Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa ~ Miami Beach, Florida – This morning we had the great privilege to witness another of God’s beautiful sunrises here at Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa.

This morning, after another wonderful bowl of Canyon Ranch’s Alpine Muesli for breakfast, we were off to the 70,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch Wellness Spa, the largest in Florida.

For thousands of years, people have found that water movement and temperature variations provide relief to muscle and joint problems and create a higher sense of relaxation.

We were about to experience a complete suite of European-inspired thermal spa cabins, tubs, and aquathermal bathing experiences called Aquavana.

As you can probably imagine, cameras are not allowed in the Canyon Ranch Spa, so you will have to use your imagination coupled with this stock photograph from the Canyon Ranch photographers.

I started my Aquavana experience in the Herbal Lanconium (a warm, misty ceramic-tiled room with heated individual seating thrones and a color-changing fiber optic ceiling).  This room was soothingly warm, not hot, very humid, and the air was infused with wonderful smelling fresh herbs.  An absolutely delightful place to start the relaxation process.

Next, I was off to Experiential Rains (Invigorating, multisensory cooling rains – select from Polar Mist, Atlantic Storm, or Caribbean Monsoon with thunder and lightening effects).  I did all three!  Here, you walk into a small, shell shaped shower where changing colored-lights, mists, showers of water, and different sound effects create a relaxing way to shower your cares away.  Nice!

My third stop on my Aquavana journey was spent in a Finnish Sauna.  This was your traditional, wood-lined dry-heat sauna with a splash of herbal infused air.  I love dry heat, which is one of the reasons we live in Scottsdale, Arizona.

After beginning a good sweat in the dry heat, I was off to the Crystal Steam Room (a large natural crystal and optical effects provide a meditative focus as you soak up steam enhanced with essential oils).  This was by far the hottest steam room I have ever been in.  If memory serves, it was 114º in there.  There was absolutely no way I could spend my usual 15-20 minutes soaking up the steam.  In fact, after about 7 minutes, I ran out the door looking for mercy.  Wow!  That was delicious, and HOT!

Fortunately, right across the way was the Canyon Ranch Igloo (Cool air and three Arctic Mist experiences – your choice of menthol, mint, or eucalyptus – enhanced by twinkling fiber optics.  What a wonderful way to chill out after steaming away in the steam room.

After these five experiences, Aquavana also offers a large Hydrospa where jets of water continue to melt your tension away, followed by Thermal Heated Loungers where you can take a little cat nap to further your deep relaxation.

And if that weren’t enough, after all of this, there is the Atlantic Spa (Rooftop hyrdrospa enhanced by ocean views and beach pebbles).

Wow!  I was one relaxed puppy after all of this.  I am looking forward to going back again tomorrow!  I want more!

After all of this pampering, we were off to the ultra-chic Bal Harbour Shops for lunch at Carpaccio where we noshed on scrumptious Italian fare and Carol made the Miami Beach debut of her new Latin-inspired fedora.

We spent the late-afternoon cruising the coastline along highway A1A, and in the evening found ourselves enjoying absolutely wonderful cuisine at Wish (Conde Naste’s  “50 Best New Restaurants in the World!).

We will tell you a lot more about Wish Restaurant in a separate post.

For now, check out the cool frozen Mojito we enjoyed at Wish while we head off to bed to enjoy our day’s memories, and sleep in our wonderfully comfortable beds at Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, Miami Beach.

Goodnight.