Healthy Vegas.
Sound like an oxymoron? Don’t bet on it. Constantly re-inventing itself, Las Vegas has gone in the past several decades from a dusty railroad town to a Bugsy Siegel-ruled den of excess to a family-friendly vacation spot and back again. Just when its allure seems on the verge of fading, the old implodes and a second act rises — be it in the form of a new star chef, a 4,000-room hotel, or, most recently, lavish Las Vegas spas and healthy lifestyle options.
See why Vegas makes our list of best spa weekend getaways.
BREATHE: OXYGEN BAR
Walk into any casino and the immediate waft of dank, smoky air clues you into the fact that indoor air quality in Sin City is lacking. In preparation (or on your way home), hit the O2 Bar and Spa at McCarran International Airport (locations available near gates A, B, C, and D). Here, owner Valerie Sanchili sells mango-, lime-, and eucalyptus-infused oxygen inhalations reportedly good for headaches, jet lag, altitude sickness, and hangovers.
STAY: LAS VEGAS HOTELS
For a true sanctuary, escape from the dancing fountains and erupting volcanoes and check into one of the Strip’s two casino- and smoke-free hotels—Trump and Four Seasons. The new Trump Hotel Las Vegas has an air of glamour about it and an ambience that fosters instant calm from the lobby to the spa, and the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas delivers a tranquil atmosphere via fresh flowers and plenty of natural light. Its spa is one of the smallest on the Strip, making it a good choice for those seeking a quiet environment with a lot of personal attention, especially now that it offers all-natural custom fragrances blended to order. No time to visit the spa? Partake in a 15-minute, $45 reflexology session poolside, one of several Spa Tapas mini treatment options available there.
EAT: LAS VEGAS RESTAURANTS
Vegas is on par with Manhattan these days in terms of star chefs, and although entrees in many of the premier restaurants come heavy on the sauces and creams, there are plenty of lighter options that don’t sacrifice taste. A great choice on the Strip is the new Canyon Ranch Grill at The Palazzo, where executive chef James Boyer serves up fresh seasonal ingredients, biodynamic wine, and organic beer—all with a fun Vegas twist thrown in. (The Healthy Elvis breakfast sandwich—grilled peanut butter and banana—is a prime example.) Also check out Cravings at The Mirage, a buffet featuring fresh sushi and an above-and-beyond tossed-to-order salad bar.
Off the Strip, try Go Raw Café, home to organic raw cuisine such as the Gimme the Beet “Cheese” Burger with Fries-—a veggie burger made with beets, carrots, sunflower seeds, and parsley served with almond cheese on “living” bread (composed of organic sprouted buckwheat and a blend of organic beans, dried vegetables, and fruits). Instead of deep-fried potatoes, the fries are made of avocado slices rolled in flax cracker crumbs.
Next Up: Where to Spa, Walk and Meditate.
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