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500 Years Of Youth By Bijain Bayne

THE FLORIDA SPA EXPERIENCE: THEN AND NOW

by Bijan C. Bayne

The Fountain of Youth has always been in St. Augustine, Florida, where Don Juan Ponce de Leon found the natural spring he thought the Taino natives of Puerto Rico referred to in their lore. It was the height and healthy apperarance of the Timocuan tribe that convinced the explorer he was in the right place. A century ago, industrialist Henry Flagler began developing The Sunshine State, from St. Augustine to Palm Beach. St. Augustine's Lightner Museum occupies the site of one of his earliest spa resorts, which housed the world's largest swimming pool, steam rooms, and saunas. Tourists of all stripes still visit northeastern Florida to turn back their biological clocks, only now their options are more diverse. From the white paradise of Debbie's Day Spa & Salon on Anastasia Boulevard in St. Augustine, where the vintage furniture in the 11 treatment rooms evokes a bed and breakfast- to the spa at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, where a new 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art spa is scheduled to open in September, this is the pampering place.

The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club dates to 1928, but guests would never suspect it. This meticulously-landscaped getaway offers golf, tennis, fitness and a spa within walking distance of one's room. The steady rhythms of the tide greet you- the beach is right outside your door and visible from your deck. European-style reservation frees guests from a standing front desk check-in. Gov. and Mrs. Jeb Bush, and Bruce Springsteen have stayed here. You'll dine on the delicacies of Chef Herman Mueller, who has catered for the White House.

The current spa will soon give way to one with 22 treatment rooms and two couples rooms, five water treatments, grottos, a central relaxation courtyard, and an element where one feels as if seated atop a glass of Alka-Seltzer. The spa staff has traveled to study treatments and menus from Baden Baden to the South Pacific. The new facility's motif will be bamboo, stones and waterfalls, the exterior roofed in the orange clay tile consistent with the resort at large. The Inn and Club also has 15 clay tennis courts, whose underground watering system assures no interruption of play for maintenance. The 8,000 square-foot gym has 75 stations with an ocean view, and 60 classes, including Pilates and spinning.

The Inn and Club experience is that of a walking village, one need not drive to access any amenities. Be sure to day trip to St. Augustine, where sites such as the original Fountain of Youth, America's Oldest House, and resplendent Flagler College are worthy of tours. Those who prefer to stay in this city will find comfort and fine dining at the Casa Monica Hotel. This Moorish edifice conjures The Casbah, much like the period structures that survive Flagler's heyday. Take a short stroll to the only Spanish fortress in North America. As with all of CEO Richard Kessler's properties, there is an art gallery. John Travolta and Kelly Preston have been guests here. Ghost tours are a popular nocturnal activity, whether by foot, or inside a hearse. Book a night sail on the period boats which leave tour out of the bay.

The Sawgrass Marriott is a popular convention site. Undergoing lobby renovation, the property boasts atrium-style recessed balconies. The sun-splashed lobby looks out ceiling height glass walls to a man-made pond with waterfall and palms. The lobby features lofty palms, and has a Starbucks shop. This is the host hotel for the PGA's Players Championship ("The Fifth Major"). Should you visit the spa at the Sawgrass Marriott, ask for Muriel Hattori, the Bud Powell of massage therapists. PGA star Fred Couples swears by her, and you will understand why. When she applies hot stones, the stones are as part of her swift-moving hands. Hattori is unique in that she sometimes applies a different motion with one hand than the other- think of a pianist simultaneously playing melody and chords. Her 20 years of experience, and study of Asian technique are apparent, in that her moves make it difficult to imagine where she is standing, her pressure is perfect, and her coupling of movements assure ultimate muscle stimulation.

This is where the PGA comes to relax. St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra hotels and spas have hosted crowds from the last Super Bowl, the ACC and SEC football championships, and the aforementioned Players Championship. Vijay Singh, JIm Furyk and Fred Funk are among the golfers who reside here, as have NFL quarterback Mark Brunell and other Jacksonville Jaguars. At World Golf Village, home to the Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Tour Academy, Caddyshack restaurant, and PGA production studios, devotees may pay homage to the greats, or improve their own games. There are two courses, The KIng and Bear, designed by Messrs. Palmer and Nicklaus, and the Slammer and Squire (based on the nicknames of designers Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen).

The youngsters will enjoy the highly interactive Hall of Fame, with its video monitor where visitors can click on various aspects of members' careers, to the locker room, where there are actual lockers for each inductee. Top it off with a sandwich at Muray Brothers' Caddyshack, owned by Bill Murray and his brothers, who host charity tournaments here. ESPN's "Cold Pizza" filmed live at Caddyshack prior to the Jacksonville Super Bowl (when the New England Patriots stayed at the nearby Renaissance Hotel and the Philadelphia Eagles at the Sawgrass Marriott). The salads at Caddyshack are a hefty but healthy starter en route to the decadence of desserts such as the Sloppy Sundae, Baby Ruth Cheesecake, or the sumptous Hot Brownie.

Laterra Resort & Spa features condominiums perfect for couple or family stays, or golf vacations. Windows look onto the swimming pool, and the one bedrooms have full kitchens, comfy living rooms, a balcony, and cable t.v in both the bed and living space. There are washers and dryers as well. The resort opened in December 2004, just in time for Super Bowl 39. Only 15 minutes from historic St. Augustine and 20 minutes from Jacksonville, February and March are the busiest months. Guests also have access to the Serenata Beach Club.

No other American region opens its doors to 500 years of anti-aging remedies, from natural springs to Flagler's palaces, and the high-tech treatments of today. Golf's rich heritage also beckons, as a vacation to St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra is full of facts, food and fun.