Napa and Sonoma Feature

Spa Solage. This eco-conscious spa has reinvented the traditional Calistoga mud and mineral water therapies. Case in point: the hour-long "Mudslide," a three-part treatment that includes a mud body mask (in a heated lounge), a soak in a thermal bath, and a power nap in a comfy sound/vibration chair. The mud here is a mix of clay, volcanic ash, and essential oils. Traditional spa services—combination Shiatsu-Swedish and other massages, full-body exfoliations, facials, and waxes—are available, as are fitness and yoga classes. 755 Silverado Trail, at Rosedale Rd., Calistoga, CA, 94515. 866/942-7442 or 707/226-0825. www.solagecalistoga.com/spa. Treatments $25-$335. Daily 8-8.

Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs Resort. Newer, fancier establishments may have eclipsed Calistoga's oldest spa, but loyal fans appreciate its reasonable prices and unpretentious vibe. The mud baths here are a mix of volcanic ash and Canadian peat, warmed by the spa's own hot springs. Fun fact: back in 1952, "The Works"—a mud bath, steam room, blanket wrap, and a massage—cost $3.50. The charge now is $139. You can also get a facial here. 1507 Lincoln Ave., at Fair Way, Calistoga, CA, 94515. 707/942-4102. www.drwilkinson.com. Treatments $69-$179. Daily 8:30-5:30.

Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. With 40,000 square feet and 30 treatment rooms—making it by far the largest spa in the Wine Country—Willow Stream offers every amenity you could possibly want, including several pools and hot tubs fed by local thermal springs. Although the spa bustles with patrons in summer and on some weekends, the vibe here is always soothing. The signature bathing ritual includes an exfoliating shower, dips in two mineral-water soaking pools, an herbal steam, a dry sauna, and cool-down showers. Guests experience this ritual on their own or in conjunction with other treatments such as the warm ginger-oil float, which involves relaxation in a weightless environment, and the perennially popular caviar facial. The most requested room among couples is outfitted with a two-person copper bathtub. 100 Boyes Blvd./Hwy. 12, 2.5 miles north of Sonoma Plaza, Boyes Hot Springs, CA, 95476. 707/938-9000. www.fairmont.com/sonoma. Treatments $65-$485.

Spa at Kenwood Inn. A pretty setting, expert practitioners, and rejuvenating French therapies make a visit to the Spa at Kenwood Inn a marvelously ethereal experience. The wine-based Vinothérapie treatments and beauty products from the French line Caudalíe combine in the delicious-sounding Honey Wine Wrap, which involves a warming, full-body slathering of wine yeast and honey, the better to rehydrate your parched and neglected skin. The Crushed Cabernet Scrub, designed to stimulate and soften your skin, raises the sweetness ante by adding brown sugar to the honey, along with crushed grape seeds and grape-seed oil. The spa's other services include massages and facials using the products and treatments by iS Clinical and Intraceuticals. 10400 Sonoma Hwy./Hwy. 12, Kenwood, CA, 95452. 707/833-1293 or 800/353-6966. www.kenwoodinn.com. Treatments $125-$390.

Spa Villagio. With a Mediterranean style, this 13,000-square-foot spa has all the latest gadgets, including men's and women's outdoor hot tubs and showers with an extravagant number of showerheads. Huge spa suites—complete with flat-panel TV screens and wet bars—are perfect for couples and groups. The pièce de résistance, perhaps for the entire Napa Valley, is the Suite Sensations experience ($575), which combines treatments drawn from Asian, Mediterranean, and Middle-Eastern traditions and includes wine-and-food pairings matched to these cultural influences. The spa also provides the full array of services, including massages, body peels, facials, and manicures. 6481 Washington St., at Oak Circle, Yountville, CA, 94599. 707/948-5050 or 800/351-1133. www.villagio.com/spavillagio. Treatments $75-$575.

Spas in Napa and Sonoma have two special angles. First, there are the local mud baths and mineral-water sources, concentrated particularly around Calistoga. Admittedly, it can seem really strange to lower yourself into a vat of thick, muddy paste, but once you've had a few minutes to get used to the intense heat and peaty smell, you may never want to leave your cocoon. Second, there are all those grapes: their seeds, skins, and vines are credited with all sorts of antioxidant and other healthful properties by those who use them in scrubs, lotions, and other spa products.