Planning the Perfect Day with Friends at the Spa

What could make a wonderful relaxing Spa Day even better? Sharing it with friends of course! Glen Ivy Hot Springs is an ideal location for gathering with friends, family, even coworkers, for a celebration or just some “chill time.” Here are some spa pointers for planning a great day:

1. Is there a celebration part of your day? Whether a bridal party, birthday or work retreat, it is a good idea to make a guest list and jot down some notes of what you expect from your day. That may include time to relax together, meet or open gifts, have lunch, enjoy a treatment and take a class… there are so many fun things that you may do together as a group. If there are more than four people in your party, you may want to create a loose schedule for your day with the highlights, but be sure to leave time open for relaxing.

2. Reserve your Space. When you come to the Hot Springs as a group, it can be nice to reserve a space that will be all your own for the day. This ensures you have a comfortable and semi private setting to visit in, concierge service, and other perks. Depending on the size of your group, choose from Solé Lounges, Cabañas, or the Paradise Falls deck.

3. Reserve your treatments. It is recommended you reserve your treatments up to six weeks in advance, especially when you are with a group and hope for similar schedules. In addition to a full traditional spa menu with massage, facial and nail care, Glen Ivy Hot Springs offers signature treatments. The Grotto Moisturizing Body Treatment with friends is a fun social spa experience, reservations are required. Get more spa for your dollar when you try one of our current treatment specials, like the Glen Ivy Getaway. Includes Spa admission, your choice of a 50 minute Swedish Massage, Glen Ivy Facial, OR Body Treatment, plus Grotto Admission, and lunch! Monday-Thursday (excluding holidays). $160 Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. $180

4. Take a class. Consider taking one of the many classes or tours offered as part of our Guest Programs. Choose from a variety of options that include fitness, gardening, cooking with Chef Bill, or guided labyrinth walks.

5. Dress the part! To ensure you are most comfortable through the day, here are a few tips on What to Bring. Pack as you would for a day at the beach, bringing a bathing suit, towel, flip flops and a robe. Commemorate the day with some “Spa at Home” items from the Spa Lifestyle Store. Choose from a selection of clothing, gifts, and body care, as well anything you may have forgotten for your day while you’re here.

6. Make a lunch plan. Under the artful eye of award-winning executive Chef Bill Wavrin, Glen Ivy Hot Springs offers a variety of dining options. Enjoy Mediterranean Cuisine of the Sun at Café Solé, try some fresh sushi at our newest restaurant, Sunflower, or order snacks poolside. If you reserve a cabaña you may also enjoy food and beverage service, an extended wine list, specialty cakes and cupcakes*, and the option to preorder your lunch for the day.

*Specialty cakes and cupcakes must be ordered at least 3 days in advance.

Summer is usually the time to pack up the car and head off to your favorite vacation spots, but between hotel reservations, gasoline, food and other travel expenses, a full blown vacation can get pretty pricey.  Well our own Glen Ivy staff is here to help! That’s right, they shared their favorite local activities and hopefully you can take some time to explore them! Whether you’re a  nature lover, adrenaline junky, or a history buff, there is something for everyone and the best part is—it’s all in your own backyard!

Chino Hills State Park, Chino Hills- Perfect for camping, hiking, bicycle rides, and horseback riding

Natural History Museum, Los Angeles- Travel back in time to see dinosaurs and come face to face with wild animals

Mt. Baldy Tram, Mt. Baldy- Take a scenic chair ride or go hiking

California Missions – Walk the grounds of the historic Spanish Missions in San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Barbara, and Ventura

Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Ana- Rediscover the wonder of the natural world and touch and feed the numerous animals featured

Skull Canyon Zip Lining, Corona- Enjoy some hiking and experience several zipline courses on 160 acres of undisturbed mountainous terrain

Farmers Market, Los Angeles- A favorite local destination for food lovers. Grab a bite to eat and enjoy a little shopping

Temecula Wineries, Temecula- Enjoy award-winning wines from over 30 different wineries and incredible winery restaurants

Downtown San Diego, San Diego- Catch live music, browse shops and boutiques, and grab a bite to eat at one of their 150 restaurants, cafes, bars, and taverns

Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach- Explore exhibits and discover everything from sunny Southern California to the frigid waters of the North Pacific

Do you have any favorite local day trips to add to our list? We’d love to hear about them! Just leave a comment below.

