*Another year, another anniversary! This year, Jeff and I spent it at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC. It was an easy train ride to Washington from our home and a quick ride on the Metro from Union Station to a stop just a few blocks from the hotel. The Four Seasons is located in historic Georgetown, a charming area known for its art galleries, antique stores, boutiques and restaurants. This shopper's paradise is anchored by The Shops at Georgetown Park, a former tobacco warehouse now decorated in classical Victorian style. However, other than the hotel, we didn't take advantage of what the area had to offer. With one exception, we didn't leave the property. That exception was a DC Restaurant Week dinner at a restaurant near the capitol. We just wanted to chill out for a couple of days. The spa was main attraction and set the tone for relaxation.

The Spa

Spa Entrance from the Four Season's Garden Terrace

Four Seasons Washington DC Spa Reception Desk

We left our room to go to the spa and crossed the Garden Terrace, the hotel's open-air interior courtyard, to the spa entrance. If there was an interior way to get to the spa, we never found it - not that we looked that hard. The Garden Terrace was quite peaceful and provided a direct route. Had it been January instead of August, we might have looked harder. We checked in at the 12,500 square-foot Four Seasons Fitness Club and Spa's reception desk and had plenty of time to tour the two-level Fitness Club.

Four Season Washington DC Fitness Center Four Seasons Fitness Club and Spa Terrace

*Four Seasons Washington DC Pool

The main level held a nice assortment of cardiovascular equipment, each with a television, DVD player, CD player, radio and individual headset. Many faced large windows overlooking the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park adjacent to the hotel. There was also a complete line of Cybex strength training equipment and a quiet, private terrace. The lower level featured a 60-foot, two-lane lap pool, whirlpool and eucalyptus-scented steam room.

The Spa at Four Seasons Washington DC Co-ed Lounge with Aerobics Studio on the other side of the wall

The Spa at Four Seasons Co-ed Lounge Hallway to the Four Seasons Fitness Club and Spa's Spa Area

The Fitness Club also had an aerobics studio. Unfortunately, it was located next to the spa's co-ed lounge, and classes were being held at the time of our visit. The high energy music and instruction coming from the studio rendered the lounge unusable as a place of relaxation. Fortunately, the spa also had a quiet alternative - small, separate men's and women's lounges. Since the spa did not have a couple's treatment room, Jeff and I parted ways as we entered the locker rooms and did not see each other again until our treatments were finished. Jeff opted for an 80-minute Swedish Massage, and I chose a Cherry Blossom Champagne Signature Body Treatment.

Women's Spa Changing Room at the Four Seasons Washington, DC	Vanity Area in the Women's Spa Changing Room at the Four Seasons Washington, DC
Sauna in the Women's Spa Changing Room at the Four Seasons Washington, DC	Eucalyptus Steam Room in the Women's Spa Changing Room at the Four Seasons Washington, DC

My initial reaction to the women's locker room was that it was really large for a spa with eight treatment rooms. Then I remembered the Fitness Club and realized it probably served a lot of women there to just work out. Unlike other changing / locker rooms that I had visited this year that served both fitness centers and spas and whose decor was more fitting a YMCA than a spa, this locker room was lovely - lots of marble and rich wood finishes and much more "spa" than "fitness center." Iced washcloths were provided for the steam and sauna. The vanity area had a large array of amenities - hair gel, hair spray, mouthwash, foot spray, note pads and pens and more.

Women's Lounge at the Four Seasons Washington DC

Spa Room at the Four Seasons Washington DC

I enjoyed the steam and sauna, donned my plush robe and plastic sandals and waited for my appointment in the petit two-seat women's lounge (the men's lounge was the same size). I was mid-article in a fitness magazine when Lori came to get me. She escorted me to a luxurious, private spa room – a spa within the spa - with its own treatment room, whirlpool and steam shower.

Lori began the Cherry Blossom Champagne Signature Body Treatment by dry brushing my body to exfoliate and increase the blood flow. When done, my skin just tingled. Lori opened the doors to a second chamber and revealed a deep soaking tub. I climbed in and relaxed in the bubbles for about 15 minutes while enjoying a Champagne flute of black cherry soda (the only reference to cherries in this "cherry blossom" treatment) and a plate filled with blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples and oranges. It was thoroughly indulgent, and I loved it. All too soon Lori asked me to dry off and return to the treatment table. There she polished my skin with an all-natural champagne salt scrub followed by an application of a soothing, fragrant champagne mixture. She wrapped me in silver plastic and snapped on a thick outer blanket that left my feet and face open. While the wrap worked, Lori massaged my face and scalp massage and then my feet. I returned to the inner chamber to shower off in the steam shower. The final part of the treatment was a massage with thick shea butter to seal in moisture. As I left the room, Lori handed me a bag with extra shea butter, the dry brush (I love knowing they don't re-use the brushes on the next client!), cherry incense and one other item. Remember that fitness magazine I was reading? Lori noticed and included it for me to take home. What fabulous attention to detail! What a lovely, thoughtful touch! I left feeling pampered and renewed.

I reconnected with Jeff in the co-ed lounge, now quiet, and we enjoyed a warm cup of Elixir tonic together. Although I know Jeff thoroughly enjoyed his massage, I don't see how I could have had a more enjoyable treatment than the Cherry Blossom Champagne Signature Body Treatment.

Massage Treatment Room at the Four Seasons Washington DC

Facial Treatment Room at the Four Seasons Washington DC

Other treatments offered at the spa at the Four Seasons Washington DC include:

The Room

Premier Room at the Four Seasons Washington DC

View of the Historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from our room

We stayed in a Premier Room located on the 3rd floor of the revitalized east wing of the Four Seasons Washington DC which overlooked the Historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, one of the best preserved and least altered of old American canals. The décor of the room was sophisticated and elegant, in a mauve color scheme accented by original artwork from the Louis-Dreyfus private collection.

Thick Terry Robes and 100% cotton oversized bath towels and shower in the limestone bathroom

Granite-topped double sink vanity and deep soaking tub in the limestone bathroom

A limestone foyer led to a sitting area furnished with a chair, ottoman, keyless refrigerated private bar and executive desk. The full limestone bathroom had an absolute black granite-topped double sink vanity, deep soaking tub, separate shower with massage and hand-held shower heads, and enclosed WC. The room was very comfortable. We spent a good portion of our stay in it.

Technological features of the room included: