A Recipe For Longevity: 33 Of The Healthiest Foods On Earth

Is it possible to live to 125 or maybe 150? It's certainly a possibility, as discussed on Oprah Winfrey's recent show on longevity. She visited me at my farm to learn how, at 86, I am enjoying the robust health, energy, and mental creativity of someone many decades younger. My secret: large quantities of fruit and vegetables, plus an hour of daily exercise.

No pills, not even aspirin, and certainly no supplements ever enter my mouth -- everything I need comes from my fish-vegetarian diet, which incorporates 30-40 different kinds of fruit and vegetables every week. Even though I am Chairman and Owner of Dole Food Company, I do most of my own grocery shopping, and even took Oprah on an impromptu trip to Costco, in a day that included bike riding, exercise in the gym, and juicing vegetables in the kitchen. Oprah marveled at how much I eat, and yet never gain a pound. In fact, I expend a lot of energy in my 50-60 minutes of cardio and strength training every day. Plus there's the fact that fruit and vegetables tend to be lower in calories, but higher in filling fiber and other nutrients that help you feel satisfied.

By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity. Obesity accelerates aging even faster than smoking, according to scientific research.

We created the North Carolina Research Campus to study the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. It is the only campus in the world encompassing eight universities all working together for the benefit of health and longevity. These include Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, North Carolina Central University, NC A&T State University, UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State University. We've gathered a comprehensive array of famous scientists and scientific equipment under one roof, including a two-story, 950 megahertz, 8-ton superconducting magnet. It is the largest and most powerful magnet in the world and will help us look at both plant and human cells at the most minute level. We are constantly doing research on all fruit and vegetables, including the ones listed below, which are the mainstay of my diet.

The Healthiest Foods on Earth

Pineapple	Speeds post-surgery	Promotes joint health	Reduces asthma inflammation
Blueberries	Restore antioxidant levels	Reverse age-related brain decline	Prevent urinary tract infection
Spinach	Helps maintain mental sharpness	Reduces the risk of cancers of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate	Top nutrient density
Red Bell Pepper	Reduces risk of lung, prostate, ovarian and cervical cancer	Protects against sunburn	Promotes heart health
Broccoli	Reduces diabetic damage	Lowers risk of prostate, bladder, colon, pancreatic, gastric and breast cancer	Protects the brain in event of injury
Tomato	Reduces inflammation	Lowers risk of developing esophageal, stomach, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer	Reduces cardiovascular disease risk
Apple	Supports immunity	Fights lung and prostate cancer	Lowers Alzheimer’s risk
Artichoke	Helps blood clotting	Antioxidant Superfood	Lowers “bad” cholesterol
Arugula	Lowers birth defect risk	Reduces fracture risk	Protects eye health
Asparagus	Nourishes good gut bacteria	Protects against birth defects	Promotes heart health
Avocado	Limits liver damage	Reduces oral cancer risk	Lowers cholesterol levels
Blackberries	Build bone density	Suppress appetite	Enhance fat burning
Butternut Squash	Supports night vision	Combats wrinkles	Promotes heart health
Cantaloupe	Bolsters immunity	Protects skin against sunburn	Reduces inflammation
Carrot	Antioxidants defend DNA	Fights cataracts	Protects against some cancers
Cauliflower	Stimulates detoxification	Suppresses breast cancer cell growth	Defends against prostate cancer
Cherries	Alleviate arthritic pain and gout	Lower “bad” cholesterol	Reduce inflammation
Cranberries	Alleviate prostate pain	Fight lung, colon and leukemia cancer cells	Prevent urinary tract infection
Green Cabbage	Promotes healthy blood clotting	Reduces risk of prostate, colon, breast and ovarian cancers	Activates the body’s natural detoxification systems
Kale	Counters harmful estrogens that can feed cancer	Protects eyes against sun damage and cataracts	Increases bone density
Kiwi	Combats wrinkles	Lowers blood clot risk and reduces blood lipids	Counters constipation
Mango	Supports immunity	Lowers “bad” cholesterol	Regulates homocysteine to protect arteries
Mushrooms	Promote natural detoxification	Reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer	Lower blood pressure
Orange	Reduces levels of “bad” cholesterol	Lowers risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, breast and stomach, and childhood leukemia	Pectin suppresses appetite
Papaya	Enzymes aid digestion	Reduces risk of lung cancer	Enhances fat burning
Plums & Prunes	Counter constipation	Antioxidants defend against DNA damage	Protects against post-menopausal bone loss
Pomegranate	Enhances sunscreen protection	Lowers “bad” cholesterol	Fights prostate cancer
Pumpkin	Protects joints against polyarthritis	Lowers lung and prostate cancer risk	Reduces inflammation
Raspberries	Inhibit growth of oral, breast, colon and prostate cancers	Antioxidant DNA defense	Lower “bad” cholesterol levels
Strawberries	Protect against Alzheimer’s	Reduce “bad” cholesterol	Suppress growth of colon, prostate and oral cancer
Sweet Potato	Reduces stroke risk	Lowers cancer risk	Protect against blindness
Watermelon	Supports male fertility	Reduces risk of several cancers: prostate, ovarian, cervical, oral and pharyngeal	Protects skin against sunburn
Banana	Increases Fat Burning	Lowers risk of colorectal and kidney cancer, leukemia	Reduces asthmas symptoms in children

One of my missions in life is to share this kind of knowledge with others, so they can live more vital, active, satisfying lives. Since acquiring major interests in Dole 26 years ago, educating the public on proper diet has constituted the agenda of my Dole Nutrition Institute. We publish the Dole Nutrition News -- enjoyed by 2.5 million subscribers (sign up at www.dolenutrition.com). We create cooking and nutrition videos, cookbooks, brochures, and other educational collateral, like the chart above. We also provide educational support to teachers, parents and kids through www.dolesuperkids.com.