Glen Ivy Day Spa Brea and Valencia are celebrating the men and women who commit their lives to bettering ours. Throughout the month of July we’re  happy to offer a Complimentary Service Enhancement on any full spa treatment (50 minutes or longer) to Nurses, Firefighters, Police, Teachers, and Military Personnel. Simply show valid ID and work badge at check-in to receive your free upgrade.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs, Corona is jumping in on the festivities this 4th of July with the Stars and Stripes Package. This package (available on Monday, July 4, 2011 only) was specifically created for you and your friends to celebrate freedom and friendship together. Enjoy two for one admission at the weekday rate, two Grotto Body Treatments and lunch for two at award-winning Cafe Sole for just $126 (can’t beat a $56 savings!).  So grab a friend and head on over to the Hot Springs to celebrate your independence (who knows, maybe a trip to the spa will become a new 4th of July tradition)!

If you can’t make it on the 4th, don’t forget that the Hot Springs offers 15% off spa admission for military, police, firefighters, nurses and teachers with valid identification.

However you choose to celebrate Independence Day, all of us from Glen Ivy wish you a safe and fun holiday!

Sunny summer months are the best time to kick it into gear and start eating and moving your way to lasting changes!

Meg Root is an ACE certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist with over 25 years in the fitness and spa industry.

Shorter days. Colder temperatures. Rainy weather. No wonder so many of us fail to follow through with the healthy commitments we made to ourselves on New Years Day! Looking back, one could argue that January is the WORST month of the year to attempt a major lifestyle makeover.

But with those dismal winter months behind us, I’m here to tell you that there is no BETTER time than the warm, sunny summer months to kick it into gear and start eating and moving your way to lasting changes. Not only is the weather more favorable, but there is something about summer that just smacks of fun, adventure and the great outdoors. And living in Southern California means that we have an abundance of the very ingredients that allow us to move out of our typical routines in search of something new and different.  So, for the next couple of months, I give you permission to throw out the same old predictable approach that I usually preach—goal setting, writing it down, making an appointment with yourself, blah, blah, blah!– and replace it with a sense of playful adventure that puts a healthy dose of  WOW! into your wellness.

Think hike, not walk.

While there is nothing easier and more convenient than a consistent walking program, the summer is a great time to head off road and explore the trails in your community. Turning your walk into a hike means that the varied terrain along with the extra time spent outside enjoying nature (and burning calories) will also benefit your bottom line–literally. Also trending in fitness these days–training for local races and charity events. Choose something you care about and get moving for a good cause–not to mention for your own health!

Think market, not store.

Ditch the grocery store one day a week and venture out to your local farmer’s market. These days, you don’t have to travel to Provence to enjoy a fabulous outdoor market experience (although, that would be nice!). Chances are you have something just as inspiring within 10 miles of your own house.  Have fun with it–leave the paper and plastic at home and bring a woven basket to carry your produce. First thing in the basket should always be a gorgeous bunch of flowers. Then shop around for one new colorful vegetable or unique ingredient you are not used to cooking with and give it a try when you get home. Check out my favorite foodie website, food52.com. They have a fun page titled “foodpickle,” that could probably tell you just what to do with that bunch of purple kale you just bought!

Think social, not solo.

Hey, I’m the first one to seek out the solitude of a solo workout or a deserted stretch of beach for my chair and umbrella. But summer seems like such a great time to do just the opposite. I love watching the fun and camaraderie of beach volleyball games, group surfing lessons, outdoor bootcamp workouts, and music in the park. And when you start hanging out with people who love to do these things, things that get your body moving and lift your spirit at the same time, you begin to want to do more of it yourself.

