Vacation Planning

Have I ever mentioned how much I love vacations?  Oh I do, it's quite true!  It can even be said that I live for them.  To me, vacations are the reward for...life.

I know I've spoken of my love for Playa del Carmen, but alas...Mexico can't be in the cards for me.  You see, I have to plan my vacation with the thought process that I will be "all by myself" (sing it Celine).  I don't know for a fact that I will have anyone to go with me and so I have to choose a vacation spot that would be safe for me to travel to alone. 

One of the huge appeals of Playa for me...or any beach, for that matter...is that it's AWAY and it's peaceful.  I can choose to do everything or nothing.  This got me wondering what it is that I could do here in the states that would give me that same sense of utopia.  Then it dawned on me.  I can choose a hot springs resort and spa escape. 

I then began my research.  My requirements were - hot natural springs, adventurous activities nearby, and of course...a spa.

No matter how many different search options I Googled, I kept coming back to this place - Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa in N. Bonneville, WA.  The only downside I can think of is that the high temp will be around 56 and the low 31 (ye gads!) while I'm there (early May 2012).  Oh...and brother-in-law Jay wanted to point it out to me that I might not be safe in the Pacific Northwest because there are a lot of serial killers from around those parts.  WHAT?!  Well you know that lead me to serial killer research!  I'm morbid like that.

source here

Within 30 minutes of the resort, I will have the opportunity to do a zipline course, white water rapids, hike waterfalls, see Mount St. Helens, and tour wineries (with wine tastings).

The resort also has a lovely restaurant with wonderful meal offerings, but if I wanted to eat off-campus, so to speak, Portland Oregon is only 35 minutes away with some great offerings like Veritable Quandary and Salvador Molly's.

The spa menu is superb.  I've already picked out several services I want such as:

Ultimate Relaxation Bath, Wrap & Massage


Our Chamomile bath and wrap or our Lavender bath and wrap followed by a relaxing 80-minute massage is perfect for those days when you just want to relax. This ultimate treatment also includes a foot massage followed by a warm towel foot wrap and a warm towel face wrap.


140 minutes

Just for Women Bath, Wrap & Facial


Enjoy a bath in YonKa Phyto Bain bath oil followed by a warm wrap and an

80 minute European Facial.

140 minutes

Rock N’ Rain Signature Massage


Try our Bonneville Hot Springs Spa Signature Massage. Six therapeutic essential oils are delivered down the spine in the Raindrop Technique, and then massaged in with warm basalt rocks followed by a full body massage.

80 minutes

Having something relatively planned for the future gives me the motivation to commit (fully) to getting to my goals.  Now, unfortunatley I have a bit more ground to cover than initially because I went wayward, but the point is I'm back on track.

Speaking of track...I decided this is going to be key in transforming me into the girl I want to be.  Starting today, I am tracking EVERYTHING.  I have Daily Mile to track my exercise.  I have Myfitnesspal.com to track my calories and water consumption.  I have Sleep Bot (an app on my phone) to track my sleep.

If only I could mentally get beyond this ridiculous weather.  I'm sure you are sick and tired of hearing me (and every other Texan) complain about the heat this summer, but I can honestly say that in all my 24 years of living here, this is by far the hottest summer.  Yesterday around 3:30pm, I took this picture (and no, my car had not been sitting in direct sunlight...this was after I had been driving for over 20 minutes).

So, what kind of vacation are you planning OR do you prefer?