* David H. Murdock is Chairman and owner of Dole Food Company.

A toast to Sinatra - W opens in Hokoken

Hoboken, New Jersey's famous son would have been proud of the glamor that has fallen on his birthplace. The 225-room W Hoboken has debuted as the city's first hotel, owned by Applied Development Company. Architecture firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates designed the riverfront tower to enhance views of Manhattan; expressed balconies and a figural crown define its shape. Covered with natural wood paneling, the four-story-tall entryway leads to the Welcome Desk. Luminous braided stainless steel mesh curtains that change color usher guests from check-in into W Hoboken's stylish living room. Bright colors, animal prints, and textural finishes punctuate the hotel's interior design.

Designed to capture views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline, guestrooms feature floor-to-ceiling bay windows and plush round swivel sofas. Conceptualized and executed by EMM Group, the iCRAVE-designed Chandelier Room boasts more than 4,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Hanging crystals suspended from branch-like fixtures in the ceiling surround an ornate, inhabitable chandelier that serves as the centerpiece of the room. Rich materials populate the space, including honed marble, copper tiles, glazed cognac leathers, and chocolate velvets.

Bentel & Bentel Architects designed Zylo, the hotel's Tuscan steakhouse. The dining room pays homage to Hoboken's vibrant history of shipbuilding and shop culture while superimposing modern elements. Blackened steel, nautical bronze and basalt planks recall the shipbuilding heritage of the city while a soaring wall of bristled broom heads stacked like bricks hints at the city's former shop culture. The property also offers, Bliss Spa, 5,700 square feet of meeting and event space, and 40 branded residences.

W Hoboken, Bliss Spa

Dog Friendly & Clothing Optional? Yes!

Desert Hot Springs' Living Waters Spa announces the 1st ever Dog friendly condo at a clothing optional spa for vacationers who don't want to leave their "best friend" at home

At Living Waters, owners Jeff and Judy understand the importance of not leaving behind an important member of your family. That’s why they are the only European-style, clothing-optional mineral-water spa that invites you to bring your best friend with you and make yourself at home in our pet-friendly luxury condos.

All you need to bring are groceries and your dog’s favorite treats and toys. Their condos have two bedrooms with custom king-size beds dressed in fine linens; cable TV, a DVD player, Wi-Fi; granite countertops, a professional-style gas range; microwave, toaster and coffee maker; cooking utensils and flatware. Best of all, you’ll have a private patio dog run.

If you’ve never had a clothing-optional experience but have always wanted to, now is your time. At Living Waters Spa, you can feel the desert sun and mountain air on your whole body. You can swim in pure mineral water without a bathing suit. And, you can have that experience in an environment devoted to body acceptance and self-discovery.


Spend your days here days relaxing, rejuvenating and restoring, taking in our therapeutic, odor-free water, receiving soul-touching, award-winning massage and body treatments, and exploring nearby Joshua Tree National Park or sight-seeing in Palm Springs. You can take your dog for a hike in the mountains or for an outing at one of our many local dog parks.

The price is lower than ever to visit at one of the top 10 clothing-optional spas in the world. TripAdvisor ranks Living Waters Spa third around the globe, and Spas of America ranks us first in California.

Conde Nast Traveler, American Spa, USA Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Ellen DeGeneres, AOL and other media outlets have featured stories about the Living Waters Spa experience. With their special condo rates, now is the perfect opportunity to discover them for yourself.

Their rates for the season, May through September: $499 for the week, $99 per night Monday through Thursday and $139 Friday through Sunday.

About the spa: Completely refurbished five years ago, the nine guest rooms and massage studios retain their Mid-Century Modern spa-tel character. The two pools are fed directly from a hot-water aquifer; they pump 20 gallons a minute, 18 hours a day, from their own well. The water in the small pool stays about 100 degrees, which is perfect for long, therapeutic soaking. They offer massage and spa treatments; a dry sauna; breakfast and afternoon hors ‘d oeuvres. The six condos are directly across the street from the spa.

Living Waters Spa

Six Spring Spa Escapes

Wanting to get away this season, but thinking closer to home may be a better idea? Discover six extraordinary spa escapes from the Midwest to to the West Coast, and from Utah's desert to California's wine region. This season's spring spa escapes offers something for everyone...


Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California
Savor the gracious intimacy of a resort with epicurean flair, set among the oaks and vineyards of the scenic Carmel Valley in Central California. Feather beds, cozy fireplaces and two-person bathtubs enhance the experience at this resort inspired by the same-named winery.
Bernardus Lodge


Evensong Spa, Heidel House Resort, Green Lake, Wisconsin
Wrapped in tranquility and set on beautiful serene wooded acreage in Green Lake, Wisconsin, Evensong Spa at Heidel House Resort offers guests a relaxing Midwest setting for re-energizing the mind, body and spirit.
Evensong Spa, Heidel House Resort




Health Spa Napa Valley, Inn at Southbridge, St. Helena, California
Located in the charming historic town of St. Helena, in the heart of America's most famous wine-growing region, Health Spa Napa Valley at the Inn at Southbridge, offers guests a private, intimate and convenient escape to wellness.
Health Spa Napa Valley, Inn at Southbridge


Grotto Spa, Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, Parksville, British Columbia
Take time to treat yourself at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort's Grotto Spa, the largest resort spa in British Columbia, offering signature treatments and services with a focus on West Coast natural ingredients. Indulge in a soak in the 2,500 square foot Grotto Mineral Pool, infused with natural minerals and trace elements which detoxify and sooth.
Grotto Spa, Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort


Red Mountain Spa, St. George, Utah
Discover the healing power of red earth and blue sky at Red Mountain Spa. A place where you can be active or relax as you like, anytime you like. Discover stunning red rock cliffs, black lava bed gardens and vivid landscape invite exploration. Where daily guided hikes, rock-climbing outings, canyon-hugging bike rides and group exercise classes meet any fitness level.
Red Mountain Spa

WildSpring Guest Habitat, Port Orford, Oregon
Overlooking Oregon's spectacular southern coast, WildSpring Guest Habitat is a small eco-friendly resort offering luxurious accommodations in a naturally beautiful environment. Enjoy incredible ocean scenery with all the comforts of home.
WildSpring Guest Habitat

Your Inner Javanese Princess - Mande Lular

The Mande Lular is a centuries-old, detoxifying and beautifying ritual during which Javanese princesses prepared for their wedding day. What does this have to do with you, neither a princess nor a bride-to-be (at least yet)? Well, Sanctuary, the fabulous U.K. spa based in Covent Garden, London draws inspiration from the Mande Lular for its latest collection of bath and body products.

The collection also includes a bath crème and a body soufflé, but our favourite is the Sensuous Body Scrub, a sweetly scented, gentle scrub that sloughs off dry skin cells with its combination of rice bran wax, turmeric and vitamin E.

It may not seem like it right now, but that leg-baring weather is coming soon, ladies. So go on, turn your bathroom into a spa and get glowing gams before you dare to bare. $19.99 at drug stores. Check out www.thesanctuary.co.uk.

The Globe & Mail

MGM Grand Detroit, Immerse Spa, Michigan

Just six months young, the Immerse Spa, at the MGM Grand Detriot is a spectacular 20,000-square-foot modern-day urban loft. The first U.S.-based spa for internationally acclaimed architecture firm tonychi and associates, Immerse is inspired by nature's most calming element: water.

Design elements are complemented by black-and-white photography of serene and natural landscapes by Detroit photographer Bill Schwab. The lavish, two-level space includes a full-service spa; six treatment bungalows; wet room with Vichy shower; first-class salon; state-of-the-art exercise room; relaxation lounges; separate vanity areas for men and women featuring a whirlpool and steam room; an infinity-edge pool; a spa boutique.

MGM Grand Detroit, Immerse Spa, Michigan

WildSpring Guest Habitat, Oregon

Overlooking Oregon’s spectacular southern coast, WildSpring Guest Habitat is a small eco-friendly resort offering luxurious accommodations in a naturally beautiful environment. Enjoy incredible natural beauty in comfortable luxury.

Relax in one of five stylish, elegantly comfortable cabins filed with art and antiques, with radiant-heated floors, vaulted ceilings and separate sleeping and living areas. Set apart from each other in a five-acre private forest, they offer all the comforts of home with none of the distractions.

WildSpring Guest Habitat

A Three Minute Escape to Verana - the Jungle Spa, Yelapa, Mexico

Find yourself in Mexico, and travel south from Puerto Vallarta, to Boca de Tomatlan — the last beach you can reach by car. From there a 30 minute boat ride takes you along the beautiful coast to Yelapa. Here you will find a hillside overlooking the ocean with a panoramic view of the mountains deep in the Valle del Sierra Madre Occidental. Carved out of the lush Mexican jungle, it is remote and secluded, but still offers all the amenities for a comfortable and relaxing stay...

Verana 2009 - The Houses from Heinz Legler on Vimeo.

Spa for the Unpretentious, Saline Valley, California

The woman approaching the hot spring was wearing nothing except for my missing gray ski hat. I had been shivering in my sleeping bag all night without it. The dawn still hadn’t lifted the chill from the valley, which is encased like a tomb by snow-topped mountains. I didn’t have to look too closely to see that she was freezing.

“What are you doing with my hat?” I said, in a tone probably too aggressive, given that we were about to share a steaming hot tub in a desolate California desert valley about three times the size of Manhattan. The woman took off my hat, and her long blond locks rolled down to places you don’t politely look at when speaking to a naked stranger.

“Sorry,” she said. “It was lying here yesterday. I thought it was a gift from the springs.”

Later, she wandered to our camp to offer a gift as an apology, a homemade glass pendant of a bat — the mascot of the Saline Valley. This time, she was adorned only with a menthol cigarette.

The old-timers who constructed the tubs of these colorful hot springs in the desert are long gone. But a spirit of generosity, community and sheer eccentricity still pervade the Saline Valley, a remote outpost ringed by a soaring wall of mountains on the northwest corner of Death Valley National Park.

American Indian petroglyphs around the valley bear witness that this was once the realm of the Timbisha Shoshone and their ancestors, who roamed this desert for at least a millennium before the first Europeans arrived. “There are special sites for giving birth in the valley, but we don’t let anyone outside of the tribe know where,” said Barbara Durham, the Timbisha Shoshone’s tribal historic preservation officer.

In the 1960s a different kind of nomadic community — rock hounds, survivalists and hippies — added to the mystic allure of the springs. There are three levels of springs going up the side of the valley, and around the two lower ones these creative wanderers built two clusters of artful concrete and rock pools that they maintained for all to enjoy. (The upper springs, three miles up the valley, remain more natural.) Palm trees and lawns were planted, and the springs became a green oasis tucked into the northeast corner of the blast-furnace Saline Valley.

The keepers of the springs were discreet, but knowledge about them spread by word of mouth, and many Southern Californians found their way to them — even Charles Manson and his followers are said to have passed through. But the place was literally off the grid; the Saline Valley often appeared as a blank, trackless spot on road maps.

