countless Califor- nians, and hundreds of top-notch centers, from ritzy to rustic, cater to beginners and gurus alike. One of the world's most renowned yoga retreats is tucked into the Santa Ynez Mountains above Santa Barbara. At the White Lotus Foundation Center, guests spend their days doing sun salutations in a canyon with ocean views, hiking through old-growth oaks, meditating in an under- ground Hopi-style kiva temple and swimming in natural sandstone pools. Massages are available, gourmet vegetarian fare is served, and sleeping quarters are pri- vate accommodations, heated yurts or creekside camping under the stars. Health First When the sublime Golden Door opened in Escondido in 1958, it was a pioneer among American spas. It's since become one of the world's finest health resorts, regularly hosting Hollywood's biggest stars. Golden Door specializes in fitness, Eastern philos- ophy, relaxation and opulence. Guests pre-arrange completely customized four- to seven-day packages with fitness options as diverse as Pilates, fencing, tennis, dance, cardio sculpting and archery. Best of all, each stay includes facial treatments, herbal wraps, mani-pedis and daily in-room massages. Another great (and more affordable) option is The Oaks at Ojai, where healthy weight loss and conscious eating are emphasized, and the ever-changing list of activities might include ballet dancing, hula hooping, Qigong, hiking and aqua Zumba. Indulge in a seasonal sugar rub (think Pixie tangerine, lavender or fig), lemongrass lavender pedicure or hot Himalayan salt stone massage. Ultimately, California's spa culture promises visitors far more than relaxation; it ensures that this time you won't need a vacation from your vacation. You'll return home relaxed and recharged—that is, if you can bring yourself to return home at all. » FIND YOUR SPA Kabuki Hot Springs kabukisprings.com Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa twobunchpalms.com Hacienda Hot Springs haciendahotsprings.com Esalen esalen.org Tassajara Hot Springs sfzc.org/tassajara Indian Springs indianspringscalistoga.com Meadowood meadowood.com/spa Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary osmosis.com Kenwood Inn and Spa kenwoodinn.com White Lotus whitelotus.org Golden Door goldendoor.com The Oaks at Ojai oaksspa.com