French-born and family-run, Yon-Ka Paris delivers plant-powered skincare with a legacy of proven results that dates back to the 1950s – and, now, it’s the new signature line at all Opal Spas.

“Skincare you can’t live without,” “like Botox in a bottle,” “my secret weapon.”

This high praise has echoed from the likes of Vogue, Glamour, InStyle, Women’s Health, Harper’s Bazaar. Basically, you name a leading luxury lifestyle media outlet, and a Yon-Ka Paris product has been hailed as a must-have in the routines of its discerning beauty editors.

Still, it wasn’t solely the buzz or the big-name endorsements that led First Leg Travels to recently choose the Parisian skincare brand as the signature line for its 12 resort spas. “It was much more thoughtful than that,” said Christelle Fourcade, director of global business development for Yon-Ka’s hospitality division. “Prestige is important, but Opal was after something deeper.”

Here’s precisely what makes the line so special, plus five must-have Yon-Ka products you can experience in a treatment (and purchase after!) at any Opal Spa.

IT’S A THIRD-GENERATION FAMILY COMPANY, JUST LIKE OPAL

Who Owns Yon-Ka Paris?

Yon-Ka may be the luxury skincare line of celebs now, but it began with humble beginnings on the Mühlethaler family farm on the outskirts of Paris in 1954. Founded by brothers Ernest and Charles Mühlethaler, along with Ernest’s wife, Cécile, Laboratories Multaler – as it was then known – harnessed the therapeutic power of plants by crafting healing essential oil blends.

“These blends were originally used to treat burn victims,” explained Fourcade, who has been with Yon-Ka since 2021. “These potent, plant-based blends proved remarkably effective – not just for healing damaged tissue, but also for restoring skin health more broadly.” In 1968, the formulations came under the direction of sisters Catherine (an esthetician) and Francoise (a biochemist) Mühlethaler, who branded Yon-Ka and adapted it into an international luxury skincare line. Today, the company is still run by Catherine (now in her early 80s) and her son, Alexis Wolkowinski.

“That means the family business is now in its third-generation,” said Fourcade. “That really resonated with the Opal team since it, too, is a family-run company now being overseen by the third-generation.”

THE PROPRIETY BLEND UNDERPINNING EVERY PRODUCT

What is the Yon-Ka Quintessence?

From the very beginning, the Mühlethalers’ work was rooted in aromatherapy and phytotherapy – two fields barely on the radar of mainstream medicine in the 1950s. Through this research, they developed a proprietary blend of five essential oils that, when used together, delivered a far more powerful and balanced therapeutic effect than when used separately. Like a multi-action medicine cabinet in a bottle, this active-beauty concentrate became known as “The Quintessence,” and it is still the foundation of each and every Yon-Ka product to this day. Chosen based on clinical observation and biochemical properties, the five oils consist of:

• Lavender for soothing and regeneration
• Rosemary for detoxifying and firming
• Geranium for anti-aging and skin balancing
• Thyme for purifying and invigorating
• Cypress for refining

“It’s not just an important ingredient in the formulations, but all Yon-Ka facials start with it as a ritual element,” said Fourcade. “The technician will use a concentrated emulsion of the Yon-Ka Quintessence on the face. It helps give them a good picture of the skin’s needs – is it dry, sensitive, oily, dull? – so that they can tailor the treatment accordingly.”

CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTS THAT EVOLVE WITH YOU

What is a Yon-Ka Facial?

At the heart of every Yon-Ka facial is a tailored approach. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all protocols, after the esthetician evaluates your skin’s current condition, the treatment is going to then be curated using Yon-Ka’s extensive range of botanical-based concentrates, emulsions, masks, and serums. Each facial is adapted in real time – for example, if your skin is suddenly reacting to weather changes, stress, or hormonal shifts, your treatment will shift too. A technician may include or omit steps like double exfoliation, oxygenating masks, or lymphatic drainage massage or use certain boosters or serums if you’re dehydrated, acne prone, sensitive, dealing with fine lines, etc.

“Adjustments will always be made,” said Fourcade. “The same facial may be performed very differently on someone in their 20s versus someone in the 40s.” Which is why Yon-ka-based treatments are touted as multigenerational. “We meet the needs of a wide range of spa-goers this way. And they continue to get the same facial as they age because it evolves with them.”

Perhaps that why Yon-Ka now has 6,000 worldwide partners across five continents – 1,600 of those partners are in the U.S. and consist of everything from day spas and medi spas to resort spas, like Opal.

MORE THAN A RED-CARPET FACIAL

All-Around Body Skincare

Yon-Ka is widely known for its facial skincare, but its philosophy and expertise extend well beyond the face – offering a line of body care products and treatments designed to deliver results from head to toe. Rooted in the same botanical and aromatherapeutic principles that define their facial line, Yon-Ka body care blends plant-based actives, essential oils, and targeted techniques to treat the skin and the senses. Key products include Gommage Doux, a gentle exfoliating body scrub; Lait Hydratant, a lightweight hydrating body milk; and Huile Délicieuse, a nourishing dry oil that leaves skin silky and radiant. For targeted concerns, Huile Silhouette helps firm and smooth, while Crème 55 promotes drainage and toning for the legs.

“It’s a little bit smaller than our facial line,” says Fourcade. “But it’s lean and mean.” The brand also offers a tailored men’s line with straightforward, effective routines men can actually stick to. The textures are light, the scents are clean and invigorating, and the results speak for themselves – whether it’s calming post-shave irritation, hydrating dry skin, or defending against early signs of aging.

“It goes back to Yon-Ka’s balanced approach to skincare,” says Fourcade, “providing personalized, results-driven care for everybody, at every stage of life.”

5 Essential Yon-Ka Paris Products

Lotion Yon-Ka

One of Yon-Ka’s most beloved products, a bottle of this multi-action facial toner is sold every three minutes worldwide. It purifies, tones, and soothes while prepping skin for serums and creams, and comes in two formulas: PS for dry/sensitive skin (pictured left) and PNG for normal/oily skin (pictured right).

Elixir Vital

Fourcade’s own personal must-have product for giving that glassy-skin glow, this age-defying serum has been a staple in the Yon-Ka skincare line since the 1960s with new-and-improved formulas only making it better generation after generation.

Phyto-Contour Eye Cream

This eye cream is a cult favorite for its ability to instantly decongest, brighten, and refresh the eye area. “It’s like a shot of espresso for the eyes, draining puffiness and brightening tired skin. You instantly look more awake with use,” adds Fourcade.

Glyconight 10% Masque

Fourcade refers to this creamy sleep mask as a “mini-bootcamp for your skin” for the way it blends professional-grade exfoliation with the soothing, restorative power Yon-Ka is known for.

Time Resist Duo

Consisting of a night cream (“crème nuit”) and day cream (“crème jour”), this powerful set works around the clock to combat fine lines, loss of firmness, and dullness. The day cream focuses on protection and hydration, while the night cream works to boost cell renewal and repair.

The post From Paris with Plants: The New Skincare Standard at Opal Spas appeared first on First Leg Travels.

Can vibroacoustic therapy really heal you from the inside out? We take a look at this unique and trending “no-touch” therapy that, in Opal Spas, comes in the form of one very high-tech, very custom-designed bed.

What you see upon entering an Opal Spa treatment room is far from your average treatment table. Rather, these plush platforms pack some powerful healing in the physical furniture itself. Custom-designed for Opal Spas exclusively, the beds are embedded with a series of “transducers” that emit low-frequency vibrations that sync with soothing music or soundscapes (also played from the bed). And they can be found at almost all of First Leg Travels’s 12 resort spa locations*, from The Samoset Resort in Midcoast Maine down to Sunset Key Cottages off the coast of Key West, Florida. 

Why vibration and music? Called vibroacoustic therapy (VAT), it’s an all-natural wellness practice that aims to synchronize the body and mind, while calming the nervous system. “People are looking for holistic wellness experiences now more than ever,” says Brooke Johnston, director of the Opal Spa at The Resort at Longboat Key Club in Longboat Key, Florida, a certified Wellness Property by WITT (Wellness in Travel & Tourism). “They want more out of a spa experience than just a massage. They want to bring their entire body and mind into balance.” 

The vibroacoustic beds are just one means to do that at Opal Spas – but a very important one. Because when you come in for a treatment – be it a HydraFacial, a body wrap, or Himalayan stone massage – you’re not just experiencing topical healing; these therapeutic frequencies are having a whole additional benefit on your inner mind-body state. In fact, it’s kind of like a symphony for your cells. All you have to do is sit back and get lost in the waves. 

WHAT IS VIBROACOUSTIC THERAPY?

Vibroacoustic therapy is the use of low-frequency sine waves and therapeutic music, delivered through a device – like a bed, a matt, or even a cushion. By coupling the vibrations with the music, you’re essentially hearing the same frequencies that you’re feeling. “The result is an immersive experience that calms the mind and really lulls your body into state of ease,” explains Johnston, a dual-license wellness therapist for the last 15 years. “Basically, it’s triggering your parasympathetic nervous system response – the network of nerves that calms your body down after periods of stress.” Essentially, it moves your body into a state of growth and repair – and that can have lasting effects, including improved sleep, digestion, circulation, and even pain relief.

HOW VIBROACOUSTIC THERAPY WORKS

The combination of low-frequency sound vibration and therapeutic music deliver two specific things: 

Stimulation on a Deep Cellular Level 

While you can’t hear the low-frequency waves (they range between 30–120 hertz), the vibrations still penetrate deep into the body tissues, essentially “massaging” cells from the inside out.  

Slow Downs Your Brain 

Our brains are always pulsing, emitting what’s known as brainwaves. At times of stress or deep concentration, our brain pulses faster, when we’re relaxed, it pulses less. What vibroacoustic therapy helps to do is sync your brainwaves to a state of relaxation and introspection.  

“Personally, for me, my mind does not shut off, even when I’m getting massage. I’m constantly thinking,” says Johnston. “But when I couple it with vibroacoustic therapy, my brain is able to actually relax as well. That’s why a treatment on this table is truly the ultimate level of relaxation.” 

THE BENEFITS OF VIBROACOUSTIC THERAPY 

“What I think makes vibroacoustic therapy so special is that it’s a no-touch service, which means it can be a powerful healing tool for people who may be uncomfortable with touch – people with autism, PTSD or other trauma, people with physical pain or injury,” says Johnston. And since the therapy boosts the body’s natural recovery process, it has shown to result in these key benefits: 

• Improved sleep 

• Reduced stress 

• Pain relief 

• Better mood/increased happiness  

• Improved circulation 

• Lowered blood pressure 

• Slower heart rate

• Improved mental clarity and focus  

THE VIBROACOUSTIC EXPERIENCE IN AN OPAL SPA 

When guests come in for an appointment, the spa technicians provide an overview of the technology in the bed, then help guests select their soundscape. After, they step out, allowing guests to get comfortable on the bed. “We wait a few minutes to let the bed put them into that dreamlike relaxed state, then we’ll re-enter to start the treatment,” explains Johnston.  

As for guests who do not want a touch service, there are vibroacoustic loungers they can reserve to simply receive the healing benefits of the therapy alone. 

“I’ve been in this industry for 15 years, and these are, undoubtedly, the most luxurious tables I’ve ever worked with,” says Johnston. “The benefit that they have alone on your mind-body state is truly remarkable.” 

OTHER NO-TOUCH THERAPIES IN OPAL SPAS 

The vibroacoustic tables and loungers aren’t the only no-touch services you can enjoy across Opal Spas. 

Therabody Products 

Before or after services, guests can relax in Opal Spa Serenity Lounges and utilize a range of Therabody products, including compression boots and a myriad of massage devices for body and face. 

Salt & Sound Lounges 

Two Opal Spas – one located at The Sagamore Resort in Lake George, New York, and Wentworth by the Sea near Portsmouth, New Hampshire – are home to state-of-the-art salt rooms, featuring dry salt therapy (or “halotherapy.”) Salt room sessions involve breathing in a dry salt aerosol within a closed-off room to help clear your lungs and improve your respiratory system. 

Steam Rooms, Saunas, Jacuzzis 

The majority of Opal Spas include additional amenities for luxuriating between treatments. For example, Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa features a eucalyptus steam room while Wentworth by the Sea offers a beautiful outdoor co-ed jacuzzi overlooking the grounds from a private perch. 

*Please note: The Opal Spa locations at Reefhouse Resort & Marina (Key Largo, Florida) and the West Street Hotel and Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina (Bar Harbor, Maine) do not have the vibroacoustic treatment tables at this time. However, the locations at West Street Hotel and Harborside Hotel do offer the vibroacoustic loungers.

The post Good Vibrations: Vibroacoustic Therapy at Opal Spas appeared first on First Leg Travels.

If there’s anyone who knows how to do holistic living right, it’s world-renowned celebrity esthetician and skincare savant Tammy Fender. Which is why we’ve tapped this South Florida native to share a few ways to weave wellness into a Friday-through-Sunday Delray Beach stay at Opal Grand Resort & Spa – including stops at her on-site award-winning spa sanctuary.

Ever since Tammy Fender was a little girl, she knew there was something special – something healing – about the destination of Delray Beach. “I grew up coming here, walking the beach, and there’s a specific energy that draws people interested in healing,” says Fender. Which is why, in 2020 and 2021, when she was looking to open a second location of her award-winning spa (she launched her lauded West Palm Beach location in 2003), she naturally turned her sights to Delray Beach and the then-new resort property of Opal Grand Resort & Spa.

The result is what is now an equally award-winning 8,000-square-foot wellness haven – a sprawling sanctuary located just past Opal Grand’s lobby that is imbued with serenity around every corner, down to the signature black tea, a blend carefully crafted by Fender herself that is served upon arrival. But, in terms of services, what you’ll find here is more than a mere massage. All-natural, hand-crafted skincare formulated by Fender herself comes coupled with guided meditation, silence therapy, and energy work (like reflexology). In fact, before any treatment even begins, you first go through a diagnostic exercise – called an essential oil reading – where you sit with 13 different plant essences to find which appeal most to you at that very moment. Those specific selections are then worked into your treatment, which is custom-made right there in the spa’s blending room. It’s a true holistic mind-body wellness experience custom to each individual.

So how else do you keep that healing going while on a Delray Beach, Florida vacation? You incorporate some of these additional practices and local stops, recommended by Fender herself.

FRIDAY, DAY 1

Shake Off the Travel Stress at the On-Site Tammy Fender Holistic Spa

After your afternoon check-in, one of the best ways to ease yourself into your wellness escape is by kicking it off with a fan-favorite Tammy Fender treatment. In particular, we’re talking about the Signature Facial which includes reflexology followed by the Custom Holistic Massage. “These two treatments are our classics and the ones everyone loves and talks about,” says Fender. Why? Because it’s a head-to-toe experience that lulls your entire being into a deep calm – yet doesn’t make you tired. “It actually brings a fresh radiance to your mind and body,” says Fender.

Wind Down for the Night Wisely

To ensure a calm, easy foundation for the days to follow, Fender suggests first creating an atmosphere conducive for a good night’s sleep. “Power down the screens as early as you can and embrace the golden hour – that last hour before sunset,” says Fender. There’s no better place for that than Opal Grand’s private balconies. “You get such a beautiful ocean breeze there – just sitting and observing nature will support good sleep.”

Another way she likes to create a sense of calm – especially when traveling and not in her normal home setting – is with two of her own products: Bulgarian Rose Water, which she spritzes on her pillow, and Bulgarian Lavender Body Oil (also a favorite of Kate Upton), which she massages into her neck. “These two products are incredible sleep allies, slowing down the body systems and creating an aura of peaceful rest.”

SATURDAY, DAY 2

Stroll the Beach at Dawn

“Any time of day is a great time to stroll the beach, but I find early morning walks – before the rest of the world has awoken – so meditative,” says Fender, who also says she feels so fortunate that the spa overlooks the ocean, “one of our greatest healers.” And a big part of what makes this particular two-mile stretch of golden sand so serene is that it’s largely undeveloped. In fact, that’s just one of the reasons it won “Best Beach in Florida” in USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. 

Visit The Delray Beach Green Market

If you’re visiting between the months of October through July, you should always reserve your Saturday mornings for perusing this open-air market located on the Old School Square grounds off Atlantic Ave. “It’s a very well-curated market where I like to sample some local fresh flavors,” says Fender. In fact, she likes to beeline to her favorite vendor, Gratitude Garden Farm, an organic farm out of Loxahatchee that is the go-to produce purveyor for many of Palm Beach County’s top restaurants. “They are especially known for their gourmet mushrooms,” adds Fender. “What better way to promote well-being than by engaging with the locals and their agriculture.”