Then in 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the California Desert Protection Act, transferring jurisdiction over the valley from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service and bringing a lot of new regulations down on its few laissez-faire denizens. Some of them left voluntarily; the rest were evicted by the park rule setting a maximum on stays at 30 days.

For a while, even more radical changes were planned. “One of the plans involved dismantling the tubs and bringing the valley back to its natural state,” said Terry Baldino, a spokesman for the national park.

There’s still no final management plan, but for now, a truce prevails. The Saline Preservation Association, a community group, works with the Park Service to maintain the springs.

“I think now everyone realizes it’s a special place that can be enjoyed by all,” said Patricia Barton, the association’s president, “at least the ones who are prepared for the adventure of getting out there.”

The springs may now be marked on the National Park Service’s maps (as “Warm Springs”), but getting there is still a challenge worthy of Indiana Jones. A college buddy introduced me to the Saline Valley in 1984, and I have been back many times. In late fall, I dragged three friends out there to introduce them to the springs. A couple of hours after leaving Las Vegas, the nearest big city, we stopped at the village of Furnace Creek in Death Valley to stock up on gas, water and food and to check out the local road conditions at the Death Valley National Park Visitor Center and Museum.

From there, we drove a roundabout 68 miles west on Highway 190 beyond Panamint Springs, and took a right at a bullet-perforated “Road Closed” sign. Then for 53 miles, we wrestled a washboard road down into the Saline Valley.

Ghostly log towers in the middle of the gleaming white salt lake on the valley floor hinted at the story of the valley’s name. In the early 20th century, these towers were part of a spectacularly steep tram line that hauled salt — the valley’s was considered unusually pure — over the Inyo Mountains and 13 miles into the Owens Valley, from which it was shipped by rail around the world. We passed sand dunes north of the salt lake and turned right onto an unmarked road leading at last to the palm oasis.

After peering anxiously under our S.U.V.’s to make sure the rough ride had not pierced the oil pans, or anything else, we rolled out our sleeping bags on soft ground along the shelter of the bushes that are nurtured by the springs’ runoff. On the edge of the tiny oasis, we were a short walk from the lower pools sheltered in the cluster of palms, and the middle springs, on an open plateau overlooking the valley. In these surroundings, camping is easy — especially if you keep an eye on your hat.

We made quick friends around the communal bonfire next to the lower springs with about 10 campers, including a young couple from Los Angeles, a couple of old-timers, and a rowdy group of stoners. Songs — often naughty, always loud — were sung and a lot of alcohol, some of it homemade, was passed around. We helped ourselves to the informal lending library operating out of a couple of open-air bookshelves under the palms. And we washed our dishes in the ingenious outside kitchen that was created by piping in hot spring water.

The price for using all this? Nothing but an underlying assumption that everyone cleans up after themselves.

Over the weekend, three dozen other visitors shared our haven, including a 60-something couple from Düsseldorf, Germany; a guy dressed from hat to moccasins in clothes he had sewn from jackrabbit skins; a small wedding party of computer programmers who put on elaborate techno and light shows at night from their camper; and a smattering of families whose kids ran around unchecked. “This is probably the last place in the world they can get in any trouble,” one of the mothers said.

But the best part of the Saline Valley is being alone in the ethereal isolation that only the desert can provide, with its space and a half-dozen pools. Few things you can get without a prescription are more calming than floating alone in desert silence in one of the pools overlooking the valley as the setting sun behind the Inyo Mountains transforms everything into a kaleidoscope dream. A sense of space as wide as the valley becomes internalized. A deep sense of peace and fun seems to permeate the consciousness.

Some valley visitors leave intriguing souvenirs. In the maze of ravines and boulders next to the middle springs, someone has built small cairns sheltering postcards and figurines of Elvis. Fantastical sculptures made from burro skulls are suspended above the lower springs, which themselves are Picassoesque masterpieces of inlaid rock, some of crystalline. And images of the valley’s trademark bats are everywhere — painted on rocks, hanging satanically in cut steel from a pole and even decorating the concrete vault toilets in colorful bead and wire.

Many of these bats are the creations of Lee Greenwell, known to regulars at the springs, who tend to go by nicknames, as Lizard Lee. He operates out of a tiny camper trailer, setting up an outdoor art studio in the back, and lives there all year, including the summer, when the thermometer often tops out at 120 degrees. One of the original crowd who made Saline Valley a self-sustaining paradise before the Park Service took over, Mr. Greenwell is now the park’s official campground host.

“This is a place to get away from the world,” he said. “Most folks probably don’t even know I’m here unless they get in some sort of trouble.” If that happens, he’s got an emergency radio.

The most vivid reminder that there is a world beyond the peaks is the frequent and surreal appearance of fighter jets from nearby military airbases. While we were there, these extraordinary machines roared up the valley several times a day and banked so low over the oasis that we could see the pilots’ helmets, a maneuver widely suspected of being inspired by the springs’ “clothing optional” policy.

Other than that, you’re on your own in the Saline Valley. And that’s the way most desert rats seem to like it.

IF YOU GO

From Las Vegas, it’s about 130 miles to the visitor center at Furnace Creek, Calif., and 120 more (at least six hours in all) to the springs of Saline Valley in Death Valley National Park.

Check on road conditions with the park rangers and pick up a map at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Museum, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (760-786-3200, www.nps.gov/deva). The national park vehicle entry fee is $20 for seven days.

Furnace Creek’s general store and gas station are convenient, but expensive, for buying gas, food and water. But make sure you are stocked up sufficiently for the trip into the springs and out again.

From Furnace Creek, continue 68 miles west on Highway 190. Turn right off the pavement and onto the Saline Valley Road and continue 46 miles on what is usually a challenging and rough dirt road into the valley — be sure to have a full spare tire.

