The Pacific Northwest Calls....

And when the Pacific Northwest calls, I always listen.

I've had some amazing experiences in Vancouver, with its plethora of amazing spas, restaurants, hotels and general ambience of the city. It reminded me of a clean Toronto, since New York City has really cleaned up its act, you can't use it as a comparision as a dirty place to be anymore!

So now I am being lured to one of my favorite cool cities in the country: Portland, Oregon. And I plan on staying at some very la-de-dah hotels (I'll spill the beans when I have them in hand...I'm cautious that way.)

But I definitely have my sights on a few well-reputed spas and places to visit. The last time I was in the uber-friendly city, I got so lost, a friendly truck-driving woman (it was a small truck) asked me where I was going and she said I was all turned around. As usual. And then she offered a ride to my hotel! I had no fear. It's that kind of vibe. Friendliness seems to emanate from the magnetic pull of the city, or something.

Anyway, she brought me to the door of this very fancy, well-known Heathman Hotel which has been re-done, restored and brought up to speed in the most graceful, customer-satifsying way.
I had a blast there, and even was in walking distance to one of my favorite spas: The Aequis Spa, which has since moved to bigger quarters.

The website alone will put you into such a state of tranquility (no whale music, just some very easy-going spa sounds) that you'll feel as though you've already arrived.

But I have that as number one with a bullet on my list of spas, albeit it's a day spa and I'm used to resort type spas. But, it's a remarkable spa, serene and lovely, and when I visited (before the grand move) I was transported into a state of physical and emotional happiness of the non-verbal type.

For when you have a marvelous spa experience, you want to savor the experience as long as possible, and words always seem clumsy. For me, anyway.

Anyway, if you are ever in Portland, you must check out this spa. You will not be sorry. They start by soaking your feet, a personal favorite.

They had me at hello.

I plan on discovering some wonderful places to visit and will even let you know about them, since this blog is all-encompassing now, especially since my own health problems had interferred with travel and actual spa-visits. I am so overdue with a spa visit it's crazy!

But I'm better now, thank you, and plan on making this getaway in mid-October.

We'll all be in for a treat.

Before Halloween.