The Insider’s Guide to Spa-tastic Girlfriend Getaways - WV Living Magazine (2024)

Experience the ultimate in pampering and self-care at some of West Virginia’s finest spas and wellness centers.

written and photographed by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS

Who’s ready for a spa-cation? Pack your bags, grab your besties, escape the never-ending complexities of navigating, well, life … and enter a sanctuary of sisterhood where pampering—and laughter—is the prime objective. Join me and my gal pals as we travel the state in search of spa-tastic experiences that will leave you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and reconnected.

A BLISSFUL BERKELEY ESCAPE

The waters of West Virginia are well-known for recreation and tourism. But the mineral waters of Berkeley Springs are not for those seeking adventure—they’re for a peaceful respite from life’s chaos. What better place to enjoy a gal pal retreat than at America’s first spa?

Fun fact: Berkeley Springs was first called Medicine Springs in 1747 on a map drawn by Thomas Jefferson’s father, but it was really George Washington who put it on the map, when the area became his favorite getaway. The warm mineral waters remain a constant 74°, and you can wade in the old stone pools like Washington did at Berkeley Springs State Park, one of the smallest state parks in the country.

When visiting Berkeley Springs, you have to experience the Roman Baths at Berkeley Springs State Park so that’s where my friend Deb Hartshorn and I headed first. It was one of the least expensive spa experiences, at $27—add an additional person for $17—for 30 minutes or $52 for 60 minutes. You’ll also want to book a massage at the Main Bathhouse, which includes a 15-minute mineral bath. A therapeutic 60-minute massage will run you $99.

Next, wrapped in a blanket of zen, we walked to Atasia, a full-service spa located just one block away, for a Rejuvenating Facial. They offer a couple’s facial, too, that’s perfect for two. Our 45-minute treatment was divine.

While there are several spas and wellness centers in Berkeley Springs, we decided to check out nearby Healing Waters Spa at Cacapon Resort State Park. Cacapon recently underwent extensive remodeling, and Healing Waters will make you rethink your expectations of a state park day spa—it is sublimely serene. We booked a Saltmousse-Glow Full Body Scrub, $99, that really did leave us glowing.

MORGANTOWN MAINSTAYS

If you don’t live in Morgantown, you may only visit for a football or basketball game, but what you may not know is that the town has several award-winning spas—and unlike sports, spas are always in season. Remember that, girls: ALWAYS in season. And with so many options, you and your friends can do a spa crawl, enjoying a treatment or two at each.

Spa Roma, located near Lakeview Golf Resort in Cheat Lake, has been a Morgantown-area mainstay for more than 30 years—and for good reason. The robust menu of services, expertise of the staff, and elegant ambience will make you feel like royalty. I wanted to try something a bit different, so I booked the Relieving Sublime Polynesian Ritual, $180, that promised to release deep-seated tension with an exfoliation and massage. My masseuse, Mela, must have channeled Polynesian healers, because it was glorious. Another fun and educational thing to do with your gal pals is the Make-Up with Facial and Color Analysis, $275. They use the Seasonal Color Analysis System to analyze your skin tone, eye color, and hair color to determine the best color palette for you. You’ll learn what colors make you look younger and healthier and what colors you should avoid. You’ll also have your face measured and analyzed, and then you’ll learn makeup techniques to correct imperfections and asymmetries. You’ll never look at your face or your closet the same way again.

Across town in Star City is another area favorite—Tuscan Sun Spa, a spa, salon, and medical spa all wrapped into one refined and elegant location. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a service not offered. Book a Tuscan Treat for Two for $165 and enjoy a 55-minute relaxing Swedish massage followed by a spa manicure and pedicure, or opt for one of their decadent facials like the Luxury Myoxy Caviar Facial, $150, that promises to de-age your skin with pure caviar and a revolutionary blend of phyto-extracts. Escutox, a non-invasive Botox alternative, is then applied to soften and smooth lines while plumping and firming your skin. A Stem Cell Body Wrap, $130, is all the rage and is perfect for tackling cellulite and repairing sun damage or sagging skin. If you are interested in Tuscan’s medispa services, book a virtual consultation prior to visiting to make the most of your time.