During the winter months, the road may be covered with snow or ice at the 6,000-foot South Pass into the valley. Four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicles and snow chains are recommended.

After passing the salt lake and sand dunes on the valley floor, take the unmarked but obviously well-used road to the right for another seven miles to the lower springs. Once you see the steel bat hanging from the pole, you’ll know you’re almost there.

For more information, check the National Park Service daily road reports at www.dvnha.org/morning_report/Morning.pdf or go to the Saline Valley’s community Web site, salinevalley.tribe.net.

By FINN-OLAF JONES, NEW YORK TIMES

Sign of the Times? For Sale: The Hillcrest Wellness Spa

Built in the 1870s as a grand family home and currently used for commercial purposes, this historic home would appeal to someone who has always dreamed of owning an inn or wellness spa or to an individual or family with an appreciation of heritage homes, says listing agent Ryanne McGee of Chestnut Park Real Estate.

The home, known as the Hillcrest, was built by entrepreneur and distiller James Worts as a wedding present for his daughter Emily and her husband, lawyer David Smart Jr., son of Port Hope's postmaster and local distiller.

It was sold to Joseph Schwartz of Pittsburgh, Pa., in about 1894. In 1917, the Schwartz family changed its surname to Black. For nearly 100 years, the Black family used the house as a summer home. Mr. Schwartz's brother used the same architect to build his family's summer home across the road.

The Hillcrest was sold out of the Black family in 1973 and has had five owners since, says Ms. McGee, who has the exclusive listing with Dee McGee. "The most recent owners invested in the restoration and preservation of this provincially designated historic property."

A circular driveway flanked by white pillars and original gates leads on to the 14-acre property and to the 15,000-square-foot house. The property has mature trees, gardens and a concrete pool.

An "immense portico" on the north side was added in 1900; there is also a 50-foot library/study, influenced by the classical style of Thomas Jefferson, Ms. McGee says.

The nine-bedroom, 13-bathroom Beaux Arts-style home has a hall with a Waterford crystal chandelier and a curved staircase.

The main-floor rooms have 12-foot ceilings, fireplaces and original brass wall sconces, chandeliers and woodwork. The dining room, which overlooks Lake Ontario, was originally a porch. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the lake.

Most of the bedrooms have high ceilings, fireplaces, original fittings and woodwork, and ensuite bathrooms.

The second floor has five bedrooms, a servant's bedroom and another bedroom off the nursery with its own staircase to the main and third floors.

Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a kitchen and a staircase to the rooftop deck are third-floor features.

The Hillcrest is in Port Hope, where many of the town's original buildings have been restored. Trinity College, established in 1865, attracts students from around the world.

Many well-known musicians, artists and writers live in the Port Hope area. One of the community projects that reflects the values of the town is the restoration and operation of the 1930s Capitol Theatre.

Spas of Japan

In a land suffused with an ancient history of mind-body wellness and an attention to detail that will constantly surprise you with its thoughtfulness, expect to be pampered in Japan.

The national obsession for presentation infuses everything from high-end wares at Prada’s glossy retail palace in Tokyo’s Omotesando, to the menu at a local ramen noodle snack bar, with refinement and that uniquely Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi, or finding beauty in the organic imperfection of nature.

Expect that same sensitivity to lend itself to spa and wellness offerings here and be sure to soak in a traditional Japanese onsen (bath) at a remote, mountaintop ryokan (Japanese Inn).

Spas of Japan

Moana Lani Spa, Moana Surfrider - The "First Lady of Waikiki"

With dramatic Diamond Head as a backdrop, and against the rolling shore of Waikiki Beach, the casually-elegant Moana Surfrider has been a long-time favorite to travelers visiting Hawaii. And now it’s gotten that much better. Originally know as the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, the property has officially been re-branded as the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa. The resort underwent a total transformation and is the first Westin property on the island of Oahu.

Since Summer of 2007, guests have re-entered this historical structure and been welcomed by a revitalized lobby featuring hardwood floors, new furniture and lighting fixtures. All of the Moana’s guest rooms have been updated with Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed as well as new flat-screen televisions.

But its been since Fall of 2008, that has made the “First Lady of Waikiki”, truly unique with the launch of Moana Lani Spa - the first and only beachfront spa in Oahu. The beautiful property features over 17,000 square feet of spa to relax, refresh and rejuvenate. Featuring 14 treatment rooms, the spa includes two couple’s massage rooms and a 1,400 square foot workout facility overlooking Waikiki’s famous Kalakaua Avenue. A wide selection of authentic Hawaiian-influenced treatments and services are available to pamper and invigorate the weariest of travelers. The not-to-miss women’s and men’s wet areas including sauna, steam, whirlpool, and relaxation lounges overlook the sand, surf, sun and sounds of Waikiki Beach.

After your treatment retire poolside under the shade of the hotel’s historic banyan tree at the Moana’s signature Banyan Veranda restaurant. Perfect timing for a Mai Tai... Aloha!

Moana Lani Spa, Moana Surfrider

Spas of America Launches 30 Destination Spa Experiences

Spas of America, the fastest-growing spa travel website, today launched listings for 30 destination spas from across North and South America. "Destination spas are the pioneers of the spa industry," says Spas of America president Craig Oliver. "They demonstrate a commitment to total wellness by providing customers with a complete experience encompassing health, fitness and diet."

