2012 Update

It's been over ten years since I visited the Grand Okanagan Resort and experienced The Spa at the Grand. The hotel has undergone many changes over the years and now has a lovely outdoor spa lounge area and updated Spa and Fitness Centre. Here are some photos the resort has shared with me.

~ Julie

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2001 Review

The only thing on my agenda after arriving in Kelowna was to check into the Grand Okanagan and get to The Spa at the Grand in time for my scheduled treatment. My suite offered a splendid view of the lake and resort. The rooms were so nice that it was tempting to just stay there and relax. However, a Revitalizing Mud Wrap was waiting, so I headed for the spa.

I checked in at the reception desk and was led through the waiting room to the changing room. This room is used by all guests of the spa so a quick knock at the door ensured the room was free or at least occupied by someone of the same sex. I changed into robe and slippers and was led to a wet room. The Revitalizing Mud Wrap was designed to energize, revitalize and firm the body with a blend of pure essential oils and a mineral-rich algae mud that stimulate circulation. I got to choose the Comfort Zone aromatherapy blend I would enjoy during the treatment - Tranquility, a blend of pure, natural essential oils and jojoba oil that induce deep relaxation and feeling of balance: Cedar (nerve sedative), Orange (calms, lessens anxiety), Rosewood (Immune system stimulant), Rose (calms, soothes, eases tension), Grapefruit (uplifting), Palmarosa (strengthens nervous and cardiovascular systems). A few drops were put on the towel my head was resting on. The blend can also be used as a perfume, facial steam bath, added to body lotion or massage cream, or in a diffuser for fragrant aroma. 

The first step of the treatment was exfoliation to improve circulation and the ability of the skin to absorb minerals and nutrients from seaweed. Then came the mud with three kinds of seaweed from Brittany, peppermint essential oil and camphor. It felt cold! I was wrapped and my face received an Essential Elements treatment with geranium. I was left alone for about 20 minutes and was told the wrap would feel cold at first then get warmer. It never did. I was chilly the whole time. I welcomed the warm Vichy Shower and the warming massage that followed. The massage used illipe butter cream that firms, increases the skin's elasticity, and hydrates.

I headed back to my lovely suite and enjoyed a quiet, relaxing night in the canopy bed. 

I got up bright and early the following morning so I had time to use the whirlpool bath. I had an appointment with Gary for a brisk early morning fitness walk along the lake shore. The walkway led us through a natural reserve where we could see marshland and osprey nests. Just as my legs felt like they were about to explode, we stopped and did some stretches. We took off in the other direction toward town and passed the resort, marina, paddle wheeler, park and gardens, and the edge of town. When we got back to the fitness center, Gary led me through a number of stretches to cool down. It was a great way to start the day! 

I finished just in time to head back to The Grand Spa where I was scheduled for a LaStone Massage Treatment and a Grand Pedicure. I checked in, changed into a robe and slippers and used the steam room. Soon it was time for the LaStone Therapy Massage. My therapist, Beth, who is also the spa manager, arranged warm basalt stones on the massage table and I lay face up so the stones were under my back. She placed warm stones on my chakras forehead, throat, chest, etc., and started the treatment with energy work and visualization. She then used both warm basalt stones and chilled marble stones with essential oils to massage me. I can always tell when a therapist has been trained to do hot stone massage by LaStone Therapy. They are simply the best and Beth was among them.

Next was the Grand Pedicure in the Solace foot massage chair which vibrates. I could program it for the vibration and the amount of heat. While one foot soaked, the other had reflexology. Nails were shaped and painted by Lorelee. While my nails dried, I relaxed in the waiting room and enjoyed a spa lunch of Baby Spinach and Butter Leaves with Toasted Pecan Halves tossed with Grapefruit Ginger Vinaigrette and presented in a lentil wafer basket (a lot like taco salad basket). Other menu choices included Chilled Gazpacho Soup, Wild & Gathered Greens with Carrot Curls (can add grilled chicken or baby shrimp or grilled prawn skewer), House Smoked Salmon on a Toasted Bagel with cream cheese, sweet onion and capers, Bowl of chilled fruit cocktail, Freshly baked muffin with fruit Yogurt, Home made exotic sorbet served in a brandy snap tulip, Grilled vegetable sandwich, Spicy Shrimp Croissant, Homemade tricolor cannelloni filled with west coast salmon, scallops, gulf shrimp, and halibut in a chardonnay wine sauce, Papadella Pasta with grilled Mediterranean vegetables, lemon balm pesto and cheese crisps, Oriental stir fried vegetables on Shanghai noodles with ginger, garlic and chili beef or chicken or prawns and scallops, and Thai chicken wrap with spicy peanut sauce, vegetables, and bean sprouts in a spinach tortilla shell. It was a lovely way to spend the day.

The Spa at the Grand offers a wide variety of treatments in eight treatment rooms: one with a Vichy shower, one with a hydrotherapy tub, one with a pedicure chair, and five body or facial treatment rooms. There is also a state-of-the-art fitness facility, two hot tubs, sauna, indoor/outdoor pool, and hair salon. 

Coming Attraction

While I was there, the local newspaper reported that the health club would be increased in size to 18,000 square feet in a future expansion that would also include a new building of private residence partnership units, restaurant, and winery.

Resort Activities

In addition to the spa, the resort has a lounge, pub, three restaurants an internet cafe and a bookstore on the property. The resort offers rental of mountain bikes, boats, seadoos, kayaks, canoes, petal boats, kids boats, sailboats, off-road roller-blades, regular roller-blades, & much more at Sparky's. Float plane tours, Kettle Valley Railway cycling, off-road blading, air-blading and air-biking tours are available. The Kelowna Art Gallery is across the street and town is just a short walk away. Golf courses, ski resorts, wineries & orchards are close by. There are many seasonal activities including the Wine Festival every Spring and Fall. The Lake City Casino is also located at the resort.