And not far from the Star City exit off of Interstate 79 is Roman’s Acupuncture & Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art alternative health clinic. In addition to therapeutic massages and facials—groups can use their Salt Gem Room for a wide variety of services—you can experience other services that you won’t typically find in a traditional spa or medispa. You can have your aura photographed or undergo an IonCleanse Detox Foot Bath, $45, which I have to say is grossly fascinating. The color patterns and murkiness of the water as toxins are released from your body indicate parts of your body that are particularly stressed. You can also experience a hyperbaric oxygen chamber—yes, that’s the same thing that A-listers like Michael Phelps, LeBron James, and the late Michael Jackson were known to use to improve their well-being, $70. Of course, I had to try this out. My friend, Deb, opted for the Hyperthermic Ozone Carbonic Acid Transdermal Technology (HOCATT), $179 plus $10 for a new oxygen canula. It looks like a giant egg, but HOCATT detoxes and restores your body on a cellular level. If you are interested in experiencing the benefits of acupuncture, owner Stacy Roman has more than 30 years of practice and has amassed a devoted clientele. In addition, she offers cryotherapy for body contouring or treatment of inflammatory conditions. She even recently added EMFACE—Kim Kardashian and Jessica Simpson are devotees. It’s the first and only needle-free, hands-free procedure that simultaneously treats facial skin and muscles in 20-minute sessions that result in less wrinkles and more lift. It’s pricey, but cheaper than a facelift and less invasive, and results look more natural.

JEFFERSON COUNTY JEWEL

I think Hillbrook Inn and Spa in Charles Town should be renamed Storybook Inn and Spa. From the moment you drive up to the inn, situated on George Washington’s first land purchase in 1750, you feel like you’ve crossed a magical portal into a fairy tale. You can stay in either the Main House, the Guesthouse, or the Gatehouse—or nearby Hawthorne House or Hillbrook Farmhouse. I recommend staying on-site, where just walking around the grounds is therapeutic, and where you’ll also get a 15% discount on your room when you book a dinner reservation and spa service. The Gatehouse Spa, located in the Gatehouse, is a serene spot to enjoy a massage, body treatment, or facial. The Hillbrook Signature Facial, $125, includes a deep cleanse, steam, and traditional scrub exfoliation with products customized to your skin type. Looking for the gold standard? Then book the 90-minute 24 Karat Gold and Diamond Facial, $205, that includes a diamond exfoliator and 24-karat gold mask infused with AHA and vitamin B, followed by a rose gold serum and a pearl moisturizer that contains caviar extract. You’ll also receive an arm, hand, and foot massage. The massage menu is equally decadent. It is hard to pry yourself off the table.

PEACE OUT IN PARKERSBURG

Located on the second floor of the Blennerhassett Hotel & Spa, Lee’s Studio MediSpa is a new and welcome addition to this historic boutique hotel. When booking your service, tell them that you are crafting a girlfriend getaway, and they can provide you with a beautiful charcuterie spread and a bottle of bubbly to enjoy while you luxuriate with a massage, body treatment, or facial. For something fun, add a group makeup lesson. After reading that Cosmopolitan UK called The Repêchage Four-Layer Facial “the best facial of the century,” Deb and I had to experience it. Made from fresh European seaweed and billed as the spa’s premier anti-aging treatment, the facial, $150, includes four layers that soften and smooth the skin. When the masque hardens, the process of removing it is strangely satisfying as it is gently pulled away from your face. The facial also includes a relaxing massage of the neck, shoulders, hands, and feet. The verdict? It definitely lives up to the hype. My skin hasn’t felt this soft since I was a baby. Best part? You can just roll right back to your hotel room and revel in blissful relaxation. They often have special events and packages geared towards women, so make sure you give them a follow on social media.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HAVEN

As soon as the white-clad cottages and lodge of Capon Springs and Farms, a 19th-century all-inclusive resort tucked into a hamlet of Hampshire County, unfold before you, you enter a haven of timeless tranquility. That may sound hokey, but it’s true. There’s no other place quite like this one. The closest I can come to describing it is to conjure up the dreamy and idyllic vibe of the movie Dirty Dancing. Although you don’t have to stay at the resort to enjoy the spa, if you can, stay a night or two. The food, which is included with your overnight stay, is served family-style and will knock your socks off. Play pickleball or ping pong or learn fling golf—and of course, book a service at Capon Springs’ Hygeia Bath House & Spa. Begin your spa day in the Soaking Baths—make sure you add aromatherapy mineral salts. I think their soaking baths are the best I’ve experienced. Deb and I donned bathing suits and luxuriated in the healing waters for 30 minutes, $30. Follow your soak with a massage, $110. The masseurs are magicians who make the tension in your muscles melt like butter. Or try the Facial Massage that includes a shoulder, neck, hand, foot, or scalp massage. Then just walk around the resort in a blissful state of chillaxness.

