There’s a first time for everything, but the key is doing it right. I have to say, I feel like I lucked out finding the Golden Haven. It’s not modern or hip and to some, it might appear a bit rustic, yet the rooms are large and clean and it’s apparent from the moment you pull in that the staff cares about the place and the guests. No lie, even the Gardener was cool and when he noticed me admiring his flowers, pointed out his favorites and encouraged me to smell em. This kind of thing can’t be faked and it can’t be taught in a meeting.
I don’t like confined spaces and I sure as hell don’t like being touched, so the idea of getting a mud bath and massage held no appeal to me. Alas, I’ve been running hard over the past few months and needed to try something a bit different, so I put aside my issues and decided to give it a shot.
Service with a smile.
You can have the nicest facilities in the world, but if the staff is rude, I won’t come back. In this case, the staff went above and beyond to help me feel totally comfortable about the entire process. They were friendly and total pros who had a sense of humor and the spa attendant Secret (no, it’s not, that was really her name) was even cool with taking a few photos since I wasn’t trying to get mud on the camera.
Yeah, it’s dirty (in the best possible way)
And yes, it feels really weird at first but the mud isn’t super thick and you can move around in it a bit. Yes, it takes a minute to relax and get used to it if you’ve never done it before but after you do, it kind of feels like you’re floating in a warm blanket. While you’re in the tub, the attendant puts a cold towel over your head which helps cool you down while the mud is doing its thing. It tricks your brain and makes for a much more serene experience. After about 10 minutes, I was in a state of total bliss and didn’t want to get out.
The Healing Waters.
Secret explained everything in regards to the healing properties of the hot springs and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t paying much attention since I was on a kind of natural high. I’m sure you can find out all about it on the website but whatever is in the water, it works. After the mud bath, you shower off and thankfully, they have good water pressure. Then you get in the hot tub. Before you think “Damn, I could use a cold beverage.” they’ve already got you covered with some ice-cold lemon water.
The cool down.
You get out, dry off and then you’re led to a dimly lit room that smells like lemon grass, where you lie down for a few minutes with cucumbers over your eyes. I know, it sounds goofy, but I really don’t care, I was feeling super groovy. By this point, I was so relaxed that I noticed my own breathing had switched into a meditation style, I was inhaling through my nose, exhaling through my mouth and it was slow and steady. The magic was working.
Putting aside my issues.
As I said, I don’t like being touched and I tend to be very guarded about my personal space. But my back has been fucked up and these folks clearly knew what they were doing so I went with it. The therapist they gave me could not have been better and one look at her ink told me she was going to be cool. I told her that I’d never done anything like this before and she went out of her way to put my mind at ease. Doing the job ain’t easy and you really have to pay attention. If you’re too soft, it won’t do anything; if you’re too hard, the person won’t enjoy it. She could tell what parts were injured and needed attention while we talked about various shows we’d seen over the years. Not only did she have a great taste in music, she left my back feeling better than it has in months.
In closing…
This place is a hidden gem off the main drag. You’re not going to bump into the Kardashians here but you will get top-shelf service from everyone you encounter. It’s clean, it’s quiet, it’s peaceful and it’s the kind of place that you visit once, you immediately plan on returning to.
Golden Haven Spa
17079428000 1713 Lake St, Calistoga, CA 94515 Goldenhaven.com
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