Catskill Paradise
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
The main reasons to book a spa vacation at the Copperhood Inn & Spa aren’t the spa treatments and fine dining – you can get those in the city, where spas are the domain of men waxed to perfection and women with Prada fetishes. Copperhood, however, is in the middle of nowhere, a two-hour drive from the city through rolling countryside. And a short hike in a musky forest can do for your mind and spirit what a botanical facial will do for your skin.
The idea of the spa goes back to the Romans. Avid bathers, they kept themselves busy attaining salus per aquam – health through water – instead of roaming the countryside in hordes like their ancient contemporaries. But spas, including Copperhood, have evolved to offer more than hot springs and wine.
There are around 30 different treatments to choose from, including usual spa fare such as the glycolic facial, Swedish aromatherapy massage, acupuncture, and couples massage. There’s also more unusual fare, including a Reiki treatment, which is purported to balance the body’s energy. It mixes well with a meditation session in a studio with floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Moor Mud Wrap is worth getting dirty for. After a light exfoliation, jetblack moor mud is applied to the skin, allowing the body to eliminate toxins and absorb essential minerals. Then there’s the Shirodhara Treatment, which incorporates a gentle dripping of warm herbal oil onto the “third eye” (don’t worry, it doesn’t sting).
There’s a two-night minimum stay at Copperhood. Overnight rates are $285 and $299 a person in low and peak seasons, respectively. Rates include three gourmet meals daily, a fitness program, hikes, exercise classes, equipment rentals, use of all facilities, and a $45 spa credit for each night of the stay.
Don’t neglect to sample the healthy but chic fare that Copperhood serves up: bowls of fennel soup, salad with mango and mustard vinaigrette, and free-range chicken on a bed of sun-dried tomatoes and tarragon puree. If it’s still light, you can dine alfresco overlooking the Esopus River and the Catskills.