Stretch Things Out with Your Next Massage

Back at the Tammy Fender Holistic Spa, it’s time for your next treatment. “The Thai Yoga Massage is a personal favorite of mine because it incorporates a beautiful stretching technique guided by your therapist,” says Fender. “Whereas the previous day’s treatment was all about calming the muscles, this is now about opening them.” Follow that up with a Botanical Body Wrap – featuring a detoxifying dry-brush treatment and a custom blend of botanicals – to leave your body deeply hydrated.

Dinner in Drift

You’ll find high-quality food to fuel you at Opal Grand’s signature restaurant, everything from house-made pasta and freshly baked breads to locally-farmed produce and fresh seafood and beef. While some of the specialty dishes include branzino with warm asparagus salad and pan-seared grouper with parsnip-potato puree and root vegetable caponata, Fender suggests accenting your meal with at least one of the following dishes: the Moroccan hummus plate and/or the beets and burrata salad. “The hummus appetizer has beautiful organic vegetables and the salad is so good with the roasted golden beets, whipped burrata, and local honey.”

SUNDAY, DAY 3

Start with a Healthy Snack

Located right across from the Tammy Fender Holistic Spa, Beach Market Cafe is another Opal Grand dining outlet that specializes in healthy grab-n-go style dishes. While Fender is a big fan of the Green Smoothie (a power blend including baby spinach, kale, Fiji apple, and avocado that they often serve in the spa), the well-crafted menu also includes other organic smoothies, as well as acai bowls and salads. “Anything from there will energize you for the day ahead,” says Fender.

Prolong the Sense of Calm You’ve Created

For your third Tammy Fender treatment, it’s all about locking in the wellness work you’ve done with a Foundational Matrix Facial, followed by a Subtle Touch Therapy session. The facial targets connective tissue and helps with micro-circulation and collagen enhancement, while Subtle Touch is about balancing the energy with a personalized guided meditation and gentle touch. “The energy therapy engages the parasympathetic nervous system to really relax you and to prolong that sense of calm,” says Fender. “Clients say it leaves them feeling very light, almost like they are floating. It’s a very ethereal type of treatment.”

Stroll Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

It wouldn’t be a wellness escape in Delray without squeezing in a visit to this gem of meditative nature center, dedicated to celebrating Japanese culture. While the museum buildings house an impressive collection of Japanese art and artifacts and hosts all kinds of workshops, classes, and cultural demonstrations, the biggest draw might just be its 16 acres of stunning tranquil gardens interlaced with strolling paths and peppered with bonsai, waterfalls, and stone lanterns. “There’s a lot of reflective stopping points, where you can sit on beautiful benches and reflect on all the beauty around you,” says Fender. In fact, this is where Fender likes to journal and – inspired by all the plants around her – dream up formulations. “It’s where I’ve created many of my spa services.”

OTHER WAYS TO WELLNESS IN DELRAY BEACH, FL

A few other wellness activities to consider working into your Delray Beach, Florida vacation.

Thursday Evening Sound Bath Experiences

Held weekly year-round on Thursday evenings and available to locals and Opal Grand guests alike, the Tammy Fender Holistic Spa hosts a sound bath and cacao ceremony in the private relaxation room overlooking the ocean. What is a sound bath? It’s a deeply immersive, full-body listening experience that uses sound waves – produced by a gong, crystal singing bowls, and koshi chimes – to nurture your mind and body.

Delray Beach Tennis Center

“An important part of a vacation wellness regime is staying active and getting your heart rate up,” says Fender, who likes to do just that with a stop at this full-service public tennis facility located just off the palm-lined Atlantic Ave. Not only can you reserve a court – there are 14 clay courts, six hard courts, and eight pickleball courts – or book a lesson, but the 8,200-seat stadium hosts a number of elite tournaments throughout the year, including the 10-day Delray Beach Open, an ATP event that is televised nationally.

The Montana Method

Nestled in Delray Beach’s Pineapple Grove District, this fitness studio – owned by local Montana Globerman – offers drop-in classes, where you can try this wildly popular and very unique full-body workout that incorporates elements of pilates, barre, dance, and yoga. And, if you’re visiting sometime around October 19, Globerman will actually be leading a morning yoga class that day at Elevate, Opal Grand’s new rooftop dining outlet, in collaboration with the resort and Tammy Fender.

Coming-Soon: The Tammy Fender Spritz Cart

You’ve seen bar carts, but this one – custom-designed by the Tammy Fender Holistic Spa – is quite a refreshing twist, literally. That’s because it’s going to be serving up hand-crafted Tammy Fender tonics and herbal, floral waters. Starting sometime this fall, expect to see the spritz cart stationed at various spots around Opal Grand’s property, including the lobby at check-in hours, the pool, Elevate, and more.

The post Your 3-Day Wellness Guide to Delray Beach, Florida appeared first on First Leg Travels.

We live in a noisy world with so much content vying for our attention. If you’re looking to distance yourself with a digital detox retreat we have five worthy – and diversly different – picks in Opal destinations.

In today’s fast-paced and technologically driven world, we are, pretty much at all times, just one click away from news, entertainment, work, and the never-ending rabbit hole of social media. Our screens have become an extension of us, and are often the first thing we reach for when we wake up in the morning and the last thing we check at the end of the night. If you want to get away from it, you need to learn how to unplug – that is, turn tech off with a digital detox.

WHAT IS A DIGITAL DETOX?

While it’s certainly not a new buzzword, a “digital detox” refers to the act of intentionally abstaining from or reducing your use of tech devices – i.e. smartphones, computers, tablets, game consoles, even TV – for a set period of time. It’s no secret that excessive screen time can have negative effects on both mental and physical health – scores of studies link constant connectivity to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and downright brain fog, as well as problems related sleep. By “detoxing,” the goal is to reverse some of the above by resetting and renewing while plugging into real-life, meaningful connections with others.

THE RISE OF THE DIGITAL DETOX RETREAT

All of this has paved the way for the wellness-meets-travel trend of the digital detox retreat (fun fact: global search interest for “digital detox retreat” has increased by 50% in 2023). Ranging from short weekend getaways to longer bucket-list-type holidays, these escapes make the draw of devices easier to resist by putting travelers in quieter, more remote destinations, where they can truly focus on mindfulness without contemporary life’s distractions. So where to go? Prepare to put your phone in airplane mode…

WHERE TO GO FOR A DIGITAL DETOX RETREAT

Detach in Mount Desert Island, Maine

Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina and West Street Hotel | Bar Harbor, ME

Located on Mount Desert Island off of Maine’s coast, Bar Harbor started out as a place for the wealthy elite to escape the noise of the city in the late 1800s. This still holds true all these years later with West Street Hotel or Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina serving as ultimate places to take in “Downeast” Maine’s most picturesque coastal village sans cellphone. And it won’t be hard to do so between the myriad of outdoor activities – whale watches, kayaking the Porcupine Islands, and, of course, exploring the 50,000 acres of Acadia National Park – to the scenic quaint downtown lined with charming streets and shops.

• Related Reading: A Gem of a Way to See Acadia National Park

A Private Island Escape

Sunset Key Cottages | Key West, FL

Accessible only after a 500-yard shuttle boat ride from Mallory Square in Key West, this 27-acre private island escape feels far-flung without having to deal with all the logistics that come with long-haul travel. So what better way to shut out all the outside noise than with a retreat to an island? Immerse yourself in jet-skiing, fishing right from the dock, languidly lounge by the pool or under the tiki-hut umbrellas of the beach, and dine on flavorful marine-inspired masterpiece at the on-site restaurant of Latitudes. Not to mention, the accommodations come in the form of 40 stand-alone cottages for the ultimate alone time. Here, coffee always tastes a bit sweeter when you sip it from your own private porch overlooking the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

• Related Reading: Why Sunset Key is the Island Escape You’ve Been Craving

Barren Beaches on Hutchinson Island

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa and The Lucie | Jensen Beach, FL

Home to champagne surf and miles of pristine, population-lacking beaches, Jensen Beach’s barrier Hutchinson Island may just be Florida’s best-kept secret – and the ideal place for a device-addicted individual to truly digitally-distance themself. In fact, the best part of a stay here might just be the empty beaches – where both Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa and The Lucie are based with their own private access.  Start your day with a stroll or yoga on the sand, or do some horseback riding down the coastline (this is the only place in Florida that allows horseback riding on the beach). Enjoy ocean views from the perch of a lounge chair at the jewel of pools and indulge in the delicious seafood and Italian dishes that can be found at Hutchinson Shores Resort’s Drift Kitchen & Bar.

