The Garden Spa at MacArthur Place in Sonoma, California
Julie Register visited this hotel spa in California in January 2004

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Spa Botanical Garden

I gaze out on the snow that has coated my lawn in mid-March and wish it was warmer. I want to plant some pansies. I am ready for a little color in my yard! My mind drifts to a dormant garden I saw in January at MacArthur Place in Sonoma, California. I wonder if it has greened up and filled with Spring's first blossoms. The Spa Botanical Garden is a part of MacArthur Place's beautiful and interesting landscaping. Follow the flagstone pathways through the property's seven acres, and you pass sculptures, fountains, hedgerows, fruit trees, the pool and whirlpool - even a people-sized chess board. Benches invite you to sit and enjoy this special place. The Spa Botanical Garden was planted by The Garden Spa with the assistance of Essentiel Elements, experts in the field of aromatherapy. Their products, used in the Spa, are based on pure essential oils - the highly concentrated extracts from plants, herbs and flowers. These oils produce a wide variety of beneficial effects. The plants in the Spa Botanical Garden represent just some of the plants that produce the essential oils used at the Spa. In the garden, you can touch, smell an learn more about them:

Anise - Wild herb - seeds promotes sleep
Anise grows wild but is also easily cultivated. Anise is good for digestion and is a spicy essential oil which is deeply moisturizing to delicate lip tissue. Frestns breath. Put anise seeds in hot milk and drink to promote sleep.
Peppermint -Enhances mental clarity
A common herb used in teas, Peppermint essential oil is much more concentrated and helps clear the mind and stimulate the senses. Excellent for joint and muscle pain. Peppermint also eases headaches and helps reduce fatigue.
Chamomile - Relaxing and Soothing to all skin types
Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory and is highly effective against skin irritations even those that are chemically sensitive. A precious and delicate essential oil, chamomile relaxes the soul and revitalizes sensitive skin.
Clary Sage - Promotes emotional balance
Clary Sage is a potent essential oil - one of the most effective in reducing the "blues" and emotional turmoil. Sage relaxes, relieves irritation, helps with depression, and in skin care aids in relieving dry, dehydrated skin.
Geranium - Calming the Psyche
Ceranium is a hardy botanical excellent balancing oil production and stimulating new cell generation. It had an uplifting scent, promotes healing of the epidermis and is also stimulating to the lymphatic system. Replenishes skin.
Rose - The Queen of Essential Oils
Famous for its beautiful scent this precious essential oil is excellent for all skin types to tone, reduces redness, reduce inflammation and purify. Rose is prized for its ability to gently but powerfully uplift and inspire.
French Lavender - Relaxes the senses and purifies the skin
Lavender relaxes the nervous system and calms the psyche. It is excellent as a soothing treatment to encourage a restful sleep. One of the most useful essential oils. Lavender is naturally antiseptic., helping to purify and detoxify the skin.
Rosemary - Stimulates the senses and energizes the skin
Rosemary rejuvenates the soul while energizing the body. Rosemary erases mental fatigue and helps one focus and achieve. One of the most prized essential oils in reviving circulation and increasing your energy level.

The Garden Spa

Nestled in the heart of the MacArthur Place's garden, you'll find the cozy Garden Spa. It offers seven indoor treatment rooms and two outdoor garden teahouse treatment rooms, a lounge, men's and women's locker rooms, co-ed steam room, and The Garden Shop. The decor is garden-themed - sunny yellow walls display large colorful flower portraits, grass green carpet covers the hallways, terra cotta pots serve as wash basins, The Garden Spa offers treatments based around the benefits of a specific fruit, flower, herb, or element from the earth. Each treatment uses "single note" essential oils, rather than a blend, allowing you to experience the unique qualities of the essential oil. Only the purest essential oils which have been obtained through steam distillation are used in The Garden Spa's facials, massage and body treatments.