FINDING SOLACE IN SALT

The most unique spa we’ve visited has been the hobbit-like Pomona Salt Cave & Spa, in White Sulphur Springs. Incorporating more than 18,000 pounds of pure Himalayan salt, the salt cave is a cocoon of serenity. As we reclined in comfortable chairs and breathed in the salt particles—touted for aiding respiratory health and relaxation—we couldn’t help but think magic was at work. I was convinced the negative ions made my skin tingle. Make sure you bring white socks—it is required. Sessions begin every hour on the hour, and 45 minutes will cost you only $20. After your halotherapy session, book one of the spa’s wellness packages. From mud wraps and facials to massages and reflexology, the offerings are extensive. They’ve recently added Cave Yoga and the Salt Room Lodge, where you can sleep while salt is piped in. There’s even a cafe on-site where you can grab a quick and nutritious bite between treatments.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SERENITY

Before you even step into The Retreat Aesthetics & Vitality Center, located on Route 60 in Huntington, you know you are in for a luxurious experience. This unique medical spa is owned and operated by two highly acclaimed board-certified physicians: dermatologist Amy Vaughan and plastic surgeon Ben Moosavi. They’ve created a state-of-the-art center that offers aesthetic and wellness treatments ranging from pampering services like facials and massages to medical-grade procedures, perfect for bridal or girlfriend packages. With Christopher Eats, a fantastic restaurant, just next door, your gathering can even be catered.

I’ve never had Botox or filler or a laser treatment—shoot, I didn’t even know what dermaplaning was—so I was full of questions, which they patiently answered. They even have a handy page on their website that lists all the things we women struggle with aesthetically and the treatments that can address them at retreattristate.com/self-diagnosis. I opted for a massage, $100, and the HydraFacial, $175, and I felt like an A-lister. My massage by Bret Masters was d.i.v.i.n.e. The HydraFacial was different from other facials I’ve experienced because the aesthetician uses a handheld wand that cleanses and exfoliates your face at the same time. It also infused my skin with antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. Afterwards, you get to look at the clear container of all the stuff the wand pulls out of your skin—and that is weirdly satisfying. My skin felt and looked fabulous. I wanted to curl up in the relaxation room and spend the night.

OASIS AT OGLEBAY

Oglebay, is a perfect destination for a girlfriend getaway. Once you check in, you never have to leave—and you won’t want to. Enjoy the stunning Bissonnette Gardens, lounge at the Crispin Center Outdoor Pool, tour the historic mansion, hike the 4.5 miles of the paved Arboretum Walking Trails, play a round of golf or tennis, and, of course, spend an afternoon relaxing at The West Spa. Located in the Wilson Lodge, the spa offers a wide range of treatments that include massage, facials, body wraps, and mani/pedis. Book the Duo Design and enjoy an unforgettable massage alongside your bestie. This will run you around $175 per person for 50 minutes. Or opt for one of the most unique facials we’ve encountered: the 30-minute Booty Facial, $90. Although, admittedly, we did not book this service, we are sure your derriere deserves it.

WHAT’S ON OUR RELAXATION RADAR?

We are eagerly awaiting the opening this summer or fall of Canaan Valley Spa and Wellness Center, located close to Timberline Ski Resort. It promises to bring much-needed services to one of West Virginia’s top tourism destinations. The 8,500-square-foot spa will offer massages, manicures, pedicures, mineral soak tubs, a fitness facility, and a yoga studio as well as cryotherapy, neurofeedback therapy, and halotherapy.

Save the date! On September 20-22, Harman’s Luxury Log Cabins in Grant County is hosting a World Wellness Weekend, perfect for a girlfriend getaway. So call up your girlfriends and book a couple of cabins, because the weekend’s activities are free for all guests. Surrounded by majestic rock outcroppings and situated on the pristine North Fork River, this location is the epitome of serenity. You’ll spend the weekend enjoying wellness activities for all fitness levels led by inspirational fitness, spiritual, and nutritional experts. Enjoy yoga, beginner and advanced hikes, guided fly-fishing lessons, mindfulness and meditation workshops, saunas, live music, and more.

READ MORE ARTICLES FROMWV LIVING’S SUMMER 2024 ISSUE