• Related Reading: 5 Nature Preserves & Parks in Jensen Beach to Suit Your Style

The Only Resort on Lake Placid

Lake Placid Lodge | Lake Placid, NY

Situated in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks in Northeastern New York, this rustic and luxurious lodge is just a five-hour drive from New York City, yet feels worlds away thanks to its tranquil environment set among mountains, forests, and, of course, serene Lake Placid itself. With only one TV on-site (in Maggie’s Pub), the number of digitally-distancing activities on-property are dizzying: kayaking, cruising aboard the resort’s 36-foot mahogany Hacker-Craft, fishing, and hiking the property’s various trails. Or, if you just feel like relaxing in the comfort of your room, book one of the 17 standalone cabins that pepper the shoreline (the lodge is the only resort on Lake Placid) and curl up by your fireplace with a good book while enjoying views of the lake through expansive windows.

• Related Reading: Why Lake Placid Lodge is Your Social-Distancing Dream Resort

Nature’s Playground in Key Largo

Reefhouse Resort & Marina | Key Largo, FL

Set across 17 acres of tropical island landscape in Key Largo (a nice quiet counterpart to bustling Key West), Reefhouse Resort & Marina is a destination unto itself that revolves around nature and the outdoors. Enjoy scenic views, water activities like snorkeling and kayaking, and the peaceful ambiance of the resort’s private beach. Or spend the day floating in the outdoor heated pool flanked by swaying palms. Whatever you do, just be sure to make time to take in the epic sunset with a stroll along the twinkle-light-lit marina – leave your phone behind, this is one moment you’ll want to make sure you’re fully present for.

• Related Reading: 3 Easy Ways to Get Up Close with Coral in Key Largo

The post 5 Digital Detox Retreats Designed for Distancing appeared first on First Leg Travels.

Halfway between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Atlantic Avenue is Delray Beach’s version of Worth Avenue or Las Olas Boulevard with – dare we say? – a little more attitude. We have just the list of latest hotspots you must hit along this award-winning avenue.

Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach isn’t just trending, it’s absolutely thriving. Which is why it’s hard to believe that if you time-warped back to the 1980s and ’90s to this 24-block corridor, you’d find yourself smack in the middle of something of a ghost town (just instead of tumbleweed, think palm trees).

However, because of a revitalization effort that kicked into high gear in the early 2000s, this once dormant stretch of dusty storefronts is anything but sleepy now. Punctuated by contemporary boutiques, Delray Beach’s best restaurants, and clubs, it’s a walkable sizzling main artery begging to be sipped, savored, and explored. And when you stay at one of the two Opals – The Atlantic Suites on the Ave or Opal Grand Resort & Spa – both of which call the prized real estate of this avenue home, you can bet you’ll be perfectly positioned to take in all the action. From Delray Beach bars to a hands-on museum dedicated to pinball, here are the hotspots to hit, starting on the easternmost end of Atlantic Ave then working your way westward into the heart of this stretch.

8 UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS ON ATLANTIC AVENUE

1. Tammy Fender Spa

Delray’s Holistic Spa Sanctuary

If seeking spa in Delray Beach, no experience tops the 8,000-square-foot wellness haven located just past the lobby within Opal Grand Resort. Yes, that’s thanks to eight treatment rooms (including a room for couples), a combo salt therapy/infrared sauna zone, and a spacious reception area stocked with award-winning products. But it’s also because it’s overseen by holistic wellness and beauty pioneer Tammy Fender, something of an aesthetician to the stars, who counts Gwyneth Paltrow and Julianne Moore among her longtime clients. A-list clientele aside, this is the place you go if looking to soak up Fender’s hand-crafted, plant-based natural skincare formulas that work on a cellular level to bring your skin into perfect balance. Be prepared to treat your mind, body, and soul.

2. Veteran’s Park

A Hidden Green Space Just Over the Bridge

Just over the iconic 1952 double-leaf bascule bridge that carries Atlantic Avenue over the Intracoastal Waterway, you’ll find this hidden gem of a park that skirts along the water’s edge. You’ll know you’re in the right place once you see the colorfully tiled mosaic fountain by local artists that marks its entrance. Beyond that, an open grassy area is punctuated by a pavilion, picnic tables, and an outdoor recreation area featuring seven lanes for lawn bowling, 16 shuffleboard courts, and a playground facility. However, a local’s favorite pastime is to simply sit along the newly installed boat dock and watch the drawbridge lift and lower for passing vessels.

3. The Wine Room Kitchen and Bar in Delray Beach

A Serve-Yourself Wine Playground

The coolest part of this rustic-chic locale? The tasting hall, centering around a specially-made self-serving dispensary that carries more than 200 wines, allowing patrons to discover vintages and varietals on their own without having to commit to the purchase of an entire bottle. All you have to do is load a dollar amount to a tasting card, then help yourself to one-ounce, half-glass, or full-glass pours of any wine that piques your interest. Found something you like? The retail shop features more than 400 bottles for purchase. There’s also an impressive global selection of cheeses and charcuterie curated by none other than international cheese expert and James Beard Award-winner, Max McCalman.

4. Silverball Retro Arcade

Eight-Bit Fun by the Beach

Since opening in summer 2016, this interactive museum has transplanted all the goodtime kitsch of a Jersey Shore boardwalk into a two-story arcade and restaurant just off Atlantic Ave. Eighteen bucks gets you a half-day of unlimited play on more than 150 old-school video games (think Frogger and Donkey Kong), pinball and Skee Ball, and antiques like a Shuffle Alley bowling game from 1959 (the oldest of the bunch even have built-in ashtrays). Meanwhile, the kitchen fixes up Nathan’s hot dogs, thin-crust pizza, and a Jersey Shore-style fries baskets (plus beer and wine) to refuel before round two.

5. THRōW Social

An Instagrammer’s Dream Backdrop…With Games

Located on the corner where Southeast Second Ave bisects Atlantic Ave, THRōW Social is a bright-pink, flamingo-themed “socializing center” new to town in 2022. Inside, a lounge and bar space is lined in faux-grass walls, neon signs with clever phrases like “Tropic Like It’s Hot,” jungle-themed wall paper, and Beatlejuice-esque black-and-white striped seating. Outside, in the courtyard space set beneath a retractable roof, you’ll find a similar vibe – just with an abundance of games (ax-throwing bays, cornhole, shuffleboard, life-size Jenga, etc.), an elevated stage for live bands and deejays, VIP cabanas, and a modern tiki bar. The cocktail list is naturally fruity and fun, but the drink locals line up for is something called a “Patrón Tree,” where four different flavored margaritas are served in miniature Patrón bottles in a tower.

6. Sloan’s Ice Cream

Where Ice Cream Meets Eye Candy

If Barbie had a favorite ice cream parlor, this purely pink setting – adorned in colorful chandeliers and ceiling cherubs – would probably be it (even their spoons are hot pink). But of course, what the Atlantic Ave candy shop is most famous for is its ice cream with flavors like banana, carrot cake, chocolate Oreo cheesecake, coffee and doughnuts, and more. If you want a challenge that feels right at home beside the beach, go for their Sandcastle Sundae, serving five scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, walnuts, your choice of two additional toppings, and a chocolate chip cookie in a real beach sand pail with shovel.

7. Honey Delray

An Upscale Social Club That’s a Bit Off-Beat

Nestled right on Atlantic Ave, Honey presents as an upscale social club with a touch of eccentricity. Picture an interior reminiscent of a New York-style speakeasy, complete with wood-carved paneling and sexy lounge spaces. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll see that it boasts offbeat elements such as Victorian-style paintings that showcase subjects adorned with graffiti (Napoleon sporting sunglasses and pink spiked hair) and a back patio with a sculpture-like tree adorned with illuminated bird cages. Just remember to dress appropriately: business casual dress is required.

8. Old School Square

Arts, Culture & Entertainment for All Ages

In the mid-1980s, when the prospect of demolishing the historic 1913 elementary and 1925 high school buildings loomed over the city, citizens joined forces to raise funds. Their goal wasn’t to solely save these structures but to transform them into a thriving community center. The outcome is this five-acre campus conveniently located off Atlantic Ave, hosting a collection of historic buildings that now accommodate Delray’s most novel modern cultural attractions. That includes a fine art museum featuring provocative works by contemporary artists the world over, a 320-seat performance theatre hosting national Broadway tours, and an art school with year-round classes on photography, drawing, watercolors, pastels, and writing.

The post Your Guide to the Best of Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach appeared first on First Leg Travels.

Considering a stay at Sunset Key Cottages? As one of Opal’s most unique properties (it’s located on a private island), here are six essential things you should know before you go – including how you get there, the layout of the property, on-site amenities, and more.

When it comes to popular Florida vacation destinations, there’s perhaps nothing more novel than what you’ll find at Sunset Key Cottages. For starters, it’s located on a private island a stone’s throw from Key West, which means you get the feeling of a far-flung island escape yet still within easy access of Key West’s best attractions. Next, the resort property is unlike anything else: Picture impeccably appointed cottages nestled among palms and bougainvillea, a beautiful crescent of white-sand beach, and an on-site restaurant that is a regular Open Table award-winner year after year.

But because of the resort’s unique nature, it naturally garners plenty of questions for new guests considering a first-time stay. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

HOW DO I GET TO SUNSET KEY?

By Boat Shuttle from Opal Key Resort & Marina

But first, you need to get to the southernmost island of Key West.

• If you’re flying in from afar, that means landing in Key West International Airport (EYW), which, as of late 2023, actually has more direct flights from major cities, making getting to Key West easier than ever. From there, it’s a four-mile ride by taxi or Uber to sibling Opal resort, Opal Key Resort & Marina, located right on the waterfront on the western edge of Key West.  

• If you’re driving your own personal car or a rental from a closer distance (after all, who doesn’t love road-tripping through the Keys?) you’ll also head straight to Opal Key, where you’ll park in guest parking (you have the option to self-park for a daily fee of $30 or to valet park at $40 a day).

From Opal Key – which is set on its own marina – you’ll board the private shuttle boat, Lil Princess, which travels 500 yards (an eight-minute ride) to the dock at Sunset Key. The boat leaves Opal Key at the 15- and 45-minute mark of every hour from 6:45 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.

If you end up arriving after 10:45 p.m., don’t worry, you’re not stranded. The boat runs by request after 11 p.m., so all you have to do is ask the front desk at Opal Key or call Sunset Key at 305.292.5300.

WHAT ARE THE ACCOMODATIONS LIKE?

It Consists Solely of Stand-Alone Cottages

While there’s one main building – home to the concierge, the Opal Spa at Sunset Key, and the restaurant – all 40 of the accommodations come in the form of mostly two-to-four bedroom stand-alone cottages. But a series of no-frills beachside bungalows these are not. With pastel-colored wood finishings, authentic Victorian-style tin roofs, fully-equipped kitchens, and impeccably appointed interiors, these cottages are a stunning study in relaxing luxury. Not to mention, many come with their own bougainvillea-draped porches complete with rocking chairs and a select few even have their own private plunge pool.

HOW DO I GET GROCERIES FOR MY COTTAGE?

The Resort is Happy to Stock You Up Prior to Arrival

Since there is no grocery store on Sunset Key, the easiest way is to utilize the resort’s shopping service. All you have to do is email your list of items to the concierge at concierge@sunsetkeycottages.com 48 hours prior to your arrival date. There is a 35% administrative fee for delivery and the grocery bill will be charged to your cottage at check out. It’s much like other grocery delivery services but with an added perk that, when you arrive, all your items are already unpacked and thoughtfully put away within your private kitchen (Instacart certainly can’t offer that!).

WHAT ABOUT ON-SITE DINING?

An Award-Winning Restaurant Calls Sunset Key Home

Of course, just because you have a kitchen equipped with an oven, stove, and all the other accouterments doesn’t mean you have to cook frequently – or at all. In fact, you’d really be missing out if you didn’t take a couple of meals at the on-site restaurant of Latitudes.

That’s because the food – which is all about locally sourced fresh fish and tropical fruit based on what is in season – is the kind that makes a table fall silent in awe. In fact, thanks to an ever-evolving “work of art” menu, it’s no wonder that Latitudes has earned scores of accolades from OpenTable, including “Top 100 restaurants in the US,” “100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America,” and “Best Overall Restaurant in Key West.”

The resort suggests you make reservations for this open-and-airy restaurant as soon as you book your stay or at least 30 days in advance. Because, where it’s set right next to the gulf, come sunset, this is one of the most desirable spots to dine in all of the Keys.

WHAT IF I WANT TO EXPLORE KEY WEST?

The Boat Shuttle Operates from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

While guests oftentimes never feel the need to leave the property – thanks to the array of on-site to-dos including tennis, the heated jewel of a pool, fitness classes, spa, fishing right from the dock, and more – Key West obviously boasts its own array of attractions that is worthy of a day trip. Which is why Lil Princess, the shuttle boat, runs a regular route back to Opal Key that departs from Sunset Key on the hour and every half hour starting at 6:30 a.m.

Need suggestions on what to do or see? The on-site concierge is happy to make suggestions and arrangements. The resort already has a vetted list of local vendors – including fishing charters, bike tours, and watersports – so you can trust it’s the best of the best.

WHAT IF I WANT TO SPA?

It’s Best to Book Before You Arrive

This is more than a mere massage. The Opal Spa at Sunset Key Cottages is an entire wellness experience, where spacious spa treatment suites open to airy patios surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, palms, and the chirping of birds. Not to mention, therapies that center around the holistic healing of Kerstin Florian products and are conducted on custom-designed treatment tables with built-in sound wave and vibration therapy systems.

With features like these, it’s no surprise the Opal Spa is a popular amenity. That’s why it’s best to try to reserve your spa appointments as soon as you book. In the meantime, read up on a few of our most popular treatments.

The post A First-Timer’s Guide to Sunset Key Cottages appeared first on First Leg Travels.

Spending time in a salt room is said to have huge respiratory and skin benefits, and it may help treat stress, and anxiety, too. So should we all start hailing halotherapy? We shed some light on the science of salt therapy.

Ever gargled with salt water to quell a sore throat? Or soaked in a tub of Epsom salts? Or stood by the ocean and swore it improved your mood? If so, you took part in a practice most Americans are familiar with: wet salt therapy.

But there’s a flipside to this practice – one that very intentionally removes moisture from the equation – that is starting to gain traction in the U.S., particularly in the spa and wellness space. Called dry salt therapy (or halotherapy, as “halo” is the Greek word for salt), it’s trending upward for good reason, too. Because, now more than ever, our lungs are full of gunk.

“There’s a lot being thrown at our respiratory systems,” says Leo Tonkin, founder/CEO of SALT Chamber and a thought leader in the world of halotherapy. “Allergy seasons are more intense and lasting longer than ever. More wildfires mean more toxic pollutants. Then, according to the World Health Organization, indoor air quality is three to five times worse than outdoor air quality. That’s a result of the chemicals we use on our surfaces, on our floors – which we then breathe in. It’s frightening.”

Which is where halotherapy sessions – the process of breathing in a dry salt aerosol within a closed-off room to dust off your lungs and respiratory system – come into the picture. And First Leg Travels resorts and hotels are helping to facilitate the act of “getting salted” by working – in partnership with Tonkin’s company – to implement state-of-the-art Salt & Sound Lounges across our Opal Spas. In September of 2023, the first one premiered at The Sagamore Resort’s Lake George luxury spa, closely followed by the on-site spa at Wentworth by the Sea, located on the New Hampshire Seacoast. And as of February 2025, the new Clearwater Beach luxury resort of Opal Sol also premiered its own salt room at the on-site Opal Spa.

But, of course, we don’t expect guests to hop into one of these salt rooms without, first, gleaning a little more insight into the “how?” and “why?” behind the benefits of halotherapy.

THE HISTORY HALOTHERAPY

While halotherapy may seem like a newfangled wellness trend, it actually dates back to the salt mines of seventeenth-century Eastern Europe, when Polish physician – Dr. Feliks Boczkowski – noticed something rather interesting about these salt miners: They didn’t have lung issues like workers in other mines did. Not to mention, they tended to be healthier and happier overall. Dry salt therapy – where people could sit in salt caves underground – took off from there, and has since been a staple in spas throughout Europe, Canada, and Australia.

“In many European countries, halotherapy is a medical treatment covered by insurance,” says Tonkin, who founded SALT Chamber in 2012 after learning you could count the number of salt therapy facilities in North America on two hands. “In the states, it has started to penetrate the spa and wellness industry in the last decade or so.”