I was scheduled for a Red Red Wine Signature Treatment - a combination of Red Wine Grapeseed Bath, Grapeseed Body Polish, and Grapeseed Essential Oil Massage. I checked in at the reception desk and was escorted to the Women's Locker Room. I exchanged my clothes for a robe and slippers. Since I had time for a steam bath, I wrapped in a towel and stepped in. I joined a couple who were visiting the spa for the day but not staying on the property. The woman excused herself and left for a few seconds. She returned with a handfull of hair conditioner which she shared with her husband and me. She instructed us to liberally apply it to our hair - the moisture and heat of the steam combines with the conditioner to make your hair extremely soft. Great idea! After 10 minutes or so, I had had enough and left to shower and head for the waiting area. There were cookies, fruit, juice and water at the refreshment bar. At the appointed time, my therapist, Mary, came to collect me. She escorted me to a charming "garden" room. On one side of the room was a massage table in front of a wall decorated with vivid, larger-than-life sunflowers. On the other side of the room was a deep, clawfoot tub beneath a large portrait of a rose. The bath was filled with bubbles from grapeseed gel with rose petals sprinkled on top. Rose petals also formed a heart on the bath mat. Mary dimmed the lights and let me enjoy a soak in the tub in solitude. I relaxed in the hot, deep water until Mary returned for the grapeseed body scrub. I dried off and transferred to the massage table. I started on my back. Mary covered my eyes with an eye pillow and adjusted the automatic table to raise my knees - no bolster was necessary. Through the open window I could hear a fountain. I was very relaxed. Mary applied a mixture of ground grapeseed suspended in rosemany lotion all over my body to exfoliate. When it was time for me to turn over, Mary covered my back with a hot towel while she exfoliated my legs and arms. She finished with a rosemary hydrosol. I rinsed off in a shower shaped like a large sunflower. My skin had become silky smooth. While I showered, Mary changed the linens on the treatment table. I dried off and returned for a heavenly massage with grapeseed oil. What a wonderful treatment! My skin felt wonderful and I was completely relaxed. I was thankful my room was only steps from the spa!

Use of the spa facility, pool and fitness center, which is located next to the spa, is complimentary for hotel guests and for walk-in guests with the purchase of any spa treatment.

Other treatments include:

Fruit

Sweet Orange Massage - joyous, refreshing, relieves anxiety
Mandarin Orange & Pink Grapefruit Scrub - nourishing, hydrating, soothes the senses
Red Wine Grapeseed Massage - moisturizing, improves circulation
Sonoma Olive Oil Body Polish - invigorating, nourishing, exfoliating
Organic Fruit Facial - designed around your specific skin type

 

Vegetable

Pumpkin Body Wrap - gentle, exfoliating, deeply moistuizing
Carrot Vitamin Facial - hydrating, nutritious, combats free radicals
Eight Greens Facial - firming, lifting, hydrating, anti-blemish
Pumpkin Facial - rich in vitamins, enriches skin and leaves it glowing

 

 

Flowers

Chamomile Massage - calming, relaxing, comforting, sedates nervous system
Jasmine Massage - beautiful, fragrant, good for dry sensitive skin
Ylang Ylang Massage - euphoric, enhances relationships, anti-depressant
Rose Massage - lifts the spirit, gentle to the skin, peaceful
Rose Petal Body Polish - gentle exfoliatioin, opens the heart, fragrant
Lomi Lomi Massage - traditional Hawaiian style massage

Herbs

Clary Sage Massage - balances energy, calming, sense of well-being
Rosemary Massage - energizes the body, good for muscles and joints, helps focus
French Lavender Massage - relaxing, calms the psyche, relieves tension
French Lavender Body Polish - deep cleansing, promotes restful sleep
Lavender Marine Body Wrap - calming, hydrating, detoxifying
Peppermint Foot Soak with Reflexology - cooling, refreshing, enhances mental clarity
Stone Crop Facial - soothing for all skin types, rehyrating, calming, reduces redness
Men's Seven Herb Facial - nourishing for underappreciated skin, reuces shaving irritation

Earth

Sandalwood Massage - grounding, awakens the consciousness
Eucalyptus Scrub - invigorating, warms muscles, improves breathing
Garden Mud Wrap - detoxifying, exfoliating, nourishing
French Rose Clay Body Wrap - refining, softening, hydrating, enhances cell renewal
Garden Stone Massage - healing, soothing, deeply relaxing