Now, you may think that I’m giving you the summer off from your healthy aspirations. Well, I’m not! What I hope will happen, and I have a strong feeling that it will, is that putting the fun factor into moving more, healthy shopping and connecting with like minded people, will lay the foundation for the cold winter months when inspiration can be hard to find. You’ve heard of Christmas in July. Well, today I am declaring New Year’s Day in June!

What will be your healthy resolution for the summer months ahead?

Meg Root

Celebrate Father’s Day Sunday, June 19

Does your dad deserve the title of “Silliest Father?” For all the reasons we love Dads, making us laugh and smile is one of our favorites. Taking the lead from our playful June Challenge, we want to hear about your father’s humorous ways and show stealing antics! In 30 words or less, tell us what makes Dad so silly. Does he dance around like a maniac just to make you smile or did he make up silly games to play with you as a kid? Whatever silly things your father does, post your entry right here on our blog. Just add a comment below by Wednesday, June 13 to be entered to win some great prizes.

The winners will be announced on Friday, June 17 right here on our blog and on the Glen Ivy  Facebook page.

Now for the good stuff..the prizes!

One grand prize winner will receive two admission, lunch, and Grotto passes to use at Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona, California. Our two runner-up winners will each receive a “2-for-1″ Admission voucher. There are plenty of chances to win so what are you waiting for?! Brag about dad!

Well folks, the result are in! The grand prize winner for our 2011 MUDder’s Day Photo Contest is……Amy and Vickie from week one! Their prize? A $100 Glen Ivy gift card!

Thank you to everyone who participated and voted! You truly made it a MUDder’s Day contest to remember. As always, see you in the mud!

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day for the last day of our MUDder’s Day photo contest. Moms gathered in Club Mud with their daughters, sons and friends and as the pictures show, had a great time playing in the mud! Congratulations to Anthony and his mom for having the winning photo for this week!

Stay tuned to vote for our grand prize winner who will win a $100 Glen Ivy gift card! Voting starts Tuesday, May 31!

It was a cool day for our third week of our MUDder’s Day photo contest but that didn’t stop some moms from getting muddy! This week’s winner goes to Diana and her group who all struck their fiercest pose!

There is still one more chance to win two Grotto passes and a $100 Glen Ivy gift card! We will be snapping photos on Wednesday, May 25 at 1pm in Club Mud! Voting for the best MUDder’s Day photo will start on our blog on Monday, May 30 so stay tuned!

For full contest details click here.

The sun was shining and our moms were smiling for the second week of our MUDder’s Day photo contest at the Hot Springs. Moms and daughters lathered themselves up in Club Mud as their Mother’s Day celebrations continued. We snapped their photo and are excited to announce this week’s winner is……..yoga enthusiasts, Erika and Susan who win 2 passes to enjoy the Grotto!

Don’t worry if you have missed the past few weeks of the contest! There are still three more chances to win! Just meet us in Club Mud every Wednesday in May from 1-2pm for a chance to win passes to the Grotto and a $100 Glen Ivy gift card!

For complete contest details, click here.

Our MUDder’s Day photo contest sure did start off with a BANG! Quite a few moms were starting their Mother’s Day celebration early and what better way to celebrate than to get muddy! We captured some great mother & daughter moments, moms enjoying a relaxing spa day solo, and even a son who is framing his muddy moment to give to his mom! This week’s prize of 2 admission passes to enjoy The Grotto goes to the muscular team of Amy and Vickie!

If you missed out on all of the muddy fun don’t worry! Meet is in Club Mud every Wednesday in May from 1-2pm for your chance to win! Weekly winner will win 2 admission passes to The Grotto and our grand prize winner will receive a $100 Glen Ivy gift card!

For more MUDder’s Day photos, visit us on Facebook. For complete contest details click here.