A large part of that is owed to spa – what was historically known for mere massages and facials – undergoing a transformation to also incorporate elevated (and often touchless) experiences. Think red-light therapy, cryosaunas, contrast bath hydrotherapy – to name a few. “Consumers are starting to expect these kinds of experiences, so we are seeing a rise in the awareness around halotherapy as a result of that,” adds Tonkin, who is also one of the founding directors of the Salt Therapy Association, a not-for-profit organization providing research, education, and innovation for the salt therapy industry. “We’re not at a critical mass yet, but it will start to tip. That’s why Opal Spas implementing these halotherapy experiences is so innovative.”

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SALT

Halotherapy touts a range of benefits: predominately, the cleaning out of your respiratory system and opening of your airways, which, while good for anyone, is especially beneficial to those with COPD, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, chronic allergies or sinus infections, and other breathing problems. Other benefits include improved skin conditions, better sleep, reduction in stress levels, and more.

Salt Therapy Benefits: How Does Halotherapy Work?

• Salt is Super Absorbent: “Have you ever salted a piece of eggplant and saw how it drew out moisture to the surface?” explains Tonkin. It’s the same idea: Dry salt is super absorbent, acting like a sponge to attract and pull out foreign substances in your bronchiole and capillaries around your larynx, windpipe, sinuses, throat, and lungs. “Every day, we brush our teeth to remove buildup. Halotherapy is like a toothbrush for our lungs.”

• Salt is Antibacterial: “There’s a reason why we use salt as a preservative,” says Tonkin. “It’s antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial. Nothing grows on salt – SARS, MERS, COVID can’t thrive.” Think of salt as a way to improve your respiratory hygiene and boost your immune system.

• Salt is Anti-Inflammatory: “Again, just like how you put salt on a protein to tenderize it or calm it, salt therapy reduces inflammation in the airways to open them up, so you get more oxygen,” says Tonkin. So you’re not just cleaning out the passageways, you’re opening them as well – particularly beneficial if you suffer for sleep apnea or snoring, asthma, or COPD. Similarly, if you suffer from psoriasis or eczema, exposure to salt on your skin can help improve these conditions since it provides relief for itchy irritated skin.

HALOGENERATOR: THE MAGIC IN THE MICRON

So how exactly do we absorb the salt into our systems? It’s not a salt bath or something we drink down because, again, it has to be dry in order for it to have its detoxifying effects. The key lies in sitting in a closed-off, ambient temperature room with something called a halogenerator, a piece of machinery that grinds pharmaceutical-grade salt (actually 99.9% sodium chloride) into tiny invisible particles that it then pumps and disperses throughout the room.

Tonkin’s company – which specializes in implementing salt rooms at country clubs, personal homes, independent day spas, resorts, and more – utilizes stainless-steel halogenerators made by a medical device company that also makes nebulizers and blood pressure equipment. “Our machines are the only ones that are UL-listed and made to this level of precision,” he explains. “That’s essential because it allows you to get the particles down to the smallest size possible: less than a micron.” To put that in perspective, if you were to pull out a piece of your hair, it would be about 50 microns in diameter. And the smaller the particles you breathe in, the deeper they penetrate your system to pull out all that gunk. “A lot of people think you should see this room laced in salty haze,” Tokin adds, “but the particles are too small for the naked eye.”

Another misconception about Tonkin’s salt therapy experience is that it’s a room filled with large amounts of salt bricks or salt lamps (Dead Sea, Himalayan, rock salt, etc.). Known as passive salt rooms, they aren’t considered as effective because you’re not inhaling the salt like you would in an active, halogenerator-serviced salt room. But that doesn’t mean the meditative, ambiance of a passive room isn’t there.

“We build walls of pink Himalayan salt, then essentially hide the halogenerator behind it,” he says. That’s why when you visit the Salt & Sound Lounge at The Sagamore Resort, you’re greeted with a wall of beautifully illuminated, hand-carved salt blocks. But the real therapy is hidden from plain sight.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A SALT THERAPY SESSION AT OPAL SPAS

Is there a wrong way to do halotherapy? Not really. But there are a few things to be aware of if you plan on getting salted at either The Sagamore’s on-site spa or Wentworth by the Sea’s spa.

• Always Make Sure You’re Dry: You can certainly do a halotherapy session in conjunction with a steam shower or soak in a jacuzzi tub, but the key is that you’re totally dry before entering the room. Because when you introduce moisture, that is what those salt particles will cling to (instead of penetrating deep down).

• Expose As Much of Your Skin as You Like: If you’re comfortable doing so, expose your arms and legs to reap the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits (which helps clear the skin from acne or blemishes). Salt also encourages skin regeneration, which is perfect after any sort of exfoliation treatment you might have just had. 

• Don’t Worry If You’re on a Low-Sodium Diet: Yes, you’re inhaling salt, but you’re not eating and digesting it. The two systems – respiratory and digestive – are very distinct from each other, so you won’t be going against any doctor’s orders.

• Feel Free to Let It Double as Meditation: This is where the stress-relieving benefits of a salt session come into play because it ultimately requires you to tune out and get your chill on. Serving as your cozy seat during a session, the spa’s heated custom-designed loungers also feature built-in sound wave and vibration therapy which lulls the body into a deep meditative state.  

• Breath Normal or Breath Deep, It Doesn’t Matter: No, you don’t have to take deep breaths to get the full benefits, but Tonkin says plenty of people like to practice their breathwork during the process.

• Hydrate Post Session: Because you’re going to be purging toxins, drinking plenty of water afterward will help aid that process along. Sure, you might find yourself coughing up a bit of flehm, but, for the most part, the salt breaks up mucus, dissolves it, then just flushes it out in your urine.

The post What Is Halotherapy? And Is It Worth All the Hype? appeared first on First Leg Travels.

Considering taking the month-long sobriety challenge known as “Dry January?” Here are a few tips to keep you on the zero-alcohol track – plus, a few mocktail recipes from Opal signature restaurants that are so slakeable, they may just become your spirit-free staple.

Dry January: You’ve likely heard of it – or its other moniker, “Drynuary.” While this act of abstaining from alcohol – especially after the boozy-fueled festivities of December – is nothing new, what is evolving is the level of participation. In 2022, nearly one in five U.S. adults said they were giving Dry January a go, up from 13% the year before. While that number dipped in 2023, it was still on the rise over the years of 2021 and 2020.

Are you one of the many forecasted to dive into a dry month for January 2024? Or think you’ll be looking to practice another trending term – known as “mindful drinking” – at any time this year? These few essential tips and various other Dry January facts – including how sampling short-term sobriety can assist you with long-term control – can help you go 100% on, well, 0%.

WHAT IS DRY JANUARY?

Taking advantage of the fact that people are looking to set intentions for self-improvement as the calendar flips to the new year, the Dry January Challenge encourages people to give up drinking for the entirety of – yes, you guessed it – January. While the recent resurgence originated with a charity called Alcohol Change UK in 2013 before blooming into a global phenomenon, the act of putting alcohol on hold during the first month of the year actually dates back further than you think – with origins in Finland. Sober January, as the northern European nation called it, first took place in 1942 when the Finnish government launched the campaign as part of its war effort against the Soviet Union. Today, more than 30 million people in the U.S. alone participate in navigating January without a drop.

THE BENEFITS OF DRY JANUARY

Does pushing away the bottle for a month really make a difference in your health? Even in the short term, participants reported benefits like a reduction in weight and blood pressure, as well as improved sleep, mood, and energy levels.

But, perhaps more importantly, the act of sampling sobriety for a month provides enough time for individuals to cultivate new habits that can live long beyond the 31 days – like becoming comfortable with turning down alcohol in social settings or leaning on other alternatives for relaxing, socializing, and dealing with stress. In a nutshell, short-term sobriety can assist with long-term control: When you take the time to understand what triggers you to drink, you develop tools to overcome, and, ultimately, drink less. In recent years, this has given rise to the term mindful drinking, the idea that rather than cutting out alcohol entirely, people explore elements of a booze-free lifestyle without fully abstaining.

6 DRY JANUARY TIPS TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK

A month of sobriety can feel daunting, but not if you have some tricks up your sleeve to help keep the booze at bay.

1. Assemble Your Support Squad

Make your goal known to your friends and family, so someone doesn’t unknowingly place a glass of liquid temptation in front of you. It’s also a way to open up a channel of communication and support from them that can be hugely helpful over the course of the month. And better yet, see if you can enlist someone to do Dry January with you. You can hold each other accountable, vent during a particularly tough day, commend each other during your wins, and plan activities that don’t involve slinging back a couple of cold ones.