The Spas of America website, which features over 650 spas, allows customers to search spas by keyword, region or specific type of spa experience. Categories include City, Mountain, Country, Beach, Desert, Ocean, Mineral, City, Wine -- and now Destination as well. Spas of America features destination spas in Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Kathleen LeSage of Vermont's New Life Hiking Spa, one of the new listings, says: "It is no wonder 'preventive health lifestyles' are popular. Obesity and diabetes are on the rise, and with those come a myriad of other health issues. Leading a healthy lifestyle, staying at a healthy weight, and keeping your body active and flexible have enormous health benefits, from keeping diabetes at bay to lowering cancer risks to alleviating depression."

Adds Craig Oliver: "Preventive care even made its way into President Obama's speech this week. He called it 'one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.' The spa and wellness industry has been long-time advocates of preventive health. Destination spas, in particular, provide customers with the ability to experience holistic health, but also to take many of the health, fitness and diet learnings home with them."

Destination spa experiences featured on Spas of America include:

Fitness Ridge Spa Resort, Utah
Located amidst the beautiful red rocks of southwestern Utah, the Fitness Ridge Resort & Spa is a one-week-minimum, results-oriented health, fitness and weight loss resort. The spa strives to empower each guest and help them jumpstart lasting lifestyle changes through education, exercise, accountability and self-awareness.

Heartland Spa, Illinois
Nestled in Illinois farm country around a spring-fed lake, this unpretentious 32-acre destination spa focuses on fitness and well-being. True to its name, the Heartland Spa emphasizes "heart health" through its nutritious cuisine, personalized programs, and full range of fun and challenging fitness activities.

Hills Health Ranch, British Columbia
With a leading reputation for wellness, health and weight loss, the Hills Health Ranch, set on 20,000 acres in British Columbia's scenic Cariboo region, offers a unique combination of rest, relaxation, education and adventure. Guests may hike rangelands dotted with peaceful lakes or challenge themselves in diverse classes to reach new fitness goals.

New Life Hiking Spa, Vermont
Renowned as an affordable destination spa with some of the country's best hiking and fitness programs, New Life Hiking Spa is located in the heart of the aptly named Green Mountains. This distinctive spa focuses on a mixture of hiking, yoga, other forms of exercise and healthy eating to help guests make lasting lifestyle changes.

Red Mountain Spa, Utah
Framed by towering cliffs and the red rock formations of southwest Utah, Red Mountain Spa offers a wide selection of quality activities for fitness enthusiasts, in addition to all the pampering, luxury and relaxation you expect from a full-menu spa.

For a complete list of destination spas on Spas of America visit:
http://www.spasofamerica.com/experience/destination

12 Great Deals at Spas Around the Country

Looking for an escape? Here are 12 deals currently available at spas around the country. Note: All the details were accurate upon publication; you'll want to double-check with a spa directly before booking. The offers may be subject to change or to restrictions such as availability or blackout dates. Also, the rates quoted here may not include applicable taxes and gratuities.

Lakeview at Fontana, Bryson City, N.C.
Intimate and unpretentious. Small scale and casual. That's how the owners of Lakeview at Fontana, whose season runs April 3 to November 15, bill their "rustic chic" boutique resort and spa, with its view of the Great Smoky Mountains and Fontana Lake. Round up a group of comrades and book a Girls' Night In, a package with a choice of three- and five-night stays. The three-night deal, for example, includes lodging, breakfast daily (with Peruvian organic coffee roasted locally), two lunches, evening wine and cheese, yoga classes, and three 50-minute spa treatments of your choosing—the Pomegranate Body Polish is one favorite. All prices have been slashed across the board by 20 to 30 percent for the upcoming season. "This had to be the kind of deal that people can't resist, that makes sense even in light of the economic times," says co-owner Tom Cassidy. "That's the niche we're shooting for this season."

The Deal: The three-night Girls' Night In package runs $565 per person (total). Five-night packages cost $875. Dinners don't come with the deal.

Red Mountain Resort and Spa, St. George, Utah
Surrounded by thousands of acres of red-rock cliffs, mountains, and canyons, Red Mountain is for outdoorsy types, fitness enthusiasts, and those who desire pampering, too. Guests who book the Last-Minute Super Deal can choose just one night or longer and for a flat nightly rate get lodging, three healthful meals daily (you might find blue corn-crusted Wapiti elk on the dinner menu), daily guided morning hikes (perhaps a silent walk into the red rocks), unlimited fitness classes from yoga to salsa dancing (over 50 to choose from), chef-led cooking demonstrations, and use of the pools, bikes, trails, and exercise studios. Top off an activity-filled day with a 50-minute Swedish massage or facial, now only $69 (normally $105 and $110, respectively). This special offer, says general manager Tracey Welsh, "is hands down the best deal we've had in years."

The Deal: The Last-Minute Super Deal, valid through March 31, starts at $199 per night per person, double occupancy.

The Oaks at Ojai, Ojai, California
wellness, relaxation, and educating guests on taking the experience at homeAt this "oasis of health," as managing director Cathy Cluff puts it, the emphasis is on fitness,. If you've got a all meals (plus snacks), a full menu of daily fitness classes (in-line skating, belly dancing, hula-hooping, Pilates), full access to evening group, try the Super Spring Special for Groups of Six or More: four nights for the price of three, "mental fitness" programs (wellness lectures, tarot card readings, art classes) as well as use of the pools, saunas, and eucalyptus steam room. Spa treatments aren't included; the going rate for a Swedish massage is $80 for 50 minutes. Another freebie: The life coach is currently offering complimentary hourlong sessions (normally $100 for 75 minutes) to help people weather these stressful times.

The Deal: From now until May 1, the four-night Super Spring Special for Groups of Six or More starts at $567 per person, total, double occupancy. A caveat: Groups must book and arrive together.

