The days leading up to my wedding were stressful to say the least. There were lots of last-minute things to be done, my hairdresser canceled on me and I was still nervous about the Toronto Islands flooding.
I was so happy that I booked a day trip with my parents and sister to my personal happy place: Ste Anne Spa. I love to come to this sprawling spa in Grafton, Ontario for special occasions. I definitely wanted to get pampered, and to thank my family for helping with the wedding by giving them some R &R.
Never been to Ste Anne’s Spa? Add it to your list, because it’s paradise. Guests attend for the day or overnight for an all-inclusive experience in an 1800s fieldstone country castle. A typical day spa includes a credit towards a spa treatment of your choice, a wellness class, a three-course lunch, and (my favourite) afternoon tea. Of course, you also have access to their 400-acre grounds, eucalyptus steam room and water therapies. For those staying the night, they have private and group cottages available.
Choosing a spa treatment was tough. They have 35 different experiences to choose from. I knew that I wanted to have glowing skin on my big day, so I started with a Skin Nourishment Body Therapy.
This signature treatment started off with a soothing foot bath and Dead Sea salt scrub. Next they apply a mineral masque that was customized with my own aroma. Then I was cocooned in warm towels while a therapist gave me a relaxing aromatic scalp massage. Finally, I rinsed off with a shower and a light massage.
After, my skin was super smooth and soft. It looked amazing. After a hard morning, I was ready to enjoy some lunch with my family in the dining room. The menu had lots to choose from!
I started my meal off with the Maryland Style Crab Cake. Fresh pan seared Maryland crab with spices and a sweet chili soy glaze. My sister had the Caesar Salad with romaine leaves, roasted garlic, croutons, pancetta, and a parmesan Reggiano crisp.
For our mains, my dad had the 7oz Ste. Anne’s farm beef burger served on a brioche kaiser with all the fixings and horseradish aioli on a brioche kaiser.
I had the Beef & Mushroom Pot Pie with slow-braised beef, mushrooms and herbs, topped with a flaky pastry.
My mom and sister both had the Grilled Chicken Club which was served on a garlic ciabatta filled with chicken breast, crisp bacon, lettuce, and aioli. Everything was delicious and fresh. The spa grows lots of its own herbs and vegetables. They even have their own grass-fed beef, and bake their own bread and buns. We barely had room for dessert but found away. 😉
After lunch, we explored the grounds and sat in a few of the lounges. One of their lounges has the tea of the day, their famous granola and biscotti cookies if you’re feeling peckish.
We all capped off the afternoon with a blissful 1-hour Swedish massage. I swear I felt all my wedding worries slip away.
We ended our day trip with a delightful afternoon tea. Ste. Anne’s Spa has its own custom blend of teas. They have about 15 different blends, and they are delicious high-quality tea. My favourite teas are Breakfast at Ste. Anne’s, and Garden Chai. I went with the breakfast blend this time.
The decadent afternoon tea was served on a three-tiered tray loaded with tasty treats. There were cranberry scones, finger sandwiches, chocolate truffles, cheese, crackers, veggies and more. It was the perfect way to end our day.
My family loved the visit, and are already planning on returning. As for me? I felt refreshed and ready to tackle my wedding day a few days later. Thanks so much for hosting me, Ste. Anne’s Spa.
If you’re looking for a place to unwind, you should definitely pay Ste.Anne’s Spa a visit.
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