2. Practice Your “No Thank You”

Saying no to a drink can be difficult in social settings – especially when it elicits a litany of questions like “why?” or prodding to “have just one.” Having an assertive and polite talk track you can easily turn to (rehearsing helps) can help you triumph over urges.

3. Find a New Favorite Drink

They may not give you a buzz, but non-alcoholic beverages sure are generating a lot of buzz with an influx of products on the market. And if you lavish the ritual of having a drink in the evening to unwind after a long day or simply love the taste, there are plenty of options to satisfy your thirst – including what you’ll find under the spirit-free section of Opal restaurants’ drink menus. And this isn’t a meager virgin daiquiri. Our mixologists mix, muddle, and master flavorful combinations that are just as slake-worthy despite being sans spirit.

3 Mocktail Recipes from Opal Restaurants

Island Mule

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Seedlip Spice 94
• 4-5 slices of cucumber
• 1 oz. honey syrup
• 5 oz. mango puree
• 5 oz. fresh lime juice
• 5 oz. ginger beer

Instructions

1. Muddle cucumber and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker before adding all other ingredients
2. Shake with ice, strain and top with ginger beer

Fire & Spice Margarita

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Seedlip Grove 42
• 4 slices of cucumber
• 3 slices of jalapeños
• 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1 oz. orange shrub (recipe)

Instructions

1. Muddle cucumber and jalapeños in a cocktail shaker before adding all other ingredients
2. Pour over ice and garnish with dehydrated lime

Make-Believe Mai Tai

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Seedlip Spice 94
• 1 oz. orgeat syrup
• 1 oz. pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice
2. Serve in a Collins glass with dehydrated pineapple and a dark cherry

4. Identify Triggers & Have a Back-Up Plan

When your instinct to reach for a bottle of something kicks in, take stock of what is triggering you in that particular moment. Is it trouble falling asleep? Desire to have fun? To cope with stress or anxiety? Boredom? Then develop back-up activities that ease these triggers: going for a walk, run, or hike; calling up a friend; crafting; heck, you can even turn to chores to bang out much-needed cleaning, laundry, or yardwork (a double win).

5. Don’t Give Up If You Give In

Even if your Dry January turns into a damp one, you should still consider it a success if it means you cut your consumption – after all, you are still practicing mindful drinking. So don’t beat yourself up if you slip up, just try to refocus on the goal. And if you know you can’t do 31 days alcohol-free from the start, don’t force it. Instead, set attainable goals like cutting your consumption to 15 out of the 31 days or not drinking on weekdays.

6. Keep Track of Wins

Keeping tabs on how much money you may have saved, how you feel (are you sleeping better or have more energy?), or days you’ve managed to tally up without a drink can make for excellent motivation to keep your momentum going.

The post Dry January Tips: How to Master a Month of Mindful Drinking appeared first on First Leg Travels.

First Leg Travels resorts and hotels are more than just luxurious places to lay your head. From private chef-led culinary events to hands-on outdoor adventures you’ll be raving about for years to come, here’s how our collection can craft and connect you to indelible experiences that discerning travelers covet.

Travel isn’t just about sleeping somewhere different. It’s about crossing off never-did-I-thought-I’d-ever experiences rooted to specific destinations, from chartering a private luxury yacht for a day spent in Florida’s Sarasota Bay to donning a chef’s coat and playing executive chef in the Adirondacks of New York.

Here’s your list. Start striking things from it.

CREATIVE CULINARY EXPERIENCES

Chef for a Day [Lake George, NY]

The Sagamore Resort

Ever glimpse inside a commercial kitchen and wonder what goes on? Or looking to fold a few new cooking techniques into your at-home culinary repertoire? In the Chef for a Day experience, The Sagamore Resort allows culinary wannabes to don a chef’s coat and step into the heart of the action – either within La Bella Vita’s main kitchen or pastry kitchen. As you shadow the executive and sous chefs, you’ll get a first-hand look at a state-of-the-art professional kitchen’s speed and volume, not to mention taste, prepare, and execute in a real-world operation. It’s an unforgettable opportunity for both the curious kitchen observer and the aspiring home chef.

Rum Tasting Tour [Delray Beach, FL]   

Opal Grand Beach Resort

You don’t have to travel throughout the Caribbean to sample the wide world of rum. In fact, when you partake in Opal Grand Resort & Spa’s Rum Universe cocktail program, the only amount of traveling required is across the resort’s three on-site restaurants. That’s because each dining outlet offers its own unique rum experience: Cascades Pool Bar with Havana Club-based cocktails (think creative cocktails with names like Havana Coffee, Pineapple Caribe, and Coco Wash) and Monkey Bar with Bacardi classics like mai tais, rum runners, and banana daiquiris. But perhaps the most exclusive experience? Drift Kitchen + Bar’s expert-led tasting flight of four Barcardi special reserves: Bacardi Reserva Ocho, Bacardi Sevillian Orange, Bacardi Anejo Cuatro, and Bacardi Grand Reserva Diez. 

Butler-Style Service on the Sand at Sunset [Naples, FL]

Edgewater Beach Hotel

When it comes to a memorable dining experience, you’ve probably reserved plenty of tables in your day. But have you ever reserved a table on your own private parcel of sand at sunset and just 10 feet away from the waves? You will when you book Edgewater Beach Hotel’s Dining on the Sand package. The resort sets the stage for the experience by blocking off the northern portion of the powder beach, where they set up a linen-lined table for two. Once you’re sat, you’re served a glass of sparkling wine and charcuterie plate while you mull over the multi-course prix-fixe menu, allowing you to mix and match your choice of a bottle of wine, soup, salad, and entrée (there are two different menus to choose from: Silver or Gold). While dishes vary depending on the menu you select ahead of time, think culinary creations like lobster bisque, sliced Japanese A5 Waygu strip loin, chicken ballotine, and pan-roasted grouper. And there’s always dessert – although that sorbet-colored sunset might just be enough. 

Perfect Your Pie [Clearwater, FL & Portsmouth, NH]

Opal Sands Resort and Wentworth by the Sea

Many of Opal’s signature restaurants contain dining room-based stone-hearth ovens, where patrons can watch chefs toss and dress dough, then fire the gourmet pizza creations right before their eyes. But there are two resort restaurants that regularly allow guests to get in on the action with pizza-making classes: Salt Kitchen & Bar at Wentworth by the Sea in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and SeaGuini at Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Never thought there was much of an art to pizza making? You’d be surprised at what you’ll learn then, including why working with a pizza stone is better than a sheet pan, why 00 flour is the gold standard when making fresh pizza dough, and why you should always use true pizza sauce (not pasta sauce). After learning how to toss and shape your pie, you’ll enjoy the spoils of your hard work, plus leave with a whole new appreciation for the craft. 

CURATED LUXURY EXPERIENCES

Spa by the Sea [Key West, FL]

Sunset Key Cottages

Featuring full bathrooms and showers, Sunset Key Cottage’s spacious spa treatment suites are certainly nothing to scoff at. Neither are the utterly private and serene tropical spaces of the spa’s patios, where the only sounds are the chirping of birds and swaying of overhead palms.

Still, when it comes to immersing yourself in a spa setting that reigns supreme, there’s nothing like a private beach-based treatment set to a soundtrack of rolling surf – and that the Opal Spa at Sunset Key Cottages can also deliver. Available to guests of the resort seasonally from October through March in the mornings (weather permitting), this special spa experience starts in the main spa building, where guests check-in, don robes, and lazily sip tea before being whisked down to a private tiki hut set with plush treatment beds on a secluded corner point of the beach. After your massage, refresh yourself with the provided water, champagne, and cool towels before being chauffeured back to your cottage.

Cabana Comforts [Longboat Key, FL]

Zota Beach Resort

With a palm-tree-lined infinity-edge pool, sleek pool bar, firepit, dune hammocks, and a sandy volleyball court nestled in the northernmost corner, the pool area at Zota Beach Resort sure is an ideal way to while away a day. But if looking post up and enjoy it all from a place of utmost privacy, the pinnacle of tucked-away tranquility is the shaded poolside cabanas – available in full-day rentals – nestled along the southern edge of the pool deck. 

We’re not talking some meager bungalows, either. With a maximum occupancy of 12 to 14 people, these spaces boast plush sectional couches, big-screen TVs, refrigerators, even a private safe for your valuables. Not to mention, food and beverage service from Cascades is at your beck-and-call for a steady stream of tropical drinks and refreshing array of light bites. So if planning a birthday retreat, family reunion, or some other kind of group getaway, these poolside sanctuaries are a bit like a VIP box – just instead of taking in a performance or sports game, you’ve got your own exclusive seat to the glittering gulf. 