Sundara Inn and Spa, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Sundara, surrounded by 26 acres of pine forest, affords all the frills that you'd expect on the East and West coasts, says communications manager Carla Minsky, but at "stress-reducing prices." The Refreshing Spa Retreat promotion features one or more nights with breakfast, unlimited access to Sundara's amenities, which include the self-guided Purifying Bath Ritual in the bathhouse, aromatic steams, and hot pool soaks, and a spa credit to put toward massages, body treatments, and facials. The even more economical way to go is to opt for a do-it-yourself spa experience. Reserve a suite, and then take advantage of unlimited access to the bath house, outdoor pool, and relaxation lounge, a serene spot to read, nap, or meditate.

The Deal: The Refreshing Spa Retreat package starts at $239 per person, double occupancy. A one-night stay includes a $100 spa credit per person toward services and a $50 food and beverage credit per suite; a two-night stay includes a $200 spa credit. Suites by themselves start at $139.

New Age Health Spa, Neversink, N.Y.
This spa's 280 forested acres lie deep in the Catskills, a couple of hours' drive from New York City. The ambience is casual and mellow; options range from outdoor activities like hiking and bald eagle watching to spiritual programs to fitness classes and juice fast regimens for weight-loss and detox. "We're looking at the whole package, head to toe, mind, body, soul," says Lindy Goodman, the spa's marketing director. To take advantage of the Spring Special, book a two-night stay and four treatments or a three-night stay and five treatments, and bring a friend for no charge. Included: three healthful spa meals daily (typically chicken, fish, and vegetarian fare plus salads featuring the greens, sprouts, and edible flowers grown in the New Age greenhouse), meditation classes, yoga and strength and stretch classes, cooking courses, tea tasting, nutritional lectures, guided hikes, and seasonal snowshoeing. True to its healthful mission, no cigarettes or alcohol allowed.

The Deal: The two-night Spring Special runs from $660.79 for one person plus an average of about $100 each for four spa treatments; a second person comes free. The three-night version starts at $991.19 plus five treatments; the choices, which can be shared between friends, include an aromatherapy massage ($115 for 50 minutes) and a Seaweed Mud Paraffin Facial ($100 for 50 minutes). Effective March 1 through 31.

The Hills Health Ranch, British Columbia, Canada
The family-run Hills Health Ranch boasts 20,000 acres of Canadian wilderness, a big draw for fitness enthusiasts interested in hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, biking, or cross-country skiing and dog sledding in winter. Other draws: a focus on smoking cessation and weight loss. With the Two-Night Ride 'n Spa, horse lovers get lodging and all meals plus two two-hour rides, a relaxation body massage, two guided hikes, and free reign of the pools, Jacuzzis, saunas, and exercise rooms. (For those who want to learn to communicate better with their mount, a horse whispering package is also an option). A must-try, advises co-owner Pat Corbett: the vitamin-ladenrose hip facial ($71 USD, 50 minutes), derived from wild plants hand-picked on the premises.

The Deal: The Two-Night Ride 'n Spa runs from when stables reopen, typically in March, until mid-November. Starting at about $220 per person per day, double occupancy.

La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa, Santa Fe, N.M.
Book a three-night "Cloud 999" stay at La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa, and get a $999 spa credit (per room) with which to sample some major pampering. There's the Chocolate-Chile Wrap, for example. You'll be swathed in a dark chocolate-chile paste, a concoction that promises to awaken your circulation and soak you in antioxidants. The Nirvana offers 100 minutes of Ayurvedic therapy, including an herbal body exfoliation; the centuries-old ritual of the Shirodhara, whereby a slow stream of warm oil is poured onto your third eye, just above the bridge of the nose, and massaged into the scalp; a head, neck, and shoulder massage; an herbal hair and scalp treatment; and a minifacial. "People love this package," says Laura Parsons, spa director.

The Deal: Through April, the Cloud 999 starts at $999, single or double occupancy, for three nights (the minimum). Guests receive a $999 spa credit per room. A la carte, the Chocolate-Chile Wrap starts at $135; the Nirvana, at $270. Meals are not included.

The Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley, Pa.
An easy drive from New York City and Philadelphia, The Lodge at Woodloch is a "luxury destination spa" on 75 acres of woodland and gardens in the state's lake region. Its mantra is "awakening," the experience, geared toward stress reduction and self-discovery. Guests who choose the all-inclusive Winter Wonderland Retreat get 25 percent off usual package rates by staying four or more nights; they get 20 percent off by staying three-nights, and 15 percent off by staying two nights. The offer comes with three healthful gourmet meals daily—roasted lobster with basil risotto, for example—plus a $120 daily allowance to spend on, say, a Lemongrass and Rosemary Facial. You have access to all spa facilities; group fitness classes, from Tai Chi to kickboxing; lectures and cooking demonstrations; and all group excursions, like guided hikes and seasonal snowshoeing.

The Deal: Through March, the four-night Winter Wonderland Retreat starts at $393 per night, double occupancy (about a $132 savings per night off usual package rates); the three-night starts at $424 per night (about a $105 savings per night); and the two-nights start at $447 per night (about a $79 savings per night). A daily spa services allowance of $120 is included. Stay midweek for at least three nights, and get an additional $120 spa allowance.

Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass.
At the Berkshires location of Canyon Ranch, the emphasis is squarely on kick-starting a healthy lifestyle. Besides an abundance of fitness, nutrition, and outdoor excursion offerings, you have access to more than 60 wellness professionals, from physicians to acupuncturists to naturopathic doctors. (Pampering, of course, is possible, too.) "Mindful dining" teaches nutritional content and portion control, and the pleasures of eating well. Traditionally, Lenox has required a three-night minimum stay, but that's been relaxed to two for now. An exception: the Two New, Too Terrific package, for two guests who have never stayed here before. Double up in a room, and you each save 15 percent. You also each receive a $390 service allowance to put toward spa, sports, and integrative wellness services. That might mean a Muscle Melt massage ($160 for 100 minutes), a private yoga lesson ($120 for 50 minutes), or a Sleep Enhancement/Insomnia consultation with a licensed therapist ($150 for 50 minutes). Canyon Ranch caters to men as well, with ample ways to break a sweat and relax.

