Day Trip: Escape to Ste Anne’s Spa

Ste Anne’s Spa is, without a doubt, my favourite spa in Ontario. The property is located in Grafton, within a sprawling 400 acres of countryside. This full service spa is in fact a resort with a full service restaurant, treatment rooms, outdoor water therapies, a bakery and cottages if you’d like to spend the night.

I visited the spa one weekend for a day of rest and relaxation. As soon as you step onto the property, you immediately feel welcomed by the friendly staff.

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The property is just beautiful, like a giant old house with comfy nooks and corners. The main relaxation room is stocked with homemade granola, biscotti and fresh tea. If the weather is nice, you can go on hikes, relax on Musoka chairs or sit by the fireplace.

The spa has an indoor Euclapuytus steam room and outdoor water therapies that include a plunge pool, hot tub and a lap pool with a current.

There are an array of treatments available, such as hot stone massages, manicures, wraps, facials and more. I had my first wrap, the Milk & Sesame Stone Wrap. The began with my therapist giving me an overview of the services, and going through all of the scented oils with me. (I chose vanilla.) I was massaged with hot basalt stones and buttermilk and sesame seeds.

Next, I was wrapped in thermal linens and given a face, scalp and foot massage. Lastly, I rinsed it all off and then went to relax in one of the relaxation rooms. This is the perfect treatment to get as colder weather sets in, because it leaves your skin feeling super moisturized.

All of that relaxation worked up an appetite in me! Luckily, lunch was next on the agenda, and the spa had just launched brand new dining menus. All lunches are served with three courses. I opted for a warm apple cider and started with the soup of the day, a butternut squash soup. For my main, I had the open face crab stack sandwich, a traditional Maryland style jumbo lump crab cake, pan seared and served on a baguette with a red pepper rémoulade.It was delicious and super filling. I had just enough room for a mint flavored chocolate cake for dessert. The best part is that it’s perfectly acceptable to eat meals in your spa robe.

Next I decided to walk off that meal with a visit to the stables. Each spa experience comes with the option to do an activity like yoga, hiking or meditation. When I saw that grooming time was available as one of those options, I was hooked. Ste Annes Stables are a relatively new addition to the spa. Horses are boarded there, and visitors to the spa can stop by.

I was booked for a little one on one time with Porkchop, a super friendly horse. I combed out her mane, brushed her, put oil on her hooves and fed her apples and carrots. I also found out that grooming horses is actually hard (but fun) work!

After that, I visited the steam room and did a bit of swimming in the outside facilities. Then it was time for afternoon tea. (They feed you a lot!)

Afternoon tea includes a plate of traditional warm delicacies, signature scones, savoury tea sandwiches, housemade desserts and your choice of tea.

That plate looks small, but holds a lot! Pictured is a caramelized leek & aged cheddar quiche, a warm chicken and mushroom vol-au-vent, crab mango salad and organic baby arugula and smoked chicken breast & cranberry sage emulsion for savory dishes.

Desserts pictured are battenberg cake, white chocolate and amaretto cheese cake lollipop, french macaroon and a lemon custard shortbread.

I was beyond stuffed after that tea, and spent the rest of the day curled up in front of the fireplace, hanging out in the sauna and wandering the grounds.

I ended my day at the spa with dinner! (Not included in a typical day spa, but worth it if you hang around till 9pm!)

Dinner began with an amuse bouche of goat cheese panna cotta on a candied beet with a fried sage leaf.

The appetizer was my favourite part of dinner- baked brie with spiced walnuts and toasted bread. Yum.

My main was a stuffed boneless chicken breast stuffed with spinach and gorgonzola cheese with a roasted red pepper sauce and seasonal vegetables.

After that, the spa organized a ride for me to the station, where I grabbed the VIA train home. The perfect way to spend a Saturday, no?

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Before you go
The spa is the perfect destination for a girls weekend away, mother daughter bonding time, or a romantic vacation. (Yes, men were at the spa as well!) Be sure to book way in advance, as the spa fills up quickly! The day spa package can be customized however you like, but typically includes a 3 course lunch, an activity, $120 towards a spa service and afternoon tea. Check out the packages here.
Getting there
Don’t drive? No problem. You can hop on the VIA train from Union station and be at the spa within an hour. Ste Annes can organize everything for you, from booking the train to picking you up and whisking to the spa.

Ste. Anne’s Spa is at 1009 Massey Road, Grafton, ON, K0K 2G0