Own a Private Yacht for a Day [Longboat Key, FL]

The Resort at Longboat Key Club

The Resort at Longboat Key Club is a well-known docking site among discerning boat enthusiasts for its full-service, 291-slip deep-water marina – the largest resort marina on Florida’s west coast. But what if you’re a guest without a boat? No bother: You can pretend for a day. Thanks to the resort’s relationship with Ultra Yacht, a local luxury boat touring company, you can book a private yacht charter for you and five of your other friends with pickup right from the marina. 

Offering three classes of vessels – including a 27-foot luxury performance Formula Bowrider and a 31- to 34-foot Sea Ray or Formula luxury cruiser – if you really want to splurge, go for the Leopard Catamaran. This 44-foot luxury sailing vessel brings the comforts of home to the open ocean with three en-suite cabins and bathrooms, kitchen and dining area, and cozy air-conditioned salon surrounded by windows. But the best feature is the sundeck, featuring a U-shaped sofa and additional seating for outdoor entertaining while you cruise Sarasota Bay, exploring sandbars and islands. Champagne and drinks are provided, but your group can also book catering through the tour operator or dock at a seaside restaurant. 

ACTIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

Sculpt a Living Piece of Paradise [Key Largo, FL]

Reefhouse Resort & Marina

Anyone can peruse the 20 fiberglass tanks rife with budding coral fragments during the hour-long tours of the land-based coral nursery located at Reefhouse Resort & Marina. But only guests who book the Slice of Paradise program can play the role of a Mote Marine Lab scientist (Mote being the marine research institution that manages the resort-based operation). 

While the experience includes the typical tour experience, wannabe marine scientists also get to try their hand at “microfragmentation.” What’s that fancy term? It’s the Mote-pioneered technique that involves using a small diamond-bladed jewelry saw to cut the coral into small pieces, allowing it to grow 40 to 50 times faster than it usually would (it takes roughly four to six months of culturing before these fragments are ready to outplant to the reefs around the Upper Keys). Guests next mount those fragments onto the ceramic pedestals that will be submerged into the land-based nursery until the pieces have plumped to the proper size for out-planting. That means you just played a part in producing the 6,000 to 10,000 coral fragments that Mote outplants each year.

Beach Bound on Horseback [Hutchinson Island, FL]

Hutchinson Island Beach Resort & Spa and The Lucie

Riding astride a horse on a Florida beach is an exceptional adventure – not to mention an adventure you can do in only a few places in the Sunshine State. But thanks to the lack of crowds and development, the sandy stretch of Jenson Beach – where Hutchinson Island Beach Resort & Spa and The Lucie are based – is one. And lucky for you, both these properties have a special relationship with Tours on Horseback and can arrange an hour-long, three-mile horseback beach excursion that departs from the island’s Frederick Douglass Memorial Park. After trekking by the surf, you’ll explore some 40 miles of equestrian trails in the Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie area. 

Exclusive Turtle Walks, Research & Releases [Jupiter, FL]

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa

When it comes to things to do in the Jupiter area, there’s nothing quite like what goes on between the months of March to October. That’s because its white sand beaches boast the most active sea turtle-nesting season in the US – in fact, 2023 has already made for a record number of nests (21,872 as of July). Which is why having the Loggerhead Marinelife Center – a conservation, rescue, rehab, and education center based in Juno Beach – has been so essential to keeping this fascinating phenomenon alive.

Thanks to a special relationship with the center, Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa can help coordinate up-close turtle experiences (led by certified loggerhead scouts and researchers) for guests as they become available. Yes, that includes the regular Guided Turtle Walks, Nest Excavations tours, and Hatchling Releases, held select months during the nesting season, but it also means special releases of rehabbed patients after their stint in the center’s hospital. In fact, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center releases 10 or so adult sea turtles a year – and, if you’re in town at the right time, there is nothing like witnessing these ancient reptiles waddle their way down to the ocean to be carried off into the surf.

The post 10 Experiences to Level Up Your Next Opal Escape appeared first on First Leg Travels.

There seems to be a day for practically everything: Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (first Saturday in February), Take your Houseplants for a Walk Day (July 27), there’s even International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19). While we doubt these are penned into your personal calendar, there is one that you might very much consider saving the date for. We’re talking about Global Wellness Day, a health and wellness movement (observed the second Saturday every June) that boasts quite an international following, from Azerbaijan to Thailand.

If you haven’t heard of this particular day yet, don’t worry: Opal Spas are happy to make the introduction. That’s because eight of our spa locations in Florida, New York, Maine, and New Hampshire are paying homage to the day (June 10 in 2023) with special complimentary programming open to guests and the public alike. With a mission to help people incorporate wellness pastimes into their lifestyle – not just for the day, but the remaining 364 – the movement is yet another example of how Opal Spas are elevating the wellness experience beyond just traditional massage appointments.

WHAT IS GLOBAL WELLNESS DAY?

Now entering its 12th year, the day was founded by a Turkish spa owner and wellness pioneer, Belgin Aksoy. After personally battling health challenges that included a bout with thyroid cancer, she began a journey in 2004 to seriously – not sporadically – incorporate wellness into her daily lifestyle. By 2012, after her health had completely turned around, she made it her mission to help others find the path to prioritizing their physical, mental, and spiritual health. That same year, Global Wellness Day was born under the banner slogan that “One day can change your whole life.”

While considered a success with thousands of people participating in various wellness activities and events throughout her home country of Turkey, Aksoy had clearly tapped into something the rest of the world was hungry for. In the following years, the event has since become an international movement that’s celebrated in thousands of locations, across more than 150 countries, and on seven continents. Participating ambassadors and partners – such as Opal – observe the day by organizing and offering free wellness activities to the public. Think anything and everything, from yoga and Pilates classes to laughter therapy sessions and sound healing baths to mental health assessments and nutrition seminars.

THE 2023 THEME: DANCE & MOVEMENT

Each year, a different theme is selected to serve as a guideline for the day’s activities and events. For instance, in 2020, the theme “Nourishing Wellness” focused on the importance of nourishing our bodies, minds, and souls. And in 2021, the theme of “Protecting Mental Wellness,” was especially relevant given the global pandemic and its impact on mental health.

For Global Wellness Day 2023, the theme, titled “#DanceMagenta” (magenta being the movement’s branded color), is centered around championing the benefits of regular dance and movement. To that end, activity highlights include – but are not limited to – dance workshops, flash mobs, contemporary dance for kids, and more.

WHAT OPAL SPAS ARE OFFERING

As for what’s on the Global Wellness Day menu at participating Opal Spas, here’s a sneak peek:

Zumba Classes and Meditation Exercises

The classic cardio-meets-Latin-inspired-dance workout craze will be led by professional instructors, while unique meditation exercises encourage attendees to incorporate dance into their mindfulness practice. The latter includes refreshing Kerstin Florian Neroli Water for guests to mist on their face and body for deeper relaxation and focus. 

Binaural/Theta Wave Therapy

Fifteen-minute sessions allow guests to test drive and experience the benefits of sound wave and vibration therapy, systems that are built into the zero-gravity Oakwork Britta beds custom-designed for Opal spas.

Recovery, Facial Exercise, and Social Media Stations

A series of stations where attendees can enjoy a chair massage, accompanied by Theraguns massage devices and Therabody jet boots; a facial exercise session with NuFace, promoting skin health and wellness through gentle facial massage techniques; and snap photos for social, showcasing their dance moves alongside Global Wellness Day props.

WHY THE MOVEMENT FITS INTO THE TRANSFORMED SPA EXPERIENCE

If you haven’t been to an Opal Spa in a little while, expect to see some exciting changes, including newly curated spa menus centered around the holistic healing of Kerstin Florian products. Beyond treatments, however, refreshed spaces are also in the works. Utilizing what’s known as biophilic design – the concept of bringing the outdoors in – the goal is to engage all five senses in nature-inspired smells, sights, sounds, tastes, and textures to open the body to healing. Self-guided experiences are also being brought into play, including no-touch systems that use sound, vibration, or color therapy. It’s all part of a larger initiative to bake wellness into the entire spa experience, from the moment you step into the space and to linger well beyond your stay.

The post Global Wellness Day: Inspiring Better Living Year-Round appeared first on First Leg Travels.