The Deal: Through June, The Two New, Too Terrific package starts at $1,632, total, double occupancy, for a three-night minimum.

The Cliff House Resort and Spa, Ogunquit, Maine
At the Cliff House Resort and Spa, which reopens April 10 for the season, rooms overlook the ocean, and the spa features local treats like a body wrap that uses organic Maine blueberries ($110 for 50 minutes) and a massage using warm seashells ($100 for 50 minutes). There are two ways to save. With the Spa Splurge deal, you get two nights' lodging, one dinner (most opt for the obvious—lobster) a full breakfast daily, and a $100 spa credit per person. Or if you're seeking only a taste of the spa experience, consider just taking a room and signing up for the Spa Special Sampler, available Sundays and Thursdays by appointment, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. You get three 15-minute minitreatments—a head, neck, and shoulder massage, a hand treatment, and a lower leg hot-towel massage—followed by a glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres. Guys won't be neglected here: The spa boasts a "Mainely Men" treatment menu, including a gentleman's facial ($120 for 50 minutes), a gentleman's manicure ($45 for 50 minutes), a gentleman's pedicure ($65, 50 minutes), and several types of massage.

The Deal: From April 10 to May 21 and from October 25 to November 28, the Spa Splurge starts at $380 per person, double occupancy, for two nights. The Spa Special Sampler runs $99; rooms alone during April and May start at about $175 (double occupancy).

Mii amo, a destination spa at Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Ariz.
Mii amo, whose name is taken from an American Indian word for "journey," promises just that: a chance to do some soul-searching in the lap of luxury. "Lots of our guests are having a transitional moment in their lives," says Mark Grenoble, president of Enchantment Group, the company that oversees the spa. Whether they've reached an age milestone, become an empty nester, beaten cancer, or finished a divorce, "something in their life has spawned them to reflect," he says (though nonreflectors are welcome, too.) All overnight guests receive a blue robe, which many pretty much live in during their stay, as well as nightly gifts ranging from journals to candles to Mii amo tea blends. The best deal on the table, says Grenoble, is the Mii amo Journey Package With Friends. When four or more guests book together for one of Mii amo's five customized journey packages (healthy lifestyle, rejuvenation, de-stress, spiritual exploration, or Ayurvedic balance) they'll save about $420 per person on a four-night journey and $725 per person on a seven-night journey.

The Deal: The four-night Mii amo Journey Package With Friends starts at $2,900 per person, double occupancy, and includes lodging, all meals, two daily spa services per person, and classes from meditation and red rock hikes to stargazing; the seven-night starts at $4,235 per person, double occupancy.

ESPA at Acqualina Resort , Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.
This ultraluxurious resort spa is right on the beach between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Try Chakra Balancing With Hot Stones (2 hours, $295), or a Purva Karma Four Hand Massage ($445 for 2 hours). The prices of all one-hour treatments, such as massages and facials, have recently been reduced to $125 from about $150, says spa director Kate Brown. A new promotion for "recession savvy" consumers, says Brown, is the Ultimate Spa Package for Two, at an "incredible rate" for people willing to book a minimum three-night stay. Along with lodging, you get a daily continental breakfast for two, two 60-minute "holistic" facials, two 60-minute aromatherapy massages, and one spa lunch for two.

The Deal: The Ultimate Spa Package for Two runs for most of 2009, from $575 per night, double occupancy.

~ Lindsay Lyon, U.S News & World Report

Spas of America's Top 30 Spas of 2008

Spas of America, the fastest-growing spa travel website, today announced their annual ranking of the Top 30 Spas of 2008, based on consumer traffic on their website. Spas of America president Craig Oliver says, "This year's list is a unique cross-section of Spa & Wellness experiences from across North America, including resort, hotel and destination spas from the United States, Canada and Mexico." Over 650 spas are featured on the Spas of America website, and the Top 30 list represents the top 5%.

"Many of the spas making our list for 2008 are long-time established properties, with a solid track record of providing extraordinary Spa & Wellness experiences to spa travelers around the world. For 2009 we expect this trend to continue, with consumers attracted to unique experiences, well-earned reputations and value. Even -- perhaps especially -- in economic downturns, consumers realize the value of Spa & Wellness as a benefit to their overall well-being".

This year's list is a unique cross-section of Spa & Wellness experiences from across North America, including resort, hotel and destination spas from the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Topping the list for 2008 is the 100 Fountain Spa at the Pillar and Post set in charming Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The 100 Fountain Spa is located in the heart of Niagara's wine region, a year-round destination offering a wide range of cultural and recreational activities, only minutes from majestic Niagara Falls.

Number two is the Homestead, situated in the scenic Allegheny Mountains of Virginia. Built in 1892, the Homestead Spa is one of America's most historic luxury spas, still fed by the original hot springs that have attracted travelers since the 1700s.

Third place honors go to the Fitness Ridge Resort & Spa in Ivins, Utah. Set amidst the remarkable red rocks of southwestern Utah, Fitness Ridge is categorized as a "destination spa," offering a one-week-minimum, results-oriented health, fitness and weight loss program.

Spas of America's Top 30 Spas of 2008 are ranked by unique page views generated by customers visiting our website in 2008. For the complete list, go to: Spas of America's Top 30 Spas of 2008