Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

Stepping out of a Dr. Wilkinson’s mud bath, I had clumps of who-knows-what sliding off my skin onto the white-tile floor. But, I’m feeling pretty snazzy. The attendants who clean up after me don’t realize that the impact of their service will last at least a week.

Dr. Wilkinson’s mud is a carefully developed combo of peat, volcanic ash, lavender, and hot mineral water, which is shot through with water of over 110� degrees for sanitation. That works for me!

At Dr. Wilkinson’s, you can luxuriate in �The Works,� where your body is blanketed in the silky wrap, (trust me, you can’t feel the lumps or bumps of the mud) where the even pressure warms every inch of your body. Intermittent bubbles pop while you’re immersed in the 12-minute primordial soup, and ideas like the big bang, or re-sculpting your body, occur. Your devolution is aided by cool cucumbers gently pressing your eyelids. Then, up for a cleansing shower, a hot bubbling lavender mineral soak, warm towel-wrap, visit to the sauna with an all-you-can-drink cup of icy Calistoga water, (exuberantly replenished by your attendants) and finally, a luxurious, full-body massage.

A 40-mile drive from Vallejo, the hot springs in this apex of the Napa Valley has attracted diverse guests for hundreds of years. The first known revelers of the �oven place� were the Napa Valley Wappos. Next came the Spanish explorers, who got toasty in the �agua caliente.� In 1859, a wealthy and somewhat rougue San Francisco businessman, Samuel Brannan, founded Calistoga as a resort community. In the 50’s, Dr. Wilkinson came to town, and his place has been there ever since�the spa of spas. The 70’s attracted people looking for healthier lifestyles, and today many Bay Area residents pop up for a quick, economical trip that has the impact of a longer vacation.

Besides spa treatments, Dr. Wilkinson’s boasts warm outdoor pools, a large indoor pool, and private patio areas. Rooms are comfortable and quiet. From the resort, you can stroll to all of the galleries and eateries along the downtown promenade, visit the Sharpsteen Museum to discover Calistoga’s colorful history, see the California version of Old Faithful, or come for the county fair (held over the July 4 weekend). Also, if you drive a little further up the hill towards Robert Lewis Stevenson State Park, and look down over the valley, you may agree that Calistoga is as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. To extend your visit beyond your stay, you can purchase some of Dr. W’s own TerraceuticalsTM skin-care products. Dr. Wilkinson’s is the kind of place anyone would be happy to write home about.

You can visit Dr. Wilkinson on-line at www.drwilkinson.com for a memorable online tour and more information about Dr. Wilkinson’s services.