Other

For Couples - enjoy any massage or body treatment side-by-side in the couple's room
Japanese Teahouses - all massages are available, weather permitting, in the private garden Japanese teahouses
Microdermabrasion - upgrade any facial with a microdermabrasion. Exfoliates the skin reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles
Waxing - lip, chin, brow, bikini, and leg

Signature Treatments (100 minutes each)

The Rose Garden (Rose Petal Bath, Rose Petal Body Polish, and Rose Essential Oil massage)
Red Red Wine (Red Wine Grapeseed Bath, Grapeseed Body Polish, and Grapeseed Essential Oil Massage)
Lavender Dreams (Lavender Bath, Lavender Mrine Body Wrap, Lavender Essentila Oil Massage)
The Citrus Tree (Sweet Orange and Pink Grapefruit Bath, Mandarin Orange and Pink Grapfruit Body Scrub, and Sweet Orange Massage)
The Tropical Island (Bali Sea Salt Scrub, Tropical Flower Bath, and Exotic Island Flower Massage)
Adam (This energizing body treatment is designed specifically for men. Eucalyptus Body Scrub, Peppermint Bath, Rosemary Massage)
Healing Stones & Garden Mud (Nourishing Garden Mud Wrap followed by a Healing Hot Stone Massage)
Mineral Bath & Essential Oil Massage (20-minute Mineral Bath and 80-minute Essential Oil Massage
Garden Spa Facial (A deluxe 100-minute facial utilizing elements from the garden. Includes face, hand and foot massage.

Once a 300-acre vineyard and ranch, MacArthur Place now combines the comfort of a modern luxury hotel and the charm of a historic country inn in the heart of Northern California wine country. Guests stay in 64 individually appointed rooms, suites, and cottages that come with top-of-the-line amenities like down comforters, oversize showers, and fluffy bathrobes as well as two-line phones, data ports, voice mail, DVD players and cable TV (surround sound). This is a wonderful place to stay if you want to visit the famous wineries of Sonoma and Napa Valley. Somoma Plaza with its inviting shops, restaurants and galleries and other attractions is just a short stroll away. Bicycles are available to explore the area.

Index

Click HERE for photos of The Garden Spa at MacArthur Place	Click HERE for photos of a Guest Room at MacArthur Place
Click HERE for photos of MacArthur Place	Click HERE for Photos of Beringer Vineyards
Contact MacArthur Place • Address:  29 East MacArthur Street Sonoma, CA 95476 • Phone: 707-938-2929 • Spa Phone: 707-933-3193 • Web Site: www.macarthurplace.com More Spas in California • California Spa Directory • Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort, Calistoga • Osmosis Day Spa, Freestone • Tea Garden Springs, Mill Valley • Amadeus Spa at Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, Napa • Nob Hill Spa at the Huntington Hotel, San Francisco • MacArthur Place, Sonoma • Raindance Spa at The Lodge at Sonoma, Sonoma Related Resources • Napa Valley US • Wine Country Guide • Napa Valley Wine Train  • The Best of the Wine Country • Calistoga Balloons • Napa Valley Grapevine Wreath Company	FYI • It's recommended that spa reservations are made at least two weeks in advance to assure desired times. • You may request male or female provider. • Cancellation Policy: You must notify the spa at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointments. 50% of the value of the treatments will be charded for cancellations or changed within 24 hours. Cancellations or no-shows within two hours of the scheduled treatment time will be charged at full value. Same day appointments are non-cancelable and are charged at full value. • Please let your provider know if you have any special physical or medical needs, or are uncomfortable during your treatment for any reason. Keep in mind that many of the treatments are physical in nature, meant to reduce stress, relieve tense muscles and muscle fatigue, stimulate lymphatic drainage or exfoliate your skin. As a result, a few guests may experience a variety of symptoms following a Spa treatment including, but not limited to soreness, minor bruising, skin redness and/or slight skin rash.

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Photos copyright 2004, Julie Register